The Double

Dingyuan City was not far from the southern deserts, yet its winters were exceptionally cold.

Early in the morning, as Jiang Li stepped out of the inn, she couldn’t help but sneeze.

Tong’er hurriedly draped a cloak over Jiang Li’s shoulders, saying, “Madam, you mustn’t catch a chill. Falling ill while traveling is truly miserable.”

Even after a year of marriage, Jiang Li still found herself taken aback whenever Tong’er addressed her as “Madam.” Perhaps it was because this life differed from her past one—after marrying, she hadn’t settled into the conventional role of a wife confined to the inner quarters, tending to her husband and raising children. Instead, she had traveled far and wide, visiting famous mountains and great rivers. The dreams she hadn’t fulfilled in her youth were unexpectedly realized after marriage. Thus, she still felt as free as an unmarried girl and naturally struggled to grow accustomed to the title “Madam.”

“Where is Ji Heng?” Jiang Li asked. When she woke up, he was no longer in the room. Bai Xue approached and replied, “His Lordship knows how much you enjoyed the red bean cakes we bought on the road last night, so he went out early to get more for you. Hongfu Restaurant only sells ten portions of red bean cakes each day. His Lordship was afraid they would run out if he went too late. By the time I got up this morning, he was already about to leave.”

Tong’er giggled softly. “His Lordship is truly so good to you, Madam.”

Jiang Li was at a loss for words. If others learned that Ji Heng had queued up early in the morning among commoners just to buy her a portion of red bean cakes, they would likely think she was lying. Yet Jiang Li understood Ji Heng’s ways. She suspected he had probably bought all ten portions in one go and would bring them all back to her. Such tasks could easily be delegated to servants, but Ji Heng insisted on doing them himself. It wasn’t that he was being deliberate; over the past year, as they traveled, he had been trying out many new experiences. The mundane routines that others took for granted were, to him, extraordinary.

And that was wonderful.

After their marriage, Jiang Li once had a conversation with Xue Zhao, which Ji Heng happened to overhear. Xue Zhao spoke of the dreams he and Jiang Li had shared in their youth—his wish to travel the world and champion justice, and her desire to explore and discover life’s countless possibilities.

Upon hearing this, Ji Heng made a decision the very next day: he would take Jiang Li on a journey to see the world.

Others found this utterly astonishing. Old Madam Ye even suspected that Jiang Li had been influenced by Ye Mingyu after spending too much time with him and gave Ye Mingyu a severe scolding. Ye Mingyu felt deeply wronged, and it was Xue Huaiyuan who stepped in to explain that this had been Jiang Li’s own wish all along.

Xue Huaiyuan understood Jiang Li’s lifelong aspirations. In these times, it was rare for even an ordinary husband to support his wife in fulfilling her dreams, yet Ji Heng had done exactly that. Though others might see his decision as absurd, to him, it was only natural. A husband ought to support his wife and accompany her in pursuing what she desired.

In her past life, as a wife, she had always been the one “giving.” Now, she was constantly “receiving.” Sometimes, upon waking, Jiang Li would feel as though it were all a dream—how could there be such a wonderful man in the world, and how had she been fortunate enough to find him? They were perfectly matched, and his devotion to her seemed to know no bounds.While they were speaking, footsteps approached from outside. Jiang Li looked up and saw his crimson robe standing out vividly against the snowy landscape. He entered from the cold, his cloak still dusted with unmelted snowflakes. From his bosom, he produced a large bundle wrapped in oilpaper—a sight that might have seemed comical, yet Jiang Li felt only warmth in her heart. Rising on her toes, she brushed the snow from Ji Heng's shoulders and said, "Why did you go out so early? And without an umbrella?"

"Your favorite," he replied, gently pressing the oilpaper package against Jiang Li's cheek. She felt a wave of warmth—it was still hot. He must have rushed back and forth, keeping it close to his chest to ensure the red bean cakes wouldn't cool by the time he returned to the inn.

"In the future, if I want red bean cakes, I'll buy them myself," Jiang Li said. "If you keep this up, I won't dare say I like them anymore."

No sooner had she spoken than a boisterous voice echoed from outside: "Red bean cakes? Where? Where? Xiao Yao, do you want some?"

The two turned to see Wenren Yao descending the inn's stairs, pulling Lin Yao along while yawning. He strode over to Jiang Li and made a playful grab for the oilpaper package in her hand, exclaiming, "Sister-in-law, how did you know I was hungry? Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"

Ji Heng shot him a glance. "Wenren Yao."

Wenren Yao flinched, freezing mid-reach before straightening up with an overly polite smile. "What is it, A Heng?"

He was always adept at playing dumb. Jiang Li shook her head with a laugh, took out a red bean cake, and handed it to Lin Yao. The boy obediently said, "Thank you, sister."

"Wenren," Jiang Li turned to Wenren Yao, "how much longer until we reach Huyang Mountain?"

Wenren Yao eyed Lin Yao's cake with longing before reluctantly pulling his gaze away. "Soon. If we travel another day, we'll arrive by noon tomorrow."

"Finally, we're almost there," Jiang Li murmured.

She and Ji Heng visited new places every year, and this winter, they were headed to Huyang Mountain in Dingyuan City. The reason for going was that Wenren Yao happened to be returning to his sect to register Lin Yao in the lineage. Huyang Mountain was where the Planchette Sect was located, and Wenren Yao hadn't been back in many years.

Jiang Li wouldn't have made a special trip just to visit Wenren Yao's sect—after all, the world was full of countless beautiful sights, more than one could ever hope to see, and she had little interest in touring the place where Wenren Yao grew up. What prompted her to go was Wenren Yao's remark that Ji Heng had also lived at the Planchette Sect for a long time as a child. In a way, it was a place from Ji Heng's past too. It was because of this that Jiang Li wanted to see it. There were many gaps in her knowledge of Ji Heng's history. Just as Ji Heng understood her, she wanted to make every effort to understand him, to fill in the years he had spent alone before she came into his life."The masters in our sect haven't seen A-Heng for many years." Wenren Yao said: "Sister-in-law doesn't know this, but A-Heng was very handsome back then. All my masters liked him very much. They almost wanted to take him as a disciple, but A-Heng never believed in fate, making him completely unsuitable for the Planchette Sect. Otherwise, if he had truly joined the sect, I'd have to call him senior brother when I see him now." Wenren Yao reminisced with great relish. He was always like this - give him an inch and he'd take a mile, never knowing when to stop. He had already forgotten Ji Heng's warning glance from earlier and started talking about their childhood.

"They take disciples based on good looks?" Jiang Li teased. "In that aspect, your masters are quite similar to Ji Heng." Both shared the same preference for beauty over plainness.

"Tsk tsk tsk, exactly," Wenren Yao said. "Because the masters favored this outsider so much, they treated him better than their own disciples. My senior and junior brothers were all very dissatisfied because of this and often caused trouble for A-Heng. There was one time..."

"Wenren Yao." Ji Heng interrupted him. "You seem to have too much free time."

Wenren Yao immediately shut his mouth, looked at Ji Heng, and blinked. "Ahem, actually I'm not that free. Xiao Yao, come with your master to pack our luggage. We'll be departing soon."

In truth, he had no luggage to pack - he had been using Ji Heng's money to buy clothes from tailor shops along the way. This was just an excuse to make a quick escape. But when Jiang Li looked at Ji Heng, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why aren't you eating the red bean cake?"

Jiang Li picked up a piece of red bean cake, took a bite, found it sweet, and brought it to Ji Heng's lips. He took a bite from her hand, nearly licking her fingers in the process. Tong'er and Bai Xue blushed deeply and turned away, while Jiang Li glared at him.

He seemed completely unaffected, still having the mind to tease her here. But Jiang Li remembered clearly - what exactly had Ji Heng interrupted Wenren Yao from saying? What didn't he want her to know? In that moment, he had clearly been displeased.

Was it a past he didn't want others to know about? Jiang Li fell into deep thought.

...

After breakfast, everyone set off together for Huyang Mountain. The mountain path was difficult to traverse, making the carriage move particularly slowly. Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Li found Wenren Yao's stories about his childhood in the sect quite vivid. However, she noticed that Ji Heng was hardly mentioned in Wenren Yao's anecdotes. Logically, since Ji Heng had lived there for quite some time and they were all children together, there should have been traces of Ji Heng in these stories. Not knowing whether Wenren Yao had forgotten or if there was another reason, Jiang Li asked about it.

Wenren Yao waved his hand: "A-Heng was so unsociable back then. Besides me, he wouldn't acknowledge any of the other brothers. The senior and junior sisters liked him very much, but he never gave them any favorable treatment. After a while, everyone stopped inviting him along."

Was that really how it was? Jiang Li felt something wasn't quite right, but couldn't pinpoint what exactly. Ji Heng seemed rather uninterested in childhood matters and didn't follow up on Wenren Yao's stories, instead changing the subject. Jiang Li understood his meaning - since he didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't press further.

By the next day, just as Wenren Yao had predicted, they arrived at the Planchette Sect on Huyang Mountain before noon.The Planchette Sect appeared to possess all the characteristics of a dwelling for reclusive masters, situated atop a mountain peak. Due to its high elevation, clouds and mist swirled around it, evoking the image of a secluded paradise. When Jiang Li and her companions arrived, two young disciples were sweeping at the entrance. Wenren Yao stepped forward, and the two youths paused in surprise, asking, "Who are you?"

Wenren Yao smiled and revealed a colorful tassel at his waist—likely an emblem of their sect. Upon seeing it, one of the youths exclaimed, "Grandmaster, Grandmaster! Little Martial Uncle has returned!"

Hearing Wenren Yao referred to as "Little Martial Uncle," Jiang Li found it somewhat unfamiliar at first. Shortly after, the two youths assisted an elderly man with snow-white hair out from inside. The old man had a kindly expression and an immortal-like demeanor. Staring at Wenren Yao in astonishment, he said, "A-Yao, it really is you. You've returned."

"Of course!" Wenren Yao declared proudly. "I came back specifically to see you, Master. I’ve even taken on a little disciple. Look, this is Lin Yao. I brought him back this time to register his name in the lineage records. Disciple, come and greet your Grandmaster."

Lin Yao stepped forward, looked at the old man, and said, "Grandmaster."

The old man patted Lin Yao’s head and chuckled, "Good, good, well-behaved." After observing Lin Yao for a moment, his gaze shifted to Jiang Li and Ji Heng. When his eyes fell upon Ji Heng, they fixed intently.

"Master, A-Heng has also returned this time. You might not know, but A-Heng is married now. This is his wife, Jiang Li, originally the second young lady of the Jiang family, the Grand Secretary's household. Sister-in-law, this is my master, Jingxuan Zhenren."

Jiang Li stepped forward and bowed. "Master Jingxuan."

Jingxuan Zhenren looked at Jiang Li, visibly moved, and said, "Good, all is well." His gaze lingered longer on Ji Heng as he remarked, "A-Heng, so many years have passed, and you’ve grown up."

"Sister-in-law, the person I mentioned earlier—the one who wanted to recruit A-Heng into our sect just because of his good looks—was my grandmaster. Back then, Master valued A-Heng greatly, always protecting him in everything. A-Heng and Master shared a deep bond. Because of this, I almost ran away from home, thinking A-Heng was stealing my place and refusing to play with him."

Jiang Li noticed that Ji Heng’s expression softened considerably upon seeing Jingxuan Zhenren. It was evident, as Wenren Yao had said, that Ji Heng had received much care from Jingxuan Zhenren during his time in the Planchette Sect and was closer to him than to others.

"Ah, Master, we’ve been traveling for so long and we’re really hungry. Do you have any food? Let’s go inside and talk over a meal," Wenren Yao grumbled. He had always been somewhat childish, but in front of Jingxuan Zhenren, he acted even more like a little boy—so much so that even Lin Yao appeared more mature by comparison.

Jingxuan Zhenren, genuinely fond of the younger generation, did not scold Wenren Yao but simply smiled and said, "Very well, we were just about to have a meal. A-Heng, Miss Jiang, please come in as well. The food is humble; I hope you do not mind."

Jiang Li assured him that they would not.

The group entered the Planchette Sect together. The sect resembled a Taoist temple, with deities enshrined in the main hall, yet the entire place felt desolate and empty. A black water buffalo lay at the entrance, glanced at the group, lazily swished its tail, and then remained still. Aside from the two young disciples sweeping at the entrance, there was no one else in the entire sect.Jiang Li asked, "Master Jingxuan, where have the other members of the Planchette Sect gone?"

"Others?" Jingxuan Zhenren was momentarily taken aback before smiling. "There are no others. Zhenyi and Shuiying are the last two disciples I accepted. The Planchette Sect's vitality is nearly exhausted. My disciples have either passed away or left to travel the world. Now, only the three of us remain here." Noticing Jiang Li's expression, he explained with a gentle smile, "There's no need to feel sorrow for this old man, Miss Jiang. What flourishes must decay—this is the way of the world since ancient times. The Planchette Sect had its era of prosperity, and its decline during my time is only natural. When Yao takes over in the future, it will eventually restore its former glory. Such is the cycle of reincarnation."

This master truly possessed remarkable equanimity, and Jiang Li couldn't help but feel admiration. When they reached the dining hall, the meal consisted of light vegetarian dishes, all grown by Jingxuan Zhenren and his two young disciples themselves. During the meal, Jingxuan Zhenren inquired extensively about what had happened to Ji Heng and Wenren Yao over the years. Wenren Yao would return every three to five years, but Ji Heng hadn't been seen since their parting many years ago. Upon learning of Old General Ji's passing, Jingxuan Zhenren heaved a long sigh.

"When your grandfather entrusted you to me, it felt like only yesterday. Now all our old companions are gone," Jingxuan Zhenren sighed. "After seeing you today, I don't know if I'll have another chance to meet you in this lifetime."

"Master, we're eating a perfectly good meal—why bring up such inauspicious talk?" Wenren Yao complained. "Others might think you're cursing A-Heng."

"Brat," Jingxuan Zhenren feigned anger, "with all your nonsense, how can you possibly be fit to teach disciples!"

"Heh, my disciples are much more obedient than yours ever were," Wenren Yao declared proudly.

Ji Heng watched their playful bickering with a faint smile. Though subtle, Jiang Li could tell he was happier than usual and finally felt relieved.

After more conversation, Wenren Yao needed to register Lin Yao in the sect records, so Jingxuan Zhenren asked Ji Heng to show Jiang Li around the area.

As Jiang Li followed Ji Heng outside, she noted that Mount Huyang housed only this single sect. The entire mountain was sparsely populated, and precisely because of its seclusion, the scenery was exceptionally beautiful—dense forests, deep valleys, and steep peaks. While walking, Jiang Li asked Ji Heng questions, which he answered one by one. This was where the young masters of the Planchette Sect had once trained, studying divination and planchette writing alongside mechanical traps, martial arts, and medicine, each focusing on different specialties.

Old General Ji had brought Ji Heng here when he was four or five years old, leaving him to stay for three full years. Those were the years when Lin Roujia was at her most deranged. To protect Ji Heng from their schemes, the old general had hidden him here. The foot of Mount Huyang was protected by mysterious formations—ordinary people would lose their way attempting to ascend, making it impossible for others to discover Ji Heng's whereabouts.

"So what did you study here?" Jiang Li asked.

"Political strategy and the art of employing people," Ji Heng replied.

After a moment's reflection, Jiang Li understood. Later, Ji Heng would excel at balancing the three powers—Prince Cheng, the Jiang family, and the Hongxiao Emperor. It turned out he had begun learning these skills from such a young age.Jiang Li walked to the edge of the lake. The mountain lake had long frozen over, stretching into a vast expanse of white. Occasionally, white-feathered birds perched among the reeds along the shore, chirping soft, dreamlike murmurs. Jiang Li said, "When I first woke up, it was because Second Miss Jiang had learned her engagement was stolen and threw herself into this lake. Thinking back now, it feels like a dream."

Second Miss Jiang’s spirit vanished after drowning in the lake, yet through a twist of fate, Jiang Li had become her.

"When I was young, I almost died in a lake too," Ji Heng remarked. "It seems we share a fateful connection."

Jiang Li paused. "You? Did you accidentally fall into a lake as well?"

"More or less," he replied, a faint smile curling his lips. "It was this very lake."

"What do you mean, 'more or less'?" Jiang Li frowned. "Either you did or you didn’t."

"In my view, no. In others’ eyes, yes," Ji Heng explained. "Hence, 'more or less.'"

Jiang Li pondered his words before understanding dawned. "You were framed? Someone pushed you into the lake, but no one admitted it, claiming you fell in yourself?"

Ji Heng chuckled. "Quite clever, little girl."

Even after marriage, he still enjoyed calling Jiang Li "little girl," a term brimming with affection and tenderness.

Hearing this, Jiang Li didn’t share his lightheartedness. Furious, she exclaimed, "Who would do such a thing? That’s despicable!" Precisely because Ji Heng always appeared so strong, learning of his painful past made it all the more heartbreaking. Now, discovering that someone had bullied him as a child fueled her outrage further.

Ji Heng smiled lightly. "It’s nothing. All in the past."

Jiang Li frowned, recalling Wenren Yao’s words. Hesitantly, she asked, "Was it... those senior and junior brothers?"

Ji Heng didn’t deny it.

Children are the most innocent, which makes their malice all the more terrifying. Often, they don’t understand what they’re doing or the profound harm they inflict on others.

Jiang Li grasped Ji Heng’s hand. He raised an eyebrow and reassured her, "It’s alright, Ali." He turned the comfort back on her. Jiang Li couldn’t bear to press for details, knowing that forcing him to relive those wounds would be too cruel.

"Just think of it as them being jealous of me—after all, they were quite ugly," Ji Heng said calmly. "Does that make you feel better?"

Was it really that simple? Jiang Li doubted it. Ji Heng’s reluctance to discuss or recall the past when Wenren Yao brought it up suggested the trauma ran far deeper than his casual dismissal implied.

The exact reasons his martial brothers bullied him remained unclear, but perhaps their cruelty shaped the ruthless, unfeeling man he later became. While Wenren Yao returned to the Planchette Sect every few years, Ji Heng avoided it—not only to evade his brothers but also the memory of his vulnerable, victimized younger self.

Unsure what to say, Jiang Li clung to his arm and declared, "If I had been there, I would have protected you."

Ji Heng laughed softly. "You? Ali, back then, you were still a toddler who couldn’t even walk."Jiang Li thought about her own past, realizing how laughable such words sounded now. Yet she stubbornly insisted, "If I could go back in time, I'd definitely help drive them away, then take you with me so you'd never be bullied again."

She knew perfectly well this was just empty talk—such things could never happen—but she said it anyway, as if only by speaking the words could she ease the heaviness in her heart. Ji Heng replied, "Well now, legend says there are deities on Mount Huyang who grant wishes. Perhaps they heard you and decided to send you back to my childhood just to help me settle scores."

Jiang Li raised her fist triumphantly. "I'd borrow Ah Zhao's slingshot and chase them all away!"

Ji Heng chuckled and ruffled her hair. "My, what a formidable little spitfire you are."

She watched as Ji Heng spoke, gradually emerging from that gloomy mood, and finally felt a slight relief in her heart. Yet, she remained unsettled, as if a weight were pressing on her chest. Even when she lay down to sleep beside Ji Heng at night, her thoughts lingered on the matter.

Mount Huyang stood high, making the nights exceptionally cold. Jiang Li, half-asleep and groggy at some unknown hour, suddenly heard the sounds of children playing outside, mingled with what seemed like shouts of scolding. She opened her eyes and sat up, glancing beside her—Ji Heng was nowhere to be seen. The bed was neatly made, as if she had been alone all along.

She froze for a moment. Though she ought to have gone looking for Ji Heng first, something inexplicable drew her instead. As if guided by an unseen force, she threw on her clothes and stepped out of the room.

Outside, the moonlight flowed like water, but the thick snow from the day had vanished entirely. It felt more like late autumn or early winter—chilly, but not yet freezing. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the wind whispering, yet the children's laughter and shouts rang clearly in her ears.

Without hesitation, Jiang Li followed the sound, feeling no fear but rather as if some unseen hand were leading her onward. As she walked, the path began to look strangely familiar, much like the one she and Ji Heng had taken during the day.

After what felt like an indeterminate length of time, she came upon a vast lake. Its waters shimmered, exuding a coldness that contrasted sharply with the frozen surface she had seen earlier. By the lakeside stood a group of young children.

These children all appeared to be around six or seven years old, the eldest no more than ten. Dressed in white shirts and trousers, their hair uniformly tied with blue ribbons, they seemed to share a sect's attire. Among them stood a boy of about five or six, exceptionally exquisite and beautiful, with lips red and teeth white—almost too ethereal to be of this world. It was hard to imagine such striking features at such a tender age. Unlike the others, he wore not white but a narrow-sleeved crimson robe that accentuated his fair complexion. Under the moonlight, he resembled an immortal child descended from some celestial mountain to play, or perhaps a spirit born of flowers and plants—a Flower Spirit of captivating beauty.

The boy at the forefront declared, "His mother is a woman from the House of Pleasure—no good person! He's no good either! Ji Heng, get out of the Planchette Sect!"

Ji Heng? Jiang Li's heart jolted violently. How could this be Ji Heng? She scrutinized the red-robed boy's features—his amber eyes, already beautifully shaped, and the small red mole beneath them, just as always. This was indeed Ji Heng, but he looked like a five- or six-year-old version of himself.

How was she seeing a young Ji Heng? Jiang Li called out his name, but Ji Heng did not respond. The other boys seemed oblivious to her presence as well.

At that moment, young Ji Heng let out a cold laugh. Standing firm, he retorted, "My mother is not a bad person. You are the bad ones. If you want me gone, go tell Jingxuan Zhenren yourselves. I don't want to stay here anyway—bunch of good-for-nothings!"

Despite his youth, his face was frosty, his posture rigidly upright. Yet, Jiang Li felt she could see the hidden sorrow behind his stubborn eyes.He was just a child, yet he seemed already accustomed to such treatment, having endured so much. Whatever reasons these fellow disciples had for disliking Ji Heng, sneaking around at night behind their masters' backs to bully him was truly despicable.

Upon hearing this, the others naturally flew into a rage. An older boy among them stepped forward and shoved Ji Heng hard. Little Ji Heng, still young and not very strong, fell into the lake with a loud splash.

The boys on the shore laughed heartily, watching his embarrassing state before striding away, leaving little Ji Heng struggling in the water. Jiang Li could do nothing but anxiously run to the lakeside. As she reached out and touched the water, its icy chill pierced her bones. Ji Heng struggled desperately toward the shore, and in her panic, Jiang Li reached out to pull him up. Just then, she suddenly realized she could actually grasp him. Overjoyed, she seized Ji Heng's sleeve and hauled him ashore.

Little Ji Heng crawled onto the bank, drenched and shivering from the cold, yet he eyed Jiang Li warily and asked, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"I..." Jiang Li was at a loss for words. She hadn't expected Ji Heng to see her, and she herself didn't understand how this was happening. This version of Ji Heng didn't know her yet. Before she could speak, she heard him ask, "Are you someone Wenren sent?"

Jiang Li was momentarily surprised, then remembered that Wenren Yao hadn't been among the crowd earlier. It seemed Wenren Yao was usually the only one who looked out for Ji Heng, so he assumed she was someone Wenren had arranged to check on him.

"Yes," Jiang Li said. "He asked me to come see how you're doing. Are you alright?" After speaking, she took off her outer robe and draped it over little Ji Heng's shoulders. Ji Heng stiffened, looking at her with suspicion and confusion.

"What happened?" Jiang Li asked gently. "Why did those people treat you like that?"

Ji Heng snorted coldly. "Just a bunch of fools driven by jealousy."

Though merely a child, he spoke as if he understood human nature perfectly. Jiang Li asked, "Are you just going to let it go? Won't you tell Jingxuan Zhenren?"

"No need," Ji Heng cut her off. "I'm used to it." He climbed to his feet, and Jiang Li steadied him. The feeling was strange—this towering man had become a delicate, jade-like child. This Ji Heng was different from the one she knew later. If it were the present Ji Heng, anyone who dared humiliate him like this would surely face a hundredfold retribution. But this little Ji Heng was different. He was probably considering Jingxuan Zhenren's position—after all, both sides were dear to him, and he didn't want to put Jingxuan Zhenren in a difficult spot.

So young, yet his thoughts ran so deep.

Jiang Li's heart ached with pity. She reached out and took his hand—it was ice-cold. He looked at her and asked, "Who are you, really?"

This child was peculiar. He didn't call her "sister" but addressed her directly as "you," yet it didn't feel offensive. Jiang Li replied, "Who do you think I am?"

"You don't seem like someone Wenren sent," little Ji Heng said. "Are you a celestial being?"

Such an adorable question—only the young Ji Heng could ask something like that. Jiang Li smiled and said, "Yes, I'm a celestial being. I saw someone bullying you from up above and couldn't stand it, so I came down to help you."Young Ji Heng turned his head away. "I don't need anyone's help. I'm enough on my own."

"You're not alone by your side. I'm here with you too." Jiang Li's voice grew even softer, as if coaxing a child. "For example, today, those children hurt you, and you're just letting them off. That really bothers me."

Ji Heng turned back and asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

"You're completely drenched. Let's start a fire to warm you up. I heard that in your Planchette Sect, they check your assignments every morning, and those who haven't completed them get punished by the master. Since you can't teach them a lesson, let the master do it. Let's steal all their assignments and use them to start the fire."

Young Ji Heng stared at her in astonishment. This method was the very trick Xue Zhao always used when he was up to mischief. Back in those years, Xue Fangfei had scolded him countless times for it. Never did he imagine that now he would be the one actively doing this. He didn't know if it was a dream or reality, but since those children couldn't be hit or scolded, and letting them run wild made Jiang Li furious, they could only resolve it with a child's method.

Seeing Ji Heng's dazed expression, Jiang Li burst out laughing and said, "Let's go do it now."

Young Ji Heng was practically dragged along by Jiang Li to carry out this plan. For some reason, those senior and junior brothers hadn't shown up since earlier. Jiang Li pulled Ji Heng along, stole all the assignments from their study, ran to her own room, and burned them all to ashes. She even dug up two sweet potatoes, roasted them in the fire, and handed them to Ji Heng.

Ji Heng stared blankly at everything Jiang Li had done, as if stunned. For a long while, he couldn't say anything else. Apart from masters like Wenren Yao and Jingxuan Zhenren, he had never really interacted with peers. Those senior and junior sisters didn't want anything to do with him either—they simply weren't from the same world. But today, being with this strange woman Jiang Li, he inexplicably felt little resistance, as if he were under a spell.

"Why are you helping me?" Young Ji Heng took the warm roasted sweet potato Jiang Li handed him but didn't take a bite immediately, instead asking hesitantly.

"I'm a celestial being, and I like you," Jiang Li said.

Young Ji Heng's face flushed slightly, as if he didn't know how to respond. After a moment, he asked again, "Are you really a celestial being? Will you go back afterward?"

Jiang Li was taken aback. In Ji Heng's gaze, there was a faint trace of expectation. Suddenly, she felt a pang of reluctance. She said gently, "I do have to go back."

Young Ji Heng immediately looked disappointed.

"But don't worry, we'll meet again in the future," Jiang Li whispered. "After that meeting, I'll stay by your side forever and never leave again."

"In the future?" Young Ji Heng asked. "How long will that be?""In the future, you will become a very high-ranking official, and you will grow up to be exceptionally handsome. You will fight a war that makes you renowned across the land, be revered by the people, and accomplish everything you set out to do. You will meet all the people you wish to see." Jiang Li smiled gently. "Right now, life may be difficult and sorrowful, but it doesn’t matter. In the future, everything will get better, and I will come to your side. When that day arrives, you will realize that all the hardships of the past were worth it. Please wait patiently."

It was unclear whether Ji Heng understood her words. He gazed at Jiang Li with a dazed expression and finally asked, "Will things really get better in the future?"

Jiang Li replied, "They will."

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her body grow light, and everything before her began to blur. The figure of young Ji Heng gradually faded from clarity. She heard a voice—part childlike innocence, part the deep, alluring tone of a grown man—the two overlapping until she could no longer distinguish reality from illusion. Young Ji Heng asked, "What is your name?"

She answered, "Jiang Li."

...

The crowing of roosters outside still echoed in her ears as Jiang Li abruptly opened her eyes. Daylight streamed in, and the events of the previous night turned out to be nothing more than a dream.

She lay in Ji Heng’s embrace, lifting her gaze to trace the handsome contours of his face. Reaching out, she gently outlined his brows and eyes. Was this what young Ji Heng had looked like?

A hand caught her fingers, and the man chuckled, "Awake?"

He opened his eyes, the drowsiness of sudden wakefulness still lingering in them. Eager to share her strange dream, Jiang Li began, "I just had a dream..."

"I had a dream last night..."

They spoke in unison, then froze in surprise.

"I dreamed I saw you as a child..."

Ji Heng’s lips curved into a smile. "You took me to do mischief, Ali."

They had dreamed the exact same dream? Jiang Li was too stunned to speak. After a long pause, she managed, "How is this possible?"

"I told you," Ji Heng said, "there are immortals on Hu Yang Mountain. Perhaps the words you spoke yesterday were heard by one of them, and they sent this dream to fulfill your wish."

"If I could go back to the past, I would help you drive them away and take you with me, never letting you be bullied again." The words she had spoken yesterday echoed in her mind. Jiang Li stared blankly. "But... you didn’t come with me."

"How could that be?" Ji Heng replied. "Haven’t I been walking with you all along?"

Perhaps this was how fate had woven their lives together—from that dream, whether real or illusory, she had appeared like an immortal, offering him a moment of warmth. And so, guided by destiny, he had walked step by step until, one day, he stood before her.

Maybe from that moment on, everything had truly started to get better.

Little Ji Heng was still quite adorable back then.

(End of chapter)