The snow swirled endlessly, and icy peaks stood tall. After a month away from Jade Fall Peak, Li Fei finally returned, and an unexpected wave of nostalgia washed over her.
She hastily landed her cloud on the corridor, and the next moment, Zhao Min Shijie hurried out from the central hall. It was the first time Li Fei had ever seen her walk so quickly. The moment Zhao Min saw Li Fei standing on the corridor with a bright smile, her expression lit up with joy, relief, and warmth. "You're finally back," she said gently. "I heard this trial was extremely difficult. Were you hurt?"
Earlier, Li Fei had left a vague letter, mentioning only that she was taken by Elders Guangwei and Dongyang for a trial, without specifying the time or location, which had left Zhao Min deeply worried. Later, she heard that the trial was exceptionally perilous, even involving magical combat, with life-threatening dangers at every turn. Zhao Min hadn’t slept well since.
Li Fei stepped forward and took her hand, warmth filling her heart. "Shijie, I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry."
Zhao Min studied her—her eyes were clear and bright, the childishness from before greatly diminished. The faint melancholy that once lingered between her brows had vanished, and she seemed to have matured even more. Zhao Min nodded with a smile. "It seems you’ve gained much from this experience. Come, tell me about the trial."
The initial meeting between the Mountain Sect and the Ocean Sect had gone far more smoothly and harmoniously than expected. News of their interactions would no longer be suppressed. Before this, various Immortals of the Mountain Sect had already heard rumors—that the Ocean Sect could command monstrous creatures and that their disciples excelled in magical combat. The Central Land Immortals grew restless, and many had secretly sought out the founders of the Academy to act as intermediaries, hoping to establish connections with the Ocean Sect. Zuoqiu Xiansheng, in particular, had been swamped with requests lately.
Li Fei recounted all the fascinating things she had encountered or heard about during the trial. When she mentioned the various exotic goods sold at the stalls in the Guangshenghui town, Zhao Min suddenly interjected, "Those fierce deity masks were likely used in coastal rituals long ago. I’ve heard Master speak of the Yaksa. A thousand years ago, during the Sea Fall, a Celestial from No Moon Court once severed a Yaksha Horn, but the Celestial was gravely wounded and never recovered. He left to search for miraculous herbs but never returned. Master sighs every time he mentions him."
Li Fei gasped. "Do fierce deities like the Yaksa truly exist? Shijie, you know about the Sea Fall too?"
Zhao Min nodded slightly. "I arrived decades before you, so naturally, I know much more. Besides, Master is a Celestial who enjoys studying such peculiar things. Those beings are less like deities and more like Otherkin from beyond the sea. After the Sea Fall descends, who knows how many will survive?"
Seeing Li Fei’s pale face, Zhao Min assumed she was frightened and chuckled. "Young disciples are always the most protected, no matter where they are. What are you afraid of? It’s the elders and Celestials who should be worried. Besides, I’ve heard that countless omens appear before the Sea Fall, giving people time to prepare. Don’t overthink it."
Li Fei had only meant to share amusing tales of the Eastern Sea, never expecting to stir up such unsettling topics. She wanted to hear more but was also afraid to. Just as she was about to change the subject, Zhao Min’s expression suddenly turned cold. She stood abruptly, her sleeve falling to shield Li Fei behind her as she whispered, "Stay back."Li Fei was taken aback when she suddenly heard the sound of wind howling outside, as if someone had landed on the corridor. Immediately after, a somewhat familiar male voice called out, "Shimei Zhaomin, I acquired a branch of white gourd the other day and thought you might like it."
Zhaomin frowned and slowly walked out of the central hall, clasping her hands together in a respectful bow. "Thank you for your kind thoughts, Qin Shixiong, but I cannot accept such a gift without merit. Please take it back."
Qin Shixiong? Li Fei racked her brain, feeling like she should remember him.
The Qin Shixiong smiled warmly. "Shimei Zhaomin, why are you always so cold? But I know that’s not truly how you feel—otherwise, you wouldn’t have smiled so sweetly at me last time."
Zhaomin replied indifferently, "Qin Shixiong, please behave with propriety. If you have no business here, I must ask you to leave. I cannot entertain you further."
His voice softened with affection. "Shimei Zhaomin, if you would just smile at me once more, I would do anything for you."
Zhaomin’s frown deepened, her tone icy. "It is already dusk, nearing the hour of Xu. With our master still in seclusion, what reason does Qin Shixiong, a lone man, have to visit my Jade Fall Peak at such an hour? Tomorrow, I will report this matter to Zheng Xu Zhang Lao."
Qin Shixiong took a step back, his voice still gentle. "My apologies for the intrusion. Shimei Zhaomin is pure as ice—how could I dare to offend? However, there is clearly someone else in the central hall. Could it be that Shimei has a guest? It seems I have interrupted a private rendezvous. My sincerest apologies."
Private rendezvous? What nonsense! This man was truly skilled at twisting words. His silver tongue immediately reminded Li Fei of who he was—Qin Yangling, the Qin Shixiong they had encountered on their way back from Chestnut Blaze Valley. Strange—hadn’t Deng Xiguang said he and Le Cailing were lovers? Why was he now pestering Zhao Min Shijie?
Zhaomin didn’t lose her temper. Instead, she let out a light laugh. "Qin Shixiong truly has an eye for refined pleasures. In that case, I won’t see you out. Farewell."
Qin Yangling finally left in a huff. Zhaomin walked back with a frown, noticing Li Fei’s stare. For once, a trace of scorn and sharpness appeared on her face. "Li Fei, remember this: under Zheng Xu Zhang Lao, there is a male disciple named Qin Yangling. This man is utterly licentious and absurd. You must never go near him."
Li Fei forced a laugh and recounted her previous encounters with Qin Yangling and Le Cailing. The more she spoke, the more disdainful Zhaomin’s expression became. Finally, she sighed and shook her head. "That Le Shimei… what a pity. She will likely never have the chance to practice Elder Qing Yue’s Celestial Zither Technique again. The worst thing for a woman is to encounter such a man—half a lifetime can be ruined in an instant."
Li Fei asked curiously, "Why can’t she practice it anymore? If it’s the Mute Immortal Technique, she can just start over, can’t she?"
Zhaomin lowered her head in thought, her expression slightly embarrassed. "Since you’re older now, you should know certain things. Elder Qing Yue’s Celestial Zither Technique must be practiced while one is still a maiden. Once cultivation begins, one must not speak to men for thirty years, and for the rest of one’s life, no intimacy with men is permitted. Qin Yangling is said to be well-versed in certain Dual Cultivation methods. If that Le Shimei has been with him, she has likely already…"
Li Fei felt like she had heard the term "Dual Cultivation" somewhere before, but seeing Zhao Min Shijie’s rare display of embarrassment, she guessed it wasn’t something she should ask about. She could only ponder it silently."Although we cultivators are not bound by worldly etiquette, most women still hold their purity in high regard. If they meet a cultivation partner who reciprocates their feelings, that's one thing. But the worst is encountering those with wolfish hearts and dog-lunged cruelty. If one loves too deeply, such experiences can entangle into a love tribulation, which would be disastrous."
Li Fei fell silent.
Her hand suddenly warmed as Zhaomin took it, gazing at her tenderly with a soft smile before whispering, "Li Fei, your expression is different now. It seems Lei Xiuyuan treats you extremely well. I'm relieved."
She could tell even that?! Li Fei touched her face. "I... I don't feel any change?"
Zhaomin smiled gently. "Silly child, a woman's happiness is visible at a glance. Alright, it's late. Go rest now—you have cultivation practice tomorrow morning."
Happiness? After bathing, Li Fei draped her damp hair over the bedpost to dry while scrutinizing herself in the bronze mirror. She looked no different from a few months ago—how had her senior sister detected her happiness?
As she was about to put the mirror away, a Purple Jade Cricket tumbled from her sleeve. Li Fei's expression instantly darkened, her lips unconsciously pressing together as if the bite's sharp pain still lingered. After a long pause, she suddenly grabbed the cricket, walked to the dressing table, and opened the jewelry box. At the very bottom lay a Lacquer Wood Comb. She placed the cricket beside it, firmly shut the lid, and sealed it away—out of sight, out of mind.
She truly didn’t want to remember. Li Fei sighed helplessly. This time, Ji Tongzhou had genuinely terrified her. He had left abruptly, leaving her clutching her bloodied mouth, her clothes and hands stained crimson, while countless onlookers stared. In that moment, she had wished to vanish into the ground.
In the end, it was Lei Xiuyuan who cast the Healing net for her. She had expected his anger, but he said nothing—only held her tightly, gently stroking her back to soothe her.
Sitting blankly on the bed’s edge, Li Fei felt a storm of emotions: fury, bewilderment, regret, and sorrow. She couldn’t even define her own state of mind.
She had lost a friend. That proud, radiant young lord, bright as the sun, was gone forever.
Shaking off thoughts of Ji Tongzhou, she rose to extinguish the lamp—only to notice a new letter beside it. The pristine white envelope bore no Celestial Spell Mark from Star Rectitude Hall. Her tense heart settled at once, and she exhaled in quiet relief.
Opening it, she found only a sparse handful of words: "I await you at Ruzhi Peak."
Was it Lei Xiuyuan? Li Fei sprang from the bed, dressed swiftly, and swept a layer of Li Fire Art over herself—her damp hair dried instantly. Too impatient to style it properly, she loosely tied it back with a ribbon before pushing open the window and soaring silently into the night.
Ruzhi Peak was closest to Jade Fall Peak; she arrived in the blink of an eye. From afar, she spotted Lei Xiuyuan’s figure swallowed by the vast darkness. He had been waiting long enough for two delicate patches of snow to gather on his shoulders. Landing hurriedly before him, Li Fei brushed the snow away, apologetic. "I’m sorry—I just saw the letter. Have you been here long?"
Lei Xiuyuan pinched her cheek lightly. "I thought I’d be waiting all night."Li Fei smiled and looped her arm through his as they sat side by side on the bluestone. She was just about to tell him about Qin Yangling and Le Cailing when he suddenly spoke up: "I'm going to Cinnabar Cave tomorrow. I'll probably be gone for a month or two."
A month or two... Li Fei's face immediately fell. For cultivators like them, a month or two was practically no time at all. But Lei Xiuyuan had just returned and was already leaving for Cinnabar Cave. They had only just reunited, and parting now was especially hard. Even a single day apart would feel unbearable, let alone a month or two.
"What's with that expression?" Lei Xiuyuan covered her face with his hand. "It's awful."
Li Fei felt a flash of irritation, but it quickly faded. She realized she didn't know what to say to him. Should she tell him to cultivate well? Or to take care of himself? She had always been too shy to voice her feelings of admiration or longing, always telling herself, "I'll say it next time." But there was always another "next time."
She rested her head lightly against his shoulder and murmured, "I'll miss you, Xiu Yuan."
He traced the curve of her cheek with his fingers and chuckled. "Then miss me a little more."
She nodded when he least expected it. "Mm, I will."
Lei Xiuyuan suddenly wrapped his arms around her, kissed her forehead, and added, "When I come back, I'll be a Direct disciple. You'll have to call me Senior Brother Lei from then on, understand?"
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