Snowflakes danced in the air as ice peaks stood tall. After a month away, Li Fei finally returned to Falling Jade Peak, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
She hastily landed her cloud in the corridor. A moment later, Senior Sister Zhao Min quickly walked out from the central hall. It was the first time Li Fei had seen her move so fast. Seeing Li Fei standing in the corridor with a smile, Zhao Min’s expression brightened with relief and contentment. She said warmly, “You’re finally back. I heard this trial was extremely difficult. Were you injured?”
Earlier, Li Fei had left a vague message saying she was going on a trial with Elders Guang Wei and Dong Yang, without mentioning the time or place, which had worried Zhao Min. Later, hearing that the trial was exceptionally challenging, involving combat and life-threatening situations, Zhao Min hadn’t slept well for days.
Li Fei stepped forward and held her hand, feeling a warmth in her heart. She smiled, “Senior Sister, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Zhao Min saw that her eyes were bright and clear. This journey seemed to have reduced her childishness significantly. The melancholy that once lingered between her brows had disappeared, and she appeared to have matured considerably. Zhao Min nodded with a smile, “It seems you’ve benefited greatly. Come, tell me about this trial.”
The Mountain-Sea Gathering had gone even more smoothly and harmoniously than expected. The news of interaction between the Mountain and Sea factions would no longer be suppressed. Before this, various immortal sects of the Mountain faction had already heard about it. It was said that the Sea faction could tame spirit beasts, and their disciples were all skilled in combat magic. The immortals of the Central Plains were eager to establish connections with the Sea faction. Some had already secretly approached the academy founders to arrange introductions. Master Zuoqiu seemed to be extremely busy lately.
Li Fei shared all the interesting experiences and stories from the trial with Zhao Min. When she mentioned the various overseas items sold at the small stalls in the town of Guang Sheng Hui, Zhao Min suddenly interjected, “Those fierce god masks were probably used for rituals by coastal people long ago. I’ve heard Master mention Yaksha. A thousand years ago, during the Sea Calamity, an immortal from Wu Yue Yan once cut off a Yaksha’s horn. Unfortunately, that immortal was also severely injured and never returned after leaving to search for celestial herbs. Master always sighs when mentioning him.”
Li Fei exclaimed in surprise, “Do Yakshas and other fierce gods exist? Senior Sister, you also know about the Sea Calamity?”
Zhao Min nodded slightly, “I came here decades before you, so naturally, I know much more. And Master likes to research these strange and unusual things. Those beings are less like fierce gods and more like foreign races from overseas. After the Sea Calamity descended, who knows how many will survive this time.”
Seeing Li Fei’s face turn pale, thinking she was afraid, Zhao Min immediately smiled, “Young disciples are always the most valued and protected, no matter where they are. What are you afraid of? The ones who should be afraid are the elders and immortals. Besides, I’ve heard that before the Sea Calamity descends, there will be numerous strange phenomena in the world, giving time for preparations. Don’t think too much about it.”
Li Fei had originally intended to share interesting stories about the East Sea but unexpectedly brought up these unsettling topics. She both wanted to hear more and feared hearing more. Just as she was about to change the subject, she saw Zhao Min’s expression suddenly turn cold. Zhao Min abruptly stood up, using her sleeve to shield Li Fei behind her, and said in a low voice, “Don’t come out.”
Li Fei was startled. Suddenly, she heard the sound of wind whistling outside as if someone had landed on the corridor. Then, a somewhat familiar male voice called out, “Junior Sister Zhao Min, I recently obtained a branch of the white elm tree. I thought you might like it.”
Zhao Min frowned, slowly walking out of the central hall. She clasped her hands together in a salute, “Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Qin, but I cannot accept gifts without merit. Please take it back.”
Senior Brother Qin? Li Fei tried hard to remember, feeling like she had an impression of him.
Senior Brother Qin said with a smile, “Junior Sister Zhao Min, why are you always so cold? But I know you’re not like this inside. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have smiled at me so warmly last time.”
Zhao Min replied coolly, “Senior Brother Qin, please show some respect. If there’s nothing else, please leave promptly. I cannot entertain you further.”
Senior Brother Qin’s voice became very gentle and affectionate, “Junior Sister Zhao Min, I’d do anything just to see you smile at me again.”
Zhao Min’s frown deepened, and she said coldly, “It’s between the hours of You and Xu now, and it’s already dark. Master is still in seclusion. Senior Brother Qin, what reason do you have to come to Falling Jade Peak alone as a man? I will certainly report this to Elder Zheng Xu tomorrow.”
Senior Brother Qin stepped back twice, but his voice remained gentle, “I was too abrupt. Junior Sister Zhao Min is as pure as ice and jade, how dare I offend you? However, there’s someone else in the central hall. Does Junior Sister Zhao Min have a guest? It seems I’ve interrupted your private meeting. I sincerely apologize.”
What a private meeting! This person was talking nonsense! With such a talent for twisting facts and eloquent speech, Li Fei suddenly remembered who he was. It was Senior Brother Qin Yang Ling, whom she had encountered when returning from Shu Lie Valley. Strange, didn’t Deng Xi Guang say he had become a lover of Le Cai Ling? Why was he now pestering Senior Sister Zhao Min?
Zhao Min didn’t get angry. Instead, she let out a light laugh, “Senior Brother Qin truly has refined tastes. Well then, I won’t see you out. Farewell.”
Qin Yang Ling finally left reluctantly. Zhao Min returned with a frown. Seeing Li Fei staring at her, a rare expression of contempt and sarcasm appeared on her face, “Li Fei, remember this well. There’s a male disciple under Elder Zheng Xu named Qin Yang Ling. He’s licentious and unreliable. You must never get close to him.”
Li Fei gave a dry laugh and recounted her previous entanglement with Qin Yang Ling and Le Cai Ling. As Zhao Min listened, her expression of contempt grew heavier. Finally, she shook her head and sighed, “That Junior Sister Le, what a pity. I’m afraid she’ll never have the chance to practice Elder Qing Le’s celestial zither technique again. The thing women fear most is encountering such men. It can ruin half their lives.”
Li Fei asked curiously, “Why can’t she practice anymore? Can’t she just start over with that closed-mouth immortal technique?”
Zhao Min lowered her head in thought, her face somewhat gloomy, “You’re grown up now, so you should know some things. Elder Qing Le’s celestial zither technique must be practiced with a virgin body. Once you start practicing, you can’t speak to men for a total of thirty years, and afterward, you can never be intimate with men for the rest of your life. I’ve heard that Qin Yang Ling is quite versed in some dual cultivation techniques. That Junior Sister Le, being with him, I’m afraid she has already…”
Li Fei felt like she had heard the term “dual cultivation” somewhere before, but seeing Senior Sister Zhao Min’s gloomy expression, she thought it might not be appropriate to ask about it, so she just pondered silently.
“Although we cultivators aren’t bound by worldly etiquette, most women still value their purity highly. If they meet a mutually agreeable Dao partner, that’s fine. The worst is encountering those with wolf hearts and dog lungs. If the feelings are too deep, such experiences might become emotional tribulations, which would be terrible.”
Li Fei fell silent, feeling gloomy.
She felt a warmth on her hand as Zhao Min held it, looking at her tenderly with a smile. Suddenly, she said softly, “Li Fei, your expression is different from before. It seems Lei Xiuyuan treats you very well. I’m relieved.”
How could she tell from that?! Li Fei touched her face, “I… I didn’t notice any change?”
Zhao Min smiled slightly, “Silly child, you can tell at a glance whether a woman is happy. Alright, it’s late. Go rest quickly. You still have cultivation practice in the morning.”
Happy? Li Fei took a bath, letting her wet long hair spread out on the bedhead to dry. She kept looking at herself in the bronze mirror, thinking she looked no different from a few months ago. How did Senior Sister see that she was happy?
Just as she was about to put the bronze mirror away, a purple jade cricket fell from her sleeve. Li Fei’s expression changed instantly, and she instinctively covered her lips. The intense pain from the bite seemed to linger. She stared blankly for a while, then suddenly grabbed the jade cricket, walked to the dressing table, and opened the jewelry box. At the bottom lay a lacquered wooden comb. She put the cricket together with the comb, closed the box again, and sealed it completely. Out of sight, out of mind.
She didn’t want to think about it. Li Fei couldn’t help but sigh. This time, she had been genuinely terrified by Ji Tongzhou. He left directly, leaving her covering her bloody mouth, with blood stains on her clothes and hands, countless people staring at her. At that moment, she truly wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
In the end, it was Lei Xiuyuan who set up the healing net for her. She thought he would be angry, but he didn’t say anything. He just held her tightly, gently stroking her back to comfort her.
Li Fei sat dazedly on the edge of the bed, her heart alternating between extreme annoyance, extreme confusion, regret, and pain. She couldn’t quite describe her feelings.
From now on, she had lost a friend. That proud and cheerful young prince, as bright as the sun, was gone forever.
Not wanting to think about Ji Tongzhou anymore, she got up to blow out the lamp on the table. However, she noticed a new letter next to the oil lamp. The snow-white envelope bore no magical mark from the Star Zheng Hall. Li Fei’s raised heart immediately settled, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Opening the envelope, she saw only a few sparse words inside: “I’m waiting for you at Ru Zhi Peak.”
Was it Lei Xiuyuan? Li Fei jumped up from the bed, quickly put on her clothes, and passed a layer of fire spell over her body, instantly drying her wet hair. She didn’t bother to style it, just loosely tied it with a ribbon, then quietly flew out on a cloud after opening the window.
Ru Zhi Peak was closest to Falling Jade Peak, and she arrived in the blink of an eye. From afar, Li Fei saw Lei Xiuyuan’s figure engulfed in the vast night. He had been waiting for an unknown time, with two thin patches of snow on his shoulders. Li Fei hurriedly landed in front of him, raising her hand to brush off the snow, full of apology: “I’m sorry, I just saw it. Have you been here long?”
Lei Xiuyuan pinched her face, “I thought I’d have to wait all night.”
Li Fei smiled and linked her arm with his. They sat side by side on a blue stone. Li Fei was about to tell him about Qin Yang Ling and Le Cai Ling when he suddenly spoke, “I’m going to Dan Xue tomorrow. I’ll be gone for about a month or two.”
A month or two… Li Fei’s face immediately drooped. Actually, one or two months was nothing for cultivators, but Lei Xiuyuan had just returned and was now leaving for Dan Xue. They had just been together, and it was a time when they were reluctant to part. Even not seeing each other for a day would be difficult, let alone one or two months.
“What kind of expression is that?” Lei Xiuyuan covered her face with his hand. “It looks terrible.”
Li Fei was a bit annoyed, but suddenly she wasn’t angry anymore. 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 express her love or longing, always telling herself “next time,” and after the next time, there was always another next time.
She gently rested her head on his shoulder and said softly, “I’ll miss you, Xiuyuan.”
He caressed the contours of her face and chuckled, “Then miss me a lot.”
She had thought she wouldn’t answer, but she nodded, “Mm, I will.”
Lei Xiuyuan suddenly opened his arms and embraced her, kissing her forehead lightly. Then he said, “After this trip, I’ll be a personal disciple. From now on, you’ll have to call me Senior Brother Lei, understand?”