That night, Ming Li didn’t dream of Zhou Zixi, but instead dreamed of everyday moments from her childhood when she went out with her elder brother.

At that time, her brother was just twelve years old, and she was ten. They had only reconciled recently and still felt somewhat awkward with each other. Their father had a pang of conscience, realizing that not having time to be with his children had led to the siblings’ discord, so he specifically brought them along on this outing.

They went to a place far from Bei Dou. There were vast terraced fields, layer upon layer extending into the distance. Spring water flowed for irrigation as people worked the fields, hoeing weeds and transplanting rice seedlings, living busy yet fulfilling days.

Beside the terraced fields was a tea garden. The fragrant new tea buds were the reason for her father’s visit. His friend had retired here to grow tea—tea with a natural fragrance that was not only remarkably effective for cultivators with damaged star meridians but also had invigorating, mind-clearing, and calming effects for ordinary people.

Ming Li stood on the ridge of the terraced field, looking down with furrowed brows at her skirt hem stained with weeds and soil, refusing to move from where she stood.

Her brother, who had already gone ahead to frolic in the tea garden, looked back to find his sister missing. He returned and asked Ming Li, who was standing motionless on the field ridge, “Why are you standing there not moving?”

Ming Li lifted her skirt with both hands and raised her head to indicate to him: “There’s mud on the ground. My skirt will get dirty.”

Her brother: “Can’t you just fly over with the swift wind?”

Ming Li gave him a cold, indifferent look. That disdainful gaze always made the veins on her brother’s forehead bulge.

Seeing her brother still wearing that expression of “What? Am I wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to fight? But you’re my sister, and I’m big-hearted enough not to fight with you,” Ming Li finally said. “Father said we’re not allowed to use star meridian power here.”

Only then did her brother suddenly understand.

Ming Li wore an expression that said, “Just go away. I don’t want to talk to an idiot.”

Before the age of sixteen, Ming Li was extremely picky, arrogant, sharp-tongued, quick to resort to violence, and occasionally relentless when enraged.

She was a very disagreeable child with a vicious temperament.

The Bei Dou Sect Leader said she was like an untamed divine weapon, yet oddly enough, everyone at Bei Dou doted on her, each grateful that Ming Li never lost her temper or raised her hand against them.

Back then, only her Senior Brother Chen Zhou could keep her in check.

Her elder brother was the one who had the least control over her.

Seeing Ming Li standing there unwilling to move, her brother was somewhat troubled. His handsome face, still with a hint of childishness, wrinkled slightly as he stepped forward: “Then I’ll carry you on my back.”

Ming Li: “Won’t you take the opportunity to drop me?”

Her brother, crouching down in front of her, turned his head to glare at her. “Father is still ahead. Would I dare do that?”

Ming Li: “You wouldn’t dare, so that’s indeed what you’re thinking.”

Her brother felt his temple throbbing and said irritably, “Hurry up and get on. If we miss the picking time, remember Father said if you want tea, you have to pick it yourself.”

Ming Li gave a light snort, put her arms around her brother’s neck, and leaned against him, reminding him: “My skirt.”

“I’m watching it. It won’t fall or get dirty,” her brother said as he carried her forward. “Is this your only skirt?”

“Of course not,” Ming Li said. “Senior Brother and Aunt Qu bought me many, and so did Qing Ying, and even Father has given me some.”

Her brother took a big stride across a small ditch ahead, saying at the same time: “I’ve given you some too!”

Ming Li: “You haven’t.”

Her brother: “I have!”

Ming Li tilted her head to look at him: “When did you ever?”

Her brother said seriously: “The outfit you wore when you came to Aunt Qu’s for dinner the day before last year’s New Year’s Eve—I bought that.”

Ming Li said abruptly, “Wasn’t that from Qing Ying?”

Her brother: “…”

He fell silent, and so did his sister.

After a moment of silence, her brother slowly said, “Earlier this year, Sun Jinhu from the Xuanji Academy came to apologize to me about the martial arts competition.”

Ming Li rested on his back, eyes closed, feeling the spring breeze on her face: “What does that have to do with me?”

Her brother patiently explained: “Qing Ying said you beat him up, and that’s why he came to apologize to me.”

Ming Li opened her eyes, her childish face carrying a hint of gloom: “I beat him up because his intentions were wicked.”

Her brother continued: “In the future, when I give you things, I’ll do so openly in my name as your brother.”

Later, he kept his word.

And Bei Dou’s divine weapon remained untamed, yet on some later day, she suddenly learned self-restraint, completely departing from her younger self, transforming into something else.

It was when Ming Li turned sixteen and became a pilgrim that her personality drastically changed.

At first, people were confused and found it hard to adapt, but only her brother had no trouble getting along with her. After all, no matter how his sister changed, he was still Ming Li’s elder brother.

*

Ming Li woke up with a slightly dazed look.

Last night, knowing Zhou Zixi was in the room, she had said those things. Though he didn’t materialize, she had expected him to enter her dreams as usual. Who would have thought that this time her Yin Meridian couldn’t connect to the dreamscape, and instead, she dreamed of her elder brother.

Since her brother was not a Bei Dou disciple, she couldn’t learn of his recent situation from the Bei Dou base.

Her brother loved to roam freely north and south, and it was common to have no news of him for months. But with Bei Dou experiencing such a major catastrophe—his sister dead, his father seriously injured—he should stay at Bei Dou for a longer time, right?

Ming Li sat up and rubbed her eyes. If she had risked meeting Senior Brother Fu Yuan that night, she would likely have been discovered by Cui Yaocen, and all Bei Dou disciples hidden in Nan Que would have suffered consequences.

Bei Dou was too far from Nan Que. None of the seven sects could arrive within three breaths, except for her at her peak.

She needed to quickly confirm whether Qing Ying had truly been used as Jiang Ying’s catalyst.

At least it was a fact that Cui Yaocen had treated Jiang Ying’s reverse-flowing star meridians.

Nan Que’s Spirit Calming Bell rang precisely at the Chen hour.

The bell reminded disciples to rise early for cultivation, but Ming Li lay in bed without moving, counting the bell tolls in her heart: one, two, three… Someone came to knock on her door.

Cheng Jingbai called from outside: “Zhou Li! I have an earth-shattering secret—come out quickly!”

Ming Li had just sat up when she heard Dou Lanmin loudly announcing from outside: “Qian Li has been taken as Saint Cui’s disciple!”

Cheng Jingbai, who was about to reveal the earth-shattering secret, held back his breath and chased after Dou Lanmin: “…You stole my line again! You’re dead, you swindler!”

Ming Li opened the door and saw Qiu Hong.

Qiu Hong asked her: “Is Qian Li even more powerful than you?”

Ming Li casually replied: “Perhaps.”

Qiu Hong scratched his head, doubtfully saying: “It wasn’t obvious during the mountain challenge. If I had to guess who Saint Cui would take as a disciple, I would have thought it would be you.”

Hearing this, Ming Li shook her head and said, “Please don’t disgust me.”

Qiu Hong was bewildered. How was this disgusting?!

Being taken as a disciple by one of the continent’s only five top experts was disgusting?

Qiu Hong didn’t understand but was greatly shocked by Ming Li’s reaction.

Ming Li didn’t have much reaction to Qian Li becoming Cui Yaocen’s disciple, showing at most a little surprise. At the current stage, if Qian Li could receive Cui Yaocen’s guidance, his cultivation would naturally progress smoothly, and he would have a powerful backing against the Jiang family.

However, the reason Cui Yaocen would take Qian Li as her disciple was likely not so simple.

“When did this happen?” Ming Li closed the door and walked downstairs.

Qiu Hong said, “Last night. The new dormitory is indeed where news spreads fastest. You didn’t know because you returned very late last night.”

Everyone passing by Ming Li was discussing this matter. Cui Yaocen currently had no disciples, and Qian Li was the first. Previously, everyone thought Cui Yaocen didn’t take disciples or that her standards were too high. How many people secretly hoped to catch Saint Cui’s eye?

People who had been in Nan Que for many years all wanted to become Saint Cui’s first disciple, only to have it snatched by a newcomer who had just entered.

And the protagonist of their discussion was standing outside the new dormitory gate, eagerly looking at the entrance until he spotted Ming Li coming out, then revealed a joyous smile, frantically waving to her.

*

Only after the Spirit Calming Bell quieted did Jiang Ying rise from behind the curtains. She discovered that the person who had slept beside her last night had already gotten up at some unknown time and was now wearing an outer robe, leaning by the window, watching the sunrise.

Cui Yuanxi was slightly cold when silent, his gaze toward the window betraying unknown thoughts. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if troubled by something.

Jiang Ying lifted the curtain and asked: “What are you thinking about?”

Cui Yuanxi turned to look back, the severity in his brow and eyes softening, becoming gentle: “Nothing.”

When facing Jiang Ying, he was always tender and considerate, accommodating her in everything. In their more than ten years together, this had become his habit.

Jiang Ying raised her head and smiled at Cui Yuanxi, walking barefoot toward him. She reached out to embrace her fiancé’s neck, leaning into his arms. Feeling him raise his hand to embrace her in return, she narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

But she smelled a familiar scent on him—the scent of the person who had given her new life.

The smile in Jiang Ying’s eyes disappeared as she rested her forehead against Cui Yuanxi’s heart, saying softly, “Have you started having trouble sleeping again recently?”

“Occasionally,” Cui Yuanxi said, stroking her cool, long hair, wearily resting his head on her shoulder. “It’s just that I’ve been too busy lately and haven’t rested well. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Ying said, “You are the young master of Nan Que. All of Nan Que’s affairs, big and small, need your attention. If you’re too tired, let others help for a while. Hasn’t Saint Cui returned?”

Cui Yuanxi said softly, “Elder Sister has other matters to attend to.”

Jiang Ying smiled: “Is she busy dealing with the Jiang family?”

Cui Yuanxi’s hand, which had been gently stroking her long hair, paused as he straightened up to look down at her.

“A person with such high standards as Saint Cui, why would she suddenly take a disciple who has only awakened six meridians? And coincidentally, he’s also from the Zhao family.” Jiang Ying continued unhurriedly, her head still against his chest. “That day, it was also Saint Cui who personally brought Zhao Qianli back to Nan Que. I couldn’t accomplish any of the tasks the Jiang family entrusted to me. Even though I can cultivate now, in the eyes of the Jiang family, I’m probably still the useless person who couldn’t accomplish anything before.”

Cui Yuanxi listened with furrowed brows, reaching out to cup her face. Jiang Ying gazed at him intensely: “I couldn’t even protect the bracelet you gave me from being stolen. Being so useless, do you regret curing me?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Cui Yuanxi’s fingertips caressed her warm face, though the first thing that came to his mind was the coldness of a porcelain beauty. Suppressing the irritation in his heart, he said patiently, “Elder Sister is targeting the Jiang Clan, not you.”

“As for that bracelet…” Cui Yuanxi lowered his eyelashes, his words carrying a hint of gloom, “Who took it?”

Jiang Ying tilted her head to nuzzle against his palm, her gentle voice tinged with melancholy: “Yuanxi, now you are the only one I can rely on in this world. You are my most beloved, my dearest person. Those unbearably painful days are behind us. My reverse-flowing star meridians have been completely cured by Saint Cui. You no longer need to worry about that. Can we live more freely and happily?”

Cui Yuanxi had received the promise he had once dreamed of, yet felt not a trace of excitement or wild joy. Instead, he was completely calm, as if he had long known this day would come. But with certain things changed, this seemed no longer to be what he wanted.

Yet he didn’t say so. He allowed himself to follow his former thoughts and smile, his appearance and bones all displaying a semblance of happiness.

Cui Yuanxi said, “Alright.”