That hand grew even angrier, pinching viciously on her forearm. The pain made her cry out and wake up.

A buzzing sound rose around her, followed by silence. Hu Sha looked around in confusion and found countless pairs of eyes staring at her—some astonished, some contemptuous, some incredulous, some gleeful at her misfortune.

It took her quite a while to understand that this was roll call lecture time, the Patriarch was preaching about the Dao above, yet she had sat on the meditation cushion unable to hold on and fallen asleep.

Hu Sha had always been a conscientious good child. She felt deeply remorseful about her laziness and quickly lowered her head, making herself as small as possible, hoping no one would see her.

However, her wishful thinking was wrong. The golden, radiant Patriarch sitting at the very top clearly didn’t intend to let her off. He spoke in a deep voice, “Why this commotion? Fang Zhun, is that your disciple?”

Her delicate, slender master was implicated by her embarrassment and bowed slightly, “This disciple has been lax in discipline. Please punish me, Master.”

Jinting Patriarch said indifferently, “Very well. If there is no sincerity, one might as well sleep at home rather than coming specially to disturb others’ cultivation during roll call lectures.”

Muffled laughter immediately spread through the great hall in waves. Hu Sha wished she could bury herself under the meditation cushion to avoid such public humiliation. Well, actually, her own embarrassment wasn’t much—the key issue was that she had caused her master to be scolded innocently too. His health wasn’t good. If she made his illness worse from anger, wouldn’t that be utterly unfilial?

The more Hu Sha thought about it, the more depressed she became. Her arm was suddenly supported, and Eldest Martial Brother’s cold voice sounded in her ear, “Sit up straight! Don’t let others see you as a joke!”

She had no choice but to pull herself together and straighten her back. Eldest Martial Brother sat right beside her on the left—the person who had just pinched her arm must have been him. He really struck hard—her arm still ached faintly even now. Hu Sha became even more convinced of one fact: Eldest Martial Brother was a demon. This morning he nearly tortured her to the point of fainting, and now he was pinching her flesh again.

Whatever the golden, radiant Patriarch said on the platform afterward, Hu Sha didn’t hear a single word. She was anxious and uneasy, not knowing how Master would punish her later.

She barely endured until the lecture ended. Hu Sha walked out of the great hall with her head lowered, following behind Feng Di. People kept pointing at her and whispering. Two young ladies spoke especially loudly, “That person is the new disciple Master Grand-Uncle Fang Zhun accepted! She actually secretly slept during the lecture—she has no sincerity at all. She made everyone from Zhiyan Retreat lose face because of her. Master Grand-Uncle and the Master Uncles are so pitiful…”

Hu Sha lowered her head even more, wishing she could shrink behind Feng Di and become a shadow that wouldn’t come out.

Feng Yi’s lazy voice suddenly came from behind, “Speaking ill behind people’s backs is what’s truly shameful. I don’t know which martial brothers and sisters have had their faces completely disgraced by certain people.”

Those two young ladies immediately looked bitter and turned to leave. Hu Sha was extremely moved. She turned around, looking at Feng Yi with shining eyes. He lazily stroked his chin with his fingers and said lightly, “Fool, what are you looking at? Sleeping during lectures isn’t shameful. Being mocked and still acting pitiful—that’s shameful. Do you still need your martial brother to stand up for you and demand justice?”

Hu Sha laughed dryly twice, not knowing what to say. Walking ahead, Feng Di glanced at her expressionlessly, “…It’s because your cultivation is insufficient. After you return, you must cultivate stability of character. Meditate in your room until noon and don’t come out.”

This time it was Hu Sha’s turn to look bitter.

“Feng Di, Hu Sha has no foundation. You mustn’t be too hasty, or it will only have the opposite effect.” Fang Zhun’s gentle voice rang out. The three immediately turned back and bowed respectfully.

Feng Di said lightly, “Master, they say without strictness one cannot cultivate talent. This disciple doesn’t dare be negligent.”

Fang Zhun smiled slightly, “Being overly harsh isn’t good either. Have you forgotten how I taught you and Feng Yi back then?”

Feng Di lowered his head, “This disciple knows his error.”

The demon martial brother was reproached by Master! Hu Sha was so moved tears welled up in her eyes. Having a master made one precious indeed! Master, Master, Master—the best in the world was still Master!

Fang Zhun lifted his hand and touched Hu Sha’s head affectionately, “It must be very uncomfortable just arriving here, right? It’s alright, after some time it will be better. Eldest Martial Brother is also doing this for your own good. Don’t resent him.”

Hu Sha nodded repeatedly. In her eyes, her master’s image became incomparably tall and radiant.

Fang Zhun patted her shoulder and turned to leave. Suddenly thinking of something, he turned back and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “If you’re hungry, find your Second Martial Brother.” Hu Sha couldn’t help but be stunned. When she looked up again, a mischievous smile hung at the corner of his lips. He winked at her and turned to walk away.

What did that sentence mean? Hu Sha looked back at Feng Yi in puzzlement. He was lazily yawning, listlessly spacing out.

“…Feng Yi, Hu Sha, you two return to Zhiyan Retreat. Feng Yi, remember to supervise her meditation. Don’t let her leave until noon.” Feng Di dropped this sentence and turned to leave as well.

Feng Yi sighed, “Martial Brother.”

“What is it?”

“Where are you going?”

“The Wuqu Department.”

Feng Yi pointed in the opposite direction from where he was headed, “The Wuqu Department is over there. You’ve gone the wrong way again.”

Feng Di stiffened, then said coldly, “…I naturally know! No need to say more! Hurry up and go.”

Feng Yi shook his head, took Hu Sha’s sleeve, and walked backward a couple of steps. Watching Feng Di hesitate at the fork in the road and turn, he put his hand to his mouth and called loudly, “Go right! You’re wrong again!”

Feng Di turned back with a cold face and glared at him, but finally walked away.

Who would have thought that Eldest Martial Brother, who looked so wise and mighty, would actually be this directionally challenged? Hu Sha sighed secretly in her stomach. Indeed, no person is perfect, nor is any immortal perfect.

“Hu Sha.” Second Martial Brother beside her suddenly called her very gently. She immediately felt goosebumps spread from the soles of her feet all the way to the top of her head. She instinctively stepped back and looked at him with slight wariness.

He smiled rather ill-intentionedly, “You’re hungry, aren’t you?”

Hu Sha nodded dejectedly.

Feng Yi looked at her lovingly, touched her little head, and said gently, “Second Martial Brother also feels for you. How about this—if you can maintain meditation until the hour of Shen, I’ll give you something good to eat.”

The hour of Shen? Hu Sha was dumbfounded.

“But… but Eldest Martial Brother said only until noon…”

“That’s Eldest Martial Brother’s rule. If you want to eat something, you must listen to Second Martial Brother’s words. Sit obediently in your room meditating. When the hour of Shen comes and you come out, I’ll give you something to eat.” He frivolously flicked the two small braids hanging over her shoulders. “If I discover you slacked off midway or snuck out, don’t blame Second Martial Brother for bullying you.”

Hu Sha really wanted to faint.

When Master wasn’t home, the martial brothers reigned supreme. She was just unlucky.

Hu Sha’s legs were twisted into a pretzel shape, sitting on the bed covered in cold sweat.

Supposedly this was called “lotus position in full cross-legged meditation”—the most beautiful posture for meditation, also beneficial for disciples with unsettled minds to quickly enter stillness.

How it was beautiful, she couldn’t see. What “entering stillness” was, she was even more completely clueless.

She only knew her legs hurt terribly—her bones were about to break.

Unable to endure anymore, she struggled to open her eyes a crack. She immediately heard Second Martial Brother’s lazy voice in her ear, “Focus your spirit, enter stillness. Don’t open your eyes.”

Hu Sha was about to cry.

This Second Martial Brother was even more terrifying than Eldest Martial Brother. He sat opposite her the entire time staring at her. She couldn’t even twitch her eyebrows.

“Second Martial Brother… I… I can’t take it anymore. My legs hurt so much…” Her voice trembled. She felt that if he didn’t let her return to a normal position soon, her legs would be unusable in the future.

His voice sounded especially gentle, especially affectionate, “Everyone’s like this at first. Do it more and it’ll be fine.”

“But… they’ll really break… this position… this won’t work…” She continued trembling, trembling, trembling.

He closed his eyes and half-reclined in the chair, not moving at all, saying gently, “Good girl, endure a bit more and it’ll be fine.”

A loud shout suddenly came from outside the window, “You two… what are you doing in broad daylight?”

Immediately after, the window was kicked open by someone, raising a cloud of dust. Hu Sha was startled and nearly tumbled off the bed. Looking up, she saw a young lady in a white dress standing outside the window, eyes wide with disbelief as she looked into the room, her face bearing some inexplicable reddish flush.

Feng Yi remained unperturbed, half-lying in his chair, not even moving his eyelids, saying lightly, “What we’re doing—can’t you see for yourself?”

That young lady’s eyes suspiciously darted back and forth between Hu Sha and Feng Yi. Only after seeing Hu Sha’s legs twisted into a pretzel shape did she smile with relief, “What is this? So you’re meditating. Master Uncle Feng Yi is always making mysteries. I thought…”

“Thought what?” He casually continued her sentence, making the young lady’s face redden.

Hu Sha looked at this one and that one in bafflement. She still hadn’t figured out what the current situation was. Suddenly seeing the young lady’s beautiful eyes carefully examining her from top to bottom, Hu Sha couldn’t help but cry out “Ah.”

“It’s you, Immortal Sister from yesterday!” Hu Sha’s eyes immediately brightened. Wasn’t this the immortal lady who raised the monster that she’d met at the forbidden area?

The white-clothed young lady was stunned, “You… we met yesterday?”

“At the forbidden area, don’t you remember?” Hu Sha was very excited, eighty percent of the reason being that she didn’t have to sit cross-legged meditating anymore. She sneakily straightened her legs—it felt heavenly.

The young lady suddenly understood. Somewhat unexpectedly, she examined Hu Sha up and down again, murmuring, “Right, the person Patriarch scolded this morning was you…”

Hu Sha immediately felt unbearably awkward, but saw her suddenly bow respectfully to both her and Feng Yi, “Manqing greets Master Uncle Feng Yi, Master Uncle Hu Sha.”

Hu Sha went from awkwardness to feeling overwhelmed by the honor.

Feng Yi looked somewhat impatient, “Coming to find my martial brother again?”

Manqing’s face reddened, “Yes… yes. Isn’t Master Uncle Feng Di here? I just went to knock on his door, but no one answered.”

Feng Yi nodded, “No wonder. So you ran over to eavesdrop at our rooms and even kicked down a window. With people like you coming to find him every day whether there’s something or not, naturally he won’t stay at Zhiyan Retreat.”

Manqing touched her nose somewhat embarrassedly and said with an apologetic smile, “Then… since he’s not here, I’ll leave… Sorry for disturbing both Master Uncles’ cultivation, Manqing apologizes… Farewell.”

She left as soon as she said she would, whooshing out the window in a flash and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Hu Sha stared blankly at the precariously swaying window on the wall, murmuring, “Could it be that Immortal Sister likes Eldest Martial Brother?”

Feng Yi said lazily, “Who knows? If she really likes him, rather than pestering him all day, she’d be better off catering to his interests. Eldest Martial Brother has always admired people who do things conscientiously. Liking someone yet not understanding them at all—such liking is better off without.”

Hu Sha was silent for a while, then asked carefully, “That… Second Martial Brother, isn’t everyone here immortals? Can immortals… be like this?” In her impression, her old father had said that immortals had no seven emotions and six desires. Once they had thoughts of romance, descending to the mortal world would bring punishment. How was it that here it had become a very normal thing?

Feng Yi glanced at her, “Why not? Even heaven and earth have the distinction between Yin and Yang. The union of Yin and Yang is originally following the way of heaven and earth.”

Is… is that so?

“Hu Sha.” His voice became especially gentle again. Now whenever Hu Sha heard this tone, she felt her hair stand on end. She looked up at him helplessly and desperately.

“How did your legs straighten out? It looks like Second Martial Brother needs to teach you from the beginning how to meditate properly.”

Feng Yi stood up and slowly walked over, smiling at her before lifting his hands and twisting her legs back into the pretzel shape from before.

Hu Sha immediately screamed miserably.

“If you don’t enter stillness and meditate properly, there’ll be no food today.” He dropped this sentence and lay back in the chair to rest with closed eyes.

Hu Sha fell back into the edge of collapse and endurance. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead layer after layer.

She didn’t know how much time passed. The room became very quiet, with only the window that Manqing had kicked earlier creaking in the warm breeze.

Hu Sha’s head bobbed bit by bit, wavering between sleep and wakefulness, unable to extricate herself.

A flock of luan birds suddenly flew up from the bamboo grove with a rustling sound. She was slightly startled and woke up.

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo grove, falling mottled on the windowsill. A person was half-lying on the long chair beneath the window, wearing a magnificent black robe embroidered with bright red clouds, the sleeves dragging all the way to the ground. He seemed to be asleep, his black hair covering half his face, revealing a section of thick eyelashes.

This was another painting, Hu Sha thought.

She held her breath, as if afraid of disturbing him, and slowly edged down from the bed bit by bit, bending down to rub her numb toes.

Feng Yi seemed truly asleep. He had no reaction to her movements, not even moving his eyebrows.

Hu Sha looked at the sky—the hour of Shen should be approaching soon. She gathered her courage and called softly, “Second Martial Brother… Second Martial Brother?”

He still didn’t move. Hu Sha put on her shoes, went over and gently patted his sleeve, “Second Martial Brother, the hour of Shen has arrived.”

Still no response.

Hu Sha’s heart suddenly grew suspicious. She slowly placed her hand beneath his nose—no breath, and it was ice-cold! She was scared out of her wits. Her knees suddenly became somewhat disobedient and went soft.

“Second Martial Brother!” She grabbed his hand—it felt cold as ice, hard as stone.

Heavens! He was dead? In just this short time, he’d actually died so hard and cold! Hu Sha stood up to run outside, then suddenly remembered that both Master and Eldest Martial Brother weren’t at Zhiyan Retreat. She couldn’t find anyone, and couldn’t help but anxiously pace in circles.

“Is Martial Brother Feng Yi here?” A voice suddenly sounded outside the window. Though Hu Sha wasn’t doing anything wrong, she still felt guilty. She quickly turned around and said urgently, “It… it has nothing to do with me! I didn’t… I didn’t do it!”

The person outside paused without speaking. Hu Sha steadied herself. Her panicked vision finally settled, only then discovering that a strange woman stood outside, looking at her curiously and with concern.

Hu Sha’s nose stung. Unable to hold back tears, she pointed at Feng Yi with a trembling voice, “He… he…”

Before she could say the words “is dead,” she suddenly heard Feng Yi say in a low voice, “So noisy. Didn’t I tell you to meditate until the hour of Shen?”

He propped himself up from the chair and sat up. The ribbon binding his long hair slowly loosened. His ink-jade-like long hair immediately cascaded over his entire shoulder. He casually brushed it aside, his expression somewhat impatient.

“Second Martial Brother…” Hu Sha was dumbfounded. “You… you didn’t…”

He clearly had no breath, and had become both cold and hard! How did he suddenly come back to life?

Hu Sha couldn’t help but raise her hand to check his breath again. Her fingertip touched his lips—she felt warm breath, soft to the touch.

He was alive!

“How long are you going to keep touching?” He looked down at her. “I told you to meditate—what are you doing?”

Hu Sha stared blankly at his beautiful, slightly languid face. Her fingertip was warm—his breath exhaled on it, ticklish.

She couldn’t help but burst into loud tears with a “Wah.”

“Second Martial Brother, you’re not dead! You’re not dead! That’s wonderful!” Hu Sha cried rivers of tears and snot, completely losing all semblance of composure.

Feng Yi sighed and turned to look at the woman outside the window. She was also smiling slightly, looking at Hu Sha curiously. He touched Hu Sha’s little head and pulled out a paper bag from his bosom, waving it before her, “Good girl, Second Martial Brother is naturally alive and well. Don’t cry. Come, eat something.”

Hu Sha snatched the paper bag while still crying, “I thought… thought you were dead! You scared me to death!”

Feng Yi gently pulled her up from the ground and raised his hand to wipe her tears, “Alright, alright. Second Martial Brother won’t die. You saw wrong. Stop crying—if you keep crying, you won’t be cute anymore.”

Hu Sha sniffled, feeling utterly wronged as she opened the paper bag. Inside was clearly a freshly roasted chicken plus two steamed buns. She grabbed a bun and took a big bite, saying indistinctly, “You didn’t even go out. Where did these things… come from?”

Feng Yi smiled and ruffled her hair, “Naturally it’s immortal arts. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. Alright, you’re not crying anymore, right? Good girl. After you’ve eaten your fill, go play by yourself. Second Martial Brother has things to do.”

Hu Sha walked toward the door, looking back every three steps, still somewhat frightened. The woman at the door said gently, “I think this young lady must be the new disciple Master Uncle Fang Zhun accepted?”

Hu Sha nodded.

The woman smiled slightly, “Then you’re my martial sister, Hu Sha. I’m Bairu.”

Hu Sha was stunned. Feng Yi walked over and patted her shoulder, “Call her ‘Martial Sister.’ She’s Master Uncle Fang Ye’s disciple. Master Uncle Fang Ye is our master’s martial brother.”

Hu Sha obediently called “Martial Sister.” Bairu smilingly acknowledged, grasped her hand, and looked at her up and down very affectionately before turning back with a smile, “Look at this child crying like this—she’s become a tearful mess. Feng Yi, you’re quite good at bullying people.”

Feng Yi sighed, “How could I bully her? Very well, what did Martial Sister come to find me for?”

“It wasn’t me looking for you—Master Uncle Fang Zhun will be going out for several days, so he asked me to relay a message.” Bairu said with a smile, “Shanghe Zhenren from Taoyuan Mountain of Fenglin Continent has some personal friendship with Master Uncle Fang Zhun, right? He just came over to invite Master, Master Uncle, and several disciples to visit Taoyuan Mountain as guests. Master Uncle has already agreed to go on the second day of next month.”

Feng Yi adjusted his sleeves and continued sighing, “So annoying, so annoying. Having to go to that godforsaken broken place again.”

Bairu laughed a few times, “I’ve already relayed the message to Feng Di… Why hasn’t he returned yet? He’s probably lost around Qingliang Hall. You’d better hurry and go pick him up.”

Having spoken, she touched Hu Sha’s little head again, exchanged a few warm pleasantries with her, and left.

Feng Yi shook his head, slowly stood up and walked toward the door, giving Hu Sha a gentle push, “I’m going to pick up Martial Brother. You go back. Oh…”

He suddenly bent down and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Today’s matter is a secret. You mustn’t tell anyone, understand? Otherwise, next time I won’t help you buy food anymore.”

Hu Sha couldn’t help but be stunned.

A secret? What matter was he referring to?

She couldn’t figure out what the secret was even after racking her brains.

When the moon still hung in the sky, Hu Sha woke up, groping to put on her outer garment and shoes, then silently counting in her heart: one, two, three.

On the count of three, knocking immediately sounded at the door.

“It’s the hour of Yin. Get up quickly.” Eldest Martial Brother’s voice was as always—ice-cold.

She obediently opened the door and bowed to him in greeting, “…I’ll trouble Eldest Martial Brother again today.”

Feng Di nodded expressionlessly and turned to leave. Hu Sha jogged along behind him, treating it as a warm-up exercise.

This was her twentieth day at Qingyuan Mountain. Everything was as before, without any change.

Master had gone out to attend some Dao convention. He ordinarily had quite a lot of such social engagements. Before leaving, he instructed Eldest Martial Brother not to be too harsh, but after experiencing countless trials by blood and tears, Hu Sha discovered the situation actually hadn’t changed one bit.

The so-called “If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain”—since she couldn’t change this situation, she could only adapt to it.

Basically, this was Hu Sha’s life principle.

She jogged all the way to the edge of the ice lake. Without waiting for Feng Di’s instructions, she jumped down herself.

Wind and snow rushed at her face. Her small braids immediately flew up. Her skirt fluttered chaotically with the rhythm of her running. Her steps were light and quick.

Now she ran faster and faster. She could circle the ice lake ten times in half an hour, then continue squatting in horse stance without feeling too tired.

“Starting today, you’ll run twenty laps. In the future, if you can complete twenty laps within half an hour, then add another ten laps yourself.”

Seeing Hu Sha finish running and about to climb up, Feng Di immediately waved his hand for her to continue running.

Hu Sha wiped away sweat. She was already too lazy to be depressed and directly asked, “Then when can I stop running?”

“After you learn the Cloud-Mounting technique.”

Hu Sha’s eyes immediately brightened, “Eldest Martial Brother, you’re going to teach me to ride the clouds? When?”

Feng Di looked at her lightly, “Generally speaking, disciples who have entered for five years or more may learn the Cloud-Mounting technique. You calculate for yourself.”

Five years! Hu Sha’s shoulders immediately sagged. She didn’t even know if she would stay at Qingyuan Mountain for five years.

Feng Di looked at her disappointed face. After a while, he suddenly said, “However, for especially diligent disciples, there’s no need to insist on the five-year period.”

Her eyes brightened again. This meant…

He turned his body, his back to her, his voice still ice-cold, “You’re very hardworking, even better than I thought. After noon meditation, come find me at Shenglong Terrace. Whether you can succeed still depends on your aptitude.”

Hu Sha was moved to tears. This was the first time Eldest Martial Brother praised her. This iceberg-like eldest martial brother finally acknowledged that she worked hard. All the resentment she held toward him in her heart was swept clean in an instant. Looking at him, she found him extremely pleasing to the eye.

“Alright, no need for idle talk. Hurry and run. If you’re slow, add five more laps.” He waved his hand.

Hu Sha answered loudly and turned to run swiftly. Thinking that she could soon learn the Cloud-Mounting technique and fly in the sky like the immortals, she was incredibly excited.

After going home, she would definitely fly to show her old father. It would surely scare his jaw off.

Her mood was especially good all morning. She was particularly attentive during roll call lectures, though she still couldn’t understand a single word. However, the golden, radiant Patriarch on the platform finally noticed her eyes opened wide as saucers. Perhaps to salvage some face for his beloved young disciple, today he publicly praised Hu Sha’s diligence and eagerness to learn.

When class dismissed, Hu Sha’s nose nearly pointed to the sky—she was triumphant and pleased with herself. Second Martial Brother Feng Yi patted her head from behind, laughing continuously, “Not easy. You finally got praised by the Patriarch once. Back when Martial Brother and I were so diligent, nearly working ourselves to death, he never even glanced our way.”

Hu Sha held up one finger, extremely serious, “Second Martial Brother, you know what this is? This is capability, capability.”

Feng Yi was amused into hearty laughter. Finally, he frivolously pinched her cheek and said gently, “Fine, capability. I’ll wait at Zhiyan Retreat for you to ride the clouds and fly back. Little Martial Sister, work hard.”

This highly improper gesture immediately triggered whispers from the surrounding people. Hu Sha quickly retreated two steps. Just as she was about to complain, he walked away with a grin, waving as he went, “I have to go out today. I’ll return at the hour of You. Little Martial Sister’s meditation—I’ll have to trouble Martial Brother with that.”

Feng Di’s brows furrowed slightly, “Where are you going? What job has the Pojun Department found for you this time? Didn’t Master tell you not to go last time?”

Feng Yi shrugged his shoulders, “I need to earn money. If I don’t go subdue demons and eliminate evil, how will I have money to buy food for little martial sister?”

Ah, it was for her? Hu Sha was moved again, looking at her dear Second Martial Brother with starry eyes, feeling that being touched or pinched by him occasionally wasn’t such a big deal.

Feng Di’s brow furrowed even deeper, “…Very well. In any case, take care of yourself. I’ll go talk to the elders at the Pojun Department.”

“Thank you.” Feng Yi bowed to him with his back turned. In another blink, he had vanished.

Hu Sha asked enviously, “Eldest Martial Brother, that… the immortal art of suddenly disappearing—what is it? Can I learn it?”

Feng Di nodded slightly, “It’s Earth-Shrinking, faster than the Cloud-Mounting technique. But this is difficult to learn. First master the Cloud-Mounting technique.”

During noon meditation, Hu Sha’s mind was full of thoughts about learning these miraculous immortal arts.

First, she’d learn the Cloud-Mounting technique well. Then when she returned home, she could take her father and mother flying up to the sky to see. Right, right, and also that gorgeous husband she’d become betrothed to but never met—she’d let him open his eyes too.

Then she’d learn Earth-Shrinking. Mother always complained that the road back to her maiden home was long and rugged. In the future, she could use Earth-Shrinking to send her back—it would take just the blink of an eye.

The more Hu Sha thought about it, the more she felt her future was incomparably bright and happy. She barely managed to hold on past noon. She didn’t dare delay a moment and cheerfully followed Eldest Martial Brother running to Shenglong Terrace.

Shenglong Terrace was located at the summit of Ermu Peak, another side peak of Qingyuan. Ermu Peak gathered countless large and small martial halls. Ordinarily, the disciples training here were as numerous as ants.

Ermu Peak could also be considered a strange sight. The disciples ranged from elderly to youths, even to nursing babies just three or four years old. Sometimes those white-haired old folks had to bow to the children, addressing them as “Master Uncle” or “Master Grand-Uncle”—just watching made one feel stifled.

Along the way, Hu Sha didn’t know how many bows she received. She felt uncomfortable all over. Looking back at Feng Di, he was completely accustomed to the old people’s greetings and didn’t take it to heart at all.

This was the difference! Eldest Martial Brother was indeed Eldest Martial Brother. Hu Sha’s admiration for him once again flowed like the Yangtze River—continuous and unending.

“Eldest Martial Brother, I see other Master Uncles have accepted dozens of disciples, and those disciples have accepted many students. Why does Master only have us three disciples? Why don’t you and Second Martial Brother accept disciples?”

Hu Sha began her thousand-and-one questions.

Though Feng Di looked ice-cold, his patience was much better than Second Martial Brother Feng Yi’s. If it were Feng Yi, he would definitely go round and round, diverting the topic, too lazy to answer. But he answered seriously, “Master’s health isn’t good. Master Patriarch once strictly ordered him not to accept disciples. Back then, if not for Master’s insistence, Feng Yi and I might not have been able to enter Qingyuan. Therefore, though our seniority is high, compared to the martial brothers and sisters, we entered much later. Qingyuan’s rule is that disciples who enter become official Qingyuan members after one hundred years and can establish themselves to teach. I’ve only been here seventy years, Feng Yi only fifty years. We must complete one hundred years before we can.”

Sigh, one hundred years. A mortal’s entire lifetime might not reach one hundred years, yet at Qingyuan it was as easy as eating a meal. As long as one cultivated, everyone could live several hundred years.

The eldest martial brother before her eyes, and that casual second martial brother—they clearly looked like youths, yet who would think they were older than her parents? From now on, Hu Sha couldn’t help but look at them with eyes that saw “uncles.”

“As long as you cultivate earnestly, after one hundred years you can naturally establish yourself to teach.” Feng Di seemed very satisfied with her efforts during this period. Today his words were much gentler.

Hu Sha was startled and quickly waved her hands, “No… I can’t live that long! One hundred years… after that, I’m afraid I’ll have long been buried!”

Feng Di’s brow furrowed, “One hundred years old is merely youth. Don’t belittle yourself. I heard from Feng Yi that during your time on the mountain you still haven’t changed your bad habit of eating the five grains, and even had him go down the mountain to buy food for you. You mustn’t do this anymore. If you want to become immortal but can’t overcome oral desires, what’s the point of cultivating!”

Hu Sha was immediately struck as if by five thunderbolts, mumbling, “But… but if I don’t eat, my stomach will be hungry… If I’m… hungry I can’t run. I’ll starve to death…”

“Nonsense.” Feng Di glared at her. “Which disciple coming up the mountain doesn’t have to pass this test? Have you seen anyone starve to death? Just making excuses.”

Tears spun in Hu Sha’s eyes, threatening to pour out like the Yangtze River—continuous and unending. Feng Di steeled his heart and ignored her, turning his back and walking forward.

Hu Sha followed step by step, pitifully calling softly, “Eldest Martial Brother… Eldest Martial Brother… I’ll really starve to death…”

Feng Di just played deaf and mute, refusing to respond.

Who would have thought that soft, gentle voice kept persistently calling him, “Eldest Martial Brother, Eldest Martial Brother…”

He was finally pestered into impatience. He turned back and glared at her fiercely, angrily saying, “Stop talking about it!”

Hu Sha pointed tremblingly at the mountain peak to the east, saying quietly, “I… I just wanted to tell you, Shenglong Terrace is over there. You… you went the wrong way.”

A strange red cloud flashed rapidly across his face. Without a word, he turned toward the correct direction. Hu Sha knew he was the type who became completely directionally challenged once he left Zhiyan Retreat, and quickly fawningly led the way ahead.

After a long while, she suddenly heard him say softly behind her, “If your stomach is really unbearably hungry, eat a little vegetarian food. Try not to touch meat—it’s harmful to cultivation with no benefit.”

Hu Sha’s heart filled with great joy. She turned back to look at him with shining eyes, feeling he truly was the world’s best person.

“What’s called cultivation is nothing more than two types: first, stimulating the immortal spiritual energy within one’s own body; second, drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for one’s own use. The immortal spiritual energy one possesses is ultimately limited in quantity, so Qingyuan’s cultivation emphasizes how to draw upon heaven and earth’s spiritual energy.”

Hu Sha smiled apologetically, “El… Eldest Martial Brother, heaven and earth’s spiritual energy… what is that thing?”

Feng Di nodded, “Good. If you want to learn an art, thorough understanding is the proper way. Maintain this diligence. Heaven and earth’s spiritual energy is the power of Yin and Yang from when primordial chaos was first divided. Yin is…”

“Wait… can you explain it more… plainly?” Hu Sha continued her apologetic smile.

Feng Di thought for a moment, “Very well. You can go to Chenxing Tower yourself to consult texts about these things. Qingyuan is an immortal mountain, abundant in spiritual energy. To give an example, it’s like a cup filled with sweet dew. What you must do is borrow one or two drops of sweet dew from this cup. It’s simple if you say it’s simple, extremely difficult if you say it’s difficult.”

Hu Sha was shocked, “With so many people at Qingyuan, if you also borrow a drop and I also borrow a drop, won’t it all be borrowed dry?”

Feng Di glared at her, “How much spiritual energy can a human body contain? Yin and Yang stimulate and unite, circulating repeatedly, giving birth to spiritual energy. How can there be talk of being borrowed dry!”

Hu Sha was glared into great shame. Though still completely confused, she didn’t dare ask anymore.

“Now I’ll transmit a set of incantations to you. Whether you can smoothly summon spiritual energy and learn the Cloud-Mounting technique depends on yourself.”

Having spoken, Feng Di chattered on with an extremely long string of incantations, incredibly awkward to pronounce.

“How about it? You’ve memorized it, right?” Clearly he considered Hu Sha a genius.

She shook her head woodenly, “…Say it again, please?”

Feng Di furrowed his brow in exasperation at her failure to meet expectations and recited it again, “Have you memorized it now?”

She continued shaking her head. She couldn’t understand a single word, much less memorize it.

“How can you still not memorize it!” He was angry. “Even lazy Feng Yi—Master only recited the incantations twice before he could integrate and master them. How can you be inferior even to him?”

Hu Sha smiled bitterly, “I… naturally can’t compare to Second Martial Brother…”

“Nonsense!” Feng Di first became angry, then seemed to feel he was being overly harsh and relaxed his expression. He raised his hand and patted Hu Sha’s shoulder encouragingly. “Don’t belittle yourself. Though Eldest Martial Brother hasn’t established himself to teach, I’ve seen many newly initiated disciples follow their masters in cultivation. Someone as diligent, eager to learn, and uncomplaining as you is truly rare. You’re a genius. In the future, your achievements will surely surpass both Feng Yi and me. A small setback is nothing.”

Though she was being encouraged, why did she feel the pressure on her shoulders was even greater? Besides, she didn’t find it unbearable—wasn’t it forced out by him? Facing a thousand-year iceberg face, who would dare have objections?

Hu Sha answered with a forehead full of black lines.

“You stay here and practice slowly. I have matters requiring me to leave for a bit. If you can learn it today, try riding the clouds back to Zhiyan Retreat.” Feng Di patted her shoulder again with full confidence. “Hu Sha, you can do it.”

The truth was, she couldn’t do it at all.

She hadn’t memorized a single word of those incantations. What clouds could she mount? More like fall to her death!

Hu Sha let out a long breath at his retreating back and squatted on the ground in depression.

Shenglong Terrace was built at the summit peak, wreathed in clouds and mist, sealed in layers of ice and snow. At the four corners, dragon heads were carved from ice, clear and transparent. Hu Sha walked back and forth on the terrace. Having nothing else to do and not daring to return, she could only use her hand to pick at the dragon’s eyes.

Pick once, thinking of how Eldest Martial Brother said she was a genius—she couldn’t help but shiver.

Pick again, thinking of his trusting eyes—she continued shivering.

What to do? She could already foresee seeing Eldest Martial Brother’s disappointed and contemptuous expression. The first time being trusted by someone like this, yet this was the result—it truly made her unwilling to accept it.

With a plop, the ice-carved dragon’s eye, unable to withstand her left picking and right picking, fell to the ground.

Hu Sha was startled. She looked left and right, confirming no one around had discovered she’d done this bad thing. No good—she’d better flee quickly. Otherwise, the charge of damaging immortal mountain facilities wouldn’t be light no matter what.

She turned to walk down from the terrace. Suddenly she heard two disciples on the steps gossiping. She vaguely heard the words “Master Grand-Uncle Fang Zhun.” Hu Sha immediately felt guilty, thinking they’d seen her picking at the dragon’s eye. Her feet involuntarily stopped.

“Martial Sister Manzi and the others all say Master Grand-Uncle Fang Zhun has been sick for years and his brain got burned bad. He actually accepted a completely useless girl as his disciple. I heard she’s already fifteen years old yet still falls asleep during Patriarch’s lectures, making Patriarch so angry. Yet Master Grand-Uncle Fang Zhun doesn’t even blame her and even speaks for her. Back when we entered, we were only eleven or twelve, several years younger than her. When have we ever seen Master so lenient?”

The person spoke while sighing. Hu Sha also sighed along.

The other person said in a low voice, “That’s not all. You know what? Several days ago I heard someone mention something incredible. That new Master Uncle and Master Uncle Feng Yi are rather improper. The two hid in a room in broad daylight doing who knows what. When someone caught them, they didn’t even care. Our immortal mountain Qingyuan is a sacred place—how can it tolerate such filth? Simply disappointing to the extreme.”

“What? There’s actually such a thing!”

One person was shocked. Hu Sha was also shocked, repeatedly recalling what she and Second Martial Brother had actually done that was so outrageous.

“How could there not be! Speaking of it, Master Uncle Feng Yi—that person never had a good reputation from the start. Don’t you think he looks especially unreliable? Relying on his good looks, overly frivolous. This morning in the great hall he was even touching and groping his own martial sister. It’s hard to believe he hasn’t done filthy things. I heard that when he initially entered, Patriarch strongly opposed it. But Master Grand-Uncle Fang Zhun was bewitched by him and insisted on taking him as a disciple, nearly causing unpleasantness with Patriarch… This person’s methods are obvious. Who knows if Master Grand-Uncle Fang Zhun also…”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Hu Sha shouted loudly and jumped out with a whoosh. Those two people were so scared their faces turned green. They both turned around simultaneously.

“Second Martial Brother isn’t as bad as you say! What do you understand? I hate people who speak ill of others behind their backs the most!”

Her face flushed red from shouting. This was the first time she’d been so angry.

“You don’t understand these people at all, only relying on hearsay—how can you make rash conclusions? Master and Second Martial Brother are both good people. Have you even had contact with them? Why do you talk nonsense behind their backs?”

Seeing it was her, those two people couldn’t help but feel awkward and could only shrink their heads and bow to her, “Greetings, Master Uncle…”

Hu Sha’s brow twisted up, “These greetings are also fake. You’re the ones who fake appearances while harboring filth in your hearts!”

Those two people’s faces turned even greener at her words. One of them smiled with difficulty, “You’re right. We naturally can’t compare to Master Uncle’s wisdom and might. As Master Uncle, you still need to come to Shenglong Terrace to practice the Cloud-Mounting technique. I originally thought that was low-level cultivation only junior disciples would do. We shouldn’t disturb Master Uncle’s cultivation. We can only take our leave by riding the clouds.”

Having spoken, the two recited incantations, summoned cloud mist, and flew away triumphantly.

Hu Sha immediately felt utterly dejected.

Actually, she wasn’t any genius at all. Not only was she not a genius—she was probably the most mediocre of the mediocre. Her so-called diligence was just to avoid trouble. If Eldest Martial Brother weren’t beside her supervising every day, she’d basically be too lazy to do that cultivation—just muddling through.

Hu Sha wandered on Ermu Peak for a long time, increasingly feeling her own uselessness. Without Eldest Martial Brother and the others using Earth-Shrinking or Cloud-Mounting, she couldn’t even make it back to Zhiyan Retreat before dark.

Thinking of the disappointed expression she was about to face from Eldest Martial Brother, she felt as if scratched by cats—unable to sit or stand still.

The sky gradually darkened. Hu Sha rushed along, covered in sweat. Right now she’d just descended Ermu Peak—there was still more than half the distance to Zhiyan Retreat.

If she didn’t return by dark, Second Martial Brother would surely come looking. Then she’d really lose tremendous face.

Hu Sha wiped away sweat. Suddenly she heard someone call from behind, “Hu Sha, how are you here?”

She quickly turned around and saw her master, whom she hadn’t seen in a long while, standing not far away looking at her with concern.

Seeing him, Hu Sha immediately felt as if seeing her own grandfather. All the grievances rushed to her head at once, whooshing out in two bags of tears.

“Master…” As she spoke, she burst into loud tears.

Fang Zhun walked over with a mixture of laughter and tears, grabbed his sleeve and wiped the sweat and tears covering her face, “What’s this about? Staying here alone—why aren’t you at Zhiyan Retreat? Where are your two martial brothers?”

Hu Sha grabbed his clothing and cried, chattering away, “I can’t do it… Master, I’m not any genius. I haven’t learned that Cloud-Mounting technique. I can’t even memorize the incantations… Eldest Martial Brother will surely scold me…”

Fang Zhun spent quite some effort extracting the whole story from Hu Sha, then laughed and sighed, “Feng Di is also being ridiculous. You’ve only entered for a few days—how can he have you learn the Cloud-Mounting technique? Calm down. It’s not a big deal. No need to feel bad.”

Hu Sha shook her head forcefully, “But Eldest Martial Brother said I’m a genius!” Making him disappointed felt really embarrassing.

Fang Zhun couldn’t hold back his laughter, “Even if you’re a genius, you can’t learn to run before learning to walk, right?”

Seeing Hu Sha about to cry yet not daring to cry, forcefully holding it in until her face was bright red, he felt somewhat unable to suppress his amusement. He raised his hand and touched her head, saying gently, “Come with me.”

He took Hu Sha’s hand and walked for a while, stopping at a clearing in the forest.

“Actually, when initially encountering those incantations, even a genius couldn’t memorize them the first time. You must first borrow some texts from Chenxing Tower to read, study for a period, and after becoming familiar, it will be much easier to face them.”

Fang Zhun recited a string of incantations in a low voice. Cloud mist immediately gathered from all around, lifting his body, slowly leaving the ground a full three feet high, fixed in midair without moving.

Hu Sha wiped her tears and mumbled, “Master… can you… recite it again, please?”

Fang Zhun withdrew the incantation. The cloud mist immediately dispersed. He slowly descended to the ground and laughed softly, “Even if I recite it twenty more times, will you be able to remember? Incantations aren’t memorized by rote like this.”

“Then how should I memorize them?” Hu Sha looked at him pitifully.

“Immortal families have countless incantations. Light ones can make you ride clouds and fly. Heavy ones can summon wind and rain, thunderous force. But if you take those incantations apart, they’re just several hundred characters. Different combinations produce different effects. You just don’t understand what those characters mean. For instance, in this Cloud-Mounting technique, the first character means…”

Fang Zhun carefully explained the meaning of the Cloud-Mounting technique incantations to her, and what each strange pronunciation actually corresponded to.

Hu Sha gradually became enlightened. When he recited the incantations several more times, she could already remember most of them. She was immediately overjoyed.

“Master, you teach so well!” She couldn’t help but sigh with feeling. “If only Master could teach me.”

Fang Zhun smiled, “First memorize these Cloud-Mounting technique incantations thoroughly. With your current strength, you probably can’t fly more than a foot. To tour the ten continents within the seas in the time it takes to drink tea will take at least two or three years of effort. However, this is enough for now. Try it and see if you can mount the clouds—that will set Feng Di’s mind at ease.”

Hu Sha silently recited the incantations once. She felt wisps of thin cloud mist gathering around her. Her feet lightened and she involuntarily floated up, stopping at about half a foot off the ground.

“Ah, I did it!” She was delighted beyond measure, beaming with joy, gesticulating wildly. She tried drifting forward a distance. The cloud mist beneath her feet suddenly dispersed. Unsteady, she fell to the ground and nearly knocked out her teeth.

Fang Zhun quickly went over to help her up, saying gently, “This is already very good. Having cultivated for just this short period, the spiritual energy your body can contain is limited, but it doesn’t waste Feng Di calling you a genius.” As he spoke, he couldn’t help wanting to laugh again.

Hu Sha touched her head embarrassedly.

“Let’s return today. Tomorrow morning come to my place. I’ll compile the commonly used incantations for you to study yourself.” Fang Zhun winked at her mischievously. “Don’t let Feng Di know, or he’ll blame me for meddling.”

Hu Sha’s heart was incomparably moved. She said softly, “Thank you, Master.”

He smiled and shook his head, grasping her hand, “Let’s go. Return together with Master.”

Hu Sha quickly answered in assent. Looking up at his slender, elegant back—clearly he looked even younger than her two martial brothers—yet somehow, she felt he was extremely reliable, as if anything could be entrusted to him, as if nothing could crush him.

When they returned to Zhiyan Retreat, the sky had already darkened. Feng Di was like a waiting wife stone, guarding the entrance and constantly looking out, his face full of anticipation.

“Master, you’ve returned!” Seeing Fang Zhun, he was clearly very surprised. “Didn’t you say you’d be delayed several more days?”

Fang Zhun said, “That Dao convention wasn’t interesting—all clichés. Staying there was just a waste of time. If not for Master being old acquaintances with that Lingmin Daoren, I wouldn’t bother dealing with it.”

Feng Di’s brow furrowed slightly, “Master… why do you still speak without restraint? What if Master Patriarch hears?”

Fang Zhun turned his head aside, “He’s at the summit of Yimu Peak—how could he hear? Child, you’ve followed me for seventy years yet you’re still so rigid and dull.”

Feng Di had nothing to say. He could only look at the uneasy Hu Sha beside them, saying warmly, “How is Martial Sister’s Cloud-Mounting technique practice? Do you have any insights?”

Hu Sha coughed and said very quietly, “I’m afraid Eldest Martial Brother will be disappointed…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she indeed saw a trace of disappointment appear on his face. However, he didn’t sternly rebuke her as she’d imagined. He only nodded, “…No matter. The Cloud-Mounting technique can’t be learned in a day or two. Eldest Martial Brother isn’t disappointed. With your diligence, you’ll learn it quickly. Don’t be anxious.”

Earlier, the one who was anxious was clearly him, wasn’t it? Hu Sha secretly sighed.

“I can only fly up half a foot high, and not very far.” Hu Sha deliberately made a “I’m very incompetent” expression. Then she silently recited the incantation, summoned cloud mist, and floated up lightly. Looking down, she indeed saw Eldest Martial Brother’s expression change from disappointment to delighted surprise. Her heart immediately became triumphant, completely forgetting how she’d just complained to Master.

“Oh… oh! Very… very good!” Feng Di was so happy he nearly became incoherent. However, in front of Master he didn’t dare be too unrestrained. He barely restrained his smile, yet the light of pride and joy in his eyes couldn’t be suppressed. His eternally unchanging iceberg face finally gained some human warmth.

Fang Zhun smiled, “Feng Di is teaching for the first time and can produce such results. I’m very gratified. Worthy of being my disciple, Fang Zhun.” Having spoken, he rolled his eyes at Hu Sha. The two smiled with tacit understanding.

Feng Di quickly said with lowered hands, “Master praises me too highly. This disciple is deeply ashamed. Hu Sha has only entered for a month. That she can have such cultivation results is mostly because she’s diligent and hardworking. This disciple only provided guidance from the side. I truly don’t dare claim credit as teacher.”

No matter how triumphant Hu Sha had been, now she also felt guilty. Actually, her Cloud-Mounting technique all depended on Master’s teaching. As for diligence and such—that couldn’t be taken seriously. But she, this hopeless case, had become a rare treasure in Eldest Martial Brother’s eyes. She inevitably had to produce something to live up to expectations.

Fang Zhun waved his hand, “Alright, you two stop being humble with each other. So fake—it’s making me nauseous. Where’s Feng Yi? Still hasn’t returned?”

At the mention of Feng Yi, Feng Di’s brow furrowed, “This disciple was just planning to report this matter to Master upon your return. The Pojun Department is still having Martial Brother accept various demon-subduing tasks. This disciple went to discuss with the Pojun Department elders today but was turned away. I must ask Master to intervene.”

Fang Zhun said “Oh,” pulled over a chair to sit down himself, covered his mouth and coughed a few times quietly, then said, “If Feng Yi himself doesn’t want to do it, those old folks at Pojun Department can’t force him. If he’s willing himself, we have no need to interfere.”

Feng Di, hearing him call those elders “old folks,” furrowed his brow even deeper and looked at him helplessly, “Master… please be careful with your words. Moreover, regardless of whether Feng Yi is willing, he’s only entered for fifty years and hasn’t reached the age to establish himself as teacher. Accepting those tasks means matters of life and death. How can we not be concerned…”

Fang Zhun yawned and said lightly, “You yourself haven’t reached the age to establish yourself as teacher either. Do you accept Pojun Department tasks less? Moreover, Qingyuan has no rule that you must reach that age to accept tasks, right? If you can do it, Feng Yi naturally can too. Your protective heart as martial brother is too strong. Don’t you trust your martial brother that much?”

Feng Di was blocked into speechlessness.

Fang Zhun yawned again, “If there’s nothing else, I’m going back to sleep. Staying at that broken place so long made me uncomfortable all over…”

He stood up to leave. Feng Di helplessly called from behind, “Master…” Basically, his master never failed to leave him completely speechless.

Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Immediately after, the main door was pushed open. Feng Yi’s smiling voice rang out, “Oh? Master has returned? How lively. Everyone gathered like this—could it be you’re waiting for me?”

Hu Sha reacted fastest. She quickly ran over and sweetly called her dear Second Martial Brother, “Second Martial Brother, you’ve returned so late!”

Feng Yi smiled and touched her head, “Has little martial sister learned the Cloud-Mounting technique? Did you ride the clouds back?”

Hu Sha’s face immediately fell.

Feng Yi nodded knowingly, “Looks like you didn’t succeed.”

Hu Sha said urgently, “Who says I didn’t succeed? I just can’t fly very…”

Before she finished speaking, she saw him take out a paper bag from his bosom, still steaming hot. One whiff and she knew it was fragrant roasted chicken. Hu Sha’s resentment hadn’t yet receded, but saliva surged up. She gulped down a mouthful.

“Good girl, don’t be discouraged. Practice slowly—you’ll eventually be able to fly.” Feng Yi tossed the paper bag to her and patted her like a little puppy before turning to bow to Fang Zhun, “Greetings, Master, Martial Brother.”

Fang Zhun nodded, “Good that you’re back. You’re not injured, are you?”

Feng Yi smiled, “Master can’t belittle me like this. Could a few demons injure me? Wouldn’t that be mocking Master for teaching poorly?”

Fang Zhun nodded with approval, “Correct.”

Correct nothing! Feng Di very disrespectfully muttered in his heart. He didn’t expect his master to say anything constructive. He was always breezy and indifferent, treating matters as none of his concern, holding himself aloof. Sometimes even when matters were urgent, he still had that innocent “it’s no big deal, why is everyone nervous” appearance.