In the fifth and sixth months, the most beautiful spot in the southern garden of Mingxing Hall was the flower bed by Hege Lake. Though it lacked the magnificent scenery of the Flower Emperor’s immortal island with its dazzling profusion of competing blooms, the flower bed was filled with various grades of immortal peonies. Each blossom was as large as a plate, with crystalline translucent petals and overflowing exotic fragrance, presenting a unique and radiant beauty.

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, Zhi Xi hurried to the flower bed, only to involuntarily stop in her tracks.

The discordant tune played on leaf blades that she had heard last time at Zhuxuan Yuyang Manor was circling low again, still intermittent and broken. She peered through the lush green leaves toward the flower bed. Shao Yi was lying among the flowers leisurely blowing on a leaf blade. Petals had fallen all over his body, and his collar was slightly open, revealing his beautiful collarbones, upon which was a rouge mark.

This handsome sight, tinged with a trace of dissolute color, made her feel suffocated.

Shao Yi’s eyes turned, and catching sight of Zhi Xi standing outside the flower bed, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly. He put down the leaf and sat up in one smooth motion, laughing, “Senior Sister, you’ve startled me again.”

Zhi Xi suddenly felt deeply ashamed.

Like a fool, what had she come to find him for? To lecture him? He had already laid bare his heart—that was simply his nature. Her lectures would not only be completely useless but would only needlessly annoy him.

Or to discuss romantic matters with him? That was even more ridiculous. She had never known such soft and coquettish things, and had always deeply despised them.

Could it be to thank him for helping her earlier? But she seemed too shy to even speak words of gratitude.

In that brief instant, Zhi Xi thought through countless matters, finally hanging her head in dejection.

Perhaps it was because, for once, there were no goddesses surrounding him, or perhaps it was because of his earlier assistance—whatever the reason, she had run over on impulse, but now regretted it beyond measure.

She didn’t respond to Shao Yi’s greeting and turned to leave.

Who knew he would call out to her softly from behind: “Senior Sister, I have something to ask of you.”

Zhi Xi stopped, opening her mouth without much spirit: “What is it?”

Unexpectedly, he suddenly drew close, his handsome and gentle smiling face extremely near, his eyes carrying a trace of mischievous playfulness as he whispered, “Senior Sister, I want to go down to the mortal realm to see the Sea of Parting Regret at the Extreme Northern Abyss. Will you accompany me?”

Zhi Xi was startled: “What?!”

Shao Yi bit his lip and laughed softly: “Don’t you want to go see it? I’m curious what the Sea of Parting Regret has become now. Back when Taixing and Kunlun fell to the lower realm, I heard many divine clans also went down secretly to peek. Shall we sneak down too? I’ve thought it over thoroughly—only Senior Sister can accompany me.”

Zhi Xi exclaimed in alarm: “The Sea of Parting Regret now has five hundred war generals surrounding and guarding it every day. How could we peek? Moreover, even Lizhu Dijun perished in its vicinity—it’s too dangerous! Now there are also restrictions on the divine clan descending to the mortal realm. I, I can’t help!”

Shao Yi furrowed his brow: “Just take a distant peek. Senior Sister, last time you even promised to help me go down to the mortal realm to see Yan Xia. I know a way. Good Senior Sister, you’re the only one I can entrust with this. If you don’t agree, I’m going to kiss you.”

As he spoke, his brow smoothed and he smiled with a hook of his lips.

The heart in Zhi Xi’s chest began to beat wildly again. She had once been extremely disgusted by Shao Yi’s ambiguous tone, but at this very moment, her hands and feet went numb, and she lost control of herself.

The rationality she took such pride in still worked in front of Fucang, but before Shao Yi it was utterly useless. With just the slightest approach and teasing from him, she was utterly routed. She suddenly understood—all that disgust she insisted upon was nothing but self-deception.

*

Because all twelve disciples had beautifully completed the homework assigned three months ago, Baize Dijun gained twenty-four treasures overnight. For several days in succession, he was dancing with joy, reciting texts every day as though singing.

Who knows who had said three months ago that when lessons resumed, he should teach techniques. Yet after returning for over ten days, it was still reading and reciting texts every day. Though the teacher was emotionally passionate, the disciples were all quite dispirited. Several bold disciples even openly fell asleep at their desks, apparently expressing their protest through this.

Xuan Yi used her sleeve to suppress a yawn. For these past dozen or so nights, the wind had been howling nightly. Originally, after living here for a year, she had grown accustomed to it, but recently she had become unaccustomed again and could barely sleep.

Her gaze hazily swept across Hede Hall. Normally, Tai Yao, Gu Ting, and Zhi Xi would all occupy the desks in the first row, but after Zhi Xi came on the first day, she took leave and hadn’t returned even today. Similarly absent was Shao Yi—he was probably afraid of her pressing questions and simply didn’t even come to lessons.

Her gaze unconsciously fell again on an empty desk by the window. The white figure who used to often sit here was gone, and a thin layer of dust had even accumulated on the desk.

That day in the southern garden, she had encountered Gu Ting again. He had given her a thorough scolding: “What are you quarreling with Fucang about again? You’ve angered him so much he left directly and is going to dream for a thousand years. If you have grievances, can’t you speak properly? Ah, this means a full thousand years without seeing him.”

If he goes, he goes—why tell her about it?

If he was going to dream for a thousand years, why did he specially come to Mingxing Hall that day? Did he come specifically to show her a cold face? She had already seen it and been successfully defeated by him once again. The Huaxu Clan’s vengeful nature was truly formidable.

He had never yielded to her, not even once.

Xuan Yi’s body slowly leaned against the desk, her fingernails picking at the embroidery on her sleeve, pulling the gold threads into complete disarray.

Don’t show her that sad yet gentle look. Despise her, dislike her, reject her—they were evenly matched, quarreling and fighting physically as before would all be fine. But he still had to leave, making the wind at night so clamorous, keeping her awake from the noise.

Xuan Yi rubbed her dry eyes. The sound of Baize Dijun reciting texts gradually became very distant. She closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep from exhaustion.

This sleep was exceptionally deep. It wasn’t until a hand shook her awake that she still couldn’t quite react, looking around in confusion while supporting herself with her golden ring.

Hede Hall was already completely empty, the hall doors tightly shut. Baize Dijun was actually standing beside her, holding a glazed box in his hands.

Xuan Yi was still full of drowsiness and used her sleeve to suppress another yawn before rising and saying, “Teacher, I take my leave.”

Baize Dijun shook his head: “Wait a moment.”

He placed the glazed box on the desk and slowly opened it. Inside was a blood-red, brilliantly colored feather satin—precisely the homework Xuan Yi had submitted over ten days ago.

“The cuckoo blood-red feather satin requires auspicious light beast feathers.” Baize Dijun’s finger pointed at those silky traces that seemed still not dried of cuckoo blood. “This feather satin was woven by Ziyuan. Her manor doesn’t have such rare things. Where did she obtain it?”

Of course it was stolen from the Heavenly Palace stables.

Xuan Yi said indifferently: “Teacher assigned homework, and the disciples did their utmost to complete it. There’s no need to ask about its source.”

Baize Dijun’s expression was grave: “Over three months ago, the auspicious light beast raised in the Heavenly Palace stables had a handful of its feathers secretly cut off. This case remained unsolved until a few days ago when Fucang personally went before the Heavenly Emperor to confess his guilt and accept responsibility. The Heavenly Emperor magnanimously didn’t publicly reveal it was him, but punishment was unavoidable. He must receive one month of thorn punishment. You two are far too bold, actually daring to steal from the Heavenly Palace.”

Thorn punishment? It sounded quite painful.

Xuan Yi’s brow furrowed as she said coldly: “If Teacher had the heart for it, why assign such homework?”

Baize Dijun was rendered speechless by her words. He had been so busy and full of frustration that he’d only hastily written down the fifty treasures he most desired. He truly hadn’t thought that much about it. Moreover, the main purpose was just to broaden their horizons. If they couldn’t obtain the items, he wouldn’t actually punish the disciples by making them copy texts a hundred times.

He really hadn’t anticipated that two young disciples under his tutelage would be so audaciously bold. He didn’t know whether to be shocked or alarmed.

Baize Dijun closed the glazed box and tucked it under his arm, his expression serious: “Since this matter arose because of me, I must go to the Azure Emperor Palace to give an account. Fucang is also being punished because of you. Come with me.”