Su Zhuyi hadn’t prepared anything for Qin Jianglan at first.

She had thought about preparing something, but then felt that her taking a liking to him was already his tremendous honor – did she need to prepare gifts? But as the days passed one by one, when she lay exhausted from cultivation in the snow, looking up at the starry sky above, she would also recall the blue sky and white clouds atop the Wangtian Tree, and the countless stars that seemed within reach.

Qin Jianglan was different from other sword cultivators. The robes he wore year-round were in darker colors, mostly azure-green and ink-green. If worn by others, they would give off a gloomy, lifeless feeling, but his appearance was too handsome and otherworldly, as if he carried his radiance. Even the darkest colors couldn’t conceal the light around him, instead highlighting that face blessed and meticulously carved by heaven.

Rich ink glaze colors a person within a painting.

Su Zhuyi felt she just loved that face. Looking at it every day, she hadn’t grown tired of that beautiful appearance even after six hundred years. But suddenly recalling the silver threads at his temples six hundred years ago, and remembering his green silk hair ribbon, Su Zhuyi pondered for several days before finally making a white jade dragon hairpin with her own hands. The pin body had relief dragon patterns with flowing, natural lines. Normally, if characters were carved on such jade hairpins, they would be phrases like “thinking of a gentleman, gentle as jade.” Su Zhuyi carved “beautiful as jade” on it and signed her name, making it unclear whether she was praising herself or someone else.

The jade hairpin was just an ordinary hair accessory. The jade was top-quality, but it wasn’t refined and couldn’t even be considered a magical treasure. It hadn’t taken Su Zhuyi much time to make. She had long ago given it to Little Skull to carry with him. Now that Little Skull was about to disappear, she wasn’t anxious either. She instructed him to go and return quickly, and finally took out a high-grade Straw Man substitute and stuffed it into Little Skull’s hands, telling him to give it to Qin Jianglan. Little Skull nodded in agreement and then completely vanished.

That high-grade Straw Man substitute was one of the two that Qinghe had requested from Hidden Peak back then. She had never found a use for it, but now, on impulse, she gave one to Qin Jianglan.

After Little Skull left, Su Zhuyi took out the jade disc and waited for a while. Finding no movement, she snorted coldly and stuffed the jade disc into her storage magical treasure.

Taking Little Skull away without even saying a word to me…

She kicked the stone tablet at the door, then picked up the Broken Sword to begin practicing sword techniques. This time, Su Zhuyi didn’t let Little Skull take the Songfeng Sword with him. She was still somewhat worried – the Qin Jianglan over there already had a Songfeng Sword, and she didn’t know if rashly bringing another would cause problems. Fortunately, the Songfeng Sword wasn’t mentioned as having been found by its master these days either. It transformed into a pine tree every day, standing outside Su Zhuyi’s room door. It had now grown very tall, blocking half of Su Zhuyi’s doorway. Looking out through the window, one could see nothing but lush greenery.

After practicing swordsmanship for a while, Su Zhuyi saw Qinghe approaching. She put away her sword and asked, “When did you get back? Is something wrong?”

“Last night.”

Because of the Longquan Sword, Qinghe couldn’t stay at Luoxue Peak for more than a few days all year round. The limited days he did stay were mostly spent sitting outside his master’s door. In these three years, Su Zhuyi hadn’t spoken more than a few sentences with him. If he was actively approaching her, there was probably something important.

“There are results.”

Qinghe said indifferently, “We’re going to the Suyue Sect now. It’s perfect timing…”

Su Zhuyi smiled and nodded, “Taking advantage of the fire to rob, fishing in troubled waters.”

In her previous life, she hadn’t been able to go when the Suyue Sect was being divided up. Now getting the news first, with Qinghe backing her up, she would be able to reap considerable benefits. That Sect Master Xunhuan of Hehuan Sect was quite capable – to settle this matter in just three years?

Su Zhuyi had always thought it would take at least ten years or so.

Time was of the essence. Su Zhuyi planned to set off immediately. Before leaving, she asked, “Hey, do you have any magical treasures for concealing one’s form?”

She was going to rob and plunder while taking advantage of the chaos. Her current identity was different from her previous life, and her face was too eye-catching. Though her cultivation wasn’t bad, there were plenty stronger than her. Without some treasure to conceal her appearance, her identity would be exposed. Then she’d lose face for Luo Ying, and Qinghe would have to split her in two.

Qinghe replied stiffly, “Little Skull.”

With Little Skull’s spiritual energy barrier wrapped around you, no one can see you.

“Little Skull went to visit relatives.” Su Zhuyi didn’t hide it and answered honestly.

Qinghe had also heard Little Skull mention his little uncle. He didn’t ask more questions now, taking out a pitch-black mask and handing it to Su Zhuyi, saying, “Let’s go.”

Luo Ying was still sleeping most of the time, so Su Zhuyi and the others didn’t disturb their master. After carefully checking the barriers outside the house and opening the barriers on the ancient sword of Luoxue Peak, she and Qinghe descended the mountain and headed toward Sufang City.

…

On the other side, Little Skull arrived in the True Spirit Realm. Just after landing and seeing the person sitting not far away, Little Skull happily called out, “Little uncle.”

But the next moment, his body stiffened, and he stood in the center of the array, not daring to move at all.

Qin Jianglan looked up. He wore black robes, his expression cold and indifferent, his eyes dark and somewhat gloomy.

“Wu’er, you’ve come.” Seeing Little Skull Wu’er appear in the array, Qin Jianglan’s voice carried some mirth. Though he was weary, he still raised his hand and beckoned twice, “I prepared some little things for you. See if you like them.”

In his hands was a dough figurine shaped like a golden monkey, and a string of candied hawthorns. Beside him was also placed a butterfly kite – all things children liked.

It was indeed little uncle.

What he held were also little trinkets that Little Skull very much liked. Big sister would never prepare these things for him, so he was still looking forward to playing with little uncle.

But why had little uncle become like this?

The aura around him – why was it so similar to Big Brother Qinghe’s?

Such an aura made Little Skull very afraid, but looking at little uncle’s smile, he mustered his courage and slowly walked out of the array, approaching Qin Jianglan.