Li Yansi turned to look and was surprised to see who had arrived.

Jiang Ying stepped forward, bowing respectfully to the two Academy Directors beside her, then reverently handed the black leather envelope to Li Yansi, saying: “This is the black file you previously requested from the Martial Alliance.”

“Oh, I almost forgot about this.” Li Yansi reached out to accept it.

The Ghost Mansion Director asked: “What do you need the black file for?”

Li Yansi: “Just something I need to check.”

Seeing that she had accepted the black file, Jiang Ying said: “Then this disciple will take her leave.”

“Hold on, quite a few promising talents are challenging the mountain today. Why don’t you stay and watch with me?” Li Yansi stopped her, nodding toward Ming Li ahead of them with an alluring smile. “Help me figure out how to convince that pretty young lady to join my Wing Mansion Academy.”

Jiang Ying looked at Ming Li with slight surprise.

The Chariot Mansion Director coughed, signaling to Lin Xiao, who stood beside Ming Li, suggesting he should make the first move.

Before Lin Xiao could speak, Ming Li stepped forward and said, “I choose the Wing Mansion Academy.”

The Ghost Mansion Director, who hadn’t even had a chance to act, exclaimed in shock: “What?”

Li Yansi was also taken aback, not expecting that the competition for this young genius would end before it even began, with her emerging as the biggest winner.

She asked with interest: “What aspect of my Wing Mansion Academy appeals to you?”

Ming Li glanced at the equally curious Jiang Ying, then lowered her head and said: “This senior sister is very beautiful, and so are you. I like people who look good.”

This comment made both Li Yansi and Jiang Ying burst into laughter, their bright eyes gently observing the newcomer with friendly warmth after her words.

Li Yansi laughed heartily and beckoned to Ming Li: “Come here! You’ve made the right choice. When it comes to looking good, our Wing Mansion Academy has never lost.”

The Ghost Mansion Director and the Chariot Mansion Director watched from the side, nearly fuming: “Leave some female disciples for the other academies, will you!”

Li Yansi looked at Ming Li, who was walking toward her with a kind smile, “This is your fellow Wing Mansion sister, Jiang Ying.”

Then, turning to the two Directors, her face transformed into a fierce expression: “You talk as if Wing Mansion has no male disciples! Don’t always expect others to give way to you—put in some effort yourselves!”

The Ghost Mansion Director angrily stroked his beard while the Chariot Mansion Director turned and instructed Lin Xiao to act quickly with the next talented candidate who had awakened the Eight Meridians, determined not to let Wing Mansion snatch another one.

The three Directors continued observing the remaining challengers, commenting on them amongst themselves. Li Yansi occasionally chatted with Ming Li, mostly asking questions that Ming Li answered, with Jiang Ying also speaking up a few times.

As they talked, the topic eventually shifted to Jiang Ying.

The Chariot Mansion Director said slowly, “I heard Yuan Xi proposed to the Jiang family a few days ago?”

Li Yansi turned to ask Jiang Ying, “When will your marriage be finalized?”

Jiang Ying smiled somewhat bashfully: “It hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Not decided?” The Ghost Mansion Director asked in surprise. “Is it that you don’t want to marry him, or is the Jiang family unwilling?”

Before Jiang Ying could answer, the Chariot Mansion Director also expressed surprise: “The suitor is our Nan Que Young Master—the Jiang family isn’t agreeable even to him?”

The man in question wasn’t just the Young Master of a super sect; he was also the younger brother of the Nan Que Pilgrim.

This marriage proposal had come from Cui Yuan Xi himself, and no one would find it surprising.

Jiang Ying lowered her eyes and said, “I still want to work harder on my cultivation. Yuan Xi is… too good for me. I want to be more worthy of him.”

The three Directors, who had expected to hear gossip but were instead faced with such sweetness: “…”

Li Yansi cleared her throat: “As long as you two have a good relationship, it’s not a bad thing to focus on cultivation if you’re not in a rush to marry.”

The Ghost Mansion Director stroked his beard without speaking.

Li Yansi glared at the Chariot Mansion Director, who had started this conversation, but he pretended not to notice and turned away.

Ming Li and Lin Xiao listened quietly from the side, though Ming Li kept observing Jiang Ying’s every move, from her temperament and demeanor to her aura, all of which differed from her junior sister Qing Ying.

Qing Ying was full of vigor, lively, and cheerful, with a bit of a childish tendency to act coquettish and clingy, though she would show stability and reliability at critical moments.

Jiang Ying, before her had gentle eyes, elegant gestures, and carried the noble grace and composure of a young lady from a wealthy family.

They were opposite, yet they shared the same face.

If not for Jiang Wuyue’s silver bracelet and her relationship with Jiang Ying, Ming Li would have thought they merely looked alike.

Even now, she didn’t believe the person before her was her junior sister, but she wanted to figure out why the silver bracelet had appeared in the south.

As the Directors chatted, many newcomers completed the mountain challenge and were transported to the mountain gate. By sunset, Ming Li saw Qian Li being transported to the mountain gate, looking exhausted and nearly losing his balance, saved only by Dou Lanmin, who pulled him up.

Qian Li bowed his head and thanked him, searching for Ming Li in the crowd. Dou Lanmin pointed in a direction: “Your academy’s genius is over there!”

He turned his head following the guidance, but his attention was immediately drawn to Jiang Ying, who was talking with Li Yansi beside Ming Li.

This person…

Qian Li couldn’t help but recall the Bei Dou disciple who had saved him and his mother from the Jiang family ten years ago.

Though her temperament was completely different from the person before him, her appearance was eerily similar.

If he didn’t know that a Bei Dou disciple could never appear here, he would have almost called out “Elder Sister Benefactor.”

Qian Li suddenly remembered Ming Li’s earlier question about “Jiang Wuyue’s sister,” and had a moment of inspiration as he looked at Ming Li, who was talking with Qiu Hong beside her.

Qiu Hong was asking Ming Li: “Which academy did you choose?”

Ming Li pointed to Li Yansi: “Wing Mansion Academy.”

“Oh.” Qiu Hong sighed, “Different academies.”

Ming Li: “Good luck.”

Qiu Hong: “You too.”

Qian Li, who had walked over: “…”

Do you two even know how to have a conversation?

Qian Li gave Ming Li a meaningful look, and Ming Li asked him: “Did Fang Hui make it through?”

“He can do it, just a bit slower.” Qian Li indicated that they should go somewhere more private to talk. “The final challenge is based on the number of Full-Boundary Star Meridians. Don’t tell me you only had to choose one opponent?”

Ming Li nodded: “With a single Full-Boundary Meridian, of course, I could only choose one.”

She couldn’t even challenge more if she wanted to.

Qian Li remarked sarcastically: “You sound quite disappointed!”

Ming Li blinked once. Qian Li was about to tell her about the benefactor sister when Lin Xiao grabbed him, saying, “Let’s fill out the academy application forms first.”

Right, he needed to become a Nan Que disciple quickly!

Qian Li stopped and turned back to fill out the academy application. He also asked Ming Li which academy she was in, and Ming Li said: “Wing Mansion.”

“Ah?” Qian Li scratched his head, looking troubled. “But I’ve set my heart on Well Mansion Academy, not Wing Mansion.”

Ming Li said, “Follow what you like.”

After all, she hadn’t come to Nan Que to attend classes and cultivate.

Lin Xiao smiled: “Our Chariot Mansion Academy is quite good too.”

Qian Li lowered his head and quickly wrote “Well Mansion Academy.”

Lin Xiao: “…”

*

The number of people who completed the mountain challenge was neither too few nor too many. Compared to the number of people at the first trial, there were far fewer, but looking at the successful hundred-plus people, it wasn’t a small number either.

The new disciples’ academy applications were quickly tallied and distributed to each Academy Director.

Tonight, this batch of newcomers would stay at Ghost Mansion’s new quarters, and tomorrow they would separate to their different academies.

The long table was filled with food, and the newcomers were chatting and celebrating, creating a lively atmosphere.

Ming Li cradled a bowl of rice wine, drinking slowly. She had chosen a rather secluded spot with few people around; most had gone to the next table to join in the revelry.

Qian Li searched for quite a while before finding her, bringing his bowl over to sit down. “Why aren’t you at that table? There’s more food over there.”

Ming Li shook her head and asked: “Where’s Fang Hui?”

“He’s already gone back to the dormitory to rest, said he had no energy left.” After saying this, Qian Li suddenly remembered about the benefactor sister and hurriedly said: “Right! That beautiful senior sister beside you earlier, is she also from Wing Mansion Academy?”

Ming Li tilted her head to look at him, asking with some deeper meaning: “You know her?”

Qian Li nodded: “Well, not exactly. Remember I told you about the two Bei Dou disciples who helped when the Jiang family came to make trouble? One male disciple gave me the Seven Star Token, and the other female disciple seemed to know my mother, but that’s not the point. The point is that the senior sister beside you today—”

He deliberately paused, his face serious as he built up to the main point: “She looks almost identical to that Bei Dou female disciple!”

Ming Li asked: “Identical?”

Qian Li nodded heavily: “Exactly!”

Ming Li held her bowl, taking small sips of rice wine. “After so long, could you be misremembering?”

“Impossible!” Qian Li said decisively. “I would never forget what those two looked like. I even remember clearly that their only difference was a mole at the corner of the eye!”

Ming Li put down her wine bowl, tapping her index finger on the table once, and said softly: “She is Jiang Ying.”

“What?!” Qian Li was so shocked that he slapped the table and stood up, startling Qiu Hong and others who were approaching with bowls and wine. Dou Lanmin exclaimed in surprise, “What?”

Cheng Jingbai casually sat down at the table and passed several bowls of meat to Ming Li: “Why are you hiding here alone, genius? Look how thin you are, quickly eat some meat to build yourself up.”

Qiu Hong also brought her several bowls and a pot of wine, but before he could invite her to drink, he was pushed aside by both Cheng Jingbai and Dou Lanmin: “What are you doing offering wine to a girl in the middle of the night? What’s your intention?”

“Your intentions are questionable! Your heart is condemnable!”

Qiu Hong: “?”

Qian Li sat back down, irritated: “What are you all doing here?”

“Me?” Cheng Jingbai pointed at himself and honestly said, “After filling out the academy application, I found out Wing Mansion Academy has the most female disciples, so I came to get on good terms with the genius here, to make it easier to visit Wing Mansion Academy in the future.”

Everyone: “…”

They didn’t know whether to comment on his shamelessness or his honesty.

Qiu Hong sat down and looked at Ming Li: “You’re very strong. I want to fight you once.”

Qian Li remarked approvingly: “Now that sounds normal. What about you?”

He looked at Dou Lanmin.

Dou Lanmin leaned back in his chair: “They’re all here, so I’m just joining in the fun!”

Qian Li said, “As long as you’re not here to sell things.”

Ming Li shook her head at Qiu Hong’s proposal: “Don’t want to fight.”

“Alright.” Qiu Hong said with disappointment.

Cheng Jingbai looked at her with hopeful eyes, and Ming Li honestly said: “In Wing Mansion Academy, I only know one senior sister Jiang Ying, the one standing with the Academy Director today.”

Cheng Jingbai praised: “Very beautiful!”

Ming Li mentioned casually, “But I heard she has a marriage engagement with the Young Master of Nan Que.”

Cheng Jingbai looked shocked. Qiu Hong raised his hand and said, “I saw this senior sister shopping at the Embroidered Garment Pavilion with someone before. She was picking up her custom-made wedding dress.”

Dou Lanmin looked up at Qiu Hong: “You can afford to shop at the Embroidered Garment Pavilion?”

Qiu Hong: “Yes.”

“Nan Que Young Master, no one can compete for her.” Cheng Jingbai shook his head. “Our Nan Que Pilgrim is his real sister! No one in the entire South would dare to fight for this marriage.”

The Nan Que Pilgrim Cui Yaocen was, before Ming Li’s breakthrough, the only female among the six supreme powerhouses of the Ancient Continent, and also the youngest.

Until Ming Li broke through at sixteen, shattering her gender exclusivity and setting a record for the youngest.

Ming Li’s impression of Cui Yaocen was that she was domineering, competitive, and self-centered. She pursued being the strongest and the best, which made Ming Li, who was superior to her in many ways, a thorn in her side.

In the past, she had mocked Ming Li to her face, saying she was only able to reach her current level due to excessive luck.

Seven Meridians naturally Full-Boundary—such luck was indeed one in ten million.

Ming Li had heard such mockery plenty of times, even before she became a Pilgrim.

Whether well-intentioned or malicious, back at Bei Dou, she never had to respond herself—her senior and junior disciples would rush to fight and argue with the offenders first.

Once, when she went to her brother’s room to look for records related to Eight Meridians Spirit Techniques, Qing Ying suddenly burst in with disheveled hair, furiously saying: “Ye Yun! Those stinking southerners dared to say my senior sister’s breakthrough was just luck, and I couldn’t beat them! Quick, come with me to… Oh! S-s-senior sister, w-why are you…”

Her brother, who had been searching for books with her, walked toward Qing Ying: “Where are they?”

From a young age, Qing Ying understood one principle: if she couldn’t solve a problem herself, don’t stubbornly persist—quickly find senior brothers and sisters.

No matter how difficult the situation, as long as senior brothers and sisters were there, it would be resolved.

*

As Cheng Jingbai was lamenting that no one would dare compete for this marriage, Dou Lanmin suddenly asked: “But is this Jiang surname from the Jiang clan of the Vermilion Bird State King?”

Ming Li said, “Yes.”

Qian Li sighed: “The Jiang clan marrying into the Nan Que Seven Sects—terrifying.”

Cheng Jingbai stroked his chin: “Put that way, the South really will be dominated by the Jiang clan alone.”

“Nan Que itself is a super sect, currently ranking first among the four great sects. A pity about Bei Dou back then.” Qiu Hong sighed. “If Bei Dou’s Pilgrim hadn’t fallen, perhaps things would be different now.”

Ming Li rested her chin on one hand and said, “Indeed.”

“Come to think of it, though Nan Que and Bei Dou have bad relations now, Bei Dou’s Pilgrim surprisingly has a good reputation in the South.” Cheng Jingbai also sighed. “It seems people hate Bei Dou, not the Pilgrim. Is this the charm of supreme powerhouses?”

Qian Li thoughtfully said, “Part of the reason might be that she reportedly didn’t have a good life at Bei Dou.”

“Huh?” Since her rebirth, this was the first time Ming Li showed a shocked expression. “She didn’t have a good life at Bei Dou?”

“I’ve heard about that, too.” Dou Lanmin raised his hand. “They say Bei Dou people treated her poorly. A mighty Pilgrim, yet ostracized and slandered by her sect. Of course, the southern people felt sympathy for her and looked down on Bei Dou.”

Ming Li: “?”

Cheng Jingbai nodded: “I heard about this at the Martial Academy, too. They say her senior and junior disciples at Bei Dou, out of jealousy, often made insinuations in private that she could break through and become a Pilgrim only because of luck.”

Ming Li looked over with a question mark above her head. Wasn’t that first said by your southern Pilgrim?

“I also heard her senior brother often scolded her, and they had a bad relationship. This senior brother was quite arrogant, too.” Qian Li scratched his head. “Though I think that’s unlikely…”

After all, she had shot an arrow from a thousand miles away to save her disciples—she didn’t seem like someone with poor relations with her sect.

But he kept these thoughts to himself.

Qiu Hong also raised his hand: “I’ve heard some things too, like how her junior brother once shot her with an arrow during a certain competition.”

The other four exclaimed in unison: “Outrageous!”

Ming Li held back and asked: “Who said all this?”

But the other four shook their heads together: “Don’t know.”

It was all hearsay, passed along until everyone knew it, but the source had long been forgotten.

The southerners only knew that Bei Dou’s Pilgrim had a bad life, and it was all Bei Dou’s fault.

Ming Li pinched the bridge of her nose, but in the end couldn’t help laughing. She looked up, blinked, and smiled: “What else? Keep going, I’m quite curious.”

*

Nan Que, Well Mansion Academy.

The Well Mansion Academy Director, wearing a white robe and coat, knelt under the eaves, listening to insect sounds in the night while brewing tea with a peaceful mind. Due to her weak constitution, she occasionally covered her mouth to cough.

A disciple announced from outside: “Master, Young Master Cui has arrived.”

“Let him in,” Yumei said softly.

The sliding door moved, and the dim light from outside illuminated the room. The man who entered wore golden garments with a jade crown binding his hair. His steps were steady, neither hurried nor slow, as he walked across the courtyard to the eaves.

Yumei was lowering her head to select tea leaves, and hearing his footsteps, she said gently: “I already know why the Young Master has come. That child from the Zhao family will not be admitted to my Well Mansion.”

Cui Yuan Xi stopped at the edge of the tea table, his tall figure casting a shadow on the door of the room.

He said in a deep voice: “Then I thank Director Yu.”

“The Young Master seems more concerned about these matters than the Jiang clan.” Yumei smiled. “Is it because your marriage to the Jiang clan is approaching?”

Cui Yuan Xi said flatly: “The Jiang clan is the Vermilion Bird State King, with formidable power in the South.”

Yumei asked with slight surprise: “Is our Nan Que so inferior?”

Cui Yuan Xi glanced at her, and Yumei smiled without speaking.

“The grudge between the Jiang and Zhao families—it’s best we don’t interfere.” After saying this, Cui Yuan Xi gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

Yumei gazed at the empty corridor for a long while before gently shaking her head. With a turn of her palm, a small red-winged Vermilion Bird flew out from the void and soared away.

*

The night was deep, but parts of Nan Que still blazed with lights.

Cui Yuan Xi passed by Wing Mansion Academy and paused at the mountain gate, but did not enter. Instead, he continued forward, walking along the rugged mountain path, step by step, climbing higher until he reached the summit.

Fireflies danced on the mountain, and several cherry trees were planted under the eaves. It was spring, and the drooping cherry branches were laden with pink-white flowers, some extending onto the eaves, with a few fallen by the window.

Cui Yuan Xi’s gaze slowly swept over those cherry trees as he walked to the front of the house. The sliding doors automatically parted, and as he walked inside, candles lit one by one, illuminating the dim room.

Habitually, his first glance went to the woman sitting by the bed.

The woman, dressed in cyan, sat quietly by the bed. Candlelight reflected on her fair skin, and the flickering flames danced in her deep, hollow eyes, yet couldn’t dispel the thin mist within them.

She shared the same appearance as Jiang Ying.

Her skin was whiter than Jiang Ying’s—a porcelain white, without any trace of blood, yet possessing the luster of porcelain. She even had cracks like mended porcelain fractures; she was truly a porcelain beauty.

Cui Yuan Xi leaned against the window, gazing at her intently, and said softly: “Go change into those clothes.”

The porcelain beauty showed no expression, her gaze empty and lifeless. She only acted according to Cui Yuan Xi’s instructions.

She shed her garments, revealing her entire body covered with mended cracks. The porcelain beauty took the bright red wedding dress, placed it on the bed, took quite some time to put it on, then turned to face Cui Yuan Xi.

The wind blew the pink-white cherry branches outside, causing them to sway and dropping a few blossoms onto the windowsill.

The candle flames wavered in the night breeze, making the gold ornaments on the wedding dress gleam brightly, contrasting with the bloodless white of her body.

“The Zhao boy you saved before has now come to Nan Que.” Cui Yuan Xi turned to look out the window. From this high vantage point, standing by the window afforded a view of the Vermilion Bird State’s dragon-like string of lights in the night. “Nan Que has someone who has seen you before, which makes me a bit uneasy.”

“Come here.”

The porcelain beauty slowly walked toward him.

Cui Yuan Xi turned back, his gaze burning as he stared at her, his sight falling on those lips he had personally painted bright red. His Adam’s apple bobbed for an instant as he said: “Kiss me.”

The porcelain beauty stood on tiptoe, fulfilling his wish.