Once a person begins to evade their true self, they become even more depraved.

Cui Yuanxi finally allowed himself to acknowledge his heart’s true desires, so his memory retained only the beautiful, touching past with Qing Ying, automatically ignoring the harm and pain he had caused her.

He firmly believed he could give Qing Ying a better future. What’s past is past, and as long as they looked forward, they still had plenty of time. The rest of their lives were long enough for him to make amends.

That’s why he was anxious and afraid of Qing Ying leaving, afraid that he wouldn’t have this opportunity.

Now, looking at the desperate and crazed eyes of the man kneeling on the ground, Cui Yaocen raised her head to look inside the house: “If you want her to live, then you must marry Jiang Ying. I don’t care who you like, but the Jiang Clan must be subdued. In this southern region, I absolutely will not allow a domain where the Jiang Clan remains dominant.”

Cui Yuanxi responded with a hoarse voice: “…Fine.”

Once upon a time, the person he wanted to marry was indeed Jiang Ying, but now it felt like an extremely distant matter.

Cui Yaocen found him irritating, no matter where she looked, so she decided it was better to keep him out of her sight and mind.

*

That evening, the wedding date for the Nan Que Young Master and the Jiang Clan’s young lady was set, and invitations were sent out to guests from all over the continent to attend the celebration.

Everyone could see that the wedding arrangements were proceeding somewhat hastily. Although people thought of the previous listening stone incident, no one dared to mention it openly.

Clever people knew that Nan Que was holding the wedding early to counter the rumors from the listening stone—stories about incompatible feelings or a cancelled marriage were deliberately spread by people with ulterior motives targeting Nan Que, and the truth wasn’t like that at all.

However, there had long been rumors about this marriage, and various families had already prepared gifts in advance. Even though Nan Que suddenly announced the wedding date, it didn’t have much impact. Everyone began packing their things, preparing to join the festivities at Nan Que.

Not to mention others, even Nan Que’s people were startled by this suddenly announced wedding date.

Since it was Cui Yaocen’s order, others didn’t dare say much and efficiently arranged the wedding preparations according to her instructions.

Having passed the novice period, Ming Li no longer needed to go to the Zhu Que Platform at the South Gate every morning, and her courses had been greatly reduced. She spent all day in her room at the new dormitory cultivating her Yin Meridian, while muttering to the air: “If you want me to kill him, you should at least give me a reason.”

“Didn’t I already ask you nicely?”

“You even gave him your Seven Star Command.”

“If you hadn’t given it to him, he could have broken it when captured, and I could have rushed over.”

“Who exactly turned you into what you are now?”

“…”

No matter what Ming Li said, Zhou Zixi wouldn’t appear, as if he were just waiting for her to kill Qian Li before showing himself.

Ming Li had no way to deal with him for now. Currently, her Yin Meridian was only at the sixth boundary level, still one level away from mastery.

Early this morning, just as the Meditation Bell rang, someone came knocking at her door. Ming Li was somewhat surprised to see who it was.

Standing outside the door was Zhou Xiang, who resembled a timid rabbit. Every time she made eye contact while talking to someone, she couldn’t help but shrink her neck, saying nervously, “Zhou Li, Master is looking for you and wants you to go to Yi Xiu.”

Ming Li asked, “What’s the matter?”

Zhou Xiang said softly, “It should be about cultivation.”

So Ming Li didn’t ask further and went with her to find Li Yansi at Yi Xiu.

On the way, they heard others discussing Cui Yuanxi and Jiang Ying’s wedding. All seven academies were beginning to be decorated festively. The stone lanterns that usually lined the paths had been replaced with colorful flower lanterns, and long colorful ropes hung with bright red double happiness knots were stretched across the pathways.

The gloom of the previous period was blown away by the current festivity, and the oppressive atmosphere was finally transformed. Passersby excitedly discussed how lively the upcoming wedding would be.

Li Yansi wasn’t in the main residence but at the Central Hall on higher ground.

Ming Li hadn’t been to Yi Xiu for some time. Since figuring out her cultivation was much faster than attending various messy courses at Nan Que, she had stayed in the new dormitory, occasionally going to Boundary Peak. Later, the task of monitoring Boundary Peak was voluntarily taken over by Dou Lanmin, giving her more time to focus on cultivation.

Just as they reached the Central Hall after climbing the long stone steps, they saw Jiang Ying bidding farewell to the disciples in front of the hall with a smile on her lips. Her gaze fell on Ming Li at the corner, and she slightly raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Ying walked toward the two of them with a smile.

Zhou Xiang said in a tiny voice, “Senior Sister Jiang, congratulations.”

Jiang Ying glanced at her with a smiling gaze, which counted as a response, then her vision fell on Ming Li with a hint of arrogance: “How about that?”

Ming Li smiled and said, “What does your marriage have to do with me?”

The smile in Jiang Ying’s eyes gradually faded: “It seems you truly don’t know how to write the word ‘fear.'”

Ming Li said indifferently, “If lovers finally became a couple, I could even say congratulations, but unfortunately, you and the Young Master Cui seem to be lacking something.”

Zhou Xiang secretly covered her mouth as she listened, her eyes widening as she watched the two, feeling as though she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

“You’re indeed still a child, only caring about those trivial things. Compared to that bit of true affection, I can gain so much more,” Jiang Ying walked to Ming Li’s side and whispered in her ear, “So you better watch carefully, watch how I return the humiliation I suffered a hundred, a thousand times over to you.”

Ming Li glanced at her face, which resembled her junior sister’s, and softly replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.”

Jiang Ying looked at her in surprise, not quite understanding the attitude behind these words, then found it amusing. Kill her? No matter how you look at it, you should be worried about me killing you.

Ming Li didn’t waste more words with her and walked straight into the Central Hall, with Zhou Xiang hurrying to follow.

*

Li Yansi had called Ming Li to express concern about her cultivation.

After previously noticing that Ming Li needed double the star power, she had found ancient books suitable for strengthening Yin Meridian cultivation. But due to the Jing Xiu Academy incident and the Earth Ghost capture, she had been delayed until the Four Directions Examination approached before remembering.

Ming Li thanked her for her kindness and flipped through the book, saying, “My Yin Meridian has already reached the sixth boundary, not too far from mastery.”

Li Yansi was startled upon hearing this, looking at her with amazed eyes: “You cultivated your Yin Meridian to the sixth boundary in just this past month?”

Ming Li nodded, thinking to herself that she had already read this book.

“Your cultivation speed is truly astonishing. Others might not be able to cultivate their Yin Meridian to mastery in their entire lifetime,” Li Yansi found Ming Li increasingly pleasing to the eye, happy that such a good seedling belonged to her Yi Xiu Academy. She had already imagined the scene of Ming Li shining brilliantly at the Four Directions Examination, making other sects envious.

Li Yansi said with satisfaction, “Zhou Xiang has mastered the Heart Meridian. You can practice with her more often. Practicing the Heart Meridian against the Yin Meridian is the fastest way.”

Ming Li looked at Zhou Xiang with some surprise.

The Heart Meridian was difficult to cultivate. It was the only star meridian where there was a difference in strength between innate mastery and acquired cultivation, and it had taken Ming Li six years to master.

Back then, except for the Heart Meridian, all of Ming Li’s other seven meridians were innately mastered.

Zhou Xiang said softly, “I have innate mastery, which can’t compare to an acquired cultivation of the Heart Meridian.”

The Heart Meridian nurtures one’s nature. After mastering it, one can even imperceptibly influence the mental state and emotions of those around them, from influencing to controlling—making them happy when you want them to be happy, making them sad when you want them to be sad.

However, it’s generally acknowledged that few people awaken the Heart Meridian, let alone master it.

Ming Li didn’t reject this proposal and practiced with Zhou Xiang at Yi Xiu Academy until evening.

At night, snow fell abundantly, and lights lit up one after another in various places. The colorful ropes celebrating the wedding had been hung up to the Central Hall. To Ming Li’s surprise, Cheng Jingbai had also mixed into the team hanging colorful ropes at Yi Xiu.

“Oh, you finally decided to come out?” Cheng Jingbai waved to greet them, handing a small food box to Zhou Xiang, then looking at Ming Li and saying, “Didn’t know you’d be out, so there’s none for you.”

Ming Li shook her head to indicate it didn’t matter. Cheng Jingbai then said, “But if Qian Li knew, he’d bring some for you.”

She indeed hadn’t seen Qian Li for several days.

Cheng Jingbai slacked off from helping hang the colorful ropes, sitting nearby watching them practice. Yawning, he said, “Since you don’t come out, Qian Li doesn’t come to the dining hall to eat with us either.”

Not being able to get the latest news from Qian Li was such a great loss.

Ming Li said, “He would go with Fang Hui.”

Cheng Jingbai shook his head and said, “Fang Hui doesn’t work either. I heard he’s been under intense supervision from Saint Cui lately, focusing on cultivation every day.”

The busy Qian Li still managed to find time to bring food to Ming Li.

As soon as he landed, he exclaimed, “Wow,” rubbing his palms and saying, “Has Yi Xiu’s Four Seasons Formation not been repaired yet? Spring is almost over, but the snow here is getting heavier and colder.”

Ming Li took the food box that Qian Li handed over, thought for a moment, and finally made a decision.

She raised her hand, pointing at Qian Li and saying, “Qian Li.”

Qian Li turned his head to look: “What’s up?”

Ming Li raised her hand and made a gesture, the circulating qi incantation she pointed out shattering the snow particles behind him. She said, “You’re dead.”

Qian Li: “…”

Cheng Jingbai and Zhou Xiang looked over with question marks above their heads.

Qian Li felt confused in his mind, but saw Ming Li saying with a serious face, “You’re dead.”

“Ah? Oh, oh, ah…” he said while obligingly falling onto the snow, looking up at the dark sky and saying, “I’m dead.”

Ming Li was satisfied, taking only the meat buns from the food box and returning the rest to him.

Qian Li sat up, hugging the food box and shaking his head to get rid of the snow on his hair, looking strangely at Ming Li who was eating the buns as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Xiang fearfully hid a bit behind Cheng Jingbai.

Cheng Jingbai cautiously said, “Zhou Li, genius, don’t push yourself too hard with cultivation. We’ve all awakened our eight meridians, winning at the starting line. You should come out more often, and we can all practice together. Don’t stay confined in your room until you make yourself sick, that wouldn’t be good.”

Ming Li blinked and looked over: “I’m not sick.”

Cheng Jingbai nodded and said, “That’s good, that’s good.”

Ming Li successfully resolved the matter of killing Qian Li. After they all left, she sat alone by the Zhu Que Platform watching the falling snow and said in a small voice, “I’ve already killed Qian Li for you, shouldn’t you come out now?”

Zhou Zixi: “…”

He stared at the person looking toward him in the hazy light, bending down to get a clearer view than before. Zhou Zixi gently cupped Ming Li’s cold face, his fingertips pressing against her cheek, pondering how to describe his feelings: “It wasn’t very satisfying to watch.”

“Senior Sister, you were somewhat perfunctory.”

Ming Li said, “You ignored me for over a month.”

Zhou Zixi: “So what?”

Ming Li smiled slightly, also reaching out to cup his face and saying, “You’ll regret it later.”

Zhou Zixi was unconcerned, withdrawing his hand and straightening up to feel the cold in heaven and earth. Although the snow was deep, it couldn’t compare to the bone-chilling cold of the ice desert.

Ming Li took his hand and only then discovered a wound on his wrist that hadn’t been there before. She frowned and asked, “How did you get hurt?”

Shadows shouldn’t have scars.

But Zhou Zixi said, “Just came back to life.”

“Just came back to life” meant he had died again.

Ming Li’s heart sank when she heard this. A wound that even a shadow couldn’t conceal must have been caused by a Pilgrim, such as her divine killing arrow. Ming Li tightened her grip on Zhou Zixi’s sleeve and was about to force him to reveal where he was being held and by whom, when she heard Zhou Zixi say, “Senior Sister, Nan Que is going to be quite lively soon. You need to be careful, don’t die at someone else’s hands.”