After Linghui was injured, fellow disciples came to visit her in an endless stream. Judging by this momentum, those who didn’t know better would think Linghui’s life was hanging by a thread. In reality, these past few days Linghui had been forced by her master to take various body-nourishing pills every day. Her complexion was so rosy it glowed, and even her waist had gained a full circle of fat.

That day when she saw an inner sect disciple come looking for her, she didn’t think much of it. Who would have known that after the person entered her cave dwelling, they would suddenly attack? Before she passed out, she was still regretting that she might never get to taste the new dishes that Wuwei Manor had recently developed.

These past few days, the Wuwei Manor disciples staying on Yunhua Mountain had been making different dishes for her every day. While she indulged in culinary pleasures, she secretly planned that once she recovered, she would refine a batch of Body Sculpting Pills for herself.

Fortunately, the inner sect disciple who had been impersonated was discovered at the foot of the mountain. Although severely injured, there was no danger to their life.

After this incident, all the sect’s guards were replaced, and the disciples guarding each entrance and exit were issued magical tools for verifying identities. This greatly reduced the possibility of evil cultivators impersonating others. When the major sects received this news, they didn’t dare be negligent and all strengthened their defenses. Some people privately felt fortunate—thankfully this happened at Yunhua Sect, and they discovered the impersonator’s identity in time. If it had been some small sect or minor school, perhaps even their sect leader could have been replaced without anyone knowing. With this thought, everyone’s hearts became unsettled, and they viewed everyone with suspicion.

The cultivation world was thrown into panic over this matter. Several major sects had no choice but to jointly dispatch disciples to various sects to help everyone verify identities. This investigation actually uncovered some problems. This family’s disciple wanted to join another sect and had been secretly communicating with other sects in private. A certain elder who seemed serious and upright turned out to be most fond of various stuffed dolls behind closed doors. A certain tall, burly man loved dressing as a woman most of all, but his Bone Shrinking Technique wasn’t learned well. He often sneaked out secretly and was nearly captured by fellow disciples who mistook him for an evil cultivator’s spy.

These absurd incidents became jokes for cultivators during their leisure time. But when they actually rooted out people sent by evil cultivators from some sects, the atmosphere became serious.

Righteous people can never imagine how many underhanded methods evil people possess. But light cannot wait until darkness has swallowed it whole before choosing to resist. That would be an unnecessary sacrifice and asking for trouble.

The Ten Great Sects strengthened their vigilance throughout the entire cultivation world once again. Guards in major cities doubled, and the common people’s eyes became sharp at spotting suspicious individuals.

The evil cultivators never expected that just because their infiltration of Yunhua Sect failed, it would cause a sensation throughout the entire cultivation world. The people they sent had only stayed in a certain village for one day—the villagers who had been simple and hospitable the first day welcomed righteous cultivators over the next day and had their people dragged away.

Their people merely went to stay at an inn. They had just gone to sleep in the middle of the night, but before dawn broke, they were already bound hand and foot and hung at the City Lord’s Manor gate.

There were also subordinates sent to sow discord between righteous factions. Before they could say more than a few words, they were grabbed and beaten by a group of people. After the beating, a sign was hung on them reading something like “The Ugly Face of Evil Cultivators,” and they were tied to a wooden cart for public humiliation through the streets.

They were evil cultivators—evil cultivators who should have been destroying heaven and earth! Why were their days so miserable? Among all the evil cultivators throughout history, they might be the most pathetic. The evil cultivators staying in the evil cultivation realm heard the news coming from Lingyou Realm and suddenly felt heartbroken.

Whenever the higher-ups gave orders saying they needed to dispatch evil cultivators to Lingyou Realm to strengthen the evil cultivation world’s forces, they would tremble with fear. They would rather be killed by a single sword strike from a sword cultivator than be beaten by a group of commoners and then paraded through the streets for public humiliation.

Evil cultivators also needed dignity and face.

To avoid being dispatched to Lingyou Realm, many evil cultivators began bribing their superiors, only wishing to let others have this face-losing opportunity. Because there were too many people offering bribes, when the Venerable who was currently preparing his wedding found out, he killed a large batch of evil cultivators. Only then did these evil cultivators settle down.

The Evil Cultivation Venerable hadn’t expected that the cultivators of Lingyou Realm would be so united. The recent events had caused him to lose considerable face. If not for the approaching Dao Union Ceremony, he would wish to lead his army to attack Lingyou Realm this very moment.

“Venerable, why must you be so angry?” A tender, jade-white hand rested on the Venerable’s hand. Her charming eyes were like silk, her lips red as blood, and her laughing voice could send people into rapture. As the number one beauty of the evil cultivation realm, Hong Mian possessed snow-white skin, starry eyes, and also the most venomous heart.

She fed a piece of bloody human heart meat to the Venerable’s lips, her voice languid: “As long as they’re human, they’ll have weaknesses. Right now is when they’re united as one. If you lead your subordinates to attack, this humble one would worry about you.”

The Venerable hooked her chin but didn’t eat the heart meat she offered: “Take it away.”

“Very well.” Hong Mian sighed with some regret. The Venerable was good in every way, except he didn’t eat human flesh—he didn’t even eat raw meat. She licked her own red lips. “I very much look forward to the day the Dao Union Ceremony arrives.”

“Then who do you think I should strike at first?” The Venerable leaned back in his chair like a lazy lion. No one knew when he might suddenly lash out.

“Of course it should be Lingyou Realm’s most famous person, the sword cultivator most likely to ascend.” Hong Mian nestled into the Venerable’s embrace with a beaming smile. “Zhong Xi.”

“Oh?” The Venerable glanced at the woman in his arms. “You seem to know something about him.”

Hong Mian’s index finger lightly traced on the Venerable’s chest: “The only man this humble one wishes to understand is you, Venerable.”

The Venerable let out a soft laugh. His black eyes tinged with dark red were ice-cold without the slightest emotion: “Then we’ll follow Hong Mian’s wishes. We’ll find an opportunity to eliminate Zhong Xi first.”

Hong Mian let out a delicate laugh, her entire boneless body clinging to the Venerable.

The guard at the door shifted his steps backward, almost unable to resist sealing off his own hearing. He was probably allergic to this kind of female laughter. Every time he heard this laugh, goosebumps covered his entire body.

After the Venerable and Venerable Hong Mian held their Dao Union Ceremony, these evil cultivators would probably have to follow behind the Venerable and go fight desperately with those cultivators from Lingyou Realm.

In the dark cave dwelling, Huan Zong opened his eyes and looked at Kong Hou beside him, who had already fallen asleep leaning against his knee. Her moist lips seemed full of attraction, making him want to lean down and taste them.

He bent down slightly but quickly stopped. Gently carrying Kong Hou to the jade bed to lie down properly, Huan Zong took a deep breath and sat cross-legged against the table, as if only this way could he suppress the thoughts in his heart.

Kong Hou, lying on the bed, turned over and continued sleeping in a daze. Not knowing what she was dreaming about, her cheeks flushed slightly and she revealed a sweet smile. Huan Zong turned his head to look and saw the young girl’s fair neck glowing white in the darkness, even carrying a faint, elusive fragrance.

He stood up, bent down to pick up the blanket the young girl had kicked to the floor, and gently covered her with it. Sitting on the floor against the jade bed without any regard for his image, Huan Zong smiled bitterly, not daring to look at the person on the bed again.

Every thought, every desire, was a desecration of Kong Hou. She trusted him, respected him—how could he destroy this trust?

Extending his hand to condense a piece of ice, Huan Zong put the ice in his mouth. The cold sensation traveled from the tip of his tongue to his chest, as if this way he could suppress the restlessness in his heart.

“Huan Zong…”

Huan Zong thought Kong Hou had woken up. Turning around to look, she was still sleeping peacefully, only murmuring his name. Reaching out to gently grasp Kong Hou’s wrist, Huan Zong said softly: “I’m here.”

Kong Hou made no more sound. She turned over and hugged his hand to her chest, her warm lips against his arm, hot as burning fire. The tips of Huan Zong’s fingers trembled slightly, but he didn’t pull his hand from her embrace.

“So be it…”

She was still young.

The still-young Kong Hou was currently having a beautiful dream. She dreamed she had entered a hot spring pool. In the pool, someone sat quietly with their back to her, black hair floating on the water’s surface like tangled emotions that couldn’t be unraveled.

This was a man who looked good just from his back. Kong Hou couldn’t help but walk forward two steps. The hot spring water rose past her knees, but she couldn’t sense any temperature.

Suddenly, the man ahead turned his head, revealing that jade-like countenance.

“Huan Zong…”

Kong Hou opened her eyes and sat up from the jade bed. Seeing Huan Zong meditating not far away, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat guilty. What had gotten into her lately? Why did she keep coveting Huan Zong’s body?

“Awake?” Huan Zong opened his eyes and poured water for her to wash up. “Today we’ll first copy cultivation methods, draw two talisman patterns, then continue meditating.”

“All right.” Kong Hou obediently agreed.

Huan Zong was somewhat surprised. With Kong Hou’s personality, hearing about copying cultivation methods would definitely make her try every way to shirk it. Why did she agree directly today?

Seeing Huan Zong looking at her, Kong Hou turned her head: “Don’t look at me. It affects my state of mind.”

“Fine, fine, fine.” Huan Zong smiled helplessly. “I won’t look.”

He stood up and walked several steps to the side: “Is this acceptable now?”

Kong Hou: “…”

Good-looking, good-tempered, and accommodating to her in everything—why was she still being such a beast?

She was a disgrace to Yunhua Sect, the scum of the old Ji family.

Because of her guilt, Kong Hou was especially serious when copying cultivation methods, actually finishing half a shichen earlier than usual. She put down her brush and turned to look at Huan Zong. Huan Zong’s sitting posture was beautiful, his back straight, elegant in every way. Just watching him quietly like this made it impossible to look away.

There were still four months left before seclusion could end. She hoped that in these four months, she could control her beastly thoughts…

Wang Tong’s days had been quite comfortable lately. His eldest disciple had advanced to Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, his second disciple’s cultivation was steadily rising, and his youngest disciple had found a fated person with whom she could dual cultivate heaven and earth. What made him even happier was that his sect leader senior brother had been especially good to him recently—no more rolling his eyes at him, no more criticizing his bad habits. Whenever he asked to borrow spirit stones, senior brother would definitely give them, so generous that Wang Tong felt embarrassed.

This day, after scrounging several bottles of pills from his sect leader senior brother, Wang Tong walked out cheerfully and said to Wu Chuan who was seeing him out: “We’re family—no need to be particular about these formalities.”

Wu Chuan saw Wang Tong’s face full of smiles and bowed in salute: “Master Uncle, Kong Hou Junior Martial Sister will emerge from seclusion in just over three months. I wonder if there’s anything else you need?”

“No need, no need. Kong Hou is a filial child. Just the other day, she went to Five Elements Hall and paid back all the spirit stones I owed.” Although Wang Tong liked to scrounge small items from his sect leader senior brother, he also knew the principle of not worrying about scarcity but about inequality. If the main sect always gave good things to Qiyue Peak, even if the senior and junior brothers had good feelings, resentment could still develop.

“Kong Hou Junior Martial Sister has always been considerate and motivated.” Wu Chuan was silent for a moment, then accompanied Wang Tong as he walked out. “It’s just unexpected that Kong Hou Junior Martial Sister could actually dual cultivate heaven and earth with Zhenren Zhong Xi. This truly is an unexpected joy.”

“This is all fate.” The smile on Wang Tong’s face grew even more brilliant. “Perhaps the Heavenly Dao truly favors this child.”

“Master Uncle speaks correctly. Kong Hou Junior Martial Sister and Zhenren Zhong Xi indeed have deep affinity.” Wu Chuan thought: I hope when Kong Hou Junior Martial Sister emerges from seclusion, Master Uncle Wang Tong won’t have demolished the main sect completely.

Wang Tong smiled and nodded repeatedly. After nodding, he vaguely felt something odd in his heart, but exactly what was odd, he couldn’t say for the moment. But thinking that Wu Chuan had always been taciturn and didn’t know how to say pleasant things, Wang Tong quickly felt relieved.

People who couldn’t speak well—the things they said sounded somewhat awkward. That was normal.

After sending Wang Tong back to Qiyue Peak, Wu Chuan turned and went to the dungeon. The evil cultivator who had injured Junior Martial Sister Linghui several months ago was still locked up inside.

Every few days, he would have this evil cultivator observe various torture scenes. After a period of time, the evil cultivator had spilled everything he knew, practically short of saying at what age he still wet his pants.

Seeing Wu Chuan enter, the evil cultivator wanted nothing more than to kneel before him. After staying in the dungeon for so long, Wu Chuan had practically become his nightmare. He shrank into the corner, extending his arm to cover his eyes, as if this way Wu Chuan wouldn’t exist.

“What is your evil cultivation realm Venerable’s weakness?”

“Immortal Lord, you’ve already asked this question ten times.” The evil cultivator desperately clutched his head and pulled at his hair. “It’s Venerable Hong Mian, Venerable Hong Mian!”

The Venerable was enamored with Venerable Hong Mian. For her sake, he collected treasures from throughout the world—everyone in the evil cultivation realm knew this. As someone who was the most skilled at disguise in the evil cultivation realm, he had seen the two of them several times. The Venerable was practically obedient to the Venerable in every way, extremely doting.

“How many Venerables are there in the evil cultivation realm?”

The evil cultivator collapsed: “Twenty-eight. Just kill me instead.”

Having to answer the same questions every day—if even one answer was unsatisfactory, he wasn’t allowed to sleep, drink water, or eat. His spiritual platform had been destroyed, and his body was no different from an ordinary person’s. How could he not sleep or drink water? These days were simply worse than death. Just who said that famous righteous sects acted honorably? He had never seen such an unscrupulous righteous sect.

“Senior Brother Wu Chuan, you’re here too?” Several disciples from Chenxia Peak walked in and glanced at the evil cultivator playing dead on the ground. “Senior Brother, have you finished questioning him? We have several newly refined pills in hand and want this evil cultivator to try them. Perhaps his spiritual platform will recover.”

“Mm.” Wu Chuan nodded. “As physicians, you should treat the injured impartially.”

“Senior Brother’s admonishment is correct.” One disciple smiled sweetly. “We will definitely treat him well.”

“That’s right. We don’t know what this evil cultivator fellow daoist’s Transformation Water was refined from—it can actually change a man into a woman.” Another male disciple said, “This is also very worthy of our research.”

Wu Chuan glanced at the evil cultivator whose face had turned deathly pale and nodded: “Then treat him well. You must preserve his life.”

“Yes!”

Hearing this conversation, the evil cultivator couldn’t help but tremble all over. These words seemed warm and kind, but they were actually just different ways of tormenting him. Poor him—he had been successful in the evil cultivation realm for several hundred years, only to finally fall into these righteous cultivators’ hands.

Wu Chuan walked out of the dungeon. Hearing the evil cultivator’s screams coming from inside, he let out a long sigh. Their Yunhua Sect never provoked outsiders, but if outsiders came to provoke trouble, how could they meekly submit?

The cultivation world exchange conference after the New Year would probably turn into a conference for crusading against evil cultivators. The cultivation world had been peaceful for so many years—none of them wanted chaos to rise again.

Time passed in the blink of an eye. When heavy snow blanketed the entire peak of Yunhua Mountain, Yunhua Mountain welcomed a new year.

Beautiful lanterns were hung at the mountain gate. The female fellow disciples changed into pretty dresses and, carrying delicate little lanterns, went down the mountain in groups to snatch the red pouches distributed by Yuxiao Sect. Gui Lin was meditating in his cave dwelling when he heard Gao Jianyan’s cheers coming from outside. Unable to quiet his mind due to this noise, he got up and walked outside the cave dwelling. Gao Jianyan and Li Rou were following behind Master Uncle Tan Feng, dressed in new clothes, looking like they were preparing to go down the mountain.

“Gui Lin, come.” Tan Feng saw Gui Lin and waved at him. “I’ll take you down the mountain for a walk.”

“But I…”

“It’s New Year’s—what meditation?” Tan Feng stuffed a rabbit lantern into his hands. “Come on, come on. Yuxiao Sect will be distributing pouches soon. We can’t miss it.”

Li Rou’s eyes widened: “Master Uncle, you’ll also go snatch Yuxiao Sect’s pouches?”

“Of course.” Tan Feng jumped onto the flying vessel and hauled all three youngsters aboard. “In past years during New Year, whenever your Kong Hou Martial Uncle wasn’t in seclusion, the two of us would go snatch pouches together. She has good luck and gets several hundred spirit stone exchange vouchers every year.”

“So many.” Li Rou was both envious and amazed. “My father says that cultivators with good luck are people favored by the Heavenly Dao. Kong Hou Martial Uncle is truly too amazing.”

Gui Lin awkwardly clutched the rabbit lantern. He was already fifteen years old—holding a rabbit lantern that only children would play with, what did that look like? Hearing Tan Feng mention Kong Hou, he secretly turned his head and listened carefully.

“I’ve lived nearly two hundred years and haven’t seen anyone with better luck than your Kong Hou Martial Uncle.” Tan Feng said with a laugh, “In the future, if you encounter danger, hide behind her and you definitely won’t come to harm.”

Gui Lin: “…”

Since it was New Year’s, why were they saying such inauspicious things?

Outside the cave dwelling was extremely lively, with even fireworks flashing, but Kong Hou’s cave dwelling was exceptionally quiet.

Kong Hou’s cultivation had grown rapidly. In just five months, she had already reached the tenth level of Heart Stirring Stage.

Not knowing how much time had passed, the faint sound of firecrackers reached inside. Kong Hou opened her eyes and got up to stretch her arms. This session of meditation—she didn’t know how much time it had taken, but the effects were extremely good. She felt her state of mind had improved, and her vision had also gotten much better. Even in the darkness, she could see Huan Zong’s vague outline.

Walking to Huan Zong’s side and sitting down on the spot, she propped her chin on one hand and gazed intently at Huan Zong’s profile, slightly furrowing her brow. Perhaps it was because she had spent too long alone with Huan Zong, which was why she had the thought that the more she looked at Huan Zong, the better-looking he seemed.

In the cultivation world pursuing the Great Dao of longevity, they didn’t pay much attention to propriety between men and women. Having embarked on the path of cultivation, even life and death could be seen through—what else couldn’t be seen through?

Perhaps it was just because Huan Zong was too good-looking that she felt she could never look at him enough?

Just then, Huan Zong suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Kong Hou.

Their four eyes met. Kong Hou felt Huan Zong’s eyes were like a deep whirlpool, making her head spin for a moment. The faint sound of firecrackers in the distance reached both their ears. The corners of Huan Zong’s mouth curved up slightly: “What are you looking at?”

“Looking at how good-looking you are.” Kong Hou blurted out. “Huan Zong, after you become dao companions with someone in the future, I’ll regret it for a long time.”

His pupils trembling slightly, Huan Zong’s voice was hoarse: “Why?”

“Because I can’t look at another woman’s man.” Kong Hou tilted her head and thought. “That would be improper.”

Huan Zong looked into her eyes. These eyes were very bright, very beautiful—more beautiful than all the stars in the sky. But these eyes were still naive, still carrying the innocence unique to young girls.

“Then I won’t become dao companions with anyone else.” Huan Zong looked at her seriously. “I’ll accompany you to travel throughout the world, see all the beautiful scenery. Is that acceptable?”

Kong Hou pressed her hand to her chest. Strange—what was wrong with her chest? Had something gone wrong in her cultivation? Why was it beating so fast?

“That… wouldn’t that be not quite right?” Kong Hou’s face reddened, but her eyes became even brighter, and the smile at the corners of her mouth grew more obvious. “It seems a bit selfish, not being a good friend.”

“This is all my willing choice. How could it be you being selfish?” Huan Zong reached out and stroked the top of her head. Kong Hou’s hair was smooth as silk and felt very comfortable to touch. Fearing he might damage her hair, Huan Zong’s head-stroking gesture was very gentle, like a spring breeze passing by. “You’re my most important… friend. What could be more important than your happiness?”

Kong Hou took several deep breaths. She felt she really couldn’t catch her breath. Her ears were buzzing, and her mind had become a chaotic mess.

The expression on her face collapsed. Clutching her left chest, she said tearfully: “Huan Zong, there seems to be a problem with my cultivation…”

It kept beating and beating—were her meridians about to rupture?

She was someone who wanted to ascend and become a fairy! How could she fall here?!

**Author’s Note:** Kong Hou: My ideal is to become a little fairy.