Feng Yi narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly, “Do you think that being alive now isn’t already reduced to ashes and scattered like smoke?”

“If that’s the case, then why aren’t you dead right now?” Fang Zhun smiled as he looked at him, as if asking why he wasn’t drinking tea.

Feng Yi finally found himself at a loss for words. He looked at him with a trace of helplessness, and what seemed like a hint of grievance, as if blaming him for asking so mercilessly, not giving him any face at all.

The scene became awkward for a moment, with no one speaking, mostly because they didn’t know what to say. Fang Zhun’s title as the “King of Awkward Silence” was well-deserved.

After an unknown period of time, Feng Yi suddenly rolled his eyes and said softly, “Master, I will certainly complete all the tasks you’ve assigned me. Please rest assured. There’s no need to keep me confined anymore. If eldest senior brother returns and sees this, what will happen then?”

These words left Hu Sha stunned. She thought for a long time but couldn’t understand the connection. However, Fang Zhun slowly furrowed his brow, his gaze growing heavy, faintly revealing a trace of anger.

Feng Yi called out softly again, “Master, this disciple truly understands now. Please release me.”

Before his words had fallen, a voice suddenly came from mid-air: “Feng Yi!”

Hu Sha’s heart jumped in alarm. Looking up, she indeed saw Feng Di riding the snow suanni back, his expression extremely complex—as if incredulous, yet also uncertain and fearful. He looked back and forth between Fang Zhun and Feng Yi, his face alternating between pale white and ashen gray.

Little Guai, on the other hand, suddenly caught sight of Feng Yi and was so delighted it raised its head and roared to the sky, happily rushing toward him, planning to play affectionately as before. However, when it reached about five feet away from him, it stopped, puzzled, stretching out its nose to sniff carefully, somewhat hesitant to approach.

Feng Yi smiled at it, “Little Guai, you still remember me. Among all these people, none of them have as much conscience as you, a mere beast. You still know to be happy when you see me. Come here, let me get a good look at you.”

Little Guai blinked its eyes and hesitantly moved closer. Feng Di behind it and Fang Zhun below simultaneously shouted, “Don’t go!”

Its feet immediately stopped, but it was still too late. Feng Yi’s wide sleeves danced like a snake, wrapping around its waist. He must have squeezed quite hard, as Little Guai let out a pained cry. He grabbed Little Guai and mercilessly grasped a patch of soft fur on its back, saying in a deep voice, “Master, don’t push me too hard! Those tasks can’t possibly be completed in just a short time! Release me quickly, or I’ll chop it in half!”

By this point, Hu Sha would have been truly foolish if she still couldn’t understand the purpose of his deliberate lies. He was clearly creating confusion and sowing discord—his intentions were utterly detestable!

Little Guai cried out in pain, unable to believe that its gentle second senior brother would use it as a suanni meat shield. What it found even harder to believe came next—after Fang Zhun released the restraints, he still didn’t let it go. Instead, he roughly grabbed its back and bowed to Fang Zhun in mid-air, “Many thanks, Master. This disciple will take his leave now.”

Having said this, he raised his hand and threw it violently toward the rocks. Feng Di hurriedly caught up and caught it in his arms, narrowly preventing it from being smashed into a bloody mess.

Feng Yi laughed mischievously and said, “Eldest senior brother, take care.”

He then leaped to jump off the cliff. Feng Di, holding the snow suanni, had no time to stop him and could only stare helplessly.

Suddenly, a crisp and cheerful whistling sound came from behind, like the chirping of chaotic orioles dancing in spring. Feng Yi instinctively turned his head and saw a cold light shooting toward him under the moonlit night, accompanied by a whistling sound. He easily dodged to the side, but the thing seemed to recognize him and turned to pursue him. No matter which direction he dodged, it could quickly catch up.

Feng Yi had never seen such a strange weapon. Not daring to confront it directly, his body sank, planning to fall straight down. But the thing suddenly extended, circling around him, and with a swish, he was surrounded on all sides, top and bottom.

Looking down now, he finally saw what this thing was—eighteen small knives, gleaming with silver light, with a thin slit down the middle. Because they moved so swiftly, when wind passed through the gaps, they produced crisp sounds like oriole songs.

Feng Yi looked toward Hu Sha and saw her hand at her lips, clearly reciting an incantation. These eighteen small knives were her weapon. Seeing the eighteen knives hovering up and down in the air, staggered in formation, actually surrounding him so thoroughly that not even water could leak through, Feng Yi couldn’t help but praise, “Little Hu Sha, you’ve truly made great progress. Your second senior brother must look at you with new eyes.”

Hu Sha didn’t speak. She simply lowered her hand slowly. With several “tsu tsu” sounds, the eighteen knives tore Feng Yi to shreds in mid-air. A flash of red light, and countless pieces of white paper scattered in the wind. That’s right—he had used a substitute. What the Eighteen Orioles had shredded was merely a paper doll.

With another turn of her wrist, the Eighteen Orioles emitted clear chirping sounds and swiftly flew back to her palm. The eighteen knives stacked horizontally, only five or six inches long. The blades were extremely thin, nearly transparent, yet incomparably sharp.

Hu Sha returned the Eighteen Orioles to her sleeve and lowered her head in silence.

She had clearly driven that person away, yet her heart felt no joy at all. Seeing Feng Di holding the snow suanni as he landed on the ground and came over to bow to Fang Zhun with a strange expression, she couldn’t help but say softly, “Eldest senior brother, he was lying, trying to sow discord. Don’t listen to his nonsense.”

Feng Di nodded silently. After a while, he said quietly, “He… what did he come for today?”

Hu Sha shook her head, “He came… to find me, wanting me to give him the Shuiliu Qin.”

“Outrageous!” Feng Di immediately flew into a rage, grabbing her wrist, “You must not be bewitched by him! No matter what methods he uses to find you in the future, don’t pay him any attention!”

Caught off guard by his forceful grip, Hu Sha nearly cried out in pain. Feng Di, however, was completely oblivious and continued to press her, “Hu Sha! Did you hear me? He’s already become a demon, and he wants to drag you down with him. If you’re bewitched by him, you’re beyond redemption!”

Fang Zhun placed his hand on Hu Sha’s shoulder and pressed down on Feng Di’s hand, saying calmly, “Don’t be impulsive. Let her go and speak slowly.”

Feng Di quickly released Hu Sha, unable to hide his strange expression as he looked at Fang Zhun. After a long time, he finally said in a low voice, “Master, he’s already become a demon—a demon that everyone has the right to kill. Speaking with him, or even seeing him, is blasphemy against you… Why did you let him escape?”

Fang Zhun’s eyes flickered, and he said coldly, “Are you saying I let him go?”

He rarely used this tone of voice and even more rarely showed such a cold expression. At this moment, his eyes were like frozen ice and crushed snow, making Feng Di’s heart turn cold. He lowered his head hesitantly, “No… this disciple didn’t mean…”

Fang Zhun let out a cold laugh, “I heard your grand-master promoted you to deputy elder of Pojun Department. You don’t need to be bound by the hundred-year agreement anymore and can establish your own teaching in a couple of years. As your master, I must congratulate you here, Feng Di. Truly excellent.”

He turned and walked into the thatched cottage. Glancing at Hu Sha, he saw her looking at him with that gentle yet melancholic gaze, those eyes as elusive as a dream. He paused for a moment before closing the door, making no further sound.

Feng Di, having been praised this way, broke out in a cold sweat on his back, secretly regretting his slip of the tongue.

Though Master was usually amiable and kind, never saying a harsh word, when he truly became angry, it was quite serious—he could reduce someone to shame with just a few words. In seventy-five years, he had only seen him lose his temper twice: once was over Feng Yi’s admission, and the second time was today.

Although he knew the reason for his anger might not be himself but rather the demonic Feng Yi, his heart still felt terrible. He couldn’t help but raise his hand to knock on the door, planning to apologize to Fang Zhun.

Hu Sha said softly from behind, “Eldest senior brother, don’t look for Master now. He just took his medicine and was sufficiently angered by the second… by Feng Yi. Let him rest well.”

Feng Di could only lower his hand and nodded, “…Alright, you should also go rest early. Today’s events… just pretend they never happened. Don’t think about them anymore.”

He turned to walk toward his own room. After taking only two steps, he heard Hu Sha quietly following behind. He turned back and said gently, “Is there something else?”

Hu Sha looked at him quietly and said in a low voice, “Eldest senior brother, it wasn’t Master who let him go. You saw it too—that was his substitute. Even if we had caught him, it would have been useless. You… don’t listen to his attempts at sowing discord and make Master angry.”

Feng Di sighed, “I know. I misspoke.”

Hu Sha smiled slightly, “Eldest senior brother hates evil like poison, so your reaction was so intense. I understand. By the way, you were promoted to deputy elder of Pojun Department—why didn’t you tell me? So I could be happy for you.”

Feng Di saw her smile so warmly and sincerely, her small face looking like it was covered with a layer of white gauze under the moonlight, with jade-like skin. His heart couldn’t help but stir, and he involuntarily revealed a trace of a smile, saying gently, “It only just happened. I haven’t had time to tell you and Master yet. Now you know, don’t you?”

“This is good news and should be celebrated.” Hu Sha thought for a moment and clapped her hands, “You’re not going out tomorrow, are you? Later we’ll go down the mountain to buy a few jars of good wine, along with some fresh lotus root, and invite Master. You can take the opportunity to apologize to him as well. How about it?”

Feng Di, seeing her so delightful, couldn’t help but say “yes.” Hu Sha chatted with him cheerfully for a few more moments, confirming tomorrow’s arrangements before finally turning to take her leave.

Feng Di watched her slender figure and couldn’t help calling out, “Hu Sha.”

She turned around with a questioning look in her eyes. He hesitated for a moment and said, “There are many rumors flying around Qingyuan now, which aren’t good for you or Master. In the future… be extra careful. When you encounter situations like today with Feng Yi, don’t listen to his bewitching words—strike directly. Understand?”

Hu Sha nodded.

“Go to sleep.” He spoke gently, watching her until she walked far away and could no longer be seen.

For a moment, he thought of her various behaviors over the past five years and found her utterly adorable, his heart warm, his lips revealing a smile. At other times, he thought of those rumors flying around Qingyuan and the scene he witnessed today of Master and Feng Yi together, and his heart grew heavy again.

Feeling confused and at a loss for half the day, he finally silently entered the room to rest. The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Hu Sha went to pay her respects to Fang Zhun first, intending to say a few words on behalf of eldest senior brother and cheer him up so he would drink wine.

But after knocking on the door for quite a while, Fang Zhun finally opened it listlessly. Before she could call out “Master,” he said spiritlessly, “Your master is very tired today. I won’t be receiving guests, drinking wine, chatting, or teaching—and I have even less interest in apologies.”

Hu Sha could only swallow all her prepared words and smiled reluctantly, “Then… Master, rest well. This disciple won’t disturb you.”

Turning to leave, she couldn’t help but look back. Fang Zhun didn’t close the door either, just leaned against the doorframe, staring fixedly at her. That gaze made her heart itch and even gave her goosebumps.

Hu Sha then tried hard to recall what she had recently done to offend him, prompting him to glare at her with this helpless yet depressed expression.

Unable to think of anything, she could only go over and bow her head, confessing first, “Master, did this disciple say or do something offensive that made you angry? This disciple will apologize to you now.”

Fang Zhun said calmly, “You people misspeak at every turn, misspeaking ten or eight times a day, and apologizing each time. Wouldn’t I be exhausted to death? If others heard, making such a big fuss over small matters, they’d think I was somehow harsh on you.”

Hu Sha wasn’t stupid after all. She finally heard something in his words and considered carefully, “Then… should I go tell eldest senior brother to be more broad-minded as well?”

Unexpectedly, Fang Zhun became even angrier and said coldly, “Your master is tired and needs to rest.” Then he shut the door.

Hu Sha crouched at the door, scratching her head until her scalp nearly broke but still couldn’t understand what was going on. Unable to hold back, she lay by the window and called softly inside, “Master, what exactly did this disciple say wrong? This… this disciple is foolish and truly doesn’t understand Master’s meaning…”

A hand reached out from inside the window and gently pulled out a red coral hairpin from the top of her head. Her long black hair immediately loosened and fell, covering half her face. Hu Sha cried “Aiya!” and quickly grabbed her hair, “Master! That’s my only hairpin!”

Fang Zhun leaned against the windowsill, holding the vivid coral hairpin between two fingers, examining it repeatedly, and said in a low voice, “Too gaudy. Don’t use this color anymore in the future. I’ll buy you a more modest one later, so certain people won’t keep staring.”

Hu Sha held her hair, caught between laughter and tears, murmuring, “…Who’s staring… Master, please don’t joke with me. I really only have this one hairpin I can use. What will I do if you take it away?”

Fang Zhun pulled out a thin silver hairpin from his chest—the style was indeed much more modest, and moreover… it was clearly meant for men.

He waved at her, “Turn around.”

Hu Sha was completely confused but didn’t dare disobey his command, so she obediently turned around.

Suddenly, she felt his fingers brush through her hair—cool, yet somehow also burning hot. She couldn’t help but tremble, saying in a shaky voice, “Master…”

He didn’t speak, only using his fingers to comb her hair smooth, gathering it into a small, delicate bun before carefully inserting the silver hairpin. He seemed quite satisfied himself, looking left and right, revealing a trace of a smile, “This is much better.”

Hu Sha felt like her heart was about to jump out of her throat, her face burning terribly. She didn’t dare turn around, afraid he would see.

Fortunately, he didn’t ask why she had her back to him. His fingers played with the small pearl embedded in the silver hairpin without saying a word.

Quiet, so quiet. Only the gentle breeze lightly passing through the apricot blossom grove, rolling up a sky full of flying red petals.

After an unknown time, Hu Sha suddenly said in a low voice, “Master, eldest senior brother he…”

“Don’t mention anyone, don’t speak of it.” His voice was also very low, like that breeze blowing into her ear, pressing warmly into her heart.

Hu Sha was half surprised, half bewildered, and softly called out again, “Master…”

He made a sound of “Mm,” indicating a response.

She could say nothing more. In her ears, she could only hear the drumming sound of her heartbeat, which wouldn’t calm down no matter what.

When Feng Di came to find Hu Sha, he discovered her cheeks were flushed red, her expression confused yet full of wild joy, like a flower about to bloom. This expression was startling and also made it impossible to look away.

Afraid of startling her, he walked over gently and said in a low voice, “Hu Sha, what’s wrong?”

In the end, he still startled her. She quickly stood up and shook her head repeatedly, “No… nothing. Eldest senior brother, let’s go buy wine!”

Feng Di felt puzzled and looked back at Fang Zhun’s thatched cottage. The window was wide open, and he could vaguely see Fang Zhun’s wide sleeves leaning by the window, head lowered reading a book.

Hu Sha, with a guilty conscience, pulled him quickly down the mountain. By the time they reached the town, the flush on her face still hadn’t completely faded.

Feng Di’s eyes were sharp. He noticed she wasn’t wearing her usual red coral hairpin, but instead had replaced it with a thin silver one. The style looked like it was meant for men, making him even more puzzled.

He slowly walked to her side, pretending to lower his head to select wine with her, while casually saying, “Hu Sha, your hair is a bit messy. Did you come out in too much of a hurry this morning?”

She lowered her face so her expression couldn’t be seen, but her ears turned red. After a long while, she finally said in a small voice, “Mm… yes, I probably didn’t do it properly. I… I don’t know where my original hairpin went, so I changed to this one. I’m not very skilled with it, so my appearance is poor. Please don’t mind, eldest senior brother.”

Feng Di smiled, “I was just asking casually. Don’t be nervous. This hairpin isn’t as nice as your previous one.”

Hu Sha finally calmed down and raised her hand to touch the silver hairpin, revealing a trace of a smile, “Really? I had the silversmith make it for three qian of silver. I’m quite fond of it.”

Feng Di saw her demeanor was natural, so he stopped thinking about it. The two of them selected three jars of Fang Zhun’s favorite Pear Blossom Brew. The market just happened to have fresh large lotus roots, so they wrapped up two, bought some peanuts and other vegetarian dishes to go with the wine, and that was enough.

Hu Sha rolled up her sleeves to carry the wine jars, but Feng Di quickly picked up all three wine jars first, using his spiritual power to suspend them in mid-air while his hand merely made a show of holding the hemp rope. Hu Sha could only carry the fresh lotus roots and peanuts, following behind. The two of them walked one in front of the other through the bustling market.

Passing by a jade vendor’s stall, in the center was a brocade box containing a jade bracelet half-wrapped in cloth—genuine mutton-fat jade, extremely lustrous. Hu Sha couldn’t help but look at it a couple more times. Feng Di urged from ahead, “Hu Sha, don’t get lost. Keep up.”

She secretly laughed. Eldest senior brother just loved saving face. He clearly couldn’t recognize the road himself, yet he had to say she would get lost. She smiled and caught up, saying, “Eldest senior brother, with me here, we won’t get lost. Don’t worry.”

A trace of strange redness flashed across Feng Di’s face. He deliberately coughed twice naturally and looked back toward the jade stall where she had been staring. He immediately saw that bracelet. His heart stirred. Turning back to look at Hu Sha’s wrist—because she was carrying things, her sleeves were rolled up, revealing a snow-white, slender section of wrist. It was completely bare, without any adornment.

Hu Sha was afraid he wouldn’t recognize the road and hurried ahead to lead the way. The crowd was quite difficult to squeeze through, and she laughed, “Eldest senior brother, it’s been so long since I went down the mountain with you to buy things. When I first came out with Master, you would often accompany me down the mountain to buy things. These past two years, you’ve been busier instead, and I often can’t see you. Now that you’re a deputy elder, will you be even busier?”

She asked twice in succession, but no one answered her. Hu Sha felt strange and looked back, only to discover that eldest senior brother, who had been following behind her, had disappeared.

“Eldest senior brother?” She panicked. He was absolutely directionally challenged! With so many people here, if he got lost, who knows how many days it would take to find him!

Having no choice, she could only turn back, searching everywhere for his black figure. She walked through this short market three or four times, but Feng Di seemed to have evaporated—not even a strand of his hair could be seen. Hu Sha had to find a quiet place, recited an incantation to rise on clouds, shading her eyes with her hand as she looked around in all directions from the air.

Searching and stopping like this, she searched all the way back home but didn’t see Feng Di. Instead, she saw Fang Zhun sitting under the apricot blossom tree reading a book, petals fallen all over his head. When he saw her return, he closed the book and looked at her with a smile.

Hu Sha quickly carried the things over and asked, “Master, has eldest senior brother come back?”

Fang Zhun was startled, “No—did he get lost?”

She was so anxious she lamented repeatedly, putting the things on the ground, “I’d better go back and look for him! Eldest senior brother is really something—I told him to follow me. How did he get lost?”

Fang Zhun opened the paper bag and took out the contents, saying leisurely, “Don’t bother looking. This child Feng Di—forgetting the road is one thing, but every time he gets lost, he also likes to wander around. Even if you turn the market upside down, you won’t find him. Who knows where he’s wandered off to this time. Don’t worry, he’ll come back on his own in a day or two.”

Seeing Hu Sha was still anxious, he smiled and said, “Come here, drink wine.”

Hu Sha sighed, “The wine is in eldest senior brother’s hands…”

Fang Zhun lightly patted the ground beneath the apricot blossom tree. The soft soil immediately cracked open, and two black wine jars emerged by themselves. He tore off the seal and, looking at the dumbstruck Hu Sha, smiled slightly, “If I put my trust in you people to handle things, that would be truly terrible. If I want to drink wine, why would I need to go down the mountain to buy it?”

Hu Sha walked over and sat down, immediately smelling a clear, sharp fragrance—it was indeed the familiar Pear Blossom Brew. She cried “Ah!” and said, “Master, so you already bought wine and buried it under the tree! Why didn’t you say so earlier? You made us go down the mountain for nothing.”

Fang Zhun lightly brushed his hand over the fresh lotus roots, and the two white, tender roots became thin slices, neatly piled on a plate.

“When there are people willing to run errands to buy wine, and I don’t even have to spend money, why would I say anything?”

Hu Sha looked at him speechlessly, simply not knowing what to say.

Fang Zhun poured a full cup and handed it to her, “Come, let’s see if after five years, your alcohol tolerance has improved at all.”

Hu Sha placed the cup at her lips but was still somewhat afraid to drink. She looked up at him. He had excellent alcohol tolerance—wine disappeared as soon as it touched his lips. In the blink of an eye, one cup was drained.

Seeing his jet-black eyes look over, as if mocking her timidity—five years had passed, yet she was afraid to drink wine instead—Hu Sha’s face reddened again, and in one breath, she drained the wine in her cup.

To make her drunk was actually very easy.

One cup and her face turned red, two cups and her hands shook, three or four cups down and she could only stare blankly. But blank or not, he continued to pour wine for her, and she didn’t resist, obediently picking up the wine cup, planning to drink the fifth cup.

Fang Zhun covered her cup with his sleeve and said in a low voice, “Drinking more will harm your body. Stop here.”

Hu Sha’s expression was serious. Without a word, she nodded. Her hand tilted, and the wine cup fell to the ground. Her whole body tilted along with it, her head crashing into his shoulder. He gently held her shoulder.

He couldn’t help but tease, “Five years have passed, and there is some improvement—you’re drunk but don’t talk nonsense anymore.”

Sure enough, she didn’t speak. Her face was red like the evening glow, her eyes seeming about to drip water. She leaned against his shoulder, staring fixedly at him. It was impossible to describe what kind of expression that was—deeply mournful, yet carrying a trace of resentment and a trace of anticipation.

Fang Zhun poured himself a cup, letting her stare at him in a daze. The two of them leaned against the apricot blossom tree, fallen flowers covering them completely.

“Master.” She suddenly called out softly.

Fang Zhun was somewhat surprised, “I thought you would call ‘husband.’ How is it you can recognize I’m your master?”

Hu Sha was too drunk to hear anything. She could only see his beautifully curved chin and his crystal-bright eyes half-hidden behind his black hair. She called out again, “Master.”

“Mm, I’m here.” He answered.

She kept calling, “Master…”

“I’m here.” He answered tirelessly with a smile.

Hu Sha gently grasped his hand, her fingers delicately rubbing against his palm. After a very long time, she said, “I don’t want to go home anymore, and I don’t plan to want that husband either. I want to stay and accompany Master. Am I very bad?”

Fang Zhun looked down at her. The corner of her mouth still held a trace of a smile that had yet to fade, full of surprise and beauty about to bloom.

This expression made him draw in a breath. His chest again gave rise to that strange feeling—alternating between icy cold and boiling hot, as if something wanted to crash out. His hand tightened, gripping her fingers.

To keep her, if only he could keep her. For the first time, he had this impulse.

“Mm, not too bad. Master also wants you to stay.” He spoke gently, following his heart’s desire.

Hu Sha said softly, “But I also can’t bear to leave Father and Mother.”

Fang Zhun chuckled softly, “Master counts as half a father and mother to you.”

“Actually… I also feel a bit reluctant about my husband—he’s supposed to be stunning, and I haven’t even seen him once.”

“…Master is definitely better-looking than him.” Probably, Fang Zhun touched his chin.

Hu Sha opened her arms and hugged him tightly, burying her head in his chest, murmuring, “Master… I must be dreaming… right? Tell me, this is a dream, isn’t it?”

It’s not a dream.

He gathered up a strand of her long hair and couldn’t help but bring it to his lips for a kiss. His lips only felt icy and soft, but his heart ached slightly. An unknown emotion leaked out bit by bit.

Hold her tight! He told himself this.

His arms gradually tightened, as if wanting to break her slender body. Her skin was fragrant and delicate, her eyes looking at him dimly. This kind of gaze drove one mad with infatuation.

Drawing closer, wanting to gently kiss her face, he finally stopped.

This isn’t good—she’s drunk.

Fang Zhun couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, carefully pressing a kiss into her hair.

The spring breeze rolled up countless flower petals, dazzling the eyes.

Beneath the most distant apricot blossom tree, a figure stood like a blade, having stood there for who knows how long, finally flickered and disappeared without a trace.

Only three jars of Pear Blossom Brew remained, and a brocade box containing a mutton-fat jade bracelet.

Feng Di didn’t know where he wanted to go. Perhaps he didn’t want to go anywhere at all, just walking randomly like this.

His mind held countless voices and images, chaotic and jumbled, preventing him from thinking or even breathing.

Finally, those chaotic images stilled, becoming the brilliant flying red of the apricot blossom grove. In the grove, two people embraced tightly, as if wanting to melt into each other.

He suddenly recalled another small matter he had never noticed before.

When did Fang Zhun stop calling himself “this master” in front of Hu Sha and start using “I”? In his heart, when did Hu Sha stop being his disciple and become a woman he had to regard differently?

He never used “I” in front of himself and Feng Yi.

This discovery made his heart feel as if it had fallen into icy water, shuddering with cold. He suddenly didn’t know what to do.

He couldn’t speak of it! He couldn’t let anyone know! He even had to pretend he himself didn’t know.

So, just pretend nothing happened and go back?

No, he couldn’t do it.

Feng Di shook his head at himself, telling himself in his heart: They’re mutually in love, feelings developed over time. There’s no wrong, no sin. Even if he’s an immortal and she’s mortal, even if he’s her master.

None of it matters.

Yet on the other hand, he felt disappointed and lost, a hatred arising in his heart. He only felt he had been a fool for five years.

On one hand, he told himself: Master naturally has the right to marry, to choose any woman, and it’s not for a disciple like him to interfere. On the other hand, he thought Fang Zhun had fallen from his lofty divine pedestal, shattered completely, entirely unworthy of his respect.

He told himself again: Hu Sha is already twenty years old. Ordinary women at this age are long since married, having someone they love. It’s perfectly normal for her to fall for Fang Zhun. Yet in his heart, he thought she was shameless, engaging in incest and transgression, offending immortal dignity.

His entire being was about to be destroyed by the two boiling voices in his head.

Finally, both voices disappeared, leaving only bitter heartache. The beauty he had just discovered, not yet having time to cherish, had already been plucked by another.

Why did she want Fang Zhun? Why didn’t he discover it earlier?

Along the road, he kept asking himself why, until he was mentally and physically exhausted.

When he came to his senses, the sky had already darkened. He stood in front of the main gate of Qingyuan Mountain, with the gate-keeping disciples bowing to him one after another.

Feng Di only felt absurd. Subconsciously, instead of getting lost as before, he had returned smoothly to Qingyuan.

His face was pale as he floated through the gate without his feet touching the ground, looking around in confusion. He was back, but had nowhere to go. Where should he return to? Zhiyan Studio? Master wasn’t there, Feng Yi wasn’t there, Hu Sha wasn’t there, Little Guai wasn’t there. What meaning was there in going back to that place?

He wandered aimlessly through the forest at the foot of Yimu Peak like a lonely ghost. One moment, he couldn’t help wanting to rush to the peak and tell his grand-master everything. The next moment, he felt it wasn’t appropriate and gritted his teeth to forcefully hold back.

After walking for who knows how long, he suddenly heard people talking softly in the forest, sounding like women’s voices.

“Uncle-Master Feng Di left this time, and who knows when he’ll return. Why doesn’t he stay at Zhiyan Studio anymore? It makes my heart feel so empty.”

That voice was clear, sweet, and charming—it seemed to be Manqing’s.

Another female voice teased her with a laugh, “He doesn’t pay attention to you even when he comes. You’re not even in his heart, so why keep thinking about him? Watching you run to Zhiyan Studio all the time, you’ve practically become a joke.”

Feng Di’s heart suddenly clenched.

“You’re not even in his heart, so why keep thinking about him?”

Yes, after completing his tasks, he always hurried back happily. At the time, he didn’t understand why. Only now did he realize it was because she was there. In the eyes of those two, was he also a joke?

Manqing sounded a bit angry and embarrassed. After complaining for a few moments, she finally sighed, “Let them laugh. I like him, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Who says that because I like him, he must like me back? Anyway, I’m happy. Seeing him makes me happy. I don’t care who laughs.”

Feng Di’s heart stirred again. He couldn’t help but step forward, coincidentally stepping on a dry leaf and crushing it. The two girls in the forest immediately fell silent in fright.

After a while, a head poked out from the forest, looked around for a long time, and suddenly saw Feng Di. The head immediately shrank back, laughing, “The gentleman you’ve been thinking about day and night is right outside! Hurry out and find him!”

Then there was a burst of playful laughter. The girl forcefully pushed Manqing out, then ran away giggling.

Manqing walked up to Feng Di with her face completely red, looking up at him timidly.

His face was extremely pale, reflected against the pitch-black forest, clear and distinct.

“Uncle… Uncle-Master… don’t be angry. I was just talking privately… I didn’t mean anything else… I won’t make things difficult for you…” Manqing murmured explanations. She stole a glance up at him and saw he had no particular expression, only staring fixedly at her. Her chest immediately began to pound violently, and her face couldn’t help but flush red.

“Uncle-Master, you came back quite early this time. Next time… when will you leave again?”

Feng Di didn’t answer this shy young girl’s question.

A strong wave suddenly surged in his heart, unstoppably devouring him from head to toe.

He suddenly embraced her and lowered his head to kiss her recklessly, as if wanting to devour her. She was slender, delicate, with a pair of jet-black eyes—so much like her.

It’s her. It’s not her. It’s her. It’s not her!

Feng Di tasted a trace of blood on his lips—he had bitten her lip. He suddenly pushed her away. Manqing’s whole body had gone soft as tofu. Unable to stand steadily, she knelt on the ground. In her confusion, she only heard him say hastily, “I’m sorry!”

When she looked again carefully, he had already disappeared, like an illusion, a brief dream.

When Hu Sha woke up, her mood was extraordinarily good—so good it was almost absurd. Even she herself didn’t know why.

Paper Doll Number One sat expressionlessly at the head of the bed, looking at her with an old-fashioned air, “Fang Zhun had urgent business and went out. He asked us to take care of you for a few days.”

Hu Sha sat up slowly, feeling her forehead throb with pain. She covered her forehead and murmured, “I… got drunk? How long did I sleep? Has eldest senior brother come back?”

Servant Girl Number One shook her head, “I don’t know. When I came out, I just saw Fang Zhun carrying you into the room. He also instructed me to watch over you for a few days, smiling the whole time, in quite a good mood.”

Hu Sha’s heart pounded violently. It seemed something important had happened, but she couldn’t remember what. She just felt inexplicably happy, fulfilled, and though her head ached from the wine, her heart was blissful beyond measure.

“Did Master say when he would return?” Hu Sha got up to put on her shoes while asking.

Servant Girl Number One brought water for her to wash her face and said, “I don’t know. It should be a few days.”

Having finished what she needed to do, she reverted with a “poof” to paper doll form, unwilling to say another word.

Hu Sha could only fold her up and put her in her chest, shaking her head and sighing: Paper Doll Number One really had a strange temperament.

Because Fang Zhun often left without saying a word, Hu Sha was long accustomed to it and didn’t think much of it. After washing up briefly, she went out to look around. Sure enough, Feng Di was nowhere to be seen. Only Little Guai lay listlessly on the roof, dozing. Last time, Feng Yi’s actions had trampled its pink girlish heart to pieces. It refused to eat, only shedding tears at flowers and sighing at the moon.

Hu Sha felt it wasn’t convenient to disturb its sad emotions. Also, because her head was splitting with pain, she simply sat beneath the apricot blossom tree and entered meditation.

After an unknown period of time, an image suddenly floated before her eyes. Her cheeks were red as fire, like soft vines tightly entwining Fang Zhun, as if a freshly ripened little enchantress, as charming and delightful as a flower.

Fang Zhun’s slender fingers lovingly traced down through her black hair, finally lifting a strand and bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

Soul-stirring.

Hu Sha was frightened into a cold sweat and suddenly opened her eyes, feeling her heart about to jump out of her throat.

She could no longer sit still. Simply standing up, she wandered around the apricot blossom grove like a headless fly, her heart alternating between wild joy and confusion. She was afraid it was all a beautiful dream, and even more afraid it wasn’t a dream but reality.

After circling for a long time, she looked up and found she had subconsciously walked to the front of Fang Zhun’s thatched cottage.

Usually, he didn’t lock the door. Now that he was away, the door was merely left ajar.

A voice in her heart kept urging her: Leave quickly, leave quickly! Is Master’s room somewhere you can enter without permission? But her body acted involuntarily, as if bewitched. She slowly raised her hand and pushed open that half-closed door.

A room full of sunlight.

His room was like the man himself—clean and elegant, without any luxurious decorations. By the window stood a writing desk with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, as well as a clay flower vase containing several vibrant apricot blossoms.

On the other side was his bed, with lotus-green bedding that wasn’t folded properly. Half the pillow was hanging out—he was clearly a lazy immortal.

At the head of the bed sat a rattan trunk, above which stood a clothing rack with one of his frequently worn outer robes hanging on it.

Hu Sha lightened her footsteps. Though there was no one in the room, no one on the entire mountain—only her—she felt guilty as if she had done something wrong, afraid someone would discover the secret in her heart.

She tiptoed to the writing desk. On top was a stack of jade-plate paper held down by a copper paperweight, bearing his ink traces. His calligraphy was completely different from the impression he gave—each stroke seemed carved in, extremely rigid.

Hu Sha moved the paperweight aside and picked up the stack of papers, slowly pulling them out one by one to look at. The papers contained either poetry or casual sketches and paintings, giving off an aura of a leisurely immortal.

Flipping to the bottom, a stack of pink silk handkerchiefs suddenly fell out and landed on the ground—at least five or six of them. Hu Sha was startled and quickly picked them up, brushing off the dust.

Suddenly noticing ink marks on the handkerchiefs, she couldn’t help but unfold them to look carefully. On them was a delicately drawn young girl with bright, expressive eyes, dressed in plain clothes with black hair. She stood beneath an apricot blossom tree, raising her hand to pluck the best-blooming branch above.

Hu Sha felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her wrist trembled suddenly, nearly dropping the handkerchiefs on the ground again.

It was her.