The night was already very deep.

As soon as Zanxing returned to the courtyard, Hong Su rushed out from the inner room, chasing after her with eager anticipation: “How was it? How was it? Young Miss, did Young Master Gu express his feelings to you?”

Zanxing gently patted away the little maid’s head that had stretched toward her: “How do you know I went out with Gu Baiying?”

“Young Master Tian said so,” Hong Su replied. “He said Young Master Gu went to celebrate your birthday alone with you.”

Zanxing’s steps into the room paused, her face showing surprise: “Tian Fangfang is quite something—he could even guess that.”

“So did Young Master Gu…?”

“No,” Zanxing cut off Hong Su’s romantic fantasies cleanly and decisively.

Hong Su was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this. Following Zanxing back into the room, under the lamplight, she caught sight of the hairpin on Zanxing’s head. First, she was startled: “Eh, isn’t this the one Young Miss wore today…” Then she cried out in surprise and delight: “Young Master Gu gave it to you?”

Though the little girl wasn’t very old, she was more perceptive than anyone when it came to these matters. Zanxing sat down at the table, played with Mimi, who was grooming herself, and answered absentmindedly: “Yes.”

“This hairpin looks beautiful,” Hong Su examined it carefully. “It looks even more luxurious than what Fairy Meng usually wears. I originally thought Young Master Gu was stingy, but now it seems he’s much more generous than others. This hairpin must cost at least ten thousand spirit stones. Young Miss, look—the stone adorning it is just like a star, and it even glows.”

Zanxing pulled out the hairpin and held it in her hand. Hong Su’s words continued in her ears: “Back in Yue City, I heard the old women in the mansion say that men’s sweet words should just be listened to and let pass—you can’t take them seriously. You have to see how they act. Where their spirit stones go, that’s where their heart is. No matter how beautifully they speak, if they won’t spend a single coin, they’re liars. This Young Master Gu giving Young Miss such an expensive hairpin shows he treats you specially. Otherwise, why don’t we see him being so generous to others?”

Zanxing hummed in acknowledgment.

“What about you, Young Miss?” Hong Su asked.

Zanxing: “What about me?”

“What are your feelings toward Young Master Gu?” Hong Su pursued eagerly: “Do you like him, Young Miss?”

“I…” Zanxing looked at the hairpin in her fingertips, her expression becoming complex.

To be honest, Gu Baiying wasn’t very good at lying. Perhaps young people hadn’t yet learned how to hide their feelings—in his every gesture and movement, his eyes would always reveal a little something, and she had noticed it early on.

No matter how slow she might be, she could always see this much. Those moments of interaction, his hurried evasions, his inexperienced attempts at concealment, that look in his eyes in certain moments under the night sky—these were more moving than direct words.

And what about herself?

Young and handsome, with exceptional talent, tough-mouthed but soft-hearted… he was such a person. During those days of traveling side by side, spending time together morning and evening, it was hard not to develop good feelings for him. She felt most at peace, most relaxed, and most comfortable when she was with him. Those ambiguous feelings were like that Paired Wing flower tree on the plains in the Li’er Kingdom’s secret realm—before she knew it, the whole cluster was already fragrant with blossoms.

She… naturally liked Gu Baiying.

Because she liked him, she had many concerns and couldn’t frankly accept his feelings before he knew the truth. Some fearless courage was only suitable for outsiders—once you were in the situation yourself, there were always many considerations.

Now she was from the demon clan and carried the Xiaoyuan Pearl. Who could say how the future would develop? She and Gu Baiying stood on opposite sides—perhaps one day they would even reach the point of crossing swords. Some things, in the end, couldn’t be done as one pleased.

“Young Miss,” Hong Su looked at her with some confusion: “You weren’t like this before. In Yue City, when you liked the Young City Lord, you told everyone in the city that you liked him. You would give him sachets, write him letters, and hold his hand when strolling at temple fairs. Now I see that your feelings for Young Master Gu are no less, yet you asked the once-in-a-lifetime question to the Serpent Witch Saint about how to repair Young Master Gu’s spiritual meridians. You gave Young Master Gu that treasure map that others couldn’t even dream of obtaining. You didn’t hesitate to venture deep into dangerous territory to find Sacred Tree Fruits for him. You’ve done so much for him—why won’t you just say you like him?”

Zanxing lowered her eyes, looking at the hairpin in her hand. After a moment, she touched Hong Su’s head: “So, do you think I like him or not?”

“You should… like him, right?” Hong Su hesitated. Although Young Master Gu’s temper isn’t very good, his virtues outweigh his flaws. And if you married Young Master Gu, Young Master Tian, and Young Master Mu would have to call you Aunt.”

Zanxing: “……”

She withdrew her hand: “If you think so, then so be it.”

Hong Su sighed, her gaze falling again on the hairpin in Zanxing’s hand: “But Young Miss, what’s this hairpin called? I see the crystal stone on top isn’t a pearl or moonstone—I don’t know what material it’s made from. Didn’t Young Master Gu tell you?”

Zanxing shook her head. After a long while, she finally spoke: “Opening at midnight for four days, the galaxy dazzles the eyes… The evening stars at Chuhong Terrace are the most beautiful. Let’s just call it the Evening Star Hairpin.”

……

Wind passed through the window, rustling the pages of books on the table.

Someone entered the room, and the lamp was lit.

In the various great halls, illumination talismans were convenient for regular use, but he didn’t know when he had started preferring to light lamps—flames were always much warmer than talisman paper.

Gu Baiying sat down at the table.

In the corner, the Xiugu Spear flowed with silver light in the night, but at the spear’s handle, a red Paired Wing flower hung incongruously.

This Paired Wing flower bloomed brilliantly. Paired Wing flowers picked from trees would wither in as little as a few hours or as much as several days. Yet this flower, though who knew how long it had been there, remained fresh and radiant, as splendid as ever.

This was a Paired Wing flower that Zanxing had created with illusion magic. After she gave it to him, he had pondered for a long time before finally hanging this flower on the Xiugu Spear. The spear’s body was snow-bright and sharp, but because of this touch of crimson, it became soft and romantic.

Gu Baiying had always looked down on illusion magic—in the cultivation world, illusion magic was nothing but self-deceptive trickery. Yet now, he would hang a false, illusory flower on his natal spiritual weapon without feeling it was any hindrance.

Tomorrow would be the day to take the third pill.

After taking the pill, he would enter seclusion for a period. His spiritual meridians would be completely repaired, and from then on, he would completely escape the fate of early death and begin a new life.

If it were before, Gu Baiying would naturally feel elated. But now, because of Zanxing’s identity, he always felt somewhat uneasy. Today at Chuhong Terrace, after much hesitation, Zanxing still hadn’t spoken the truth. However, when he came out of seclusion, this matter should have a resolved.

With the demon clan watching covetously ahead, if she laid out the truth completely, at least they could think of solutions together.

The young man looked out the window, his gaze gradually becoming firm.

No matter what the outcome, he believed in her anyway.