When new disciples entered the sect, they needed to be assigned dormitories, given clothing, taught techniques, distributed spirit artifacts, and informed of important matters regarding sect entry.

By the time all this was finished, the night was already very deep.

In the small courtyards, the new disciples chattered excitedly about their future sect life. A white-robed youth walked through the night scenery of Gufeng Mountain accompanied by starlight.

Gu Baiying had lost his temper again today.

Among the new disciples entering the sect—those who didn’t follow rules, those whose hearts were higher than the sky, those with arrogant attitudes, those who tried to fight and brawl to consolidate their status—all of them shut up under Gu Baiying’s spear.

Tian Fangfang told him to be gentler, lest he scare the new disciples so much that some would run away before the sect assessment even began. Gu Baiying was dismissive—his temperament had always been thus. Others all knew that the Taiyan Sect’s little martial uncle was both ruthless and fierce. When he scolded people, he recognized no family ties and didn’t even spare his senior martial brother.

The senior martial brother referred to was Xuan Lingzi.

Last month, Gu Baiying had a big argument with Xuan Lingzi. The reason was that Xuan Lingzi wanted to cast a statue of Zanxing beside the statue of Yushan Shengren in the Taiyan Sect’s main hall, but Gu Baiying wouldn’t allow it.

Xuan Lingzi angrily said, “Back then, Shengren stopped short of ascension and supported the four pillars of the divine turtle to save all living beings. Now, Zanxing used her own body to mend the heavens, also benefiting all people. What’s wrong with making a golden statue for her? Forget about all the people of Duzhou—at least the disciples in our Taiyan Sect should offer sacrifices to her and worship her when they enter the sect. What’s wrong with that? It’s not like I’m asking you to pay for the spirit stones!”

Gu Baiying planted his spear on the ground and stared at him coldly, spitting out two words: “Not allowed.”

Xuan Lingzi couldn’t defeat him in battle and angrily flicked his sleeves and left, departing the hall and going down the mountain to clear his mind.

And Gu Baiying remained as before—cultivating when he should cultivate, scolding when he should scold.

When passing by Duoluo Terrace, green fireflies were dancing and alighting in the pool water.

Gu Baiying stopped in his tracks.

Before much longer, it would be time to appreciate the lotus flowers.

Azure lotus leaves, layered upon layer, covered the water’s surface. The pool full of red lotuses had not yet fully bloomed, but there were already new red buds standing gracefully on the lotus leaves, shyly awaiting their opening, their fragrance overwhelming.

It seemed as if clear bell sounds rang throughout the mountains.

The woman on the azure stone wore a dress that sparkled with silver stars in the night, intoxicated among the ten-li lotus pool. She cupped his face in her hands, drawing closer bit by bit.

He shyly dodged, at a loss.

She persisted relentlessly, pressing forward step by step.

The evening breeze was silent, and fireflies danced. He saw the clear tenderness in the depths of her eyes, felt the fresh breeze between her lips and teeth, and she continued moving forward, like a hazy dream lost and found again in the summer night.

A pale green firefly was blown askew by the night wind and flew away from the lotus leaf where it had been resting.

And so the dream scattered.

The youth stood by Changchun Pool, his back becoming lonely.

Light footsteps came from behind. His brow twitched as he spun around abruptly: “Who?”

The approaching person paused, concealing the myriad emotions in their eyes, and said softly: “It’s me.”

The person who came was Putao.

Rongshuang had sent her to the Taiyan Sect to discuss next month’s sect assembly matters. Putao had also just arrived at the Taiyan Sect today. The summer night on Gufeng Mountain was quiet. Unable to sleep, she tossed and turned on her bed until deep into the night. For some unknown reason, she suddenly remembered the time several years ago when she first came to the Taiyan Sect and had drinks with Gu Baiying and the others at Duoluo Terrace.

As if possessed by a ghost, Putao had come here again.

Her aunt had long seen through her feelings, but everyone knew the secret that Gu Baiying liked Yang Zanxing. After parting at the Ruins of the Golden Gate, she returned to the Xiangling Sect and kept busy every day, yet she always remembered some things from the past.

Her aunt knew about her heartache. For this sect assembly, she had specifically sent her here. Perhaps it wasn’t to bring her and Gu Baiying together, or even to expect any outcome between her and Gu Baiying, but some things ultimately required her to see for herself once more before she could properly let go.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve met,” Putao gazed at Gu Baiying.

This youth looked no different from before, proud and arrogant between his brows and eyes. If she hadn’t seen Gu Baiying’s lonely and desolate figure here just now, if she hadn’t noticed the flash of disappointment in his eyes, no one would have seen any trace of his sadness.

“It’s you.” After a moment, Gu Baiying spoke.

The youth’s love and hate were direct. His patience and gentleness were all reserved for another person.

How truly enviable.

Putao suppressed the sourness in her heart and spoke: “Aunt sent me to represent the Xiangling Sect to discuss next month’s sect assembly with your honorable sect. I didn’t expect to encounter you here. About Yang Zanxing…” She spoke with some difficulty, “Don’t be too sad.”

When Zanxing mended the heavens, Putao had also been present.

She hadn’t expected that woman to have such courage—a member of the demon race, yet willing to sacrifice herself for the hundreds of millions of living beings in Duzhou. Because of this, when jealousy and envy arose in her heart due to love, she couldn’t help feeling guilty and ashamed.

Perhaps before this, Putao had still harbored thoughts of competing with Zanxing. Among the female disciples in the sect, whether in matters of love or other affairs, there was no reason to retreat when facing difficulties. But after this, Putao extinguished that thought.

Putao greatly admired Zanxing. If it had been herself, she might not have been able to act as decisively as Zanxing. She might have, but the process would certainly have been full of hesitation and sorrow.

Unlike Zanxing, who from beginning to end remained smiling and composed.

Because of this, after parting at the Ruins of the Golden Gate, there had been many opportunities for Putao to visit the Taiyan Sect and have more time to get close to Gu Baiying.

But she hadn’t.

Setting aside how Gu Baiying treated her, she truly couldn’t act as she had before—naively and carelessly lingering around him without any reservations.

The youth stood before her. Suddenly, Putao remembered that night several years ago when she faced Gu Baiying here, mustering the courage to confess her feelings to him. The youth had rejected her quite heartlessly. That summer night was just like tonight—the evening breeze gentle, the night scene lingering. He looked at her while thinking of another person in his heart.

The night wind suddenly became somewhat cold. Early summer on the mountaintop always carried a hint of coolness.

Countless green fireflies gathered and separated, like the impermanence of human reunions and partings.

Putao heard her voice, soft and light, as if it would drift into the wind. She said, “She’s no longer here. Will you… continue waiting?”

Others always said Gu Baiying was heartless. When his beloved died, he acted as if nothing had happened every day, neither weeping bitterly nor drowning his sorrows in wine. Cultivation, seclusion, guidance, scolding—he lacked nothing.

But Putao knew he was waiting, just as she was waiting for a hopeless outcome.

The night scene was desolate, flowing like water into the pool full of floral fragrance. Yesterday’s liveliness had dispersed, and the summer pool water was clear and bright, with azure clouds like smoke.

The youth remained silent, his crimson hair ribbon bright as red paired-wing flowers in the night.

He didn’t speak, walking past Putao. In the instant they brushed past each other, he spoke indifferently.

“I’m not afraid to wait.”