As Gu Yanqing approached the front hall, his footsteps slowed slightly.
Three people stood in the hall, admiring the calligraphy and paintings on the walls.
Two male cultivators in grey robes, and one woman in red.
They were the very three people he had brushed past on the street that morning.
Back then, he had cast an extra glance at her—not for any other reason than that her face felt inexplicably familiar.
Now, she was standing right here in his family's front hall.
Seeing him enter, the woman in red cupped her fists in an easy, natural greeting.
“I am Jiang Yinglan, an inner disciple of the Yunxiao Sect. These two are my junior brothers.”
“We were passing through Canglan City and came specifically to pay our respects.”
Gu Yanqing returned the courtesy, introduced himself, and invited the three to take their seats.
Jiang Yinglan produced a brocade pouch from her storage bag, placed it on the table, and explained the reason for their visit.
A few days ago, her senior sister had been passing through Canglan City and carelessly lost her storage bag. Penniless and pressed for time, she saw the grand facade of the Gu manor and came knocking to borrow some spirit stones for travel expenses.
Having kept the matter in mind after returning to the sect, and with Jiang Yinglan now ordered down the mountain to inspect unusual demon beast activity, her senior sister asked her to return the stones on her way.
Jiang Yinglan spoke briskly, laying out the entire situation in a few sentences without any needless formalities.
As Gu Yanqing listened, it suddenly struck him that she had appeared in the original novel.
His memory of her wasn't particularly deep—she wasn't a main character—but her appearance kicked off an important subplot.
It was through her introduction and recommendation that the female lead first conceived the idea of joining the Yunxiao Sect.
In the original book, that was a major turning point in Lin Zhixue's life.
However, in the novel, he hadn't been the one to receive her.
The original host had been off gallivanting somewhere unknown and wasn't home at all; it was Gu Yuanshan who had received Jiang Yinglan.
With his parents away, the plot had taken a detour on its own, and he had become the person standing here pouring her tea.
“Young Master Gu?”
Seeing no response from him for a while, Jiang Yinglan held her teacup suspended midair, slightly raising an eyebrow as she looked at him.
“...Pardon my lapse.”
Gu Yanqing snapped back to reality. He quickly invited the three to be seated and instructed the maids to serve tea.
Picking up the brocade pouch, he set it on the table and smoothly refilled her cup, his tone regaining some composure.
“My parents are out of the manor today, so I shall accept the spirit stones on their behalf. Since you three are already here, why not rest at our manor for a few days before departing?”
Jiang Yinglan glanced at him, then exchanged a look with her two junior brothers.
She had originally come only to return the spirit stones, but the journey had indeed been tiring. Moreover, the demon beast inspection had yet to formally begin, so having a place to stay was far better than lodging at an inn.
“Then we shall trouble you.”
Gu Yanqing instructed the head steward to prepare three guest rooms and told the kitchen to prepare several extra dishes.
Holding her teacup, Jiang Yinglan looked at him once more, seemingly pondering something, but did not speak up to ask.
...
Early morning, in the Lin family courtyard.
Lin Zhixue rose earlier than usual. Before the sky was fully bright, a faint line of fish-belly white had only just crested the eastern horizon.
She had already been practicing the sword in the courtyard for half a shichen. Lacking sword manuals and a master to instruct her, she simply repeated the most basic sword stances over and over.
Chop, thrust, lift, sweep—every single move was crisp and clean.
The edge of her sword sliced through the morning mist, drawing faint whistling sounds from the air.
Her sixth level of Qi Refining spiritual energy was more condensed than before. When she turned her wrist, she could feel spiritual energy flowing along the blade to the tip; controlling it felt considerably more effortless than in the past.
Xiaoyu was still asleep.
Ever since learning a few days ago that her cultivation drained its spiritual energy, she had deliberately slowed her circulation speed today to let it rest a bit longer.
Fortunately, basic sword stances required little spiritual energy to sustain, relying instead on muscle memory and bodily coordination, so she could practice just fine on her own.
The courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and Lin Yuanfan walked in.
Today, he wore a simple green long robe, held a paper-wrapped parcel in his hand, and wore a perfectly measured smile on his face.
He stood by the courtyard gate without stepping further inside, as if afraid of disturbing her sword practice.
Lin Zhixue sheathed her sword and looked at him.
“Sister Zhixue practices her sword so early.”
Lin Yuanfan stepped closer, his gaze dropping to the longsword at her waist before shifting to her face.
His tone was as if he were looking out for his own younger sister.
“I haven't seen you for a few days, and your cultivation has already improved quite a bit. Back at Young Master Gu's birthday banquet, you were only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and now you're already at the sixth.”
“With this cultivation speed, few among the Lin family's younger generation can match you.”
Lin Zhixue did not take the bait.
He placed the paper parcel on the stone table and nudged it toward her.
“This is spirit tea I asked someone to bring back from the south. Thinking of how hard you work at cultivating every day, Sister Zhixue, I thought brewing a cup would help relieve your fatigue and refresh your spirit.”
The paper wrapping was new, tied at the top with a red cord.
Lin Zhixue glanced at the paper parcel without reaching out to take it.
“No need, I don't require it.”
Lin Yuanfan's hand paused over the paper parcel, then slipped back into his sleeve.
He did not press the matter, nor did the smile on his face fade in the slightest as he pivoted the conversation.
“I heard Young Master Gu has been taking good care of you recently, Sister Zhixue, even leaving his herb field in your care.”
Having said this, his gaze never left her face. He was waiting.
The former Lin Zhixue likely would have bowed her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
Stung right where she was most vulnerable.
Scrutinized by that seemingly caring gaze.
Her only reaction would have been to shrink away.
Yet now, she stood before him, holding a sword she had practiced with for half a shichen.
The hilt was still warm, heated by the warmth of her palm.
“Mm.”
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, but completely calm, carrying not a single ripple of emotion.
Lin Yuanfan's expression froze for an instant.
He had prepared a whole routine.
If she hung her head, he would comfort her.
If she denied it, he would press further.
If she panicked, he would soothe her.
Yet he hadn't prepared for this. A single “Mm”—no explanation, no flinching, no question back—leaving the rest of his words stuck entirely in his throat.
He realized that this branch-family cousin he once manipulated at whim had changed.
“Then practice well. I'll take my leave first.”
In the end, he merely gave a smile, turned, and walked toward the courtyard gate.
Once he was far away, Xiaoyu drifted out of the jade pendant, already looking much more energetic.
“Finally gone.”
“That guy clearly harbors ill intent, smiling so hypocritically and giving you tea out of nowhere.”
“Zhixue, don't take anything from him. Who knows if it's been tampered with.”
Lin Zhixue shared Xiaoyu's thoughts.
She put her sword away, glanced at the neatly wrapped paper parcel on the stone table, and left it untouched.
Xiaohe walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of hot porridge, her apron smudged with hearth ash.
“Miss, breakfast is ready. Eat while it's hot.”
Lin Zhixue wiped her sweat and headed into the room.
“After eating, I'll head over to the Gu manor to look at the herb field.”
Rate on N.U.
