Chapter 3 Peach Blotts "Don't you understand?"

The sound of swords lingered, and the tolling of bells was clear and melodious.

After the morning service at Daohe Palace ended, the disciples returned to their dormitories one after another to change clothes, whispering among themselves.

Unable to fall back asleep, Lin Feiran sat up against the pillows, looked out the window, and listened to the footsteps outside the door.

The disciples' quarters were built on a cliff, opposite which was a small pine forest where the disciples often practiced their swordsmanship. At this moment, the clouds and mist surged and the pines rustled. She stared at them in a daze, her thoughts drifting away.

Sanqing Mountain is covered in snow all year round, yet it also enjoys abundant sunshine, making it the perfect place for pine and plum trees to grow. However, there are only pine trees everywhere, and no vigorous plum branches to be seen. Lin Feiran found this strange and decided to search for them on a whim. But after many years of searching, she still couldn't find any, and the search for plum trees became a small obsession of hers.

Every year, she would invite Wei Chang to go hiking together. They didn't find any plum blossoms, but they did happen to find a lot of rare and precious medicinal herbs.

Every time they returned, he would ask her if she had no regrets about the trip. After asking her so many times, Lin Feiran finally spoke up: "It's just a thought. Even if there are no plum blossoms in the mountains, I will have no regrets."

"Why?" he asked, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Lin Feiran glanced at him quickly and mumbled, "Because... it's both far away and right in front of me. There's the most proud one right beside me."

Wei Changzai paused for a moment, then lowered his eyelashes, a smile appearing on his lips. His smile was always faint, not very wide, but his eyes were full of contentment as he said helplessly.

"Gradually, I realized that the plum blossom has a noble character, which I cannot match."

In everyone's eyes, Wei Changzai's appearance was as graceful as pine and plum blossoms, and as pure and aloof as frost and snow, surpassing even the plum blossom's icy purity and lofty spirit.

There were no plum blossoms on the mountain, but there were plenty at the foot of the mountain. So she went to Tianxue Mountain and took one to carve into a long hairpin, engraved with runes, and gave it to him as a birthday gift. The plum blossoms of Tianxue Mountain were not particularly valuable, but they were still rare and not easily obtained.

However, that hairpin is now forever left in the cave, mixed together with the flesh and blood of the vine beast.

Lin Feiran's eyes darkened slightly as she turned her gaze back into the room, letting out a long sigh that made the tassels on the curtains sway in the breeze.

She was lying on the bed feeling depressed when she heard a series of footsteps and whispers from her fellow disciples outside the door.

"Tell me, is this marriage even going to happen?"

"Why not? This was agreed upon by the Chief and the Human Emperor. Who would dare to go against this agreement?"

Another person scoffed: "Human Emperor? He's just a mortal after all. Even if he doesn't marry, is he going to raise an army and attack Mount Sanqing?"

"Stop talking big. Does the Human Emperor need to launch an attack on Sanqing Mountain? Don't forget that he also has the Canxing Domain under his command. Five of the seven star lords are at the Free and Unfettered Realm, not to mention the many star envoys below them. In terms of scale, it's like a sect. If they really fight, it's hard to say who will win."

"That makes sense. But Lin Feiran's father has been gone for over ten years. People forget about her now that she's gone. She went up the mountain early and severed all ties with the world. Why would the Emperor bother to care about her affairs? Could it be that he wants to use the marriage as an excuse to force Senior Brother Wei to work in the Cangxing Region?"

"Who knows. But I feel like I have a bone stuck in my throat when I think of General Lin. He died young, and the only bloodline he left behind is so useless. Not only does he not strive for progress, but he also relies on nepotism to get ahead. First, he tried to get close to Elders Taihui and Qingyu to seize the position of their personal disciple. When he failed, he shamelessly tied himself to Senior Brother Wei. I really feel sorry for General Lin."

"However, I've heard that Lin Feiran was the first disciple to enter the Heart-Cleansing Realm, several months faster than Senior Brother Wei. Do you think that's true or false?"

"It must be fake. You really don't know, it's an open secret that her spiritual meridians are stagnant and she can't advance. Tsk tsk, ten years of cultivation and she's still in the Sitting Meditation Realm. With such talent, how could she have entered the Daohe Palace without connections?"

"So utterly useless?"

The voices of the group gradually faded into the distance, but every word they spoke reached Lin Feiran's ears.

It doesn't sound good, but every word is true.

Her spiritual veins are abnormal, preventing her from advancing further. It seems this marriage will have to be called off, and she is indeed no match for her parents.

Lin Feiran lost his mother at the age of six and his father at the age of nine, leaving him all alone. He later entered Sanqing Mountain to cultivate Taoism, having no origin and no destination, utterly alone.

He was infatuated with Wei Changzai, the pride of heaven, and everyone laughed at his overestimation of his abilities and his delusional fantasies.

He sought out renowned doctors for years to cure his spiritual veins, but to no avail. As a result, he grew increasingly gloomy, and the resentment he had accumulated over the years finally erupted when he met Qiu Tong.

The first half of the supporting character "Lin Feiran's" life is described in just three hastily written lines in the book.

Lin Feiran's father, Lin Lang, was a well-known "grassroots general" who came from the countryside and had no relatives. He died at the young age of twenty-five. Lin Feiran's mother was also an orphan from Jiangnan who died young.

She was nine years old when her father passed away. With the death of her last relative, Lin Feiran was left all alone.

The glory of the mansion is gone; the once grand general's mansion is now only occupied by her and a few old servants who refuse to leave.

That day, thunder rumbled in the sky and a light rain drizzled. She squatted by the wall watching ants move their nest. The tiny creatures, no bigger than sesame seeds, climbed up the wall, occasionally being knocked down by a few drops of water the size of beans. She would then pick up a leaf and put them back.

With a thunderous roar, lightning illuminated the sky, and the sound of unhurried footsteps came from beside me.

As the person drew closer, they finally stopped beside him. The pattering raindrops stopped hitting his head and instead began to patter.

Lin Feiran turned her head to look up from below.

Wearing silver-threaded cloud boots, a blue robe with a corner, a black waist belt, a long sword strapped to his back, eyes like black beads, and a topknot, he was a young Taoist novice.

He held up a tung-yellow umbrella, his eyes lowered, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow. He simply stood to the side, looking at the ants, then at her, lost in thought, as if she were no different from them.

The two stared at each other in silence for a short while, and then two more people rushed in from outside the door. One was dressed in white and the other in blue. They were Elder Taihui and Elder Qingyu from Daohe Palace.

Lin Feiran knew them; they were her father's friends who often came to her home for small gatherings during holidays.

The two men walked hurriedly, looking tense, but when they saw her, they relaxed and raised their eyebrows, then bent down and asked.

"The mortal world is boring, so let's not stay here. Your talent is extraordinary, why don't you come with us to Sanqing Mountain to cultivate?"

After going up the mountain, it took her two years to get to know Wei Changzai, but Qiu Tong only took two months to go from beginner to now.

A cool and aloof Taoist priest and a bright and beautiful fox spirit—this pairing is so classic that even a passing dog could swoon over them; they're a match made in heaven.

As for the matter of the spiritual veins...

She looked out the window at the snow-capped mountains and sighed softly.

Humans have twelve meridians, which are close to the spirit but do not gather the spirit. This is called a mortal being. However, eight spiritual meridians are hidden beneath them. Those who can activate the eight meridians can gather the spirit and cultivate the Tao by relying on spiritual power.

Fasting of the Mind, Sitting in Oblivion, Reflecting on the Sea, Questioning the Mind, Freedom, Ascending to Heights, Carefree Journey, Spiritual Wandering, Selflessness, Returning to Truth

One can only cultivate if one has spiritual veins. In addition to spiritual veins, one can also have spiritual bones. Those who have spiritual bones can cultivate twice as well with half the effort. Those who have both spiritual veins and spiritual bones are the most talented.

Daohe Palace selects its disciples rigorously, and most of them have excellent aptitude. The disciples who were in the same batch as Lin Feiran have long since reached the Zhaohai Realm. Not to mention outstanding individuals like Wei Changzai, who reached the Wenxin Realm a year ago.

Only she, due to stagnant spiritual veins, remains only at the stage of forgetting the past.

Lin Feiran felt unconvinced. This had nothing to do with love or integrity; it was simply a matter of defiance. If others could do it, why couldn't she?

But no, as she grew older, her spiritual meridians became increasingly sluggish, and she could only retain about one-tenth of the spiritual energy she could breathe in.

She had also suffered. Perhaps she really was a useless person. There are no miracles in the world. It would be better not to cultivate. Cultivation would only make her a laughing stock. What could someone like her do? But she was still unwilling and still held onto a sliver of hope.

Lin Feiran raised her hand, looked at the gauze ribbons casually folded and hastily wrapped around her wrist, and lay back on the bed.

Heartbreak, jealousy, entanglement, pain, and a desire to seize—countless complex emotions surged within her. She couldn't help but ask herself, "Is this still me? Is this what I want?"

Is she going to fight and snatch things up like in the book?

The blinding sunlight slanted in through the window, dust floated in the air, and the gauze ribbon wrapped around my shoulders and neck was exposed to the sunlight, causing a dry and itchy heat, but it was quickly cooled by the snow wind.

She worked so hard for so many years to advance in the realm, to be worthy of Consort Wei, and to avoid disappointing Empress Dowager Qingyu, but in the end she got nothing. It was all for naught.

She made a hand seal, and the iron sword with crisscrossing cracks flew to the window.

This was her first sword, just an ordinary disciple's sword, unremarkable and far less sharp than Lianyan. Yet, it gleamed coldly in the bright sunlight, reflecting in her bewildered eyes.

Why did she go up the mountain in the first place?

***

Sunlight slanted in, creeping into my eyes and burning a bright red glow before them.

Wei Changzai frowned slightly, instinctively covering his eyes with his hand. He slowly stood up, his long, loose hair sliding down to his front. His handsome eyes were half-open, his dark pupils as cold as snow in the mountains, making him look like a beauty made of ice.

He glanced around the room, his gaze landing on the figure sleeping by the table, and then he remembered what had happened yesterday.

The figure lying by the table stirred slightly. She rubbed her eyes and looked up. She was taken aback when she saw that he was awake, but then immediately smiled.

"Senior Brother Wei, that's wonderful! You're finally awake. It was worth keeping watch here all night!"

Wei Changzai lowered his eyes slightly and thanked her, "Thank you for your trouble, Junior Sister."

"And her?"

Qiu Tong's eyes narrowed slightly, but only for a moment. She still smiled, looking lively and mischievous: "Ah, you mean Senior Sister Lin? She went back to her dormitory to rest after receiving treatment at Fangcao Hall."

Wei Changzai looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Is she alright?"

"Just like my senior brother, I'm exhausted." Qiu Tong thought for a moment, tilted her head slightly, and said with a charmingly naive air, "Senior brother, why don't we go check on senior sister?"

Wei Changzai nodded, threw back the covers, and got up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed: "She should be awake by morning class time."

"I'll go with you, Senior Brother!" Qiu Tong ran to the table, picked up a plate of bright red, crisp peaches, and said, "These peaches were sent by other senior brothers and sisters as a token of our appreciation. They are very crisp and sweet. Let's take some for Senior Sister."

The porcelain plate is decorated with a red-glazed peach branch, with plump and lifelike peach petals.

Wei Changzai nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

"Senior brother, you don't need to be so polite, it's too formal." Qiu Tong placed all the crisp peaches on the porcelain plate, holding the peaches in one hand and trying to help Wei Changzai with the other, but he stopped her.

"I was just exhausted and suffered some minor injuries, nothing serious."

Qiu Tong was taken aback, then smiled and withdrew her hand: "Senior brother, when my cultivation level is higher, next time I explore the secluded valley, I will definitely beat them to a pulp, just like Senior Sister Lin!"

Wei Changzai glanced at her and said, "You still need to practice more."

Qiu Tong looked up at him, then feigned dejection as if she had been thwarted: "Senior brother, don't look down on me. Even a small person can have big dreams! I might break through to the next realm in a few months."

"Are you so sure?" Wei Changzai seemed to recall something, and simply replied, "Let's see in a few months."

The two walked along the corridor, exchanging words as if they were having a pleasant conversation. Along the way, they encountered many fellow disciples who greeted Wei Changzai while glancing at the girl beside them.

Everyone knew perfectly well that the marriage was indeed going to fall through.

Wei Changzai never cared about these gazes, and Qiu Tong's mind was elsewhere. She bit her lip and pondered for a long time before softly asking, "Senior brother, senior sister's birthday is in a few days. What birthday gift have you prepared?"

Wei Changzai remained expressionless and simply said, "Not yet."

Qiu Tong was somewhat surprised: "Senior brother, even I have prepared a big gift. If you don't give it, senior sister will be sad."

Wei Changzai did not answer, and Qiu Tong did not press for an answer. She simply looked at the pink peaches on the plate, her fingertips tracing the porcelain rim. Amidst the noise of the scattered disciples around her, she asked even more softly.

"Senior brother, why did you save me first yesterday?"

Wei Changzai remained silent. He walked beside Qiu Tong, his posture upright, his profile shimmering, his black hair half-tied up with a jade hairpin, exuding an ethereal beauty.

Her fingertips, which were gripping the porcelain plate, turned slightly white. Thinking of those vague words from yesterday, the throbbing in her chest became even more joyful. She knew he must have heard it.

The two walked side by side for a long time, until they turned a corner in the corridor, and she heard the same answer.

"You can't get hurt."

Her initial excitement abruptly stopped, only to resume in a burst of intense drumming the next moment. The rapid beats cooled her cheeks and flushed her ears.

In her previous life, not long after she and Wei Changzai had confirmed their feelings for each other, he protected her during their travels and said those words.

He said, "Qiu Tong, don't be afraid, I will never let anything happen to you."

Qiu Tong raised the peach to cover her upturned lips, but it couldn't hide her smiling eyes. She asked vaguely, "What about Senior Sister?"

Wei Chang didn't pause this time: "You are different. With her abilities, she can kill that vine beast."

After a moment, he said again, "Qiu Tong, you are quite talented. Even if you are not as diligent as her, you will surely achieve great success. You don't need to ask her how to practice swordsmanship every day."

Qiu Tong nodded vigorously, her eyes full of determination: "Senior brother, I will definitely work hard!"

In this life, she will definitely work hard to cultivate so that she can be worthy of Wei Chang, this proud son of heaven, and make his teachers and fellow disciples have nothing to say and no objection!

***

The inn is a maze of interconnected passageways and winding corridors, with identical inns standing on both sides, making it dazzling. If you don't come often, you'll definitely not be able to find a place to stay.

Ke Wei walked very skillfully.

When he arrived at Lin Feiran's room, he rolled up his sleeves, knocked three times with his fingers, and then did nothing more, but there was no response from inside.

He raised his hand and knocked three more times, his eyes showing no fluctuation whatsoever. He didn't seem like someone visiting a patient; he looked more like an inspector conducting a routine check.

"Senior brother, how will senior sister know who is knocking if you don't speak?" Qiu Tong asked疑惑地.

"She knows."

That was all he said.

Three more knocks, and Wei Changzai's eyes remained calm, without the slightest impatience, as if he could keep knocking as long as the other party didn't speak.

After a long silence, a soft sigh came from inside: "Come in."

Lin Feiran could no longer pretend to be a quail, so she simply threw off the blanket covering her head, got up, and leaned against the bed rail.

With a creak, a cool breeze from outside blew in, only to be blocked back out of the door in an instant.

"Senior sister, are you alright?" Qiu Tong peeked out from behind Wei Changzai, then brought out a plate of peaches and headed straight for Lin Feiran's bedside. "These peaches are so sweet, you must try them!"

Lin Feiran didn't want to speak, but Qiu Tong was so enthusiastic that she couldn't refuse, so she replied, "Thank you, junior sister."

Qiu Tong waved her hand: "These were all sent by other fellow disciples to visit Senior Brother Wei. Senior Sister, please thank Senior Brother instead."

Lin Feiran paused for a moment, then remained silent.

Qiu Tong answered casually, but when she noticed that Lin Feiran's place was very deserted, she realized that no one had come to see her yet, and she felt a little embarrassed. But when she thought that this person was Lin Feiran, she pretended that nothing had happened.

Wei Changzai entered the room before Qiu Tong, but lagged behind her by a few steps. He slowly walked to the bedside, dragged a stool over, sat down, and remained silent.

Lin Feiran didn't look up, only watching Qiu Tong peel the peach.

Wei Changzai still remembers that Lin Feiran was not as reserved as she is now. She had many ideas about the path of cultivation and was very confident. She even said that she would lead him to the point of achieving oneness with the heavens.

Although Lin Feiran was not good at talking to strangers at that time, she always stood tall and spoke like a little adult in front of acquaintances, with a kind of reserved mischievousness.

But I don't know when it started, her head slowly lowered.

Wei Chang remained silent. He hadn't actually thought about saying anything, nor did he intend to say anything; he had simply come to see her.

"Wei Changzai, let's break off the engagement."

As Qiu Tong peeled the peach, her hand veered off course, the sharp edge of the blade leaving a short mark on her fingertip, from which a bead of blood instantly seeped out. The slippery peach in her hand also fell to the ground, slamming against the wooden floor with a loud thud.

He looked at her quietly, and even the wind seemed to linger around him. He spoke again, enunciating each word clearly, as if he wanted her to repeat what he had just said, word by word.

"What did you mean by what you just said?"

"Don't you understand?" she replied, looking at him directly and without flinching. "I said, I want to annul the engagement."

A note from the author: