Flowers of various colors intertwine, like a giant colorful carpet spread across the world.

She ran joyfully into the sea of ​​flowers, letting the fragrant scent surround her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and savored the wonderful atmosphere.

Suddenly, a voice came from somewhere, "What are you doing here? Go back to where you belong." The little girl looked around but didn't see anyone.

The voice sounded somewhat familiar, like something I often heard in my dreams.

She looked around fearfully, but all she saw was a beautiful sea of ​​flowers swaying in the breeze.

"Who are you?" she asked in a trembling voice, but no one answered.

The sea of ​​flowers seemed to conceal some mysterious power, making her feel both excited and fearful.

She began running through the sea of ​​flowers, trying to find the source of the sound. The fragrance grew stronger, and as the breeze brushed against her cheeks, her heart raced.

This mysterious garden seemed to have endless boundaries; she felt as if she were trapped in an endless dream. Suddenly, a dazzling beam of light descended from the sky and enveloped her.

She instinctively closed her eyes, her body being pulled upwards by a force. Fear and panic surged through her; she screamed, but her voice vanished into thin air.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back in the vegetable garden where she used to play with her friends.

As she grew older, she forgot about it and always thought it was just a dream.

Feng Monian waited outside the hot spring pool for most of the day but Li Xi did not come out, and no one responded when he called her.

Soaking in this hot spring for too long can make you faint, and in his haste, he rushed in without thinking too much about it.

Li Xi was lying on the edge of the hot spring pool, looking as if she had fainted. Normally, she is alert and would not let herself fall asleep in an unfamiliar environment.

Feng Monian rushed to her side and noticed that there seemed to be a pattern on her back. Knowing that it was improper to look at such things, he tried his best not to look at her.

"Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi!" He gently patted her face, trying to wake her up. But Li Xi didn't respond at all. Feng Monian's heart tightened. He disregarded the difference between men and women and channeled his inner energy into her.

His hand accidentally touched Li Xi's back, and his heart skipped a beat, a strange feeling welling up inside him.

He inadvertently discovered a tattoo on Li Xi's back—a lifelike phoenix with outstretched wings. A chill ran down his spine; the tattoo seemed to be staring at him, and the oppressive gaze made him feel uneasy.

Suddenly, Li Xi's body trembled violently, and a powerful aura burst forth from her body, catching Feng Monian off guard.

He felt a tremendous force push him away, and saw Li Xi with her brows furrowed. She seemed to be waking up, so Feng Monian hurriedly left the courtyard.

When Li Xi woke up, she found herself asleep face down. Recalling this dream within a dream, she remembered that she had such an experience when she was a child.

She found it strange; the dream within a dream was so real, so real that she could still recall the scent of those flowers.

"Xiaoxi, Xiaoxi." She seemed to hear someone calling her name outside, so she hurriedly dressed and went out of the yard.

She noticed Feng Monian standing anxiously outside the courtyard and ran towards her. "Are you alright? I thought you had fainted inside because you hadn't come to eat for so long. Soaking in the hot spring for too long can make you dizzy."

Li Xi felt a wave of fear. Luckily, she woke up early, otherwise he would have rushed in and discovered her secret.

"I'm fine, I just soaked in the water for a bit too long. Thank you for your concern, Brother Feng," Li Xi said with a smile.

Feng Monian breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was indeed alright. "It's good that you're alright. Hurry up and have your meal! The food is getting cold."

“Okay.” Li Xi followed Feng Monian to the dining hall.

After the two sat down, the maids served dishes one after another, filling the large table to the brim.

"Would you like some wine?" Feng Monian asked her, pointing to the wine pot. "It's getting a bit chilly today; some warm wine will be good for your health."

This thoughtfulness made Li Xi somewhat tempted.

"Okay..." Since the host had extended such a warm invitation, she couldn't refuse.

After a few rounds of drinks, Feng Monian became quite drunk, and the two went back to their respective rooms.

Li Xi's guest room was in the same courtyard as Feng Monian's. Although the villa had many courtyards, he still arranged for her to stay in a wing room nearby.

Under the cover of darkness, Feng Monian's eyes remained closed, his sore eyelids concealing an endless state of lucidity.

He recalled the phoenix tattoo on Li Xi's body. He had only glanced at it briefly and hadn't been able to see the specific details, but he felt an unusual sense of familiarity with it.

He had never felt such a strong desire and possessiveness for anything or anyone before.

The scene of my first meeting with Li Xi is still vivid in my mind. We fought fiercely, and I only realized she was a woman when I accidentally touched her.

When they met again, he couldn't help but want to get to know her and become acquainted with her. The composure with which she picked him up moved him.

At that time, she was like a dazzling star, shining alone in the darkness. Her eyes were deep and bright, as if they held endless secrets.

Even now, he still does the same thing, trying every possible way to get close to her.

He realized that he had fallen deeply in love with her. He wanted to know more about her, to enter her inner world, and to share every joy and sorrow of his life with her.

He wanted to dedicate his life to protecting her and preventing her from ever being hurt again.

If Li Xi were to see Feng Monian now without his mask, she would definitely recognize him as her good brother, Qin Xiaolin.

After leaving Kyoto, Qin Xiaolin returned to Yinxian Manor and continued to appear under the identity of Feng Monian.

He was the adopted son of the former owner of Yinxian Manor. Feng Monian was his adoptive father's biological son, but he died young. By chance, the manor owner recognized him as his adopted son and left all his properties to him before his death.

This identity made it easier for him to navigate the martial arts world. As the grandson of the Duke of Dingguo, he was watched in everything he did. He seemed wealthy, but in reality, he was bound by many shackles.

After soaking in the hot springs and enjoying a sumptuous meal, Li Xi drifted off to sleep contentedly, completely unaware of the decision Qin Xiaolin had made.

Li Xi and Feng Monian rode to Quanyuan Town early in the morning to find a skilled person who was good at disguise.

These were people who frequently collaborated with Yinxian Manor, so when they arrived, Master Shan warmly welcomed them.

"Young Master Chu, this is the human skin mask you asked me to make before." Master Shan took out a tray and gave a brief introduction.

Feng Monian nodded in satisfaction, "Yes, Master Shan is truly amazing. The Master will definitely be satisfied this time. Your skills are probably second to none."

Upon hearing this, Master Shan waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I dare not accept such praise. Master Du is the best in this industry. We only know a little bit."

After leaving the house, Li Xi's eyes were full of admiration: "Brother Feng, you really have a wide network of connections! You can find all sorts of talented and extraordinary people."