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That night, Lin Yun suffered from insomnia, tossing and turning in bed, trying many methods but unable to fall asleep.

Suddenly remembering that the broken sword hadn't been dealt with yet, and thinking that since I couldn't fall asleep anyway, I might as well do something.

She threw back the quilt, wearing only her undergarments, and by the moonlight, searched everywhere for the cloth bag containing the broken sword. After searching for a while, she suddenly remembered that she had placed the bag on the cabinet in the outer room that morning, and turned to retrieve it.

Lin Yun carefully took out the sword. Just as half of the blade was exposed, a small wooden box fell out with a "snap," along with a note.

"What's this?"

As Lin Yun silently read the contents of the note, the system spoke up:

"To congratulate you on your journey to immortality, I should have prepared a small gift earlier. However, fearing that the chosen item might be inappropriate, I pondered deeply and finally made this. Today, I present you with a bookmark, wishing you all the best on your path of cultivation, free from hardship."

"Handwritten by Zhou Hengyan"

She opened the gift box with a flick of her fingers, revealing a silver bookmark that perfectly complemented the moonlight filling the room.

By the moonlight, she held the bookmark up to her eyes and examined it closely.

The bookmark was rhombus-shaped with a lotus flower pattern in the center and outlined with silver wire. She stroked the bookmark and noticed that the character "云" (cloud) was engraved in the lotus heart. Turning it over, the character "往" (towards) was engraved in the lotus heart on the back.

"It's truly exquisite." I wonder how much effort it must have taken to create such a delicate form.

"How do you like it?"

"I like it." Her eyebrows curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling.

Who wouldn't love such an exquisite object? Especially since it was made by someone else's own hands, containing their heartfelt wishes and blessings.

Lin Yun placed the bookmark in the book he was currently reading and began to deal with the broken sword.

"It's very memorable, should we hang it up?"

The system agrees.

Since Lin Yun became a disciple of the Jingyin Sect, the system's presence has become much stronger. It even accompanies him in daily life.

Lin Yunwang gradually adapted to this companionship, which was similar to that during the time he was sealed away. Occasionally, when he encountered something he couldn't make up his mind about, he would ask for His opinion.

“Okay, then hang it up.” She gestured around with the sword, trying to find a suitable place to hang the broken sword.

Ultimately, the location was decided to be right opposite the entrance.

Lin Yun usually felt that the development of magic in this world was very contradictory. She clearly had the ability to fly on a sword, but at this moment she had no magic to stick the sword to the wall to use.

She laboriously tiptoed to hang the broken sword on the wall, then stepped back two paces to examine the new ornament.

Even a broken sword would gleam silver under the moonlight.

She was very satisfied with her "work" and clapped her hands, saying, "Not bad."

He entered the inner room, walked to the bedside, and lay back on the fluffy quilt. On the thick cotton quilt, his body felt light and airy, and his thoughts gradually drifted away.

Some forgotten memories resurfaced.

Looking back now, it seems somewhat comical. A few days ago, she visited Senior Sister Bai's courtyard and was discussing academic matters when she was interrupted by the system's voice.

"Look, she also has quilts in her room."

Lin Yunwang understood His unspoken meaning. This was a rebuttal to what He had said that day: the disciples of the Jingyin Sect were meticulous, and even though they had the ability to keep warm, they still remembered to prepare a quilt for her when she first entered the sect.

She had already realized that what Sang Zhao had said before was just to deceive her. Although a cultivator's spiritual power could ward off the cold, it could only ensure that he would not freeze to death, and he would still feel cold.

This quilt is provided in the room of every disciple.

She still doesn't understand why her senior brother Sang Zhao lied to her. What was there to lie about?

Seeing that she hadn't fallen asleep yet, the system asked:

Are you still bothered by what Yichen said?

Lin Yun turned over, buried her head in the pillow, and said in a muffled voice, "Not entirely." Her master's words today did not make her feel at ease; on the contrary, they made her feel even heavier.

We must live up to the name of the Venerable One's personal instruction and shoulder the responsibility of being a disciple of Jingyin.

She recalled her master's gaze and tried to interpret it, but she still couldn't understand it. She could only see deep longing and guilt. Guilt could be explained, but what was she longing for?

I'm completely baffled.

"Don't let others influence you; you are simply yourself."

That's true, but is there really anything in this world that is completely free?

"If you don't like life in the Jingyin Sect, you are free to leave when the ten-year agreement ends."

"I love it here and I won't leave."

The system said urgently:

"You haven't yet developed a deep understanding of this world. Perhaps one day, you'll regret the choices you made."

"By then, regret will be useless; just grit your teeth and keep going."

The two talked until dawn, but neither could convince the other.

The conversation that lasted through the long night calmed the ripples in Lin Yun's heart. The tension that had been building was eased a little, though not much, but it was still a change nonetheless.

The existence of the system served as an anchor point for Lin Yunwang, reminding him of the original world's existence and being the only entity he could speak of to that peaceful world.

Perhaps without Him, those days without relatives or friends would be covered by the memories of this life.

Despite not having slept all night, Lin Yun still had the energy to listen to the demanding lectures.

In class, no matter what Xie Tingshui said, the only response she received was four words written on a piece of paper—"Listen attentively."

Seeing her friend like this, Tingshui could only try to suppress her urge to speak. Before she could concentrate for a moment, she reached out to touch the corner of the book, and the familiar note was handed to her again.

Listen attentively in class.

Xie Tingshui thought to herself: Why is Yun Wang interfering with my studies today?

Seeing her firm attitude, I had no choice but to try my best to concentrate on the lesson.

An hour later, they finally had a 15-minute break.

Xie Tingshui seized the opportunity and immediately lay down on the table, saying dejectedly, "Yunwang, you've changed."

Lin Yunwang, who was reviewing the lesson he had just learned, put down his book, turned around, and asked in confusion, "Didn't you say you would go to the inner sect with me? Given your previous attitude and habits, it's unlikely you'd do that."

Knowing she was in the wrong, Xie Tingshui murmured, "Change is a gradual process."

"Be more resolute, and the chances of change will be greater."

Lin Yun continued flipping through the book, when one of his hands touched her eyebrows and eyes without her noticing. She looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

"You used to always frown."

"Really?" She was about to ask further when Zhong Ling interrupted her.

Xie Tingshui was slumped over her desk, still looking lazy. Lin Yun gently patted her back, signaling her to pay attention to the lesson.

During the afternoon sword-fighting class, a strong wind carrying sand crashed into the training ground, throwing everything into chaos. Lin Yun raised his arm to shield his eyes, while the outer disciples not far away were in a sorry state, unable to even maintain their balance, let alone practice their swordsmanship.

In the chaos, Manager Han and the instructors announced that the sword-fighting class was suspended.

Everyone was overjoyed, after all, the outer disciples of the Jingyin Sect were burdened by their studies all day long, and their free time was too precious.

Lin Yun wanted to go to the mission pavilion to see what number of missions it was to deliver food to the secluded cave, but Xie Tingshui, after hearing her idea, insisted on going with her.

And so, against the strong wind, the two figures trudged through the flying sand and stones. Their hair was whipped wildly in the air, relentlessly slapping against each other's cheeks, making them look somewhat disheveled.

Even so, Xie Tingshui kept talking, spitting out strands of hair that had blown into her mouth by the wind as she spoke.

"The Nangong family members are all bad people. You'd better stay away from them." Xie Tingshui's expression was no longer playful; it was unusually serious.

"Why?" Lin Yunwang neither agreed nor disagreed.

“They killed many members of the Xie family,” she said with resentment, “and tricked the young master into severing ties with the main family!”

The wind was so strong that it distorted her face and shattered her words.

Lin Yun walked in front of her and used his newly learned wind-avoidance technique to shield them from some of the strong wind.

Perhaps realizing her mistake, she added, "Although there are bad people in the Xie family, we will never point our swords at our friends. But the Nangong family is different."

"I saw Nangong Suiqing in your room yesterday..." She had a lot to say, but she was afraid of upsetting Lin Yunwang. After all, the rift between the Xie family and the Nangong family should only affect the two families... But she still couldn't help but say, "Don't get too close to Nangong Suiqing."

"She came yesterday only because I fainted during our match. We are not even close friends."

"That's good." With the promise in hand, Xie Tingshui felt relieved and returned to her usual lively and cheerful self, joining her in casting the Wind-Avoiding Technique.

In reality, this wind-avoidance technique was not very effective; sand grains would still rain down on the two of them as the wind blew, but something was better than nothing.

"Legend has it that cultivators chosen by the Heavenly Sound can control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning." Xie Tingshui suddenly remembered the ancient legend, jumped around, and walked backwards in the wind. "If there really are such people, we wouldn't have to endure this sandstorm."

She had never seen Tianyin, nor had anyone around her, and couldn't help but sigh, "Legends are just legends."

Xie Tingshui seemed unaware that the former sect leader could command lightning. Lin Yunwang was also unsure whether to tell her about this. Thinking of Sang Zhao's strange expression after seeing the evil cultivator's ability to use lightning magic, he knew it was inconvenient to tell anyone, so he didn't mention it.

In this world with its strict laws, cultivators are subject to constraints in every action they take.

The cultivators Lin Yun had encountered did not display the extraordinary supernatural powers described in legends. Even when they occasionally displayed mysterious techniques, there were invisible constraints in the flow of spiritual energy in the world.

It seems like they're deliberately suppressing cultivators? Lin Yun was amused by his own strange thought.

The two have arrived at the mission pavilion.

Due to the inclement weather today, the pavilion was not as lively as usual, with only a few people present, making it quite deserted.

"Uncle Yunwang doesn't need to come and check on you often. When it's your turn, we will inform you via telepathy." The person on duty at the Mission Pavilion today is a young girl who looks to be only a little over ten years old.

"Thank you." Lin Yun had already finished looking through the roster and had just reached number 20. It seemed like his number was a long way off.

Her gaze swept over the rows of tasks, finally settling on the last one.

"Cleaning the library?"

"Does Uncle-Master Yunwang wish to take on this mission?"

After reading the requirements, Lin Yun thought that the library would close at 9 PM, and that he could freely enter and exit after accepting the cleaning task.

"Yes."

Xie Tingshui, who was standing nearby, quickly pulled her aside, saying, "Our studies are so demanding, and this task is at night. You should think it over carefully."

Lin Yun smiled at her, a smile that seemed to be meant to comfort her.

"I've made up my mind."