The soft moonlight shone through the window and onto the table, adding a touch of gentleness to the quiet night.
A faint blush graced Li Xi's face, and her eyes were somewhat unfocused, but she remained clear-headed.
She sat there quietly, lost in thought.
Qin Xiaolin stared at her without changing his expression, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.
Shen Xu was already completely drunk, his face flushed and his eyes glazed over.
But he still forced himself to speak to Li Xi, "Brother Li... I... I've wanted to tell you something for a long time!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xi gently raised her head, her gaze clearing slightly as she looked at Shen Xu. "What is it?"
A complex emotion, difficult to detect, flashed in Qin Xiaolin's eyes. He said in a cold voice, "Brother Shen, you're drunk."
His words carried an undeniable coldness, an attempt to calm Shen Xu down.
“No, I’m not drunk! Brother Li, I… I’ve always admired you, I…” Shen Xu’s words became intermittent, but every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his heart, “I love you, I… I know you are a woman. In my heart, you are more courageous and intelligent than any man in this world.”
At this point, Shen Xu seemed to have used up all his strength, and his body swayed, almost falling off the chair.
Li Xi quickly got up, wanting to help him, but Qin Xiaolin beat her to it.
Qin Xiaolin steadily supported Shen Xu, giving him a deep look, "You're drunk. Someone, take Young Master Shen to a private room to rest."
Immediately, Zhao Zhan entered and carefully took Shen Xu from Qin Xiaolin's hands, half-supporting and half-carrying him out of the room, leaving behind a room full of silence and a subtle atmosphere.
Li Xi sat back down in her original seat, looking quite helpless: "Shen Xu is really drunk."
Qin Xiaolin slowly walked to the table, gently pulled over a chair, and sat down opposite Li Xi.
His gaze was gentle yet profound, as if he could see into people's hearts. "Xixi, happy birthday!"
Then, he handed Li Xi an exquisite wooden box and said, "This is a birthday gift."
"It's so mysterious, what's inside?" Li Xi curiously took the wooden box, its weight making her feel a sense of anticipation.
She carefully opened the lid, and the sight inside the box made her eyes widen—a black stone lay quietly inside.
"Could this be the Destiny Stone that the cult leader stole?" Li Xi was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth, and her voice trembled slightly.
She examined the stone closely, a surge of indescribable excitement welling up inside her.
So she pulled him back to her room.
As soon as she entered the room, Li Xi went straight to the box by the bed and took out three more Destiny Stones.
When the four stones were placed together, a miracle occurred: they perfectly formed a circle!
Looking at the scene before them, both of them fell silent.
This is indeed a complete meteorite; at least in Li Xi's opinion, it is a meteorite.
The two stared intently at the stone, their eyes unblinking.
But no matter how they looked at it, they couldn't see any clues.
Time ticked by, and finally, Li Xi couldn't help but break the silence: "I can't understand it. He didn't hesitate to smear his hands with blood and kill so many people just to get this meteorite."
But Huang Er had a meteorite in his possession, yet he didn't claim it. Why was that? Could it be that there were some differences between the meteorites? Or perhaps they had different uses and values?
"Perhaps what he wants is not just the Destiny Stone of the Xuanming Sect, but something else." Qin Xiaolin's voice carried an indescribable heaviness, as if he were telling a hidden truth.
Li Xi frowned deeply and asked suspiciously, "Others? You mean, there are other secrets we don't know about?"
Qin Xiaolin nodded and continued, "Perhaps the people of the Xuanming Sect possess some unknown secrets, the value of which may far exceed the Destiny Stone itself."
His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound, as if he were pondering deeper questions.
Upon hearing this, Li Xi's expression became even more solemn.
She realized that if such a secret really existed, things would become extremely complicated.
Qin Xiaolin looked at Li Xi, seemingly seeing through her thoughts, and said softly, "Go and rest first, it's late."
She nodded gently, took the pill Lan'er gave her, and went to sleep.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Qin Xiaolin sighed softly. He turned and walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.
The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight was faint.
The Nanfeng Pavilion in a certain part of the West Market was bustling with activity.
The lights were dim, but the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air.
Every corner of the museum was filled with the fragrance of cosmetics, which intertwined with the faint floral scent that occasionally drifted in the night breeze, creating a dreamlike and intoxicating scene.
However, the scene in the backyard of Nanfeng Pavilion was quite different.
It's much quieter here, as if it's isolated from the world, free from external noise and disturbance.
A peaceful and serene atmosphere permeated the surroundings, making people feel relaxed and calm.
Only the occasional sound of footsteps and water broke the silence, adding a touch of life and vitality to the environment.
In this tranquil place, an old woman dressed in a blue robe quietly appeared.
Her steps were light and steady, and she carried a steaming bowl of soup steadily in her hands.
The bowl of hot soup emitted an enticing aroma that made one's mouth water.
The old woman slowly walked into a room, gently pushed open the door, as if afraid of disturbing the person inside.
"You're awake?" she asked softly, looking at the person inside.
"Hmm." He was sitting at his desk, holding a calligraphy brush in his hand.
Seeing this, the old woman tiptoed to the window and slowly closed half of the window frame.
"Are you feeling any better today?" she asked as she walked toward the desk.
He took a few dried chrysanthemum petals from a nearby earthenware jar, put them into the teapot on the table, poured in hot water, and immediately a delicate fragrance filled the air.
He nodded slightly, his gaze finally turning from the window to the old woman's face.
It was a face etched with the marks of time yet still kind. He said softly, "Thanks to my mother's care, I've recovered completely."
"That's good, Young Master. He's made the arrangements. When the city's security is a bit looser on New Year's Eve, he'll arrange for someone to take us to Liang Village."
As she spoke, the old woman handed him the brewed chrysanthemum tea.
The tea was warm and clear, as if it could dispel the last trace of winter chill.
He took the teacup, took a sip, and the delicate, slightly sweet taste brought him a sense of comfort.
"Liang Village is indeed a good place, with a pleasant climate all year round, which is suitable for you. We'll bring you here after my son's affairs are settled."
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