“Grandma, I’m back.”
A lively, playful voice rang out, and a light red figure burst into the main hall.
The palace-gowned woman seated at the head of the hall paused, setting down the object she had been wiping, and smiled warmly at the girl who had suddenly barged in.
“You’re back, child. The journey must have been tiring.”
“Not at all.”
The girl grinned and sat down directly beside the old woman.
“The recruitment mission went very smoothly. The village schools in Daye City all welcomed our Wuxing Sect.”
Indeed, the girl who had so abruptly entered was none other than Huazhu, who had just returned from leading the recruitment campaign at the Daye Village schools.
As for the palace-gowned woman…
“Glad it went well.” She smiled softly, reaching out to gently stroke Huazhu’s light gray hair.
But just as her hand was about to touch Huazhu, the girl mischievously tilted her head, nimbly dodging the woman’s touch.
The woman paused, though she didn’t seem annoyed. The corners of her eyes still held a gentle smile.
“I believe that after this recruitment drive, there will be far fewer doubts within Wuxing Sect about you succeeding me as the Hall Master of the Vermilion Bird Hall.”
“I have Grandma’s trust to thank~”
Huazhu nodded obediently, none of that arrogant attitude she had shown when facing Nan Xi in sight.
Now, she was more like a slightly mischievous girl-next-door.
“You child, you worked hard enough on your own.” The woman chided, a hint of subtle concern in her voice. “You’ve had a tough time these past years.”
“Not at all~”
Huazhu rested her chin on her hand, looking even more playful.
“But Grandma, you’re still so young. Why did you voluntarily step down?”
“Grandma is old now.” The woman smiled faintly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes seeming more pronounced with her smile. “I have to give you young people more opportunities.”
As she spoke, as if suddenly remembering something, she picked up an object from the table and handed it to Huazhu.
“Look at my memory. I had this hairpin made through someone at Black Tortoise Hall. It has a mind-calming effect and will also aid your cultivation.”
“Huh?”
Huazhu blinked, a look of surprise on her face as she stared at the hairpin the woman offered.
“This… is it really for me?”
“Of course.”
“B-but, Grandma has already helped me so much.” Huazhu averted her gaze, lightly tugging at the ends of her hair.
“Taking me into Vermilion Bird Hall, letting me succeed as Hall Master… and so many other things.”
“Silly child, what are you thinking?” The woman chuckled. “If Grandma tells you to take it, take it.”
“Oh…”
Huazhu responded dazedly. After a moment, she spoke again to the woman,
“I, um, Grandma, I’m a bit tired. I’ll go rest now.”
“Alright, hey hey, don’t forget the hairpin!”
Hearing the woman’s call from behind, Huazhu hurried back, grabbed the hairpin she had been given, and quickly fled the main hall.
As if she were running away from something.
…
A short while later, inside Huazhu’s private chambers.
Huazhu sat at her desk, staring blankly at the hairpin her Grandma had given her.
This was the residence specially arranged for her by Wuxing Sect, far from the living quarters of other elders and disciples. It was quiet and serene.
More importantly…
Huazhu bit her red lips and glanced around.
After confirming repeatedly that no one was watching, she pulled a sheet of Xuan paper from the drawer.
Picking up the brush on the desk, she carefully began to write on the paper—
【To Elder Cigu of Tianhe Sect, personally read】
【The infiltration mission in Wuxing Sect is proceeding very smoothly. I have successfully gained the trust of the former Vermilion Bird Hall Master and succeeded as Hall Master of the Vermilion Bird Hall of Wuxing Sect.】
【Recently, I also led a team to Daye City for recruitment activities. Everything is progressing as expected. Wuxing Sect is very popular among the younger disciples in Daye City.】
【I will continue this strategy in subsequent actions, carrying out large-scale expansion, recruiting more disciples, and steadily draining Wuxing Sect’s accumulated resources.】
As she wrote, as if something had occurred to her, a faint smile crept across the corner of her mouth.
【Additionally, Nan Xi, the new Peak Master of Tianquan Peak in Tianhe Sect, is an exceptionally talented individual. The disciple he trained shone brilliantly in the martial competition organized by the Daye Village schools.】
【If the opportunity arises, increasing contact with Nan Xi would be greatly beneficial to Tianhe Sect’s future development.】
As she wrote the last character, Huazhu’s eyes lowered.
After checking repeatedly for any mistakes.
She picked up the paper. Immediately, a surge of fiery red spiritual power rose, gradually engulfing the letter.
Within the brilliant spiritual energy, the letter began to smolder and slowly vanished from Huazhu’s hands— this was her special method of communication with Elder Cigu.
Through this method, she could bypass Wuxing Sect’s surveillance and successfully transmit information back to Tianhe Sect.
Seeing the information successfully sent, Huazhu smiled faintly.
Everything was proceeding as she had planned.
As long as she kept draining Wuxing Sect’s resources according to the plan, it was only a matter of time before the entire Wuxing Sect collapsed.
As for Tianhe Sect’s side…
She hoped everything would go smoothly.
…
…
…
Just as Huazhu’s letter traversed mountains and rivers on its way back to Tianhe Sect.
Inside Tianhe Sect.
Halfway up Tianquan Peak, a travel-worn figure pushed open the gate of the small courtyard.
A faint smile played on Nan Xi’s lips.
He was finally home.
The weather was nice today. Though the winter chill still lingered, the temperature had risen above freezing.
Passing by the main path of Tianquan Peak, he could see the pure white snow and ice beginning to melt.
Spring was almost here.
After the recruitment campaign in Daye Village School, their group had stayed a few more days in Daye City, visiting every school, big and small, to promote Tianhe Sect.
Now, they had finally completed their mission and returned to the sect.
Back at the sect, Ji Hongmei and the others returned to their respective Ling Peaks to submit their mission reports.
Xia Xia also had something to take care of—she had gone down the mountain to fetch some items from her former residence.
Her process of becoming Nan Xi’s disciple had been rather rushed. Even now, she hadn’t moved all her belongings into the small courtyard.
So, in the end, only Nan Xi headed back to the courtyard alone.
Thinking this, he crossed the small yard and approached the door of the house.
Strangely, when Nan Xi actually reached the door and prepared to open it to go home, a strange feeling stirred in his heart.
‘Why do I feel a bit nervous about returning home in this kind of place?’
Nan Xi chuckled softly, but his hands didn’t stop. He pushed the door open directly.
Creak—
The melodious sound of the door opening accompanied Nan Xi as he stepped into the living room.
And naturally, his gaze met that pair of water-blue eyes— as if she had anticipated his return, the owner of those eyes had been waiting in the living room all along.
Those sparkling, crystalline eyes were no longer fixed on the artbook. They flickered gently, staring intently at him.
For a moment, Nan Xi felt as if he saw his own reflection.
He suddenly smiled. The weariness at the corners of his eyes melted into a gentle smile.
He spoke softly to the girl he hadn’t seen in so long:
“I’m back, Lord Tiansi.”
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