Two years later, the fourth year of Dali.
Late spring, a spring night; peach blossoms in full bloom, moonlight pure and silvery.
The Shangguan Residence in the capital was adorned with lanterns and decorations, filled with esteemed guests and a joyous atmosphere that permeated the courtyard.
This grand banquet was not held to celebrate a happy occasion, but merely to seek a good omen—for in just one month, it would be Shangguan Qiuyue’s Jiàn Xī Day.
The so-called “Jiàn Xī,” simply put, is the awakening; it marks the beginning of a mortal’s path to cultivation.
As an old saying goes:
“To glimpse even one star in the universe is to seize the sun and moon, to embrace mountains and rivers.”
In this world, those who reach thirteen years of age may, on their birthday, open the first Pulse Gate within their bodies, and by using a special Secret Cultivation Method, establish a connection with the Stars in the heavens above.
Those who successfully gain the Stars’ recognition formally embark on the path of cultivation.
Everyone knows that one’s cultivation talent largely depends on the origin and rank of the Star they first connect with.
The Stars reside in the highest place—the Nine Heavens.
Thus, some people born in humble circumstances have their fates reversed simply because their Star comes from the High Heavens, rising to prominence within a century.
Meanwhile, sons of noble families might fall into oblivion if they connect only to lower-tier Stars, becoming nothing but dust by the roadside.
Ancient rumors even spoke of a once illustrious clan with thousands of descendants that was ultimately wiped out because none could communicate with high-rank Stars.
For this reason, the esteemed Shangguan family of the capital spared no expense, inviting guests far and wide to gather blessings, all to hope that their little daughter, Shangguan Qiuyue, would encounter a Star from the High Heavens.
Among the guests were families of Immortal lineage and Immortal visitors from the mountains.
In the eyes of the Shangguan family, the more Immortals who attended, the deeper the entanglement of fate, and thus the better the Immortal Fate—or Star Affinity—that Shangguan Qiuyue would receive.
Although cultivating immortality means leaving Mortal Dust behind, in the Gu Kingdom, this boundary did not exist; Immortals and mortals coexisted in the same world as a matter of course.
***
“Miss! Are you not ready yet? Master is urging anxiously…”
“Wait a moment, I’ll be there soon.”
In the main room of the side courtyard, Shangguan Qiuyue sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in a white gauze skirt.
She supported herself with both hands on the bed surface, while her small, jade-white feet, bare of embroidered shoes, swung playfully.
Where her silver bells once jingled on her ankles in earlier years, now only a loose red thread circled each ankle.
Yun Mu knelt on the ground before her, with a basin of warm water placed nearby.
He tested the water temperature with his hand—it was just right.
“Miss, it’s time to wash your feet. This banquet is held in your honor; we mustn’t miss the auspicious hour.”
With that, the youth reached out to grasp her restless delicate feet.
Only to grasp at empty air.
“Miss…”
He looked up to find a soft, jade-like foot gently stepping onto his face.
“Xiao Mu, I told you not to call me ‘Miss.’ Call me Qiuyue, understood?”
“But Miss… between us—”
“I said! Call me Qiuyue! Or else I won’t let you wash my feet or go out. If Father blames me later, it’ll all be your fault!”
Shangguan Qiuyue spoke with a hint of threat, her cheeks slightly flushed, her tone petulant yet coquettish.
She pressed down a bit harder with her foot.
The warm breath of the youth brushed her foot’s arch, teasing a faint itch at her heartstrings.
The twelve-year-old girl’s budding feelings were stirred by this innocent and unintentional provocation.
“…Alright… Qiuyue Miss…”
Yun Mu reluctantly yielded, grasping her slender ankle and nudging the basin a few inches closer.
Shangguan Qiuyue puffed her cheeks, glaring at the kneeling youth, her eyes full of displeasure.
“‘Miss’ is an identity; ‘Qiuyue Miss’ is courtesy. But only ‘Qiuyue’ is a calling reserved for those close to me.”
And Yun Mu, in her eyes, should be one of those close.
“Sigh… fine, fine, since you’re serving me by washing my feet, I’ll let it slide this time.”
“Yes… as long as Qiuyue Miss is happy…”
“Ah—!”
The girl nearly stomped her foot.
“Can’t you stop sounding so cold? I told you I don’t like it!”
“Well then… Qiuyue Miss?”
Yun Mu raised his tone slightly, seeming livelier, but his eyes beneath the long hair remained like a still pool, stirring an unspoken fury in Shangguan Qiuyue.
“You’re really… so infuriating!”
She flicked her toe unintentionally, splashing water onto the blue bricks and onto the youth’s clothes.
Yun Mu remained silent, carefully wiping away the droplets, which made the girl’s heart ache.
She knew her earlier behavior was somewhat spoiled, but she couldn’t explain why, whenever facing Yun Mu, she could only express herself through these seemingly petulant yet actually coquettish acts.
“Well, Xiao Mu… I was wrong just now…”
Before she could finish, a sudden bang sounded as the door was pushed open.
“Qiuyue Mei Mei!”
A tall girl burst in, interrupting her words.
Her eyes immediately landed on the kneeling youth dressed plainly, and her originally joyful expression darkened briefly before brightening once more.
“Xun Yi Jie Jie, you’re back!?”
Shangguan Qiuyue wasn’t angry at the intrusion; her face lit up with surprise.
Ignoring the wetness on her feet, she hurriedly slipped on her shoes and dashed to the girl, throwing herself into her arms.
“I missed you so much! Six months apart, and you seem even softer now,”
she said as she nuzzled in, looking utterly adorable.
“What nonsense, you silly girl,”
the girl said, glancing at Yun Mu, who hadn’t looked up at her, before pursing her lips and continuing,
“Today is your Jiàn Xī Day, so I rushed back from the Gu Kingdom Academy just for you. It seems you’ve grown taller since we last met—you’re already up to my chest.”
“Hehe, that’s right, that’s right. I’m at the age where I’m growing.”
“You silly girl, come on, let’s go. The family head is waiting for you in the main courtyard. Don’t be late,”
she said, moving to lead the girl away.
But she was stopped by a hand.
“What is it?”
“Wait… wait a moment.”
Shangguan Qiuyue released her grip and ran back to Yun Mu, glancing at her long-absent sister before crouching down and whispering.
“Xiao Mu, I’ll go ahead first. Remember to eat the pastries on the table, and I hid a new set of clothes under the pillow—it’s handmade by me…”
She clenched her small hands against her chest, hesitated, then leaned in briefly to brush lightly against the youth’s face before quickly pulling back.
“Sorry about just now—it was my fault for being too willful. This is a little compensation. My mother used to apologize like this when she upset Father. Anyway… I’m going now…”
Her face flushed deeply, like fresh jade glowing with life, she ran out without looking back.
Yun Mu remained kneeling, slowly coming to his senses.
He pressed his hand to his face, the soft feeling lingering as if still resting there.
His heart—pounding fiercely.
Warmth—rising like a tide.
The youth stood and cast his gaze at the osmanthus cake on the table, as if he saw the girl’s swaying small feet and her faint smile.
“Miss… thank you…”
Outside the door, Shangguan Xun Yi stood quietly, her mind replaying the scene just witnessed:
the youth kneeling to wash her little sister’s feet.
Her right hand raised to her chest, brows furrowed deeply.
“If only I had come a bit later… overhearing such embarrassing things for so long outside, I thought it had stopped, but then I saw that scene inside…”
She lowered her eyes, biting her lip in discomfort.
“Hopefully he didn’t kiss her just now? It looked like they were just whispering… right?”
“Ah, this is so frustrating! I came first, after all! That bad Yun Mu, I was clearly first back then, I…”
She stomped her foot hard, puffed her cheeks, her face flushed pink under the moonlight.
“If it really comes down to it, why not just go in and ask him? Just like before, push him against the wall. He’s so thin-skinned—if he gets shy, he’ll definitely confess.”
She turned, then turned again, back and forth, hesitating repeatedly.
“What are you hesitating for? It’s not your first time! Shangguan Xun Yi, you can do this—you’re capable—you’re the sister after all!”
Biting her teeth with resolve, the girl finally raised both arms and pushed the door open with a forceful shove.
“Yun Mu!”
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