The sky had just begun to brighten when Lin Yuyan was already wiping down the stone table in the pavilion, humming a soft tune with a radiant smile on her face. These past two months had been the happiest since she joined the Heart Returning Sect, for every sixty hours, she had the chance to meet with her senior brother.
‘Even newlyweds aren’t this sweet, right? Hehe.’
After finishing her task of cleaning the pavilion’s pillars, Lin Yuyan took out the Laba congee and heart-shaped steamed buns from the food box and placed them on the table. She then arranged a few side dishes and dipping sauces around them, completing a sumptuous breakfast spread.
"I’ve told you before that I’m only here to teach you calligraphy. There’s no need to prepare breakfast."
Lin Yuyan, who had just been about to adjust the plates, immediately turned around and bowed.
"Good morning, Senior Brother."
She then explained, "Since we’ll be leaving for the Hidden Moon Sect tomorrow, I wanted to make breakfast myself as thanks for your guidance over the past month."
"Fine. It’s rare to see such sincerity."
Nodding, Jiang Beiran took a seat on the stone chair and picked up a bowl to sip the congee. Setting the bowl down, under Lin Yuyan’s eager gaze, he remarked, "The congee is too thick. The red beans, dragon eye fruit, and peanuts you chose lack sweetness."
"Next time, try adding some brown sugar."
The criticism struck Lin Yuyan like a bolt of lightning, and she inwardly scolded herself.
‘I’m such a terrible wife.’
Determined to improve, she diligently noted down every word of Jiang Beiran’s feedback. Jiang Beiran then sampled the steamed buns and side dishes one by one, offering his critiques for each.
"I’m sorry, Senior Brother! I’ll do better next time!"
As she spoke, Lin Yuyan gathered the leftover food and placed it back into the food box. Once the table was cleared, Jiang Beiran nodded.
"Good. Now, show me the calligraphy I assigned you last time."
"Yes."
After reviewing Lin Yuyan’s final "homework," Jiang Beiran retrieved a pair of slender weapons from his Universe Ring and handed them to her.
"The Blood Transformation Seal you gave me last time was quite enlightening. Teaching you calligraphy alone would make me feel like I’m taking advantage. Take these Emei daggers as a gift."
"Emei… daggers?"
Lin Yuyan stared curiously at the two-foot-long, four-edged weapons in Jiang Beiran’s hands.
"I noticed you prefer short weapons. These Emei daggers can be concealed in your palms, allowing you to strike unexpectedly."
"Did Senior Brother forge these especially for me!?"
Lin Yuyan exclaimed in delight.
"Mhm."
Jiang Beiran nodded.
"That’s all for today. Remember to practice more when you return."
With that, Jiang Beiran turned and left the pavilion. Turning the daggers over in her hands several times, Lin Yuyan hugged them tightly to her chest and thought, ‘Is this an exchange of love tokens? I must inform Father to prepare the dowry immediately!’
After handling some minor tasks back at the Blue Heart Hall, Jiang Beiran, now fully prepared, sat in the Purple Bamboo Courtyard and carefully examined the Soul Infant Fruit. The fruit was about the size of an adult’s fist, with pink skin tinged with hints of yellow.
The Soul Infant Fruit was renowned for its ability to both give life and take it away. Depending on how it was refined, it could produce vastly different effects. If refined into a healing pill, it could even regrow severed limbs.
But if made into poison, it would cause rapid organ failure—even a Mysterious King-level expert wouldn’t be able to expel the toxin through sheer cultivation. However, whether used for healing or poisoning, refining the Soul Infant Fruit into a pill required extremely stringent conditions. The cauldron, charcoal, supplementary materials, and skill level all had to meet high standards.
At present, Jiang Beiran only met the skill requirement—the other three were still lacking.
"I’ll treat this as a goal for the next stage of my journey."
With that, Jiang Beiran placed the Soul Infant Fruit back into its brocade box. The next morning, as the deep, resonant toll of the bell echoed through the air, Jiang Beiran strolled leisurely to the Heart Returning Sect’s main peak—Rising Cloud Peak.
Surrounded by water on all sides, the solitary peak stood tall, its slopes lush with verdant trees and bamboo groves. But unlike its usual tranquility, today the mountain’s base was bustling with over a hundred selected disciples from the sect’s twenty-four halls, all brimming with energy. Following the banners, Jiang Beiran quickly located the Blue Heart Hall’s gathering point.
But as he moved to join the group, a strong sense of reluctance surged within him.
‘This cooperation is way too thorough…’
Right beside the Blue Heart Hall’s contingent stood the Water Mirror Hall’s team, with the disciples of both halls standing unusually close. Even without joining them, Jiang Beiran could feel the envious and jealous glances from disciples of other halls.
Just as he was considering whether to go up alone later, Zhang Heqing’s voice rang out from atop a nearby rock: "Beiran, hurry up and get in formation! What are you dawdling for?"
‘Tch… Seems the Hall Master still holds a grudge for not bringing him into the Orchid Waterside Pavilion. Serves you right for staying single!’
‘Senior Brother!’
The moment Zhang Heqing uttered "Beiran," Liu Ziqin and the other four girls’ hearts jolted. Along with the curious crowd, they turned to look. Three months—they had tried every possible method to catch a glimpse of their senior brother, but fate had always kept them apart.
Now, their wish was finally granted. Fang Qiuyao even felt like crying. To secure a spot in the group competition for the Hidden Moon Sect trip, she had practiced the zither relentlessly for two months, ultimately securing a place with the help of Liu Ziqin and the Yu sisters.
And all that effort had been for one simple goal—to thank her senior brother face to face.
‘Senior Brother seems even more handsome than before…’
Watching Jiang Beiran’s distinctive gait, Fang Qiuyao felt that he stood out completely from the other disciples, exuding a unique aura. Liu Ziqin’s cheeks also flushed slightly. Just the sight of her senior brother’s face brought back the echoes of his "stern" criticisms from months ago, making her heart race uncontrollably.
The Yu sisters’ long-unfulfilled curiosity also reignited, each of them determined to uncover just how many hidden talents their senior brother still possessed. Beyond the Yu sisters, the other female disciples of the Water Mirror Hall were equally intrigued.
After collaborating with the Blue Heart Hall for so long, they had become familiar with most of its outstanding male disciples—except for Jiang Beiran. Despite his name appearing on the Young Heroes Tournament list, none of them had ever seen him in person.
(End of Chapter)