“Master Pei,” Emperor Yuanguang was the first to notice the man’s arrival. He smiled gently and said, “You’ve come just in time. We’re assessing the talents of this year’s new disciples. Come take a look.”
Pei Yuan had never liked Emperor Yuanguang—though, out of respect for his late master, Emperor Hengluan, he would never show it openly.
“Mm.”
He gave a curt acknowledgment and sat down.
The four of them—Yuanguang, Dongxuan, Lingzhen, and Pei Yuan—took their seats and watched the sword formation below.
The hall was vast. Using a spatial formation, Emperor Dongxuan had suspended a diamond-shaped crystal above them. It projected light that created an independent space within the hall, ensuring that no matter how fierce the fighting, nothing inside the hall itself would be damaged.
Yuanguang explained, “There’s a remarkably gifted disciple this year—see that girl in red? She shattered the Spirit Testing Stone with a single touch.”
Pei Yuan showed no interest. He gave a perfunctory nod, his gaze distant.
Yuanguang, long used to his indifference, merely smiled faintly and continued, “Wangxian Peak hasn’t accepted new disciples in many years. We wanted to discuss that with you. You do teach the occasional spell class, but the students only grasp the surface. It’s not the same as true mentorship…”
Pei Yuan’s eyes shifted lazily toward him, waiting for the point.
“So,” Yuanguang went on, “we hope you’ll take on a few personal disciples—to continue the techniques Emperor Hengluan entrusted to you.”
Yuanguang thought this appeal would surely move him. Mentioning Hengluan always did.
But Pei Yuan’s lips pressed into a thin line. He spoke coldly.
“The Emperor’s teachings… I barely scratched the surface. Her trust…” He paused, then said bluntly, “I’m afraid my abilities are insufficient. I cannot.”
Yuanguang hadn’t expected outright refusal. For a moment, he was taken aback, but soon his gentle smile returned.
“You’ve already been teaching others. Master Yan Li said your spell lectures are outstanding—clear and insightful. The students speak highly of you. Why belittle yourself, Master Pei?”
“…”
“And besides,” Yuanguang added softly, “you were Hengluan’s most beloved disciple.”
From his belt pouch, he drew a crescent-shaped key and extended it toward him.
“This is the key to the Sky Library of Mount Wangxian. It once belonged to Hengluan. I found it only recently and meant to return it to you. Within are many of her collected scrolls—some even her own notes. I imagine they’ll be of value to you.”
Something—perhaps the mention of that name, perhaps the key itself—made Pei Yuan’s expression tighten.
A thin strand of spiritual energy shot from his sleeve, snatching the key from Yuanguang’s hand and reeling it back like a thread of smoke.
“Returning her belongings to me—what are you really after, Emperor? Coaxing me with sentiment? Or threats?”
He lowered his eyes to study the key, the metal glinting like a sliver of moonlight in his palm. His fingers traced its shape almost tenderly, yet his words were razor sharp.
Yuanguang only smiled faintly, unfazed by the insult.
“Impossible to move by kindness or force,” Dongxuan muttered under his breath, frowning.
Pei Yuan heard it but didn’t react. He simply sat quietly—at the seat once reserved for Emperor Hengluan herself—silent and composed.
Boom!
Boom!
Two loud impacts echoed almost simultaneously, drawing every gaze to the sword arena.
Boom!
A third crash followed.
Li Tiankuo instinctively glanced toward the girl beside him—just a heartbeat faster than him. His brows furrowed tightly, his lips pressed thin. Surprise at her skill mingled with a flicker of irritation at being outdone.
The sword trials were over. Only the spell trial remained.
All three emperors looked toward the man sitting with one hand against his temple, eyes half-closed in boredom.
“Master Pei…”
Before the words finished, a streak of light flashed—and the group below found themselves trapped within a spell formation.
“Break this formation.”
The man’s voice echoed flatly through the illusionary space—cold, emotionless.
Barely a moment passed before one figure emerged.
“!?”
Everyone was stunned.
Inside the formation, Bai Yuheng clicked her tongue in quiet amusement. Oh? Let’s see how much this brat’s improved after all these years.
It was just a heart-reflecting illusion array—basic-level spellwork.
She hadn’t even exerted effort before she broke free, stepping out to meet the astonished stares of the three emperors.
“Uh…”
“???”
“!?”
“…”
Lingzhen chuckled and turned to the cold-faced man beside her.
“Master Pei, were you even trying? Surely you didn’t just throw that together?”
Her tone was teasing, not serious—but still, it was unusual. Apart from that one red-robed girl, everyone else remained trapped within their own illusions, lost to their inner demons.
Pei Yuan opened his eyes. From the high platform, his gaze met hers—the girl’s. She smiled at him, a small, polite smile, a hint of playfulness glimmering beneath it.
“…”
His face stayed expressionless, but inside, something twisted unexpectedly.
If she were still alive, his master… she would have liked this one.
Liked her more than she’d ever liked him.
She always favored the gifted ones.
He turned away, his lips tightening faintly.
Bai Yuheng couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at him, her expression half teasing, half challenging—an amused look that said, You still have much to learn.
But when she noticed his cool indifference, the corners of his mouth tightening, she hesitated. Did I… offend him somehow?
When everyone else finally escaped the array, the three emperors began choosing their personal disciples.
Unspoken agreement passed among them—they all skipped over Bai Yuheng.
In the end, Cen Ying became Yuanguang’s disciple, Li Tiankuo followed Lingzhen, the shy boy in blue joined Dongxuan, and two others were split between Yuanguang and Lingzhen.
Only the purple-robed youth insisted loudly that he wanted to study spellcraft—specifically under Master Pei.
Dongxuan, who’d hoped to take the boy, sighed and let it be.
But Pei Yuan didn’t so much as glance his way. Silence was his only answer. The others decided to defer the matter.
Now all eyes turned to the only one unchosen—Bai Yuheng. Everyone waited, curious to see which master she’d choose.
“Ahem.” Lingzhen smiled down at her. “I think you’d fit well at my Sword Sect on Mount Xianyin.”
Dongxuan immediately countered, “She excelled at artifact work during the trial. She belongs on my Purple Cloud Peak!”
“You old man!” Lingzhen snapped. “Always trying to steal from me. Fight me if you dare—winner takes her!”
“Ha! Who’s afraid of you?”
The two glared, both ready to draw swords again.
Yuanguang sighed, rubbing his temples. “Enough, both of you. Let her decide. Fair and simple.”
“Fine!” they chorused. “Let her choose!”
Both pairs of eyes fixed on Bai Yuheng like twin torches.
“Choose wisely,” Dongxuan said grandly. “If you pick my Purple Cloud Peak, you may enter the Heavenly Workshop and choose any artifact you like!”
“Truly!?” Bai Yuheng’s eyes lit up. Everyone in the realm knew that Dongxuan’s workshop housed the finest treasures under heaven. How could she not be tempted?
“You sly old fox!” Lingzhen muttered, rolling her eyes. “Don’t listen to him. He’s stingier than he looks. Choose me, and I’ll teach you the Sword Heart Sutra.”
The Sword Heart Sutra!
She had begged Lingzhen to teach her that centuries ago, when she was Emperor Hengluan—but Lingzhen had never relented. To think she’d offer it now!
Dongxuan saw her waver and immediately raised the stakes again. The two were moments away from bickering all over.
“Enough, enough,” Yuanguang said quickly, stepping between them. “Let the girl choose in peace. Must you quarrel like this in front of your students? What kind of example are you setting?”
The two coughed lightly, glancing away. Then, to their new disciples, they said in perfect unison,
“Don’t think we’re playing favorites! The same offer applies to you as well.”
“Right—each of you may also choose a weapon from the treasury.”
“Thank you, Masters!” the disciples chorused joyfully.
The hall erupted in low chatter.
Cen Ying grinned at Bai Yuheng. “I didn’t know Emperor Lingzhen and Emperor Dongxuan were such… good friends. They’re like bickering lovers!”
The purple-robed youth joined in, eyes sparkling. “Right? I always imagined Emperor Lingzhen as a serene fairy—but she’s more like a sword maniac!”
“Exactly! And Emperor Dongxuan’s like a firecracker—ready to explode at the slightest spark!” He sighed dramatically. “My whole image of immortals is ruined. Hopefully, Master Pei is at least consistent with his cold reputation…”
Cen Ying nodded fervently. “Yes… let’s hope my Yuanguang Emperor isn’t the same!”
Bai Yuheng nearly laughed aloud. Their assessment was painfully accurate.
Dongxuan was a short-tempered old man.
Lingzhen was a single-minded sword lunatic.
And Pei Yuan…
She turned to glance up at him. Her once gentle, obedient disciple was gone—replaced by a tall, austere man in white, his black hair cascading like ink. Gone were the warmth and softness she remembered; his eyes were sharp, distant, carrying an air of indifference to all things.
So the well-behaved boy has grown into this… she thought wistfully.
“White girl, was it?” Yuanguang’s gentle voice brought her back.
She nodded.
“Then, White girl,” he said kindly, “it’s your turn to choose.”
Bai Yuheng smiled. “May I ask, may I choose freely among all four of you?”
Yuanguang blinked, then glanced sideways at the one figure who hadn’t spoken once. Understanding dawned, and he smiled softly. “You may choose as you wish.”
Bai Yuheng’s gaze sharpened. She looked straight at the silent, cold-faced man on the dais.
Perhaps sensing her stare, he lifted his eyes. Their gazes met.
Bai Yuheng smiled—a gentle, knowing smile—and raised her hand.
“Then… I choose him.”
The room fell silent.
All eyes followed her fingertip, breaths held tight.
Her voice was clear, ringing through the hall:
“I choose him—Pei Yuan.”
Her disciple from years past.
End of Chapter 4 – Choose Him: Her Disciple from Long Ago