“What are you two doing?”
Pei Yuan, who had hurried back to Wangxian Mountain, happened to encounter the people he was looking for. Narrowing his eyes, he saw the two of them sitting together, whispering.
“Master,” Cui Mingcan greeted him quickly and explained, “I was bandaging her wound.”
“Bandaging?” Pei Yuan’s eyes shifted toward Bai Yuheng, studying her intently. “You’re injured?”
“Mm, just my hand. It’s only a small wound, Master, nothing serious,” Bai Yuheng replied softly, lowering her lashes as Cui Mingcan carefully wrapped her hand in cloth.
“…”
Pei Yuan followed her gaze to the bandage, and an image flashed in his mind — the drops of blood on the pavilion floor. A pressure built in his chest. “How did you get hurt?”
His burning stare felt like it could bore a hole straight through her hand.
Bai Yuheng inhaled deeply, thinking quickly.
Pei Yuan’s cold eyes stayed fixed on her face, watching every flicker of expression.
“Oh! It’s my fault!” Cui Mingcan exclaimed suddenly, slapping his thigh. “We were sparring, practicing a move we learned in sword class. My sword slipped and nicked her hand…”
“Cut by your sword?” Pei Yuan asked quietly, glancing at her palm. His tone was unreadable. “You tried to catch it with your hand?”
He lifted his head to glance at the dark sky. “And now it’s the hour of the tiger (around 3 a.m.). You two were up practicing then?”
Bai Yuheng could tell he didn’t believe her. She nodded, forcing a calm tone. “Yes, I don’t know what came over me. When I saw the sword coming, I didn’t dodge — I just… reached out instinctively.” Pretending to scold herself, she knocked herself lightly on the head and added with a sheepish laugh, “Maybe I’ve been sleeping poorly these past nights — I kept dreaming of a snake coiling around me.”
“Yes! Yes, that’s right,” Cui Mingcan jumped in eagerly. “She told me about it, so we decided to get up early to practice! Besides, early birds catch worms, right? We just wanted to make Master proud!”
He grinned sycophantically, showing how “diligent” he was.
“…” Pei Yuan ignored him completely, his gaze drifting instead to Bai Yuheng’s wrist. The sleeve had slipped slightly, revealing a faint glint of gold beneath. He drew a deep breath. The jealousy clawing at his chest grew stronger. Her unintentional words had cut right through him.
His face darkened. “I see. Rest well. You’re excused from class today — I have other matters to attend to.”
“Yes, Master,” Bai Yuheng said quietly, secretly relieved.
They both watched his retreating back until he disappeared, then exhaled in unison.
Cui Mingcan grinned. “Good thing you thought of that excuse! Otherwise, we’d both be doomed!”
Bai Yuheng gave him a sidelong look. “And what about you? Why were you sneaking around at this hour?”
“Ah, it’s so boring up here!” Cui Mingcan said, waving his hands. He leaned closer and whispered, “Promise you won’t tell anyone, okay?”
She nodded.
“I snuck down the mountain,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper.
Bai Yuheng’s brows rose. “Disciples aren’t allowed to leave without permission. That’s a major violation.”
“That’s why I did it secretly!” he said proudly. “This mountain’s too dull — all study and no fun. I only went down for a drink or two!”
“Drinking is another violation of sect rules,” Bai Yuheng said, staring at him with an unreadable expression.
He waved it off. “The elders don’t know! I was careful. Heaven knows, earth knows — and now you know, but you won’t tell.”
“Why were you out so late anyway?” he added, squinting curiously at her hand. “And how’d you end up injured? Suspicious…”
“I’ll tell you the truth,” Bai Yuheng said mysteriously, lowering her voice.
Cui Mingcan’s eyes lit up. “Really? Tell me everything!”
“I went to the back mountain — you know, the place Master forbade us to go.”
“What? You’re brave!”
When they’d first arrived, Pei Yuan had clearly told them which areas were forbidden — especially the back mountain.
Cui Mingcan had always wanted to explore it, but fear of Pei Yuan kept him in check.
“So? Why’d you go there? What did you see?”
Bai Yuheng smirked. “To see if Master really built a tomb there like in the rumors.”
Cui Mingcan’s eyes went wide. “Really? Did you see it? Is there a gravestone that says ‘Beloved Wife’s Grave’? Did Immortal Pei really mourn for the Emperor Hengluan for a hundred years?”
“…”
Bai Yuheng nearly choked. Even after all this time, hearing that rumor still made her blood boil. If she ever found out who spread it, she’d “personally” have a talk with them!
“Of course not! Emperor Hengluan and Immortal Pei were pure master and disciple! The Emperor was upright, kind, and noble — the greatest being of the ancient age! How could she possibly do something so immoral and absurd!?”
Cui Mingcan covered his ears, stepping back. “You’re acting really strange…”
Bai Yuheng froze, her heart skipping. “Strange? How so?”
“You’re not… in love with the Emperor, are you?” he asked suspiciously, rubbing his chin and looking her up and down.
“…” Bai Yuheng was speechless. But then she thought about it — technically, that wasn’t entirely wrong. “Of course I admire her! She was amazing — the best in the world, strong, beautiful, intelligent, capable! Who wouldn’t love her?”
“Alright, alright,” Cui Mingcan sighed, rubbing his temples. “Probably just gossip, anyway.”
Bai Yuheng snorted lightly but nodded.
“I was so focused on looking that I almost fell off a cliff,” she continued casually. “Luckily, I grabbed a rock — though it was sharp, so I cut my hand.”
That explained the wound’s rough edges — not clean like a blade’s.
“There’s still some time before dawn. I’m going back to sleep,” Cui Mingcan yawned. “But you have to promise not to tell anyone about tonight.”
“Fine,” Bai Yuheng said.
They hooked pinkies. “We’ll keep each other’s secrets — till the very end!”
“Deal.”
Their thumbs pressed together, sealing the vow.
As she watched him leave, Bai Yuheng looked down at her bandaged hand. I hope this lie holds up, she thought. She had rushed back ahead of Pei Yuan and staged this whole act with Cui Mingcan — hopefully convincing enough.
But he was clever — far too clever. Could she really fool him?
Meanwhile, Pei Yuan’s thoughts churned darkly. He had glimpsed her wound — it didn’t look like a sword cut. More like something heavy and sharp-edged had scraped it.
His hidden hand trembled slightly.
The awakened spirit familiar, the golden light at the pavilion, the drops of blood, her conveniently timed injury…
He didn’t want to think it — but couldn’t help it.
Could it be her?
If she had truly returned… why wouldn’t she acknowledge him?
Was there some reason she couldn’t?
Pei Yuan pressed a hand to his chest, trying to steady the pounding ache in his heart.
No. It couldn’t be her.
Her face, her age, her cultivation — none of it matched.
He convinced himself of that, standing on the cliff edge as the wind howled through his robes, empty and hollow.
The next morning, the three elders had restored order. The sect ran smoothly again. Though everyone had heard the explosion the night before, no one questioned it.
Only later, when reports came in from the search for the Four-Direction Mirror, did they learn the truth — demons had broken through their seals and were wreaking havoc in the mortal realm.
By the next day, Tianyan Sect had secretly reported the incident to the other three great sects: Hehuan Sect, Wudu Sect, and Yunzhong School. The four major sects convened immediately to plan a response.
Tension rippled through the sect; even ordinary disciples could feel it.
“Hey, the four sects are choosing disciples to go down the mountain for training the day after tomorrow,” Cui Mingcan said, turning to Bai Yuheng and Cen Ying. “You two going?”
“We’re new here. Would they even pick us?” Cen Ying asked.
“The notice said it’s open to everyone — anyone who passes the trial can go. It’s a great chance to train!” Cui Mingcan said eagerly. “Come on, let’s go!”
Bai Yuheng gave him a teasing look. “Do you want to train… or go sightseeing?”
“Hehe, same thing! No difference!”
Cen Ying rolled her eyes but turned to Bai Yuheng. “If you go, I’ll go.”
“See? Even Cen Ying’s in! You’re going too, right?” Cui Mingcan urged.
“Of course.”
Bai Yuheng knew the elders well — this “training” was clearly a cover for their search for the mirror shards.
The three registered together.
Applicants were filtered based on cultivation and performance — and soon, the results came out. All three of them were selected.
“I heard we can form teams,” Cui Mingcan said excitedly. “Most groups are five or six people. Should we find more?”
“But each of us will get assigned different mission areas,” Cen Ying pointed out. “We might not even end up together.”
“Ah, true…” Cui Mingcan sighed dramatically. “I hope we get the same one.”
“Don’t worry,” Bai Yuheng said with a reassuring smile. “The new disciples are usually grouped together based on ability and progress. Since we all came from the same division, the odds are in our favor.”
“That’s a relief,” Cui Mingcan said, visibly relaxing.
When the assignments were posted, Cen Ying grabbed Bai Yuheng’s arm excitedly. “Look! Look! We’re both going to Furong Town!”
She jumped with joy, clinging to Bai Yuheng’s arm.
Cui Mingcan scanned the list, but his name wasn’t there. His face fell. “No way… I don’t want to be separated from you guys!”
“Aw, don’t pout,” Cen Ying teased. “There’ll be a next time!”
“Don’t think you’re rid of me that easily,” Cui Mingcan said dramatically. “Even if I’m not assigned with you, I’ll haunt you like a ghost!”
“Ugh!” Cen Ying shivered. “If you turn into a ghost, I’ll hire a priest to exorcise you!”
“What a cruel woman!” he cried. “Yuheng, you have to defend me!”
Bai Yuheng just smiled, saying nothing, amused by their bickering.
When departure day arrived, Bai Yuheng woke early. As she passed her old chamber, she noticed a faint light flickering inside.
“…”
So the brat still can’t let go, she thought wryly.
She didn’t linger. After one last glance, she went to meet Cen Ying.
“Wait for me! Wait up!”
“Hey, you two beautiful ladies, don’t leave me behind!”
Cui Mingcan came running after them, waving energetically.
“You came too?” Cen Ying stopped, crossing her arms.
He grinned. “Of course! I said I’d stick with you!”
“How’d you manage that? Don’t tell me you bribed—”
“Heh, I have my ways,” he said mysteriously, refusing to elaborate no matter how much they pressed.
As the morning sun broke through the clouds, the three of them laughed and chatted their way down the mountain, stepping into the light — and onto the road leading to Furong Town.