Qi Manmeng lifted her eyelids, her gaze sweeping lightly past Lu Qing’an’s porcelain-white collarbone and landing on those thin lips that spoke without measuring their depth.
She suddenly let out a faint smile, vivid and bewitching, as if tens of thousands of crimson lotuses had abruptly burst into bloom in the heat of summer.
Her index finger tapped on the tabletop with subtle weight. “Then tell me, how do you plan to win my favor?”
Hearing this, Lu Qing’an leaned down once more. “I will certainly give it my all. As long as it is something I possess, I can give it to you.”
Qi Manmeng’s gaze froze, settling on the back of Lu Qing’an’s exposed neck, where a small, irregular red mark still lingered.
It was left by her last time.
The smile on her red lips grew increasingly distinct, yet it did not reach her eyes.
“Rise first. Stop kneeling all the time; if your knees hurt from kneeling, I would be heartbroken.”
Upon hearing her words, Lu Qing’an rose from the ground.
Her white robes draped neatly over her body as she stood straight, enhancing her demeanor into a visage like peach blossoms, upright and proper.
“Then has Master accepted me as your disciple?”
Lu Qing’an pushed her luck, asking directly.
She possessed a fair and beautiful countenance; thus, even though such an inquiry was somewhat impetuous, it did not cause offense.
The wait for an answer always felt exceptionally long. Inside Lu Qing’an’s chest, her heart pounded wildly.
Like a convict waiting for the final verdict.
A pair of clear eyes was now tinged with apprehension.
“That depends on whether you can find this. Only then will I reconsider.”
That alluring, mellow voice sounded, resembling wine brewed under a tree for hundreds of years, making one’s legs turn weak upon listening, yearning for a single taste.
A phantom image appeared in Lu Qing’an’s line of sight. She carefully observed the medicinal herb outlined by spiritual energy.
It was a tiny grass that looked exceedingly ordinary, with only two leaf blades; it seemed like the kind of grass one could easily pull up by the handful from the ground at random.
Lu Qing’an leaned in and examined it closely again, discovering that the edges of the grass leaves were surrounded by numerous serrations, and rings of patterns were drawn upon the leaf surfaces.
Just as Lu Qing’an was about to continue looking, the phantom vanished.
“Have you remembered it? If you want to make me happy, go find it and bring it to me.”
She slowly moved to Lu Qing’an’s side, and the scent of lily of the valley once again permeated Lu Qing’an’s nose.
Long-lasting and delicate, it enveloped a person without a sound.
She leaned close to the tip of Lu Qing’an’s ear, leaving a trace of rouge powder from her lips right there, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Good child.”
Lu Qing’an felt the sensation on her ear, feeling as if something had exploded in her heart, and an indescribable numbness swept through her entire body.
Ever since she channeled spiritual energy into her body, her thunder spiritual energy had been full of violent fury, occasionally shocking her out of nowhere.
Yet the feeling just now felt like a gentle form of thunder spiritual energy; far from causing pain, it actually allowed her to perceive a touch of pleasure from within it.
Lu Qing’an did not know what this signified.
She watched the woman’s slim and graceful figure as she departed, unconsciously touching her own ear.
It was alarmingly hot.
Ever since the incident involving the official’s daughter, Lu Qing’an had been strictly forbidden by the Lu family from entering places of pleasure and revelry.
In particular, that place she had not even stepped foot into before being prohibited, the brothel, was somewhere she was forbidden from stepping into even by a single stride.
This was also an explanation given by the Lu family to that official’s daughter.
When Lu Qing’an returned to the small courtyard, Ji Zhixing had already been waiting for a long time.
Upon seeing her, Lu Qing’an walked over quickly and grabbed Ji Zhixing’s wrist. “Senior Sister, Master asked me to look for a type of grass. Please help me take a look at it.”
Leading her to the writing desk, Lu Qing’an dipped the writing brush in ink and drew the appearance from her memory.
The ink glided across the high-quality xuan paper, fluid and decisive.
Lu Qing’an completed the final stroke in a smooth, continuous motion, then gently blew on it to make the ink dry faster.
She looked at Ji Zhixing beside her and asked inquisitively, “Does Senior Sister know what it is called and where it can be found?”
Ji Zhixing took the shape on the scroll into her eyes, and several types of medicinal ingredients flashed through her mind.
This appearance was truly far too ordinary; she could not be certain for a moment either.
Picking up the writing brush Lu Qing’an had set down, she held the spot Lu Qing’an had just gripped; as their fingers pressed together, lingering warmth seemed to remain on it.
She pursed her lips, feeling somewhat hesitant, unsure of whether she should put brush to paper.
Yet she saw Lu Qing’an looking at her, her eyes filled with trust.
Steeling her heart, Ji Zhixing drew a small pattern in the bottom-left corner of the xuan paper.
Looking at that misshapen line, which resembled the random scribbles of a three-year-old child, Lu Qing’an was amused.
Sunlight beamed in from outside the window, casting light precisely upon the corners of Lu Qing’an’s mouth as she laughed heartily.
It was rare for Ji Zhixing to feel a sense of annoyance. She set the brush down rather heavily, carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
Seeing this, Lu Qing’an forcibly flattened the corners of her mouth, yet laughter still seeped out from the corners of her eyes and brows.
She picked up the brush Ji Zhixing had just put down, her slender, white fingers pinching the shaft, and held it out in front of Ji Zhixing.
“Then how about I teach Senior Sister how to draw it well?”
Her voice was vibrant and energetic, at an age where nothing could be hidden, so even her voice carried a clear, cheerful tone.
Feeling a bit awkward, Ji Zhixing turned her body away, intentionally pretending she hadn’t heard.
Lu Qing’an walked half a circle around her to stand face-to-face with Ji Zhixing. Opening Ji Zhixing’s hand, she placed the brush in her palm.
Then she took Ji Zhixing’s hand again, raising her thumb slightly and bringing her index and middle fingers together, pinching the brush shaft with those three fingers.
Slender and delicate fingers overlapped and intertwined with one another.
One guided, while the other followed.
The dark jade brush shaft glided between their fingers.
Once she confirmed Ji Zhixing had a proper hold, Lu Qing’an pulled out a fresh sheet of xuan paper and laid it flat on the desk.
Standing behind Ji Zhixing, Lu Qing’an placed her hand back over the back of Ji Zhixing’s hand.
Warmth met warmth.
Controlling Ji Zhixing’s hand, Lu Qing’an redrew that medicinal herb from earlier.
Holding someone else’s hand in her palm made Lu Qing’an feel somewhat unaccustomed as well, but to let Ji Zhixing understand how the brush strokes moved, Lu Qing’an slowed her drawing speed significantly.
Sunlight flowed gradually across the painting scroll; the golden hue highlighted how fair and closely fit the skin on the upper part of the paper appeared.
Once the painting was finished, Lu Qing’an nodded in satisfaction.
She had also added the pattern Ji Zhixing drew earlier onto the grass leaves.
Especially when drawing this pattern just now, she had deliberately slowed her pace to let Ji Zhixing feel the trajectory of the brush tip.
“Did Senior Sister remember? It is drawn like this.”
Lu Qing’an released the hand she had been holding against hers and asked with a beaming smile.
Ji Zhixing was lost in thought for a moment before letting out an “Mm.” She remained seated on the chair, without getting up.
Standing behind her, Lu Qing’an didn’t mind either.
“This should be the Three Thousand Green Silk,” Ji Zhixing spoke up.
Hearing this name, Lu Qing’an raised an eyebrow, unable to match this tiny grass with such a name.
“It generally only appears inside the Flowing Illusion Realm.”
“Once you enter its hunting range, you will unconsciously fall into the illusion domain it weaves.”
“Even cultivators at the Great Vehicle Stage cannot avoid it.”
After finishing this long explanation, Ji Zhixing finally stood up.
Lu Qing’an wanted to continue asking, but Ji Zhixing, who kept her head lowered the entire time, pushed her out of the room by her arm.
Bang!
The room door was slammed shut forcefully, making a loud sound.
Lu Qing’an touched the arm Ji Zhixing had just pressed against, not understanding what had happened.
She knocked on the door and asked in confusion, “Senior Sister?”
Through the crack in the door, Lu Qing’an heard Ji Zhixing’s voice: “I’m fine. I’m a bit sleepy and want to sleep for a while.”
Lu Qing’an also thought it made sense. That desk had been bathed in sunlight earlier and felt warm; it was only natural to feel drowsy.
Just now, she had caught several glimpses of the faint blush on Ji Zhixing’s face, and her ears were alarmingly red too; it must have been because of the sun.
Lingluo Peak was simply too hot.
She flashed a pure, untainted smile, her voice clear and clean: “I wish Senior Sister a sweet dream. I’m off to the Library Pavilion.”
Lu Qing’an stayed in the Library Pavilion for an entire afternoon, searching through almost all the books, yet information regarding the Three Thousand Green Silk remained scant.
She collapsed listlessly onto the table; if only Senior Sister were here.
Burying her head in the crook of her arm, she closed her eyes to rest in slight frustration.
After resting for a short while, Lu Qing’an lifted her head again, only to see Ji Zhixing standing right before her eyes.
She instinctively rubbed her eyes. Confirming it was not an illusion, she cried out in pleasant surprise, “Senior Sister!”
Ji Zhixing was dressed in a green robe, her jet-black hair secured by an entirely plain white hairpin. Beside her ears hung two drop-shaped ear ornaments matching the color of her attire, rounded and delicate.
A few strands of hair fell by her temples and forehead, making her appear even more gentle and captivating.
She looked at Lu Qing’an, a soft smile resting at the corners of her lips. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Qing’an lowered her eyes aggrievedly. Pointing at the dozen or so books placed on the desk, she reported in a complaining tone:
“Senior Sister, I can’t find any information on the Three Thousand Green Silk, not a single trace.”
Ji Zhixing came to Lu Qing’an’s side and spoke in a soft, gentle voice, “Whatever you wish to know, just ask Senior Sister.”
Lu Qing’an opened her mouth, but suddenly didn’t know what to say.
She shook her head in slight confusion.
Ji Zhixing rubbed Lu Qing’an’s head; it felt soft to the touch. She smiled gently and said, “I’ll help you put the books back on the shelves, and tomorrow I will take you to register for entry.”
During the night patrol, Lu Qing’an walked alongside Ji Zhixing.
“Senior Sister, is tomorrow’s assessment difficult?”
Ji Zhixing said calmly, “As long as your aptitudes are sufficient and you have a few spirit stones, these two aspects are not difficult. However, an illusion test is still required.”
Lu Qing’an stopped in her tracks. “But I don’t have any spirit stones.”
What she brought were all silver and gold money given to her by her mother, mere worldly wealth.
While lost in thought, she suddenly felt her hand being held by someone. Opening her clear eyes, she looked at the person beside her, only to hear a voice carrying warm light: “Senior Sister has them.”
The evening wind blew past, lifting the stray hair on Ji Zhixing’s forehead, dancing in the air with traceless fluidity.
During the assessment the next day, things indeed unfolded just as Ji Zhixing had said. After her aptitudes were tested and spirit stones were paid, someone arranged for her to stay in a small room.
Then, an incense stick was lit inside.
White smoke drifted past Lu Qing’an’s eyes, gradually confusing her mind.
Lu Qing’an closed her eyes.
It was not until the incense had burned halfway that she suddenly snapped her eyes open.
The bottoms of her eyes were glistening with moisture.
This illusion domain was specially prepared by the Liuyun Sect for every candidate.
Power, wealth, and beauties, everything was present within it.
Countless people had fallen and succumbed to it.
Lu Qing’an pushed open the door and saw Ji Zhixing standing outside. Taking two quick steps, she held her tightly in an embrace.
“Senior Sister, I almost thought you didn’t want me anymore.”