Bai Yu Jing in the heavens, uniquely possesses the eight-layered cherry blossoms.
"Wake up! How dare you sleep in when there's still work to be done?!"
In the pitch darkness, Ning Xi was shoved hard by someone, tumbling off the bed and hitting her forehead against the hard bedpost. She groaned in pain and finally forced her heavy eyelids open.
The male disciple before her stood with his hands on his hips, pinky slightly raised, glaring at her with displeasure.
He wore the brown linen robe of a Bai Yu Jing outer sect disciple, with two gold-edged Ba Chong Bai Ying patterns embroidered on his right sleeve.
Bai Yu Jing used the eight-layered white cherry blossom as its emblem. The higher a disciple's rank, the more white cherry blossoms adorned their robes, with the highest rank permitted eight layers.
Lowly outer sect disciples like Ning Xi were only allowed one petal, while this disciple had two, indicating he held some authority as a minor supervisor.
Seeing her still dazed and confused, the male disciple grew even angrier, his willow-leaf eyebrows shooting up. "Don't think playing dumb will get you out of your chores! Today, you're responsible for cleaning the Pou Xin Stage and the square in front of Wen Xian Tang!"
Ning Xi held her head as she slowly got up, taking her time to survey her surroundings.
The place felt familiar.
This was the communal dormitory on Bai Yu Jing's Outer Sect Peak, reserved for outer sect disciples. Ten disciples shared one cramped, low-ceilinged room, sleeping side by side on a single earthen platform, heads and feet pressed together. Turning over in sleep required prior coordination with neighbors.
After joining Bai Yu Jing, Ning Xi had failed the spiritual root test and was assigned to the Outer Sect Peak as a cleaning and watering disciple.
She had lived on the Outer Sect Peak for over twenty years, remembering every detail—where spiderwebs gathered on the ceiling, which corners had peeling plaster.
This was the Disciple Residence on Bai Yu Jing's Outer Sect Peak. There was no way she could mistake it.
Ning Xi pinched her cheek. It stung slightly, so this wasn't an illusion.
She had been reborn, Ning Xi calmly concluded.
Memories of her past life flashed through her mind like birds skimming through a forest, the faint scent of white cherry blossoms still lingering in her nostrils.
The bossy disciple, observing her strange behavior and delayed response, assumed she was feigning ignorance to shirk her duties. His scolding grew louder. "Ning Xi, are you deaf?! Do you want me to beat you?!"
Only then did Ning Xi let out an "ah," refocusing on the present.
She had likely been reborn to her time as an outer sect disciple in Bai Yu Jing, though the exact date was unclear. The person before her seemed unfamiliar—probably the steward of the Outer Sect Peak, surnamed Wei…
To be honest, she wasn't well-acquainted with any Bai Yu Jing disciples. Ning Xi had always been detached, treating worldly matters and people as passing clouds. Pei Bu Chen, who had died for her, was the sole exception.
The present date didn't matter. Whether she lived or died didn't matter. She cared only about one person.
Steward Wei initially thought Ning Xi had finally come to her senses and snorted in satisfaction, only to meet a pair of clear, dark eyes.
"Where is Da Shi Xiong?"
Steward Wei nearly thought he had misheard.
But in Bai Yu Jing, when one mentioned "Da Shi Xiong," it could only refer to that person.
The sect leader's son and direct disciple, everyone's Da Shi Xiong—Pei Bu Chen.
Steward Wei looked Ning Xi up and down. Seeing her calm expression, utterly serious, he was momentarily stunned before suddenly letting out a scornful laugh.
"You dare to covet Da Shi Xiong?" His face filled with contempt as he jabbed his finger hard into Ning Xi's shoulder. "Look at what kind of trash you are!"
Ning Xi noticed the bright red Kou Dan painted on his fingernails.
"Where is Da Shi Xiong?"
"Stop wasting time! You haven't finished today's duties yet! Get moving!"
"Where is Da Shi Xiong?"
"Hey, you stubborn girl! Even if we outer sect disciples beg to see Da Shi Xiong, he would never meet us—wait, what are you doing—"
He was suddenly slammed to the ground by Ning Xi's explosive movement. She pulled the wooden hairpin from her bun, pressing its sharp end against his neck until droplets of blood seeped out.
Steward Wei never expected the usually quiet Ning Xi to reveal such a terrifying side. His face instantly turned as pale as gold paper.
Bullying Ning Xi had become an unwritten rule among the outer sect disciples. Who asked her to be an orphan with no parents, yet managed to enter Baiyujing as a mere mortal? With no one to rely on and a temperament that remained silent even when slapped, everyone naturally saw her as an easy target.
Daily insults, stealing her allocated resources, and petty theft were commonplace. For instance, today's duty assignment—the cleaning of the large area in front of Wen Xian Tang was originally his task, but he pushed it all onto Ning Xi. After all, they had always done this before, and Ning Xi had never complained.
Why today of all days did she seem possessed by a demon?!
"I'm asking you, where is Da Shi Xiong?"
"Alright, alright! I'll check!" Fearing the hairpin would pierce his throat, Steward Wei trembled as he pulled out a Jade Slip from his robe, his fingers flying across it as he likely messaged an inner sect disciple he was friendly with.
After a moment, he seemed to receive a message and froze briefly.
Swallowing hard, he hesitantly said, "A well-informed inner sect senior sister told me… Da Shi Xiong is currently being tried… in Wen Xian Tang."
Ning Xi abruptly threw him to the ground, ignoring his pained curses behind her. Lifting her skirt, she dashed out the door.
She finally remembered what time this was.
In the autumn of the 83rd year of Tian Shu, He Lian Han Shan, the eldest son of the He Lian Family from Kunlun Hill, had died mysteriously. His body bore hundreds of sword wounds—calm and precise, with scorch marks along the edges.
The only sword in the world capable of creating such peculiar wounds was the Zhu Ri Sword, Pei Bu Chen's weapon.
Thus, in November of that year, the acting head of the He Lian Family confronted Baiyujing, gathering leaders and elders from various Xian Sects and noble families, demanding that the suspect Pei Bu Chen be tried in Baiyujing's Wen Xian Tang.
The result of this trial was Pei Bu Chen voluntarily ascending the Pou Xin Stage to endure ten strikes from the Poxin Hammer. At the cost of half his heart shattered and severe unconsciousness, he finally cleared his name.
Ning Xi ran faster and faster, weaving through countless giant white cherry trees against the chaotic flurry of cherry blossoms. Her heart pounded increasingly rapidly as unease overwhelmed her.
She remembered—in her previous life, the downfall of Baiyujing began precisely with Pei Bu Chen's injury on the Pou Xin Stage.
The chief disciple of prestigious Baiyujing, framed without cause and severely wounded. Even though Pei Bu Chen had urged them not to cause trouble before falling unconscious, the entire sect was already seething with rage.
On the very night Pei Bu Chen descended from the Pou Xin Stage, enraged Baiyujing disciples stormed the guest quarters, seeking justice for their Da Shi Xiong.
Amidst the dispute and jostling, someone ignited a fire—no one knew who—and the blaze burned through the night. The Helian Family, Nangong Family, and other Xian Sect cultivators responsible for carrying out punishments and interrogations, who were temporarily lodging in the guest quarters, narrowly escaped being consumed by the flames.
Having nearly perished at the hands of Baiyujing’s cultivators, the other sects were naturally not to be trifled with. Resentment had already taken root between the two sides, and from then on, Baiyujing became estranged from the other sects. This led to a situation where, when the demon tide struck later, not a single sect came to their aid, resulting in Baiyujing’s near annihilation and Pei Bu Chen’s sword bones shattered inch by inch.
Rounding the last celestial white cherry tree, Ning Xi’s throat burned with the taste of blood. Gasping for breath, she leaned on her knees and had no choice but to stop.
Before her stood Wen Xian Tang, its upturned eaves and golden glazed roof shimmering like dragon scales under the gentle sunlight. Pink walls were partially veiled amidst auspicious clouds and mist.
It seemed news of Pei Bu Chen’s trial had already spread throughout Baiyujing. A crowd of Baiyujing disciples stood packed in front of the hall, their heads bustling, yet not a sound could be heard.
Baiyujing had always been renowned for its strict and upright sect rules, emphasizing propriety in conduct and refined etiquette. Even in a gathering meant as a protest, the scene remained orderly.
By the time Ning Xi received the news and rushed over, she was already later than most inner sect disciples. She could only stand at the periphery of the crowd, rising on her toes and straining her neck to see inside.
At the forefront stood a woman in Baiyujing’s inner sect uniform, her back ramrod straight, arguing with the guards of Wen Xian Tang.
"…This is Baiyujing’s territory. Senior Brother Pei is a disciple of Baiyujing. Whether Da Shi Xiong should be punished and how he should be dealt with should be decided by Baiyujing itself. Since when does your Helian Family have the right to interfere?"
The disciple in pink robes opposite her sneered, refusing to yield an inch. "Pei Bu Chen is now the prime suspect in the murder of our eldest young master, He Lian Han Shan. Naturally, the victim’s family should conduct the interrogation. If we leave it to Baiyujing, who knows if you’ll conceal the truth and shield him!"
"Baiyujing has always been impartial and fair, with absolutely no possibility of bias. Fellow cultivator, why slander us without cause?"
"If you have no ulterior motives, why gather here? Isn’t this deliberately assembling to cause trouble?!"
"We are merely concerned about Da Shi Xiong’s condition and wish to enter to see him."
"Today, with Helian Family disciples guarding this place, not even a sparrow will fly in!"
…
Ning Xi had no patience to listen further. Lowering her head, she squeezed through the gaps in the crowd, pondering how she could sneak into Wen Xian Tang.
Her mastery of spells was lacking; forcing her way in was clearly impossible. Techniques like invisibility or Shrinking the Earth into an Inch (Talismans) were likely out of the question as well.
Frowning in deep thought, she was suddenly interrupted by a stir in the crowd.
A strange premonition struck her. She lifted her head and stared blankly ahead.
The grand doors of Wen Xian Tang slowly opened, a sliver of bright light seeping through the gap, growing from faint to intense.
Bathed in that light stood a solitary figure. Backlit, he appeared like a stark stroke of dark ink.
Pei Bu Chen took two slow steps forward, and the doors closed silently behind him. Inside Wen Xian Tang, the gathered high-ranking Xian Sect elders were only briefly visible—a fleeting glimpse.
As the light receded, the darkness around Pei Bu Chen faded like ebbing tide, revealing once more his moon-white robes embroidered with six layers of golden trim and eight-fold cherry blossom patterns.
In Bai Yu Jing, only the eight-fold cherry blossoms bloom.
The crowd, like boiling water poured into cold, fell abruptly silent. A moment later, it erupted with twice the clamor.
"Da Shi Xiong!"
"It’s Da Shi Xiong! How wonderful!"
"Is Da Shi Xiong unharmed?"
The Baiyujing disciples were all elated, but Ning Xi froze slightly.
In her previous life, she had remained aloof from worldly affairs and knew nothing of Pei Bu Chen's specific circumstances after the interrogation at Wen Xian Tang. Yet now, seeing him safe and sound, perhaps… it meant the calamity of him being tortured on the Pou Xin Stage in her past life had been avoided?
On the other side, the cultivators of the He Lian Family all wore grim expressions.
The fact that Pei Bu Chen could emerge completely unscathed at least indicated that the He Lian Family had not gained the upper hand during the proceedings inside Wen Xian Tang.
Recalling the tragic death of their eldest young master, He Lian Han Shan, the disciples of the He Lian Family tightened their grips on the swords at their waists.
Amidst the swirling undercurrents of varied thoughts, only Ning Xi suddenly caught a faint, almost imperceptible jingling sound.
Her gaze lowered, just in time to glimpse a flash of dark iron chains beneath the hem of Pei Bu Chen's robe.
His feet were shackled.
It seemed that even if the He Lian Family hadn't managed to convict Pei Bu Chen directly within Wen Xian Tang, they had still made him suffer some hardship.
The chains coiled tightly around his spotless white boots, ugly as venomous snakes, like a curse clinging to the bone.
A surge of indignation abruptly rose in her throat. Unconsciously, Ning Xi took a large step forward, but when she lifted her eyes, she met a gaze as gentle as spring water.
She was rooted to the spot.
Across the surging crowd, Pei Bu Chen also looked at her.
Their gazes intersected for merely an instant—so brief that Ning Xi thought it might be her imagination—before Pei Bu Chen turned his eyes elsewhere.
He addressed the crowd in a mild voice: "The Poxin Hammer is an ancient magical artifact capable of discerning truth from falsehood, never once erring. Rumors are fearsome, especially when they harm the rapport between our two families.
Therefore, I have agreed to the He Lian Family Head's request to personally ascend the Pou Xin Stage, endure ten strikes of the Poxin Hammer, and prove my innocence."
And Ning Xi's heart suddenly skipped a beat.