Although the process was somewhat complicated, the verbal curse was ultimately lifted successfully.
Yu Suisui was quite satisfied with this outcome. As her mental tension eased, fatigue quickly set in, and she began to doze off in the carriage.
The four flying horses no longer charged recklessly as before. They flew with extreme caution, each beat of their broad wings measured and careful.
As the carriage swayed gently through the air, Yu Suisui’s eyelids grew increasingly heavy.
No, I mustn’t fall asleep.
There’s still a major villain in this carriage.
Recalling the various incidents that had occurred between her and Xie Rongjing in the compartment earlier, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he might cause more trouble.
Unexpectedly, her prediction proved wrong.
Xie Rongjing quietly admired the scenery throughout the journey and even thoughtfully told her: “Young Lady, you should rest for now. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
He appeared to be in excellent spirits, the usual coldness in his eyes having diminished somewhat.
She had to admit that when the great villain was in this normal state, he perfectly embodied the model of an elegant and talented young hero.
The two returned to their respective residences without incident.
Yu Suisui happily lay down to sleep, concluding this eventful day.
Who would have thought that her happiness would be shattered early the next morning.
“Young Lady, please rise for morning cultivation.”
Yu Suisui was sleeping soundly when she was abruptly awakened by a rough male voice. Bleary-eyed, she looked out the window.
The sky was painted in a soft indigo blue, with the sun just beginning to peek above the horizon.
Oh no… She had already decided to skip the Sect Celebration today to catch up on sleep.
She pulled the covers over her head and tried to go back to sleep.
Unexpectedly, the voice continued relentlessly, like a broken record, growing louder with each repetition.
“Young Lady, please rise for morning cultivation.”
“Young Lady, please rise for morning cultivation.”
“Young Lady, please—”
“What’s all this noise?” The voice came from outside the courtyard. Yu Suisui threw on her outer garment and pushed open the courtyard gate.
Her maids gathered around, with Bai Shuang complaining: “Miss, these two men have been standing outside our courtyard and refuse to leave.”
Two young male cultivators stood outside the gate. Upon seeing the Young Lady emerge, one quickly identified himself.
“Young Lady, we are hidden guards assigned by the Sect Leader to protect you. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll be staying over there.”
Following his pointing finger, Yu Suisui spotted a small stone house less than a hundred meters from Zhu Yi Residence.
That spot had been empty just yesterday. Without doubt, this was another example of the Cultivation World’s advanced technology.
Then Yu Suisui remembered: it seemed… she had been placed under house arrest by her father.
She had completely forgotten about this matter, but now it appeared her father was quite serious about it. The two men at her gate, while called guards, essentially functioned as surveillance officers and emotionless wake-up machines.
Yu Qianqiu cared deeply about appearances and naturally didn’t want to openly imprison Yu Suisui in Zhu Yi Residence. This current arrangement suited him perfectly.
While he might be satisfied, Yu Suisui was anything but happy.
Being confined was bad enough, but why, why did they have to wake her up so early!
Looking at the dimly lit sky, Yu Suisui estimated that by modern timekeeping, it couldn’t be later than six in the morning.
She didn’t actually mind practicing the qin, but being awakened this early left her deeply dissatisfied.
In full rebellion mode, Yu Suisui began plucking random, discordant notes on her instrument.
The young maids couldn’t tell that the young mistress was in a bad mood—after all, no matter how Yu Sui Sui played, they always found it pleasant. Seeing their mistress take out Zhaoshui to cultivate, they followed her example and brought over stacks of Secret Manuals.
This was the usual daily routine at Zhu Yi Residence.
While the young mistress played the qin, they listened to the music while cultivating, feeling their concentration sharpen significantly. They became more focused than usual, even managing to comprehend some of the obscure and difficult Secret Manuals.
Similarly, Yu Sui Sui also gained a wave of skill proficiency. As her cultivation grew, her qin skills became increasingly refined. Unknowingly, it created an effect where one plus one was greater than two.
The South Peak was naturally abundant with Spiritual Qi. Although everyone’s cultivation level was generally not high, with such excellent cultivation conditions, their strength surged upward like bamboo shoots after rain. Now, there were no maids in the courtyard below the Half Realm; the weakest had reached the First Realm.
Yu Sui Sui might not have known it, but the maids privately held immense gratitude toward her.
The young mistress had always been even-tempered and quite approachable. Now, she even allowed them to cultivate—something completely unheard of elsewhere. The masters of the Tian Zhao Sect generally disliked their servants and attendants becoming engrossed in cultivation, mainly fearing they would neglect their duties.
Not wanting to disappoint the young mistress’s kindness, the maids cultivated even more diligently.
Yu Sui Sui: ?
As she played, she suddenly noticed: Why is everyone so serious?
…Being the only slacker was rather awkward.
Yu Sui Sui had always been like this since childhood. When those around her were playing on their phones or reading novels, she would lie down and sleep without any guilt. But if everyone was diligently studying, she would sit up and study along for a while.
Like now, for instance—this was exactly that kind of situation.
She gathered her focus and played a piece. In an instant, it was as if she heard a wondrous, unknown melody.
The music flowed like a babbling stream, starting from the crown of her head and slowly coursing through her limbs and entire body. It flowed faster and faster, growing more urgent, and within a few breaths, it condensed into a mighty, turbulent river, crashing powerfully against her Meridians.
Yu Sui Sui felt her mind clearer than ever before, her five senses amplified hundreds of times. She could even hear the sound of flowers blooming, the rumble of thunder tens of thousands of meters high in the sky, and the distant yet near laughter and cries of people from various corners of the Tian Zhao Sect at the same time.
This marvelous sensation lasted less than half a second before fading away, leaving everything in silence. Only the sound of her own heartbeat remained.
Thump, thump—
The heartbeat grew louder, and the river of melody flowed through her limbs, converging in her chest into a vast ocean.
Yu Sui Sui experienced an unprecedented, profoundly mysterious sensation. Her entire body felt much lighter, as if her bones and Meridians had been cleansed during a bath.
In that moment, she gained a sudden realization.
Oh, I’ve broken through.
With a thought, Zhaoshui, originally placed on the qin table, appeared in her hands out of thin air.
Being able to summon the qin from a distance meant she had truly reached the Triple Realm.
Looking at this Zhaoshui qin, she finally felt a sense of grounded reality.
“Congratulations, young mistress!” The maids, initially unaware of what had happened, only realized and cheered joyfully when they saw the qin in her hands.
Yu Sui Sui herself was also very happy, every pore in her body feeling utterly comfortable.
Cultivating is truly exhilarating, no wonder so many people pursue it.
On a whim, she put away her zither, her eyes and brows brimming with joy: “I’m going out for a walk!”
Although there were still two gatekeepers stationed at the door, as the saying goes—where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Bai Shuang gave her a knowing look and whispered, “Are you looking for Young Master Xie, Miss?”
Yu Suisui: …
Sister, you’ve definitely misunderstood something.
But upon second thought, she realized it might not be such a bad idea.
Since she was planning to break out anyway, why not do something even more rebellious—something Yu Qianqiu would dislike even more!
She decided: she would go to the North Peak to play with Xie Rongjing. ^^
Breaking out actually wasn’t that difficult.
Among the many gifts Steward Niu had sent, there were plenty of peculiar little trinkets.
Including a simulation mask.
This item wasn’t particularly high-grade; if mid-to-high-level cultivators examined it carefully, they could detect something off.
But Yu Suisui didn’t mind at all. She was going to the North Peak, where not only were there mostly low-level disciples, but even if there were high-level stewards, they wouldn’t scrutinize an ordinary young female cultivator like her.
To better disguise herself, she also borrowed a few sets of clothes from her maids.
She first approached the cook, Qiu Wen, but contrary to her usual self, Qiu Wen didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she said in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, “If Miss wears it… the bust might be a bit… not quite suitable for you.”
Oh.
Understood.
With a blank expression, she went to Bai Shuang, whose figure was similar to hers. In less than half an incense stick’s time, Bai Shuang brought over a bright red robe.
“Miss, this is for you.” Remembering something sorrowful, she choked up and said, “This is the keepsake my mother left me. She was the most skilled embroiderer in our entire region. Back then, she wore this wedding gown she made herself when she married my father, wuwu…”
Needless to say, this was her finest dress.
Yu Suisui: …
Well, that really wasn’t necessary.
“Um… thank you for your kindness, but just the usual clothes will do,” she explained.
Half an hour later, Yu Suisui successfully completed her transformation.
Her face now looked utterly ordinary—the kind that would get lost in a crowd in a xianxia world filled with handsome men and beautiful women.
With her plain face, simple clothes, and even her Storage Bag swapped for a low-key solid-colored one, Yu Suisui didn’t take a Flying Sword. Instead, she walked all the way to the Moonfrost Bridge and successfully fooled the two brothers guarding the courtyard gate.
“Who are you?”
It was Pei Lin on duty today, and he didn’t recognize the young lady.
Yu Suisui almost greeted him but changed her mind at the last moment.
“I’m a maid serving Medical Cultivator He, here to collect some Medicine herbs from the North Peak.”
Both the North Peak and South Peak had Medicine fields, and it was common for Medical Cultivators to send their subordinates to gather herbs for processing. Pei Lin found nothing unusual about it.
“You don’t seem to have reached the Triple Realm of Spirit Cultivation yet,” Pei Lin said with concern. “Do you need me to take you across?”
Really? That would be great.
Yu Suisui had no intention of crossing the bridge alone.
“How embarrassing,” she said with a shy smile, hopping onto Pei Lin’s Flying Sword.
Pei Lin: “…”
She moved quite fast.
After crossing the bridge, Pei Lin set her down and reminded her, “If you return before sunset, I can take you back across.”
Yu Suisui gave him a strange look.
Pei Lin was a rigid and upright bridge guard. He disliked the unruly Demons and had no fondness for the overly obsequious Steward Niu.
Who would have thought this person was actually quite decent to young girls in private, practically a sweetheart.
She suddenly had a new idea.
Why not… go find Xie Rong Jing like this!
Yu Sui Sui grew curious: what was Xie Rong Jing like toward others when she wasn’t around?
She passed through fields of flowers and various buildings, unnoticed and unremarked upon.
It really was quite novel—the first time she came to North Peak, she was with Xie Rong Jing, and everyone wanted to chase them out.
The subsequent times she visited, she was the young lady everyone gazed upon, with crowds kneeling in reverence.
Each visit, including this one, brought a different kind of freshness.
North Peak had numerous Outer Sect Disciples distributed across thirty-six different zones. Yu Sui Sui vaguely remembered that Xie Rong Jing was in Zone D3.
She now stood before a small red-tiled building that seemed to be one of the outer sect’s dining halls, where many disciples were having their meals.
Xie Rong Jing definitely wouldn’t be in a place like this. He appeared easygoing but actually disliked many things—like most foods, and humans. In short, there were very few things in this world he actually liked.
The question arose: how to get to Zone D3? And where was she now?
When she used to ride her Flying Sword in the sky, it was easy to find her way, but now, walking on her own… Yu Sui Sui looked around and proudly admitted she was lost.
“Excuse me,” she stopped a passing girl in a yellow robe. “Do you know where Zone D3 is?”
The yellow-robed female cultivator looked surprised. “This is Zone D3.”
She then understood. “You must be here to find someone, junior sister.”
Yu Sui Sui nodded.
Yellow-robed cultivator: “Then you’ve come to the right person! I know all the fellow disciples in Zone D3! So, who are you looking for, junior sister?”
Yu Sui Sui politely declined. “I’d rather not trouble you, senior sister.”
“How could it be trouble?” The yellow-robed cultivator blocked her path. “We’re both Outer Sect Disciples—we should help each other! How about this: give me one Spirit Stone as a service fee, and I’ll take you to whoever you’re looking for!”
Well, this…
Outer Sect Disciples received less than ten Spirit Stones in monthly stipends. How could she demand such an exorbitant price?
As the yellow-robed cultivator trailed her like a shadow, impossible to shake off, Yu Sui Sui stopped and said politely, “I’m looking for Xie Rong Jing.”
It had to be said—the great villain’s name was really effective. At least she wasn’t being chased for toll fees anymore.
The yellow-robed cultivator instantly retracted her hand from Yu Sui Sui’s shoulder. “Junior sister, you’re not joking, are you?”
At most, she deceived new junior brothers and sisters and extorted visiting fellow disciples—she’d never done anything truly wicked.
Therefore, upon hearing the other wanted to find Xie Rong Jing, her first reaction was to stop her.
“Junior sister, think twice before you act!”
Fine, she’d think for three seconds.
Upon learning this was Zone D3, Yu Sui Sui followed her memory toward that field of Scarletglow Flowers.
The yellow-robed cultivator still wanted to follow, but someone nearby tugged her sleeve.
“Probably another Ye Wan. Forget it, let it be.”
Hearing this, the yellow-robed cultivator hesitated and closed her mouth.
Ye Wan was famous at North Peak.
Her fame came not from talent, beauty, or aptitude—but because of Xie Rong Jing.
Three years ago, Outer Sect Disciple Ye Wan stubbornly insisted on defending him when others cursed the Devil Seed, even actively cultivating with him, accompanying him on outer sect missions, treating him like a pitiful soul in need of protection.
And the result?
The Devil Seed was clearly no pitiful soul. After Ye Wan saw his true nature, she tearfully reported his misdeeds to the Law Enforcement Hall, yet remained so terrified she couldn’t sleep night after night. Closing her eyes made her feel the Devil Seed would harm her.
To this day, though still in the outer sect, her cultivation had stagnated for years due to damaged mental state.
The yellow-robed female cultivator watched Yu Sui Sui’s cheerful retreating figure and couldn’t help sighing softly.
What a pity.
As the sun gradually sank westward, Yu Sui Sui finally arrived before the Scarletglow Flower field.
It was already early autumn. The crimson petals had long withered, leaving behind grass blades that deepened into an emerald green so dark it resembled black jade.
Somehow, there was no sign of Xie Rong Jing.
Knocking on his door again brought no response—he probably wasn’t home either.
Just as she decided to leave, a leaf fell onto her head.
Yu Sui Sui picked it off and discovered the leaf had been folded into a tiny frog.
She looked up and found the great villain reclining on a tree branch amidst the dappled shadows.
Xie Rong Jing squinted at her with an ambiguous half-smile.
“Yu Sui Sui.” Maintaining his semi-recumbent pose on the tree, he laughed lazily with a hint of mischief. “What are you doing here?”
Yu Sui Sui: ?
How did he recognize her at a single glance?