Qing Shi Fang was the most beautiful place in the Eastern Island’s Sky Peak.

The thousand steps of the torii gate that stretched endlessly across the mountain were a sight to behold.

The surrounding mountains were tranquil and peaceful, giving off an ancient and serene atmosphere.

Behind the entrance of the torii gate was an immortal realm.

A quiet path lined with flowers was in full bloom, with the crabapple flowers blossoming at this time. The pale pink and white petals reached beyond the red walls of the courtyard, lazily and delicately swaying in the breeze.

Inside the courtyard, there was a large round lake, with over a thousand bamboo and wooden houses built on the water. In the center of the lake, a tall building was constructed, stacked upwards, creating a towering structure.

Within the building were courtyards and flower gardens, with lanterns and wind chimes hanging from the eaves, and embroidered paintings of different scenes on the doors.

All of these paintings were personally created by Yun Shouxi.

The tall building almost occupied the entire lake, with only a ring of water lilies planted around the outer edges.

The walls of the courtyard were lined with crabapple trees.

This was Yun Shouxi’s residence, Mirage.

Ling Luo followed Yun Shouxi across a suspended bridge leading to the center, where she saw the waterborne houses below. Each was elegantly constructed, with its own small garden, plants carefully arranged, and the sound of startled deer and flowing water filling the air.

“Your two senior brothers have their own rooms and small courtyards here in the Mirage. They usually stay here when they’re not busy,” Yun Shouxi said as they walked. “I’ve also prepared a place for you, in the Lower West Courtyard.”

Ling Luo stepped off the bridge and walked toward the Lower West Courtyard.

Pushing open the door, a familiar scene greeted her.

She had lived here for almost four years, and the memories were vivid. When she first arrived, she had felt joy and gratitude. By the time she left, it was filled with resentment and hatred.

From the flowers and plants in the courtyard to the small trinkets on the desk inside, everything had been arranged by Yun Shouxi according to “her” preferences.

On the first day Ling Luo moved into the Lower West Courtyard of Mirage, Yun Shouxi began reshaping her, denying and erasing her former self, turning her into someone else.

“The disciple’s robes are inside. Go change into them,” Yun Shouxi stood beneath the crabapple tree in the courtyard and said, “You will live here from now on.”

At that time, Ling Luo had mindlessly accepted these words and lived in the Lower West Courtyard, later realizing that even personal disciples had their own residences.

But back then, she was full of admiration for Yun Shouxi and had no intention of leaving.

Now, Ling Luo feigned ignorance and said, “Inner sect disciples also have their own residences. I wouldn’t want to disturb Master by living here.”

Yun Shouxi smiled slightly. “I had you live here so I could teach you at any time. If you want to live in the residence, does that mean you want to slack off?”

Ling Luo: “…”

“Disciple has no such intention! I will go change into the robes now.” She said, closing the door behind her and walking inside.

The room was filled with a faint sandalwood fragrance, giving off a warm feeling.

The white and gold robes were placed by the bed. Ling Luo reached out and touched them, feeling the cool, smooth texture. The material was of excellent quality.

The belt was engraved with two symbols of mountains and water to protect the disciples from the formation and spiritual energy attacks left by the ancestor in the waters of Sky Peak’s East Island.

As Ling Luo removed her clothes, a jade bead fell from her sleeve, making a soft clink as it rolled across the floor, eventually stopping when it hit the edge of the table.

This was a pale pink Jade Spirit Bead, small and cute, with a lustrous color. It was often used to entertain children. Some of these beads contained miniature scenes and even sounds, sealed inside with spiritual energy.

Jade Spirit Beads containing scenes were highly sought after, far more so than ordinary ones.

Only those with great cultivation could craft Jade Spirit Beads containing scenes, making these beads rare and precious.

Ling Luo walked toward the table, silently looking down at the bead.

It was a Jade Spirit Bead that recorded a scene, but the originally clear and bright core of the bead was now cracked with numerous fractures.

Ling Luo bent down, picked it up, and carefully hid it away.

She really wanted to see the person who was forever trapped in the bead, but she also knew that looking once more would only make her more violent.

After calming herself, Ling Luo opened the door and stepped out.

Dressed in the robes of an inner disciple, she respectfully called out, “Master.”

As Ling Luo lowered her head, Yun Shouxi’s gaze lingered on her, deep and unfathomable.

On her first day as a personal disciple, Yun Shouxi guided her around Qing Shi Fang, ultimately returning to the Upper West Courtyard of Mirage.

There, he helped her begin learning the foundational methods of inner sect cultivation.

The Upper West Terrace presented a semi-circular open platform, a place where she was taught her cultivation techniques. If they were to practice swordsmanship, she would be taken to the sword hall.

At noon, Yu Xiu brought lunch boxes for the two of them.

Ling Luo felt somewhat downhearted. Repeating these cultivation theories, which she had long mastered in her previous life, was truly boring.

But she had no choice but to go through it again without letting Yun Shouxu notice anything amiss.

In the afternoon, they went to the sword hall to practice swordsmanship.

Yun Shouxu first taught her how to use Sakura Joy, and Ling Luo, who had been diligent and quick-witted in the past, now feigned dullness.

Even after Yun Shouxu demonstrated three or five times, she still claimed she couldn’t do it.

Yun Shouxu was patient with her and had a good temperament. He demonstrated it again.

Ling Luo opened Sakura Joy and infused it with spiritual energy, but she couldn’t resonate with it. The fan still appeared as an ordinary blood-red object.

She sighed and said, “It seems I’m too slow-witted. Even after so many demonstrations, I still can’t learn it.”

Yun Shouxu smiled, “Stop speaking such negative words. I think it’s because you haven’t been studying properly.”

After Ling Luo persistently pretended to be slow-witted, Yun Shouxu finally gave up teaching her Sakura Joy and switched to teaching swordsmanship instead.

Yun Shouxu handed her a sword, and took a wooden sword in his own hand, saying, “The Way is simple; sometimes, the sword is not just a sword. It doesn’t lie in your hands but in the spiritual energy activated by your every thought.”

Ling Luo took the sword and glanced at him. She unintentionally thought of Yue Liangze, practicing with a wooden sword under the moonlight.

Feigning curiosity, she asked, “Master, if someone with weak spiritual power practices the sword, do they have a chance to become a powerful swordsman?”

Such innocent and naive questions were typical for her age.

Yun Shouxu didn’t doubt her, smiling as he held the sword, “If one is determined, there is always a chance. The way of the heavens is fair; you get what you put in.”

Ling Luo thought to herself, This is your philosophy, not the way of the heavens.

But it couldn’t be denied that Yun Shouxu was indeed strong in his cultivation.

“Feel free to use all your strength. I’d like to see where your limits are,” Yun Shouxu said, standing with his sword in one hand behind his back.

Ling Luo drew her sword, the blade sliding out of its sheath with a soft sound.

Perfect, she wanted to test it as well.

“Master, I’m sorry for the offense.”

Ling Luo used her spiritual energy to wield the sword, focusing and seriously sparring with Yun Shouxu.

Yun Shouxu was calm and composed, facing her with one hand. His figure was ethereal but fluid, easily deflecting her attacks, though he was slightly surprised by how much stronger she was than he had expected.

In the past, Ling Luo relied on her overwhelming spiritual energy rather than swordsmanship or technique when sparring with Yun Shouxu.

Afterward, Yun Shouxu had evaluated her spiritual talent as exceptional, and her understanding was high, but she didn’t know how to use a sword.

Before joining the East Island Tianji, she really didn’t know how to wield a sword.

Now, Ling Luo’s sword techniques were proficient, and her coordination of spirit control and hand seals was seamless. Even when facing the Third Master of Tianji Island, the immortal sect’s great figure, Sanxi Zhenjun, she felt neither hesitation nor fear, maintaining a stable performance.

Yun Shouxu’s eyes revealed even more amusement.

Such talent made him feel pleased.

Ling Luo was using cultivation techniques she had learned at Tianji, while hiding some other abilities. However, her current strength was not enough to defeat Yun Shouxu.

In the final clash of swords, Ling Luo struck the wooden sword and left a mark on it, while Yun Shouxu’s wooden sword was already resting on her throat.

Ling Luo looked up at him, smiling, with admiration on her face: “I won, Master.”

Yun Shouxu sheathed his sword and praised her, “Not bad, you’re just as good as your two senior brothers.”

Ling Luo pretended to be happy and said, “Thank you for the praise, Master.”

This was just the first day, and both of them had a subtle understanding, not becoming too familiar.

After the sword sparring, Ling Luo returned to the Upper West Terrace, kneeling by the desk to silently copy down the cultivation methods.

The sun was setting behind her, with the orange glow of the sunset casting wide beams of light.

Yun Shouxu sat not far away, boiling water to brew tea. Nearby, there were many talismans waiting for him to continue writing.

Neither of them spoke. The evening breeze passed by, carrying with it the fragrance of tea and ink.

Once Ling Luo finished writing, she put down her brush and turned to Yun Shouxu, saying, “Master, I left some things at the outer sect dormitory. I’d like to go back and retrieve them.”

Yun Shouxu nodded and said, “I’ll have the outer sect send them to you.”

“There’s no need,” Ling Luo smiled, embarrassed. “It’s just a small matter. No need to trouble others. Besides… I also want to say a word to my friends who are still in the outer sect.”

Yun Shouxu said, “Go ahead, and if you need anything, you can use the jade listening device to let your second senior brother know.”

Ling Luo lowered her head, retreated, and left the Mirage via the hanging bridge.

She played with the jade listening device in her hand, which she had yet to activate with a drop of blood.

Qin Yuan had already entered the inner sect, so Ling Luo didn’t need to go to the outer sect to find anyone. There was nothing important left in the dormitory either.

She just wanted to go see Yue Liangze.

To ask him why he hadn’t entered the inner sect.