In the late spring of March, flowers bloomed on the trees, and flocks of orioles flew about in a flurry.

Upon reaching the boundary of Quiet Peak, Cong Yue was ecstatic. The surrounding scenery seemed to exude a mysterious aura, and her intense curiosity propelled her to run, quickly leaving her master far behind.

“Who dares make such a racket here?”

An impatient voice came from behind. Cong Yue, whose hand had been reaching for a rose, trembled and instinctively retracted it.

After wiping her hands haphazardly on her back, she slowly turned around. At the source of the voice, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy sat quietly under a sweet osmanthus tree. Dressed in a plain white brocade robe, he held a book in his hand, staring at her with a cold expression.

What a handsome older brother, so handsome that it was enough to make one overlook his impatient tone and icy voice.

“I am…”

“What are you, a wild child?”

The boy in white interrupted her abruptly before she could finish introducing herself.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for Cong Yue to hear every word. His fair and clear face showed a look of disgust, as if her appearance had spoiled his good mood.

Eight-year-old Cong Yue stood frozen in place, her mind echoing a gentle voice: “From now on, you shall call me Master.”

Before ascending the mountain, she had tilted her messy head, her round, dark eyes blinking as she stared at Ji Yunqing, “Master, will the senior brothers and sisters of Jingyue Sect dislike me?”

“No,” Ji Yunqing affirmed, “The senior brothers and sisters of Jingyue Sect are all very gentle and easy to get along with.”

Cong Yue was doubtful, feeling that her master was just trying to cheer her up.

“Fanqing, come here.” Her master’s gentle voice pulled Cong Yue’s wandering thoughts back to reality. “This is Cong Yue. She will be staying at Jingyue Sect from now on.”

Si Fanqing reluctantly looked up, his fair and clear cheeks showing impatience, his delicate brows slightly furrowed. “What does it have to do with me?”

Cong Yue nervously wrung her fingers, thinking, Master didn’t say that the senior brothers and sisters of Jingyue Sect were all very gentle and easy to get along with? Why is this handsome older brother…

“Cong Yue, call him Junior Uncle.” Before Cong Yue’s anxious thoughts could settle, she suddenly heard her master call her.

So it wasn’t a handsome older brother, but a handsome Junior Uncle.

She was always well-behaved, and upon hearing her master’s instructions, she immediately performed a proper bow to the tall and straight figure.

“Junior Uncle.”

Si Fanqing coldly snorted, ignoring her. His gaze quickly swept over Cong Yue—thin, dirty clothes—he disdainfully looked away, muttering, “Nobody wants a wild child.” Then he turned his head and completely ignored the dimming starlight in Cong Yue’s eyes.

She was disliked, Cong Yue quickly concluded.

This was her first time meeting her Junior Uncle. Why did he dislike her? Why did he despise her?

Was it because of her background? Cong Yue was a little distressed.

Following her master to Jingyue Sect, she had originally hoped to get along well with the senior brothers and sisters in the sect. Never had she imagined that the first person she met would give her such a blow, shattering her beautiful dream.

Children liked beautiful things, and Cong Yue was no exception, including her handsome Junior Uncle.

But her Junior Uncle showed no mercy, his attitude condescending, his words harsh and hurtful.

“Fanqing, don’t be so rude.” Ji Yunqing walked over and stopped behind Si Fanqing.

Cong Yue followed her master’s pace, stopping two steps away from her Junior Uncle, cautiously observing this unapproachable Junior Uncle, and finally couldn’t help but introduce herself: “Junior Uncle, my name is Cong Yue. Cong as in ‘flowers’, Yue as in ‘bright moon’.”

Si Fanqing’s frown deepened. He finally turned back to look at her. The distance was close, and Cong Yue’s smudged face seemed magnified several times, and Si Fanqing’s undisguised disgust was also magnified.

He frowned tightly, nodded reluctantly, then got up and walked away without looking back. He was only thirteen or fourteen years old after all, and his displeasure was not well-hidden, fully exposed on his face.

Cong Yue clasped her hands tightly together, feeling a little at a loss. “Master, Junior Uncle… doesn’t he like me?” She looked up at Ji Yunqing, hoping her master would give her a negative answer.

Ji Yunqing was always a good person, especially when facing a child like Cong Yue. She readily offered comforting words: “He doesn’t. Junior Uncle doesn’t sleep well at night, and his mind is a little unclear.”

Cong Yue heard the answer she wanted, but her heart was still heavy, her expression slightly dejected. It must be because of her background that her Junior Uncle despised her so.

Would the senior brothers and sisters of Jingyue Sect dislike her for the same reason?

She was lost in thought when she suddenly heard Ji Yunqing’s calm and gentle voice from above: “Cong Yue, don’t worry, besides Master, no one knows where you came from.”

Ji Yunqing’s words were like a reassurance, easing her tightly clenched heart. Cong Yue let out a long breath, her face brightening. “Master, I will keep this secret.”

“Come, let’s go meet your senior brothers and sisters.”

“Where did our little junior sister come from?”

“Was she bullied? She’s covered in mud.”

“Little Cong Yue, don’t be afraid, your senior brothers and sisters will protect you, no one will dare bully you.”

“…”

More than ten senior brothers and sisters curiously surrounded Cong Yue, chattering away.

Just as her master had said, the senior brothers and sisters of Jingyue Sect were all very gentle and easy to get along with.

Cong Yue looked down at her clothes; her skirt and socks were covered in mud. She had been too flustered when she ran away, and she had stumbled quite a bit.

It had rained heavily a few days ago, and her mud-stained clothes were dirty and torn. She knew she must look like a beggar.

Her Junior Uncle’s disgusted expression suddenly appeared in Cong Yue’s mind. Perhaps her Junior Uncle disliked her for being dirty? Otherwise, they had never interacted before, so her Junior Uncle wouldn’t dislike her for no reason, right?

Thinking this, Cong Yue’s distress lessened considerably.

“Cong Yue, I’ll take you back to your room to wash and change, okay?” A very gentle voice suddenly sounded in her ear. Snapping out of her thoughts, Cong Yue looked up and saw a senior sister who was much taller than her.

“Senior Sister, thank you.”

Her mother had told her that when she arrived at Jingyue Sect, she should restrain her temper, not be rude to others, and be friendly with her senior brothers and sisters…

From now on, she was a member of Jingyue Sect.

“The senior brothers and sisters in the sect are all very easy to get along with, just treat it like your own home.” After bathing, the senior sister helped her comb her hair while whispering about interesting things in the sect.

The distress of being disliked by her Junior Uncle gradually dissipated. Remembering this, Cong Yue mustered her courage and asked her senior sister, “Senior Sister, Junior Uncle he…”

Before she could finish, Cong Yue heard the senior sister let out a “pfft” of laughter. “Don’t mind him. Junior Uncle is always picky, the younger generation fears him and avoids him.” The senior sister stopped combing her hair, pulled Cong Yue closer, and softly asked, “Did you see Junior Uncle?”

Seeing Cong Yue’s cautious look, Wen Ai could guess what Junior Uncle would say at a glance.

“Cong Yue, don’t take it to heart, Junior Uncle is a very good person, he’s just a bit grumpy, and sometimes he doesn’t speak very nicely.”

Cong Yue nodded lightly, hesitantly saying, “Senior Sister, did Junior Uncle dislike me for being dirty?”

After hearing this, Wen Ai had guessed the ins and outs of the matter almost perfectly.

“Junior Uncle is extremely clean, he usually dislikes us younger generations, it’s not that he’s intentionally targeting you.”

Cong Yue still wasn’t at ease, quietly hiding this worry in her heart, and never mentioned it to anyone again.

The senior sister was still braiding Cong Yue’s hair when she suddenly heard a commotion outside. Unable to contain her curiosity, Cong Yue opened the door a crack and saw the senior brothers and sisters in the courtyard in a chaotic mess.