At the same time, in the distant Immortal Valley, a grand celebration was being held for the fourteenth birthday of the young master of the Hulü family, Hulü Lan.

Hulü Lan was the only son of the current head of the Hulü family, Hulü Xing, and his mother was Situ Wen Wan, the daughter of the Situ family, one of the four major families. Hulü Lan was born with a golden spoon in his mouth, destined to be in the spotlight of the cultivation world from a young age.

Of course, Hulü Lan lived up to expectations. At six, he was found to have a rare fire spiritual root, and at ten, Hulü Xing sent him to the famous Xing Tian Sect, where he successfully initiated spiritual energy into his body. By twelve, he entered the Qi Refinement stage, and by thirteen, he broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Now, at just fourteen, he had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. It wouldn’t be long before he formed his Golden Core.

Once he became a Golden Core stage cultivator, combined with the endless supply of rare treasures from the Hulü and Situ families, Hulü Lan’s cultivation would advance rapidly, leaving other cultivators his age far behind.

Even now, Hulü Lan’s cultivation far exceeded that of his peers.

Many admired Hulü Xing for having such a talented son. Every time they spoke with him, they couldn’t help but praise Hulü Lan repeatedly.

At this birthday banquet held especially for Hulü Lan, the same thing happened again. The guests were eager to flatter him.

However, Hulü Xing, the father, didn’t seem pleased. He even sighed in frustration, saying, “Back when I wasn’t even fourteen, I had already successfully formed my Golden Core. Wen Wan and I have poured so much effort into raising this son, hoping he would surpass us. But the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.”

After saying this, Hulü Xing sighed heavily.

The others exchanged helpless glances.

Finally, Lord Zhang of the Beast Control Sect spoke up to console him, “I’ve long heard of the Hulü family head’s extraordinary talents in his youth, but times have changed. Children these days are more pampered than we were back then. Your son reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment at fourteen is already an achievement most could only dream of. If I had such a son, I’d probably laugh myself awake in my sleep.”

The others quickly chimed in.

“Indeed, who else in the cultivation world can reach the peak of Foundation Establishment at fourteen?”

“Even just reaching Foundation Establishment is a huge hurdle for many.”

“As they say, dragons give birth to dragons and phoenixes to phoenixes. The young master of the Hulü family is the only son of such a legendary cultivator. It’s only natural that he will shoulder the family’s responsibilities in the future.”

“Don’t worry too much, Hulü family head,” Lord Zhang added. “Your son is a true prodigy. And with such a rare fire spiritual root, who knows? In the future, he may even rise to a position of prominence in the entire cultivation world…”

Before he could finish, Hulü Xing’s expression darkened, and he interrupted, “Lord Zhang, the cultivation world is full of talented individuals. Please choose your words carefully.”

Realizing his misstep, Lord Zhang awkwardly fell silent.

“Let’s not dwell on this.” Hulü Xing stepped back and cupped his hands politely. “I have other guests to attend to. Please excuse me.”

Lord Zhang and the others returned the gesture, watching as Hulü Xing walked away.

After a moment of quiet, they couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

“In my opinion, the Hulü family head is just saying one thing and feeling another. If he were truly disappointed in his son, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to throw this lavish birthday banquet.”

“I think he’s being too harsh on the young master,” said Lord Chen of the Wu Ji Pavilion, shaking his head disapprovingly. “Cultivation can be improved, but spiritual roots are something we can’t choose. Although a fire spiritual root is incredibly rare, cultivating with one is far more challenging than with other types of spiritual roots. The hardships involved are unimaginable. So the family head’s words were a bit insensitive.”

“Lord Chen, you may not know,” someone chimed in after glancing around to ensure no one was listening. They lowered their voice and said, “There was once another in the Hulü family who also had a fire spiritual root, but that one was even more extraordinary. Not only did they reach the Golden Core stage at twelve, but they also tamed the legendary Seven-Star Kunlun Sword, a divine weapon that hadn’t accepted a master in centuries. With such a figure overshadowing the young master, it’s understandable why the family head might place so much pressure on him.”

Lord Chen froze in shock. “Are you talking about Hulü…”

Before he could finish, Lord Zhang hurriedly shushed him.

A flash of fear crossed Lord Zhang’s face as he whispered, “We mustn’t speak that name.”

Hearing this, Lord Chen awkwardly closed his mouth.

The person they were referring to hadn’t been part of the Hulü family for many years. No one knew whether they were alive or dead.

But ever since that person disappeared, their name had become taboo in the Hulü family. Over time, fewer and fewer people spoke of them.

Perhaps in a hundred years, that name would fade from everyone’s memory.

It was just a pity about the Seven-Star Kunlun Sword. After losing its master, it sealed itself away and now rested in the bustling Capital City, waiting for someone worthy to draw it again.

The birthday banquet was held in a Peach Blossom Forest within Immortal Valley.

Though it was the middle of winter, and far from peach blossom season, the Hulü family had used tens of thousands of spirit stones, dozens of high-tier magical artifacts, and a group of cultivators with wood spiritual roots to keep the forest in full bloom.

Even after night fell, the luminous pearls scattered throughout the forest illuminated the area as brightly as daylight.

At the center of the forest, the banquet was in full swing.

Hulü Lan, the guest of honor, had clearly dressed up for the occasion.

He wore a white robe, and his long black hair was neatly groomed. At first glance, his outfit seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one could tell that both his robe and shoes were custom-made high-tier magical artifacts. Even the small jade pendant at his waist emitted a faint warm yellow glow.

As soon as Hulü Lan appeared, he became the center of attention.

After greeting the elders, Ni Wenhui and the others couldn’t help but be drawn to Hulü Lan.

Hulü Lan bore a striking resemblance to his father, Hulü Xing, with his sharp sword-like eyebrows, deep black eyes, and high nose bridge. His thin lips had a slight tinge of red.

However, he rarely smiled, and his lips were always pressed in a way that gave him a distant, unapproachable air.

Yet, this didn’t dampen the admiration of the young women present.

Even Jing Tao, who prided herself on being composed, felt her heart skip a beat when Hulü Lan’s gaze briefly swept over her.

Of course, she knew Hulü Lan wasn’t looking for her, so she nudged Ni Wenhui with her elbow. “Look over there.”

At the same time, Yu Ying, standing on the other side of Ni Wenhui, excitedly shook her arm. “Wenhui, look! Hulü Lan is looking for you!”

Ni Wenhui had already noticed Hulü Lan’s gaze, and her face turned red as she instinctively looked away.

“Why are you getting shy?” Yu Ying teased loudly. “Hulü Lan’s making it so obvious, and you’re still trying to hide? Just look at how many eyes are on him! If you’re not careful, someone else might snatch him up!”

If it weren’t for all the people watching, Yu Ying would have pushed Ni Wenhui straight into Hulü Lan’s arms.

Already flustered by Yu Ying’s teasing, Ni Wenhui quickly covered her mouth, her face as red as a tomato. “Shh—”

“Mmph—” Yu Ying could only respond with her eyes, still desperate to express her feelings.

“Please stop, everyone’s watching,” Ni Wenhui whispered, her voice so quiet it was barely audible, her gaze full of panic.

“Mmph—” Yu Ying’s protests continued as she gestured wildly.

Ni Wenhui sighed, “I’ll let go if you promise to stop talking.”

Yu Ying nodded.

Ni Wenhui hesitantly released her.

But no sooner had she let go than Yu Ying shouted, “If you don’t act fast, someone else will—”

Ni Wenhui quickly covered her mouth again.

“Mmph—”

Ni Wenhui muttered through gritted teeth, “You little liar. I shouldn’t have believed you.”

At that moment, Jing Tao nudged Ni Wenhui again. “Hulü Lan is coming.”

Startled, Ni Wenhui turned her head sharply and saw Hulü Lan making his way toward them through the crowd.

Their eyes met.

Hulü Lan’s usually cold expression softened into a slight smile, and he couldn’t help but quicken his pace toward Ni Wenhui.

Ni Wenhui hastily let go of Yu Ying’s mouth, facing Hulü Lan, standing there nervously wringing her hands.

However, before Hulü Lan could get close, someone from the Hulü family called out to him.

The person leaned in to whisper something to Hulü Lan.

Hulü Lan nodded occasionally. When the person finished, Hulü Lan gave Ni Wenhui an apologetic look before following them away.

Jing Tao and Yu Ying were left bewildered.

After a long pause, Jing Tao grumbled, “I was already preparing to step aside.”

“Who was that? So insensitive!” Yu Ying complained, stomping her feet. “Ugh! How frustrating!”

Ni Wenhui, on the other hand, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

As she watched Hulü Lan walk away, her mind wandered, and she unexpectedly thought of someone else.

That person, like Hulü Lan, had long black hair, pale skin, and a similar side profile.

But upon closer thought, she realized that Hulü Lan and that person were nothing alike.

The person from the Hulü family had called Hulü Lan away because the banquet was about to begin, and it was time for Hulü Lan, as the guest of honor, to take his seat and review the gifts from the guests—the first part of the celebration.

Hulü Lan sat at the head of the table with a slight frown, looking quite displeased. He remained silent the entire time.

The servants, worried about his mood, were extra cautious, fearing that if the young master threw a tantrum and made a scene, the lord and lady would blame them.

“The first gift is the Dream Lantern from the Tai Sheng Sect,” announced a servant of the Hulü family loudly.

As soon as the words were spoken, two men approached carrying a large cage. One of them pulled off the black cloth covering it, revealing a crescent-shaped lantern that emitted a faint blue glow.

The crowd gasped in awe.

Before the servant could finish introducing it, Hulü Lan waved his hand dismissively. “Next.”

The servant wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, glancing nervously at Hulü Xing and Situ Wen Wan. Seeing no reaction from them, he signaled the two men to remove the lantern.

“The next gift is a Misty Forest Deer from the Beast Control Sect…”

One by one, the servant introduced the guests’ gifts, but Hulü Lan seemed uninterested in any of them, constantly saying, “Next.” Toward the end, he didn’t even bother speaking, merely waving his finger lazily.

The guests’ expressions gradually darkened, though none dared voice their displeasure.

It seemed likely that this year, Hulü Lan would once again receive no gifts that pleased him.

Watching this unfold, Ni Wenhui slowly came to a realization.

She chided herself for foolishly comparing Hulü Lan to that person.

They were clearly different.

As this thought crossed her mind, the image of that person slashing through the Eight-Eyed Chicken, blood staining their beautiful yet emotionless face, flashed through her mind.

Thump-thump—

Thump-thump—

Her heart raced wildly.

She pressed her hand against her chest, but it couldn’t stop the frantic beating.

Unbeknownst to her, her entire body was heating up. Unlike earlier when Yu Ying teased her about Hulü Lan, this time, the heat was almost unbearable.

Meanwhile, in the distant cave, Mi Lu and Hulü Yan had finished their strange “birthday cake.”

To be precise, it was Hulü Yan who had eaten it all.

Mi Lu looked at the now-empty plate and remarked sincerely, “So you really like sweets, huh.”

He had to admit, Hulü Yan had hidden this well. He’d never shown any hint of it before.

After finishing the cake, Hulü Yan slipped back into his usual meditative mode.

Mi Lu tidied up, then used a cleansing spell to clean both himself and Hulü Yan before hurriedly crawling into the blankets.

The blankets were cold, and Mi Lu shivered.

It took a long time for the blankets to warm up, and Mi Lu peeked out, only to see Hulü Yan still sitting cross-legged on the bedding, staring blankly at the cave wall with his hollow eyes.

Mi Lu stared at Hulü Yan for a while, lost in thought.

He couldn’t help but think that Hulü Yan really was a quiet one.

He never asked anything, never said anything. When told to blow out the candle, he did. When given the “birthday cake,” he ate it. Now that he had nothing to do, he just sat quietly by himself.

But maybe Hulü Yan wasn’t interested in things like candles and birthday cakes. Perhaps he wasn’t interested in Mi Lu at all, which was why he never asked about anything concerning him.

Mi Lu: “…”

Why was he overthinking this and making himself feel worse?

He should just sleep.

Mi Lu closed his eyes and tried to relax, but then he heard a rustling sound.

Startled, he opened his eyes to see Hulü Yan getting up from the bedding, searching around the area.

Mi Lu sat up, still wrapped in his blanket, and asked blankly, “What are you looking for?”

Hulü Yan ignored him and continued feeling around.

Mi Lu could only watch from the side.

After a moment, Mi Lu seemed to realize something. He reached for the luminous pearl that had been placed in the corner of the bedding and handed it to Hulü Yan. “Were you looking for this?”

Hulü Yan paused, then turned and grasped Mi Lu’s hand.

Seeing this, Mi Lu couldn’t help but laugh to himself, thinking, Why aren’t you blind now?

It always seemed like Hulü Yan had some kind of radar when it came to Mi Lu. He could fumble around for everything else, but when it came to finding Mi Lu, he could grab him perfectly.

Hulü Yan wrapped both hands around Mi Lu’s and soon found the luminous pearl in his palm.

Though Mi Lu knew Hulü Yan wouldn’t respond, he still asked out of habit, “What do you need the luminous pearl for? This is Wei Sheng’s pearl.”

Sure enough, Hulü Yan didn’t answer. After taking the luminous pearl, he placed it in his palm and slowly covered it with his fingers.

The light from the pearl was already dim, just enough to illuminate the small cave.

When Hulü Yan wrapped his fingers around it, most of the light was blocked, plunging the cave into a faint, blurry darkness.

Then, Mi Lu heard another rustling sound.

But this time, it was different from the sound of Hulü Yan getting up earlier. This was like something sharp scratching against the stone surface of the cave, intermittently making a noise that sent shivers down one’s spine.

The sound grew louder and more frequent.

It surged from all directions like a tide, filling the entire cave with a dense, eerie presence.

Mi Lu’s body froze.

In an instant, his scalp tingled, and goosebumps covered his skin.

The reason was simple—he recognized this sound all too well.

It was the sound made by the dried corpse puppets crafted by the Medical Hall.

Author’s Note:

Hulü Yan: This is my first birthday gift! Thank you, Wei Sheng~

Wei Sheng: @#￥%…