11 How could Chu Chang’an have come to this godforsaken place?

Why would Chu Chang’an come to such a cursed place? Wasn’t the vast East Sea already enough for him to squander and wreak havoc?

Sheng Ningyu suppressed the wild beating of her heart. Under the puzzled gaze of Young Master Yuan, she stubbornly grabbed Xie Qianjing’s hand and, on the spot, put on a performance of moist eyes, hesitating to speak.

It was unclear what Young Master Yuan suddenly realized. After a brief moment of stunned silence, he looked at Sheng Ningyu and Xie Qianjing—whose hand was tightly held by her—with a complex expression, then suddenly nodded in understanding.

“Master Chu An.”

Young Master Yuan stepped forward and cupped his hands toward the woods. “Thank you, Master Chu, for intervening with the Puppet Barrier. If you are willing to visit Yunwang Palace sometime, the Yuan family will certainly extend our hospitality.”

Sheng Ningyu clicked her tongue in secret. What a clever statement! Although Young Master Yuan sounded humble, everyone knew it was impossible.

After all, Chu Chang’an, as head of the Chu family, was burdened with endless affairs daily and held himself with lofty pride. How could he deign to visit a small place like Linghuan Dock?

Sure enough, moments later, a youth emerged slowly from the forest.

His black hair was tied back loosely without a crown, long eyebrows extended to his temples, a high, sharp nose, and his features were so strikingly beautiful they seemed unreal. Dressed in a flowing blue robe that trailed the ground, he appeared almost ethereal as he stepped out.

Contrasting with his appearance was his expression—sharp and somber, reminding Sheng Ningyu of the thunderclouds that pressed low over the Starwatch Tower just before a storm.

What surprised Sheng Ningyu even more was that Chu Chang’an, for some reason, had not changed his appearance.

She had assumed that, as head of the Chu family, even if just to command respect, he would have adopted a more mature guise. Yet he still retained the look of a man just in his early twenties.

Recalling the rumors from the inn, Sheng Ningyu thought deeply: Chu Chang’an was indeed unwell.

And severely so.

As she pondered, the newcomer spoke.

“Young Master Yuan, you are too polite.”

Chu Jiye’s tone was calm as he glanced at Chu Le, who shrank like a hunted prey and obediently moved behind Chu Chang’an.

“I am usually busy with various matters and unlikely to visit Yunwang Palace. However, the younger generations at home have been spoiled by me. If any offense was caused, I hope you all can forgive them.”

Though the words were weak, as an elder, no one dared to refute Young Master Yuan and had to accept them.

Most of those accompanying Young Master Yuan were the younger generation of Yunwang Palace—each a favored scion of the palace. Some whispered resentfully: “He was the one who caused trouble first; he should be the one apologizing—”

“Silence!”

Bang!

The urgent voice of Young Master Yuan and a loud explosion rang out almost simultaneously. In front of the Yunwang Palace disciple who had spoken, a pit smoldering with black smoke had appeared.

If not for Young Master Yuan’s timely intervention, that disciple would have been at the bottom of the pit.

Sheng Ningyu furrowed her brow deeply.

She finally recognized the talisman.

It resembled the talisman the Chu family used to dispel barriers before but was entirely different in power.

The Chu family’s talisman, called “Soul Scatter and Spirit Vanish,” was passed down from the ancient Sword Pavilion texts and traditionally used to seal away demons and miasma.

But the one Chu Chang’an had just used was called “Melting Snow and Dissolving Ice,” something Sheng Ningyu had once haphazardly modified herself. Compared to “Soul Scatter and Spirit Vanish,” its power was like a mere firecracker in the mortal realm.

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Thunder roared, but the rain was light.

Back then, the eldest senior brother forbade this and that, confiscating everything she brought from the mortal realm. But Sheng Ningyu, stubborn as ever, insisted on experimenting herself.

Confiscating one firecracker would only mean thousands more were ready to ignite!

Whether by talent or luck, Sheng Ningyu had indeed transformed that unchanging thousand-year-old talisman into the form she desired.

However, she couldn’t now recall why she had given that firecracker-like talisman such a refined name.

“Melting Snow and Dissolving Ice”?

The Sword Pavilion was clearly a place without snow.

By her naming style, it should have been called “Firecracker.”

But that did not matter—it was a talisman unaltered for a millennium.

Sheng Ningyu still remembered the pride she felt when her first talisman succeeded, the vanity of showing it off to her friends, and the joy of putting it into practice.

In the process, she destroyed a pool called Autumn Water, a jade crane statue, several trees, and a study room.

None of these belonged to her or Feng Xiaosheng—it was all Eldest Senior Brother Yan Ruzhao’s.

For that, Sheng Ningyu was punished by Yan Ruzhao, and not even their master could save her.

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Returning to the matter at hand:

Chu Chang’an, after all, was head of the Chu family. Why would he carry such a firecracker talisman around?

Sheng Ningyu frowned, unable to understand.

Elsewhere, Young Master Yuan frowned too.

“Why did Master Chu strike so fiercely?”

Chu Jiye replied coldly, “The affairs of the Chu family’s younger generation are under my management. No one else’s opinion matters, nor do they owe anyone an apology.”

His tone remained flat, without a ripple.

But precisely because of this, it seemed even more arrogant.

Young Master Yuan’s brow furrowed deeper, clearly disapproving but unable to argue. He took a deep breath and said, “The path from here to Yunwang Palace differs from that to the East Sea. I shall take my leave here.”

With that, the Yunwang Palace group immediately followed.

Chu Jiye understood the implication but paid no mind. He turned first, but his gaze caught a certain figure.

Suddenly, he froze.

His heartbeat seemed to stop and then pound violently. He wanted to step forward but felt numb all over, lacking even the strength to turn fully and confirm what he saw.

It was only a silhouette, lasting less than a moment, but it came like a towering wave that instantly drowned him, leaving him grasping for any lifeline.

Was it her?

Was it really her?

Chu Jiye abruptly turned around, his previously calm and clear face now nearly panicked, instinctively reaching out for something.

But when he looked again, whether by sight or spiritual perception, the figure was gone.

It was probably another illusion.

Chu Jiye’s expression slowly hardened.

“Uncle.”

Chu Le stammered as he stepped forward, looking extremely well-behaved, completely shedding his earlier arrogance.

“I intended to return earlier, but there were many sword cultivators on the road, and the way was unsafe, so I was delayed…”

Chu Jiye did not look at him but stared at the sword cultivator who was still unconscious, supported by several people. He rubbed an old thumb ring on his left hand and after a moment asked, “Where did the Puppet Barrier come from?”

Chu Le guessed correctly that his uncle hadn’t seen his foolish attempt to ask for pear blossoms and replied, “From the east. We encountered a faint trace just outside this forest. I suppose its source is somewhere in the outskirts—perhaps even in the inn we stopped at earlier!”

The young boy grew more excited as he spoke, but Chu Jiye remained unmoved and calmly said, “Chu Le.”

Chu Le felt as if cold water was poured over him and immediately wilted.

“When we return to the East Sea, you will be confined for fifteen days.”

“…Yes.”

Chu Jiye withdrew his gaze.

Though he had no direct descendants, the Chu family was populous, with many brothers, branches, concubines, and children.

Among them, Chu Le was the one he favored most.

Chu Le inherited the exquisite features of the main line, his face filled with youthful vigor and innocent naivety, much like Chu Jiye in his youth.

Chu Le was also somewhat promising in swordsmanship, regarded as talented among his generation of the Chu family. He was respectful and obedient to elders and never stirred trouble.

But none of this was why Chu Jiye indulged him.

Chu Jiye was silent for a few seconds, then lifted his foot again.

There was something about Chu Le’s features that somewhat resembled… Sister Ningyu.

That was all.

Every time Chu Jiye saw Chu Le, it was as if that illusion returned.

His brothers were still kind and generous to him, his parents had not yet perished in the Sword Pavilion’s flames, and he… he did not have to grow up or think, only to follow obediently behind them.

He had not committed those wrongdoings, had not lost his heart to vain reputation, had not intentionally grown close to Ning Jiaojiao, nor allowed gossip to reach Sister Ningyu’s ears.

If all had gone as it should, he would have married Sister Ningyu, perhaps stayed in the Chu family after marriage, but likely spent much time in the Sword Pavilion—after all, Sister Ningyu was a Sword Sovereign, and unless great matters arose, she would neither descend from the high platform nor leave the Pavilion.

Chu Jiye had no objection.

Even if Sheng Ningyu might not often go out, he had carefully built a tower for her in the East Sea.

The Moonlight Over the Sea, to share day and night.

This was the home he imagined with Sheng Ningyu.

Perhaps they would have children and grandchildren like his parents did, perhaps their offspring would be as gifted as Sister Ningyu—perhaps just as beautiful, though if they looked like him, that would be no less fine…

If that were so, they would be about the same age as Chu Le.

Chu Jiye often thought like this.

But before he could give the Moonlight Over the Sea tower as a gift, he received a letter from Sheng Ningyu.

The letter contained only one sentence:

“The Moonlight Over the Sea tower must be torn down; do not hurt others’ hearts.”