"Have the flowers on the mountain withered?"

"They're still blooming. Did Senior Brother forget?"

"...No."

Chen Yin hadn't forgotten. It's just that the peak of Yushan Mountain was perpetually shrouded in mist. Only the Yushan Flowers could bloom in the harsh conditions there. 

The mist was often so dense it was hard to even make out the flowers.

"Why does Senior Brother look so odd?" The young girl tilted her head, her slender arms folded behind her, blinking up at him.

"Odd? Maybe I look more handsome?"

"No… but Senior Brother has always been pretty handsome."

"Then would Xiang'er like to be Senior Brother's Dao Companion?" Chen Yin asked with a teasing smile.

Yu Xiang's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she hurriedly waved her hands in embarrassment.

"Se–Senior Brother, what are you talking about! Didn't Master say we're not allowed to dual cultivate before we reach the Cloud Realm?"

"So by Xiang'er's logic, once we reach Cloud Realm, she'll want to dual cultivate with Senior Brother?"

Unable to withstand Chen Yin's teasing, Yu Xiang blushed furiously, crying out in embarrassment:

"Senior Brother, you're so mean! I'm going to tell Master on you!"

"Haha, aren't you worried Master might pair you off to me right on the spot?"

Before he finished speaking, his shy junior sister had already dashed off. 

Watching Yu Xiang's retreating figure, Chen Yin's mischievous smile gradually softened as he turned back to gaze upon Yushan Mountain.

Strictly speaking, this was his tenth year on Yushan Mountain. But also, it wasn't.

In his previous life, he had lived here for ten years as well. Altogether, it had been twenty years.

Twenty years—long enough for every tree and blade of grass on this mountain to become imprinted in Chen Yin's heart.

After all, there were countless immortal mountains under heaven, but few like Yushan Mountain, with only three residents on its peak.

Cultivation resources were precious; typically, a single immortal mountain would support an entire sect.

Yet over the years, Yushan Mountain had housed only three people: Chen Yin, his junior sister Yu Xiang, and their master, the Immortal Yu Ling.

Ten years ago, both he and Xiang'er were brought up the mountain by their master, Yu Ling, to join the Misty Spirit Sect. Those were some of the happiest days he remembered.

He was the senior brother; Xiang'er was the junior sister; and their master didn't place strict demands on either of them.

Every day was simply carefree—cultivating peacefully, wandering the mountains, playfully teasing his adorable junior sister, cleaning up his master's occasional messes.

Chen Yin loved that life deeply. If he could, he would have chosen to stay in those tranquil days forever.

But….

—

—

Following the familiar path, he returned to the mountain peak.

The peak was sculpted into a celestial abode by his master, with courtyards and pavilions shrouded in light mist. The garden and waterside pavilions faded in and out of view like a dream.

Chen Yin walked through the winding corridor and arrived at the main hall. 

Today, his master had informed him that someone from the main sect had come with business to discuss with him.

Chen Yin knew what this was about.

Yushan Mountain was merely a branch of the Misty Spirit Sect, managed solely by his master, the Immortal Yu Ling. Though they rarely interacted with the main sect, they were still technically an affiliated mountain gate of the Misty Spirit Sect.

It was rare for anyone from the main sect to visit Yushan Mountain. 

In his last life, when he first heard someone wanted to see him, Chen Yin had been quite curious.

At the time, however, he had no idea what would come next.

Regaining his focus, Chen Yin slowly pushed open the door to the hall and stepped inside.

The room was filled with incense smoke, and a child, looking around ten years old, sat cross-legged on the main seat in a slouched posture. Lazily, she said, "Ah. You're here."

As her words fell, the graceful and ethereal beauty sitting beside her, like a snow lotus, slowly turned her gaze toward him.

"Let me introduce her to you—"

"Surely this beautiful immortal before me is the chief disciple of the main sect, the sect leader's direct apprentice, Senior Sister Shen Shuanglian?"

At Chen Yin's words, a peculiar glint flashed briefly in Shen Shuanglian's bright eyes, though she quickly concealed it.

"Oh, so you already knew," his master pouted.

"As expected, you male disciples get particularly attentive around pretty immortals."

Chen Yin respectfully clasped his hands, "I've long heard of Immortal Shen's extraordinary talent. In just over a decade of cultivating, she has reached the Unrestricted Realm, as strong as the sect elder. Who in the world of cultivation hasn't heard of the Frost Moon Sword Immortal, Immortal Shen?"

Shen Shuanglian's lips parted slightly as though she would speak, but then she fell silent, her gaze slowly lowering.

"…You flatter me."

"Heh," his master's gaze turned teasing, "For once, you're not spouting nonsense to a beautiful woman."

"Since you know Immortal Shen's identity, I assume you also know why she's here?"

"I've heard some." Chen Yin nodded.

Essentially, the main sect had come to select talented disciples from branch sects to bring into their ranks. It was a common practice across most sects.

In truth, Chen Yin's talent was hardly exceptional. 

He possessed a rare, ancient constitution known as the Immeasurable Root. 

While the name sounded impressive, it wasn't very useful. 

The sect likely found his unusual constitution interesting and was curious enough to bring him in.

The Immeasurable Root was slow in every way. 

Slow to cultivate, slow to learn techniques, slow to strengthen. 

Even ancient records failed to fully understand this peculiar trait.

"Well then, no need for further introductions,"

His master yawned behind a tiny hand, speaking in a young, unaffected voice, "Dealing with this serious girl is exhausting, so let's get to the point."

"Do you wish to go to the main sect for further training?"

Shen Shuanglian looked at him, an unreadable expression in her eyes.

Their gazes met, and a torrent of emotion swelled within Chen Yin—guilt, regret, sorrow.

Everything had stemmed from the last life, from his decision to join the main sect.

After collecting his thoughts, Chen Yin calmly met Shen Shuanglian's gaze, bowing slightly with an apologetic tone.

"My apologies, Senior Sister Shen,"

"This junior has shallow cultivation and limited ability. Joining the main sect would only waste its resources."

"I cannot bear to part from my master and junior sister and only wish to cultivate peacefully here on Yushan Mountain."

At his response, a trace of melancholy flickered through Shen Shuanglian's eyes, and she almost spoke impulsively:

"Do you… not wish to come with me?"

Even Shen Shuanglian herself hadn't realized the meaning behind her words.

Chen Yin replied with a courteous smile, "Apologies."

"My master is carefree to the extreme. Without someone nearby to care for her, she'd cause utter chaos; and my junior sister is still young, too immature to look after her."

"My heart is tied here; I can't leave."

His master suddenly chuckled. "It seems you're taking the chance to roast me,"

"But you do have a bit of filial piety, it seems."

"So that's it. My boy won't leave his master. Go back and inform Old Man Wu Xun to look for someone else."

She even waved her hand dismissively, "No need to see her off."

Shen Shuanglian wasn't bothered in the least by the Immortal Yu Ling's brusqueness. Her bright eyes briefly lingered on Chen Yin, and after a moment's hesitation, she finally said,

"…Understood. I will inform my master."

Bowing respectfully, she withdrew from the hall.

As she passed by Chen Yin, her complex gaze lingered on him, but Chen Yin remained unbothered, maintaining a calm smile. The two brushed shoulders, neither saying a word.

—

After Shen Shuanglian left, Chen Yin's face fell.

He stretched lazily, grumbling, "Whew~ the number one beauty in the cultivation world, and she only said a few words the whole time."

"Such icy coolness."

"Heh. I thought you'd be thrilled to go with such a beauty," his master, Yu Ling, teased, reclining sloppily in her chair, her loose silk robe sliding off her shoulder to reveal smooth, delicate skin.

"Oh, not at all, Master," Chen Yin shamelessly scooted over to give her a shoulder massage.

"What's some so-called fairy compared to you? She's just a little girl with barely any maturity."

"Master, you're the true peerless beauty, a true stunner."

"No matter how much I enjoy beauty, I can still tell the difference between a young girl and a true beauty."

"Oh, really now," Yu Ling arched her eyebrows, pouting like a little girl, "What's this, are you calling me old?"

"How could I, Master still has the appearance of a child, you know."

"Oh, so you're a closet lolicon?"

"…Master, that's… illegal," Chen Yin joked.

Yu Ling wrinkled her nose with a humph.

"You brat. I took you in to cultivate and become an immortal, not to waste your time flirting with every pretty face you meet!"

"That depends on the person," Chen Yin replied seriously. "Only someone as stunning as you could sway me. Ordinary beauties don't even come close."

Raising a brow, Yu Ling reached out a smooth, baby-soft finger to hook his chin gently.

"Boy, are you flirting with your master?"

"Aren't you afraid I'll use you as a cultivation tool and toss you aside when I'm done?"

"Please do," Chen Yin said earnestly.

Realizing she couldn't out-flirt her shameless disciple, Yu Ling pursed her lips in mild annoyance, muttering:

"Fine. But with your scrawny build, I'd drain you dry in two seconds."

"And all my hard work in raising you would be wasted."

Chen Yin joked, "But just now, Master's little pet nearly got snatched away by the main sect."

"That's because I knew you wouldn't betray me,"

Yu Ling proudly lifted her chin.

"And for that, I thank you for your faith, Master."

Chen Yin smiled, but inside he felt a strange bitterness.

—In his past life, he hadn't understood.

He hadn't recognized the hesitation in his master's expression when he agreed to leave for the main sect with Senior Sister.

Looking back now, it was probably sadness.