On Inkstone Peak, the weather is like spring all year round. However, the peach blossoms at the foot of the mountain bloom and fall, again and again.
In the blink of an eye, Meng Shuying had already been on the mountain for three years.
The peach trees outside the study remained in full bloom. Su Luowei, dressed in a simple robe, reclined on a soft couch, holding a book in her hand. She would read for a moment before her gaze would drift to Meng Shuying, who was beneath the peach trees.
Meng Shuying was holding a broom, carefully sweeping the fallen petals into a pile.
Compared to when they first met, she had grown significantly taller, almost towering over Su Luowei when they stood together.
The girl's figure had matured, with a slim waist and long legs. Even in the gray robes of a menial disciple, she appeared clean and neat.
Over the past three years, her cooking skills had improved greatly, and her handwriting had become increasingly refined. Even Xie Hanzhu, who was always critical of her, could no longer find any faults.
Just as Su Luowei was thinking about Xie Hanzhu, she saw someone approaching slowly from a distance—it was indeed Xie Hanzhu.
Xie Hanzhu wore a moon-white robe, her hair fully tied up with a ribbon, leaving only a finger-width strand on either side of her cheeks, giving her a slightly carefree look.
Xie Hanzhu had also matured quite a bit by now. No longer causing trouble everywhere, she had learned to settle down and cultivate, just like Su Luowei.
However, for some unknown reason, she always seemed displeased with Meng Shuying. Every time she came here and saw her, her expression turned sour, and she would occasionally make sarcastic remarks.
When Meng Shuying was shorter than her, Xie Hanzhu would say she was just eating without growing and would eventually become a little fatty.
But as Meng Shuying grew taller and even surpassed her, Xie Hanzhu stopped mentioning height.
Su Luowei didn't have many friends in the Qingxu Sect. In these three years, aside from Zhan Xuehan, it was only Xie Hanzhu who often visited. Seeing Xie Hanzhu approaching, she called out to Meng Shuying, saying, "Make more dishes today."
Meng Shuying was familiar with Xie Hanzhu, who often came over to mooch off meals.
She gathered the peach blossoms into a pile, set aside the broom, and turned to head towards the kitchen.
Hearing Su Luowei's words, Xie Hanzhu walked up to the window, smiling, and asked through the carved window lattice, "Senior Sister Luowei, is there any wine to drink today?"
Su Luowei chuckled lightly, "You know where the wine is. Go dig it up yourself."
This was exactly what Xie Hanzhu was waiting for. She laughed heartily, walked to the peach tree, rolled up her sleeves, and squatted down. In no time, she dug out a small wine jar from the ground.
Meng Shuying moved quickly, and soon the dishes were ready.
Xie Hanzhu, holding the wine jar, entered and saw only four dishes on the table. She pouted and complained to Su Luowei, "Senior Sister, look, she did this on purpose. She knows I'm drinking today, yet she made such light dishes."
Meng Shuying glanced at the wine jar in Xie Hanzhu's arms, frowned slightly but said nothing. She turned back to the kitchen and shortly returned with a plate of sliced smoked spirit-deer meat.
Only then did Xie Hanzhu nod in satisfaction.
The three of them sat around the table. Xie Hanzhu shook the wine jar a few times before removing the seal, and the aroma of the wine filled the air instantly.
She took a deep breath, her face showing an expression of intoxication. "Senior Sister's wine smells the best. The wine I've had elsewhere just doesn't compare."
Hearing this, Meng Shuying glared at her, saying, "Since you have wine elsewhere, why do you still come here to beg for it?"
"You little brat, why do you care so much?" Xie Hanzhu retorted unhappily, "She's my senior sister. I'll come if I want to. What does that have to do with you?"
She squinted her eyes, sizing up Meng Shuying, her tone unfriendly, "Senior Sister didn't say anything, yet you're acting like the mistress of the house."
While the two bickered, Su Luowei acted as if she hadn't heard a thing, picking up a pearl dumpling and placing it in her bowl.
Every time Xie Hanzhu came for a meal, she would invariably take a jab at Meng Shuying.
Initially, Meng Shuying didn't dare to retaliate, silently enduring the teasing.
That was until one day when Xie Hanzhu accidentally let it slip that she had advised Su Luowei to send Meng Shuying away.
—Originally, Xie Hanzhu hadn't agreed with keeping Meng Shuying around. She thought Meng Shuying, being a mortal, wouldn't be of much use.
But after tasting Meng Shuying's cooking a couple of times, she never mentioned sending her away again.
Though they were cultivators, they couldn't entirely rid themselves of earthly desires.
Normally, they ate spiritual pills because the food from the large kitchen was so unappetizing that it was better not to eat at all.
Previously, Meng Shuying hadn't known about this and had endured whatever Xie Hanzhu said in silence.
But after this incident came to light, Meng Shuying held a grudge for a long time, giving Xie Hanzhu a cold shoulder whenever she came over for meals and deliberately making dishes she didn't like.
It wasn't until Xie Hanzhu personally went down the mountain and brought back the brewing starter that Su Luowei had longed for that Meng Shuying's attitude improved a bit.
Su Luowei used the starter, along with peach blossoms and spiritual rice, to brew more than ten jars of wine, which she buried under the peach trees.
After Xie Hanzhu tasted it once, she became obsessed, frequently coming to ask for more.
A few days ago, Meng Shuying had secretly counted the jars. Out of the original batch, only six were left!
Now that Xie Hanzhu had unearthed another jar today, there were only five left!
But since Su Luowei hadn't said anything, Meng Shuying felt she had no right to complain.
Seeing Meng Shuying's displeasure, Xie Hanzhu happily picked up a piece of spirit-deer meat and popped it into her mouth. She then placed two glass cups on the table, filling them both with wine.
These glass cups were something Xie Hanzhu had specially found. Completely transparent and cool to the touch, they perfectly displayed the wine's fragrance.
The wine in the cups was crystal clear, without the slightest impurity, filling the glass cups beautifully.
Su Luowei picked up her cup and took a small sip, leaving a sheen of liquid on her lips.
Meng Shuying alternated her gaze between Su Luowei and Xie Hanzhu before expressionlessly lowering her head and placing a large spoonful of food into her own bowl.
Seeing her like this, Xie Hanzhu found it extremely amusing. She laughed and said to Su Luowei, "She's not that young anymore. Can't she drink a little?"
Su Luowei glanced at Meng Shuying, who was looking at her expectantly.
"She's only fifteen," Su Luowei responded helplessly to her friend.
"Fifteen isn't young," Xie Hanzhu said with a mischievous grin, "If she were down the mountain, she'd be old enough to marry."
As if thinking of something, she looked Meng Shuying up and down, then added with a laugh, "If you have someone you fancy, you might as well tell me. I could sound them out for you."
Meng Shuying rolled her eyes at her and turned away, no longer paying her any attention.
She didn't have anyone she fancied, nor did she want to get married. She just wanted to stay on Inkstone Peak and be with her senior sister, Su Luowei.
Su Luowei wasn't a heavy drinker. After three cups, she asked Meng Shuying to put away the glass cups.
Xie Hanzhu, squinting and holding the wine jar, grumbled, "You're drinking in your own place. What's the harm in getting drunk? Even if you do, Meng Shuying can just help you back to your room to rest."
She reached out to refill Su Luowei's cup as she spoke.
Su Luowei covered the cup's mouth with her fingers, preventing Xie Hanzhu from pouring more wine.
"It's not about getting drunk; I just don't like losing control after drinking."
A few months ago, Xie Hanzhu had gotten drunk at her place and caused quite a commotion. Su Luowei recalled how Xie Hanzhu had squatted under the peach tree after getting drunk, crying her eyes out while cradling fallen petals, and felt a bit helpless.
She took the wine jar from Xie Hanzhu and handed it to Meng Shuying to put away, then said to Xie Hanzhu, "You're not allowed to drink anymore, either."
Xie Hanzhu didn't dare to argue with Su Luowei. She could only widen her eyes and glare at Meng Shuying, her gaze filled with warning.
However, Meng Shuying didn't even glance at her, calmly picking up the wine jar and glass cups before heading to the kitchen.
Meng Shuying carefully resealed the wine jar, then took out a copper kettle. She added a few spoonfuls of spiritual spring water from the back mountain into the kettle and placed it on a small charcoal stove, quietly waiting for the water to boil.
Once the water boiled, she brewed a cup of tea for both Su Luowei and Xie Hanzhu.
For Su Luowei, she prepared her usual Cloud Top Maojian, while for Xie Hanzhu, it was just a regular green tea.
Xie Hanzhu looked at her own cup of green tea, which was dark green and unappealing, then at the tender and vibrant Maojian in Su Luowei's cup, her brows furrowing deeply.
"Meng Shuying, your favoritism is too obvious."
Meng Shuying ignored her, standing quietly behind Su Luowei with her eyes downcast. No matter what Xie Hanzhu said, she remained unmoved.
Su Luowei, holding her cup, blew gently on the floating foam, interrupting Xie Hanzhu's complaints, "You haven't told me yet—what brings you here today?"
Xie Hanzhu mimicked Su Luowei's actions, lifting her cup, then glanced coolly at Meng Shuying standing behind her, saying cryptically, "There's something I want to discuss with you alone."
The implication was that Meng Shuying should leave.