Upon hearing the familiar voice, Meng Shuying abruptly looked up. However, when she saw who had arrived, the light in her eyes dimmed.
Only Xie Hanzhu had come; Su Luowei was not with her.
Xie Hanzhu herself didn't know how to face Meng Shuying, so she simply turned her head away, deliberately avoiding her gaze, and addressed Wen Miaomiao instead. "I am Xie Hanzhu from Yanmo Peak. The Sect Leader has sent me to fetch you."
Wen Miaomiao respectfully bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Leading Wen Miaomiao, Xie Hanzhu walked a few steps before suddenly stopping and turning back to Meng Shuying. "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Meng Shuying shook her head.
She had nothing to ask.
The Sect Leader had chosen not to accept her as a disciple, surely for her own reasons.
She only felt a deep sense of loss, feeling that she had failed to live up to Senior Sister's expectations.
After Xie Hanzhu left with Wen Miaomiao, Meng Shuying was left alone in the hall.
She waited for another half-hour before a disciple dressed in Qionghua Peak's robes finally arrived.
It was Jiang Ye, who appeared impatient upon seeing that Meng Shuying was the only one left. "You must be Meng Shuying. Come with me."
Qingxu Peak was situated in the middle of Qingxu Mountain, equidistant from the other three peaks, while Yanmo Peak stood opposite Qionghua Peak.
Meng Shuying silently followed Jiang Ye. As they walked, she couldn't help but glance back, watching as Yanmo Peak grew more distant, her heart filled with indescribable melancholy.
Midway, Jiang Ye suddenly spoke, "How long did you stay at Yanmo Peak?"
"Three years," Meng Shuying replied.
"Three years, huh." Jiang Ye sneered. "You stayed for three years and still didn't catch the Sect Leader's eye. Useless."
She turned her head slightly to give Meng Shuying a sideways glance, deliberately adding, "This time, Yanmo Peak had the first choice of disciples. Our peak master originally favored Wen Miaomiao, but since the Sect Leader chose her first, we had no choice but to accept you. Now that you're at Qionghua Peak, you're one of us. Don't harbor any divided loyalties."
Meng Shuying didn't seem to understand her warning. She pressed her lips together and remained silent, following Jiang Ye without a word.
Seeing Meng Shuying reminded Jiang Ye of the slap she received from the Sect Leader.
It was all this useless Meng Shuying's fault—if she had won the favor of Zhan Xuehan and Su Luowei, the peak master wouldn't have been angry, and Jiang Ye wouldn't have been punished.
Filled with resentment, Jiang Ye quickened her pace.
Although Meng Shuying had awakened her spiritual roots, she had yet to begin cultivating and was still considered a mortal. She had to nearly run to keep up with Jiang Ye.
By the time they reached Qionghua Peak, Jiang Ye was still composed, while Meng Shuying was panting heavily, her hair disheveled.
Kneeling on the ground, she looked pitiful compared to Min Lanmeng, who reclined on her couch in luxurious palace attire.
Min Lanmeng cast a casual glance at Meng Shuying before turning her attention back to a hibiscus flower before her.
After examining the flower for a while, she lazily extended her hand, and Yu Qing, standing nearby, immediately handed her a pair of golden scissors.
Min Lanmeng took the scissors and cut off the best-looking hibiscus bloom. Then, holding the flower, she compared it to her reflection.
She was exceptionally beautiful, with a face like a silver plate and a round, full moon-like countenance. She looked less like a cultivator and more like a pampered imperial consort.
Her tone was lofty as she spoke. "I thought, after three years at Yanmo Peak, you would have satisfied Su Luowei. But I didn't expect that today, she would be the one to tell Zhan Xuehan not to take you."
"I originally thought you might not be willing to come to Qionghua Peak, but it seems…"
She covered her mouth and laughed lightly. "You're nothing but a stray dog."
Stray dog.
These words struck Meng Shuying's heart, nearly shattering it.
Was it really Senior Sister who didn't want her?
But… why?
She suddenly recalled how, before leaving, Xie Hanzhu had asked if she had anything she wanted to know.
Now she understood.
Xie Hanzhu had known that Senior Sister had chosen Wen Miaomiao over her.
That's why she asked if she had any questions.
Meng Shuying's mind went blank.
So it was Senior Sister who didn't want her.
But…
What could she ask?
What right did she have to ask?
After comparing the hibiscus flower to herself, Min Lanmeng seemed dissatisfied. She held the flower and asked Yu Qing, "Which is more beautiful, me or the flower?"
"Of course, Master is more beautiful," Yu Qing answered without hesitation. "Master's beauty is renowned. Who in the world doesn't know?"
Min Lanmeng seemed pleased with this response. Her gaze fell back on Meng Shuying, still kneeling below. She tossed the hibiscus flower at Meng Shuying's feet.
"Do you see? You're like this flower—abandoned by your former master because you're not as good as others. I only took pity on you and kindly picked you up. From now on, stay quietly at Qionghua Peak, and I won't mistreat you."
Kneeling on the ground, Meng Shuying clenched her fists, her head bowed. After a long silence, just as Min Lanmeng was beginning to lose patience, she finally lowered her head to the cold floor and responded, "Yes."
Night had fallen, and the clouds covered the moon. Yanmo Peak was silent, with only a few faint lights glowing in some rooms.
In the distance, the mountains merged with the darkness, becoming indistinguishable.
Su Luowei opened her window and stood by it, listening to the rustling of the trees in the courtyard as the moonlight cast shadows.
The reason she hadn't gone to bed was that she was waiting.
Waiting for what? Naturally, she was waiting for the system to notify her that the task had been completed.
Meng Shuying had already gone to Qionghua Peak, yet the system still hadn't informed her that the task was complete, which made Su Luowei uneasy.
Perhaps there was another reason why she couldn't find peace.
But what exactly it was, Su Luowei couldn't say.
Just then, she heard a familiar sound of footsteps.
Someone was walking through the moonlight toward her window.
The clear light shone on the figure's face, illuminating it with a soft glow.
It was Meng Shuying.
Meng Shuying stood outside her window, looking at her.
She was only fifteen, still young, and couldn't hide her thoughts or the feelings that kept her awake at night.
So she had sneaked back to Yanmo Peak under the cover of darkness.
Unexpectedly, upon her return, she found Su Luowei standing by the window.
But her expression was calm, like the surface of a lake under the moon, concealing all her emotions deep within.
Unlike herself, whose eyes were filled with anxiety.
Meng Shuying stared at Su Luowei for a long while before she couldn't help but step forward and say, "The night is cold and damp. Why haven't you gone to bed, Senior Sister?"
Su Luowei quietly observed her, taking note of her hair, dampened by the dew. After a long pause, she finally asked in return, "You are now a disciple of Qionghua Peak. Why have you come to Yanmo Peak in the middle of the night?"
"Because I don't want to go to Qionghua Peak," Meng Shuying blurted out.
After the first sentence, the rest came more easily. "Senior Sister, you know that I don't want to go to Qionghua Peak. I only want to stay at Yanmo Peak."
"Do you no longer wish to cultivate?" Su Luowei asked softly.
Meng Shuying closed her eyes, then reopened them, suppressing the tears that threatened to fall.
"If cultivating means leaving Yanmo Peak, then I'd rather not cultivate."
"Nonsense!" Su Luowei suddenly raised her voice, scolding her.
"Do you think cultivation is a joke, something you can decide on a whim?"
Since arriving in this world, Su Luowei had never lost her temper with Meng Shuying. She had always been calm and composed. But now, Meng Shuying was too stunned to respond, standing there in silence.
Seeing that Meng Shuying seemed frightened, Su Luowei pressed her lips together, calming herself before speaking again. "Since you've been accepted as an inner disciple of Qionghua Peak, you should focus on your cultivation."
She paused, a flicker of sadness passing through her eyes.
"If you truly don't want to cultivate, I'll go to the Sect Leader tomorrow and ask her to let you leave the mountain and live as a mortal."
To live as a mortal, away from the strife of the cultivation world, leading a peaceful and tranquil life.
At that moment, Su Luowei genuinely considered this option.
Even if it meant failing her task, being punished by the system, and never returning to the real world.
She couldn't bear the thought of Meng Shuying's life being ruined because of her own selfishness.
But these words struck Meng Shuying like a bolt of lightning.
Senior Sister was going to send her down the mountain!
If she stayed at Qionghua Peak, she would at least have a chance to see Senior Sister again.
But if she left Qingxu Sect and returned to the mortal world as an ordinary person, she would never see Senior Sister again in her life.
The thought brought tears to Meng Shuying's eyes.
Not wanting Su Luowei to see her weakness, she turned her head away to hide her tears. After a long while, she choked out, "I understand… Senior Sister's intentions… I'll focus on cultivating at Qionghua Peak…"
Finally, she had come to terms with it, and Su Luowei secretly sighed in relief.
Seeing Meng Shuying turn her head away, not wanting to look at her, she reached out and, through the window, gently patted Meng Shuying's head in a comforting gesture.
Meng Shuying had been struggling to hold back her tears, but feeling the soft touch on her head, they flowed uncontrollably.
She turned back, hope flickering in her tear-filled eyes as she cautiously asked, "Was it the Sect Leader who chose to take Wen Miaomiao as her disciple?"
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Su Luowei had initially raised her hand to wipe them away.
But hearing her question, Su Luowei's hand stopped mid-air.
"No," she said slowly, lowering her hand.
Meng Shuying's heart tightened, a thin layer of sorrow rising in her eyes.
She heard Su Luowei say, "It was my suggestion."
The world seemed to fall silent.
Meng Shuying looked at her, her gaze lost and unfocused.
Su Luowei's voice was calm, her expression unchanged.
"I suggested to the Sect Leader that she take Wen Miaomiao as her disciple."
Her demeanor was so natural, as if she were simply standing before Meng Shuying on a regular afternoon, holding a book, and saying, "Let's review yesterday's lessons."
But the words she spoke twisted Meng Shuying's heart into knots.
"Wen Miaomiao reaching the top of Wénxiān Platform proves her talent. Compared to you, Yanmo Peak needs her more."
Su Luowei saw Meng Shuying tremble as if she could barely stand. Her heart ached, but she forced herself to remain firm. "You lack the skill. There's nothing I can do."
If Meng Shuying was determined to walk this path, then Su Luowei would teach her the first lesson.
The Dao is ruthless.
Meng Shuying would face many trials in the future. Su Luowei couldn't always protect her, so she had to harden her heart and show her the harsh reality of the world.
When Meng Shuying left, she felt like a soulless husk.
She had wanted to tell Su Luowei that she could have reached the top of Wénxiān Platform. That she had chosen to give up.
But she feared that Su Luowei would ask why she had given up.
Though Meng Shuying was still naive about matters of the heart, she sensed that seeing Senior Sister so often in the illusions wasn't right.
Moreover, she had a gut feeling.
If she told Senior Sister everything, they wouldn't be able to maintain their current delicate balance.
Meng Shuying walked alone on the deserted mountain path, her mind in turmoil.
Yanmo Peak grew smaller and smaller behind her.
She turned to look at the peak. In the darkness, she could only see its outline.
To her, Senior Sister Luowei was like that mountain. Meng Shuying knew clearly that she was there.
But she couldn't see her clearly.
Just as Meng Shuying's figure disappeared into the darkness, the system chimed in Su Luowei's mind:
[Task Two Complete].
It was as if all the strength had drained from Su Luowei's body. She felt a sudden wave of exhaustion.
She closed the window and turned around, sliding down the wall until she was sitting on the floor.
A sense of loss and powerlessness washed over her like a tide.
Xiao Ba, sensing her low spirits, spoke cautiously.
"Well, at least you completed the task."
Su Luowei hugged her knees, leaning her head against the wall, her eyes staring blankly at nothing.
"This task is done, but what about the next one?"
"The next one…" Xiao Ba hesitated.
"Xiao Ba, treating Meng Shuying this way makes me feel awful."
During the day, when she was with Zhan Xuehan, it wasn't as bad. But back in her room at night, feeling the silence, Su Luowei was suddenly overwhelmed by the realization that from now on, she would be alone.
Completely alone, with no one around.
Xiao Ba sighed and tried to comfort her. "There's nothing you can do. This is Meng Shuying's fate, and you can't change it. If you try to alter her destiny, it will only lead to one outcome: none of us—neither you, me, nor her—will meet a good end."
Logically, Su Luowei knew Xiao Ba was right. Following the set path and completing the tasks was best for both of them.
But what about Meng Shuying?
Had anyone ever asked her if she was willing to accept this fate?
Su Luowei sighed deeply.
Heaven and earth are unkind; they treat all things as straw dogs.
The only way to break free from this trap was to increase her own power.
Over the past three years, through various tests, Su Luowei had discovered that whenever she was in the same room as Zhan Xuehan, Xiao Ba would become unusually silent, almost never appearing.
Su Luowei suspected this was because of Zhan Xuehan's advanced cultivation.
After all, Zhan Xuehan was the most powerful cultivator Su Luowei had encountered, nearly at the Great Vehicle stage.
So Xiao Ba was somewhat afraid of her.
Similarly, the system likely was as well.
Because she was only in the Foundation Establishment stage, with limited cultivation, the system could control and punish her.
But if she could reach the Nascent Soul stage, the system might no longer be able to punish her so easily.
But… cultivation was so difficult.
She had been in this world for three years and had only just reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
And even though she had perfected the Foundation Establishment stage, she had no idea how long it would take to form a Golden Core.
Zhan Xuehan had told her that forming a Golden Core depended entirely on one's fate.
Some people remain stuck in Foundation Establishment for a hundred years, unable to form a Golden Core.
Others might achieve it overnight.
Su Luowei had planned to go into seclusion to cultivate after sending Meng Shuying to Qionghua Peak.
Now, with what had transpired between them, it seemed the timing was just right.
It would allow her to cultivate in peace and avoid facing Meng Shuying for a while—a win-win situation.
Zhan Xuehan wholeheartedly supported Su Luowei's decision to go into seclusion.
"I was worried that you'd find cultivation tedious and be unwilling to enter seclusion. I'm glad to see you've decided on your own. There's a cave dwelling at the back of Yanmo Peak where the spiritual energy is quite dense, perfect for seclusion."
She handed Su Luowei a Heart-Clearing Lamp.
"The moment of forming a Golden Core often hinges on a single thought. This Heart-Clearing Lamp can help you gain insight. It will be beneficial for you to take it with you."
Holding the lamp, Su Luowei recalled that she and Meng Shuying had first met because of this lamp.
After she entered seclusion, she wondered if Meng Shuying would adapt to life on Qionghua Peak.
Su Luowei had wanted to see Meng Shuying before she entered seclusion, but by a strange twist of fate, on the very day she made the decision, news came from Qionghua Peak that its peak master had made progress in her cultivation and would soon face a heavenly tribulation.
To focus on overcoming the tribulation, Min Lanmeng activated the peak's protective formation, restricting entry to all but her closest disciples.
Not knowing how long she would be in seclusion, Su Luowei found Xie Hanzhu and asked her to look after Meng Shuying if Qionghua Peak's formation was lifted before she emerged, so that Meng Shuying's life there wouldn't be too harsh.
Xie Hanzhu readily agreed. In fact, even without Su Luowei's request, she would have found ways to take care of Meng Shuying.
In her opinion, Meng Shuying should never have gone to Qionghua Peak.
With her inability to win people over, she would surely be bullied in a place like Qionghua Peak, where currying favor was the norm.
But these thoughts were hers alone. She wouldn't dare voice them.
Wen Miaomiao had only been in the sect for a short time but had already won everyone's favor. Even Xie Hanzhu couldn't find fault with her.
If Meng Shuying hadn't gone to Qionghua Peak, Wen Miaomiao would have.
Thinking of Wen Miaomiao's innocent and cheerful demeanor, Xie Hanzhu shook her head.
She wasn't suited for Qionghua Peak either.
That delicate flower would be devoured whole.
Between the two, she could only hope that Senior Sister Luowei would emerge from seclusion soon and continue to protect Meng Shuying.