The candle flames in the small withered leaf pavilion had mostly gone out when Guan Mowen returned to find Bai Zhong'an playing chess alone.
"How was it?" Bai Zhong'an asked.
Guan Mowen respectfully bowed and replied, "It seems they haven't noticed anything unusual."
Bai Zhong'an chuckled quietly. "After all, they're still just inexperienced fledglings."
"Indeed," Guan Mowen smiled. "It appears this is the first time for Fairy Yue to venture out, and although Immortal Master Huo is more seasoned, his experience is still limited."
Bai Zhong'an idly moved a few chess pieces, recalling their expressions when the three entered the courtyard.
Huo Chongxiao and Yue Yunqiao clearly didn't recognize the objects in the yard, and only cast curious glances, but his grandniece...
"How has Second Girl been performing over the years?"
Guan Mowen thought for a moment and said, "If I recall correctly, Second Miss is the most gifted among the younger generation. Perhaps because Second Master passed early, she's grown particularly sensible. If anyone from the family can pass the entry examination, it will surely be Second Miss."
Bai Zhong'an seemed surprised. "Is that so? In that case, it seems our family's future may rest on her shoulders."
Guan Mowen laughed. "It's too early to say. Whether Second Miss can reach your level remains unknown. The family still relies on you, sir!"
Bai Zhong'an smiled faintly and turned to his old servant, "Qingru, take the talisman brush from my treasure vault and send it over. Also select some talisman ink, talisman paper, and add a few spirit stones. Without elders watching over her, she must be short on money."
He had always avoided mundane affairs, and such a lavish reward was the first of its kind in the household.
A flicker of surprise crossed Guan Mowen's face, and he commented, "You are most generous, sir."
Bai Zhong'an smiled and shifted his gaze to the courtyard.
Under the Yellow Springs Tree, the Yin-Yang umbrella seemed to sense something and began to spin faster and faster...
On the other side, Bai Siyao had returned to her residence.
This small courtyard, far from the main family line, housed only three people. The old maid sent by the family to care for her was already fast asleep, snoring loudly. A young girl, barely over ten, sat drowsily on a small stool, waiting for Bai Siyao to return.
Seeing her enter, the little girl groggily greeted her, "Miss," and rose to prepare water for her.
Bai Siyao waved her hand, telling her to rest, and attended to washing herself.
Just as she finished, the reward from the withered leaf pavilion arrived—the old man of the house, a Golden Core cultivator, no longer needed sleep and naturally had little regard for others' lower cultivation and mortal routines.
The old servant smiled as he presented the gift, "This talisman brush was bestowed by the masters of Danxia Palace and has been kept in the family vault by the patriarch. The patriarch hopes Second Miss will not disappoint his kind intentions."
Bai Siyao feigned shock and awe, gratefully seeing him out.
After all this, the little maid was wide awake and excited, dancing around Bai Siyao. "Miss, the patriarch has finally recognized you? Does this mean no one will dare slight you anymore?"
Bai Siyao didn't answer, casually tossing her a spirit stone and sending her off to bed.
The little maid was overjoyed. A spirit stone! That was worth more than half a year's wages—her mistress was indeed generous.
With the door closed, Bai Siyao sat under the lamp, inspecting the items.
The talisman brush was indeed of the finest quality, something even ordinary disciples at Danxia Palace couldn't obtain. The talisman ink and paper were superior as well, much better than anything sold in the shops. There were about a hundred spirit stones, which at this moment was a significant fortune for her.
Bai Siyao casually tossed the items on the table and smiled ambiguously.
Was this meant to buy her silence?
She sat in silence for a while before finally opening the gift box and taking out its contents.
She spread the talisman paper, mixed the ink, and began drawing the talismans slowly, stroke by stroke. Though her cultivation wasn't yet sufficient, fortunately, the power of the talismans wasn't limited by her current level, offering a slight advantage.
...
Early the next morning, Bai Siyao was awakened by a commotion.
"Sister Yue?" She was at a loss when she saw the person before her. This Yue Yunqiao—her energy was endless. After staying up so late last night, she had already come this early.
"Bai Sister, how can you sleep so much? Did you damage your soul?" Yue Yunqiao asked with concern.
Bai Siyao rubbed her eyes. "No, I just had lessons last night, so I went to bed a bit late."
"You're so diligent!" Yue Yunqiao admired her. She hated doing lessons herself.
Since she was already awake, Bai Siyao got up to wash.
It had been many years since she lived like an ordinary person; she found it a bit hard to adjust.
Once she finished preparing, she instructed the little maid, "Go to the academy and request a leave of absence for me. Tell them I'm entertaining guests."
The little maid happily agreed and rushed off. Now that her mistress had received gifts from the patriarch, she couldn't wait to show off and stop those who looked down on them from bullying them further.
Huo Chongxiao was already waiting outside. Seeing them come out, he apologized, "Miss Bai, I hope we didn't disturb you. My sister is rather impatient and refused to wait any longer."
Bai Siyao shook her head. "I usually attend lessons as well."
"Where should we go to play?" Yue Yunqiao asked eagerly. "Are there any fun places in Qingyun City?"
Bai Siyao thought carefully for a moment. "How about we visit the Temple of the Matchmaker? I've heard it's quite popular, with many visitors."
For cultivators, such superstitions were nothing more than fanciful beliefs, but that didn't stop them from respecting the hopes and dreams of mortals. After all, everyone needs something to believe in to find happiness.
The Temple of the Matchmaker was located next to the marketplace, with stalls lining the street. At the end stood a great marriage tree, its branches heavy with countless red ribbons hung by those praying for love.
Yue Yunqiao marveled, "There are so many! Do they really work?"
A smiling woman selling ribbons nearby eagerly pitched her wares, "Young lady, the marriage tree of Qingyun City is hundreds of years old, and they say it's incredibly powerful. Write down the name of the person you love, and the Matchmaker will tie your fates together."
Yue Yunqiao replied honestly, "But I don't have anyone I love!"
"Really?" The woman glanced at Huo Chongxiao, then at Bai Siyao, unable to figure out the relationship between the three, so she switched her approach, "Well, you can write any wish instead. They're all deities, after all—they'll surely help in some way."
"Can I do that?"
"Why not?" The woman's enthusiasm grew as she continued, "See that ribbon over there? It was tied by Zeng Laosan from Huaihua Lane. He's a devoted son, and when his mother fell ill, he prayed to every temple in the city, but nothing worked. When he finally prayed here, treating the Matchmaker as a last hope, guess what? Just two days later, his mother recovered!"
"That's right," an old woman selling cold tea chimed in. "And there's Liu Niangzi from Bamboo Street. Her husband gambled away their money and wanted to sell her. She prayed at the Matchmaker's temple for two days, and wouldn't you know it? Her husband won all the money back!"
Such miraculous tales always drew crowds, and soon, people gathered around, each sharing their own story.
As the buzz reached its peak, someone suddenly shouted, "Look! Liu Niangzi has come to offer her thanks!"
Bai Siyao turned to see a thin-faced woman dressed well beyond her means, an odd appearance that suited someone who had just come into sudden wealth.
Beside her, Huo Chongxiao's expression grew serious.
This Liu Niangzi appeared energetic, but her brow was shadowed by a faint trace of dark energy.