As the evening descended, the courtyard of Elder Du's humble home grew livelier. Soon, a group of twelve girls appeared at the door. Ten of them were young disciples, one was Yaoyao herself, and leading them was her Senior Sister Liu Qinlian.
Liu Qinlian was breathtaking, her beauty was cold yet alluring, like a jade statue sculpted by the heavens themselves. Her silver hair cascaded down gracefully, shimmering under the fading sunlight, while her deep blue eyes carried a strange duality: a gentle warmth hidden beneath a veil of icy coldness. Her figure was perfectly balanced slender, elegant, and yet seductively well-developed, the kind of beauty that could make ordinary men lose control at a single glance. But the icy aura surrounding her kept all such thoughts buried deep, forcing others to look at her face only from a distance, never daring to draw closer.
The rest of the girls were also beautiful in their own way. Each wore white, pale blue, or silver robes embroidered with delicate flowers and lotus patterns, their beauty enhanced by the harmony of their sect attire. Together, they looked like a gathering of fairies who had stepped out of a painting.
The disciples entered respectfully, greeting Elder Du before finding their seats. Warm chatter soon filled the room as the atmosphere grew lively. Elder Du excused himself to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal, leaving the girls to converse.
Meanwhile, Yaoyao excitedly took Shen Xuan's hand and brought him forward. With a bright smile, she introduced him to her fellow disciples.
The disciples of the Jade Lotus Sect always wore thin white veils to cover their faces, yet their beauty still radiated through the delicate veil. As Yaoyao proudly introduced Shen Xuan to each one of them, the girls, amused by the little boy's innocent expression, pulled down their veils one by one, playfully surrounding him.
Only Liu Qinlian kept her veil in place, her cold demeanor making her stand apart from the others. Shen Xuan, though shy at first, greeted each girl with soft nods and quickly became the center of their attention. His youthful face and timid nature only made him seem more adorable in their eyes, earning him gentle laughter and teasing words.
Just then, Elder Du arrived, carrying trays stacked with steaming dishes. Soon, the wooden table was filled to the brim with all sorts of delicacies sizzling meat, fragrant soups, roasted beast parts infused with herbs, and even rare spiritual fruits.
The girls' eyes lit up, and they eagerly sat around the table. "Elder Du, this looks incredible!" one disciple praised.
Another giggled, "It smells better than the sect's food!"
Even Liu Qinlian, who had remained silent until then, slowly removed her veil. For the first time, Shen Xuan caught a full glimpse of her face. If her earlier beauty was like a cold moon hidden by clouds, now it was like the moon unveiled in its full glory peerless and breathtaking. Though she spoke no words, the faint curve of her lips as she tasted the dishes revealed her approval.
After the meal, the courtyard buzzed with laughter as the disciples stepped into the small garden to wait for their Senior Sister. Shen Xuan followed them, and the girls, already fond of him, began to playfully fuss over him treating him like a younger brother they couldn't stop doting on.
Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the house, Elder Du invited Liu Qinlian and Yaoyao into his room. "There is something important I must discuss," Elder Du said. His eyes glanced toward the courtyard where Shen Xuan was playing with girls, before returning to Qinlian's calm, jade-like gaze.
Inside the quiet room, Elder Du, Yaoyao, and Liu Qinlian sat together. For a moment, Elder Du hesitated, unsure of how to begin. His nervousness did not escape Liu Qinlian's sharp gaze. Without a word, she raised her delicate jade-like hand, and a thin, shimmering layer of light spread across the walls of the room.
A soundproof barrier.
Her voice was calm but carried authority. "Elder Du, whatever you wish to say, you may speak freely now. No one outside will hear us."
Yaoyao quickly said, her bright eyes shining with pride. "Grandpa, you might not know, but Sister Qinlian isn't an ordinary disciple. She is the Jade Lotus Sect Leader's personal disciple my Second Senior Sister! She's recognized as a heavenly genius across the continent.
Elder Du nodded heavily, finally gathering his courage. He turned toward Qinlian, his voice filled with sincerity.
"Fairy Qinlian, I have a request. This little boy, Shen Xuan, he is not an ordinary child. Fate has been cruel to him, yet there is something about him that I cannot explain. He is too young now, only five years old, but if left like this, I fear his spirit may one day collapse completely."
He paused, his hands tightening into fists on his knees. "That is why… I wish for you to take him into the Jade Lotus Sect. I know your sect does not accept men, but Shen Xuan is still a child. If he is given guidance, if he is taught the ways of cultivation, perhaps… perhaps he can truly live again.."
Elder Du then revealed everything he knew how he had found Shen Xuan half-dead in the forest, his body torn apart yet miraculously clinging to life. The old man's voice trembled as he narrated everything about shen xuan, each word carrying both sorrow and a faint glimmer of hope.
After listening carefully, Liu Qinlian sat in silence for a long moment. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she let out a soft breath. It was hard for her to believe that a five-year-old child had truly gone through such a cruel fate.
Finally, she raised her clear, calm eyes toward Elder Du. "Elder Du, I understand everything you've said… but this is not a decision I can make. Whether Shen Xuan can enter the Jade Lotus Sect or not it lies in the hands of my Master."
With that, she reached into her storage ring and pulled out a smooth jade communication stone. Light flickered across its surface as she poured her spiritual energy inside, sending a message directly to her Master.
Her Master, the Sect Leader of the Jade Lotus Sect.
Across the continent, people did not know her true name. They only referred to her as the Flower King. To the world, she was a figure of mystery, feared and revered alike. Her strength was unquestionable; the Jade Lotus Sect was counted among the first-class forces, standing equal to the ancient King Clans themselves. Even peak experts treated her with utmost respect, for to provoke the Flower King was to invite certain destruction.
A moment later, Qinlian's communication stone glowed. She lowered her eyes as she listened, then slowly placed it back into her ring. Turning to Elder Du, her voice grew faintly apologetic.
"My Master has spoken. The rules of the Jade Lotus Sect cannot be broken. Male disciples are not allowed entry this has been the way since the sect was founded. She said… she is sorry, but she cannot make an exception, even for the child."
Elder Du's shoulders bend slightly. Though disappointment clouded his expression, there was no anger in his eyes. He simply nodded, forcing a small, bitter smile. "I understand… such rules exist for a reason. How could I expect the Flower King herself to bend them for the sake of one child?"
A heavy silence settled in the room, broken only by his long, weary sigh.
As the night deepened, Liu Qinlian and the rest of the Jade Lotus disciples eventually took their leave, their elegant figures fading into the darkness. Soon, only Elder Du, Yaoyao, and Shen Xuan remained in the quiet little house.
After everyone had left, the house felt quiet. Yaoyao sat beside Elder Du, her small brows furrowing. She let out a soft sigh before speaking in a low voice.
"I thought Master would agree…" she murmured. Then, turning to Elder Du, she asked, "But Grandpa, why are you so eager to send Shen Xuan to a sect? He's still so little…"
Elder Du gave a bitter smile, his old, tired eyes reflecting the weight of decades. "Child my days are numbered. I've grown old, and there's no hope for me to break through anymore. If I manage to live even five more years, that will already be a miracle."
Hearing this, Yaoyao's heart jumped. Her eyes grew wet, and before she could stop herself, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Grandpa, please don't say that! Without you… what will I even do? Who will I have left?"
The old man's hands trembled slightly as he patted her back. His sigh was long and heavy.
"Child," he said softly, "one day you'll have to live your life on your own terms. You're growing up now. I have nothing more to teach you, but remember this every choice you make, think it through carefully. And never neglect your cultivation. This world only respects the strong. If you are weak, it will crush you without mercy."
Yaoyao buried her face against his chest, her tears soaking into his robe, while Elder Du stared at the flickering candlelight, his expression filled with both resolve and quiet sorrow.
Then he added "and you also have to find your parents. They left by saying that they will return but now it is almost 6 years and I wanted to see them before I die but now this seem to be impossible but before searching for them you have to be very powerful I think they are in trouble that's why they cannot come back"
Yaoyao nodded with tears in her eyes.
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