Under the soft glow of the moonlight, Shen Xuan and Lu Qingmei sat together on the roof in silence. When Shen Xuan asked why she had come so late at night, Lu Qingmei answered softly,
"I actually came looking for my senior brother… but he isn't here."
Shen Xuan nodded. "Master is away right now."
Lu Qingmei gave a light nod, and then, without warning, she slowly removed the veil from her face.
For a brief moment, Shen Xuan could only stare. Her beauty was beyond words under the silver moonlight, her features shone like those of a goddess who had descended into the mortal world. He was almost enchanted , but he quickly turned his gaze aside, If the others saw this scene, they would go mad with jealousy. To think that the woman admired and desired by countless mens is now sitting beside a brat, alone, in the quiet of the night.
Breaking the silence, Lu Qingmei's voice softened, barely more than a whisper.
"In the punishment hall… I shouldn't have behaved that way. I… I am sorry."
If anyone else had heard her say those words, they would have fainted from shock. Even Clan Head Lu Zhen would likely be stunned. The aloof and cold Punishment Elder, known for never lowering her pride, was apologizing.
Shen Xuan himself was caught off guard, unable to hide his surprise. Seeing his expression, Lu Qingmei's cheeks tinted slightly pink, the faint blush making her look even more breathtaking.
Shen Xuan finally replied, his usually cold voice gentler than usual:
"It's okay, Elder Qing. I misunderstood you as well."
Lu Qingmei felt a strange warmth in her heart, though she purposely tried to cover it with a faint huff. Turning her head aside, she said with a hint of feigned irritation,
"Humph! Am I so old that you insist on calling me Elder? Do you… perhaps despise me?"
Shen Xuan froze, completely at a loss for words. This woman's attitude changed every moment, like shifting clouds—cold one second, gentle the next, and now almost playful.
Seeing Shen Xuan's frustrated expression brought an odd sense of relief to Lu Qingmei. Ever since the incident in the Punishment Hall, she hadn't been able to sleep peacefully. It wasn't even her fault, nor had Shen Xuan's words been meant in malice that day, yet she had acted distant toward him. Now, just the faintest sign of his acceptance gave her a strange, quiet happiness.
After a brief silence, she spoke softly,
"Alright… from now on, just call me Sister Qingmei."
But the moment the words left her lips, Shen Xuan's expression turned cold again. His icy aura returned instantly, as if the gentleness from moments ago had never existed. The sudden shift left Qingmei stunned.
Shen Xuan stood up and, in his usual indifferent tone, said,
"It's late. I'm going to rest."
Without sparing another glance, he stepped off the roof and disappeared into the night.
Qingmei remained seated, confused and slightly hurt. What did I say wrong? Why did he react like that? She tried to reason with herself, but no answer came.
In truth, none of this was her fault. Shen Xuan was simply far too sensitive on this matter. Deep inside, the wounds of his past were still raw. The only two people he had ever truly considered family were Du Hai and Yao Yao.
But everyone he had ever called "his own" had only brought him pain.
His mother and father abandoned him… and his own father even sought his death.
How could he trust anyone after that? Even with someone like Lu Zhen, who had shown him nothing but kindness, Shen Xuan still couldn't fully open his heart.
He had built an unbreakable shell around himself—one that shielded him from betrayal, but also trapped him in his own loneliness.
And the question that lingered in the night was this: Would anyone ever be able to break that shell of him?
The next day at the academy, Shen Xuan sat in the lecture hall, his thoughts drifting far from the lesson. In front of him, Lu Qingmei continued her lecture with her usual composure, but her sharp eyes quickly noticed that Shen Xuan wasn't paying attention. For some reason, his absent look irritated her more than she cared to admit.
After class, Shen Xuan decided he would visit Dan Peak to obtain some pills. Lu Zhen wasn't around to guide him, so he figured he should handle it on his own.
A short while later, he stood at the foot of Dan Peak. The peak itself radiated a noble and serene aura. Fragrant medicinal scents filled the air, and the surroundings were so peaceful that it felt as though even time slowed down here.
Almost all of Dan Peak's disciples were women, their elegant robes fluttering like blossoms in the wind. As Shen Xuan walked inside, the scene immediately shifted. The moment he entered the alchemy grounds, countless eyes turned toward him.
His youthful yet imposing figure, the cold aura that set him apart, and the sharpness in his gaze—it was as if the entire place brightened at his arrival. Female disciples blushed uncontrollably, and a few even lost focus on their pill furnaces, causing them to flare or crack. Whispers spread rapidly, mixed with shy giggles and envious sighs.
Ignoring the stares, Shen Xuan calmly approached a nearby girl. She was delicate, her features soft and refined, clearly a talented alchemist. With his usual indifferent tone, he said,
"Hello, I am Shen Xuan. I want to purchase some pills. Could you please guide me to where I can find them?"
The girl froze, her entire face flushing crimson as if her blood had ignited. Even her ears turned red, her composure breaking apart under his direct gaze. Just as she was about to stammer out a reply, her jade communication ring pulsed with light.
Glancing down at the message, her eyes widened. Looking back at Shen Xuan, she whispered nervously,
"Y-you don't need to buy them here. The Peak Master has summoned you directly… She asked that you come to her hall, at the very top of Dan Peak."
Shen Xuan gave her a simple nod.
"Thank you."
That single word, spoken in his calm and steady voice, only made the girl blush harder, her heart fluttering wildly. Around them, the other disciples bit their lips in envy, glaring at her as if she had won some unattainable treasure simply by being the one he had spoken to.
Without lingering further, Shen Xuan turned and began making his way toward the grand hall at the summit.
When Shen Xuan arrived before the Dan Peak Master's hall, he was stunned.
Layer upon layer of barriers surrounded the palace-like structure. Each one pulsed with terrifying power, enough to obliterate an intruder in an instant. It was clear this was not a place ordinary disciples could approach. Only the Dan Peak Master herself resided within, and even among the disciples of Dan Peak, only the chief disciple or the most talented female alchemists were ever granted entry.
As Shen Xuan studied the barrier, a female disciple approached, producing a token. With a ripple of light, the barrier parted, opening a path inside. She led Shen Xuan through a fragrant courtyard, where two figures were already waiting.
One was Lu Qingmei, sitting gracefully beneath the pavilion. Beside her sat Lu Yaoqing, the chief disciple of Dan Peak—renowned as a peerless alchemy genius.
The moment Shen Xuan entered, he cupped his hands slightly and greeted,
"Elder Qing."
Something about that formal address pricked at Lu Qingmei's heart. Though she kept her expression calm, inwardly she felt a faint displeasure. Still, she only nodded and gestured for him to sit before making introductions.
"This is Lu Yaoqing, my chief disciple. She is the most talented alchemist on this peak."
Lu Yaoqing's bearing was noble and aloof, yet unlike her master she knew how to handle social interactions. Offering a graceful smile, she said,
"It's an honor to meet you, Shen Xuan."
Shen Xuan only gave a slight nod in response.
That single gesture struck Lu Yaoqing harder than any rejection she had ever faced. She was a beauty celebrated across the continent, courted by countless so-called geniuses… yet this young man had dismissed her with nothing more than a glance. For the first time in her life, bitterness flickered in her heart. Still, in front of her master, she maintained her poise.
Shen Xuan then turned to Lu Qingmei, speaking directly,
"I came to request some pills."
Lu Qingmei sent Yaoqing out with a wave of her hand, leaving the hall silent with only the two of them inside. Her tone softened slightly as she asked,
"What kind of pills do you need?"
Shen Xuan shook his head.
"I'm not sure. I've reached the late stage of Qi Condensation, and my foundation is solid… but I thought some guidance might help."
To his surprise, Lu Qingmei showed no reaction of shock. At fifteen years old, reaching late-stage Qi Condensation was extraordinary—but instead of marveling, she only grew thoughtful.
Her sharp gaze lingered on him.
"Strange. I can't sense your spiritual roots at all. Did Senior Brother do something to conceal them?"
Shen Xuan's expression remained calm as he replied,
"No. My master did nothing. It's just… I don't have any spiritual roots."
Her composure finally wavered.
"Impossible. Without spiritual roots, one cannot cultivate at all."
But then she frowned, reconsidering.
"Or perhaps… your roots are too deep, too special, hidden so far within that they've yet to awaken. If that's the case, you don't need pills, you need opportunity. Forcing a breakthrough too quickly could ruin you. You are still young. What are you rushing toward?"
Her words were gentle, almost concerned, yet Shen Xuan's eyes darkened. Absentmindedly, he murmured,
"Time… I don't have time. I have debts to return… a destiny I never wanted."
Bitterness, anger, and pain flickered across his face, heavy enough to make even Lu Qingmei's heart tighten. But just as quickly, he smoothed his expression, gave a small nod, and said,
"Thank you for your advice, Elder Qing."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out.
From a distance, Lu Yaoqing watched him leave, her lips pressed tightly together. Bitterness clouded her beautiful features, a sting of disappointment rising unbidden in her chest. For someone who had been admired all her life, being ignored was the one thing she could not accept.
But Shen Xuan never even glanced her way. His figure disappeared down the mountain path, returning silently to Thousand Flower Peak.
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