"SEVENTH YOUNG MISS, there are a number of packages and letters for you," said Butler Chen. He was standing before the closed door, while several servants stood behind him carrying the packages.
"Packages? Lily has packages?" Tianrui looked curiously at the boxes beautifully decorated with ribbons on top. They weren't just packages—they looked more like gifts.
Butler Chen smiled and greeted him. "These are gifts for the Seventh Young Miss's upcoming Soul Core Test."
"That many?" Tianrui was surprised. "Did they come from Father?" Other than that guy, he couldn't think of anyone who would give Lily gifts.
Butler Chen simply shook his head and did not elaborate on the origin of the gifts.
"You can put them inside my room," said Lily languidly. She yawned as she opened the door wide. After receiving lessons from Concubine Qin early in the morning, she had gone back to sleep.
It was already afternoon, and she would've continued sleeping if no one had disturbed her.
After bringing in the ten packages and placing the letters on Lily's table, Butler Chen and the servants left.
Only Tianrui remained, sneaking glances through the doorway.
"You can come in too if you want," said Lily while scanning the letters. After seeing the names of the senders, she hid them inside the drawer.
"I didn't know someone you knew would give you such extravagant gifts," said Tianrui, sounding a little bitter.
Even Lily received gifts.
Yet he couldn't even receive one from his mother.
"You can take one box if you want."
"Why would I take something from you? They're yours!"
"I know. I was just testing you."
"..." Tianrui didn't know why he still kept coming to Tianli despite her hateful personality. "How stingy," he murmured.
Lily ignored him and opened one box after another. When she had finished opening everything, she took something from one of the boxes and handed it to Tianrui.
"What is this?" asked Tianrui, unconsciously accepting the item.
"A sword."
Tianrui frowned. He gave the little silver cross in his hand a doubtful look and felt that Tianli was messing with him again.
"I know I'm not that smart, but you can't make a fool of me like this," said Tianrui with a glare.
Lily found him amusing.
"You've been staying with Father, and now you have self-awareness. That's a good improvement."
Without waiting for Tianrui's reply, she took the cross, pricked his finger, and smeared the blood onto it.
A light flashed.
Seconds later...
Nothing happened.
"Why did you wound me?" Tianrui finally reacted, blowing on his finger.
"It's a wound, not a burn." Lily shook her head. "Anyway... toss it! Toss it!"
Her eyes shone with excitement as she urged Tianrui to throw the cross. She even demonstrated the motion by tossing her own hand upward.
He didn't want to do it, but seeing such an expression on her face for the first time, he did as she said.
Another flash of light appeared.
This time, the cross transformed into a sword that landed in the stunned Tianrui's hands.
"This isn't the usual sword Warriors use, but you can practice with it if you're going to choose the Martial Path," explained Lily.
"T-This... this is mine?"
Lily nodded.
"To own an artifact, one must bind it through blood. Once it's bound, no one else can use it."
The boxes contained clothes and jewelry.
Only two boxes contained artifacts that could be used by anyone, even without a Soul Core.
She didn't like swords and preferred using her fists. The others were magical artifacts that weren't really appropriate for someone who planned to choose the Martial Path.
She had received many magical artifacts last year, and sometimes used them to sneak out of either the estate or the Tower.
The double she had used to fool her father when she was "kidnapped" by Bai Yichen had been created using one of those magical artifacts.
Other than escaping, she didn't really know how to use them.
She had actually been thinking of giving them to Lu Jingxuan, but she always forgot. Besides, someone at his level of cultivation probably had no use for such toys.
Tianrui didn't know what to say.
All he knew was that he was fascinated by the sword, and an overwhelming feeling of joy flooded his chest.
"T-Thank you," he whispered, gripping the sword tightly.
"You're welcome," replied Lily.
She returned to rummaging through the remaining two boxes. It would be unfair if only Tianrui received a gift. Her three other brothers would be taking the test with them, so she should give them something as well.
Tianrui transformed the sword back into a cross and carefully hid it in the most secure pocket of his robe.
"What are you doing?" he asked, looking curiously at the box that was tall enough to reach Lily's shoulders.
"Looking for gifts for Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Brother."
Tianrui pouted. "Why bother with them? They didn't even come to greet you."
"At least they won't curse my name and swear to kill me."
Tianrui paled.
"Do you dislike me now?"
"Not really."
Lily emerged from the box with a grimoire in her hands.
Why is there a grimoire here?
She wasn't a mage, and her chosen path was the Martial Path.
So she put it back and rummaged through the box again. She looked like she was diving into it.
"I'm sorry," said Tianrui.
Their father had lectured him about his behavior, and he knew he had been wrong.
It was just that he had been too ashamed and too prideful to apologize to Lily.
Yet Lily had done nothing but support him and even gave him such a wonderful gift.
Aside from her mouth, everything about this sister was good.
"Apology accepted," Lily's muffled voice came from inside the box.
Finally, she emerged with three artifacts in her hands.
"Found them."
The right gifts, that is.
The day of the Soul Core Test had finally arrived.
The Pei Clan Estate was busier than usual. Concubine Qin had to ensure the children looked presentable while overseeing the preparations for the celebration that would be held later that evening.
The three brothers were already waiting by the gate. They were dressed in dark blue robes trimmed with silver embroidery, their hair tied neatly with silver hairpieces bearing the clan's insignia.
None of them spoke or even bothered greeting one another.
Soon, Lily arrived.
She wore a crimson robe embroidered with delicate silver patterns over a white inner robe. Her crimson hair was tied into a half-up style, secured by an exquisite silver hairpin set with a crimson crystal.
Concubine Qin noticed the hairpin and didn't remember including such a stunning piece among Lily's accessories.
Lily caught her looking at it and said, "I was told to wear this."
With that, Concubine Qin asked no further questions. She remembered the ten packages from yesterday and left the matter alone.
"Seventh Sister," the three greeted.
Lily took several gifts from her storage pouch.
She walked toward the twins, who were standing closer, and handed each of them a ring.
The two smiled.
They were still smiling after receiving the rings.
The Seventh and Eighth Young Masters looked at each other, blinked once, then lowered their gazes to the rings in their hands.
When it was the Fifth Brother's turn, Lily stopped and simply stared at him.
Pei Tianze stared back.
The two silently looked at each other until someone announced Lord Pei's arrival.
Only then did Lily return the ring to her pouch and take out a bracelet instead, then handed it to him.
After that, she turned toward Lord Pei, who was approaching with two concubines following behind him.
"I thought you were dead."
"Shut up," Lord Pei replied, glaring at Lily.
Lily shrugged.
She hadn't seen him since the incident involving Concubine Su and hadn't even sensed his presence within the estate.
She had almost thought he had died of heartbreak.
Her gaze then shifted to the two concubines behind him.
They looked like peacocks.
Their dresses looked—
She opened her mouth to comment, but Concubine Qin beat her to it.
"What did I teach you these past few days?"
Lily obediently closed her mouth.
Concubine Qin didn't care how Lily spoke to Lord Pei. Whether to reprimand his daughter was Lord Pei's responsibility alone.
However, matters concerning the household—including the concubines—fell under Concubine Qin's authority. Whenever Lily crossed the line in that regard, she would not hesitate to lecture her.
Not that it mattered much.
Lily would simply do whatever she wanted whenever Concubine Qin wasn't around.