The novice monk left, and outside the courtyard, snowflakes swirled wildly through the air, falling thickly like goose feathers.
Yao Ranran walked to the courtyard gate. The flying snow merged the mountain peaks and sky into a single white expanse.
Through the hazy flurry, she thought she saw a small yellow flower amid the snow. In the blink of an eye, it seemed buried beneath the white, losing its color, leaving only a blank white.
"Pei girl, you've seen enough. Go back and cultivate." Elder Shang's soul body gradually solidified, his aged eyes watching the figure in the snow.
Pei Xianqiao held handfuls of snow, not using her spiritual power to resist the cold, letting her hands turn red from the frostbite.
"I want to look one last time… let me see Brother Fu…"
The young woman murmured softly, wrapping herself in a white cloak and trudging through the snow with her small frame.
"Ah!" Elder Shang sighed helplessly. His soul body silently retreated into his ring, no longer stopping her.
…
"Why is a patch of snow moving forward?" Yao Ranran curiously put a hand to her forehead, observing the mobile snow.
"Oh, it's a person!"
She vaguely discerned a human figure, but paid it little attention, casually closing the courtyard gate and muttering: "Wearing white in a snowstorm, not afraid of being crushed by a sword-wielding cultivator?"
Shaking her head, Yao Ranran decided she must avoid such unnecessary accidents.
She turned back into the warm interior. Tang Xiangyin and Zhou Lili had just brought over hot food.
Climbing Yiyu Peak, Pei Xianqiao had no idea her disguise had been seen through. She carefully drew her cloak tighter, keeping her three thousand black hairs hidden.
"Elder Shang, my hair is properly hidden, right?" she asked anxiously.
Elder Shang poked half his head out, nodding. "Rest assured. This snow fox cloak is made from the pelt of a Nascent Soul fox demon. The fox demon is naturally skilled in charm and illusions. Even Brother Fu, whom you admire, cannot see through the true body beneath the cloak."
He spoke proudly, glancing at her with satisfaction.
The Pei girl truly had incredible fortune. Even a Nascent Soul fox demon cloak was available at her disposal. How could that girl Yao Ranran ever compete with her?
Her worries were unnecessary. Yet, she was young; she needed to face inner demons and challenges to grow. Let Yao Ranran become a stepping stone for her development—that was fine.
Elder Shang smiled proudly, his gaze contemptuous as he looked at the closing courtyard gate.
From his excellent vantage, he could see a pair of clear eyes through the door gap, seemingly staring at him in confusion…
"Impossible, impossible!"
Startled, Elder Shang muttered his thoughts aloud.
"Elder Shang, what do you mean impossible?" Pei Xianqiao leapt over fallen stones blocking her path, puzzled.
Elder Shang did not answer immediately. Supporting himself with both hands on the ring, he jumped out, squinting at the closed courtyard gate, and exhaled in relief.
"It's nothing. I must have been mistaken."
It seemed to be just a coincidence.
…
After eating and drinking to her satisfaction, Yao Ranran reclined with Tang Xiangyin and Zhou Lili in bamboo loungers, eyes drooping, half asleep.
Until a bird with a fish-like tail pecked violently at the wooden door, the harsh noise waking them.
"What foolish bird brought itself here as a snack?"
Yao Ranran flicked out a ring, pulling the noisy bird close, eyes greedy.
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
The bird seemed to understand and struggled violently.
"You dare call us trash? Let's roast you now!" Yao Ranran tossed it to Zhou Lili, who grabbed it, only to be pecked across her fingers.
Zhou Lili glared in anger. "Even a bit of intelligence would tell you disturbing a peaceful dream is a grave sin!"
The scene shifted, vibrant feathers sizzling over the fire.
Zhou Lili licked her lips, still unsatisfied. "The bird meat is tender, but too little."
Yao Ranran hesitated, glancing at the remains. The "Yu" character on the carcass was half burned, the "Wu" character barely visible.
She had only intended to scare the bird. She hadn't expected Zhou Lili's temper to be fiercer than hers—pecked a few times and she roasted it.
Still…
Yao Ranran wiped oil from her lips, inhaled the aroma, savoring the flavor. "This bird tastes amazing."
"Burp—next time I return to Gu Ling Mountain, I'll bring a few of Central Continent's specialty birds back for breeding!" Tang Xiangyin burped openly, patting her belly in contentment.
Zhou Lili giggled. "Miss Tang actually burped, hahaha!"
"Hehe, the bird tastes incredible…" Tang Xiangyin scratched her head shyly, not denying it.
Amid cheerful laughter, the colorful long-tailed bird in Yu family's aviary shrieked, raising its head and calling sharply.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Yu Weifeng moved swiftly, eyes blazing with fury as he approached the long-tailed bird.
"Who killed your child?"
"Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!"
The bird spread its wings, flapping its fish-like tail. Its large eyes burned with malice.
Yu Weifeng's face darkened. After a moment, he said, "I understand. Make sure the fish-owl birds are watched closely. Don't let them escape."
"Yes!" The Yu family disciples answered solemnly.
Yu Weifeng strode away angrily, calling the family together in the main hall.
"If the clan head remembers correctly, you are seventeenth, named Yu Shiqi?"
The young woman, dressed plainly, bowed her head shyly. "Yes, clan head is correct."
"Good. I have a task for you. Listen carefully…"
Yu Weifeng's eyes burned, a faint cold smile on his lips.
…
Yiyu Peak.
"Hmm… you came to summon me to the Yu family?" Yao Ranran curiously stared at the plain-looking girl.
Yu Shiqi seemed uneasy under her gaze, eyes shifting, hands clutching her clothes. "Yes, the clan head said a fish-owl bird sent out went missing, so he specially asked me to bring Miss Yu back."
Yao Ranran blinked, her gaze fixed. "My surname is Yao, not Yu. There is only one Miss Yu, and that is not me."
Yu Shiqi nearly cried. "Miss Yu, please do not be angry with the clan head. He did not know you would end up in this situation, which is why you were allowed to wander outside…"
"Then tell him I am doing fine outside and do not wish to return."
Yao Ranran looked at the nearly falling tears of Yu Shiqi and explained kindly.
Plop, plop!
Yu Shiqi could no longer hold back, tears like pearls hitting the ground.
Tang Xiangyin entered with a snowball, surprised. "Fairy, what did you do to her?"
Yao Ranran rose from the lounger, waving a hand. "I did not bully her. Broad daylight, I would never dare do such a thing."
Yu Shiqi wiped her tears, sobbing as she looked at her.
Yet somehow, the words sounded… off?