All around, not a sound could be heard.
A line of white cranes soared out from the clouds. Their piercing cries shattered the silence in the plaza, and the expressions on the crowd’s faces turned vivid and varied.
Compared to Chu Yue, who stood at the center of attention moments ago, everyone now focused on Li Lanxiu.
There was no one in the sect who didn’t know of Young Master Li. Half a year ago, this arrogant, overbearing Young Master had a notorious reputation in the sect, known far and wide as someone with mediocre talent who relied on his powerful father to throw his weight around.
But after the Azurerain realm trial, whenever someone mentioned this Young Master, the disciples would all show ambiguous expressions. It was said he and his contracted servant worked in perfect sync to kill the jiao lord—quite the feat. Not to mention… he was unreasonably good-looking.
That day in the wedding robes, his beauty had stunned every disciple who saw him. Even with a veil, the sight had been breathtaking. If one could see his true face, they could die without regret.
So when Chu Yue knelt reverently before Li Lanxiu, the scene was strange, yet oddly harmonious. As if it had always been meant to be.
“Mm…he offered the Blueword Brush to Li-shidi. I guess it’s not that surprising.”
“Heh, I’m not that capable myself. But if I had skills like his, I’d absolutely do the same—offer borrowed flowers just to win a beauty’s smile. That’s true heroic flair!”
“Those who laugh at him for willingly being a servant—hmph! I don’t know how joyful Chu-shidi must feel right now.”
The crowd murmured endlessly.
Li Lanxiu finished wiping the blood from Chu Yue’s face, then glanced at the blood seeping from his arm. “Does it hurt?”
Chu Yue focused intently on him. He rubbed his cheek lightly against Li Lanxiu’s palm. “It doesn’t.”
It had been aching a little. Now it didn’t hurt at all.
Li Lanxiu looked up. Elder Shen walked over briskly through the crowd with a smile, holding the white jade ruyi. A steward from Cloudwater Hall followed behind him.
Li Lanxiu patted Chu Yue’s cheek. You made this mess—clean it up yourself. He straightened and began wiping the blood from his hands with the handkerchief.
Elder Shen looked at the kneeling figure and cleared his throat. “Chu Yue.”
Chu Yue turned his head to look at him. He tucked away his smile and answered with a calm expression. “Elder.”
Elder Shen paused. Seeing Chu Yue had no intention of standing, he glanced at Li Lanxiu with a faint hint of appeal in his eyes.
He could tolerate the matter of the Blueword Brush—favored disciples repaying kindness was understandable. But soon, he would be handing Chu Yue the white jade ruyi. At that moment, Chu Yue would kneel on one knee and receive it with both hands, officially becoming Master Meixue’s second true disciple.
A sect master’s true disciple… kneeling before Li Lanxiu? That scene was simply improper.
Of course, Elder Shen didn’t know the other one had already done far worse than kneel before him, in fact. Compared to that, Chu Yue was being quite respectful.
Li Lanxiu gave him a small nod, then raised his hand and patted the back of Chu Yue’s neck.
Chu Yue understood and stood up. He faced Elder Shen and stood straight.
Elder Shen let out a quiet breath and held the white jade ruyi out before him. His expression was full of satisfaction as he spoke slowly, “Chu Yue, this ruyi was forged from supreme spiritual jade. Back then, Master Meixue retrieved ten-thousand-year-old black ice from a frozen spring deep within the Kunlun icefields and refined it with the essence of stars from across the Nine Heavens, forging this ruyi with his own hands.”
“Master forged two in total—one he handed directly to Bai Zhenchuan, his personal disciple, and the other he left with me, asking that I one day find a second worthy heir in his stead.”
He paused, his sharp gaze falling steadily on Chu Yue. Then he continued, “The sect master entrusted me with this task, and for years I have neither rested well nor eaten in peace on my mission. Today, at last, I have found someone I believe worthy.”
Chu Yue looked back at him calmly. In a whisper, concealed with sound transmission, he asked, “Did you know this was coming, Young Master?”
“Yes, I knew,” Li Lanxiu replied frankly.
Chu Yue lowered his voice even further. “Young Master doesn’t want me anymore?”
He sounded as if becoming Master Meixue’s true disciple was no different than being sold off to mine spirit ore in some frozen pit.
Li Lanxiu gave a soft snort of laughter and ignored him.
Elder Shen raised his voice. His solemn tone spread across the plaza like the decree of heaven, reaching every disciple present from all directions. “Chu Yue, your talent is exceptional. Today, in the name of the sect master, I confer upon you the title of true disciple!”
The hum of chatter vanished in an instant.
Chu Yue already had a response prepared. He stepped back to stand beside Li Lanxiu and answered, neither servile nor arrogant, “Many thanks for Elder’s great favor. This disciple is deeply grateful.”
He paused for a breath. His voice, when it came again, was steady and cold. “But since the day I entered the sect, I have been under the care of Young Master Li. It was through his guidance and support that I’ve achieved what I have today.”
“This disciple wishes to enter Violetstage Peak and take Elder Li Yanbi as my master, to repay Young Master Li’s kindness.”
The crowd erupted.
Elder Shen’s face changed instantly.
The peak lords and elders all turned to look at Li Yanbi. Their faces showed astonishment, envy and disbelief.
Li Yanbi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, expression indifferent and bearing aloof. He asked via sound transmission, “You said he’s yours—did you already know he would say that?”
“It was about what I expected,” Li Lanxiu replied. A loyal dog, no matter how far it’s thrown, would always find its way back home.
“Hmph. Why didn’t you tell your father?”
“Didn’t you want a promising seedling? I wanted to surprise you.”
A smile of delight flickered across Li Yanbi’s face. He patted Li Lanxiu’s shoulder and spoke in sound transmission, his voice touched with amusement. “You’re the one who surprised me.”
Li Lanxiu leaned in a little. “Hmm? Then are you happy?”
“I am. I just worry that boy…”
Elder Shen’s expression grew difficult to read. He looked from Chu Yue to Li Lanxiu.
In the end, his gaze settled on Li Lanxiu. His old eyes, sharp and bright as fire, seemed intent on seeing through him, on figuring out what kind of ability this young man possessed that could turn the sect’s pride into a dog at his feet.
Li Lanxiu slowly tilted his head, completely unconcerned by the attention.
All the disciples were watching him. Amidst the sea of white robes, his crimson clothes stood out like plum blossoms drifting through the cold snow.
Was being Li Lanxiu’s boy really that satisfying?
Could it feel better than becoming the sect master’s true disciple?
The disciples were endlessly curious.
Only Bai Zhenchuan, seated on their floating island with a cup of spiritual tea in their hand, took a slow sip and thought to themself, Of course it feels good.
Chu Yue hadn’t made a foolish choice. What exactly he sought—only he knew.
Elder Shen quickly regained his composure. He smiled and said, “Good! Gratitude and repayment are traditions of our sect!”
With that, he tipped his head back and let out a hearty laugh. His wide white sleeves swept through the air and the jade ruyi vanished from his hand. “In that case, you shall remain under Peak Lord Li’s tutelage and continue refining your cultivation. Do not let down our sect’s great expectations!”
Li Yanbi stepped forward. Chu Yue turned and lifted his robe, dropping to one knee. “Master.”
“Mm. From this day on, you are my disciple.” Li Yanbi nodded without visible emotion and held out his hand. “Get up.”
Chu Yue took his hand and stood, smiling with a clear and bright expression. “Thank you, Master.”
Li Yanbi gave him a once-over and clapped his shoulder heavily. A rare smile spread across his face.
A hundred years ago, after the battle against the Red Sect, all the disciples he had painstakingly nurtured perished. From then on, Violetstage Peak declined, never managing to stand out again in sect trials or competitions.
He had always been a proud and upright man, too clean-handed to bribe the outer sect elders or do anything dirty. All he could do was watch helplessly as his old rival climbed over his head. That kind of frustration had been unbearable.
Today, he finally let out the suffocating bitterness in his chest. He felt better than he had in years.
Jiang Jiusi and his group had already returned from Highmount and witnessed the entire scene from within the crowd of disciples.
Earlier, Yu-shixiong and Lian-shixiong had fought Chu Yue and both suffered severe damage to their spirits.
Seeing this now, the blow deepened. What they had dreamed of, Chu Yue treated with contempt. When Chu Yue said he wanted to win and would do whatever it took, what he truly wanted was simply to become Li Lanxiu’s boy.
Jiang Jiusi’s expression was complicated. A proud son of heaven fought so hard just to gain Li Lanxiu’s approval.
And him?
He wasn’t as capable as Chu Yue. Did that mean that even his sincerity would lose to Chu Yue?
The face behind that mask that haunted his dreams—if he did nothing, he would never get the chance to see it in this lifetime.
After a moment of thought, he clenched his fists inside his sleeves and made a major decision in his heart.
Li Lanxiu saw that things had more or less settled. He glanced over Chu Yue’s bloodstained robes and walked to Li Yanbi’s side. “I’ll take him back first to get cleaned up.”
“Alright. You two head back to Violetstage Peak.” Li Yanbi nodded and gave him permission, his gaze drifting thoughtfully toward Xue Wujiu.
Whatever Jiang Jiusi had said, it hit Xue Wujiu like a thunderclap. His already unsightly face turned even paler, twisted into a look of vicious fury as if he wanted to devour someone alive.
Chu Yue followed behind Li Lanxiu as they left the Dao-Questioning Plaza. The other disciples went their own way, watching longingly as the two walked off.
Back at Violetstage Peak, Li Lanxiu played with the Blueword Brush in his hand and stepped lightly through the great hall doors.
Chu Yue stopped at the threshold, turning his injured arm behind him. Blood dripped from his sleeve onto the stone floor, one drop after another.
Li Lanxiu walked a few steps ahead before glancing back. He lifted his chin. “Come in.”
"I'll dirty your carpet, Young Master." Chu Yue spoke in a low voice, sounding heavy and exhausted. The blood splattered on the blue stone tiles stood out starkly, making his injury seem all the more severe.
Li Lanxiu gave him a once-over. Chu Yue looked rather pitiful. He raised his hand and lazily hooked his finger. "I told you to come in. If you don’t come in now, don’t ever bother again."
Chu Yue immediately stepped through the door, hastily pressing a hand over his still-bleeding wound and walking toward him.
Li Lanxiu first put away the Blueword Brush and walked straight to the treasure cabinet. He opened a small box and casually took out a bottle of medicine. "Undo the bandage."
Chu Yue tore off the bandage. The tiger yao’s claws, sharp as blades, had cut a deep gash into his arm.
The wound was mangled and gory, the flesh turned outward. It looked gruesome. He couldn’t help but lift a hand to cover it.
Li Lanxiu raised an eyebrow and gave him a sidelong glance. Chu Yue slowly moved his hand aside and revealed the wound. "I'll do it myself," he said.
Li Lanxiu uncorked the bottle and gently sprinkled medicine over his arm. The top-grade healing liquid began mending the wound as soon as it touched the skin. "Done."
Chu Yue ran his fingers over his healed arm, pulled down his sleeve and looked at him. "Thank you, Young Master."
"Come with me." Li Lanxiu walked toward a long corridor. Inside the hall lay a spiritual spring pool, filled with Earthmother Essence. Bathing in it nourished both spiritual energy and physical stamina.
He bathed in it daily. Today, he granted this rare privilege to Chu Yue.
The elegant and simple room glowed with light from many spirit lamps. Mist rose from the hot spring, mingling with incense, filling the damp air with a pleasant fragrance.
The pool brimmed with rich spiritual energy. Green bamboo enclosed it like a screen, their shadows swaying gently.
Li Lanxiu swept his sleeve across the low table by the pool and knocked the ornaments aside. He turned his head and deftly undid the ribbon at the back of his head. His ink-black hair spilled over his cheeks, making his face appear even smaller.
He sat down leisurely at the low table and casually tossed the hair ribbon into the spiritual spring. He glanced at Chu Yue, raised his chin and asked, "Still not undressed?"
The crimson ribbon drifted in the water, wandering like a koi.
Chu Yue glanced over, then looked away and fluidly undid his sash. He revealed a slender, well-proportioned body—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and clean, defined lines of muscle.
When he reached his underpants, he paused slightly. His breathing grew inexplicably heavy. Then he slid them off and stepped into the misty spiritual spring.
Li Lanxiu kicked off his boots and socks, turned his body and let both feet sink into the warm water. His toes stirred gently beneath the surface, sending ripples across the pool.
From the arch of his feet to the tips of his toes, every line was graceful and enticing. The water made his skin appear even paler and more luminous, as though a piece of jade had been carved and placed in the pool.
From Chu Yue’s angle, he could see it even more clearly. It wasn’t just a cold white—there was a faint pink at the tips of his toes, like the hue of peach blossom petals in March, subtly curled.
He looked up at Li Lanxiu with a calm expression. Under the water, he clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the urge to seize those feet in his palms and toy with them.
Li Lanxiu looked down at him. His loose black hair hung softly against his cheeks. His eyes shimmered faintly in the dim, damp air, half-lidded in lazy indifference. His voice came as a murmur. "What kind of reward do you want?"
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