A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Su Bai's capture of Maoya caused a stir throughout the entire county.

When Ning Yuechan summoned him again, she discovered that Su Bai had somehow and quietly reached the Divine Power Realm again.

Her expression completely changed.

She needs to bind Su Bai even more deeply to the Ning family!

Therefore, she prepared to return to the Ning family.

Ning Yuechan stood outside the gate of the Ning residence, looking up at the plaque.

The two characters "Ningfu" were handwritten by her great-grandfather and have been hanging here for over a hundred years. Despite the wind and rain, the characters are still vigorous and powerful.

The vermilion gate below the plaque was half-open, and the old gatekeeper was dozing off, nodding his head like a chick pecking at rice.

She took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold.

From Fenjiang County to Fengshan Prefecture, they rode at full speed.

She barely slept the whole way, her mind constantly racing, trying to figure out how to start the conversation and how to persuade the elders.

But now, standing in the familiar courtyard, looking at the flowers, trees, corridors, and rockeries she had seen since childhood, all those plans suddenly seemed insignificant.

Voices could be heard coming from the main hall.

"...The Third Young Master broke through again yesterday. He has mastered the Blazing Palm technique to perfection, and even the Old Master praised it!"

"Indeed, I think the Third Young Master will definitely make it into the top fifty of this year's Hidden Dragon Ranking!"

"Top 50? You're underestimating us. I think we could easily make the top 30!"

"You made it, you made it. It's already pretty good to break into the top 50 in one go."

Ning Yuechan paused, a bitter smile curving her lips.

She walked through the corridor, reached the entrance of the main hall, and stood there.

Several people were sitting in the hall—her eldest uncle Ning Huaiyuan, her second uncle Ning Huaishan, and several clan elders.

They were drinking tea and chatting, their faces beaming with genuine smiles; their brows and eyes were relaxed, and even their wrinkles radiated joy.

The laughter stopped when she came in, and several pairs of eyes turned to look at her.

"Yuechan is back?" Uncle Ning Huaiyuan put down his teacup, his smile fading slightly, replaced by the gentleness of an elder. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand? So someone could have come to pick you up."

Ning Yuechan entered the hall and greeted each of the elders.

"Uncle, Second Uncle, elders, Yuechan has returned this time with a favor to ask."

Ning Huaiyuan raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Oh? What is it?"

"It concerns a young man from the Zhenfu Division of Fenjiang County." Ning Yuechan stood ramrod straight, her voice steady. "His name is Su Bai. A few months ago, he was at the First Realm, but now he's at the Sixth Realm, the Divine Power Realm, and he even killed An Wuyu, a True Qi Realm expert. Yuechan believes that he has extremely high talent and deserves the family's special attention and cultivation."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Second Uncle Ning Huaishan put down the walnuts in his hand, chuckled twice, and said with a hint of disdain, "Sixth Realm? Slaying a True Qi Realm cultivator? Yuechan, have you been fooled? From the first realm to the sixth realm, a few months? Do you think it's as easy as eating and drinking?"

"I saw it with my own eyes, there is no falsehood." Ning Yuechan met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "Su Bai is indeed exceptionally talented. If we can win him over, he will surely become a great help to the Ning family in the future."

"Assistance?" An elder stroked his beard and spoke slowly. "How much assistance can a Divine Power Realm cultivator provide? Even if he reaches the True Qi Realm in the future, he'll just be an ordinary True Qi Realm cultivator. Doesn't our Ning family have enough True Qi Realm cultivators? Just your third brother's generation alone has four."

"But he's different," Ning Yuechan insisted. "He advanced five realms in just a few months. Such talent is far beyond what ordinary True Qi Realm cultivators can achieve."

"Surpassing five realms in just a few months?" Ning Huaishan laughed again, his laughter growing louder. "Yuechan, you are also a martial artist. Tell me, under what circumstances could one possibly surpass five realms in just a few months? Either you were hiding your strength beforehand, or you were practicing some kind of shady technique. You choose one."

Ning Yuechan pursed her lips.

She couldn't explain it.

Because she herself couldn't figure it out.

If she initially thought it was a stroke of luck, now she sometimes wonders if it really is something a stroke of luck could accomplish.

But she knew that Su Bai had no evil aura, his eyes were clear, and his aura was pure, so he could never be a member of the demonic path.

As for concealing one's strength...

"Even if he was hiding his strength before, he still had the foundation of the True Qi Realm. To be able to hide it so well that Yuechan couldn't see through it, and to be such a young True Qi Realm cultivator—isn't that skill worthy of attention?"

"It's worth it." Ning Huaiyuan put down his teacup, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air. "Yuechan, the Su Bai you mentioned is indeed quite good. But no matter how good he is, he's still an outsider. Our Ning family's resources must first be used by our own people. Your third brother is about to break through to the late stage of True Qi and compete for a ranking on the Hidden Dragon Ranking; that's the most important thing right now."

"Uncle, I'm not saying we should reduce Third Brother's resources." Ning Yuechan took a deep breath. "I just hope that some of the family's idle resources can be allocated to Su Bai. Even just a few more pills or cultivation techniques would be a token of our goodwill."

"A token of our goodwill?" Ning Huaishan scoffed. "What token of our goodwill do an outsider need? He works in Fenjiang County, so just take good care of him. If he's truly capable, he'll rise to prominence in the future, and we can win him over then."

"By then, it will be too late."

"What's so late?" Ning Huaishan stood up, patted his robes, and said, "Yuechan, you're young, it's normal that you can't judge people well. How many geniuses are there in this world? If there were really geniuses, they would have been famous all over the world by now. Would it have been our turn to meet in Fenjiang County?"

Ning Yuechan opened her mouth, wanting to say something more.

"Alright." Ning Huaiyuan waved his hand, interrupting her. "Yuechan must be tired from her journey. Go and rest first. We can discuss this matter later."

We'll discuss this later.

Ning Yuechan was all too familiar with those four words.

From childhood to adulthood, every time she made a request, as soon as these four words were uttered, nothing more would come of it.

She stood there, watching as the elders in the hall picked up their teacups again and began to talk about her third brother's recent breakthroughs, his ranking on the Hidden Dragon List, and other topics that she couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating them and the smiles on their faces, but it didn't reach her.

"Then Yuechan will take her leave."

She curtsied and turned to leave.

As she walked out of the main hall, through the corridors, and across the garden, her pace quickened, as if she were fleeing something.

In the garden, several maids were pruning the flowers, chatting and laughing, their voices clear and melodious.

Upon seeing her pass by, the maids immediately stopped laughing and bowed their heads in greeting.

She nodded, continuing her steps.

As I approached the second gate, I encountered someone coming from the opposite direction.

"Yuechan?"

She looked up and saw a young man standing in front of her, dressed in fine clothes and with a handsome face, a gentle smile on his lips.

Third Brother, Ning Tianyi.

"Third Brother." Ning Yuechan stopped and bowed with her eyes lowered.

Ning Tianyi took a few steps closer, looked her up and down, and smiled, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back? I would have sent someone to pick you up. Fenjiang County is a remote place; the roads must be difficult to travel on."

"fine."

"I heard you're here to ask for resources from someone?" Ning Tianyi stood with his hands behind his back, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather. "Just a Divine Power Realm cultivator, is it worth you making this trip in person?"

Ning Yuechan raised her head and looked at her third brother, who had been the center of attention since childhood.

He still had that gentle demeanor, his brows and eyes relaxed, and a faint smile on his face. But when she saw that smile, it was as if there was something between them, and she couldn't see it clearly.

"How did Third Brother know?"

"I overheard something while passing by the main hall just now." Ning Tianyi smiled. "Yuechan, you have good judgment. It's rare to see someone advance three realms in just a few months. However, our Ning family's resources aren't for paving the way for outsiders. Once your third brother makes it onto the Hidden Dragon List and receives an imperial reward, whatever you want, your third brother will give it to you."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and patted Ning Yuechan's shoulder, just like when they were children.

The hand landed lightly on her shoulder, yet it felt heavy to Ning Yuechan.

"Thank you, Third Brother."

Ning Tianyi nodded, walked past her, and headed towards the main hall.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "By the way, my third brother is going to host a banquet in a few days and invite some friends. You should come too. Getting to know more people will be good for you."

After saying that, he turned and left. His brocade robes shone brightly in the sunlight, and his steps were calm and steady.

Ning Yuechan stood there, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

The wind blew through the garden, scattering a few leaves that twirled and landed at her feet.

She bent down, picked up a leaf, and held it in her hand for a long time.

In the evening, she went to see her grandmother again.

My grandmother lived in the backyard, a quiet little courtyard with a few bamboo stalks and a pot of lotus flowers.

The old lady was dozing off on the soft couch when she heard footsteps. She opened her eyes, saw her, and a glimmer of light flashed in her cloudy old eyes.

"Yuechan is back?"

Ning Yuechan sat down by the couch and took her grandmother's hand. The hand was very thin, skin covering bones, with veins bulging out like withered tree branches.

"Grandmother, Yuechan has come to see you."

The old lady nodded and patted the back of her hand very lightly, like a feather brushing against her.

"Are you doing well out there?"

"it is good."

"Did you eat well?"

"it is good."

"Did you sleep well?"

"it is good."

The old lady smiled, a kind smile, her wrinkles layered like a withered chrysanthemum.

"That's good, that's good."

Ning Yuechan chatted with her grandmother for a while, talking about everyday things, the weather in Fenjiang County, the changes in the streets and alleys, and which shop had the best pastries.

The old lady listened attentively, nodding occasionally and asking a question now and then, before closing her eyes again, as if savoring the moment.

She didn't get up to say goodbye until it was getting dark.

As I reached the doorway, I looked back and saw my grandmother dozing off on the couch again, her breathing long and even. Her figure was shrouded in twilight, becoming increasingly blurry and faint, like a faded painting.

The next morning, Ning Yuechan left the Ning residence.

She did not go to the main hall again, nor did she see anyone else.

Everything that should be said has been said, and even things that shouldn't have been said have been said.

To continue would only be to humiliate oneself.

As for her father, he was not there.

Even if it were there, it wouldn't make a difference.

The carriage drove out of Fengshan County, its wheels rumbling and raising a cloud of dust.

She lifted the carriage curtain and glanced back. The city gate tower appeared and disappeared in the morning mist, like a mirage, so illusory as to seem unreal.

The three large characters "Fengshan County" on the city tower gradually blurred, became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared completely from sight.

Ning Yuechan lowered the carriage curtain, leaned into the carriage, and closed her eyes.

The image that appeared before my eyes was Su Bai's face.

The young man stood before her, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said in a deep but firm voice, "Su Bai understands. Thank you for your guidance and help along the way, sir. From now on, if anything happens, Su Bai will do his utmost to assist you!"

She opened her eyes, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.

They risked their lives to help.

What did she give him?

It was a few words of advice, a few martial arts manuals, and the position of a jailer.

His reply to her was the words "I'll help you to the death."

Ning Yuechan is trustworthy.

She could tell from Su Bai's words that he was sincere.

But what did the family give them?

Could it be the Golden Bell Cover she gave me before?

Or perhaps it's the position of jailer?

The carriage continued on its way, swaying and bumping along.

The wheels crunched over the stones, making a squeaking sound.

After an unknown amount of time, the driver's voice came from outside:

"Sir, we have arrived at Fenjiang County."

Ning Yuechan lifted the carriage curtain and saw the familiar city gate, the familiar streets and alleys, and the familiar people coming and going.

The carriage passed through the city gate, through the streets and alleys, and finally stopped at the gate of the rear courtyard of the Zhenfu Division.

She got out of the car, stood at the door, and looked at the half-closed wooden door.

Voices came from inside the door; it was Su Bai's voice, as if he were explaining something to someone. His voice was steady, gentle, and carried the clear, youthful quality characteristic of young people.

Ning Yuechan stood at the door, but did not go in.

A breeze blew by, ruffling the hem of her dress and tousling her hair. She raised her hand to smooth her hair, looking at the door and the sliver of light shining through it, and suddenly remembered a story she had heard as a child.

The story goes that a person found a stone by the roadside, thought it was an ordinary stone, and casually threw it away.

Later I learned that it was an uncut gem, priceless.

Standing at the door, she suddenly wondered if she, too, was about to throw away a piece of unpolished jade.

No, she didn't throw it away.

But can she stay?

She looked up at the twilight deepening on the horizon.

The sun was setting, its afterglow spilling onto the courtyard walls, the eaves, and the half-closed wooden door, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

That gold was so warm, so warm it felt like it could melt something.

But she knew that some things could not be dissolved.

For example, prejudice.

For example, to belittle.

For example, that flippant phrase, "She'll get married sooner or later."

She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and went back inside.