Are you really trying to cultivate immortality? Something feels off.

She was praised when she was a child, probably because someone said she was talented and quick-witted, worthy of being the phoenix maiden of this lineage, but no one ever praised her for being quiet and sensible.

Her mother was always harsh and critical, and her father rarely spoke to her. When he did, it was only a distant greeting. Her younger sister liked her very much, but she had to practice swordsmanship and cultivate, so she didn't have much time to spend with her sister. They could count on one hand the number of times they could even have a meal together.

"Ah Zhao, your mother and I were childhood friends," Feng Yu said slowly. "Back then, she became a disciple of Jiuhua Mountain. In the sect competition, she was my, your master's, and my junior uncle's number one rival."

Nie Zhao's eyelids twitched, and he looked up.

Xie Weixing raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and asked in a low voice, "Have you heard about this?"

Tan Suiting obediently shook his head and replied in a low voice, "No."

"Well, we've got some gossip to hear today," Xie Weixing said, pulling him down to squat beside her. She then gave him a couple of sucks and reminded the other two, "Come here quickly."

Yu Xintang raised an eyebrow, pulled Shen Chunri over to listen attentively, and the four of them squatted quietly in a row in the corner.

"After the sect competition ended, we met again in the secret realm of Qingmu Mountain," Feng Yu raised his hand and touched Nie Zhao's hair. "Your mother is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She was injured saving me that time and stayed with us at the Fenghua Sect for a while. So, we became friends."

Nie Zhao's eyelashes trembled slightly: "What was Mother like when she was young?"

Feng Yu's eyes were gentle, as if he were recalling something: "Tall, beautiful, not very talkative, and used to solving problems with force. You are very much like her."

He laughed: "Now, watching our Ah Zhao grow up day by day, it's like seeing the arrogant young lady of Nanchuan from back then."

Nie Zhao lowered his eyes.

"After she gave birth to you, her body was already weakened, but she didn't listen to my advice and insisted on giving birth to your sister, Xiaoyun." Feng Yu pursed his lips, his tone becoming heavy. "I know she felt pity and guilt towards her husband. Under the secular system in Nanchuan, many tragedies have occurred, and your father was one of them. If we're being honest, your mother might not have been one either."

"Later, she couldn't hold on any longer and had to go into seclusion. But before she went into seclusion, she sent me a secret letter," Feng Yu lowered his eyes. "She said, 'I absolutely cannot let you stay in Nanchuan, with no one to teach you or care for you. She herself grew up in Nanchuan and knows how difficult it is to endure the wind and rain like a weed, bearing the pressure of the entire Chidi from a young age. She doesn't want you to become like her, and she doesn't want her children to follow the same path as the women of the Nie family.'"

"Ah Zhao," Feng Yu slowly let out a breath, "your mother loves you, but she doesn't know how to love. She's not a good mother, but she sacrificed a lot for Nanchuan, including a part of her own soul and all her freedom."

Feng Jilan's expression was complicated as he silently raised his hand and stroked the head of the child he had raised since childhood.

"I don't blame her," Nie Zhao said, her eyes reddening, her voice choked with emotion. She lowered her head and repeated softly, "I don't blame her."

"Don't be afraid, Zhao'er," Feng Jilan hugged her and let her lean against his legs, just like when she was a child. "You came to the sect when you were just over ten years old. You've spent more time here than in Nanchuan. This is your home. Your senior uncles and I are your elders."

Nie Zhao frowned slightly, and a tear suddenly fell, leaving a white shadow in the air.

"You were raised by Master and Senior Uncle, the child I raised with my own hands. Back then you were only this tall, just this tall," Feng Jilan raised his hand to indicate in the air, his eyes stubborn and firm, "In Master's eyes, you are just like Master's own son."

Nie Zhao's shoulders trembled, tears streaming down her face, as if all her emotions had found an outlet. She frantically raised her hand to wipe her face.

"Our A-Zhao is a child who is loved," Feng Jilan cupped her face and wiped away her tears with his fingers. "Listen carefully, we are no worse than anyone else. Your master had no parents or relatives to care for her when she was young. She was just a little orphan wandering the streets. Your grandmaster found her and took her back to the sect to grow up. So, you are no less than anyone else. On the contrary, you are the most obedient, the most sensible, and the most caring child your master has ever seen."

Nie Zhao's nose turned red, and just as she was about to turn her head to wipe her tears, a green figure suddenly pounced on her.

Shen Chunri hugged her tightly, his chin sinking into her shoulder, his voice choked and trembling: "Senior Sister, when I was little, my father was seriously injured while saving me, and my mother had to draw blood from me every day to save my life. I had no one to teach me in the clan, and I secretly made poisons that hurt my own clansmen, so my master brought me back to the sect when I was young. We grew up together, we are family, we are the people who care about each other the most in the world. You are not unwanted, you are not unloved, we all love you, we all want to be with you for the rest of our lives."

"Senior Sister," Tan Suiting grasped her hand, her skin pale, her neck and wrists sharply defined. She lowered her eyes, seemingly a little embarrassed. "When I first arrived at the sect, I didn't want to get close to anyone, not even to eat with you. I spent every day alone at Coldheart Lake. You came to me and said my swordsmanship wasn't good enough. I disagreed, so we started fighting on the killing platform. I was too young then, and my swordsmanship was unsteady. In my attempt to win, my swordsmanship became too aggressive, and I almost fell off the mountain peak. You were willing to be injured by the sword energy to hold onto my clothes and save me. Later, my senior uncle led me to apologize to you. You didn't blame me and even gave me some sweet pastries."

Tan Suiting pursed her lips gently: "That was the best sugar pastry I've ever eaten, because from that day on, I made my first friend in my life."

Nie Zhao held his hand and patted it gently, tears falling, but she didn't answer.

"Senior sister, you are very good," Xie Weixing said gently as she squatted down in front of her. "Whether it was the day of the election or the trip to Wanjian Mountain, whenever any of us was wronged, you were always the first to stand up for us. You treat Fenghua Sect as your home and we as your family. We all know that."

Yu Xintang stood to the side, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, and grimaced.

Feng Yu could tell from his expression that he was holding back a fart, so she gave him a light kick in the leg: "Spit it out if you have something to say."

"Hiss," Yu Xintang's brow twitched, "I just want to ask what I should say after you've all said everything."

The group fell silent.

"Then I'll give you all a loving hug." After saying that, Yu Xintang opened her arms and pounced down, knocking everyone off balance.

The wind and waves were so strong that the ship was almost knocked off course.

"Yu Xintang, are you out of your mind?!" Shen Chunri roared, "My waist, waist, waist, waist—"

Nie Zhao helped her up and then grabbed Xie Weixing, who had fallen onto Tan Suiting.