When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

into the night.

A gust of wind blew through the window cracks, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker twice, casting a warm orange shadow on the wall.

The room was dimly lit. Chu Xianlan lay stiffly on the inside of the bed that didn't belong to her, forcing herself to close her eyes and fall asleep.

Although cultivators are said to sleep little, he usually had pretty good sleep quality, but tonight he just couldn't feel sleepy at all.

In fact, Master had been in seclusion for five years, and the room was protected by cleaning spells. In addition, Yi Chen liked cleanliness and quiet, so the entire bed was spotless and had no trace of being used...

……Why.

How can someone his age sleep?

Why did I agree to that on a whim?!

Chu Xianlan has always been like this since he was a child. He always subconsciously treats every word his master says as an order to be carried out. Just now, Yi Chen only made a suggestion, and he reflexively replied, "Disciple obeys."

With the protection of the Dharma Seal, why would you still want to stay in Master's room to rest? It's so childish it's unbearable to watch!

Separated by a tent, Yi Chen closed his eyes to rest. The firelight shone on his angular face, softening his usually cold and hard features.

Overwhelmed by a deep sense of self-loathing, Chu Xianlan abruptly stood up. "Master, let's forget it. This disciple doesn't want to disturb your rest!"

Yi Chen: "I don't need to rest."

"..." That's true.

Chu Xianlan put her arms behind her head, stared blankly at the ceiling, and felt a little calmer as her thoughts drifted away.

As the saying goes, "a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger," and Chu Xianlan was not the first to understand the importance of respecting teachers.

Since receiving half a sleeve from Yi Chen on that rainy and snowy night, the child was not deterred by the other party's cold attitude at all. On the contrary, he became even more determined to become the disciple of Immortal Lord Jixue.

Never mind.

He's determined to become this master!

As you know, as a disciple, I have never had a master since I was a child.

The Taiyi Sect has four pavilions, each with a distinct style: the Sword Echo Pavilion, headed by Sect Leader Zhiyue Zhenren; the Heavenly Glow Pavilion, headed by Pei Fang'an; the Star Ember Pavilion, headed by Wei Jin; and the Jade Capital Pavilion, where Yi Chen resides.

Only direct disciples are qualified to enter the Four Pavilions, while those selected as inner disciples will go to the Six Halls to cultivate under the personal guidance of the hall masters and elders. Although outer disciples also enter the Six Halls, they can only study their coursework and must make meritorious contributions or achieve great things during their cultivation to have a chance to advance to the inner sect.

During the day, Chu Xianlan followed the disciples to practice mental techniques and meditate to comprehend the Dao; after nightfall, she persevered and waited outside the Jade Capital Pavilion.

There was originally no road in this world.

When many people wander aimlessly, a path is formed.

Chu Xianlan gradually figured out some patterns.

The renowned Immortal Lord Jixue never leaves his sect, and he rarely even leaves the Jade Capital Pavilion. He only appears about once every two months, and he always goes to the Sword Echo Pavilion of True Man Zhiyue.

After learning the other party's whereabouts, Chu Xianlan no longer blindly staked out the area.

Including the initial accidental success, there are a total of five more opportunities to see Yi Chen within a year.

The second time, he waited on Yi Chen's inevitable path, only to realize that he had been immobilized by a spell, unable to speak or move, and could only watch helplessly as the other walked past without looking at him.

In the third episode, Chu Xianlan thought she was clever and hid behind a tree, plotting for a long time. Little did she know that the other party's divine sense covered an extremely wide range. As soon as she uttered the words "Immortal Lord", Yi Chen had already taken off on his sword and transformed into a streak of light in the sky.

In the fourth episode, he deliberately waited closer to prepare for a surprise attack, but as soon as he spoke to Yi Chen, Pei Fang'an suddenly appeared from a corner, smilingly grabbed the child and rubbed his face for a while before forcibly sending him away on a crane.

The last time, he...didn't come.

The eve of the first anniversary of the recruitment ceremony.

The moonlight was bright in the courtyard, but the area in front of the Jade Capital Pavilion was deserted.

Wei Jin turned to look at Yi Chen and shook his head regretfully: "It seems that the little guy has finally given up."

Yi Chen appeared calm, showing no surprise.

"I thought someone could help you escape this loneliness." Wei Jin took an exaggerated breath. "My senior brother and I both thought that kid was pretty good. After all, it's rare that he's not afraid of someone as cold-hearted as you. Who knew that Immortal Lord Jixue was truly heartless."

Watching and waiting so eagerly, even if it's just like raising a puppy, you can develop a bond with it.

"I don't feel lonely."

"Wrong, it's 'lonely and widowed,' not 'isolated.' The two are worlds apart." Wei Jin shook his finger.

The night breeze faintly carried the sounds of the disciples' revelry in the distance. Tomorrow would be the day of parting, and these young children gathered all night. However, outside the three walls of the banquet hall, a different scene unfolded.

"Don't blame your brothers for being heartless. This is to teach you a lesson: don't dream about things you shouldn't have, and stop having unrealistic ideas."

Several disciples from aristocratic families secretly drank some wine, and emboldened by their drunkenness, they pushed the child to the ground and surrounded him.

"Hehe, blame yourself for not knowing how to appreciate it."

"Immortal Lord Jixue is magnanimous and doesn't mind your offense," another person said, glancing at Chu Xianlan with disdain. "Where did this bumpkin come from, so ignorant of his place? He should know his place!"

Then, a hand reached out and grabbed his hair, slamming him to the ground. Chu Xianlan barely managed to protect himself, curled up on the ground unable to resist, and was no match for these older scions of noble families.

"A good-for-nothing who has neither family background nor ability, and can't do anything right!"

"Outlandish!"

Countless insults came crashing down on her, and Chu Xianlan's vision gradually blurred, her eyes going dark.

When I woke up again, I found myself lying on a hard bed.

The faint morning light outside symbolizes that yesterday has passed.

In that instant, Chu Xianlan felt a ringing in his ears, and the emptiness and darkness in his chest spread endlessly. This was not the first time he had been beaten and humiliated. During the most difficult days, he had been beaten black and blue for fighting over food, but he had never realized it so clearly before...

What is a wild idea?

The bright moon is reflected in the water; it can be admired from afar and even touched, but to try to possess it is simply wishful thinking.

Compared to Immortal Lord Jixue, he was like dirty sand and gravel in a ditch, while the other was like a flawless bright moon hanging high in the clouds.

He missed it.

They missed their last chance, their only opportunity to meet Immortal Lord Jixue.

……

"Holding an orchid in one's hand".

Through the hazy light, a pair of deep gray, indifferent eyes gazed intently at him, their gaze not cold, but warm, imbued with a warmth that could be described as concern.

Yi Chen reached out, intending to pat Chu Xianlan's head as he had comforted her when she was a child, but just before he touched her, he unconsciously lowered his hand.

After all, they're not children anymore.

He was extremely close at this moment, able to sense the disciple's disordered spiritual energy flow, and even see a bead of sweat seeping from his forehead, about to run down to the small mole under his eyebrow.

So he reached out and swatted it away.

My fingertips were icy cold, almost like a living person.

Chu Xianlan's eyes glazed over slightly, her gaze brimming with tears from her turbulent emotions. She instinctively raised her hand to shield herself from the cold.

This movement knocked off the silver snake hairpin at Yi Chen's temple, and a strand of frost-white hair fell down and clung to his cheek.

"...Master?" After a while, Chu Xianlan regained some of her composure, slightly opening her mouth to breathe, "Why did you come here?"

And they're getting so... close?

The hairpin fell onto the soft bedding. Yi Chen bent down to retrieve it, his tone indifferent: "You were calling my name loudly just now."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xianlan pointed to her mouth, as if she couldn't believe it.

Who? Me?

Seriously? Talking in your sleep...?!

Chu Xianlan was completely shocked. What kind of behavior was this? Talking in his sleep was one thing, but he was actually shouting "Master!" at the top of his lungs. Did he think he was a three-year-old?!

The scene was too beautiful for him to imagine.

"I apologize for making a fool of myself in front of you, Master. I didn't have any strange dreams this time... I just dreamt about some old things from the past." Chu Xianlan closed her eyes, a desolate despair rising within her.

He was mortified and internally devastated. He simply propped himself up and moved closer to the head of the bed, distancing himself from Yi Chen.

But Yi Chen interpreted his behavior in a different way.

Yi Chen remained silent for a few moments, a hint of confusion passing through his mind.

In his view, there was nothing funny about it, and no need for an apology; it was just a trivial matter.

In the dim light, Yi Chen's deep gaze swept over his disciple from head to toe without flinching. He wanted to look into his disciple's eyes again, but the disciple had already lowered his head, his hair falling down to cover his eyes, his breathing slightly rapid, and his whole body exuding a sense of tension and resistance.

It looks like the ashamed expression of a child who has done something wrong.

Only after observing her so closely did he belatedly realize that Chu Xianlan had never shown him a genuine smile since she left the pass.

It seems that Chu Xianlan tries to avoid any actions that might involve her own actions, but she doesn't do the same when facing others.

His disciples could chat and laugh with their fellow disciples and deal naturally with other elders. But when they treated him, they were always extremely respectful, as if the slightest carelessness would offend him. Their words and actions were impeccable, yet there was always a thick layer between them, making them seem distant and unfamiliar.

All of this was caused by his return to the Jade Capital Pavilion.

Yi Chen recalled that Chu Xianlan was also quite troublesome when she was young, sometimes she could be described as unruly. After five years apart, some of the characteristics he remembered seemed to have disappeared from his disciple.

He had no idea when or where his disciple began to change.

A subtle sense of unease crept into his heart, and Yi Chen's eyes flickered before he averted his gaze.

Such a distant and polite demeanor truly confirms what Wei Jin said earlier...

Health points.