The improved female villains regained their memories.

The boy's mother knelt in the snow and begged, but no one paid any attention. So she remained kneeling there until she was found the next morning, having frozen to death.

Nangong Qingyang saw it all; she knew who had stolen the treasure, but she said nothing.

By the time everyone found the thief and released the boy, it was already too late.

He went crazy trying to get justice, but in the end, he was beaten up again.

That night, he buried his face in Nangong Qingyang's arms and wept bitterly.

"Why, why are they doing this to us? I didn't steal it, and Mother didn't do anything wrong, so why are they doing this!"

"This is not fair! This is not fair!"

"My mother shouldn't have died, she shouldn't have died like that, none of this should have happened, but why?!"

Yes, none of this should have happened.

But some people want it to happen.

The one who holds a grudge against your mother, the young masters and ladies who love to watch the drama unfold, and me, so despicable and shameless...

Nangong Qingyang lowered his eyes, not daring to look at the boy's tear-filled eyes, and gently patted his back.

Those who remain silent are guilty of the same crime as the murderer. At this moment, Nangong Qingyang felt guilt for the first time.

But she doesn't regret it.

Even if she had to do it all over again, she would still do it.

"Brother, I..."

She spoke, only to find that the boy had already fallen asleep in her arms, exhausted.

The all-night interrogation, the breakdown he experienced after learning of his mother's death, the group beatings, and other things pushed his body to its limit, making it impossible for him to continue.

Nangong Qingyang placed the boy's head on his lap, trying to make him as comfortable as possible.

Is it atonement? Or remorse?

Nangong Qingyang remained motionless for the entire night.

-------------

From then on, the boy had no more worries.

Just as Nangong Qingyang had imagined, she became the boy's only concern.

It seemed that his mother's death spurred the boy to cultivate like a madman with the resources he had left. He guarded Nangong Qingyang day and night, sometimes even standing at the door of Nangong Qingyang's room, preventing even the servants from getting close.

Nangong Qingyang told him to relax, but he shook his head and said, "Sister, I can't let that happen again."

He has indeed changed. Nangong Qingyang could see it clearly. His fate had long since deviated from its course and was now tightly intertwined with his own.

Everything was progressing toward its goal, but Nangong Qingyang was not happy at all.

The other person became increasingly persistent with her. At first, he would just stand at the door, but later he went inside and stayed by her side like glue.

No matter how Nangong Qingyang explained to him that no one in the Xiang family would dare to lay a hand on her, Xiang Ju still firmly shook his head.

"My sister's life is the most important. If anything happens to her, let me die before her." His words left her speechless.

She could see clearly that if the calamity were to occur at this moment, the boy would not hesitate to shield her from it.

And so, without realizing it, they began to share a bed.

The boy's audacity did not deter Nangong Qingyang; on the contrary, she felt that this might help him shield her from harm.

The stars twinkled in the night sky, revealing their thoughts to each other perfectly.

As time went by, both of them grew up.

Soon, a new turning point in history arrived: Li Xin and Meng Tian of the Qin state led an army of 200,000 to attack Chu.

-------------

That evening, Xiang Yan returned to the mansion for the first time and had a conversation with Nangong Qingyang.

"When Qin attacks Chu, I will definitely have to go to the battlefield. But before I go, I still can't rest easy about you."

"Father, rest assured, I will take good care of myself."

"Although I am not here, I know a little about many things in the manor. Considering your age, the Xiang manor may not be suitable for you."

"What does Father mean...?"

"I want to send you to the Jixia Academy."

“I know about the Jixia Academy. If Father wants to send me there, then I will go. But I want to take Xiang Ju with me. Father, you know what situation he is in in the mansion.”

“You are a child with your own opinions. I will not interfere in many things. Go back and pack your things. I will arrange for you to go to the academy tomorrow or the day after.”

"Yes, Father."

-------------

She addressed Xiang Yan as "father" repeatedly, and as the conversation ended, she watched him walk away, her heart filled with sorrow once again.

It was destined...

If the State of Chu falls, then Xiang Yan will also die.

She had already lost one of her fathers, and if she could, she wouldn't want Xiang Yan to die.

She was tired of the so-called destiny.

-------------

Xiang Yan made all the arrangements, and the next evening, she and Xiang Ju boarded a carriage bound for the State of Qi.

She observed her own destiny and knew that the Jixia Academy was an important turning point in her life, where she might be able to access more profound methods of destiny.

If there were other ways to survive this ordeal, it wouldn't necessarily be necessary to sacrifice Xiang Ju.

Throughout the journey, Xiang Ju barely spoke. He leaned against Nangong Qingyang, his anxious eyes fixed on the scenery rushing past the car window.

Nangong Qingyang tenderly tidied his messy hair—because of her choice, the boy left the familiar place and country without hesitation and came to another unfamiliar place.

From that moment on, their fates became inextricably intertwined, and they could no longer be separated.

The driver was a beast tamer, and the chariot was pulled by a spirit steed. In just five days, they arrived at the Jixia Academy in the State of Qi.

The academy stands atop a mountain near the capital of Qi, its enormous sign bearing the four characters "Jixia Academy," carved with spiritual energy by human hands.

They were greeted by an old man with a blurry figure. He ignored Xiang Ju, who was clinging to Nangong Qingyang, and stared intently at Nangong Qingyang.

"Nangong Qingyang, recommended by Xiang Yan, is the daughter of the Nangong family."

Nangong Qingyang nodded: "It's me."

The old man squinted at her, then suddenly asked, "Do you have any other masters?"

Nangong Qingyang was startled, remembering his instructions from years ago, but pretended to be clueless: "No, why do you ask?"

"It might just be my imagination."

The old man said quietly, "If you are willing, you will be my apprentice from now on."

-------------

The old man called himself Shi Zi, one of the hall masters of the Jixia Academy, and was proficient in various immortal techniques. Among the many hall masters, he was relatively unknown.

He told Nangong Qingyang that the Jixia Academy did not have a Palace Master. All major matters were discussed and executed by the Palace Masters. The number of Palace Masters was limited, and there were only so many in total. Only when an old Palace Master left could a new Palace Master take over.

He led the two into a quiet, secluded hall, personally prepared some spiritual food, and served it to them.

"Many people from the Jixia Academy have left, including many of the hall masters. My place is already quiet and deserted; your presence might make it a bit more lively."

Xiang Ju watched him warily. Before Nangong Qingyang picked up his chopsticks, he ate a little of each item first, and then picked them up and put them into Nangong Qingyang's bowl.

The old man paid no attention to Xiang Ju's actions, but instead looked at Nangong Qingyang and asked, "I know many immortal techniques, which one do you want to learn?"

Nangong Qingyang said, "Master, I don't know what immortal techniques are. I will learn whatever you think is suitable for me."

The power of destiny that her true master gave her was quite profound; even the old man before her could clearly see his fate.

Therefore, she answered without hesitation.

Shi Zi hesitated before saying, "The academy has many methods, but I think the Yin-Yang School's methods are the most suitable for you."

Nangong Qingyang tentatively asked, "The Yin-Yang School is...?"

Shi Zi glanced at her and said, "The Yin-Yang School has many methods. The one that suits you can be understood as fate."

-------------

The most famous representative of the Yin-Yang School in the Jixia Academy was Zou Yan.

He helped the Jixia Academy compile the most specific and complete Yin-Yang philosophy, which is the so-called "deeply observing the ebb and flow of Yin and Yang, and making strange and unusual changes." Naturally, this involves methods related to fate.

Seeing that what he wanted had been offered by the other party, Nangong Qingyang lowered his head and said, "Master, this disciple is willing to learn."

The old man looked her over, and after a long while, he sighed: "Actually, the most suitable place for you would be a secluded place, but unfortunately, the Jixia Academy has not recorded such a method."

As if reminiscing about something, the old man said, "There should only be one place in the whole world where the sect can teach in secluded places."

Nangong Qingyang stood there, stunned. When the old man said those words, she seemed to feel a chill.

She saw the deathly calamity in her destiny suddenly radiate light, echoing the old man's words.

She hurriedly asked, "What kind of secluded place are you referring to...?"

The old man said, "That is a power far beyond fate, the most profound immortal technique. Those who learn it have the opportunity to approach the Great Dao."

She then asked, "Can't our academy teach such methods?"

The old man shook his head: "I can't teach you. Didn't I say that there's only one place in the whole world where you can be taught?"

He slowly uttered a few words.

"Yunmeng Mountain, Guigu Gate".

The response to the death calamity grew increasingly intense, as if it were directly associated with the three characters of the Ghost Valley School.

That night, Nangong Qingyang had a nightmare. She dreamed that she was standing in a valley, enveloped in mist, and her whole body began to feel cold until she could not breathe.

She woke up trembling, gasping for breath, so much so that she forgot she wasn't alone.

Xiang Ju also woke up and held her hand tightly: "Did you have a nightmare, sister?"