Luo Luo fell asleep halfway through the journey.
Xu Junlan reluctantly carried her on her back, draped a blanket over her, and conjured a spiritual barrier to block the wind ahead.
As she flew on her sword, she grumbled, "She's so heavy! Next time, someone else can carry her!"
"There won't be a next time. We’ll have a few flying boats custom-made later," Xu Junzhu reassured her sister.
Xu Junlan gave a half-satisfied hum. "Hmph."
The others: "..."
The entire Tai Xuan Sect only had one flying boat.
Zhao Yu cautiously asked, "Um, Senior Sister, how come we never realized you were this wealthy before? With all this money, why haven’t you used spirit stones to boost your cultivation?"
The wind in the sky lifted Xu Junzhu’s long hair.
Her gaze dimmed slightly as she sighed softly and replied in a low voice, "Master Lingxue despises flashy cultivation built on spirit stones and elixirs."
The group suddenly understood. "Oh—!"
Indeed, Master Lingxue was an extremely diligent and rigorous person. She demanded strict discipline from her disciples. Even when hundreds practiced swordplay simultaneously, she could pinpoint every mistake and correct each one.
Xu Junzhu pressed her lips together and looked ahead.
'Master...'
The same master who disapproved of disciples relying on elixirs had poured her lifelong cultivation into her.
A warm, glowing frostfire radiance floated in her dantian, isolated from her nascent soul—Xu Junzhu couldn’t bring herself to accept it.
When they stepped into the territory of Winter Lord Ridge, everyone’s eyes widened in awe, their scalps tingling.
—What kind of blessed land was this?
The exposed mountain rocks shimmered in a dazzling purple hue. Under the sunlight, golden spiritual mist rose in delicate wisps.
Emerald-green clouds of foliage and radiant blossoms adorned the landscape. Clear springs murmured through the mountains, and deer called softly in the distance. The air was so saturated with spiritual energy that one could practically wring dripping moisture from it.
A snowline marked the mountainside, above which lay a crystalline expanse dotted with sparkling spiritual lights.
The snow on the ridge was entirely condensed from spiritual energy.
A massive stone slab stood ahead, inscribed with the words "Winter Lord Ridge."
The carved surface resembled a window, revealing veins of translucent green jade beneath—a spiritual ore of breathtaking purity.
"Could this entire slab be..." Bai Yi stammered, stunned. "Isn’t it wasteful to use such a massive raw spiritual ore as a mere stele?"
Xu Junlan shrugged. "The whole mountain is made of the same stone. What’s wasteful about it?"
Bai Yi: "..."
Elder Bai: "..."
As they ascended the stone steps, they passed empty clearings on either side.
"I didn’t know what kind of residence Master would prefer, so nothing’s been built yet," Xu Junlan sighed. "We’ll have to camp in the wilderness."
The others were speechless: "..."
What wilderness? This was a divine paradise, a celestial abode!
Xu Junzhu’s sect token flickered.
She checked it, and her long-held worries finally eased. "Senior Brother has arrived."
When Luo Luo woke, she couldn’t tell what time or day it was.
Behind her stood a pear blossom tree, its thick white canopy drooping under the golden sunset.
She was curled up in her favorite reclining chair, wrapped in her familiar old blanket.
The air was crisp and fresh. Ahead, the skeletal framework of a pavilion stood on an open plot, the scent of fresh wood lingering as occasional hammering echoed through the quiet.
A figure moved among the wooden beams.
Li Zhaoye. He was building a house.
Luo Luo’s mind grew even fuzzier.
"Senior Brother!" Zhao Yu flew over on his pestle, landing with a thud in front of the half-built structure. He craned his neck and shouted, "Lend me two more pillars!"
"Fine," Li Zhaoye’s lazy voice drifted out.
Two massive carved pillars came flying toward him.
Zhao Yu grinned, caught them, and slung one over each shoulder before wobbling unsteadily into the distance on his pestle.
Luo Luo gaped. "..."
She must be dreaming—a very strange one.
Li Zhaoye’s profile flashed briefly on the second floor of the pavilion.
The sunset gilded his sharp jawline, his features as flawless as a painting.
Luo Luo stared, mesmerized.
But the moment she blinked, he vanished behind the wooden frame.
"Ah..."
Just as disappointment set in, he stepped back into view through an empty window.
He turned, glanced down, and raised an eyebrow. "Awake?"
Then, with effortless grace, he braced one hand on the windowsill and vaulted down.
"Thud."
He landed lightly in front of her, his robes settling behind him.
Leaning down, he tilted his head and studied her eyes.
"Why do you look so dazed?" he asked. "What’s on your mind?"
Ignoring the dark circles and red marks on his face, he looked ethereally handsome—like a celestial being.
Luo Luo’s brain short-circuited further. "Your pillars."
Li Zhaoye: "..."
She was already foolish enough when silent, but now she was spouting nonsense.
What kind of indecent remark was that?
He leaned in, planting his hands on either side of her armrests with a thud.
Luo Luo stared up at him, frozen.
His body radiated heat, his presence overwhelming as he closed the distance between them—so close their noses nearly touched.
She was completely caged in.
Backlit by the sun, his expression was unreadable. There was always something dangerous about him, an aura that felt like an extension of himself. Even without physical contact, it made her shiver.
Like prey caught in a predator’s gaze.
"Say that again," his voice was casual, but his gaze burned. "What of mine were you thinking about?"
His eyes traced her lips with tangible weight.
Luo Luo’s lips tingled, her scalp prickled, her heart stuttered. Every nerve buzzed as if electrified.
He tilted his head, drawing even closer.
An arched brow urged her to answer quickly.
His breath was warm, his scent both foreign and familiar at this proximity.
Her pulse raced. Some primal instinct warned her—if she answered wrong, he might devour her.
What had she been thinking about?
His... pillars?
Luo Luo felt struck by lightning.
Her fingers clutched the blanket, twisting it tighter and tighter.
Her reactions were always a beat slow.
Li Zhaoye had never realized "dazed" could have so many layers.
His brow quirked.
A pear blossom drifted down, landing between them.
As it brushed her nose, Luo Luo snapped back to reality and instinctively reached for it—but she was too late.
He caught it between his teeth, flashing a glimpse of sharp white fangs.
Luo Luo couldn’t help grumbling inwardly: ‘Of course he’d bite it. Like a dog with everything...’
Her thoughts shattered.
Still holding the blossom, he turned and pressed it between her lips.
The cool, bittersweet petal melted against her mouth—just before his lips sealed over hers.
"Boom." Blood roared in her ears.
Her bones turned to liquid, her heart skipped.
The petal crushed between them, its flavor lost to her senses.
He clicked his tongue, nipping the edge of the blossom, his voice rough. "Close your eyes."
Only then did Luo Luo realize she’d been staring wide-eyed at him.
Startled, she squeezed her eyes shut—so hard she felt the skin around them crinkle.
Immediate regret followed.
With her vision gone, every sensation magnified.
Through the fragile petal, his presence consumed her utterly.
He pressed his tongue forward, pushing a fragrant yet bitter pear blossom petal past her lips, parting her teeth.
Luo Luo’s scalp tingled, and she instinctively bit down on it.
‘He bit this petal… and now I’m eating it…’
The thought echoed dizzily in her mind.
The next moment, the tongue hidden behind the petal brushed against the seam of her lips, slipping past her defenses.
A large hand curled around her tensed shoulders, gripping the nape of her neck.
Luo Luo’s lips trembled, and in that shiver of surrender, the pear blossom breached her last line of resistance.
She heard him chuckle low in his throat.
The sound, deep and intoxicating, wrapped around her in the suffocating closeness, leaving her utterly spellbound.
Her mind went blank, obediently parting her lips further as he commanded, letting the petal sweep through.
Between her teeth, over her tongue.
Her heart clenched into a tight knot, pounding erratically in her ears.
Her body melted, weak and pliant—if not for his grip on her neck, she was sure she’d have dissolved into a puddle, sliding right off the lounge chair.
A faint whimper escaped her, unbidden.
His movements grew rougher, his breath heavier.
The pear blossom crushed against her quivering lips as his own sealed over hers, stealing her ragged gasps.
His free hand, restless with mischief, slid up her waist, inching higher with deliberate slowness.
His knee pressed into the lounge, cutting off any retreat.
In that moment, he cursed not having enough hands—
one to entwine with hers, another to map every inch of her.
Luo Luo sensed the shift in his aura, the hunger turning sharper, more possessive. She struggled to breathe, overwhelmed by the thrill and terror of it.
The petal in her mouth crumpled, torn to shreds.
A testament to his relentless force.
Abruptly, he stilled. His ear twitched, and he clicked his tongue in irritation.
Withdrawing his tongue, he dragged his lips over hers one last time, nipping her lightly before pulling away.
Luo Luo hissed.
He straightened, shielding her behind him as he turned toward the intruder.
It was Zhao Yu again.
Zhao Yu called in a hushed voice, "Senior Brother! We still need a few more pillars—and a floor panel too!"
He skidded to a halt, recoiling.
"Whoa—Senior Brother! What’s with the murderous aura?!"
Li Zhaoye scoffed.
"Eh?" Zhao Yu craned his neck, peering behind him. "Little Junior Sister’s awake?!"
Luo Luo managed a weak, "Mhm… yeah."
Her voice came out hoarse, unfamiliar even to her.
Her mouth was still full of the taste of pear blossoms.
She told herself not to blush—and promptly turned as red as a steamed crab.
Li Zhaoye, initially annoyed, nearly laughed at the sight.
He scooped her up from the lounge, tucking her burning face against his chest.
"Hide properly," he murmured by her ear, amusement lacing his voice. "Don’t let anyone see you like this."
Luo Luo: "…"
She mentally cursed him even as she burrowed deeper into his embrace.
His heartbeat thudded against her cheek, each pulse sending waves of remembered heat and trembling through her.
Meanwhile, the others were busy constructing the main hall.
"Senior Brother’s here!" "Little Junior Sister’s up?"
Luo Luo reluctantly lifted her head, forcing a composed smile at the crowd.
The hall’s framework was taking shape.
She frowned. "This looks familiar… like our sect’s main hall?"
Li Zhaoye grinned. "That’s because it is."
The disciples scrambling over the half-built structure burst into laughter.
"The whole frame was dismantled and hauled here by Senior Brother!"
"See? Even Master Lingxue’s old desk was, uh, relocated."
"A few pillars broke, so we had to replace them—wait, these carvings look like Master Yuan’s Wuyan Hall?"
Li Zhaoye nodded. "They are."
More laughter erupted.
Luo Luo pieced it together quickly.
While she’d been asleep, they’d already arrived at Winter Lord Ridge and started rebuilding.
She blinked up at Li Zhaoye. "Wait—you tore down our sect’s buildings and brought the materials here?"
She hadn’t even had time to worry about the consequences before he’d already pulled it off.
Some nap she’d taken.
Li Zhaoye arched a brow. "Just figuring that out now?"
He meant to scold her, but the sight of her still-swollen lips softened his expression.
No use lecturing someone this thoroughly kissed senseless.
As dusk settled, Xu Junzhu signaled for a break. "The mountain’s barrier should hold, but high-level cultivators might bypass it."
She didn’t name names, but everyone knew—faces darkened with conflicted emotions.
These elders had been like family. Now, overnight, they’d become enemies.
The bitterness of it hung heavy in the air.
Elder Bai and his son stood out starkly amid the gloom.
Zhao Yu couldn’t resist needling, "Elder Bai, didn’t you just come to drop off your son? It’s getting late—shouldn’t you head back?"
Elder Bai huffed. "You little brat!"
He couldn’t outright admit he planned to stay. The pretense of a brief visit was his only cover.
Now, thanks to Zhao Yu’s big mouth, he had no choice but to leave.
With a dramatic flick of his sleeve, he turned. "Fine! I’m going!"
Luo Luo lunged forward. "Wait! Elder Bai, don’t go! We’re roasting spirit chickens tonight!"
The group stared.
Of course she’d know about the chickens—even while unconscious.
As the awkward standoff continued, Xu Junzhu’s mountain pass talisman flashed.
Her face paled. "Damn."
They’d expected retaliation from Master Yuan and Qing Xu, but not this soon—and not with such numbers.
The talisman showed nearly ten high-level cultivators approaching, followed by countless lesser ones.
Hearts sank. However much they’d prepared, none truly wanted to fight their former sect.
Elder Bai sighed. "Knew this would happen. Why do you think I stuck around? Let’s go greet our esteemed guests."
They descended the ridge as the last sunlight gilded the stone monument.
The characters "Winter Lord Ridge" glowed emerald, illuminating the figures gathered below.
Xu Junzhu stepped forward, saluting. "Honored seniors and fellow disciples, what brings you here so late?"
Elder Bai moved subtly in front of her, hands on hips. "Well? Spit it out!"
The elders exchanged glances.
Uncle Shuo Yun cleared his throat. "No need for hostility. We’re here to repair your severed lifebound swords. Wouldn’t do to have my craftsmanship tarnished."
Silence.
Then—disbelieving grins broke out.
The disciples of Yanfeng jumped up in excitement, chirping like a flock of noisy ducks: "Master, Master, Master, Master!"
"Ahem." Master Fuling said with an air of calm authority, "Zhao Yu, what seeds do you have there? Show them to me."
Zhao Yu's lips trembled, and he nearly burst into tears. "Master! I thought you abandoned us..."
"Fool!" Master Fuling rapped him on the head. "With so many eyes watching during the day, how could I pack up? Huh? Should I just leave behind my herb garden, medicinal wines, and alchemy furnace?"
Zhao Yu practically threw his three-hundred-pound frame into his master’s arms.
As for Senior Uncle Wujiu from Qingyu Peak, there was no need to ask—he was definitely here for the phoenix eggs.
Aside from familiar faces, several elders who had openly supported Xu Junzhu and Luo Luo in the grand hall earlier that day also arrived, each bringing their own entourage.
The tense atmosphere instantly melted into warmth and cheer.
"Alright, alright, it's already dark. Let’s settle in for the night. We can talk more tomorrow!"
The elders yawned and motioned for Xu Junzhu to lead the way.
Li Zhaoye muttered under his breath, "I bet they’re only here because I wrecked their houses and they’ve got nowhere else to sleep."
Luo Luo covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
With the help of Yanfeng’s skilled craftsmen, the grand hall was quickly roofed and walled, making it habitable for the night.
The elders pulled out bedding from their qiankun pouches and spread it on the floor.
Lying side by side under the stars, they chattered noisily, the experience both novel and delightful.
Li Zhaoye lounged lazily on the windowsill, watching Luo Luo listen wide-eyed to the conversations around her.
She didn’t interrupt, just smiled as she glanced from one person to another, as if everything fascinated her.
Then, as if remembering him, she stole a casual peek toward the windowsill.
But he always closed his eyes and pretended to sleep before she could catch him looking.
Even with his eyes shut, he knew she was sneaking glances at him—and grinning like a fool.
Eventually, the chatter died down as everyone drifted off to sleep. The elders on night watch crossed their arms and began meditating, leaving the hall in silence.
Li Zhaoye hopped down from the windowsill and quietly signaled Luo Luo and Xu Junzhu to follow him along the wall.
Under the moonlight, the three arrived at the half-finished "Luo Luo Pavilion"—a name Li Zhaoye had whimsically assigned to the structure.
"Senior Brother?" Xu Junzhu lowered his voice. "Is there something suspicious about one of the elders?"
"No." Li Zhaoye waved a hand dismissively.
He gestured toward a chair for Xu Junzhu to sit, then pulled out a large wicker chair, stuffed Luo Luo into it, and squeezed in beside her.
There wasn’t quite enough space, so he draped an arm behind her, half-encircling her.
"I retrieved a fragment of Qing Xu’s memories," Li Zhaoye said. "It might be related to your master, so I brought you along."
Xu Junzhu’s eyes brightened instantly.
Pressing her lips together, she whispered, "We’ve always been furious about the things Qing Xu said before. But without proof, we couldn’t refute his slander."
"Don’t get your hopes up," Li Zhaoye warned. "For all we know, it might just be a memory of him taking a bath or using the latrine."
Xu Junzhu: "..."
Luo Luo: "..."
So he couldn’t suffer the mental scarring alone, huh?
Li Zhaoye pulled the You Nü from his sleeve.
Last time, this thing had teamed up with Child Ghost to cause trouble, so in a fit of rage, Li Zhaoye had snapped off one of its legs and bound it tightly with sealing threads.
At a glance, it now resembled a crab trussed up by unscrupulous merchants trying to inflate its weight with thick ropes.
With a tug on the threads, You Nü spat out a fragment of Qing Xu’s memory.
It was the Nanfeng Tower—the same place Luo Luo had seen before.
Inside a gauze-draped chamber, a delicate-looking youth knelt alone on an embroidered cushion, his frail body trembling uncontrollably.
Behind a solid wooden screen came faint sounds of struggle.
"Hold him tight! Don’t let him move!" A middle-aged woman’s booming voice rang out. "I paid good money for this! Ruin my business, and I’ll make you regret it!"
"Yes, yes, understood," a man replied obsequiously. "Quick, you two—pin his head! You, hold his arms! And you, his legs! Xiao Guizi, press down on his waist!"
"Got it!"
Luo Luo craned her neck, trying to peer around the screen to see what was happening.
Li Zhaoye helpfully gave her a nudge from behind.
"Whoosh!"
Her head bypassed the screen—only to face a blank wall.
Li Zhaoye slapped his thigh, laughing. "Silly girl, this is his memory. He didn’t have X-ray vision."
Luo Luo: "..."
Grumbling, she shoved him away.
The struggle behind the screen grew louder until—thud!—a sharp, agonized scream tore through the air.
"Quick, quick!" the woman shrieked. "Put the gag back in his mouth before he bites his tongue off!"
The scream was so harrowing it sent chills down the spine.
Soon, someone retrieved the wooden gag.
The screaming abruptly cut off into muffled whimpers.
"Ah—ah—there we go!" The woman exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Doctor. Take a breather—we’ve got another one after this."
At the words "another one," the youth—Qing Xu—flinched violently.
Luo Luo suddenly realized what was happening as she looked into his eyes—still uncovered by the white blindfold.
So this was...
Before she could finish the thought, the woman screeched, "Who told you to let go?!"
Chaotic footsteps followed. Then—bang!—the screen toppled as a drenched boy stumbled out.
A wooden gag still clenched between his teeth, his face was wrapped in a thick white blindfold, blood seeping from where his eyes should be.
Convulsing from pain, he staggered forward—only for the blindfold to catch on the screen’s edge.
As he lurched away, the cloth ripped free—
Both he and Qing Xu let out bloodcurdling shrieks.
Luo Luo’s scalp prickled.
She’d heard the brothel patrons in her vision whisper that tearing off the blindfold could rip out a courtesan’s eyeballs.
Behind the screen, the Madam’s face twisted in fury.
She wailed, slapping her thigh, "You cursed brat! I’ll sell you to the lowest black-market brothel! You’ve ruined me!"
The men, knowing they’d messed up, hung their heads silently as they dragged the unconscious boy away.
The Madam’s gaze slowly slid to the second youth on the cushion.
"See what happens when you misbehave?"
Qing Xu’s teeth chattered as he nodded stiffly.
"Hmph!"
Flicking her perfumed handkerchief, the Madam stormed out to summon cleaners.
Qing Xu bit his lip hard, his face ghostly pale.
Every footstep outside made his body shake like a leaf.
"Creak."
As he froze, a small figure slipped inside—a child no older than eight or nine.
"Second Brother Li!" the child whispered urgently. "Quick, the coast is clear—run!"
Shutting the door behind him, the child rushed to help Qing Xu up.
"Last time, if you hadn’t saved me, I would’ve died," Xiao Guizi said. "You jump out the window—I’ll hold the door! Run!"
"No," the youth Qing Xu replied, his voice trembling. "They’ll beat you to death."
Xiao Guizi sobbed. "Better than you suffering like that! I saw what they did to Brother Bai just now..."
Qing Xu grabbed Xiao Guizi’s hand. "We’ll go together—jump and run!"
The two supported each other as they rushed toward the window.
Creak—
The Madam entered with her men.
"What’s going on here?" Her snake-like gaze fixed on Xiao Guizi. "You little brat, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Guizi was too terrified to speak.
Qing Xu forced calm into his voice. "I fell. He was helping me up."
The Madam didn’t question it, waving them off. "Get out, both of you."
Qing Xu shoved Xiao Guizi hard.
Helpless, Xiao Guizi clenched his teeth, lowered his head, and bolted from the room.
Qing Xu stood beside the bed.
The sheets were in disarray, clearly showing signs of a desperate struggle. Fresh blood still dotted the pillow.
The youth bit his lip, his face filled with despair.
Soon, the physician—his hands reeking of medicine—and several burly men filed in.
The physician stepped forward, lifting Qing Xu’s eyelids to examine them.
"Good. Lie down."
Qing Xu obeyed like a lifeless doll, stiffly stretching out on the bed.
Every passing moment was torture.
When the men pinned him down, forcing a wooden gag into his mouth, terror reached its peak.
He thrashed like a fish out of water.
"Help me... I’ll die... Help me..." His gaze was unfocused, his pleas endless. "Help me... please..."
Beside his head, a tray held a white silk strip soaked in pungent medicine.
The physician approached with golden hooks and spoons, prying his eyelids wider.
"Help... help me..." Qing Xu’s voice was a ragged sob. "I’ll die..."
A sigh, almost too faint to hear, drifted through the air.
His lips moved slightly, whispering in a breathy murmur, "Why is it that you only remember me when things go wrong? Last time, you nearly got eaten and called me out to kill. What fresh misery is this?"
Qing Xu closed his eyes. When they opened again, he seemed like a different person.
He lay still, submitting to the torment, a faint smirk curling his lips.
No resistance, no struggle—only the veins bulging on his forehead and sweat pouring like rain.
Luo Luo’s eyes widened as she inhaled sharply. "He has a brother too?"
Was it like Yue Wugou and Yue Ranchen?
Li Zhaoye narrowed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "No."
This scene was more like someone forcing themselves to become another "self" in order to survive.
Before he could finish, Qing Xu—now missing one eye—suddenly turned his head.
His remaining eye locked onto Li Zhaoye and Luo Luo, as if seeing through the veil of memory.
The youth smiled around the wooden gag, his expression chillingly serene.
"Welcome," he whispered, "to my hell."
