Dugu Bo was a man used to coming and going alone. After entrusting Dugu Yan to Ye Qingxian's care, he departed without a word.
No one knew where he was headed.
Maybe off to show off in front of some old friends?
Who knew!
Ye Qingxian strolled toward the back courtyard, walking through the long corridor. Her robes flowed like clouds and snow.
"Leaf Auntie!"
Suddenly, a shout rang out.
Ye Qingxian turned her head just in time to see a snowball slam right into her chest.
…Huh!?
Her beautiful eyes instantly widened in disbelief.
This little brat—
He's got guts!
"Mom! Join us! Let's pummel him together!"
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, previously driven into retreat by Lin Xiao's relentless snowball assault, saw their chance and immediately recruited Ye Qingxian to the battlefield.
Ye Qingxian sneered.
She was a mature, composed woman—like a soaring eagle above worldly affairs. Snowball fights? Child's play. Not her thing.
Then—splat!—another snowball struck her squarely.
Followed by a few more in quick succession.
That was the last straw.
"Lingling, just watch how I teach him a lesson for you!"
Ye Qingxian grabbed a snowball and flung it with sharp precision.
"Mom, nice shot!"
"Auntie Ye, you're amazing!"
What's there to praise? It's just a snowball!
Ye Qingxian let out a cold snort, but the corner of her lips curled upward in amusement.
"You two, pay attention. This is how you throw a snowball—firm and accurate!"
That night.
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan ended up sleeping in the same bed.
Their soft white feet tangled together beneath the blankets.
"Yan-jie, don't you think… ever since we took the celestial herbs, we've gotten prettier? Your skin looks flawless!"
"You're just now noticing? Not just the skin—our bodies have changed too."
"Eh? Then why hasn't mine changed!? Yan-jie, let me check yours!"
"Hey! Are you crazy!?"
"Waaah, it's not fair! Why is yours developing faster!?"
"Oh hush. Haven't you noticed that sweet floral scent coming from your skin?"
"Wait—yeah! You're right!"
They were both so excited by their spirit evolution that they couldn't fall asleep, chatting and goofing around deep into the night.
Naturally, they overslept the next morning.
Early morning.
Lin Xiao was already up.
He opened the window to a scene of soft snowfall.
Red tiles, white walls, and frost-covered bricks—like a painting.
He gathered the letters Shui Bing'er had sent over the past month, sorting them by date.
Then he began to read through them, one by one.
Each envelope carried a gentle fragrance, elegant and refined.
The delicate handwriting was beautiful.
Reading each line, he could almost picture her gentle, lovely face. He could feel the tender, sensitive heart behind every word, and…
An ocean's worth of longing.
As the saying goes:
"Some neighbors of ten years can be hostile,
while strangers who meet by chance feel like lifelong friends."
Subconsciously, Lin Xiao touched the storage soul tool on his left ring finger.
Inside was a small embroidered pouch and a decent stash of gold soul coins.
His very first "fortune."
Earned from… "living sweet." (i.e., mooching from rich people.)
"Come to think of it, Shui Bing'er is also a noble lady.
I wonder what her life is like at home?"
She wasn't like Dugu Yan or Ye Lingling.
Those two were only daughters in their families—treasured like rare gems, with no messy clan politics or internal power struggles.
But Shui Bing'er had exceptional talent.
And that… was the greatest shield.
Her life must be going well, right?
Lin Xiao picked up the last letter.
It was different from the others.
Where the earlier letters had shared cute everyday moments and quiet longing, this one radiated a much stronger emotion.
"Lin Xiao-gege, do you still remember our promise?"
…How could he forget?
Most of the primary academies had already gone on break.
Even Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's advanced soul master school was about to dismiss for the holiday.
So… should he go meet her?
Lin Xiao placed all the letters back into their envelopes, then carefully packed them into a small box, storing it in his soul tool.
He had no plans to reply by letter.
No matter how many words you write,
nothing beats meeting face to face.
He wanted to give her a surprise.
Stretching his arms, Lin Xiao headed toward the main hall.
Passing by the corridor, he saw Ye Qingxian practicing Ba Duan Jin, the Eight Brocade Exercises.
She wore a loose white training robe, but her graceful figure still faintly showed through. Her every movement was elegant—not as free and casual as Lin Xiao's own style, but carrying a quiet sophistication of its own.
Lin Xiao hadn't kept any secrets—he had taught her both Five Animal Forms and Ba Duan Jin.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had learned a bit as well.
But they found the practice too dull and repetitive. Only Ye Qingxian had persisted, and she had reaped the rewards.
She finished the last movement and slowly gathered her energy.
Fine sweat dotted her smooth forehead, and her complexion was healthy and radiant—like a blooming flower.
"This Ba Duan Jin is excellent," she said calmly.
"After one full set, not only does the body feel lighter, but my soul power flows more smoothly along the meridians. Over time, this could improve the constitution and even enhance one's talent."
"I'm going to make those two girls keep practicing. They just don't get it yet. But once they feel the benefits, they'll thank me."
Ye Qingxian glanced at Lin Xiao.
She didn't bother asking where he got such valuable techniques.
She wasn't that kind of woman.
"What is it? Need something?"
Lin Xiao nodded. After a brief pause, he said:
"I plan to head out for a bit."
He'd been living in the Ye residence for so long now, he almost felt like part of the family.
He couldn't just disappear without saying anything.
"Going out? Where to?"
Ye Qingxian's eyes narrowed slightly. She walked toward him.
"Tianshui City."
"I'm going to visit a friend at the Shui family."
She frowned.
"When exactly? Yan and Lingling are about to go hunt for their third spirit rings. The Poison Douluo will go with them. Wouldn't it be dangerous for you to travel alone?"
"How about I assign someone to escort you?"
"Better yet, just wait until they finish. The Poison Douluo can go with you—it'll be safer. Yan and Lingling could tag along and meet your friend too…"
Lin Xiao chuckled and shook his head.
"I don't have any enemies. It's not that serious. I'd look like an overgrown baby being escorted like that."
"Besides, they don't even know my friend. Dragging them along might just make everyone awkward. I can go by myself."
"By the time they get back from the spirit beast hunt, I'll probably be back too."
Ye Qingxian nodded—but her expression didn't soften.
"Fine. Then I'll still have someone escort you."
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed with teasing intent.
"That friend of yours—boyfriend or girlfriend?"
Lin Xiao's face went dark.
"…A normal friend!"