Chapter 29
Madam Hongyan stared at Lou Yuqing, eyes bright with astonishment. "She was right... again."
A moment earlier, she had clearly heard the girl's thoughts. She'd even tried to ask about it-only to find herself unable to speak at all.
Turning slightly, she glanced at the others. The sect leader and the senior brothers looked completely unfazed, as if none of this was unusual.
After a brief explanation, realization dawned.
So those had been the thoughts of Zixiao's newly accepted disciple... a girl with some kind of innate prophetic ability.
Sect Leader Qingxuzi chuckled, utterly at ease. "Of course. Yuqing is never wrong."
Madam Hongyan's smile curved, sharp and delighted. "So everything that happened to you earlier... you heard it all from her?"
Elder Wei Tu coughed into his sleeve.
Zeng Xuangan's hand paused mid-stroke on his beard.
Only Qingxuzi and Meng Zonghan remained perfectly composed.
"Ahem. That's all in the past," Elder Wei Tu cut in abruptly. "Let's continue. That girl-water and wood spiritual roots. She's well-suited to the path of medicine."
Madam Hongyan let it go, though the amusement lingered in her eyes as she looked down toward the plaza.
Below, the white-robed physician was already studying Shi Xiuxiu with clear approval.
"A talent like this should join my clinic," he said without hesitation, producing an antidote pill and pressing it into her hand. "Take it. Quickly."
Shi Xiuxiu blinked, still dazed from everything that had just happened. "Physician... I can't accept something for nothing."
She hesitated, fingers tightening slightly around the pill.
She had heard that immortal sects didn't deal in silver, but in spirit stones.
Even with all her family's wealth... she wasn't sure she could exchange it for even one.
The physician seemed to understand at once. "It's free. No spirit stones. Think of it as a gift-to celebrate your joining the sect."
"This..." she faltered, still unsure.
Si Nidie stepped in, waving a hand casually. "Just take it. One antidote pill isn't much. If you really feel bad about it, you can repay Doctor Qin later-once you start earning spirit stones."
Doctor Qin nodded vigorously. "Exactly."
Shi Xiuxiu's eyes grew moist. "Thank you... all of you."
She swallowed the pill.
It melted instantly.
A warm current flowed down her throat, spreading through her limbs, chasing away the lingering chill that had clung to her for so long.
Before that warmth could fully settle, Qi Luofeng suddenly spoke, urgency creeping into his voice.
"Immortal Master, Xiuxiu didn't pass the first test. According to your sect's rules, even if she has spiritual roots, she shouldn't be allowed to join."
The plaza fell silent.
Then-
...What?
Even Elder Xu gave a short nod. "That is correct."
"Feng Lang?!"
Shi Xiuxiu turned to him, shock written plainly across her face.
For the first time, she truly questioned whether she had ever seen him clearly-whether he was man or something else entirely.
Qi Luofeng met her gaze, tone calm, almost reasonable. "Xiuxiu, I'm doing this for our own good. Are you really going to abandon me just to cultivate immortality? Think about it-is that fair to me?"
Her eyes didn't waver.
"Whether this is because you can't cultivate... or because you really want us to stay together... you know the answer yourself."
For a split second, guilt flickered across his face.
He instinctively looked away-then quickly recovered, forcing his expression back into place.
"Of course it's because I love you," he said earnestly. "What's the point of immortality if we can't be together?"
"You really believe that?" she asked.
"I do."
He nodded firmly. "When I brought you here, I told you-my only wish in this life was for us to live longer, to love longer."
"Yes... I believed you."
Her voice grew quieter with each word.
"But now I see... you've been lying to me from the very beginning. You never once planned a future with me."
He didn't catch the last part.
But something in her expression-something unfamiliar-made unease stir in his chest.
She's easy to fool, he reminded himself. She always has been.
Yet the unease refused to fade.
Then she spoke again. "Feng Lang... whether you poisoned me or not, it's easy to find out. Just ask the physician at home. You might deceive me once... but try deceiving me forever."
His pupils shrank.
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
And what he saw-was no longer the obedient, trusting girl he knew.
"Xiuxiu, you actually doubt me?" His voice rose, sharp with disbelief. "I didn't poison you! I swear-if I did, may I be struck by lightning and never reincarnate!"
He reached for her hand.
She stepped aside.
"Don't touch me."
Her voice was cold.
Shi Xiuxiu had always been gentle.
Her parents had been busy with business, leaving her to grow up alone. She learned early to be sensible, to never trouble them-but deep down, she had always longed for warmth.
Qi Luofeng had given her that warmth.
Especially after her parents' death, she clung to it even more tightly.
His late nights. His decisions. Even changing the Shi family name to Qi-as long as he said he loved her, she accepted it all.
But now, it felt like waking from a dream-and what remained was a quiet, chilling truth: the man beside her had wanted her dead.
A bitter ache rose in her chest.
Her parents had warned her-again and again-to protect herself, to never lose her dignity, even in love.
And she had failed them.
Not only that-she had nearly handed the Shi family into the jaws of a wolf.
If she forgave him now... she would truly have failed them completely.
Qi Luofeng watched her step back, panic tightening his chest. "Xiuxiu?"
Since the day they met, she had never rejected him like this.
Never.
He replayed everything in his mind-again and again.
There shouldn't have been any flaw.
The poisoning hadn't been exposed. He had only tried to persuade her to leave cultivation behind.
That alone wouldn't make her turn against him.
So why-
Si Nidie blinked, surprised. "She actually woke up?"
Even she hadn't expected this.
After everything Lou Yuqing revealed, Shi Xiuxiu had still believed in him before.
Lou Yuqing scratched her head. "...That's strange."
People in love usually didn't wake up until they hit rock bottom.
Shi Xiuxiu had seemed exactly like that type.
Gu Buqi spoke calmly, voice steady with experience. "Because she doesn't only love Qi Luofeng. She loves her parents too. Between the two... the answer is obvious."
Understanding flickered across Lou Yuqing's face. "So she can let him drain her dry-but she can't accept him coveting what her parents left behind."
Si Nidie sighed. "Human emotions are... complicated."
Meanwhile, Shi Xiuxiu stepped forward, facing Elder Xu. "Immortal Master, is there any way to remedy this? I truly wish to join your sect... and become a disciple."
For the first time, Elder Xu's stern expression softened, a faint smile appearing. "There is a way."
He looked at her, gaze calm but penetrating. "Pass the Trial of the Heart, and your character will be proven."
His voice slowed, deliberate. "If your character is sound... then joining our sect is only natural."
Her eyes lit up. "I'm willing. I humbly request permission to undergo the trial!"
Elder Xu glanced subtly toward the sky, then activated the array plate in his hand.
A beam of light descended onto the plaza.
"Step inside," Elder Xu said. "If you emerge within an hour, you pass."
Shi Xiuxiu stepped forward.
"Xiuxiu!"
Qi Luofeng's voice rang out from behind-but it couldn't stop her.
She didn't turn back. She couldn't bring herself to shout at him... but in her heart, the decision had already been made.
Ahead, the light shimmered-bright, almost blinding.
She stepped into it.
A farewell to the past.
A beginning.
Qi Luofeng stood where he was, watching her figure vanish into the radiance, his heart sinking inch by inch.
No one pitied him. If anything, the gazes cast his way were filled with undisguised disdain.
Not long after, Wei Houming arrived.
The punishment was swift and precise-Qi Luofeng was to compensate every person who had fallen... and then roll down the 360th step of the Heavenly Ladder ten times.
The very step he had just climbed.
A deliberate echo.
Only this time-he would be the one falling.
Qi Luofeng's expression darkened as he muttered curses under his breath about the sect's stinginess.
Around him, however, the crowd broke into cheers.
The punishment wasn't excessive-but neither was it light.
Enough to teach him a lesson.
Enough to warn everyone watching.
Si Nidie leaned toward Si Nanren, her voice low and conspiratorial. "When Captain Wei has them escort him out later... make sure you get a few kicks in for me."
Si Nanren paused, then sighed.
"...Alright."
Lou Yuqing immediately leaned over. "Senior Brother Nan, kick him a few times for me too."
"...Alright."
Gu Bugai considered for a moment. "In that case... add a few more."
Si Nanren looked at them all, expression complicated. "...Alright."
And so-
By the time Qi Luofeng was escorted out of the Wendao Sect, bruised and humiliated, he had barely taken a few steps down the mountain road before a sudden, vicious kick landed squarely on his backside.
He pitched forward and crashed face-first onto the ground.
Before he could even struggle up, more kicks followed-coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Panic seized him. He scrambled to his feet, clutching his head as he ran.
"Immortal Masters, spare me! Fairy, spare me!"
By the time he staggered home, barely escaping the invisible beating-officials were already waiting.
"You are accused of attempting to murder a disciple of the immortal sect," one of them announced coldly. "The crime is punishable by death."
Qi Luofeng's legs gave out beneath him. "My lord! I'm innocent! How could I dare-there must be some mistake!"
"The Wendao Sect has personally reported you," the official said coldly. "The victim is Shi Xiuxiu. Do you think there's any mistake?"
He froze.
"No... Xiuxiu is my wife. She's not a sect disciple, I-"
"Enough. Save it for the court."
"Don't arrest me! I'm innocent!"
They didn't listen. Seizing him by the arms, they dragged him away as passersby pointed and whispered-
"Isn't that Boss Qi?"
"What did he do?"
"I always said-no merchant is truly kind. No matter how well he hides it, his true face comes out eventually."
Back at the Wendao Sect, the plaza shimmered with light.
Shi Xiuxiu stepped out.
Her complexion was clear, her aura steady.
Lou Yuqing let out a quiet breath.
Shi Xiuxiu stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Immortal Master, I have passed the Trial of the Heart."
Elder Xu nodded. "Good. From today onward, you are a disciple of the Wendao Sect. Remember the sect rules, and do not forget your original intentions."
He paused slightly before adding,
"In the future, you may address me as 'Elder.'"
"Disciple greets Elder."
Doctor Qin immediately shot Elder Xu a look. "Well? Hurry up."
Elder Xu suppressed a sigh. Impatient as ever.
Turning back, he said, "Doctor Qin intends to take you into the Medical Hall. What do you think?"
Shi Xiuxiu looked at the physician in surprise-only to meet his encouraging gaze.
Something stirred quietly in her chest.
"I am willing."
He had saved her life.
And somewhere deep within her, a seed had already taken root.
If it could grow... perhaps one day, she could save others too.
Father... Mother...
Though she still did not understand business-she had found another path.
They would be happy for her. Wouldn't they?
The memory of them-of their presence in the Trial of the Heart-tightened her chest with a quiet, lingering ache.
But there was still something she needed to do.
"Doctor Qin," she said, her voice steady now, "this disciple still has unfinished matters in the mortal world. May I return after settling them?"
Doctor Qin nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
Then, with a laugh, he added, "Elder Wei has already informed the authorities. Just clean up the rest when you get back. And don't be soft-hearted."
Emotion flickered in her eyes.
"I won't."
Despite her gentle nature, once Shi Xiuxiu made a decision-it did not waver.
Just like the day she chose to love Qi Luofeng without hesitation.
And now-she walked away from him just as firmly.
As her figure disappeared into the distance, the plaza slowly fell silent.
Lou Yuqing and the others lifted their gazes once more-toward the sky above.