One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Early morning, Longhu Mountain, Celestial Master's Mansion.

The fog hadn't completely dissipated. A thin layer, like gauze, hung over the verdant mountains, shrouding the layers of green in a hazy mist. Birds sang merrily, one after another, seeping from the woods, mingling with the unhurried morning bell from the Taoist temple, and in the distance, the faint sound of chanting could be heard. The air was damp, carrying the bitter scent of grass and leaves, mixed with a hint of sandalwood incense; a breath was cool and refreshing, as if it could cleanse the lungs of all the stale air.

This tranquility has lasted for countless years in the Celestial Master's Mansion.

Then this morning, it was completely blown up.

"Xiaoyun! You stop right there! That's the Old Master's 'Ink Magnolia'! You can't pull it!!"

The shout came suddenly, like a thunderclap, exploding above the meticulously tended herb garden in the backyard of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Several cranes, who were searching for food in the grass with their heads down, were startled by the shout and flapped their wings, stretching their necks and cawing loudly before moving away unhappily to a distance.

The one who roared out was Nie Lingfeng.

To be honest, he looked a bit disheveled at that moment. The bandages on his body hadn't been completely removed, his face showed the exhaustion of someone who had stayed up all night nursing a baby, and his hair was messy, with a few strands sticking out on his head. He was chasing a small silver whirlwind in an extremely awkward posture—wanting to run fast, afraid of tearing his wounds, and reaching for something.

That little whirlwind, wrapped in a pale yellow dress, ran around with great joy.

The dress was bought by Chen Duo in a small town at the foot of the mountain. It had a pale yellow base, with green grass and white flowers embroidered on the hem. Wearing it, Xiao Yun's silver hair shimmered in the morning light, making her look like a little elf. Of course, that is, you have to ignore the flower she was clutching tightly in her hand.

The flower had been forcibly plucked from an orchid. The orchid was entirely black, like ink jade, with smooth, glossy leaves. At its tip originally bloomed three small, pale purple flowers, their fragrance subtle and different from ordinary orchids, carrying a refreshing sweetness. Now, the largest and most beautiful flower was gone. It was held in Xiaoyun's hand, its stem still damp, oozing sap.

"Papa! Flowers! Smells good! Looks beautiful!"

Xiaoyun turned around. She had no idea what she had done. The poor flower was held high in her hand, and her little face was beaming with a smile, her big, golden-red eyes brimming with a smug "Praise me!" look. She was clean and tidy, without a trace of gloom.

Nie Lingfeng looked at the flower in her hand—the petals were still covered with dew, looking delicate and beautiful, but he estimated that it wouldn't live much longer. He then looked at the black magnolia mother plant, which had been plucked to a bald corner, standing there all alone, with the remaining two flowers trembling slightly, looking rather pitiful.

His vision went black. A sharp pain shot through his back and the back of his head, as if they had conspired to yell at him simultaneously.

The old Celestial Master... He'd spent decades nurturing this black magnolia. He wouldn't let anyone touch it normally. Last time, that brat Wang Ye just carelessly knocked off a leaf, and the old Celestial Master, all smiles, "invited" him to sweep the fallen leaves on the back hill for three days. And he was all smiles! He swept for three whole days!

Now look what's happened! My own "daughter" just grabbed the flower and plucked it. And it was the biggest and prettiest one at that.

"Xiaoyun! Be good, give the flower to Daddy, you can't pick this flower..." Nie Lingfeng suppressed the urge to vomit blood, desperately trying to make his face look kind. He held out his hand, his voice softening. "Look, give it to Daddy, Daddy will find you another one..."

Reach out your hand.

Xiaoyun looked at his hand, then at the fragrant flowers in her own hand.

"Papa...bad..." she pouted.

Those two tears welled up in my eyes without warning.

"Yunyun's...flower..." She sniffled twice, her voice soft and sweet, trailing off with a sob.

Then she hid the flower behind her back, twisted her little body, and made it clear—you dare to take it? If you dare, I'll cry. And I could cry all day long.

Nie Lingfeng's hand froze in mid-air.

Who taught them all this?!

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, his mind racing between continuing to coax him or forcibly taking the bane and enduring the cacophony of his voice all day long, a voice came from behind him.

"If she likes it, let her play with it. It's just a flower."

It was cool and aloof, but there seemed to be a very faint hint of laughter inside, almost imperceptible unless you listened carefully.

Nie Lingfeng froze. He turned around.

Chen Duo arrived at some unknown time, standing by the moon gate of the herb garden. She wore a simple white cotton-linen dress, her long hair loosely tied back with a wooden hairpin. Her complexion was still a little pale, but she seemed much better than before. Her emerald green eyes were fixed on Xiao Yun, who was pouting, tears welling up in her eyes, with a look that said, "No one can take my flower away." The corners of Chen Duo's mouth seemed to curve upwards slightly, or perhaps not.

"Chen Duo, you're awake? How are you feeling?" Nie Lingfeng asked hurriedly, temporarily putting the matter of Mo Yulan out of his mind.

"Yes, much better." Chen Duo nodded and walked towards him. She stopped in front of the plucked magnolia tree, her gaze lingering on it. "This flower...is it very precious?"

"More than precious!" Nie Lingfeng's face fell, and he lowered his voice, "This is the Old Celestial Master's most prized possession! Last time Wang Ye knocked over a single leaf, he swept the back mountain for three days straight..."

He didn't finish speaking. Anyway, that's how it is.

Chen Duo tilted her head. She didn't quite understand the connection between "precious child" and "sweeping the back mountain". But she looked at Nie Lingfeng's "it's all over" face, and then at Xiaoyun's protective way of holding the flower in her arms.

She walked over and squatted down in front of Xiaoyun, looking Xiaoyun in the eye.

Xiaoyun's eyes lit up the moment she saw Chen Duo. She no longer hesitated and presented the flowers to Chen Duo.

"Jiejie! Look! Flowers! They smell so good! For Jiejie!" The voice was crisp and clear, like someone presenting a treasure.

The pale purple flower was presented to Chen Duo; the dew on its petals hadn't completely dried and glistened in the morning light. Xiao Yun's big, golden-red eyes also sparkled, waiting for praise.

Chen Duo looked at the flower without saying a word. After a while, she reached out her hand.

No flowers were received.

Her hand landed on Xiaoyun's head, gently ruffling her soft, silver hair.

"Picking the flower will hurt." She spoke in her usual way, few words at a time, each one uttered distinctly. "Next time, see, I won't pick it."

Xiaoyun blinked. She looked at the flowers, then at Chen Duo, a "pondering" expression appearing on her little face.

I pondered for a few seconds.

"Flower...it hurts..." She nodded forcefully, still a little reluctant, but handed the flower to Chen Duo. "Yunyun won't pick it...it's for Jie Jie..."

Chen Duo took the flowers. She stood up and walked to the injured magnolia. She bent down.

She carefully placed the flower on the soil at the base of the plant.

Then extend your hand. Open your palm.

A very faint layer of emerald green light floated in her palm. It was so faint that it was almost invisible unless you looked closely. She gently placed her palm on the wound where the black magnolia had been torn off, and lightly brushed it over.

Then I saw it.

The sap oozing from the wound stopped. Even more remarkably, at the edge of the wound, a tiny, delicate bud visibly emerged and unfurled. The flower wouldn't grow back, but the life of this black magnolia was preserved; the wound was healing, and healing very quickly.

Nie Lingfeng stared wide-eyed.

He knew that Chen Duo's Phoenix Flame had changed after absorbing the crystal of the phoenix feather. It could now manipulate a vibrant green energy. But he didn't know the effect would be so direct. Although it couldn't bring the dead back to life, this ability to accelerate healing and stimulate life was already quite frightening.

"Chen Duo, your abilities..."

Chen Duo withdrew her hand. The green light in her palm dissipated. Her face looked even paler.

"Only... a little bit." She shook her head gently. "The energy expenditure is huge."

This job was clearly not easy. She wasn't fully recovered yet.

"Jie Jie! Great!"

Xiaoyun didn't care about any energy expenditure. All she saw was that the pretty older sister had performed a "magic trick" and made Huahua "not hurt anymore." She clapped her hands, giggled, ran over, and hugged Chen Duo's leg, rubbing her little face against Chen Duo's leg like a spoiled kitten.

Chen Duo stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed. She reached out and gently patted Xiao Yun's back. The coldness in her eyes seemed to soften a little.

Watching this scene of "sisterly affection," Nie Lingfeng's earlier anxiety subsided considerably. Oh well. The flowers have already been picked, and Duo'er has done her best to mend them. As for the Old Master… at worst, she'll get a scolding, or she can just sweep the back mountain herself. Wang has swept before, he has experience; if all else fails, she can ask him—are there any precautions for sweeping the back mountain?

He was lost in thought, trying to figure out how to "apologize" to the old master.

"Hehe. It's nothing, nothing at all. It's just a flower; it's already a blessing that it made this child smile. Besides, young friend Chen Duo's ingenious method of 'bringing life back to life' has truly broadened this old Daoist's horizons."

The voice was right behind me. It was old, gentle, and seemed to carry a hint of a smile.

Nie Lingfeng felt a chill run down his spine and turned around abruptly.

Not far behind, under an old pine tree, stood a person.

Old Celestial Master.

He wore a grey Taoist robe, his hair and beard were all white, and his face was ruddy. He stood with his hands behind his back, smiling.

When did he arrive? How come there wasn't a sound? Is this the level of a top-tier master? Walking like a ghost?