If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

The mist outside Wuyou Peak gradually dissipated, and the distant peaks were softened by the afternoon sunlight. Occasionally, disciples would fly by on their magical artifacts, their robes fluttering, stirring up hushed discussions.

Two outer disciples were walking back along the roadside, carrying prayer mats.

An outer disciple asked, "Is that Senior Brother Xie?"

Another outer disciple said, "It's him."

The former said, "Is that Senior Brother Mo from Qingquan Peak next to you?"

The latter replied, "It should be."

The former said, "They went towards the Love Pavilion."

The latter said, "It's not surprising that Senior Brother Xie went to the Love Pavilion, but it's quite interesting that Senior Brother Mo went."

The former said, "And Senior Sister Xiao too."

The latter paused for a moment, then said, "Once the news from the temple event gets out today, the senior sister on duty at the Love Pavilion will probably be very busy."

Mo Chengyue heard this, but his expression remained serious.

Xie Buci said, "Did you hear that? You've already managed to boost the business within the pavilion."

Mo Chengyue said, "Rumors stop with the wise."

Xie Buci said, "There are not many wise men in the sect."

Xiao Qinghan said, "News from the Hehuan Sect always travels very quickly."

Mo Chengyue asked, "Is it too late for me to turn back now?"

Xie Buci replied, "It's too late."

Xiao Qinghan said, "Didn't Junior Brother Mo say that one can only attain the Great Dao while alive?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Yes, that's why I'm assessing the survival risks of the Love Pavilion."

Xie Buci said, "The risk is not high; at most, we'll be surrounded by people sketching our portraits."

Mo Chengyue asked, "To admire the portrait?"

Xie Buci said, "If you register, your portrait will be displayed."

Mo Chengyue said, "Then we won't register."

Xie Buci said, "Didn't you just feel something?"

Mo Chengyue said, "The heart can reach you; the person doesn't necessarily have to be hanging on the wall."

Xiao Qinghan asked, "Junior Brother Mo is also afraid of being seen?"

Mo Chengyue said, "I'm afraid of being targeted."

Xie Buci said, "You've already been targeted."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Brother, could you say something auspicious?"

Xie Buci said, "Then I wish you success in your contract signing?"

Mo Chengyue said, "This is even more unlucky."

Watching the two bicker, Xiao Qinghan felt a significant lightening of the heaviness that had been weighing on her heart after the lecture.

Her visit to the Love Pavilion was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Every word spoken by the Supreme Elder today is inseparable from the Yin-Yang Harmony Sutra, which she is currently practicing.

After she rebuilt, the foundation was laid anew, but the road ahead was still like walking up a mountain in the dead of night; you could see under your feet, but the distance was shrouded in mist.

The Love Pavilion wasn't a place she had to go to, but it allowed her to see how the sect treated the ancient Daoist couple contract.

She didn't want to entrust her fate to an old contract again, like she had done back then.

Mo Chengyue turned his head to look at her and asked, "What are you thinking about, Senior Sister Xiao?"

Xiao Qinghan said, "I'm thinking about what the Supreme Elder said today."

Mo Chengyue asked, "Which sentence?"

Xiao Qinghan said, "The choice between what to accept and what to reject is not determined by the law, but by the person."

Xie Buci said, "That was said by my junior brother."

Xiao Qinghan said, "That's why I find it strange."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Sister Xiao, what you said was a bit hurtful."

Xiao Qinghan said, "Junior Brother Mo usually hides his talents too much, so it's easy to be surprised when he says something serious."

Xie Buci said, "Junior Sister Xiao, you already have a very good eye for him."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Brother, don't act like a senior who's judging marriages."

Xie Buci replied, "I am indeed a senior."

Mo Chengyue said, "A debt of affection, senior."

Xie Buci said, "That counts as experience."

Mo Chengyue coughed lightly, steer the conversation back on track, and asked, "Senior Sister Xiao, when did you begin practicing the ancient techniques passed down in our sect?"

Xiao Qinghan slowed her pace slightly.

She looked at the stone steps ahead, her fingers lightly pressing against her cuffs, and said, "Eight years ago."

Mo Chengyue asked, "Eight years ago?"

Xiao Qinghan said, "Mm."

Xie Buci raised an eyebrow but did not interrupt.

Mo Chengyue said, "I thought Senior Sister had only recently come into contact with ancient methods."

Xiao Qinghan said, "I had a starting point eight years ago, but for various reasons, I didn't really continue on that path."

Mo Chengyue said, "So it's only now that it's considered a complete overhaul?"

Xiao Qinghan replied, "Yes."

Mo Chengyue's mind raced.

Eight years ago.

That would have been even earlier than Guo Zixuan publicly announcing his engagement.

It seems that Yingtian Peak was not unprepared after Xiao Qinghan's spiritual root was damaged. However, at that time, she was still burdened by the arrogance of a genius and a marriage contract, so she may not have been willing to admit that she had to start a different path from scratch.

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Sister's choice of the ancient method shows that she has courage."

Xiao Qinghan said, "It's also possible that there was no other choice."

Mo Chengyue said, "To be able to move forward when there is no other choice is also a skill."

Xiao Qinghan glanced at him and said, "Junior Brother Mo, you speak quite eloquently today."

Mo Chengyue said, "I have always been like this."

Xie Buci said, "Junior Sister Xiao, don't believe him. He usually says nice things to lower the other party's guard."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Brother, you are undermining the trust among your fellow disciples."

Xie Buci said, "I'm helping Junior Sister Xiao avoid a trap."

Xiao Qinghan said, "Junior Brother Mo is indeed a trap."

Mo Chengyue asked, "Senior Sister Xiao, do you think so too?"

Xiao Qinghan said, "I still remember that manuscript in the Sutra Repository."

Mo Chengyue looked innocent and said, "Those are study materials."

Xiao Qinghan's ears lit up with a hint of warmth as she asked, "Junior Brother Mo calls those pictures and texts 'study materials'?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Isn't that right?"

Xiao Qinghan said, "Much of the content inside is clearly written in a mess."

Mo Chengyue said, "Our predecessors expressed themselves boldly and unrestrainedly; we should respect history."

Xie Buci said slowly, "Junior Brother, you've gotten bolder."

Mo Chengyue said, "I am explaining the principles of organizing the classics in the Sutra Repository."

Xiao Qinghan asked, "When Junior Brother Mo is organizing the classics, do you also study them carefully?"

Mo Chengyue replied, "Of course."

Xiao Qinghan looked at him.

Mo Chengyue added, "I meant the table of contents."

Xie Buci laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Xiao Qinghan's face flushed even more, but she maintained her dignified demeanor and said, "Junior Brother Mo, there's no need to pretend."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior sister has wronged me."

Xiao Qinghan said, "When you handed that book to me, you clearly already knew what was written inside."

Mo Chengyue said, "I just think it has complete illustrations and text, making it suitable for beginners."

Xiao Qinghan stopped and looked at him, saying, "Mo Chengyue."

Mo Chengyue also stopped and said, "Please speak, Senior Sister."

Xiao Qinghan asked, "Did you do this on purpose?"

Mo Chengyue pondered for a moment.

Xie Buci watched the spectacle from the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Mo Chengyue asked, "If I say no, would Senior Sister believe me?"

Xiao Qinghan said, "I don't believe it."

Mo Chengyue said, "Then it wouldn't be appropriate for me to say yes."

Xiao Qinghan said, "You really did it on purpose."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior sister, this is called a reasonable test."

Xiao Qinghan asked, "What are you testing?"

Mo Chengyue said, "It's to test whether Senior Sister's Dao heart is firm."

Xiao Qinghan laughed in exasperation and asked, "Then what did Junior Brother Mo discover?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Sister's Dao Heart is very stable, and her sword is also very fast."

Xiao Qinghan said, "Do you still remember when I went to practice swordsmanship?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Brother Xie has already made the announcement."

Xie Buci said, "I am merely stating the facts."

Xiao Qinghan looked at Xie Buci and said, "Senior Brother Xie also finds it funny?"

Xie Buci said, "Junior Sister Xiao misunderstands. I just think Junior Brother deserved it."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Brother, you chose sides too quickly."

Xie Buci replied, "With such a beauty before us, of course we must act quickly."

Xiao Qinghan said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Xie Buci said, "I'll shut up."