Chapter 147: Holding the Landscape in a Single Stroke

“The primal stirrings of chaos, hidden beneath the Yellow Springs.”

A tall, thin man held a square wooden board in his left hand and a long, cylindrical wooden mallet in his right. The untimely sound of the mallet echoed as he walked through the street with his usual composure, like a night watchman on patrol.

The lotus boat slowly drifted to the shore, white mist swirling behind it.

“Where is this?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Qiou Sheng recalled how startled he was the first time he saw this scene in the small town as a child. Even now, seeing it for the fourth time, his heart still pounded. “This is Lotus Town…” he said.

“This…” Ning Xiaoling exclaimed in surprise. She disembarked from the boat and slowly walked towards the town. The wind brushed back the wisps of hair from her forehead, bringing a long-forgotten coolness.

“How is this possible?” Ning Xiaoling’s hand traced the wooden pillar of the archway, noticing the damp, mold-like stains on it.

Qiou Sheng didn’t know how to explain it, so he simply said, “I’ll guide the two immortal masters inside.”

Inside Lotus Town, everything appeared normal.

The layout remained unchanged, but as night had fallen and the moon hung high in the sky, an eerie stillness permeated everything.

Even General Gecko and Spotty Frog, who usually perched on the rooftops engaging in constant skirmishes, had ceased their fighting, silently clinging to the dark green tiles, staring wide-eyed at each other.

However, the patrolling rabbit spirit remained vigilant. It quickly noticed the figures traveling at night, becoming immediately alert. Upon recognizing them, its long, upright ears drooped. It adjusted the two carrots on its back, cupped its paws in a salute, displaying remarkable chivalry.

Ning Xiaoling was certain it was the same rabbit spirit; she still had the carrot it had given her.

“Brother… is this like what happened that day in Linhe?” Ning Xiaoling whispered.

That day in Linhe City, they had temporarily escaped from Lady Bone and fled into an alley. Walking back and forth several times, they always returned to a white wall. When they climbed over it, they found it was their own residence, where Ning Qinshui, who should have long been dead, waited for them with a smile.

The situation today was somewhat similar to that day.

“It’s different,” Ning Changjiu judged. “That day, it was Lady Bone’s illusionary trick, akin to a ghost wall. But this time…”

“This time what?” Ning Xiaoling pressed.

Ning Changjiu said, “This seems much more sophisticated. Previously, we were in grave danger and easily susceptible to mental illusions. This time is different; it’s too… overt.”

Yet, the more overt it was, the more terrifying it became.

Ning Xiaoling nodded gently. To connect the entire Lotus Town end-to-end—this was an incredible feat!

Qiou Sheng explained from the side, “The two immortal masters misunderstand. This isn’t the work of evil spirits. This situation has been happening for many years, and nothing bad ever happens. We just pass through it safely.”

“How long does one of these last?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Qiou Sheng replied, “It can be as short as two or three days, or as long as half a month, even a month.”

“That’s too long…” Ning Xiaoling mumbled worriedly. “If we can’t get back, Master will surely be worried sick. And we might miss the Four Peaks Sword Gathering…”

“Let’s go back to the house first,” Ning Changjiu said.

They returned to Qiou Sheng’s house. Little Lian was still awake, waiting for them on a small stool.

The large water vat by the door had several more lotus leaves inserted into it, with fish occasionally stirring ripples within its small confines. The fish swam about, eating the food Little Lian sprinkled, unaware they might become food themselves tomorrow.

The lotus leaves exuded a faint fragrance, and copper bells chimed softly as the breeze passed.

Ning Changjiu listened to the bells but felt no ease. He walked into the courtyard, where a few solitary lanterns glowed with candlelight, casting bamboo shadows on the walls.

Lights were still on in the wooden building; Elder Zhang was clearly not yet asleep. As Ning Changjiu stepped into the courtyard, a dull-grey bird just flew away.

Everything remained as usual.

“I’ll go see Elder Zhang,” Ning Changjiu said.

Qiou Sheng interjected, “Grandpa only invites guests; he really dislikes uninvited visitors.”

“It’s fine, I’ll speak with him,” Ning Changjiu resolved. He knew the wooden building was unlocked and the old man inside was waiting for him.

He pushed open the door of the wooden building. The old man sat in a heavy, ancient chair, completely solid and airless, looking more like a black coffin.

“Elder Zhang,” Ning Changjiu called out.

The old man showed no anger at his uninvited visit. “Something the matter?” he asked.

Ning Changjiu sat down naturally beside him. “Just wanted to chat with you, Elder,” he said.

“What’s there to talk about?” Elder Zhang’s tone was flat, as if he didn’t expect this young man to bring any surprises.

Ning Changjiu got straight to the point: “Did you once cultivate at the Imperial Sword Heavenly Sect?”

Elder Zhang chuckled, “My whole life, I’ve only loved brushes, not swords. In my youth, I had a bit of talent, so I became a painter. Now that I’m old and my inspiration has dried up, I simply work as a humble artisan. Fighting and killing are tiresome; I only wish for death as an end.”

“Then why have I seen your authentic works at the Imperial Sword Heavenly Sect?” Ning Changjiu asked.

“Does the Heavenly Sect have my paintings?” Elder Zhang asked.

Ning Changjiu nodded. “When I first saw your paintings, I felt a sense of familiarity. Only today did it occur to me: in our Inner Peak Sword Hall, there are three paintings embedded in the screens, and their brushwork is incredibly familiar.”

Elder Zhang didn’t deny it. “Perhaps they were bought,” he said. “It’s nothing unusual.”

Ning Changjiu ignored his remark and continued, “One of those three paintings depicts a barbarian riding an elephant to hunt a snake, another shows immortals entering the sea to hunt a human-faced monster, and the third is of ten thousand swords rising to slay a nine-headed demon. Though these paintings are obscured, I can still sense the Heavenly Sect’s sword intent within them.”

Elder Zhang thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t recall painting those. However, in my youth, I did have friends within the Heavenly Sect, but we haven’t been in touch for many years. I don’t know if they’re alive or dead.”

“May I ask who your friends were, sir?” Ning Changjiu inquired. “I could convey your regards.”

Elder Zhang didn’t answer, instead continuing, “Those three paintings depict common myths: the Bashe swallowing an elephant, hunting the Yaoyu, and swords slaying the Jiuying. Many painters have depicted them; they’re not novel.”

Ning Changjiu calmly watched this “old acquaintance,” trying to detect any hint of leaked spiritual energy from him, but he concealed it too well, never revealing the slightest trace.

Had Ning Changjiu not known him, he too would have simply seen an ordinary old man in his twilight years, never connecting him to a hidden master.

Ning Changjiu said, “Your paintings are so vivid, far beyond what an ordinary painter could achieve.”

Elder Zhang suddenly turned his head, looking at him. “Have you heard people speak of me before?” he asked.

“No,” Ning Changjiu replied.

“Then why do you look at me like that?” Elder Zhang thought back to their first meeting. He still couldn’t understand why he, an unremarkable old man, would cause this young man to lose his composure. This was what he most wanted to know now.

Ning Changjiu explained, “Sir, you resemble an old friend of mine. We were friends despite our age difference, but sadly, that old man passed away a few years ago. Your appearance is so similar to his that I didn’t react immediately.”

Elder Zhang accepted this explanation. “So you’re leaving tomorrow,” he said. “Why come to see me tonight? Are you perhaps dissatisfied with those two paintings?”

Ning Changjiu shook his head. “Your painting skills are exquisite, sir, but… we won’t be able to leave tomorrow.”

“Have the gods become angry again?” Elder Zhang asked curiously.

“Gods angry?” Ning Changjiu was puzzled.

Elder Zhang explained, “It’s the Ghost Festival. When the Ghost Festival arrives, the entire Lotus Town becomes connected end-to-end. That is the wrath of the gods.”

“Which god?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Elder Zhang replied, “If you immortals don’t know, how would an old man like me know? There’s just a legend that this was once the homeland of a certain god, and that lotus pond was once a huge marsh. Since we’ve occupied the god’s former territory, their departed spirit naturally punishes us.”

Ning Changjiu was still puzzled. Remembering something, he asked, “Is this related to the Southern Wilderness in the center of South Continent?”

Elder Zhang, being advanced in years, was more knowledgeable. He replied, “Beyond Lotus Town, further north, lies the Southern Wilderness. After crossing the Qiongling Mountains, you’ll see the red line drawn by immortals, which has become the Red River. Across the Red River is the Southern Wilderness. As for the origin of the god here in Lotus Town, opinions vary. How would I know?”

“Then how can we get out? Are there any precedents?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Elder Zhang answered, “Precedent? Yes, there is one… someone came in from outside during the Ghost Festival. It was a little girl who looked around and then left. But that was eight years ago.”

Eight years ago… This was an ordinary phrase, but to Ning Changjiu, it carried a completely different meaning.

In his previous life, when he was eight, his Master Sister had sent him to study painting with Elder Zhang. At that time, Elder Zhang hadn’t been in Great River Town for very long either.

“What kind of little girl was she, so remarkable?” Ning Changjiu’s words also sounded casual.

Elder Zhang didn’t hold back: “She was a little lass, carrying a bunch of weapons, who wandered around the town and then left.”

Fourth Sister…

Ning Changjiu increasingly felt that things were not simple. Back then, apart from Master Sister and Second Brother, the other elder brothers and sisters were mostly not on the mountain. His task was simply to focus on cultivation, so he didn’t know what had truly happened during those twenty years.

Now, as he traveled through South Continent, he was gradually picking up their traces—first Master Brother, then Fourth Sister… What exactly was Master trying to do?

Ning Changjiu smiled. “Thank you, sir, for enlightening me.”

Elder Zhang seemed tired. He nodded and waved his hand. “Then just stay here obediently. Return to your peak after this Ghost Festival ends. Your Heavenly Sect knows about Lotus Town’s Ghost Festival, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Ning Changjiu quietly said “Alright” and then excused himself.

Just as he left the wooden building, the grey sparrow flapped its wings and flew back.

“Brother, why do we always encounter such strange things?” Ning Xiaoling said with a long face. “If this had happened a month ago, I would have been very happy, but precisely at this time… Ugh.”

“At least no one is chasing us this time,” Ning Changjiu comforted her.

“Brother, you truly know how to make the best of a bad situation,” Ning Xiaoling said admiringly.

Ning Changjiu’s worries were no less than his sister’s. He didn’t believe in the “wrath of the gods.” He knew Elder Zhang was hiding something from him, and the fact that Fourth Sister had come here suggested that this place might conceal something even Master was interested in.

“Tomorrow, I’ll go to the lotus pond again,” Ning Changjiu said.

Ning Xiaoling’s eyes lit up. “Isn’t Brother’s little bird very powerful? It could even pierce through the illusions in Linhe City last time. This white mist should be no match for it, right?”

Ning Changjiu wasn’t so confident.

The next day, the sun rose as usual. Farmers, artisans, and weavers worked as normal, and the monsters gradually awoke. When Ning Xiaoling passed the familiar path, the rabbit spirit stared at her for a long time. Then, as if realizing something, it became somewhat angry and demanded its carrot back from Ning Xiaoling.

Ning Xiaoling understood that the rabbit spirit was likely upset because she had said she was leaving but hadn’t, thinking she had deceived it.

Ning Xiaoling found it hard to explain and, under the rabbit spirit’s persistent pursuit, returned the carrot. The rabbit then left, both sulky and proud.

Ning Changjiu first went to the archway at the town entrance and saw that the grassy area in front had transformed into a lake. As he turned to leave, his fingernail subtly brushed the wooden pillar, leaving a faint mark.

They re-entered the lotus pond.

Then they discovered that in the daytime, the lotus pond was free of mist; the sky and earth were clear, yet it still stretched endlessly out of sight.

This time, Qiou Sheng did not accompany them. Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling boated alone.

Soon after the lotus boat began its journey, the great python resurfaced, extending a huge green head to accompany them.

The lotus leaves grew rapidly, some even towering above their heads. As the lotus boat passed, it was like moving through large, emerald umbrellas.

Ning Xiaoling looked at the incredibly large python beside the lotus boat. She was no longer afraid; she even leaned out and dipped her hand into the water, touching its scales, which looked smooth but felt rough. The python was very docile, simply swimming quietly, as if accompanying visitors on a boat ride was its duty.

Ning Changjiu summoned his Golden Crow.

The Golden Crow perched on his shoulder, gazing at the water with him, and the surrounding water surface shimmered with golden light.

The giant python turned its head. It looked at the Golden Crow on Ning Changjiu’s shoulder, and its narrow vertical pupils instantly grew finer. Normally gentle, it suddenly thrashed its body uneasily, seemingly out of fear, and plunged its head into the water, diving into the depths of the lotus pond.

The water surged with huge waves. Ning Changjiu tapped the boat’s side with his finger, pressing the lotus boat and the entire rising water surface back down.

Ning Xiaoling was startled. She had been gently petting the snake, and then this suddenly happened. She immediately retracted her hand, looking at her brother in surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Soon, the wind and waves subsided.

Ning Changjiu gazed deeply at the spot where the dark shadow in the water had vanished. “It seems to be afraid?” he said.

Ning Xiaoling knew how powerful the Golden Crow was, so she didn’t find it too strange, but she felt sympathetic towards the large snake. “Don’t scare it like that again next time,” she said.

Ning Changjiu gently stroked the Golden Crow’s feathers, then cradled it in his palm and tossed it into the air.

The Golden Crow flew into the sky, hovering in a specific position. Then, a golden line connected to the lotus boat, and the Golden Crow in the air guided them forward.

Ning Changjiu initially thought there was an undercurrent hidden beneath the boat, subtly causing the lotus boat to drift and turning their path into a circle.

So he had the Golden Crow pull the lotus boat, making it travel in a perfectly straight line in the air. Since the Golden Crow had no inherent natural consciousness, it theoretically couldn’t be influenced by anything.

The Golden Crow led the lotus boat onward, and the surroundings grew increasingly quiet.

Finally, they still returned to the entrance of Lotus Town, the familiar archway like a mocking smile.

Ning Changjiu disembarked from the lotus boat and looked at the wooden pillar of the archway, where he had left a faint mark with his fingernail earlier.

“We’re back again,” Ning Changjiu said.

Ning Xiaoling wasn’t surprised either, just mumbled, “This is clearly impossible. How can walking straight ahead lead back to the starting point?”

Ning Changjiu said, “If you trace a line on an eggshell, moving straight ahead, you’ll eventually return to your starting point.”

Ning Xiaoling thought, *At a time like this, why is Brother still joking?* “Is Lotus Town round?”

Ning Changjiu gently shook his head. “Impossible. But there’s another possibility…”

“What is it?”

“This might also be the power of a law…” Ning Changjiu voiced the incredible conjecture in his mind. “Lotus Town is an existence similar to a divine realm, and this Ghost Festival is one of its laws.”

Lotus Town might be like Fengdu in Linhe City—a small divine realm occupying its own space.

Three more days passed since Ning Changjiu put forward this theory.

Even though Ning Changjiu felt his conjecture was incredibly close to reality, they still couldn’t find a way to break free.

For three whole days, they tried many methods, both vertically and horizontally, but they couldn’t leave.

Beyond the lotus pond was Lotus Town, beyond the wheat fields on either side, the end was still Lotus Town. A world with paths in all directions, yet all pointing to this single small town.

And when boating in the lotus pond, the black giant python had never reappeared.

“Sister, have you noticed something very strange?” Ning Changjiu asked.

“What is it?”

“Lu Jiajia hasn’t come looking for us,” Ning Changjiu said.

“Brother, are you being silly…” Ning Xiaoling rolled her eyes. “We can’t get out, so how could Master Jiajia get in?”

Ning Changjiu gently shook his head, muttering to himself, “What is Lotus Town like in the outside world right now?”

“If Brother was capable,” Ning Xiaoling chided, “wouldn’t you just go out and see?”

Ning Changjiu chuckled self-deprecatingly.

That day in Fengdu, Lu Jiajia couldn’t break through because her cultivation was insufficient.

But no one knew Lu Jiajia’s current strength better than Ning Changjiu. Her sword spirit integration had undergone a qualitative change; her power was more than double what it was in Linhe City. Even a cultivator in the early Purple Court realm would be no match for her. If this place truly was a broken Fengdu like Linhe City, she should have been able to cut through it. Unless…

Ning Changjiu took a wooden tube from his embrace.

It was the wooden tube given to them before their departure. Ning Changjiu directly crushed it, and the pair of jade tokens hidden inside shattered with it.

Ning Xiaoling didn’t know why her brother would do this. Although they were trapped here, they hadn’t encountered any strange dangers.

“Should I crush mine?” Ning Xiaoling asked.

“Keep yours for now,” Ning Changjiu said.

Ning Xiaoling nodded.

The two sat in the boat, gazing at the boundless distance, no longer speaking.

This time, they made no further attempts, instead drifting with the current. Ning Xiaoling plucked a lotus leaf to shade herself from the sun, her small face beneath the leaf more tender than a fresh lotus bud.

She idly splashed the water, not believing she could play any role in breaking the illusion.

Time flowed by, day after day.

Counting the days, the Four Peaks Sword Gathering was drawing nearer, yet this maze-like Ghost Festival continued unusually, showing no signs of disappearing.

In a flash, ten more days and nights had passed.

Ning Changjiu sat in the room, quietly looking at the paintings on the wall.

Qiou Sheng looked at the lone white figure of the immortal master, feeling some guilt, regretting that he hadn’t told them about this sooner.

“Are these all Elder Zhang’s works?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Qiou Sheng nodded. “They all are. Grandpa only likes his own paintings. No matter how good others’ paintings are, he won’t hang them on our walls.”

Ning Changjiu nodded, his gaze fixed on the painting in the center.

Night fell.

After tonight, only two days would remain until the Four Peaks Sword Gathering.

Ning Changjiu stared at that poem for a long time.

Then he stepped outside, looking at the all-too-familiar water vat, lotus leaves, and bells. He then crossed the threshold, re-entered the house, passed through it, and walked into the backyard, looking at the lanterns hanging on the wall and the bamboo shadows they cast. The bright moon in the sky seemed dim in comparison, and a grey sparrow flapped its wings and flew away.

He returned to the room, woke Ning Xiaoling, and whispered, “Come with me.”

Half-asleep, Ning Xiaoling was dragged out of the house by Ning Changjiu.

“What’s wrong…” Ning Xiaoling felt dizzy.

Ning Changjiu led her back over the path from outside the house to the courtyard, then asked, “Did you notice anything?”

“What?” Ning Xiaoling thought her brother was acting strangely. “It’s perfectly normal, nothing happened…”

“Observe your surroundings carefully,” Ning Changjiu said.

Ning Xiaoling woke up considerably.

Ning Changjiu then led Ning Xiaoling from outside the wooden building to outside the main gate.

“Did you notice anything?” Ning Changjiu asked again.

Ning Xiaoling pondered for a moment, recalling what she had just seen.

She realized that as soon as they left the courtyard, the grey sparrow flew back. This was something she had known for a long time. At first, she thought the little bird was just shy and flew away when it saw strangers. But now, thinking about it, it was extremely strange. It had been a month; they should be used to them by now.

“Could that little grey sparrow be strange… Is it a hidden great demon?” Ning Xiaoling asked.

Ning Changjiu gently shook his head and led her back and forth again. This time, Ning Changjiu told her about many more subtle details: “When we entered the door, the wind rose first, then the bells chimed. But when we walked out, the bells chimed first, and then we felt the wind. The time difference between them is extremely short. Sense it with your spiritual consciousness.”

Ning Xiaoling closed her eyes, half-believing, and spread her spiritual consciousness. She walked back and forth over the threshold several times and found that it was indeed true… although the difference was incredibly subtle.

She also noticed that outside the door, the lotus leaves looked very deep green, but inside the house, their color appeared somewhat faint. She had thought it was due to the lighting.

“What’s going on?” Ning Xiaoling exclaimed in surprise.

Ning Changjiu then led her into the courtyard. He pointed to the white wall covered in bamboo shadows, pondering for a moment. “This one might not be very obvious. Look here,” he said.

Saying this, he pointed to the lantern hanging on the wall. “When you enter the courtyard, the lantern light appears brighter, and the moon in the sky is less noticeable. But when you turn around to leave, the light from the lantern and the moon seem to reverse.”

Ning Xiaoling found it incredible, but as she walked back and forth in the courtyard, the grey sparrow also flew back and forth with her steps.

Ning Xiaoling realized that everything was indeed as her brother said. But with such small differences, how did her brother discover all this?

Ning Changjiu closed his eyes, having finally understood everything.

He knew Ning Xiaoling’s doubts and said, “Come with me.”

Ning Xiaoling followed him into the house.

Ning Changjiu pointed to the aesthetically unpleasing map of the town’s layout in the center and said, “Do you see the poem above it?”

Ning Xiaoling certainly knew the poem. The first day she admired the painting with her brother, she had smugly said that she could write at that level too.

Now, with a different feeling, she softly recited the poem:

“Fragrant lotus sways, wind chimes ring. Lanterns reflect on bamboo walls, casting shadows in the courtyard. Sparrows fly far from home, looking at the tall building. A lonely lantern like water illuminates the bright moon.”

Ning Xiaoling was still confused. “What’s wrong with it? It just describes our house.”

Ning Changjiu closed his eyes and sighed. “Read it backward.”

Ning Xiaoling furrowed her brows, her gaze falling on the last character, and then slowly read backward: “Bright moon sweeps water like a lonely lantern, Sparrows return home from far away, gazing at the tall building. Shadows reflect on bamboo walls, lanterns illuminate. Wind chimes ring, fragrant lotus sways…”

Her voice grew softer and softer. She realized that the poem flowed smoothly both forwards and backward.

And she immediately understood. The poem, read forwards, described their scene walking from outside the door into the courtyard, while read backward, it described their scene walking from the courtyard out the door!

A chill ran down her spine, raising goosebumps. In that instant, Ning Xiaoling suddenly felt the world around her was so unreal. She was still perplexed: “But… what does this mean?”

“This is a palindromic poem,” Ning Changjiu said softly, looking at the small town layout map. “There is no Ghost Festival here at all. We are currently trapped within a palindromic poem, and the poet, using his sky-high painting skills, took this small house as a blueprint and extended the power of this palindromic poem to affect the entire town.”

“Now, this Lotus Town is a poem connected from end to end.”

Ning Changjiu’s voice also grew softer and softer.

Ning Xiaoling’s eyes widened, her breathing grew heavy. She immediately turned her head, looking at the small wooden buildings. “Could that Elder Zhang…”

Ning Changjiu didn’t respond, only saying, “There’s one more thing I haven’t confirmed.”

“What?”

“Why didn’t Master come looking for us?”

“That question…” Ning Xiaoling was about to say her brother had already asked it, but in this situation, she realized he must have meant something else.

Ning Changjiu again walked straight into the courtyard.

The door of the small wooden building was closed.

He knocked directly on the door.

“What’s all this noise in the middle of the night?”

After knocking for a long while, Elder Zhang finally opened the door, his face showing unconcealed anger.

Ning Changjiu quietly looked at him and asked, “Sir, where are the paintings you drew for us earlier?”

Those two paintings were meant for them to take back when they left, but due to the Ghost Festival, Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling hadn’t asked about them.

Elder Zhang didn’t try to hide anything. “You woke me up in the middle of the night for this?” he said.

Ning Changjiu apologized, “Apologies for the trouble, Elder.”

Elder Zhang suppressed his anger and led them into the building, retrieved the two paintings, and spread them out. “Do you have any questions?” he asked.

Ning Changjiu looked at the two paintings on the table, examining them for a long time before he spoke softly, “Sir, for some reason, I feel these two paintings seem to have lost their spirit in their eyes.”

Elder Zhang’s anger, however, dissipated. His expression also became calm. “What are you trying to say?”

The next moment, the dagger in Ning Changjiu’s embrace flashed out like a drawn sword, striking towards the old painter with a lethal blow.

Time rewound to thirteen days ago.

Imperial Sword Heavenly Sect.

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling returned to the mountain gate together. The white-robed young man had a serene expression, and the white-skirted girl was delicately pretty.

Yazhu smiled upon seeing them and noted down their names.

Ning Changjiu bowed to Yazhu and said earnestly, “Uncle-Master, my junior sister and I gained great insights during this trip. For the Four Peaks Sword Gathering, we wish to enter secluded cultivation for over half a month. During this time, please do not let anyone disturb us, if that’s possible?”

Ning Xiaoling nodded in agreement beside him.

Yazhu looked at him somewhat strangely, wondering why this young man had suddenly become so keen on cultivation.

But this was, after all, a good thing. And she had personally witnessed Ning Changjiu’s sword on that day. She had high expectations for Ning Changjiu at the Four Peaks Sword Gathering in half a month, so she naturally agreed.

Afterward, Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling remained in their room, not stepping out even once.

Lu Jiajia was initially a bit puzzled why Ning Changjiu hadn’t sought her out after returning to the peak, but she quickly gave a self-deprecating smile, thinking, *He’s my disciple, how can I harbor such feelings of dependence?* She immediately dismissed the thought and continued her secluded cultivation.

No one discovered that this brother and sister pair were imposters.

This should have been foolproof.

But Ning Changjiu hadn’t expected that another pair of eyes in the room was watching him.

Those eyes belonged to the one in the porcelain vase. She watched, wide-eyed, as Ning Changjiu transformed from a three-dimensional person into a flat painting every night, as if deflating.

She knew this was definitely not Ning Changjiu, but the real Ning Changjiu…

Han Xiaosu was terrified. She hid in the vase, not daring to move, only hoping the other party wouldn’t discover her.

It wasn’t until the thirteenth day that she could no longer bear the pressure of this pervasive conspiracy and decided she must find a way to inform the Peak Master.

That night, she took out the hairpin Ning Changjiu had given her and secretly floated out of the porcelain vase.

“Who are you?” a somewhat dull voice asked just as she was about to float out the window.

Han Xiaosu’s soul turned ice-cold.