Chapter 223: Former Times

Inside the straw cottage, Le Rou, dressed in a white linen skirt, sat on a long bench, while Lu Jiajia stood before her, using her fingers as a comb to braid Le Rou's long hair.

When Le Rou posed her question, Lu Jiajia's fingers, in the midst of braiding, stiffened slightly. She twirled the strands of hair, hesitating on how to explain it to Le Rou.

Just then, the wooden door of the straw cottage suddenly opened.

The night breeze carried a young man's voice.

“Jiajia, I'm back,” Ning Changjiu said, pretending he was returning home after a night out.

Lu Jiajia and Le Rou both turned towards the door, their hearts simultaneously tightening.

Lu Jiajia hadn't expected him to return so suddenly; it felt like a private moment had been abruptly exposed. Le Rou, on the other hand, was utterly stunned. She looked at the white-clad figure outside the door, her pretty face blank, her small mouth half-open. The warm wind blowing into her mouth made her jaw tremble uncontrollably.

Ning Changjiu smiled, looking at Le Rou, and rubbed his eyes as if he couldn't see clearly. He said, “Jiajia, do we have a guest?”

Lu Jiajia was somewhat at a loss, thinking, *Didn't you say you wanted to keep it a secret? Why can't you sit still?*

She glared at Ning Changjiu, inadvertently applying more pressure with her fingers. Since her fingers were already in Le Rou's hair, the sudden force made the young girl cry out in pain, clutching her head.

Lu Jiajia was startled and quickly withdrew her hand, then smoothed Le Rou's hair, comforting her with a few words before turning to Ning Changjiu. She said irritably, “Didn't you know to knock before coming in? You scared my disciple.”

Le Rou thought, *Didn't Master herself hurt me because she was nervous?*

But how could Master be wrong? So she, too, looked at the culprit, rubbed her eyes, and asked uncertainly, “Master… Ning Changjiu?!”

She wondered if she was seeing a ghost; the person before her was clearly Ning Changjiu, her junior brother, who had supposedly jumped into the abyss and died long ago.

Ning Changjiu looked at her, feigning realization, and said, “Ah, it's Little Senior Sister Le Rou.”

He had just seen off one Senior Sister, and now another Little Senior Sister had arrived.

Le Rou listened to his tone of voice and became even more convinced that he really was Ning Changjiu.

Lu Jiajia watched him coolly, her voice as clear and cold as frost in December: “Why are you returning so late?”

Ning Changjiu looked at her.

Lu Jiajia's expression was serene, her black hair and white robe like dark clouds splitting snow.

Ning Changjiu secretly made a "seven" gesture with his hand.

This was in reference to their earlier seven-day wager.

Lu Jiajia saw it. Her slightly reddened lips were tinged with blood, and a struggle showed deep in her clear eyes. If the cottage were empty now, she wouldn't mind obeying Ning Changjiu, but with Le Rou present, how could she lose her dignity?

Ning Changjiu gave her face, saying, “Reporting, Jiajia, I was negligent in my cultivation earlier and encountered some bottlenecks, which took a lot of time to comprehend.”

Lu Jiajia nodded faintly and said, “From now on, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask me directly.”

“Yes,” Ning Changjiu replied, “Jiajia's sword art is naturally peerlessly exquisite.”

Lu Jiajia knew he was being sarcastic but remained expressionless. She turned and gently patted Le Rou's shoulder, saying, “Le Rou, I was just about to tell you this myself.”

“Uh…” Le Rou hadn't quite recovered, wondering if the underworld was on holiday.

Ning Changjiu stepped into the room, looked at Le Rou, and chuckled, “Why the ghost-seeing expression? You used to be so grand when you played tricks on me.”

Le Rou's expression shifted as she recalled those incidents. Annoyed, she said, “So you knew all along!”

Ning Changjiu smiled calmly, “Thank you for your care in the past, Senior Sister.”

Le Rou was very angry, but with her Master behind her, she couldn't vent her frustration. Moreover, her Master's relationship with him seemed quite unusual.

This was no longer a secret. The sect had discussed that if Ning Changjiu ever returned, they would hold the most elaborate feast and drape Lu Jiajia in a grand red wedding gown woven from rare phoenix silk, marrying them on the spot.

But these were mostly jokes; everyone knew the young man was likely dead beyond recovery.

Le Rou had never imagined she would see a living Ning Changjiu today.

She looked at her Master, puzzled.

Lu Jiajia said concisely, “He climbed back from the abyss a few days ago.”

Le Rou let out an "oh," thinking her Master's reaction was odd. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, so were they having a disagreement?

Ning Changjiu walked over to Le Rou, patted the spot beside her, and said, “Jiajia, you sit too.”

Lu Jiajia hesitated for a moment, then, her skirt smoothing over her thighs, slowly sat down on the long bench, her expression calm.

Lu Jiajia said, “Le Rou came today to persuade me to return to the peak. Tomorrow is the Sect Leader Ceremony, one of the four peaks' biggest events, and they all wish for me to go back.”

Ning Changjiu said, “It's time to go home. Besides, this straw cottage isn't as cozy as the Peak Lord's Hall.”

Le Rou's impression of him improved upon seeing him speak in favor of her Master's return.

Lu Jiajia said, “Once you return to the peak, I imagine the news will spread quickly.”

Ning Changjiu smiled slightly, “Is Jiajia shy?”

Lu Jiajia said coldly, “Aren't you afraid Zhao Xiang'er will find out ahead of time?”

Only three months remained until the three-year promise.

Ning Changjiu, having been enlightened by his Senior Sister, was fearless now, but his opponent was Zhao Xiang'er, so he still hoped for more time to prepare.

Moreover, Lu Jiajia had said she also needed to think things through.

From a cultivator's perspective, she was still a young woman, and marrying seemed too sudden for her.

Le Rou, listening from the side, widened her eyes. Everyone knew that Zhao Xiang'er's fiancé and Master's disciple were the same person. This was clearly a contest for him! Master, even if you don't like Ning Changjiu, don't mention Zhao Xiang'er's name so casually! She's a rival!

Ning Changjiu, however, said, “Then how about keeping it a secret? I can stay and cultivate in the Peak Lord's Hall for now.”

*Staying in the Peak Lord's Hall…* Le Rou thought, *that's Master's private chambers. Even you can't just walk in there! How could Master agree to such a thing?*

Lu Jiajia pondered for a moment, then nodded, “If that's what you wish, I'll agree.”

*You… you're not even married yet, how can you do this! Is this still my Master?* A storm surged in Le Rou's heart.

Ning Changjiu said, “Yes, I'm quite familiar with the Peak Lord's Hall.”

Lu Jiajia gave him a silent glare.

Le Rou felt a bit dizzy.

“Shall we depart tomorrow?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Lu Jiajia replied, “It's late already. There's only one bed here. Where would Le Rou sleep?”

Le Rou perked up and said, “I want to sleep with Master!”

She was convinced her Master would indulge her.

Ning Changjiu's expression didn't change, but he sneered inwardly, *Trying to steal my wife right in front of me?*

Ning Changjiu gave Lu Jiajia a silent look.

Lu Jiajia said, “Le Rou, you're a big girl now. You shouldn't be so willful.”

Le Rou pouted, “Do I have to sleep on the ground?”

Lu Jiajia looked at Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu said, “How about we return to the peak tonight? I also want to see the snow at the summit.”

Lu Jiajia nodded gently, “That would be fine.”

Le Rou felt a chill in her heart. Watching Lu Jiajia comply with Ning Changjiu's every word, she finally understood the saying that a daughter-in-law is like spilled water.

But there was a silver lining. At least she had brought her Master back to the peak. Tomorrow, she would demand the Peak Lord's position from Lu Yuanbai!

Le Rou forced a smile, her mood finally improving.

That night, a streak of bright sword light cut across the sky above the Southern Wilds.

Lu Jiajia, without a sword beneath her feet, directly soared through the void.

The night lay like a smoothly spread cloth, with the scattered villages and towns of Southern Province hidden in the darkness.

Further away, one could vaguely see the cities of Zhao and Jin, facing each other like crouching tigers, with torches still lit on their watchtowers.

“Has the Jin Kingdom's flag changed?” Ning Changjiu suddenly asked.

Lu Jiajia hummed in acknowledgment and said, “The King of Jin is dead, and no new king has dared to ascend the throne for a full year. The prime minister is still overseeing the country as regent. Since Jin has lost its king, it has changed its name to 'Jin' [晋, meaning 'advance' or 'progress'], which can also be seen as a gesture of goodwill towards Zhao Xiang'er.”

Ning Changjiu chuckled softly, “That little girl has quite some ability.”

The Empress was also one of Le Rou's idols. Hearing Ning Changjiu speak that way, Le Rou was displeased and retorted, “You're the girl.”

Ning Changjiu wasn't angered. He couldn't help but recall the past in Linhe City when he and Zhao Xiang'er had swapped clothes, and he smiled.

Seeing him so unashamed, Le Rou warned, “Although I know you're a good person, you're not allowed to misbehave, okay?”

Ning Changjiu asked, “What counts as misbehaving?”

Le Rou pondered for a while, finding it hard to define precisely, then said, “Just don't do bad things! And don't bully Master!”

“Bully Master?” Ning Changjiu said, “I cherish Jiajia very much.”

Lu Jiajia's chest rose and fell slightly.

She interrupted their conversation: “Don't talk, we're about to pass through the clouds.”

Lu Jiajia's figure, like a sword, broke through the clouds.

The continuous cloud layer, after being pierced by the sword, shattered into scale-like fragments, floating in the air, still connected by thin wisps. The edges of these cloud scales glowed faintly, outlining the moonlight.

Soon after, a figure appeared before the Peak Lord's Hall on Heaven's Cave Peak.

The white snow on the peak, which had been lonely for two years, was illuminated by the sword light.

Lu Jiajia's figure landed back on the summit.

The eternally unmelted snow at the base of the peak was like memory notes, opening up upon their arrival to reveal all the recorded scenes.

Among them were their silent journeys through deep blue nights, their viewing of the white snow moon before the Peak Lord's Hall, and the bloody red light during their combined assassination of Bingrong… Ning Changjiu looked at the snow on the ground as if looking at a cylinder full of soil, from which he could pluck colorful flowers.

Lu Jiajia's voice carried a soft sigh: “We're back.”

Ning Changjiu said, “Let's go into the hall and have a look.”

Lu Jiajia hummed, pulled her gaze away from the shimmering snow, turned, and ascended the cold steps, pushing open the hall door.

The Peak Lord's Hall was like the vast, cold Immortal Palace of the heavens, exuding a chilling quietness and loneliness from being long uninhabited.

Ning Changjiu followed her footsteps and entered.

Le Rou stood outside the door, looking unsure whether to enter or retreat.

Lu Jiajia also remembered her and turned back, saying, “I'll see you back to your room first.”

Le Rou naturally wanted her Master to escort her, but remembering the earlier events, she pouted and said, “I can go back by myself.”

She was waiting for her Master to insist she stay, but to her surprise, Lu Jiajia only said worriedly, “Then be careful on your way.”

“…” Le Rou felt utterly wronged.

She looked up and, by unfortunate coincidence, met Ning Changjiu's detestable face, seeing his somewhat sly smile.

The out-of-favor Le Rou lightly stamped her foot and stomped back to her room alone, fuming.

Lu Jiajia walked through the door and said, displeased, “She's still a little girl. Wasn't that a bit too much for her?”

Ning Changjiu said, “Spoiled young ladies from wealthy families are very possessive. They need to experience more setbacks; it's good for tempering their sword heart too.”

Lu Jiajia was already accustomed to his sophistry.

She said plainly, “Your possessiveness is no less than hers.”

Ning Changjiu said, “It's just the two of us now. Are you still putting on airs as Master?”

Lu Jiajia pressed her lips together, her body pausing slightly.

*That damned wager… why did I fall for it again and again?*

She lowered her exquisite head and said respectfully, “Master, your disciple was wrong.”

Ning Changjiu looked at her gentle and obedient demeanor. The sudden contrast stirred his heart, and he couldn't help but hold her gently for a moment.

“So, from now on, Jiajia will be hiding someone in the Peak Lord's Hall?” Ning Changjiu said, biting her earlobe lightly.

Lu Jiajia's body trembled slightly. Displeased, she said, “Why do you say it in such an unpleasant way?”

Ning Changjiu released her and said, “I'll light the lamps.”

After he turned away, Lu Jiajia casually formed a hand seal to dispel the warmth rising in her body.

She walked to the window, gently drew back the curtain, and lightly ran her finger across the windowsill, collecting fine dust.

Candlelight flickered on behind her, bringing the long-unseen contours of the Peak Lord's Hall into view.

The main hall was divided into two levels. The front was the main chamber, where bronze stands held quietly burning candle oil. The floor was covered with soft carpets, and the furnishings on all sides were old, purchased items from the common folk, exuding a sense of age. These old pieces all held swords, and the two complemented each other, creating a subtle, mutually nurturing ambiance.

Beyond the main chamber were the sleeping quarters, separated only by several large screens.

Ning Changjiu couldn't help but recall the three black gauze screens he had seen in the Sword Hall when he first arrived at Heaven's Cave Peak: one depicting a barbarian riding an elephant to slay a snake, another of immortals entering the sea to hunt a human-faced, dragon-bodied demon, and a third of ten thousand swords rising into the sky to cleave a nine-headed great demon.

Those were clearly scenes of the Xiu Snake battling the Divine Elephant, immortals slaying the Yayu, and ten thousand swords striking down the Nine Infant.

He realized now that destiny had given him hints in subtle, unintentional ways, but he had failed to understand them, not only making Lu Jiajia wait for two long years but also nearly dying and never returning.

Ning Changjiu walked around the massive screens.

The Peak Lord's Hall was spacious yet refined, with a bed carved from cold jade that glowed faintly at night.

Lu Jiajia walked behind him and smiled faintly, “You used to bully me right here.”

Ning Changjiu's heart stirred. He chuckled softly, “It won't be just here in the future.”

Lu Jiajia obediently pressed her lips together.

Behind the Peak Lord's Hall was a hot spring.

Ning Changjiu looked at the hot spring, then at Lu Jiajia, the meaning unspoken but clear.

Lu Jiajia sighed softly. Her steps gracefully faltered, and she moved elegantly towards the warm, misty spring. With a soft rustle, her snow-white robe dropped to the ground, and her slender, breathtakingly beautiful calves slowly entered the gently rippling water.

Lu Jiajia and Ning Changjiu sat by the cliff, both having changed into fresh clothes.

Lu Jiajia's long hair lay wetly on her back, and her cool hand was held by Ning Changjiu. She looked at the distant, scale-like clouds, the path they had taken to get here. Everything felt as if many years had passed.

“Oh, by the way, how is Ding Leshi?” Ning Changjiu suddenly remembered. “He was, after all, the first disciple I seriously took on. How did his one-year agreement fight with Zhao Xiang'er's disciple turn out?”

Lu Jiajia doubted Ning Changjiu's use of the word “seriously.” She said, “Little Ling told me about it. The outcome? What outcome could there be? Do you really still hold a sliver of hope for your disciple to win?”

“Hmm… not really,” Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and said helplessly.

Lu Jiajia said, “I heard that year's battle was quite grand, but Ding Leshi was beaten to a pulp by Yan Shi in just a few blows. Now, that Yan Shi has become a very famous assassin in the Zhao Kingdom. People say a strict teacher produces capable students, while Tianzong raised someone with mere flashy techniques.”

Ning Changjiu was silent for a while, then said, “It's not good for a young girl to be an assassin at such a young age. Next time I see Zhao Xiang'er, I'll talk to her about it.”

Lu Jiajia had intended to mock him but held back. She had to get through these seven days, and she couldn't give him any excuse to "forge swords" or anything similar.

Ning Changjiu looked at the overgrown weeds and spring vines near the hot spring and said, “This place hasn't been tended to for a long time.”

Lu Jiajia was about to casually swing her sword to cut down the weeds but was stopped by Ning Changjiu, who pressed her hand down. He said, “All things have spirits. The Sect Leader's return to the peak is a joyous occasion; don't let them suffer a disaster.”

Lu Jiajia said, “I'm not the Sect Leader yet.”

Ning Changjiu chuckled, “You will be after the ceremony.”

Lu Jiajia was non-committal. For this grand ceremony, if she truly put her mind to it, the top spot was practically a done deal for her.

As Ning Changjiu spoke, he scanned the cliff. Then, as if he saw something novel, his gaze paused, and he got up and walked over.

“What is it?” Lu Jiajia asked.

Ning Changjiu walked to an old tree by the cliff's edge. Many wild flowers grew around the tree's gnarled roots. From the flower patch, a soft, slender vine reached out, climbing the old tree. The vine had no flowers but bore many medium-sized spores.

Ning Changjiu took one, crushed it, and inside were strikingly emerald green, smooth, jade-like, perfectly round seeds.

Lu Jiajia walked behind him and gently knelt, taking one from his hand. Her eyes lit up, and she said in surprise, “This is the Spirit Net Fruit, a rare treasure in the world. It is said that those below the Purple Court realm who consume it can attune with plants and trees. Many skilled swordsmen in the common folk who can use plants as swords gained this ability by chance after consuming the Spirit Net Fruit… This item was heavily plundered a hundred years ago and is almost extinct. I never thought it would blossom on this cliff.”

Ning Changjiu smiled, “Yes, Jiajia, you are an immortal maiden, so it's not strange to find immortal blossoms behind this immortal hall.”

Lu Jiajia ignored his teasing, only regretting, “It's a pity we have already reached the Purple Court. Our perception of heaven and earth is far more profound than what the Spirit Net Fruit can offer. It grew in the wrong place.”

Ning Changjiu peeled open another spore, took out a hard, round seed, held it in his hand, and smiled, “There are no useless heavenly treasures in this world.”

Lu Jiajia gently frowned.

Soon, the night would be pierced by the morning light.

And the news of Lu Jiajia's return to the peak would spread like the dawn's first light, quickly reaching every corner of the four peaks, causing a stir throughout Tianzong.

Especially on Heaven's Cave Peak, when the disciples saw Lu Jiajia standing on the cliff plateau once more, they excitedly cheered her name. Many new disciples stared, mesmerized by the legendary Peak Lord's ethereal beauty, forgetting to blink.

There were many legends about Lu Jiajia, but words were simply insufficient to describe her ethereal grace and stunning beauty.

Now, with her long sword at her side, she reappeared before everyone. Her tall figure exuded a sharp sword intent intertwined with a sacred beauty, giving the impression that although she walked among them, she was a figure from a painting.

Ning Changjiu, using an aura-concealing spell, secretly stood behind a cliff rock. He watched Lu Jiajia, observing her interact and greet the disciples, and smiled, thinking of her contrasting demeanor between day and night.

Lu Yuanbai also stood among the crowd.

Originally, this Uncle Lu, with his exceptional sword skills and approachable nature, was well-liked, but now he was like an invisible figure, ignored by all the disciples.

Le Rou also stood in the crowd, her expression different from others. With her arms crossed, she wore a proud look, as if she held a great secret and was the only one truly awake amidst the confusion.

For the Sect Leader Ceremony, sects from the other four directions would also be invited.

After the great calamity, the Purple Heaven Dao Sect had weakened, giving the Sword Commandment Tianzong a transcendent status. Smaller sects took this opportunity to offer their diligence and sincerity.

Thirteen Yucheng also arrived as agreed.

However, she did not arrive by sword. Instead, she walked step by step up the stone stairs from the foot of the peak, carrying thorny branches on her back, mimicking the ancient custom of bearing thorns to apologize.

This current leader of the Purple Heaven Dao Sect had begun her ascent after learning of Lu Jiajia's return, finally reaching the summit after more than an hour.

Wearing a pale purple Daoist robe, she walked through the crowd, humbly bent her knees, and knelt before Lu Jiajia. Then, she unfastened the thorny vines from her body and gently kowtowed, hoping Lu Jiajia would whip and punish her, thereby forgiving the past mistakes committed by the Purple Heaven Dao Sect.

Lu Jiajia took the thorny branches but made no move.

The others thought Peak Lord Lu had softened her heart, but to their surprise, Lu Jiajia said coldly, “Are there any disciples from the Purple Heaven Dao Sect here to observe the ceremony?”

Thirteen Yucheng's heart trembled, and she honestly replied, “Yes, there are.”

Lu Jiajia said, “Then later, you will apologize again in front of them.”

Thirteen Yucheng, no matter what, was the current Sect Leader of the Southern Province Daoist Sect. This apology was already a condescending act. If she were to be chastised in front of her disciples, how could she face her sect again?

But Thirteen Yucheng merely bowed her head slightly, “I only hope Peak Lord can let bygones be bygones.”

Lu Jiajia did not reply. As she walked past her, she helped her put the thorny branches back on.

She could not agree to Thirteen Yucheng's plea because, more than two years ago, that war was a tragedy between the two sects that almost led to their annihilation. How could it be repaid with a mere kneel and a little physical pain?

Thirteen Yucheng understood this very well; she too simply wished to survive.

The four peaks began to draw closer, and the crowd gathered towards the summit, just as they had four years ago.

Ning Changjiu returned to his room by sword.

The half-drawn curtain allowed a soft light to filter in.

Inside the room, the furnishings were dusted spotlessly clean, the floor polished to a mirror shine. Everything was neatly arranged as it had been, only the bed was a little disheveled, giving the illusion that someone still lived there.

Ning Changjiu seemed to see his junior sister's busy figure in the room.

He sat on the wooden chair, flipping through the stack of books on the table.

The calligraphy practice sheets from when he first learned to write were perfectly preserved, with freshly inked characters on them.

Those were the names: Ning Changjiu, Ning Xiaoling, Lu Jiajia, and Zhao Xiang'er.

These four names were densely written on many sheets of Xuan paper, packed closely together, each stroke neat and elegant.

Ning Xiaoling had copied them 730 times.

Ning Changjiu touched the corner of his eye. He sat quietly on the chair, his hand reaching under the desk to retrieve the scarlet, new-looking marriage contract. Then he took out his own copy and laid them side by side on the table.

The two contracts, placed next to each other, were almost indistinguishable, like a pair of burning butterfly wings.