Chapter 62: Twilight Youths

The rain fell all night until dawn, when it finally began to subside.

Lu Jiajia, with a sword in her arms, leaned against the window, half-asleep. Where the morning light touched her clothes, they looked like piled snow.

Ning Changjiu had taken his medicine and regained some strength. He propped himself up with a pillow on the wooden bed and looked at the light filtering in through the window. The hazy light fell upon Lu Jiajia, giving her an ethereal aura.

Soon after, some sounds came from Zhao Xianger's bed.

Ning Changjiu asked, "Are you awake too?"

Zhao Xianger was clearly reluctant to accept that she had woken up later than him. She said, "I've been awake for a long time."

Hearing the movement, Lu Jiajia opened her eyes, rubbed her temples, and, once fully awake, brought over a bowl of still-warm medicinal soup.

Zhao Xianger took the soup, thanked her, and slowly drank it, her lips barely touching the rim of the bowl as she tilted her head back slightly.

Ning Changjiu looked at Lu Jiajia and asked, "Is Junior Sister all right?"

Lu Jiajia glanced at the little girl on the other bed, curled up in a small ball under the blanket in the corner. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she said, "Judging by her vital signs and bloodline, she should be fine."

Ning Changjiu asked, "When will she likely wake up then?"

Lu Jiajia explained, "After the previous battle, the demon seed was completely shattered, and the Snow Fox's cultivation realm was largely lost. However, a significant portion flowed back into her body. This is a blessing, and her body is naturally refining it. Simply put... she's currently over-nourished, and her body can't handle it, so she has to sleep."

Ning Changjiu nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

After finishing the medicinal soup, Zhao Xianger asked curiously, "Watching your Junior Sister's cultivation realm surpass yours by so much, don't you feel a little frustrated?"

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Of course I do, but knowing Miss Zhao is waiting to gloat, I naturally can't show it."

Zhao Xianger's lips curled up slightly then quickly flattened. She said, "It seems Daoist Ning's self-cultivation skills are quite perfected."

"Miss Zhao flatters me," Ning Changjiu chuckled. "Actually, thinking about your cultivation realm leaving everyone in the dust in the future kept me tossing and turning last night, which is why I woke up so early today."

Zhao Xianger bit her moist lower lip and smiled faintly, "I merely benefited from my mother's protection. How could I compare to Daoist Ning's profound and hidden mastery of the Dao?"

Lu Jiajia listened silently from the side, thinking, *Why do these two speak so awkwardly?*

Then she looked at Ning Changjiu in his white robes and Zhao Xianger in her black robes, musing that together they indeed seemed quite like yin and yang.

Ning Changjiu, bearing the heavy pressure on his body, felt around himself until he finally found the fiery red marriage certificate by the bed.

He picked up the marriage certificate and opened it to read.

Zhao Xianger naturally saw this action. The item had been given by her, and it wasn't convenient to ask for it back. At this moment, Ning Changjiu's actions seemed somewhat provocative in her eyes, but she pretended not to notice.

Ning Changjiu opened the marriage certificate, his gaze falling upon it:

"A vow to grow old together, an alliance of soulmates. Two young souls, bound in matrimony. With a pledge as vast as sea and mountains as their promise, and divine sparrows and jade toads as their horizon. The red thread long tied, the candles beautifully trimmed. From black hair to white, the Great Dao as their companion. May they be a perfect match, forever united in heart."

The content of the marriage certificate was identical to the one he had seen years ago; only the handwriting showed subtle differences. And now, the four characters for "forever united in heart" on this spiritual marriage certificate had lost their divine essence.

Ning Changjiu read it over and over many times, his gaze finally settling on the "Unobservable" stamp.

Although the three characters were crooked, they were actually easy to distinguish. However, the characters seemed to carry an inherent illusion, which was why Zhao Xianger, despite looking at them for a long time, could only make out the first character, "un" (or "not").

Zhao Xianger lay quietly, and seeing him constantly poring over the marriage certificate, she said with some irritation, "Are you ever going to be done?"

Ning Changjiu snapped back to reality, closed the marriage certificate, and set it aside. "On that day in the great hall, I was Miss Zhao's chosen fiancé, wasn't I?"

Zhao Xianger said displeased, "Isn't it just that you got lucky, a blind cat hitting a dead mouse, and casually guessed the character 'un,' which led me astray?"

Ning Changjiu smiled, marveling at the strangeness of fate. Yesterday, Zhao Xianger was convinced that he was the fiancé mentioned in the marriage certificate, while he believed the exact opposite.

Today, however, everything had flipped. He understood the truth: she was the fiancée he had rejected in his previous life. Zhao Xianger, on the other hand, had come to believe her assumptions were wrong, feeling quite embarrassed.

Ning Changjiu said, "It's indeed too coincidental."

Zhao Xianger, naturally unaware of his thoughts, said, "Your actions in the imperial city were too coincidental and certainly misled me."

Ning Changjiu replied, "I was merely acting under duress."

Zhao Xianger asked, "You clearly have ordinary aptitude, but your cultivation wasn't bad before. Where did all that spiritual energy come from?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "My master transferred his spiritual energy to me before he died."

Zhao Xianger nodded and said, "So you really did absorb your master's spiritual energy? Then where did you learn this evil art of spirit absorption?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "Aside from blood sacrifice spells that kill, how can there be good or evil in the Daoist arts? I used this to save the people of the city, which is a good deed. Miss Zhao, please don't speak nonsense."

Zhao Xianger nodded reluctantly, yet persisted, "Alright then... where exactly did you learn it?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I happened upon a chance encounter earlier. I bought a book at a street stall, and unexpectedly, it contained quite profound immortal techniques, including this particular Daoist art."

Zhao Xianger sneered, "If you don't want to say, then don't. No need to make up stories to deceive people."

Lu Jiajia listened to their conversation, an irrepressible faint smile constantly playing on her lips. She suddenly asked, "What are your plans next?"

She was, of course, asking Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and said, "I previously promised Miss Lu that I would seek tutelage together with Junior Sister."

Lu Jiajia sighed softly and said, "If you were my disciple, I wouldn't be confident that you'd have a chance to surpass Miss Zhao three years from now. Not at all."

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly, "Cultivating the Dao is about the profound tranquility of the Great Dao, not about competing for superiority."

Zhao Xianger scoffed, "You have a delicate appearance, but the insincere words you speak are even more beautiful than your face."

Ning Changjiu replied, "I can't compare to Her Royal Highness's unparalleled beauty."

Zhao Xianger disliked such phrases, always feeling they carried a vulgar, overly made-up air, no matter how beautiful the description. So she retorted, "Then I wish Daoist Ning becomes more and more radiant in the future, with the beauty that can drown fish and make geese fall."

Ning Changjiu merely chuckled in response.

Lu Jiajia looked at Ning Changjiu and said, "The Heavenly Oracle Sword Sect has four lineages: Shou Xiao, Xuan Ri, Hui Yang, and Tian Ku. Shou Xiao Peak is the foremost among them. The leaders of the Xuan Ri and Hui Yang lineages are a brother and sister pair. After Master passed away several years ago, I took charge of the Tian Ku lineage. Although Tian Ku Peak is also a rare secluded immortal mountain, it's ultimately somewhat lacking compared to the other three. If you join in the future, what you can truly rely on should be your own diligence."

Ning Changjiu silently took note, then asked, "Miss Lu, when you came down from the mountain to the imperial city to slay demons, you were probably also seeking an opportunity, weren't you?"

Lu Jiajia nodded, "Indeed. I originally thought it was just a shallow pond, but after arriving, I found myself like a small boat in the middle of a lake, lost and unsure how to proceed."

Ning Changjiu asked, "What cultivation realms are the various peak masters in?"

Lu Jiajia said, "Among the four peaks, the Shou Xiao Peak Master has the highest cultivation, already at the fourth floor of the Purple Court realm. The Xuan Ri Peak Master is at the second floor of the Purple Court, and the Hui Yang Peak Master also entered the Purple Court realm a year ago. They are all my seniors."

Ning Changjiu nodded lightly. In terms of aptitude, Lu Jiajia was already top-notch in the Heavenly Oracle Sword Sect. Had it not been for this recent drop in her realm, she would have been almost on par with the elder generation.

"What realm is the Sect Master in?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Lu Jiajia hesitated for a moment, then said, "The Sect Master entered Ring Waterfall Mountain sixty years ago and was already at the peak of the Purple Court realm then. He remains so today."

Ning Changjiu nodded. The peak of the Purple Court realm was already a transcendent and profound level. The Five Paths above the Purple Court were considered the pinnacle of human power. Even the legendary Three Realms beyond the Five Paths were more about advancements in Dao-understanding than significant boosts in martial prowess.

Ning Changjiu said, "When the time comes, I'll have to trouble Miss Lu to ask the Sect Master to examine Junior Sister's body. I'm... still quite worried."

Lu Jiajia nodded, "That should be done. However, a few days ago, the Sect Master received a heavenly revelation and said he would go seek immortal opportunities. He has probably already left the sect by now."

Ning Changjiu said, "Then we'll simply return to the mountain with Miss Lu first."

Lu Jiajia said sternly, "Once we return to the mountain gate and you perform the discipleship ceremony, you must no longer call me Miss Lu."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Then I should call you... Master?"

Lu Jiajia looked surprised. "Of course. Why... do you seem reluctant?"

Ning Changjiu hesitated for a moment, then said, "It would be fine if I were just an outer disciple with nominal status."

Lu Jiajia was somewhat annoyed. "No matter what kind of disciple you become, once you perform the discipleship ceremony, I will be your master."

Ning Changjiu said, "I... have some difficulties."

Lu Jiajia looked at him for a moment, then asked curiously, "Could it be that besides the old Daoist who recently passed away, you have another lineage of teachers?"

Ning Changjiu pressed his lips together in thought, then gently shook his head. "I hope Miss Lu can understand."

Lu Jiajia sighed. "Very well. You've shown me immense kindness. If you merely wish to find a quiet place to cultivate, I can grant you a nominal master-disciple relationship and let you stay on Tian Ku Peak. As for your Junior Sister, I will teach her as if she were a direct disciple."

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly, "Miss Lu is already someone Junior Sister deeply admires, so this arrangement couldn't be better."

Lu Jiajia looked into his eyes and said seriously, "Although the sect rules aren't overly strict, there are still regulations. If you're merely a nominal disciple, the cultivation resources you can receive will be very limited. You should think carefully about this."

Ning Changjiu glanced at the recently stopped rain outside and said, "No amount of potent elixirs or miraculous medicines in the world can force one into the Purple Court realm. Cultivation, in the end, cannot rely solely on external aids."

Zhao Xianger couldn't listen anymore and interjected, "When speaking to me, you said to wait and see in three years, but when speaking to Sister Lu, you adopt a casual, unconcerned demeanor. I see your outward appearance as detached and indifferent, but in reality, you must be a frivolous and reckless person. Sister Lu, you must be careful not to be deceived by his sweet words in the future."

Ning Changjiu retorted, "There's no conflict. The first time I saw Your Highness, I thought you were a refined young lady. But after seeing your true face, I was almost scared out of my wits."

Zhao Xianger said coldly, "I've been proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting since I was young, and I've read widely through various classics. How am I not a refined young lady?"

Ning Changjiu calmly and seriously countered, "To know books but not reason, is to read the classics in vain."

Zhao Xianger's chest heaved as she took a deep breath. "I'm not beating you now only because you've been kind to the State of Zhao. If you provoke me with words again, I'll get out of bed right now and beat you so badly even your Junior Sister won't recognize you."

Ning Changjiu, knowing when to quit, made no further response.

Lu Jiajia merely smiled faintly at their verbal sparring. After a moment's thought, she said to Ning Changjiu, "I know you have high aspirations, but if you truly find cultivation difficult in the future, please don't be disheartened. The Great Dao has many paths leading to enlightenment."

This was, of course, still referring to his aptitude.

Ning Changjiu also understood perfectly well. Previously, he had doubted whether this body could truly cultivate, but after yesterday, he had figured out many things.

Wasn't it this very body he used in his previous life? It was just that back then, he had met his Second Senior Brother, who brought him into the sect. His body underwent some unknown changes, turning him into a peerless genius, and he ascended from initial cultivation to immortal ascension in just over twenty years.

The life that "Ning Changjiu" was living now was one where he had not been brought back to the sect by his Senior Brother.

He didn't know what had happened, but for a full sixteen years, his Master had apparently failed to find him...

And so he had become an unremarkable, even somewhat dull and stubborn little Daoist priest.

*Is this... really me? I was clearly gifted and intelligent from a young age...*

Ning Changjiu pondered in silence.

However, since it was the same body, such a drastic change must have a cause. Perhaps it was a restriction placed upon him by his Master, similar to the mystery of the character "Xiang" on Zhao Xianger. If he could resolve his own issues, then perhaps in three years, he would have a chance to properly teach his arrogant fiancée a lesson.

Ning Changjiu said, "Thank you for your comfort, Miss Lu. I understand all this."

Zhao Xianger, seeing that he took a long time to reply, likely understood the feeling of disappointment when one's talent doesn't match one's ambition. Her tone softened slightly. "If you achieve nothing in three years, as long as you don't talk back so much, I'd still be willing to entertain you with fine wine if you come to the imperial city again."

Ning Changjiu, ungratefully, said, "I don't drink alcohol."

Zhao Xianger closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "It seems you still prefer a forced drink over a polite one."

Ning Xiaoling's awakening occurred in the evening.

She had a very long dream. In her dream, she lay on a small, desolate mound of earth, surrounded by falling snow. The snowflakes had no temperature and no weight, just falling ceaselessly, covering her layer by layer. She was curled up on that mound, which resembled a grave, and even in her dream, she felt increasingly drowsy, as if she could fall asleep again at any moment.

This snow fell for a long time, continuously covering her like a thick quilt.

From time to time, she would open her eyes and look at her body on the mound. When she stretched out her tiny hand, she saw small paws and soft... pink paw pads?

*So I'm a fox,* Ning Xiaoling realized.

After a long time, she could no longer distinguish whether what covered her was snow or her own snow-like fur.

Her consciousness was hazy, lingering between sleep and wakefulness in the dream for a long time. When a hazy light covered her eyelids, she opened her eyes and found herself holding a small, newly grown tree in her arms. This tree brought her an inexplicable warmth, so she nestled closer to it, hugging it even tighter.

Under the big tree, the snow gradually melted, as if spring had arrived. Gentle light, with a melting warmth, covered her body, and the shadow cast by the tree canopy was as soft as water.

When Ning Xiaoling truly woke up, she found herself hugging a pillow.

Her gaze shifted upwards, and she saw three figures standing by the bed.

Ning Changjiu waved his fingers in front of her eyes and asked, "Where did Master Ning Qinshui hide his private stash?"

Ning Xiaoling paused, then said, "Under the stove, the compass... Uh, Senior Brother, you promised me all of it last time! No backing out!"

Ning Changjiu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's Junior Sister who's awake."

The imperial city's twilight was cool yet warm. Before night fell, in the tranquil dusk, a new chapter turned for the capital of Zhao.