Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Title

Mu Huaiyun’s presence enriched Ye Qingshang’s days. Though her routine was disrupted—she often woke late—the benefits outweighed this: her cultivation advanced remarkably. Within a month, she’d reached master level.

Such progress astonished her; in her past life, attaining master rank took three months.

Master-level cultivators were rare in immortal sects, typically achieving it in their forties or thirties at earliest. Yet twenty-year-old Ye Qingshang now joined their ranks—only the second in the cultivation world besides Ning Jiwei.

Frostbite Sect buzzed over her rapid ascent. A new legend had emerged; disciples praised and revered her, mirroring her past life.

Noticing eager stares nearby, Mu Huaiyun frowned and pulled Ye Qingshang close.

She hadn’t even identified the onlookers before his embrace trapped her. Muffled against his chest, she sighed, "Ah Yun, must you be jealous? Countless disciples admire me here. Will you react like this every time? I’m yours—no one dares covet me…"

Mu Huaiyun relaxed his brow upon hearing her words. Ye Qingshang’s tone had been quite pleasing to him as he said, "Qingshang was right. But precisely because you belong to me, I dislike anyone else even glancing at you."

"Heh…" Ye Qingshang chuckled lightly. "Ah Yun, you’re quite different now from before. By the way, what did Senior Brother call you over for earlier?"

She wondered what Mu Rongyan needed to discuss with Mu Huaiyun; that morning, he had sent someone to summon him.

Mu Huaiyun replied honestly, "I don’t know."

Ye Qingshang questioned, "You don’t know? Did you not see Senior Brother?"

"When I arrived, he must have had something urgent and left unexpectedly," Mu Huaiyun answered. It was strange—Mu Rongyan had sent for him, yet wasn’t present. What host leaves their guest waiting?

"Well…" Ye Qingshang shook her head. "Never mind. If Senior Brother truly has important matters, he’ll find you again later."

Meanwhile, inside a tightly closed room, Mu Rongyan stood at the back, eyes wide with unconcealed shock. "What?!"

He had summoned Mu Huaiyun that morning to remind him to treat Ye Qingshang well and discuss Frostbite Sect matters. Instead of Mu Huaiyun, however, he received a message.

Just two words: *Come quickly*.

He knew the sender well—such urgency meant real trouble. Rushing over, he overheard something unforgettable.

In the spacious room, a figure stood tall, sleeves hanging low, shadow obscuring all but his silhouette. His voice cut clearly through the air as he repeated succinctly, "After the master’s crowning ceremony, I want her dead."

Mu Rongyan frowned, urgency and confusion warring on his face. "But why? Why do this to her? She—"

The man interrupted lightly, "You refuse?"

Before Mu Rongyan could answer, the man sighed as if disappointed. "Then I’ll handle it myself."

"No need." Mu Rongyan clenched then unclenched his fingers, exhaling sharply. "I’ll help."

*

Ye Qingshang’s master crowning ceremony was set for half a month later. With the sect handling preparations, she reveled in free time, enjoying Mu Huaiyun’s company amidst falling blossoms.

Yet this tranquility shattered ten days before the ceremony—Qiu Huayi vanished. Spotting a disciple cleaning Qiu Huayi’s quarters, Ye Qingshang hurried over.

"Where’s Huayi? You’ve been cleaning here—have you seen her?"

The disciple jolted, then recalled belatedly, "Oh… Senior Sister Ye, apologies. Senior Sister Huayi left at dawn. She meant for me to tell you, but I forgot."

Ye Qingshang frowned. What emergency made Qiu Huayi leave without a word? "Do you know why she left? Or where she went?"

The disciple scratched his head uncertainly. "Something about going down the mountain… home, I think? Maybe trouble at her family’s place…"

His voice trailed off. Qiu Huayi’s rushed departure had left instructions vague, now half-forgotten.

Mu Huaiyun patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Qingshang, don’t overthink it. She’ll be fine."

"But Huayi never acts rashly. What if it’s serious?" Qiu Huayi strictly followed sect rules. Disobeying the first precept—*never leave the mountain without permission*—meant true desperation. She must have left without reporting.

Mu Huaiyun squeezed her hand. "If you’re still worried tomorrow and she hasn’t returned, I’ll go down the mountain with you to find her."

Ye Qingshang sighed anxiously. "I suppose we must."

*

Meanwhile, high above the clouds, Qiu Huayi flew swordward.

She usually wrote home every seven days. Ningchuan, her hometown, lay a day’s sword-flight from Frostbite Sect—though letters took three.

Her last letter had gone unanswered far too long. Fear for her parents’ safety drove her down the mountain. She reached Ningchuan by nightfall.

Under thick darkness, she avoided the front gate to keep the peace. Channeling spiritual power, she vaulted the high wall and sped to the main chamber, pausing only to push its door open.

“Father, Mother, I…” The words caught in her throat as suddenly a bright lamp lit up the deep night. The flickering candlelight revealed a beautiful face.

Qiu Huayi froze in place, hesitantly asking, “You… how are you here?”

The person looked up, their expression cold, and said, “I’ve waited for you a long time.” Then, pulling out a jade hairpin from somewhere, they added, “You should know this hairpin. They’re safe now, but if you take one wrong step, I can’t guarantee they’ll ever see daylight again.”

Qiu Huayi stepped back in disbelief, her eyes fixed on the jade hairpin as she trembled and asked, “What do you want?”

The person replied sharply, “I need you to do something for me.”