Chapter Ten: The Spring Breeze and Wine Warm the Heart

Sunlight poured into the house through the main gate. The air was filled with birdsong, the hum of insects, and the fragrance of flowers. Qin Xiaomo, gazing at such a splendid spring scene, suddenly recalled a line she had once read: "Spring wind and spring wine seep into the heart." A cup of fine wine would be perfect for a moment like this.

After two whole days confined to her bed, Qin Xiaomo was finally able to walk around again. Having spent several days here without properly exploring the courtyard, she decided to call for Liulv.

"Young Madam, could you... perhaps not go out just yet?" Liulv spoke hesitantly, her face troubled.

"Why not?" Qin Xiaomo was curious. Suddenly, she ducked behind the door, peering out in all directions and whispering, "Is someone from another province here to catch me?"

"Of course not. The safest place in Mirror Void City is our Young Master's courtyard," Liulv replied, pride evident in her tone when mentioning Qian Mubai.

"Then what's the matter? You’re being so secretive. I’m not even leaving the residence, just taking a stroll in the courtyard."

"Well, please don’t be angry if I say this..."

"If you keep hemming and hawing, I really will get angry! I can’t stand this dithering—just tell me directly!" Qin Xiaomo, quick-tempered as she was, found Liulv's evasiveness quite irritating.

"Miss Xu is here; she’s in the main hall having tea with Young Master," Liulv said at last, eyes lowered and stealing glances at Qin Xiaomo, worried she would be upset.

"And who is Miss Xu?"

"Xu Qinxian, the Marchioness’s niece. She saw Young Master’s face by chance at a family banquet and has liked him ever since. Our Young Master has no interest in her, but she’s shameless, always finding ways to pester him—truly bothersome." Liulv hurried to defend her Young Master.

"Oh, is that all? Let her come if she wants—what's it got to do with me?" Qin Xiaomo exhaled in relief, amused that she’d been startled over nothing, thinking someone had come to hunt her down.

"You’re not angry? She’s trying to steal your husband," Liulv exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.

"Why should I be angry? I’m only here temporarily. Didn’t you say your Young Master doesn’t care for her? If they’re mutually attracted, I’d gladly step out of the way. After all, I’m not really—" Qin Xiaomo suddenly realized she’d said too much and quickly shut her mouth.

"You’re not what?" Liulv was even more confused.

"Nothing, nothing. Come on, let’s walk in the garden," Qin Xiaomo said, taking Liulv’s arm and heading out the door.

Not far from her room lay a small lotus pond. A four-meter-wide stone path ran past the door, flanked by white and pink magnolia trees whose blossoms filled the air with a subtle fragrance. The path stretched a hundred meters to a circular martial arts platform in the front courtyard, which stood above the lotus pond. At the platform’s edge was a double-blue-roofed, red-pillared pavilion, lanterns of fiery red swaying from its eaves. Qian Mubai’s bedchamber was separated from the platform by just twenty meters of lotus pond. There was also a rear courtyard, but it was little more than a spacious lotus lake, connected to the main residence by a single floating bridge.

Qin Xiaomo, standing by her door, took some bun crumbs to feed the koi and wandered all the way to the martial arts platform, feeding fish and admiring the flowers along the way. She was so absorbed in her enjoyment that she didn’t notice how close she’d come to the platform until Liulv tugged urgently at her sleeve, trying to pull her away. Qin Xiaomo looked up in puzzlement and saw, through the pavilion, that Qian Mubai’s chamber door was wide open. Inside was a young woman in a pale blue gauze dress, her movements graceful and decorous, chatting and laughing prettily with Qian Mubai. Sensing the situation, Qin Xiaomo quickly turned away.

Qian Mubai, meanwhile, was paying subtle attention to Qin Xiaomo’s every move, though he continued his conversation with Xu Qinxian as if nothing had happened.

"How are things with the Heavenly Wheel these days?" he asked, pouring tea for Xu Qinxian.

"Ever since the spirit stone of the Heavenly Wheel was damaged, the three elders of the Seventh Heaven have been sustaining it with their own power, but they can’t last much longer. In the end, the only solution is to find a new spirit stone—one that can only be replaced by the Underworld Tear, guarded by the four great divine beasts of the Ninth Heaven. That’s why Master sent disciples from the Xuantian Sect to every province, hoping to devise a plan."

"You’ve already thought of a solution, haven’t you?" Qian Mubai’s fingers caressed his teacup.

"We have, but it’s the hardest to achieve," Xu Qinxian admitted, her expression troubled.

"Let’s hear it."

"Our founder believes that if we can’t train a single Emperor of the Ninth Heaven to rival the four divine beasts, then if we can train ten disciples of the Fifth Heaven, together with the three founders, we might barely have a chance. Of course, if there are exceptionally gifted disciples who can reach the Seventh Heaven or even the Ninth, that would be even better."

"You mean to select these disciples from the three provinces?"

"Yes. The three provinces have never been truly at peace, and though they maintain a façade of harmony out of respect for the three founders, they do not truly accept one another. If the provinces still refuse to unite after what’s happened to the Heavenly Wheel, then within a year, our lands will be littered with bones and awash in blood," Xu Qinxian said gravely. She was not exaggerating; the three founders could hold out for only one year at most.

"With just a year, how do you plan to train them?" Qian Mubai’s interest was piqued.

"We’ll select a hundred youths under eighteen from the three provinces—regardless of gender—provided they’ve reached the Fifth Earthly Stage and show exceptional talent. The three founders will personally instruct them, and each province’s sacred grounds will serve as training fields. That’s why I’ve come to speak with the Marquis today; entry into some holy sites requires his special permission."

"And you’re telling me this because...?"

"Yes, I’d like to invite you to join the selection. I noticed at the last banquet that you’re a natural talent in spiritual power, though you’ve never been able to show it. This is your opportunity. Once you reach the Fifth Heavenly Stage, you’ll be as free as the gods, able to establish your own sect or, if you prefer, return home and never again be subject to others," Xu Qinxian said. She knew all too well what Qian Mubai desired and was confident he would not refuse.

"Does your aunt know about my spiritual power?" Qian Mubai suddenly narrowed his eyes, his tone icy.

"No, absolutely not. I haven’t said a word. Only someone with strong spiritual force, like myself at the Eighth Earthly Stage, could sense it. Mubai, I would never betray you; my intentions—" Xu Qinxian waved her hands hurriedly.

Before she could finish, Qian Mubai cut her off. "Go back. I’ll consider the matter and give you my answer in three days."

Xu Qinxian opened her mouth to speak, but held her tongue, rose, and left with measured steps. She had her own motives for inviting him so earnestly: first, she wished to become his classmate and spend more time with him, confident that feelings would blossom given time; second, she hoped to help her aunt secure her cousin’s marquisate, lest it fall into others’ hands. Xu Qinxian’s proposal for Qian Mubai to join the selection had been supported first and foremost by the Marchioness, for the Marquis was aging, his health failing, and he had begun to show signs of wanting to step down. If Qian Mubai left for a year, the title would easily pass into the Marchioness’s hands and her son’s. Besides, cultivation was fraught with danger and uncertainty; who could say he would not fall prey to a spirit beast and be lost forever?

Qian Mubai watched from a distance as Qin Xiaomo played shuttlecock in the inner courtyard, her joy evident, and quietly weighed his options.