Siguo Peak, located in the rear mountains of Yuntian Sect, was where the sect punished disciples who had erred. The terrain of Siguo Peak was treacherous and desolate; normally, one wouldn’t even see a shadow of a person, let alone an animal.
That day, seven or eight streaks of light flashed through the sky, heading straight for the rear mountains and Siguo Peak.
“I say, Disciple Meng, have you packed everything? Siguo Peak is a place where not even birds lay eggs. How will Senior Brother manage?” A burly man in his thirties, balancing atop a peculiarly curved saber, asked the younger man beside him.
The younger man, clad in green and appearing around twenty, tapped a large die with his foot, his expression impatient. “Do you think Senior Brother is like you? Cultivation requires enduring loneliness and hardship. All the things you insisted on bringing are useless. I’ve already thrown them out.”
The burly man’s face froze in shock. “Disciple Meng, those were my treasured possessions! You only agreed to bring them because you wanted to see Senior Brother, and now you just throw them away?!”
Seeing the burly man’s pained expression, everyone else couldn’t help but laugh.
They had known each other in the sect for over ten years and were familiar with each other’s quirks. The burly man’s name was Zhao Feng, a disciple of Elder Li from Qingyun Peak. Though rough in appearance, he had a taste for refined living. His quarters were the most elegantly arranged among the sect’s disciples. Now that Chu Mingwei had been punished with ten years in Siguo Peak, Zhao Feng had thought to make his life as comfortable as possible and had packed all his unused amenities. But before they could be used, Meng Fan had thrown them all away.
Amid laughter, the young man in green spoke again, “Those things would be thrown out anyway. Better I do it first than let Senior Brother waste effort on them.”
Seeing Zhao Feng’s helpless and frustrated expression, everyone laughed again. Within the sect, it was known that though Meng Fan often appeared lazy and indifferent, he was actually extremely powerful. Zhao Feng had repeatedly lost to him in competitions and had been tormented, leaving him able only to stew silently.
A gray-clad man, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke. “I see Disciple Meng has packed many toys for little children this morning. I wonder why.”
“Hmph, what else? Surely Senior Brother wants to win little Disciple’s favor,” a young man in red, also in his twenties, said indignantly.
“Little Disciple?” the gray-clad man asked.
The gray-clad man’s name was Bai Qian. He had been away and had only just returned to the sect, unaware of recent happenings. He had heard only that Chu Mingwei had been punished with ten years in Siguo Peak, and he was shocked. By chance, he had packed a few items and followed along, not yet catching up with sect affairs.
Meng Fan looked at Bai Qian and explained, “Senior Brother has been away, so he might not be up to date on sect events. Recently, Uncle Wu recruited a disciple—the youngest among the brothers—so everyone calls him ‘Little Disciple.’ Senior Brother has been taking care of him, showing him special attention.” Meng Fan briefly summarized the recent events, including why Chu Mingwei had been confined.
The red-clad man snorted. “Senior Brother treats him so well, yet that brat caused Senior Brother to be confined for ten years and miss a great opportunity like the Thunderlight Vine.”
“Shaohan!” Meng Fan barked, “Although Senior Brother’s confinement is related to Little Disciple, the child is too young to be blamed.”
Shaohan, the red-clad man, reluctantly lowered his head, still simmering with discontent.
Bai Qian, listening attentively, asked, “Is this ‘Little Disciple’ Xiao Lingyu, the six-year-old prodigy who entered the Refinement Realm?”
“That’s correct,” Meng Fan nodded. “The sect values him highly.”
“Oh? How is his character?” Bai Qian inquired.
Meng Fan frowned. “Little Disciple hasn’t been in the sect long; we’ve only met briefly. He seemed obedient. Following Senior Brother’s care, he should be fine.”
“That’s not guaranteed!” the red-clad Shaohan muttered, still displeased.
Bai Qian chuckled and said to Shaohan, “Shaohan, the little one is just six. Are you seriously going to quarrel with him?”
Shaohan twisted his face in dissatisfaction. He had no personal conflict with the child and was only upset on behalf of Senior Brother. Yet everyone assumed he was quarreling with a small child, which made him all the more frustrated.
Bai Qian considered that Shaohan, despite being talented and the youngest among the brothers, had grown prideful and unyielding due to overcare. Outside the sect, this trait would likely cause him trouble. With Senior Brother involved with Little Disciple, Meng Fan would need to supervise Shaohan carefully. Meanwhile, Bai Qian was curious about the little prodigy who had garnered such attention from the otherwise impartial Senior Brother.
As Bai Qian gazed at Siguo Peak, a smile appeared on his face, setting aside all other thoughts. He simply wanted to see Senior Brother.
The group descended onto Siguo Peak on their treasures. Zhao Feng shouted first, “Senior Brother! We’ve come to see you!”
At his words, a watery barrier seemed to part before them, and Chu Mingwei stood behind it, smiling at them.
Excitement erupted. Questions flew:
“Senior Brother, how are you?”
“Senior Brother, are you comfortable?”
“Senior Brother, is there anything you need? I’ll bring it next time.”
Chu Mingwei smiled at the flurry of questions, answering only after everyone had finished. “Siguo Peak is not as harsh as you imagine. I am here to receive punishment; how could comfort be a concern?”
Their chatter resumed, but Meng Fan seized a moment to hand over a storage pouch. “Senior Brother, here are the things you asked me to bring.”
Chu Mingwei looked inside: all the toys he had arranged for Little Disciple, intending to give them to him when he visited, so the child wouldn’t be lonely. Only afterward did he realize that Little Disciple had likely been confined at Yilan Peak by Uncle Wu, so the delivery would need Meng Fan’s help.
“Bring these to Yilan Peak for Little Disciple. If possible, spend some time with him. He’s too young to navigate sect life alone,” Chu Mingwei instructed.
Meng Fan nodded in agreement. Chu Mingwei added, “When you accompany Little Disciple, restrain your lazy tendencies. Don’t spoil him.”
Everyone laughed.
Bai Qian’s eyes flickered at Chu Mingwei’s concern for the young prodigy.
Nearby, Shaohan could not contain his displeasure. “Little Disciple not only caused Senior Brother’s confinement but also missed a great opportunity and hasn’t even come to see him. Such ingratitude.”
Chu Mingwei’s expression darkened. “My confinement is unrelated to Little Disciple. I failed to watch over him properly. I do not want you to bear any ill will toward him, nor make things difficult for him.”
Meng Fan immediately assured him, “Senior Brother, rest assured. We will not trouble Little Disciple.”
The others echoed this sentiment, promising care for the young one. Chu Mingwei’s gaze fell on Shaohan, who reluctantly nodded, still grumbling internally.
Meanwhile, at Yilan Peak, Xiao Lingyu faced yet another guardian arranged by Master Wu, his mood darkening at the sight of Leng Hanyuan seated beside his master. Master, are you seeking revenge for what I caused last life? First Xu Xuan in Wucheng, now Leng Hanyuan? How much humiliation do you want for your disciple?
Despite his irritation, Xiao Lingyu maintained a shy, obedient smile.
“Little Brother Leng, are you to watch over me for a while?” Xiao Lingyu asked timidly. “But last time in the Forbidden Zone, you were entrusted by Senior Bai to guide Disciple Xu.”
“Which Disciple Xu?” Master Wu asked.
Xiao Lingyu quickly answered, “Senior Brother Xu Xuan, the one we met in Wucheng.”
“Xu Xuan?” Master Wu hesitated.
Leng Hanyuan’s expression remained calm as he explained, “Last time, Senior Bai had me guide Disciple Xu to familiarize him with sect matters. All has been taken care of, so I am free to accompany Little Disciple now.”
Seeing Master Wu’s lingering doubt, Leng Hanyuan added sincerely, “If Master Wu is concerned, I can oversee both disciples. Little Disciple is young; having a companion could be beneficial.”
Xiao Lingyu immediately understood he had sidestepped this guardian. Master Wu knew he disliked Xu Xuan; pairing them together would not make the child happy.
Master Wu, though appreciating Leng Hanyuan as one of the most outstanding young disciples, chose not to insist.
Leng Hanyuan, noticing the slight frown on Master Wu, realized his suggestion had been mistaken. As he pondered how to remedy it, Master Wu politely declined.
Xiao Lingyu grinned, the first genuine smile he had shown Leng Hanyuan, feeling pleased at the outcome.
Just then, Wu Chun reported that disciples from Haotian Peak—Meng Fan and the others—requested an audience.
Leng Hanyuan’s eyes narrowed briefly, masking his chill. Soon, Meng Fan and the others entered. Xiao Lingyu, expression neutral, felt a peculiar strangeness.
These were familiar faces from his past life, but somehow different—was it due to his reincarnation?
He scrutinized Meng Fan, who stood to the left saluting Master Wu. In the past, he had noticed Meng Fan’s sharpness, a trait that had caused him trouble during secret encounters. Yet now, Meng Fan seemed more indifferent, wielding a peculiar die instead of the Frost Sword of their previous life. Reincarnation, perhaps, or had Meng Fan changed as well?
Xiao Lingyu’s suspicion deepened, though in truth Meng Fan had always been like this. His sharper edge in the past had been shaped by Chu Mingwei’s untimely death, which forced him to take up Haotian Peak’s responsibilities and confront Leng Hanyuan’s associates.
While Xiao Lingyu pondered, Meng Fan and his companions explained they had come to deliver city toys for Little Disciple. Meng Fan glanced at Leng Hanyuan with a hint of unease, wary despite Leng Hanyuan’s good reputation.
Xiao Lingyu, focused on the heavy-feeling pouch Meng Fan extended, hesitated to take it, instinctively wary of Chu Mingwei’s kindness as if it were untouchable.
The momentary hesitation passed, and he accepted the pouch, lifting his head to show a mixture of guilt and concern. “Is Senior Brother well?”
Meng Fan reached out, ruffling the boy’s hair gently. “Senior Brother is fine. Little Disciple need not worry; he misses you.”
“I miss Senior Brother too,” Xiao Lingyu replied softly, “but I didn’t dare see him, for fear I caused his punishment.”
His words made the others pause. Though they had promised not to blame him, seeing the child’s guilt and concern melted any lingering resentment—except Shaohan, who smirked at the boy’s cunning.
Meng Fan and the group did not linger long at Yilan Peak and soon departed, Leng Hanyuan accompanying them.
Xiao Lingyu, left alone, carefully organized the toys into the cabinet, contemplating the possibility of visiting Chu Mingwei himself.