The cold breeze swept across the lake, carrying with it a biting chill and the scent of pine from the distant mountains. The moon cast a silvery veil over the still water, broken only by the silhouette of a lone figure standing at the shore.
Li Cheng stood motionless, his eyes fixed in the darkness ahead. His robe fluttered gently in the wind,
From the shadows, a young woman in a pretty red dress stepped out. Her hair was long and tied back with a silver ribbon. Her eyes held sadness in them.
"Li Cheng, it's me… Yu Mei," she said, her voice tentative yet warm as she approached him.
What do I owe this visit from the honorable young miss of the Yu family?" Li Cheng said without any change in his expression.
Yu Mei's heart squeezed in pain. Her long-time childhood sweetheart she once knew, cheerful and full of light, was gone. Now he stood like an unmovable stone.
"Li Cheng... it's been a long time. How have you been?" Yu Mei asked softly.
"Thanks for your concern, young miss. I am doing fine," Li Cheng replied in a cold tone.
Yu Mei took a step closer, frustration slipping into her voice. "What's with all this 'Young Miss' this young miss that?. Why are you talking to my like a stranger, It's me—Yu Mei!"
Tears welled up in her eyes. She had prepared herself for many reactions—but not this cold indifference.
"Li Cheng, I know you've been through a lot. I know many people have wronged you... and that pain has turned you into the person you are today." Yu Mei's voice trembled. "But what about me? Are you angry because I didn't show up at Qingfeng Pavilion to play with you, like we promised?"
She lowered her head and continued, "I want to apologize...
I'm sorry
You know I was just a child back then. I couldn't go wherever I wanted. And after it was discovered that you had... no... no spiritual root..." Her voice cracked, and her head dropped even lower. "My father... he... he—"
"Hmm? Your father did what?" Li Cheng asked coldly. "Say it. No?.
Then I'll help you. He said, 'Don't play with that useless kid again. He can't even protect himself. What can he ever do for you in the future?' Isn't that right?"
"You said you were just a child, that you couldn't make your own decisions... But what about when we grew up? Did you ever come to see me? Did you ever care? I was just a waste in everyone's eyes. I once came to the Yu residence to find you, but I was thrown out—because I was useless."
He paused, his gaze distant. "Never mind. It's all in the past. We were just kids back then..."
Yu Mei stepped forward. "But what about now?" Yu Mei said, her voice trembling with emotion. "You said we were just kids back then... but we're not children anymore. Li Cheng, I still—"
"Young Miss Yu, it's getting late," Li Cheng interrupted, cutting her off mid-sentence. "See you later."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned around and began to walk away, his footsteps steady and unhurried.
"I...!"
Yu Mei's voice caught in her throat as she instinctively reached out, her hand trembling in the air. But halfway through, she stopped herself. Her fingers slowly curled back, and she let her arm fall to her side.
She could only stand there, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath, as tears streamed silently down her cheeks.
She felt hollow—terrible and heartbroken. She stood there and watched Li Cheng's figure disappear into the night.
Later that night, Li Cheng stood in the courtyard, silent beneath the starlit sky. His gaze wandered to the small garden by the stone path. The faint shape of a young seedling sprouting by the fence stirred a memory long buried.
Memories came flooding back.
"Li Cheng come! Come here!" a cheerful voice rang out in his mind. younger Yu Mei laughed as she waved at him.
Little Li Cheng ran up beside her. She pointed to the ground.
"Look! The tree we planted... it's starting to sprout!"
"Wow..." Li Cheng grinned. "When it grows big, let's build a house here and live together."
"Hmph! I won't live with you unless you promise to marry me first!" Yu Mei puffed up her cheeks, pretending to be mad.
Li Cheng scratched his head and smiled in the memory. "Alright. I promise. I'll marry you when we grow up."
"Really?"
"Really."
They hooked pinkies together.
"It's a promise!" they said in unison, the sound of their laughter echoed faintly in his mind.
Back in the present, Li Cheng closed his eyes. A single tear slid down his face.
These memories...are too good to be in my mind.
He turned and quietly returned to his room.
The next morning, the Qinyun Sect courtyard buzzed with activity. The delegations that had come to submit their letters for the upcoming competition began to take their leave.
Li Cheng resumed his chores with quiet efficiency, broom in hand as he swept the stone steps near the eastern corridor.
"Li Cheng!"
A familiar voice called from behind. He turned and saw Wang Yue approaching.
"Young Master Wang," Li Cheng greeted, bowing slightly.
Wang Yue returned the gesture. "It's a surprise to see you here. I thought after what happened last time, you wouldn't be accepted back."
Li Cheng smiled faintly. "It's just luck."
Wang Yue looked him over for a moment, then nodded. "I hope you make good use of this chance and become your better self."
"Thank you. I'll remember your words," Li Cheng said sincerely.
Wang Yue offered a final nod and walked away.
Li Cheng turned back to his work, but paused.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed someone watching him.
He looked over his shoulder.
In the distance, Yu Mei stood with her fellow disciples. They were preparing to leave. Their swords floated in the air beside them, She climbed onto her sword yet her eyes never left Li Cheng. Even as they flew off, she continued to look back at him until the skies swallowed her form.
"What are you staring at?"
The sharp voice snapped Li Cheng from his daze. He turned—and saw Huang Hui standing behind him.
Li Cheng bowed. "Senior—"
"Senior?" Huang Hui scoffed. "I'm no senior of yours. You're not even a disciple. Just a worthless cook for that drunkard."
Li Cheng's brows furrowed.
"What? Are you offended?"
He didn't say another word. Instead, he gave Huang Hui a cold look, then quietly picked up his broom and began to walk away.
"Yo... you dare ignore me?!" Huang Hui shouted, furious. He clenched his fist tightly, and with a roar, punched forward. A burst of spiritual energy shot out from his hand and struck Li Cheng in the back.
Bang!
Li Cheng was sent crashing to the ground. Blood splattered from his mouth, staining the dirt beneath him.
"Who gave you the courage to ignore me while I'm talking to you?" Huang Hui said as he walked towards Li Cheng, cracking his knuckles.
sneered, stepping toward the fallen Li Cheng. "Since that old geezer hasn't taught you the rules, I will help him do it"
As he spoke, Huang Hui raised his hand and began to cast a spell. Spiritual energy surged around him, forming a strange glowing pattern in the air. But suddenly—
Whoosh!
The sharp sound of something tearing through the wind rang out. Huang Hui instinctively turned his head toward the source.
A sharp gust of spiritual energy struck him square in the chest.
Boom!
He was sent flying, his body spinning in the air before crashing hard onto the stone pavement. Blood poured from his mouth, and the ground beneath him turned red.
"Hmph… how dare you lay your hands on my servant. Looks like you're tired of living," a cold voice rang out.
And soon a figure landed lightly between them.