Chapter 135

The sun shone brightly, life was in full bloom.

By Yiren Lake within Luoxian Sect, a gentle breeze rippled across the water, casting shimmering reflections that lent the scene a rare tranquility.

A young girl with flushed cheeks approached cautiously, her heart pounding like a frightened fawn. She had come without makeup, looking pure and earnest, her eyes fixed on the lone figure fishing ahead.

Taking a deep breath as if summoning all her courage, she stepped forward.

"Senior brother Han Luo."

Jiu Li'er called softly, her voice gentle as if afraid to disturb the fish.

"You’re here, Li'er."
Han Luo wore a straw sunhat, a vest and shorts, and flip-flops—a completely casual look.
He waved her over, motioning for her to sit.

"Mm."
She nodded obediently and sat by his side.

"Senior brother Han Luo, just as you predicted—Changshou Ghost really did compensate us with a spirit iron vein!"
Jiu Li'er beamed with delight.

She had been very worried when Changshou Sect launched their aggressive assault on the forest veins. As a disciple of Luoxian Sect, she had felt powerless and frustrated watching the sect lose so many resources.

Yet in that moment, senior brother Han Luo had approached her with a plan—one she had never dared to imagine.
At first, she had doubted it.
But now, looking back, it was her own naivety—Han Luo had foreseen everything and guided each step perfectly.
With just a few words of coaching, he had helped them gain an entire spirit iron vein.

Leaning back comfortably in his chair, fishing rod in hand, Han Luo appeared completely relaxed.

"Changshou Ghost is naturally suspicious, and he has done many shady things. He wouldn't dare offend Magistrate Qingfeng—even if it cost him a spirit iron vein," he explained calmly.

He had calculated every detail in advance—down to Changshou Ghost complaining to the Magistrate and how Jiu Li'er should act in response.

Between losing a spirit stone vein and his status as sect master, the choice was obvious.
As long as he remained sect master, he would find ways to regain resources.

"Senior brother, you really do have incredible foresight. I only showed a bit of fear toward Changshou Ghost, and Magistrate Qingfeng immediately became furious—he scolded him and even cut their resources for fifty years."
Jiu Li'er still found it odd—how could someone like her influence the Magistrate’s mood so easily?

Fishing quietly, Han Luo sensed her puzzlement through her aura.

"Li'er, you need to have more confidence."
He handed her half of a chilled watermelon he had sliced.

She took it shyly and asked, "Senior brother, what do you mean by that?"

She was confident in her array skills—what more was there?

"I don’t mean your array skills. I mean you as a person."
Han Luo bit into his watermelon happily.

Still puzzled, she looked at him.

"Li'er, you are a genius of the Jiu Li Clan—perhaps their strongest. You came to Luoxian Sect for the Nine Scrolls of Arrays, but beyond that, you should set your sights higher—like the Imperial Capital."

"You mean developing my path there in the future?" she asked.

"Exactly." Han Luo nodded. "Luoxian Sect is a mid-tier sect. Aside from the Nine Scrolls, there aren’t many advanced arrays for you to study. But the Imperial Capital is different—its treasury holds hundreds of great array tomes. That is your true destination."

Eating her watermelon thoughtfully, Jiu Li'er realized this made perfect sense.

She had been so focused on the Nine Scrolls that she often got stuck, making slow progress.
The reason was clear—her foundation was incomplete, and she lacked exposure to a wider range of high-level arrays. Without points of reference, learning had become increasingly difficult.

At first, her natural talent carried her through.
But as the arrays grew more complex, she was feeling the strain.

"I understand, senior brother... but..."
She hesitated.

"You’re worried you have no way in, aren’t you?"
Han Luo hit the nail on the head.

In theory, her great-grandmother could have easily paved the way—a single letter from her would earn deference from the Emperor himself.
Unfortunately... Jiu Li'er was not of the clan’s orthodox bloodline.

Had it not been for her great-grandmother’s affection and her talent, she wouldn’t even have touched the True Arts of the Jiu Li Clan—she might’ve been cast out entirely.

Lowering her head, Jiu Li'er felt a surge of sadness.

"Senior brother, please don’t laugh at me," she said softly.

"I won’t." Han Luo nodded solemnly.

"My surname is Jiu Li, but I am not of the clan’s main bloodline. My mother was a Jiu Li clanswoman, but my father was a mortal. They both died when I was born, leaving me orphaned within the clan..."

Her story was long—yet somehow short.
So compelling you couldn’t help but listen to every word—yet when it ended, you wanted more.

Had she been the protagonist of another story, Jiu Li'er would have made a perfect heroine.

As the sun set, the lake turned gold.
A soft breeze rippled across its surface.
The once-little girl had grown into a young woman.
The freckles on her face had faded, her figure maturing, her potential still unfolding.

An ambiguous atmosphere hung in the air.
A young man and woman alone in the wild—it was hard not to feel something.

Han Luo remained focused—his mind occupied with other matters.
Jiu Li'er, however, was thinking all sorts of other thoughts.

"Magistrate Qingfeng is your opportunity," Han Luo said as he packed up his fishing rod. "Seize it well. If you do, the Jiu Li Clan will one day honor your mother with a rightful place."

"Really?"
Jiu Li'er still lacked confidence in certain matters.

It was like Han Luo—having once choked on a fish bone as a child, he now approached fish cautiously, even though he was no longer in danger.
Her insecurities lingered the same way.

"I can’t promise," Han Luo said earnestly. "Some roads, you have to walk yourself to find out. But go boldly—if you take a wrong turn or grow weary, Luoxian Sect will always welcome you back. No matter how far you go, you will always be one of us. This will always be your home."

Tears welled in her eyes, sliding down her cheeks into the lake below—sending ripples across the golden surface.

Jiu Li'er didn’t know how long she cried—only that all her pent-up grievances poured out in that moment.

Watching her weep so bitterly, Han Luo thought to himself: Did I push too hard and reopen a fresh wound?

...Oh well.
To be honest, he’d had a small ulterior motive for exposing that old scar.