If at this moment, I seize the opportunity and reveal the truth from back then to comfort Chu Xuan’s wounded heart, he’ll surely forgive me, right?

In any case, Ji Mingyu was deeply moved.

"Master, this is a rare opportunity! Don’t let it slip by!" Loyal Xiaoxue was earnestly advising her.

"Isn’t this the moment you’ve been waiting for? Seize this chance, rush to Chu Xuan’s side, and use your love and tenderness to embrace him, making him completely fall into your arms, never sparing a glance for other women again."

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingyu hesitated again and bit her nail, saying, "Quiet down, let me think it over."

So Xiaoxue obediently fell silent.

According to Ming Yu’s initial plan, she was to wait until Chu Xuan reached the seventh level in cultivation before revealing the truth.

But after the Hundred Flowers Banquet, she decided to lower the threshold—being at the sixth level would be enough.

Recently, as emotions flared between Gu Haitang, Qingqing, and Chu Xuan, Ji Mingyu felt a strong sense of crisis and unconsciously lowered the standard by another level.

But even so, shouldn’t it at least be the fifth level?

Chu Xuan is only at the third level right now. If we reconcile too soon and he returns under my protection, how will he independently grow to become even stronger than during the Celestial Evil Period?

For a moment, two thoughts clashed in Ji Mingyu’s mind.

One urged her: Never mind, make your move; otherwise, Chu Xuan will be taken by other women.

Another cautioned her: You can’t be so selfish; you have to think about Chu Xuan’s future.

After some struggle, Ji Mingyu’s rationality prevailed, and she said cautiously, "Let’s keep observing a little longer?"

Then she was a bit exasperated, "This guy, the moment he’s down the mountain, he’s caught up in trivial romance. Can’t he go back and focus on his closed-door cultivation?"

For Ming Yu, it would be ideal if Chu Xuan did a closed-door cultivation for a hundred years, then emerged to pair perfectly with her.

Xiaoxue felt a bit discouraged upon hearing this, "Master, don’t forget, there’s still Gu Haitang waiting. Aren’t you afraid she’ll seize the chance?"

Oh yes, marriage alliance!

But then Ji Mingyu thought, would a jerk like Chu Xuan really marry Haitang? No, absolutely not. He’ll delay for as long as he can; didn’t he clearly refuse last time?

So Ming Yu calmly said, "Relax, I know him better than you do."

"In the short term, let Haitang have a taste of sweetness; her personality is much more reserved than Qingqing’s. She won’t do anything significant with Chu Xuan; at most, they’ll kiss and hug, and I’ve seen plenty of that."

Xiaoxue felt a little embarrassed, have you developed an immunity?

In any case, Ji Mingyu decided to continue waiting.

...

After spending a few days, upon returning to the Dao Palace, the first person Chu Xuan saw was his senior sister, Qin Mengyao.

She stood waiting beneath the mountain gate archway, nobody knew for how long.

This came as a surprise to Chu Xuan, for he heard that since returning from the Ruo Wood Secret Realm last time, she had been in closed-door cultivation.

She still seemed somewhat indifferent, with a detached look in her eyes.

But upon seeing her junior brother, Qin Mengyao’s gaze flickered for a moment, and she took the initiative to ask, "How were things? Did they go smoothly?"

Chu Xuan smiled and shook his head. For some reason, Qin Mengyao found his smile somewhat sorrowful, as if once again returning to eight years ago when her junior brother had just ascended the mountain.

She could never forget that scene in the back mountain forest when, amidst the melodious calls of the larks, he suddenly burst into tears.

Quickly pondering, Qin Mengyao’s once-cold heart gradually warmed up again.

She stepped forward caringly and said, "You should see Master first."

Chu Xuan nodded, and the senior brother and sister walked side by side up the quiet steps toward the grand hall of the Dao Palace, the atmosphere tranquil and serene.

Qin Mengyao suddenly realized she thoroughly enjoyed this feeling, far more than facing a cold, unyielding stone wall during her solitary cultivation.

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan was silently mulling over matters concerning Haitang. On his last return, he was informed by his master that Haitang had come once before, inquiring about his whereabouts.

At that time, even Master Floating Cloud didn’t know where Chu Xuan was, only that he was momentarily safe, so Gu Haitang left in disappointment.

Chu Xuan thought silently: I should send someone to notify her that I’m back safely, and it might be time to put the marriage alliance back on the agenda.

On their way to the grand hall, disciples greeted the senior brother and sister, whispering that they looked quite a match.

Hearing this, Qin Mengyao secretly felt a faint joy.

Then she realized that this wasn’t right; she shouldn’t forget the path she had chosen.

The last time she returned to the mountain and had a heartfelt conversation with her master, Qin Mengyao realized in the secret realm she had claimed to be detached from emotions, but in truth, she was merely escaping. It only provided temporary solace, but when it was over, the pain and regret persisted.

If Qin Mengyao had actually gone to fetch that mysterious artifact at the time, she would have become its puppet, and her confidence would have meant nothing.

Because she strayed from the path of being detached from emotions while not separating from them—what makes it truly difficult is this "not separating from emotions," fundamentally distinct from the path of being heartless.

For a moment, Qin Mengyao felt bewildered. To forget emotions, yet remain connected, had she chosen the wrong path from the start?

But having already passed through the trial of questioning the heart, could the future path of Dao be altered at will? Best not to end up in a state of inner conflict leading to madness.

Like one of the Dao Palace’s "Four Oddities" known as Senior "Clueless," who initially practiced the Inner Core method but, upon reaching an impasse, switched to cultivating the "Mental Flow," thereby driving himself insane.

With their minds preoccupied, the two quickly reached the grand hall.

Master Floating Cloud was drinking tea, while Jiang Yiyi lay nearby like a domesticated lazy cat, drooling, with sunlight streaming through the window panes, casting beautiful light spots on the smooth floor.

Seeing this scene, Chu Xuan felt a warmth in his heart as he realized once more: this is truly home.