The Immortal of Peach Blossom Mountain appeared lazy and indifferent, without even a proper weapon. He often broke off a branch from the mountain to spar with others.

Seeing this ordinary peach branch, anyone would think they could go toe-to-toe with him.

Tao Mian didn't care what others thought of him. Getting a suitable weapon was the easiest thing in the world. One of his close friends was the renowned Shi Fu of Xuanji Tower, capable of crafting anything, no matter how difficult.

Even if Xuanji Tower couldn't make it, another friend would spare no expense to buy it.

The reason he chose to use local materials was simply for convenience and ease of use. Besides, he didn't blindly pursue legendary weapons for their supposed earth-shattering effects. Those mythical swords and treasures might not even outlive him.

What Tao Mian pursued was a state of harmony, a unity between man and nature, self and object.

In the realm of Peach Blossom Mountain, he had no rivals.

Chen Yan never expected to find himself in such a dire situation, unable to move.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that the Pavilion Shi Fu had underestimated Tao Mian's skills and overestimated Rong Zheng's loyalty to the Floating Pavilion.

His fingers loosened, and the sword fell to the ground.

"I've lost."

Chen Yan was a man who understood limits. The Immortal had already given him a way out; to push further would be impolite.

His goal was to complete the task given by the Pavilion Shi Fu. Since it seemed impossible, he would return to face his punishment.

The tone of the Immortal's last words was already quite ominous. He didn't mind for himself, but he couldn't let his fellow Floating Pavilion members, whose fates were uncertain, die needlessly because of his stubbornness.

So he put down his sword.

Chen Yan was the only one still able to struggle; the others had long since fainted.

Seeing him concede, the Shi Fu and disciple exchanged glances, both understanding the cunning calculations in each other's eyes.

Rong Zheng had already put away her sword and walked over enthusiastically.

"Oh, Chen Yan junior brother. It's been a while. Why don't we take advantage of this fine night to chat?"

The Immortal also leaped down from the wall.

"Yes, Chen Yan. A guest is a guest. Stay the night; it's not too late to leave in the morning."

Just moments ago, the atmosphere was tense, but now the hosts of Peach Blossom Mountain were warmly welcoming their guests. Chen Yan was bewildered, not understanding what kind of trick the Shi Fu and disciple were playing.

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Having come here voluntarily and lacking the skills to match, he could only let Tao Mian and Rong Zheng make the arrangements.

He inexplicably cooked a meal, made tea, and finally found himself sitting on a stone bench, drinking and eating with the two, while his Floating Pavilion brothers lay scattered around.

It wasn't until half the pot of tea was gone that Chen Yan, holding his teacup, realized something was wrong.

"Sister Zheng, now isn't the time for tea..."

Rong Zheng, satisfied with a free dinner, was delighted.

Expecting Tao Mian to cook a good meal was like expecting a yellow chicken to climb a tree.

Rong Zheng said this right in front of Tao Mian. He wasn't offended and retorted—

How do you know the yellow chicken can't climb a tree?

...

Then the poor yellow chicken, sleeping soundly, was forcibly taken from its coop by the mischievous Rong Zheng and made to climb a tree.

Chen Yan watched the whole scene, not realizing there was anything wrong with forcing a chicken to climb a tree.

When he finally came to his senses, his back was drenched in cold sweat.

Peach Blossom Mountain was a terrifying place.

It was easy to lose one's will here, to forget the past and never want to leave the mountain again.

Chen Yan casually wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked Rong Zheng what her plans were.

Since he was at their mercy, he might as well take the rare opportunity to chat.

Rong Zheng lay on a hammock strung between two trees in the courtyard, her hands crossed behind her head, a blade of grass between her teeth.

"Plans... the plan is to stay alive."

Chen Yan understood why Rong Zheng said "stay alive."

As orphans with no one to rely on, they had willingly taken the Gu Poison the day they were bought into the Floating Pavilion.

This poison was incurable. It enhanced the abilities of the Shadow Guard trainees but also accelerated their aging and shortened their lives.

Throughout history, none of the Twelve Shadow Guards had lived past thirty-five.

They were twelve blades crafted by the Pavilion Shi Fu of the Floating Pavilion, and when a blade was worn or dulled, it was naturally discarded.

Not all of the Twelve Shadow Guards were loyal to the Pavilion Shi Fu. As children, they had taken the poison to survive, but as adults, some chose to escape, some fell into despair, and others, like Chen Yan, accepted their fate and let go of everything.

But Rong Zheng had found another path, a new place to belong.

"Sister Zheng, you're different from us; you've always been."

Chen Yan said that although Rong Zheng had also entered the Pavilion at a young age, losing her parents and having no support, she was like the warm sun in winter, the only light in their dark days.

Back then, they were a group of ten or so, under the strict guidance of the previous head of the Shadow Guards, who always told Rong Zheng to be more disciplined and not to joke around with her senior and junior brothers.

Rong Zheng was punished, holding buckets of water with her thin arms, pleading and acting cute. The Shi Fu stood beside her with a stick, threatening that she couldn't rest until she stood for two hours. Rong Zheng sighed and groaned, while her junior brothers secretly laughed.

Later, the strict Shi Fu who always said he would discipline Rong Zheng was gone, and Sister Zheng became more serious. She inherited the Shi Fu's position and became the head of the Shadow Guards.

Time was ruthless, and even Chen Yan had forgotten that Rong Zheng used to be someone who loved to laugh.

"Putting aside my own stance, Sister Zheng, leaving the Floating Pavilion was the right choice for you."

Rong Zheng crossed one leg, and the hammock swayed with her.

Moonlight spilled over her gentle profile, and Chen Yan saw Rong Zheng smile.

"There's no right or wrong, just no regrets. Chen Yan, you were always the most sensible among us as kids. You were short then, about the same height as now..."

Chen Yan listened seriously at first, but later couldn't help but feel helpless.

"Sister, don't make fun of me."

Rong Zheng withdrew her hand that was comparing heights and looked back at the moon.

"The position of head of the Shadow Guards is a hard one to live with. Chen Yan, I had a feeling that only you could take over from me. But now that it's come to this, I can't help but feel uneasy. You never liked scheming, yet you were pushed into this position. The other eleven Shadow Guards, and Du Hong... Du Hong is, of course, the most troublesome."

Rong Zheng sighed deeply, both for Chen Yan and for herself.

But Chen Yan had long seen through the world.

"Life is like the wind passing through a window. Sister Zheng, I've lived in this world for twenty-two years, done good deeds, and made mistakes. I'm not a great man, just an ordinary person. But I have no regrets towards the Floating Pavilion, which took me in and raised me."

He said that today's conversation with his sister was rewarding and deeply moving.

If there was another day, he hoped to drink with Sister Zheng, forgetting all unpleasantness.

Not long after Chen Yan left, Tao Mian, who should have been asleep, suddenly said—your junior brother jinxed it. When someone says something like that, it never comes true; something will definitely happen.

Sure enough, not long after Chen Yan returned to report, Rong Zheng heard the news that her junior brother had died from a severe illness.

Whether it was the Gu Poison acting up or another of Du Hong's schemes, she didn't know.

The big rock on Stone Mountain would never again wait for the ascetic who watered it, and Rong Zheng would never find someone to drink with her again.

Tao Mian only watched her stand at the mountain gate for a long time, facing west, from the first light of dawn to the evening glow.

In the red glow that reflected on her, Rong Zheng said, her junior brother had known the ending all along.

Knowing the ending, he wanted to say and do everything he wished, without holding back.