In the warm afternoon sun, the bustling sect was quieter as most guests rested early, conserving their energy for tomorrow's highly anticipated gathering.

Only a handful of diligent disciples remained occupied with their tasks, their soft footsteps and murmurs punctuating the tranquil atmosphere.

The golden rays shone upon two familiar figures descending the Central Courtyard stairs side by side - Ji Wuye and his diminutive Senior Sister Shen Bi. Her twin pigtails bounced merrily with each step as they made their way down to the lower level, headed back towards Ji Wuye's courtyard.

"Did you manage to gather your points, Senior Sister?" Ji Wuye asked carefully, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he glanced at the petite girl beside him. Shen Bi beamed back at her Junior happily, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"Enn! I finally managed to gather enough contribution points," she replied with an enthusiastic nod. Despite her fragile frame, an air of pride radiated from her accomplishment.

However, her expression fell slightly as she added, "But it's very unfortunate that the hall is closed."

A contemplative silence fell between them as Ji Wuye's piercing crimson eyes roamed over every detail of his Senior Sister.

'How long has it been...one month, I think?' Ji Wuye mused to himself, trying to recall the last time he had laid eyes on her tiny figure.

"What about you, Wuye'er?" It was now Shen Bi's turn to inquire, her words slicing through the stillness. "I heard you traveled with Sister Song. Have you finally improved?"

As she posed the question, a warm breeze tousled a stray strand of her hair across her face. She lifted her head, gazing straight into his eyes with unveiled concern etched into the tightness of her jaw and the worried purse of her lips as she awaited his response.

By now, they had arrived at the arched wooden bridge spanning the harmonious creek below. The soothing trickle of flowing water accompanied them, complemented by the brightening sunlight that enveloped their figures.

Ji Wuye reached out, his calloused fingers enveloping Shen Bi's delicate hand as he met her earnest gaze. His crimson eyes softened with affection as he replied, "I'm fine, Senior Sister, you don't have to worry."

Instantly, her features melted into visible relief, a radiant smile spreading across her face as she exhaled the breath she had been holding.

"Also, Senior Sister," Ji Wuye continued, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly as flashes of memories from the previous timeline overlapped with her cherubic face.

His heart constricted painfully, but he swiftly regained his composure. "Please just follow Senior Sister Qian or Lian, and tell them this Ji instructed you to do so.

"I believe they have a suitable task for you. Don't try to exchange your contribution points during the gathering; wait for my instructions. Also, if you happen to see the Other Sister, relay my message to her." Ji Wuye carefully explained, detail by detail.

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His piercing gaze locked firmly on her petite figure as he spoke, meaning every weighty word.

In that moment, the harrowing event from the previous timeline that had shattered him - the death of Shen Bi, the first spark that ignited his seething hatred for the Tower and its vaunted "geniuses" - resurfaced vividly.

'I don't want that to happen again, but...' Ji Wuye thought inwardly. Only after seeing his Senior Sister's stunned expression gradually melt into a faint, reassuring smile did his turbulent heart finally soften.

The sight of her genuine, unwavering trust in him soothed the ache lingering within.

"Okay, Wuye'er," she replied simply, without a shred of questioning or hesitation as to his cryptic instructions. It was the same unquestioning acceptance she had always gifted him, an echo from the previous timeline.

Despite her delicate, fragile appearance, an underlying strength radiated from her slight form.

...

The vibrant afternoon sun was sadly short-lived, its brilliant orange glow soon replaced by the soft illumination of the rising moon.

Silvery beams bathed Ji Wuye's courtyard in an ethereal light, the stacked logs and carefully arranged boulders left undisturbed. Only the telltale scars marring the once pristine paved stones ground hinted at Lin Fang's intense early morning training session.

Under the moon's watchful gaze, two figures were seated upon stone chairs arranged around a rounded stone table.

This new setting was courtesy of none other than one of the figures herself - Ye Yujin, a mysterious noblewoman with flowing white tresses reminiscent of Ji Wuye's own, yet her striking eyes blended mesmerizing hues of blue and brown, evoking the tranquil depths of the ocean.

Ye Yujin had extended a sudden invitation for Ji Wuye to join her in appreciating the ethereal moonlit night.

Before them on the rounded table rested an elegant tea set, two ceramic cups flanking a matching ceramic teapot. Alongside the tea service, a plate of tantalizing tanghulu sat temptingly.

"So, Young Lady Ye," Ji Wuye began, taking a contemplative sip of the fragrant green tea before plucking up one of the candied fruit skewers. "What's the deal?"

From the periphery of his sharp crimson gaze, Ji Wuye astutely observed Ye Yujin. The woman remained perfectly calm and composed, mirroring his own inscrutable demeanor.

Behind her stood the ever-vigilant Lin Fang, the familiar bodyguard keeping his usual watchful eye trained upon him.

'Ye Yujin, from the renowned Ye clan, known for their Thunder Dragon Dance martial art,' Ji Wuye recalled details from his previous timeline.

Neither Ye Yujin nor her clan had played a significant role in the larger events seared into his memories, rendering their presence here all the more intriguing.

As Ji Wuye's scrutinizing gaze lingered upon her veiled figure, those striking blended brown and blue eyes finally fluttered open, meeting his crimson stare unflinchingly.

A faint, blurred smile ghosted across her concealed features as she spoke, her melodious voice blending with the gentle night breeze.

"Ji Wuye, or Young Master Ji, born and raised in the esteemed Ji family, missing for three years, and sold to the Kunlun Sect at the tender age of seven."

She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in before continuing her calculated revelation.

"With the child of the Ji family sold off for some unknown reason, the once prestigious Ji family fell into ruin, slaughtered on the very same day that Young Master Ji was so unceremoniously cast away."

Ji Wuye's calm façade began to fracture as Ye Yujin slowly revealed a new truth. "Now, he is merely an unremarkable Outer Disciple of Kunlun, and an untalented one at that, with nothing but his striking looks to commend him.

"He was once nearly expelled, yet granted a mere two years to manifest any semblance of improvement. But eventually, he is destined to become nothing more than a mere tool for an advantageous marriage alliance."

Her voice remained infuriatingly soothing and even, blending almost musically with the fragrant scent of green tea and the whispers of the night breeze as she ruthlessly listed the damning details of his life.

But for Ji Wuye, it proved too much to endure with stony indifference. His crimson eyes flickered with barely restrained emotion, and suddenly, the ceramic teacup in his clenched fist shattered.

BANG!

The abrupt explosion of shards happened so quickly that Lin Fang instantly reacted, his form enveloping itself in a swirling cocoon of protective Qi.

The glittering ceramic projectiles ricocheted harmlessly off the shimmering barrier, deflected from streaking towards Ye Yujin's impassive face.

"I'm sorry, my hand slipped," Ji Wuye forced out, his voice hoarse yet lacking any true inflection of calm or anger.

As the dust settled and Ye Yujin and Lin Fang refocused, they found those same unreadable crimson eyes levelly holding their gazes once more.

Despite the complete absence of any tangible Sword Domain, Sword Aura, or swirling Qi from Ji Wuye's stillness, both Ye Yujin and Lin Fang found themselves inexplicably suffocated under the weight of his unwavering crimson gaze.

A primal chill seeped into their very marrow, the hairs on the backs of their necks prickling upright as if electrified, and Lin Fang couldn't help but swallow nervously.

Adding to the unsettling atmosphere, they now noticed the rounded stone table positioned before them had long since acquired an ominous, spiderweb-like network of cracks emanating outwards - likely from the earlier shattering of Ji Wuye's teacup.

Yet the young man's voice remained deceptively light and mild as he spoke again. "That's interesting information. Care to tell me more about it?"