```


    The once silent study suddenly came alive.


    "Yes, she''s his childhood sweetheart—an old friend from his younger days. Reuniting after growing up is a happy asion too."


    "Exactly, what does it have to do with our Song Family if those n young masters hire assassins to kill people?"


    "It''s a good opportunity to exin things clearly; we can still be friends."


    "The sessor of Chaotic Heaven Gate… The young mistress might need him in the future. It''s a good chance to make some connections."


    Song Yinchen quietly looked at everyone, her expression somewhat lost.


    Friends from childhood, reuniting after growing up.


    Indeed, a happy asion.


    But all this had nothing to do with her.


    All of this was nothing more than transactions and exchanges for the family.


    As a normal person, she had the audacity to fancy Shen Ye and then brought disaster, causing the death of tens of thousands, inviting the descent of an evil god, and killing three hundred thousand people in Yunshan Port.


    Even a group of scions of the noble families had a hard time because of this incident.


    —Did I cause all of this?


    As a normal person—


    What should I do with the rest of my life?


    Song Yinchen looked at the people, listening to their spirited discussions, and felt all genuine emotions had drifted away, leaving her in a dreamlike illusion at that moment.


    Those shadows of longing among theughter and merriment were like the winter of that year in her memory.


    That year.


    Her sister had awakened a talent from the Ancient Era, causing a sensation. Everyone surrounded her with congrattions, her mother holding her in an embrace, her father beaming with joy.


    And she herself, having fallen into water days before the test and frightened, was running a fever and barely managed to attend the test.


    She showed only mediocre talent during the test.


    Her sister was radiant, effortlessly releasing a glow acknowledged by the Dharma Realm, receiving endless ttery. Even her usually stern father lifted her high upon his shoulders.


    No one remembered who pushed her into the water.


    No one shifted their attention even slightly.


    Only praise and adtion.


    While she sat alone on the testing tform, isted and helpless, she could only stare nkly at the bustling crowd, as if she were in another world.


    But it wasn''t over yet.


    Her sister looked over at her.


    "Little sister, I identally pushed you the day before yesterday. Don''t be mad at your sister, okay?"


    Her sister bit her lip, holding her hand with utmost sincerity.


    The tips of her fingers were digging into her palm.


    She couldn''t help but tear up.


    The crowd quieted down amidst the softly falling winter snow, looking like emotionless stone statues.


    The tide had receded that day.


    Each silent statue, like ferocious monsters, surrounded her, and she stood alone, exposed under everyone''s gaze, without any support, her father came up and pped her face hard.


    Then darkness followed.


    —She had fainted.


    Throughout the years.


    Almost every single thing was like that day, unchanged.


    After all, in everyone''s eyes, she was nothing but a waste.


    But—


    No one knew that after that day, she quickly awakened her talent.


    If it had been before, she certainly would have been overjoyed, running to tell her mother and father.


    But having witnessed such a scene, she had forgotten to tell anyone.


    Days passed like years.


    Not until recently did she finally desire to leave the house for the first time.


    A quarter hour.


    The matter was quickly settled.


    Song Yinchen was pushed out of the study, all the way back to her own room.


    She had to apologize tomorrow.


    Afterward…


    Maybe she would only appear before her father and sister again when they needed her next time.


    But who knows when that next time would be.


    …


    Dharma Realm.


    Shen Ye''s room.


    "It''s you!"


    Shen Ye eximed in surprise.


    "Of course, it''s me—I told you, didn''t I? After you pass the exam, I''lle for that gemstone you talked about," the girl huffed, speaking irritably.


    "But how could you enter the Dharma Realm of Breath Soil High School?" Shen Ye asked, puzzled.


    "Breath Soil High School ims this ce for themselves, but it''s still part of the Dharma Realm. If I want toe here, can''t I just do so?" the girl said, swinging her legs with pride.


    "I see…"


    Shen Ye twirled his ring, cing the Holy Compassion Gem from Prince Norton on the table.


    The girl nced at the Holy Compassion Gem nonchntly, but then couldn''t look away.


    The priceless gem exuded a soft golden glow, illuminating everything around.


    Her little face immediately tightened.


    Sitting up straight, she said coldly, "Where did you get this treasure? If the wrong people find out about it, they will definitely kill you."


    "Don''t worry, I earned it from working. There won''t be any problems," Shen Ye said with a wave of his hand.


    "Working? You can earn such a treasure from working? Do you really think I''m a child?"


    The girl asked three times in a row.


    ```


    "Really! Take it for your Young Mistress to see if it can lift the curse on her, or at least alleviate it," Shen Ye said, toozy to exin.


    ——You are just a child yourself.


    The little girl, seeing his expression was genuine, hesitated for a long while before slowly reaching out to take the gemstone, spreading it on her palm.


    "So I really take it?"


    She asked tentatively.


    Shen Ye chuckled and said, "Take it. I am very grateful for the two times she sent you to help me. Consider this stone as a way of returning the favor."


    "On behalf of the Young Mistress, I thank you for your kindness and hope that everything goes well for you in the future," the little girl said softly.


    Her words, simple and sincere, somehow made Shen Ye feel ufortable.


    Shen Ye also got serious and said,


    "I''m not worried about myself, but she should take good care of her health and strive for a quick recovery—give her my regards."


    The little girl fell silent, bowed her head to pocket the gemstone, and turned to walk outside.


    "Wait a second."


    She suddenly turned back, looking at Shen Ye, and said, "About Song Qingyun''s matter... will you me her?"


    "I don''t know," Shen Ye shook his head, "If she spoke those words without malice but someone recorded it with intent, and she didn''t participate in any of the aftermath, I might try to forgive her. But if it was deliberate, then don''t me me for what happens."


    Hesitating slightly, the little girl made up her mind and said,


    "I''ve got news that the head of the Song Family wants the second Young Mistress to take the me for the eldest, iming that the whole thing was just the second Young Mistress''s mischief, pretending to be the eldest and talking to those people about liking you."


    Shen Ye thought back to that video and couldn''t help but ask, "Why would they do that? Is it because the situation has be unmanageable?"


    "Yes, the Evil God who attacked Yunshan Port isn''t dead. Instead, itpleted the sacrifice ceremony with ease and then disappeared," the little girl exined.


    "So they want Song Yinchen to take the me?" Shen Ye found it somewhat unbelievable.


    "The second Young Mistress is just an ordinary person. If she takes the me, it will clear the eldest Young Mistress''s reputation," the little girl said.


    She nced at Shen Ye and asked softly, "What are you going to do?"


    "It seems like everything was your Eldest Young Mistress''s n. I''m a bit... inclined to kill her," Shen Ye dered.


    "The weing party for the three schools," the little girl immediately continued, "is yourst chance for revenge, be very careful."


    "And there won''t be another chance after that?"


    "Yes, and you must find a way to distinguish between the eldest and the second Young Mistress."


    Shen Ye pondered for a moment and asked, "I remember they are twins."


    "Yes," said the little girl.


    "Exactly alike? Not a single difference?" Shen Ye asked again.


    The little girl became serious, lowered her voice and warned, "Only you are allowed to know about this. If I hear anyone outside talking about it, I''ll kill them all!"


    Shen Ye was momentarily stunned.


    Kill those who hear about this, but not me for leaking it?


    ...Very well.


    "I won''t tell a soul," he swore.


    The little girl nodded and said, "Listen carefully."


    "The Eldest Young Mistress, Song Qingyun, possesses an Ancient Talent. asionally, her pupils will shimmer with an ice-blue light, very captivating."


    "The second Young Mistress, Song Yinchen, is just an average girl, unable to walk and always seen in a wheelchair, but she possesses an inconspicuous talent. When she is happy, an illusion of Rainbow Feathers will appear around her—this you must not tell anyone," the little girl warned.


    Shen Ye took mental note.


    ——This girl really defends her own Young Mistress.


    "That''s it, you figure out what to do, I''m taking my leave." The little girl stood up and turned to walk towards the door.


    Shen Ye saw her to the door.


    "If... the curse on my Young Mistress can''t be lifted and it''s beyond saving, could you say ''rest in peace'' to her?" asked the little girl.


    Shen Ye red at her and snapped, "Quit talking nonsense, take this gem and save your Young Mistress with it. If it doesn''t work,e back to me. Don''t bring up death at every turn, alright?"


    The little girl also got angry and made a face at him, saying:


    "Hmph, what''s so great about that, it''s just a worthless gemstone you earned by working!"


    With that, she leapt into the air, summoning a bright red koi, and rode it up into the sky, quickly vanishing into the blue expanse above.


    Everything on the ground gradually shrank into insignificance.


    The big fish swam freely among the clouds.


    In that moment.


    Two red eyes appeared beside the little girl, bursting into shrillughter:


    "Hahaha, he still doesn''t want you to die. Now what do we do?"


    Facing the wind, the little girl''s eyes shone like gemstones, reflecting the brilliant light of the Dharma Realm sky.


    "Then let''s not die for now and see if we still have onest chance," she said.


    Her voice dispersed into the wind.


    The koi flew higher and higher, passing through a dense cloud. When it re-emerged, the little girl had transformed into a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl.


    Her hair billowed out behind her, and her figure, like a fairy from the heavens, rode the koi high among the clouds, looking down upon the world from the firmament.


    At some point.


    The girl stood up on the koi''s back, leaping upwards into the wind—


    Ssh!


    Water ripples spread wide.


    The girl gentlynded in a gazebo above a small bridge over running water and settled in a wheelchair, picking up an ancient book from the tea table and slowly began to read.


    Under the bridge, the koi had dived deep into the flowing water, out of sight.


    The girl stared at the ancient book, her thoughts tumultuous.


    Elsewhere.


    Shen Ye opened his phone and watched that video again.


    Uh-huh...


    Indeed, there was a moment when Song Qingyun''s eyes sparkled with ice-blue light.


    No more thinking needed now.


    Time to make a big move.


    ...Wait a minute.


    Can I even beat her?