In the days since moving into the Mystic Residence, Lu Ying found herself unusually idle.

Idle, yes, but it felt more like being sidelined. Almost every day, she stayed in the guest room cultivating on her own, meals delivered at set times.

The Secret Realm's opening was imminent, so now was indeed the time to practice diligently. Lu Ying didn't mind the arrangement, but an inexplicable emptiness hung in her heart.

Chen Yi accompanied Yin Weiyin, and Yin Weiyin clung to Chen Yi. This left Lu Ying feeling like an outsider. Chen Yi didn't initiate conversations with her like he used to, nor did he jokingly banter as before, which unsettled her in ways she couldn't quite describe.

But today, the three of them were heading out together.

Yin Weiyin, intending to keep Lu Ying in check, mulled over countless schemes but didn't dress up for the occasion. Moreover, to conceal Chen Yi's identity, she used an Illusion Technique to disguise herself. In the eyes of others, she appeared as a plain-looking female Taoist, though to Chen Yi and Lu Ying, she remained the same ethereal beauty.

Chen Yi's appearance, however, was casual as ever. He cared more about the attire of his companions—like when he went out with the little fox spirit, ensuring she was well-coordinated—but his own outfit? He barely gave it a second thought.

Early in the morning, just before departing, Chen Yi drew a lot right in front of Lu Ying.

Yet another top tier lot.

Lu Ying was puzzled. Three times he had drawn, and every time it was the highest lot. Not a single bad or even middling lot—how could their fortunes be this excellent lately?

Could it be that the entire lot container held nothing but top tier lots?

As her thoughts wandered, Lu Ying lifted her gaze to the sky,

The sun shone brightly, and the autumn breeze swept through—the perfect season for an outing.

Their destination was Yuanfeng Building, the finest theater in Shantong City, far superior to Qingfeng Hall in both reputation and history. The opera was scheduled for the afternoon, just in time to enjoy after they finished exploring the city. The performance was "Si Fan."

Chen Yi didn't care much for operas. He had never been interested in such things, but when Lu Ying heard, a flicker of unusual emotion flashed in her eyes.

Regardless, the three of them ventured out together.

Shantong City was a maze of uneven terrain and crisscrossing streets, living up to its name "Shantong" (Mountain Harmony). Chen Yi had never explored it properly before. As he walked its paths this time, he finally realized its complex layout. No wonder Lonely Smoke Sword and a group of Western Jin spies had hidden here for so long.

The customs in the northwest differed greatly from those in the Capital City.

Along the bustling streets, scenes of lovers meeting in secret were a common sight. Men and women strolled side by side, coming and going. The women here carried an air of boldness. As Chen Yi walked, a courtesan from a brothel above called out to him, trying to attract his attention. When he ignored her, she muttered curses under her breath, her insults sharp and scathing. "Silver spear on the outside but useless inside... just for show!"

Yin Weiyin's fingers moved slightly; a startled cry followed as the courtesan stumbled with a loud thud.

"Resorting to Taoist Skills to bully people?" Chen Yi turned, laughing.

Yin Weiyin's face remained indifferent. "She deserved punishment for her slander—calling you all show and no substance."

Her words carried, and a gleam of satisfaction flicked through her heart.

Who better than her to know just how capable he was?

He was hers—fully hers. In this city, he belonged solely to Immortal Yin. No one could compete for him; no one could share him.

This realization stirred Yin Weiyin's thoughts. Her gaze shifted lazily to Lu Ying, and suddenly, memories of Lu Ying and Chen Yi laughing and chasing after each other became unbearably vivid and jarring.

Ahead, Lu Ying, lost in distant sights, caught a procession of witches in colorful clothing. Their hair wild, they marched and danced, waving large flags and chanting loud verses. Behind them, more witches, also in vibrant attire, sang and leapt in rhythmic steps, albeit slightly disorganized.

The two immense flags bore no written words, only vivid images of children crossing a bridge: a drowning girl and a boy safely crossing over.

Witches were the lowest of the low—beneath even the lowest ranks of society. Lu Ying frowned as she scrutinized them, her demeanor quietly disdainful.

Yin Weiyin also furrowed her brows lightly. "To invoke the spirits for the sake of bearing children—utterly irrational."

Lu Ying spotted a large "Wang" character painted prominently at the front. Linking it to the lyrics of the witches' song, she remarked, "The one who invited these witches is likely Wang Dan from Yuanfeng Building."

"Lowly people hiring lowly people," Yin Weiyin sneered. She led Lu Ying away to another street, but curiosity prompted her to glance back, expecting to see Chen Yi's reaction. Oddly enough, he was nowhere to be found.

Whoosh!

A small rock whizzed through the air, landing precisely in the witches' path. One of them hopped gracefully like a rabbit to evade it, then instinctively scanned her surroundings to find the thrower, but no matter where she looked, there was no one in sight.

The witches resumed singing and dancing, moving their heads back to the front.

Strolling casually by a sesame flatbread stall, Chen Yi stood, expressionless, dusting off his hands. He had skipped breakfast and now felt a slight hunger.

Finally noticing him, Yin Weiyin and Lu Ying hurried over just as Chen Yi pointed at the stall and said, "I'll take two lamb flatbreads."

Yin Weiyin's eyes lit up slightly. "How thoughtful. You're buying for me?"

"No, I want to eat both," Chen Yi replied, stacking the flatbreads and taking a hearty bite.

"You!" Yin Weiyin was instantly annoyed. "Give it to me."

Chen Yi waved the bitten flatbread in front of her teasingly. "What, you want my spit-covered leftovers?"

What's there to be afraid of? Yin Weiyin thought to herself. They had kissed more times than she could count.

Seeing him continue eating, she attempted to snatch it. Chen Yi twisted his wrist, causing the flatbreads to flip like a ball. Yin Weiyin's hand grabbed at empty air repeatedly, the food always just out of reach as Chen Yi raised it high once more. He gazed at her with a teasing expression that seemed to say: You can't catch it.

Frustrated and vexed, Yin Weiyin finally dropped her hands. In a low voice, she muttered, "You… always so mean to me."

Chen Yi continued smiling, though his tone softened tenderly.

Watching the playfulness between them, Lu Ying felt an odd bitterness rise in her chest.

Lowering her head, she quietly slipped away to purchase a pancake for herself.

Yin Weiyin cast a sidelong glance at Chen Yi with a mixture of anger and embarrassment, then stared at the pancake in his hand.

She extended her hand without a word. When Chen Yi noticed, she turned her head aside slightly, but the hand stayed fixed in place.

Seeing this, Chen Yi's heart softened. He stopped toying with her and began to hand her the pancake.

Yin Weiyin caught sight of this through the corner of her eye and smiled faintly. Despite all his teasing, he ultimately yielded to her will. Their bantering was mere flirtation at its core.

A small warmth bloomed in her heart. With a playful sway of her nose, she silently marveled at how infatuated he seemed with her. Slowly, the pancake inched closer…

But suddenly, a delicate hand intervened between them. Lu Ying broke off half of her fresh pancake and offered it. "Here, Daoist Yin," she said. "No need to fight him for it."

Yin Weiyin's face darkened, her expression sour as if she'd swallowed something bitter.

I wasn't fighting him—I was flirting! Can't you tell?

Annoyed as she was, Yin Weiyin kept her composure for the sake of courtesy. With a calm expression, she accepted the offered pancake. "It wasn't a fight—just testing his character," she explained.

Lu Ying blinked curiously. "And how did he do?"

"Childish. Petty," Yin Weiyin replied indifferently.

Chen Yi paused for a moment, then pulled back his original pancake, chuckling quietly to himself.

The three finished their street-side snack before continuing their stroll through Shantong City.

The city, though weathered with age, still brimmed with life. Shops lined the streets, their goods dazzling and varied—bolts of silk, intricate trinkets, all arranged in a grand display. Though a cultivator long detached from worldly pleasures, Lu Ying couldn't help lingering, her gaze drawn to the delicate craft of jade pendants and fragrant sachets.

Noticing her interest, Yin Weiyin's thoughts churned. She delicately glanced at Chen Yi, an idea forming in her mind.

Why not make her feelings clear right here in front of Lu Ying? Buy him something that bore her unmistakable mark, so she'd know—Chen Yi was hers alone.

With that, Yin Weiyin tugged Chen Yi toward a jewelry stall.

"Where are we going now?"

"To look at something nice."

"Suit yourself."

Yin Weiyin began picking out accessories for Chen Yi, pointing out item after item for the shopkeeper to present.

"How about this one?"

"Does this little gourd look good?"

"This pale blue necklace seems fitting."

Lu Ying, watching this unfold, felt a sudden sting in her heart as the autumn wind brushed past. She stopped at the threshold and refrained from entering.

Yin Weiyin glanced back at her with a faint smile. "Why not come in? Perhaps we can pick something you'd like, Daoist Lu."

Lu Ying hesitated, her lips parting slightly but finding no words. She furrowed her brows and shook her head.

Yin Weiyin sighed imperceptibly and remarked, "Pity nothing here suits Daoist Lu's tastes."

Turning around, she resumed her search for trinkets for Chen Yi.

Chen Yi, who had gotten along so well with her before, now hardly paid her any attention, focused as he was on trying on ornaments. Lu Ying turned her face away, declining to look further. The bitterness inside her came unbidden and lingered.

She couldn't help but think—Chen Yi was a Taoist at heart, a free spirit meant to live like the clouds and cranes. None of these earthly trinkets suited her junior brother.

The solitary crane treasures tranquility, soaring only where the winds take it.

"None of it fits."

The autumn breeze stirred, rippling her Heart Lake.

In that fleeting moment, the Taoist heart of Lu Ying heard the distant call of a red-crowned crane by the waters...

But no other crane answered.

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