Dawn Below the Star-Gazing Platform, Zhao Yuzhen and the other three stood clad in sapphire-blue long robes, occasionally tilting their heads up to gaze at the tower that pierced the clouds.
Yuchi Ming stomped his foot, impatience coloring his tone. "Why isn't he down yet? Did we get it wrong? Is it tomorrow?"
"Fourth Junior Brother, quiet down!" Zhao Yuzhen huffed.
"Yes—!" Yuchi Ming pouted, falling silent, his gaze fixed on the staircase above.
Time crawled by, the sun climbing higher, yet Li Muzhan remained unseen.
"Are you sure we didn't mix up the day?" He Nanshan checked the sky, a hint of doubt in his voice.
"No mistake, it's today," Cheng Xiaofeng shook his head, offering a slight smile. "I checked with Miss Xiaoyuan!"
Yuchi Ming's eyes instantly widened. "Well, well, Third Senior Brother, when did you start consulting with Miss Xiaoyuan?!"
Cheng Xiaofeng smiled faintly, looking toward the Star-Gazing Platform, appearing not to have heard.
Yuchi Ming grumbled gruffly, "Third Senior Brother, brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes! Miss Xiaoyuan belongs to me, you keep your hands off!"
Cheng Xiaofeng let out a soft scoff, shaking his head.
"Third Senior Brother, what's that supposed to mean?" Yuchi Ming glared, huffing, "Are you seriously trying to steal my Xiaoyuan?!"
Cheng Xiaofeng glanced at him. "Fourth Junior Brother, you are far too naive!"
"How am I naive?" Yuchi Ming bristled, unconvinced.
Cheng Xiaofeng stated coolly, "Miss Xiaoyuan attends the Eldest Miss; her standards are lofty. How could a rough lout like you catch her eye?!"
"When was I rough?" Yuchi Ming grunted.
Cheng Xiaofeng shook his head. "A person should know their own measure, but you..."
"Fine, Third Senior Brother, you just want to oppose me!" Yuchi Ming grew genuinely angry.
Zhao Yuzhen cut in with a sharp "Enough, both of you, shut up!"
Yuchi Ming immediately appealed, "Eldest Senior Brother, you must uphold justice for me! Xiaoyuan is mine!"
"Look at your meager ambitions!" Zhao Yuzhen shot him a cold glare.
Yuchi Ming scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly, "Xiaoyuan is so sweet; marrying her would be the best thing ever!"
"Stop dreaming!" Cheng Xiaofeng sneered.
Yuchi Ming eyed him sideways, huffing, "No matter what I say, I am a disciple of the Tian Shu Courtyard, with a bright future, handsome and dashing!"
"She has eyes for the Fifth Junior Brother!" Cheng Xiaofeng said flatly.
Yuchi Ming paused, rubbing his head, scrutinizing Cheng Xiaofeng. "No way...? Fifth Junior Brother is a monk! He can't marry!"
Cheng Xiaofeng stated coldly, "But he is a man!"
Yuchi Ming argued, unconvinced, "Fifth Junior Brother isn't so great either!... He's not as handsome as me, nor as strong. Why would Xiaoyuan fancy him?"
He Nanshan let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "Fourth Junior Brother, isn't it obvious?... Miss Xiaoyuan always delivers meals to Fifth Junior Brother; it's love cultivated over time!"
Yuchi Ming angrily punched his own palm, shaking his head in resignation, sighing, "Ah... Proximity grants advantage; there's nothing that can be done then!"
The others chuckled.
"Fourth Senior Brother, what is there nothing that can be done about?" A gentle voice suddenly sounded. The group quickly turned their heads. Li Muzhan stood there, drifting forward in his simple grey monk's robes.
"Fifth Junior Brother!" The four rejoiced, swarming him.
Li Muzhan pressed his palms together in greeting, smiling faintly. "Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother!"
Looking at them, he felt a deep sense of kinship. He observed them closely; their eyes shone with sharp brilliance, their internal strength having advanced significantly. They had clearly worked diligently.
Yuchi Ming slapped his right shoulder and roared with laughter, "Haha, Fifth Junior Brother, you've changed completely!"
The current Li Muzhan had skin as fair as jade, eyes exceptionally clear and vibrant. The biggest change was his head: he had grown an inch of hair, each strand standing upright, sharp and energetic.
"Fifth Junior Brother, are you leaving the monastic life?" Yuchi Ming quickly asked.
Li Muzhan shook his head. "With the Edict Against Worldly Pursuits, how could I return to secular life?"
Initially becoming a monk was for survival, to secure food. Later, as he grew, Master Faxing passed away, but he never returned to the secular world because the status of a monk commanded high respect, allowing one to live more freely.
Having married and divorced in his previous life, he held little desire for women and distrusted love, preferring to live freely by himself.
His parents were anxious, constantly urging him to abandon his vows. He always deferred, smilingly saying he was still young and could decide in a couple of years.
The Edict Against Worldly Pursuits, issued the year before last, finally put an end to their hopes, though they occasionally threw in a complaint or two.
However, a year ago, he suddenly realized that to live truly freely, being merely a monk was insufficient; possessing the world's foremost martial arts was the key.
He joined the Mei Residence as a guard. To Nun Xueyin and his Second Sister, this was beneath him, but for the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, for being number one in the martial world, he proceeded resolutely. To gain something great, one must first pay a price; in this vast world, there are no benefits without sacrifice.
Moreover, his disposition was detached; he cared nothing for others' opinions. For ultimate liberation, he was willing to forgo minor comforts.
"This suits you well, very spirited," He Nanshan appraised him with a smile.
In the current age, monks were not strictly required to shave their heads; short hair was acceptable.
Yuchi Ming laughed heartily, "Fifth Junior Brother, you've grown handsome. It seems you haven't suffered any mistreatment!"
"Who suffered any mistreatment?!" Xiaoyuan's sweet voice drifted over.
She walked down the steps with her hands clasped behind her back, grinning. Her chest seemed even more mountainous now, swaying alarmingly with each step, yet she remained entirely unaware, her smile sweet.
"Miss Xiaoyuan, Fifth Junior Brother owes you for taking care of him, thank you very much!" Yuchi Ming stepped forward quickly, cupping his hands with a sly grin.
Xiaoyuan's sweet smile instantly vanished, and she retorted without warmth, "Why should I need your thanks? Yuchi Ming, don't block the way!"
Yuchi Ming playfully pressed, "Miss Xiaoyuan, Fifth Junior Brother is fine now, right? Can he leave?"
"Of course, he can leave," Xiaoyuan huffed, turning to look at Li Muzhan. "Zhanran, the Young Mistress grants you two days off. Go rest."
"Alright," Li Muzhan smiled and nodded.
Xiaoyuan pulled a bronze plaque from her robes, about the size of her palm, and handed it to him. "This is the Bronze Armor Token, a gift from the Young Mistress. Starting today, you are a Bronze Armor Guard!"
Li Muzhan accepted it. "Many thanks to the Eldest Miss."
Yuchi Ming gasped in amazement, "Fifth Junior Brother, you actually became a Bronze Armor Guard!"
He Nanshan chuckled happily, "Two Bronze Armor Guards from our Courtyard, what a joyous occasion!"
Yuchi Ming burst into booming laughter, beaming, "Good lad, your martial arts must have improved immensely! Come on, let's spar a bit!"
Li Muzhan smiled at Xiaoyuan, turned, and followed his seniors back to the Tian Shu Courtyard.
As soon as they returned to the courtyard, Yuchi Ming insisted on testing Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan laughed. "Fourth Senior Brother, there's no need for a match. You are no match for me."
"Oh, what arrogance!" Yuchi Ming was displeased, huffing, "Don't think only you were training in seclusion; this Senior Brother hasn't been idle either!"
Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Very well, Fourth Senior Brother, please proceed—!"
"Let me show you my skill!" Yuchi Ming shouted, drawing his sword and stabbing forward. A streak of silver light coiled toward Li Muzhan, the move astonishingly swift.
He understood that fighting the Fifth Junior Brother, if the sword wasn't fast enough, there was no point in competing; it was better to concede immediately.
A flash of cold light instantly appeared. Li Muzhan stepped back, hands pressed together, smiling faintly. "Fourth Senior Brother, I yield!"
The long sword froze in mid-air. Yuchi Ming stood motionless, as if paralyzed, slowly lowering his head to look beneath his right armpit. His blue robe had a small puncture, about the size of a copper coin.
Zhao Yuzhen and the other two exchanged glances, expressions filled with astonishment.
They had not even seen Li Muzhan’s movement. There was only a flash of cold light, and then it was gone; the sword was already sheathed. How he drew his weapon and executed the move was completely unseen.
The speed of the strike was such that if it had been one of them, they couldn't have blocked it!
Yuchi Ming sullenly retracted his sword, muttering a few words before admitting, resignedly, "Comparing people is infuriating! Alright, Fifth Junior Brother, you are indeed superior!"
Li Muzhan chuckled, feeling quite pleased. In front of his four senior brothers, there was no need to hide anything; his mind and body were relaxed.
Yuchi Ming grumbled, "Don't get smug. With a sword style that chases nothing but speed like yours, you'll be left picking your teeth off the floor against a true master!"
Li Muzhan countered with a smile, "Against a true master, even if their swordplay is exquisite, they will still end up picking their teeth off the floor!"
"Hmm, there's some sense in that!" Yuchi Ming conceded with a huff, then turned. "Third Senior Brother, why don't you try?"
Cheng Xiaofeng waved his hand. "It would only be inviting humiliation. Forget it!"
"I wouldn't stand a chance either... Eldest Senior Brother, how about you?" He Nanshan quickly waved his hand too, passing the hot potato.
Zhao Yuzhen offered a wry smile and shook his head. "I am not his match either!... Fifth Junior Brother, with this level of skill, you could certainly qualify as a Silver Armor Guard!"
Li Muzhan smiled. "A year and a half of arduous training has finally paid off!"
Yuchi Ming boomed loudly, "I should try to cause some trouble too! If I'm punished with a year and a half of confinement, I could become a Bronze Armor Guard when I get out!"
Cheng Xiaofeng sneered, "A year and a half of confinement, and you’d go stir-crazy before you even qualified as a Bronze Armor Guard?"
Yuchi Ming bristled, huffing, "You underestimate me too much!"
He Nanshan laughed gently. "Third Senior Brother is absolutely right, Fourth Junior Brother. You couldn't endure it."
"Alright, less talking," Zhao Yuzhen waved his hand, turning to Li Muzhan. "Fifth Junior Brother, are you going back now?"
Li Muzhan smiled. "Not until evening."
"That works. We'll go to the Chao Ran Tower tonight to celebrate for you!" Zhao Yuzhen nodded.
He Nanshan added, "Fifth Junior Brother, your good friend Li Jian has already entered the Tian Ji Courtyard!"
"Oh—?" Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow.
Yuchi Ming puffed out his chest. "Fifth Junior Brother, we certainly looked after him. He’s quite a promising talent!"
"I'll go take a look," Li Muzhan said with a smile.
Zhao Yuzhen smiled. "Go ahead."
Li Muzhan left the Tian Shu Courtyard directly, heading toward the Tian Ji Courtyard to the west.
Walking along the path through the willow groves, as he approached the Tian Ji Courtyard and turned right, two young women suddenly appeared before him. The one leading was ethereal in her flowing white dress—it was Gong Qingyun.
Gong Qingyun seemed to glide as if riding the wind, silent, her white garments fluttering. Her movement abruptly halted.
"Senior Sister?" Behind her was Fang Xiuxiu, also clad in white.
P: I've been feeling unwell these past few days, caught in that state between being sick and not, in the early stages, feeling sluggish. That's why updates have been sparse; my apologies to everyone. Fortunately, the support from all your collections, recommendations, and tips kept me from throwing in the towel; it's an unseen force.