Xiao Yuan walked beside Li Muzhan, her face etched with worry. "Zhanran, you're in deep trouble this time!"

Li Muzhan smiled lightly. "Is the Eldest Miss very angry?"

"You bet!" Xiao Yuan nodded vigorously, huffing. "Miss has never been this furious!"

Li Muzhan chuckled and asked, "Is this about Senior Brother Zhang Ganxuan?"

Xiao Yuan shot him a sidelong glance. "It's because of you!"

Their pace was swift; in a blink, they passed the Lotus Viewing Pavilion and arrived at the Rest Garden, entering the small courtyard scattered with plum blossoms, where Gong Qingyun was practicing her martial arts.

Her white robes billowed, and the chilling gleam of her sword illuminated the entire courtyard.

As the two entered, Gong Qingyun seemed oblivious, her movements unchanged, her body enveloped by the sword's light, paying them no heed.

Xiao Yuan glanced at her, then at Li Muzhan, whispering, "Sister Gong put in a good word for you, too!"

Li Muzhan glanced at Gong Qingyun and smiled faintly. "Let's go see the Eldest Miss quickly."

"Good, let's go." Xiao Yuan nodded and drifted toward the small courtyard.

The sword light abruptly retracted. Gong Qingyun held her sword, staring blankly in the direction the two had vanished, her bright eyes flickering.

A moment later, she sheathed her sword and turned, ascending the rockery.

Sitting down in the small pavilion, she held a cup of tea in her palm. White mist curled up, draping over her delicate face like a sheer white veil, obscuring her features as her expression shifted internally.

The moment the two entered the small courtyard, Mei Ruolan, clad in deep violet, stood with her back to them, hands clasped behind her, gazing intently down at a lily beside the flowerbed.

The setting sun cast a glow across her back, as if cloaking her in the hues of dawn.

"Miss..." Xiao Yuan called out softly.

Li Muzhan performed a respectful salute with his palms pressed together. "Eldest Miss."

"Xiao Yuan, you may leave," Mei Ruolan commanded faintly without turning around, waving a hand dismissively.

"...Yes." Xiao Yuan hesitated, then reluctantly agreed, casting a worried glance at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan smiled, signaling her to be at ease.

Xiao Yuan retreated from the small courtyard, moving to the training ground. She leaped onto the small pavilion atop the rockery and sat down listlessly, having no heart for conversation.

Gong Qingyun was holding her teacup, gazing silently toward the Bright Lake. Seeing Xiao Yuan arrive, she turned. "Are you alright?"

Xiao Yuan shook her head. "The Miss threw me out. It must be quite a reckoning!"

Gong Qingyun slowly set down her teacup.

Xiao Yuan sighed. "Sister Gong, Zhanran seems easygoing, but he’s terribly proud. I fear he might argue with the Miss, and that would be trouble!"

Gong Qingyun frowned slightly, then shook her head. "He won't. He's quite astute."

Xiao Yuan sighed helplessly. "Let's hope so..."

Gong Qingyun placed her teacup down and suddenly smiled, pursing her lips. "You're so concerned about him?"

Xiao Yuan blushed furiously and quickly retorted, "Sister Gong, don't speak nonsense!... While he can be demanding, he’s fundamentally a good person. It’s a pity for him to be cast out of the manor!"

Gong Qingyun smiled but said no more, turning back to gaze at the Bright Lake, her thoughts gradually drifting away.

Mei Ruolan looked down at the flower, utterly focused, unmoving. A gentle breeze stirred, causing her violet attire to flutter in the profound silence of the small courtyard.

A moment later, Li Muzhan smiled slightly. "Eldest Miss, you must be quite disappointed?"

Mei Ruolan turned around, the sunset reflecting crimson on her cheeks. Her luminous eyes shimmered with an intoxicating, elusive play of light, making her even more captivating and hard to tear one's gaze from.

She stared at Li Muzhan, her gaze piercingly cold.

Li Muzhan met her gaze with a serene smile, his eyes clear as two fresh springs pouring into hers.

Mei Ruolan knitted her brows and slowly averted her eyes, looking toward the vast expanse of the red-tinged sky.

After gazing at the sunset for a moment, she said faintly, "Zhanran, you certainly have established your authority."

Li Muzhan also turned to face the setting sun and smiled. "Forgive my ignorance, but I only just learned he is one of the youngest Bronze Armor Guards."

The Eldest Miss could divine his intentions; truly extraordinary.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the sunset, the gentle breeze causing their violet robes and the monk’s cassock to billow together.

Mei Ruolan turned her head to look at him. "Even if you had known beforehand, what would you have done?"

Li Muzhan smiled. "...I probably would have done the same."

"Worthy of a man of the cloth, never speaking falsehoods!" Mei Ruolan curled her lip and gave him a cold, sidelong glance.

Li Muzhan returned the salute with his palms together, his expression solemn and sacred.

Mei Ruolan turned back. Beneath the setting sun, her face was like red jade, cold yet alluring, and Li Muzhan felt a sudden, powerful urge to draw her into his embrace.

Since his Heart Pearl condensed into two orbs, his desire had grown stronger, like a dragon coiled in his heart, but so too had his self-control; external influences found it difficult to penetrate, making it hard to stir his emotions.

He subtly closed his eyes, restraining the dragon within his heart, and quickly regained his composure.

Opening his eyes, he smiled faintly. "How shall this be handled this time?"

Mei Ruolan remained silent, tilting her head back to watch the brilliant colors of the sunset.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Will you strip him of his martial arts and expel him from the manor?"

Mei Ruolan turned, staring at him coldly. "You claim to be a great monk, yet I see no compassion in you—only ruthlessness, utterly devoid of mercy!"

Li Muzhan smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Mei Ruolan's face became frosted with ice. "Too disdainful to offer an explanation?!"

Li Muzhan smiled without speaking, looking at her serenely.

Mei Ruolan bit her lower lip, her gaze sharp and cold.

She choked down the rising anger, wishing she could draw her sword and strike. Everyone in the manor treated her with utmost respect; only this Li Muzhan was the exception!

Even as she looked at him coldly, her bright eyes still shifted with an intoxicating play of light that unsettled the mind. Li Muzhan observed the bewitching flicker in her eyes and inwardly marveled at the wonder of creation, possessing such beautiful eyes.

In the past, Li Muzhan dared not meet her gaze directly; the shifting, hazy quality could easily lead one astray. Now, with his mind as firm as iron, he could meet her eyes frankly and appreciate their splendor.

The two gazed at each other, appearing like a deeply devoted couple.

After a long pause, Mei Ruolan slowly turned her gaze away, her expression regaining a composed, cool serenity.

She commanded faintly, "Zhanran, starting tomorrow, you are my personal bodyguard. Xiao Yuan will inform you of the specific details."

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "Is Eldest Miss afraid I'll cause trouble again?"

"It’s good that you know!" Mei Ruolan replied coolly.

"Then this time..." Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

Mei Ruolan stated plainly, "It is my failing for not having taught you well."

Li Muzhan’s smile froze, and he frowned slightly.

"You may go now," Mei Ruolan waved her hand and turned, entering the house.

Li Muzhan gave her a deep look, vaguely guessing her meaning. He performed a slight salute and turned, drifting away.

The moment he left the small courtyard, he heard Xiao Yuan’s sweet cry: "Zhanran! Zhanran!"

Looking up, he saw Xiao Yuan waving to him from the pavilion on the rockery.

Gong Qingyun was sitting facing sideways, delicately sipping her tea, her expression focused, as if unaware of his presence—sitting perfectly upright, graceful and proud.

Li Muzhan waved to Xiao Yuan, smiled, and then turned and walked away.

Xiao Yuan’s arm froze mid-wave before she dropped it heavily, muttering, "That Zhanran, really!"

Gong Qingyun set down her teacup. "Perhaps he was punished and is in low spirits."

"It seems the punishment was severe. I'll go ask the Miss!" Xiao Yuan couldn't sit still. She darted out of the pavilion, landing lightly, and slipped back into the small courtyard.

Moments later, she leaped back onto the pavilion excitedly, landing beside Gong Qingyun. "Sister Gong, good news!"

"How was he punished?" Gong Qingyun asked hurriedly, her teacup tilting slightly, splashing tea onto a patch of her sleeve.

Xiao Yuan chirped, "The Miss took the punishment for him—she has to undertake three escort missions!"

Gong Qingyun let out a long breath, her entire body relaxing.

After a while, she sighed. "It's been a long time since the Eldest Miss took on an escort mission, hasn't it?"

"Yes, not since four years ago!" Xiao Yuan nodded.

Gong Qingyun shook her head and sighed. "Ah... the Eldest Miss has gone to great lengths!"

"The Miss values his talent too highly!" Xiao Yuan said, chuckling lightly. "Zhanran has reached the fourth layer of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art—something unprecedented!"

"Oh?" Gong Qingyun raised her delicate eyebrows.

Xiao Yuan exclaimed excitedly, "The Miss says Zhanran has the potential to master the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art!"

"He is practicing the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art?" Gong Qingyun was astonished.

Xiao Yuan said proudly, "Yes! During that year and a half of solitary meditation, he focused entirely on the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art and blasted through to the fourth layer!"

"I never expected..." Gong Qingyun shook her head.

The Vajra Indestructible Divine Art was famous. After the Divine Monk Huiguo of the previous dynasty achieved mastery, he lived over two hundred years, and upon his transcendence, it was said his relic remained enshrined in the Great Thunder Sound Temple, still incorruptible.

The difficulty of cultivating the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art was also well-known: it required enduring the pain of a thousand cuts and stabs. Even those with astonishing willpower could not sustain the physical agony and would pass out from pain before continuing.

Legend had it that Divine Monk Huiguo’s method was to cultivate until he passed out from pain every day, and then resume the next day—adhering to the spirit of the Foolish Old Man Moving Mountains, persisting daily for eighty years until he achieved initial mastery.

This type of arduous, clumsy cultivation had been attempted by others, but none succeeded. Enduring the torment of a thousand cuts daily was enough to break anyone.

Xiao Yuan rose. "I’m going to find him. The Miss has assigned him to be her personal guard!"

"Mm..." Gong Qingyun's mind was elsewhere, still contemplating the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art.

When Li Muzhan returned to the Tian Shu Courtyard, everyone was sitting in the corridor talking and beckoned him over.

Yu Chi Ming asked anxiously, "Fifth Junior Brother, what was your punishment?"

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile and shook his head. "I don't know myself... The Eldest Miss has made me her personal bodyguard."

Yu Chi Ming’s eyes widened, and he let out a sharp cry. "Whoa! ...That’s not a punishment, that’s a choice assignment!"

Everyone else looked over eagerly.

To be assigned to serve beside the Eldest Miss was considered the highest honor, and the unparalleled pleasure of constantly beholding her graceful presence.

Everyone expressed intense envy, marveling at his good fortune.

Just then, Xiao Yuan entered, hands behind her back, her chest swaying dramatically—a breathtaking sight.

She seemed unaware of the effect she had, proudly sweeping a glance over the group before saying sweetly, "Zhanran, starting tomorrow, you report to the Rest Garden for duty!"

"Good," Li Muzhan nodded with a smile.

Xiao Yuan pouted playfully. "Hmph, this time, the Eldest Miss took the fall for you, otherwise you would have been in serious trouble!"

"What happened? What happened?" Yu Chi Ming asked quickly.

Xiao Yuan shot him a glare, then turned to Li Muzhan. "The Eldest Miss will undertake three escort missions as atonement for your offense."

Li Muzhan looked slightly confused and turned to Zhao Yuzhen.

"I'll explain later," Zhao Yuzhen said, shaking her head with a sigh. "You must repay the Eldest Miss handsomely."

"Come over early tomorrow morning, don't forget!" Xiao Yuan twisted her slender waist and turned, departing the Tian Shu Courtyard.

Yu Chi Ming stared wide-eyed, shaking his head repeatedly. "Fifth Junior Brother, by what virtue or ability did you persuade the Eldest Miss to suffer on your behalf!"

"Eldest Senior Brother...?" Li Muzhan replied with a bitter smile.

Zhao Yuzhen sighed. "Our Mei Manor deals in silk. The cargo must be delivered to the far Northwest, and escort duty is the hardest work... It takes at least three months, sometimes over a year, constantly exposed to the elements, fraught with peril, and if luck turns sour, we suffer losses in men and materiel!"

Zhao Yuzhen continued, "The Eldest Miss is strong-willed. She began taking escort missions at sixteen and completed ten in total. On the last one, she was severely injured and nearly died, which is why she stopped."