Bai Manor.

In a side hall, a beautiful woman sat restlessly, her gaze drifting aimlessly towards the entrance. She seemed lost in thought.

This was Bai Yuanfeng, the mistress of the Bai family and Bai Ruoxi’s mother.

She wore a pink and white double-breasted top and a light-colored skirt. Her beauty, while present, was not particularly striking.

It was hard to imagine how a woman of such ordinary appearance could give birth to a daughter as breathtaking as Bai Ruoxi.

Two teacups sat on the table, their contents long gone cold.

Bai Yuanfeng had been waiting anxiously in this side hall for her daughter’s return for almost an hour now. Every passing moment was a torment.

The Bai family was a shadow of its former glory, suppressed by the Gongsun family and the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce. To make matters worse, news had just arrived that her husband, returning from a neighboring city, had been ambushed by three mysterious cultivators and was now gravely injured.

The head of the Bai family was currently fighting for his life.

Bai Yuanfeng’s heart was heavy with worry.

Their only hope now lay in the Mu family’s intervention.

And the success of that intervention rested entirely on the outcome of her daughter’s negotiation.

As she waited anxiously, a figure appeared in the doorway. A flicker of hope sparked in Bai Yuanfeng’s eyes. She rose to her feet and hurried forward.

“Ruoxi! What did the Mu family say?”

Under her mother’s intense gaze, Bai Ruoxi felt a surge of pressure. She averted her eyes, unable to meet her mother’s expectant stare.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “He refused.”

Bai Yuanfeng’s face fell. She collapsed back onto her chair, defeated.

Bai Ruoxi couldn’t bear to see her mother like this. She turned away slightly.

“What did Young Master Mu say?” Bai Yuanfeng asked, forcing her eyes open. They were filled with despair.

Bai Ruoxi hesitated, biting her lip. “He wants the Meridian Connecting Pill,” she murmured.

“Absolutely not!” Bai Yuanfeng’s eyes flashed with anger, her voice sharp. “The Meridian Connecting Pill is our family’s greatest treasure! It’s our only hope of surpassing the other families and becoming the most powerful clan in Tianxuan City! Handing it over to the Mu family would be suicide!”

She paused, then looked at her daughter with a suspicious glint in her eye. “Am I mistaken, or has that young master of the Mu family been pursuing you relentlessly? Why would he refuse your request so bluntly?”

Bai Ruoxi lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her beautiful face.

“He said that if he were to help, it would come at a price,” she said softly. “Either the Meridian Connecting Pill, or…”

She trailed off, biting her lip again. “Or… me.”

She looked up at her mother, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope.

Bai Ruoxi had always been treated as the precious pearl of the Bai family. Her father doted on her endlessly. But now, faced with such a dire situation, she didn’t know what decision her family would make.

She heard her mother murmur, as if to herself, “Of course that makes sense. I knew Young Master Mu wouldn’t give up on you so easily.”

Bai Ruoxi’s heart sank at her mother’s words. Bai Yuanfeng, on the other hand, seemed to relax.

“What did you tell him?” she asked.

“I haven’t given him an answer. What do you think I should do, Mother?” Bai Ruoxi stared at her mother, her clear eyes searching for guidance.

Bai Yuanfeng smiled at her daughter. “Young Master Mu is still young and quite handsome. And you know about his family’s status. Marrying into the Mu family would be a boon for both you and our family.”

Bai Ruoxi remained silent for a moment. She looked her mother in the eye, her voice cold. “Everyone in Tianxuan City knows about Young Master Mu’s wicked deeds. I hear he even forced his attentions on another man’s wife recently. I refuse to marry someone like that!”

“This is not your decision to make!” Bai Yuanfeng’s voice took on a sharp edge. “As your parents, we will decide who you marry!”

Bai Ruoxi opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it again, swallowing her words.

Bai Yuanfeng noticed her daughter’s hesitation. Her tone softened. She reached out and took Bai Ruoxi’s hand, her voice gentle. “Ruoxi, you are our family’s only hope. If the Mu family won’t help us, then who will? Are we supposed to rely on that childhood sweetheart of yours?”

“Perhaps, years ago, he might have been of some use. But now…” Bai Yuanfeng scoffed. “I never liked that Ye Yu. Who knows, maybe this misfortune befell our family because of that good-for-nothing jinx! Maybe his bad luck rubbed off on us!”

“Yes! It must be his fault! As if losing his cultivation wasn’t bad enough, now he’s brought ruin upon our family! He’s nothing but a cursed blight on our lives!”

“Mother, please stop it!” Bai Ruoxi whispered, cutting her mother off. She didn’t argue with her assessment of Ye Yu.

After a moment of silence, she spoke again.

“I’ll… I’ll go back and see if I can reason with Young Master Mu”

As she spoke, she clenched her hands into fists beneath her sleeves, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions.

She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was different about Mu Zhi’an today. His gaze, while still lingering on her, didn’t hold the same blatant desire as before… And his demeanor seemed to have undergone a subtle shift.

If she hadn’t known him before, she might have been taken in by his gentlemanly facade. She might have even found herself attracted to him.

Bai Ruoxi looked at her mother, then glanced around the empty hall.

Normally, at this hour, the hall would be bustling with visitors, servants bustling about, serving tea and refreshments.

But now, the servants had all fled, and their former associates avoided them like the plague.

The once-grand Bai Manor felt desolate and empty.

Bai Ruoxi’s gaze swept across the hall, a mix of emotions swirling within her. Finally, her clenched fists relaxed. She raised her hand to her chest, her fingers toying with the bodice of her dress. It seemed she had reached a decision.

…

Mu Manor, training grounds.

“Haah!”

Mu Zhi’an gripped his sword tightly, swinging it repeatedly at the woman standing calmly opposite him.

Wei Mengrou, with an air of effortless grace, dodged each of his attacks with ease.

After several rounds, Mu Zhi’an was panting heavily. Wei Mengrou, on the other hand, looked as if she hadn’t even broken a sweat. “Let’s take a break,” she said calmly. “You’re doing well today.”

Normally, Mu Zhi’an would start complaining after only a short while of training. But today, he had persevered for a full hour. Even Wei Mengrou was surprised by his sudden dedication.

She watched as he collapsed onto the ground, a curious look on her face. “Did something happen?” she asked.

Although she disapproved of his usual behavior, Mu Zhi’an was still a member of the family she served. If he had been wronged by someone outside, she would not hesitate to intervene.

Mu Zhi’an shook his head with a smile. “I just realized how fortunate I am to have such a skilled instructor. I’d be a fool not to make the most of it.”

Wei Mengrou gave him a sideways glance. “Oh?”

Since when was he so eager to train? Something must have happened to motivate him.

Either that, or he was trying to get her attention. He’d tried that tactic before, but she’d seen through it every time.

Mu Zhi’an simply smiled at her skeptical expression, choosing not to elaborate.

He meant every word he said. Wei Mengrou was a Core Formation Realm cultivator. Having the opportunity to learn from her was a rare privilege. His past self had been too blind to realize what he had.

However, it would take time to change her perception of him. The image of the wastrel young master was too deeply ingrained. He would just have to be patient.

Mu Zhi’an sighed inwardly. After a short rest, he rose to his feet and resumed his training.

Time flew by, and soon evening arrived.

Wei Mengrou sheathed her sword and looked down at the panting young man sitting on the ground. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

If only he could maintain this level of dedication every day. He had so much potential. Unfortunately, she suspected this was nothing more than a passing phase.

After all, Mu Zhi’an had shown bursts of enthusiasm for training before, only to lose interest after a few days.

Cultivation required unwavering commitment. Without it, true progress was impossible.

After nearly two hours of training, Mu Zhi’an left the training grounds. He ate dinner and returned to his room.

Exhausted from the day’s exertions, he felt a wave of fatigue wash over him as soon as he lay down.

However, instead of drifting off to sleep, he sat up in bed and crossed his legs, focusing on drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth with each breath, guiding it into the “vessel” within his body.

His spar with Wei Mengrou had ignited something within him. He was filled with a newfound zeal for cultivation, and he was determined to seize this opportunity.

As the night deepened, the rain outside intensified, transforming into a torrential downpour. Mu Zhi’an remained seated on his bed, absorbed in his cultivation. Two hours passed, and still, he persisted.

Knock. Knock.

A soft knock sounded from the door.

Mu Zhi’an slowly opened his eyes. “What is it?”

“Young Master, Miss Bai Ruoxi requests an audience in the main hall,” a servant’s voice called out respectfully from beyond the door.

Bai Ruoxi?

To come looking for him at such a late hour. Had she made up her mind? Mu Zhi’an pondered for a moment. “Tell her I’ll be there shortly. I need to change.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay