Chapter 132: Yearning

"So?" Baili Mo asked, his face wearing a ingratiating smile.

"Forget about that girl named Lu Qinglian, Senior Brother. She is no longer in the sect." The Junior Sister, seeing her Senior Brother pining over another woman again, suddenly changed her expression. Her smile vanished, and she waved her hand dismissively.

"What do you mean?" Baili Mo was stunned.

*Lu Qinglian was so badly injured; did Master not bring her back?* he wondered.

"Oh, and by the way, she doesn't carry the surname Lu anymore. She has a new name. Her surname is Xia, and she is called Xia Qinglian—the daughter of the current Emperor Xia," the Junior Sister said flatly, fiddling with her rouge.

"The Zhao family met their end long ago. Anyone who harmed a princess of the Great Xia was executed immediately; not a single one survived. That brothel was shut down as well."

"The daughter the Emperor Xia sent out of the palace?" Baili Mo was truly shocked. Of course, it wasn't because of the news about the Zhao estate or the brothel; he had never imagined that the person he had chanced upon was the long-lost daughter of the Emperor.

"Yes. You know, Senior Brother, her previous parents were just foster parents who happened to take her in. They have been given a proper burial now, so you needn't blame yourself," the Junior Sister nodded and said.

"Where is she now?" Baili Mo’s voice betrayed a sense of sorrow.

"As a princess, where else would she be? The palace, of course. This time, our Master spent a fortune specially sourcing skin-repairing balm to apply to her. I must say, now that her face has healed, she is quite beautiful." Mentioning Xia Qinglian’s appearance, a hint of admiration flashed across the Junior Sister's face.

The beauty of a sophisticated woman was, after all, different from a petite girl with a youthful face like hers—though the princess didn't have the same "bouncing" gait when she ran.

"Is that so? As long as she is fine, that is all that matters," Baili Mo murmured to himself, his spirits seemingly low.

Seeing this, the Junior Sister felt a surge of frustration. She angrily slapped a letter onto Baili Mo's head.

"Look at you, all lovesick! I’ve never seen you miss your Junior Sister like this!" She took a large, indignant bite of the food on the table, then stormed out, leaving behind a silhouette with curves that belied her young age.

Baili Mo stood dazed, carefully opening the envelope in his hand.

Inside was only a small lock of dark hair and a letter. He tucked the hair away near his heart with great care, then unfolded the letter. It was very simple—extremely simple—containing only an address and a short sentence:

"Wishing you well; wishing for your return."

The characters were delicate and elegant. Baili Mo smiled softly as he read them, feeling as though everything around him had begun to brighten.

Across the vastness of time and the endless sea of people, meeting you—may we never lose or forget one another.

Three years.

On the summit of the Southern Profound Immortal Mountain within the Southern Profound Mountain Range, a young man sat cross-legged on a giant boulder, feeling the flow of spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

Beside him, a Daoist stood holding a horsetail whisk, his eyes narrowed as he watched Baili Mo. Wisps of spiritual energy circled around the youth—a sign of an impending breakthrough.

After a long while, a thunderous rumble echoed within Baili Mo’s body, followed by the sound of surging, receding tides.

A Golden Core manifested within him. He had reached the Golden Core Realm!

"Haa..." Baili Mo exhaled a long breath of stale air. Beside him, Jinxuanzi nodded in satisfaction.

A Golden Core expert of only fifteen or sixteen years old would be considered a heaven-sent talent anywhere else, destined to be cultivated with the full resources of an entire sect. However, in the Southern Profound Sect—the premier school of the Southern Province—such strength was merely excellent. Compared to the truly famous prodigies within the sect, it was hardly worth mentioning.

Suddenly, a white bird flew in from the distance. Its body was pure white, with only a tiny touch of red at the tip of its beak—a charming sight.

It was a spirit pigeon, used for long-distance communication.

Baili Mo was visibly excited as he saw the bird. He waved at it, and it landed steadily in his hand.

"That girl from the palace again?" Jinxuanzi asked calmly, looking at the pigeon.

"Yes, a letter from Lianhua," Baili Mo replied with an excited nod.

For three years, this mode of communication had never ceased. In their letters, both had subtly expressed their feelings and longing for one another.

Although they had not met once in these three years, through their constant correspondence, they had grown familiar. The formerly naive boy had grown up; he now had sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, and sharp, handsome features.

In the letters, Xia Qinglian would recount the trivialities of palace life, and Baili Mo would write about his dry, disciplined cultivation in the mountains. Small things, simple words—yet neither grew tired of it, finding joy in every exchange.

Baili Mo carefully unfolded the letter from the envelope, reading it over and over as if he could never tire of it, smiling foolishly to himself.

"Master! Master! Lianhua says she is coming to our mountain!" Baili Mo exclaimed, waving the letter at Jinxuanzi in his excitement.

Jinxuanzi sighed deeply. He hadn't seen the boy this happy even when he reached the Golden Core Realm. This Xia Qinglian had truly stolen his disciple’s soul.

"Yes, yes, and?" Jinxuanzi asked with a resigned nod.

"Er, haha, this disciple was too excited and lost his composure," Baili Mo said, suddenly realizing his behavior and laughing sheepishly.

"Mo'er," Jinxuanzi called out softly.

"This disciple is here," Baili Mo replied, bowing before his master.

"How does it feel to have reached the Golden Core Realm?" Jinxuanzi asked, eyes slightly narrowed.

"Strong, very strong. This disciple feels as though he is filled with an inexhaustible power," Baili Mo said, clenching his fist.

"The Golden Core... one uses the human body as a furnace and the body's essence as medicine, refining it with one's consciousness—that is, spiritual sense. By harmonizing essence, energy, and spirit into a balance, one condenses a Golden Core within the body. That is the Golden Core Realm."

"Only upon truly stepping into the Golden Core Realm can you be considered to have entered the inner sanctum. While you are still far, far from being a true immortal, to the common folk, a Golden Core cultivator is a god. A single thought from a Golden Core practitioner can dictate their life or death."

"Do you understand the power you now hold?" Jinxuanzi asked, looking at Baili Mo intently.

"This disciple understands. The events of three years ago will not happen again. At that time, I truly failed to control my own desires," Baili Mo said earnestly, understanding his master's intent.

"Good," Jinxuanzi replied, then added, "And about that girl."

"Lianhua?" Baili Mo asked.

"I do not oppose your relationship with her, but your lovesick behavior is something even I, your master, find hard to watch," Jinxuanzi said, shaking his head.

"What do you mean, Master?" Baili Mo was puzzled.

"Do you know how cruel the power struggles within the imperial court are? The current Emperor Xia is, after all, just a mortal. He reached his position through convincing methods and statecraft, but his time is nearing its end. The princes below are all eyeing his throne. Yet, the Emperor favors Xia Qinglian above all. Do you know her true situation?" Jinxuanzi asked, watching Baili Mo’s contemplative expression.

"Master, what are you saying?" Baili Mo suddenly thought of something, his brows furrowing.

"As long as the Emperor lives, Xia Qinglian will be safe, but who knows what kind of ostracization she suffers in places the Emperor cannot see? With her temperament, do you think she has been living well in that cold, heartless palace? I suspect she has never mentioned any of this in her letters to you."

"The waters in the Great Xia Dynasty run very deep. It was once a power comparable to the Sword Sect; even our Southern Profound Sect dares not meddle easily. As a princess, Xia Qinglian is not easily moved. So, if she truly comes to the Southern Profound Sect, you must speak with her properly."

"The palace has strict rules. A girl who entered the palace halfway through her life—how could she just walk out? If you handle this poorly, I fear it might be the last time you ever see her."

Jinxuanzi sighed again, watching Baili Mo’s growing anxiety.

"That child must have suffered greatly to establish herself in the palace. Judging by the letters over these years, you are likely her only support now. You must think carefully about what to do and how to do it; do not let her heart grow cold."

Having said this, Jinxuanzi rose and walked into the distance, disappearing into the clouds and mist atop the peak in the blink of an eye, leaving Baili Mo standing in silence.

As time passed, the confusion in Baili Mo’s eyes gradually gave way to determination. He looked at the swirling mist in the distance, as if he had made up his mind.

"Senior Brother! Time to eat!" The Junior Sister’s crisp voice rang out from afar, pulling Baili Mo back to reality.

"Coming!" Baili Mo turned around. He saw his Junior Sister, who had grown quite a bit and become even cuter, wearing a white apron and holding a spatula as she shouted in his direction. Even the loose apron could not hide her proud, budding figure.

Baili Mo smiled—a clean, genuine smile, completely different from that night three years ago. Clouds gather and clouds disperse; life as it was now felt precious to him, something he deeply cherished.