In a secluded courtyard lay a small, crystal-clear lake. Old vines climbed in an orderly fashion along its banks, creating a scene of remarkable beauty.

By the lake, a White Idle Stone Field lay shrouded in mist, hazy and inscrutable to outsiders.

A breeze wafted through, causing the willow branches to sway gently and ripple the lake’s surface.

A Red Dragon Carp broke the water’s surface. Alongside a Phoenix Feather Butterfly, it gazed at the White Idle Stone Field, both looking towards that petite figure.

"Don’t get distracted. Focus your mind," Hong Yuan reminded.

"Mm, I know!" Yue’er replied, her gaze determined.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, exhaled a puff of white mist, and gathered her spirits. Then, with earnest concentration, she began to practice her routines, punch after punch, kick after kick.

Like the hand of a snake, the bounce of a rabbit, the claw of a crane...

She trained through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer.

A strong body was essential if one wished to unlock their Aperture with greater aptitude.

Taking one more step before the Essence Qi barrier signified that one’s aptitude would be a fraction better.

Once Yue’er resumed her routine, Hong Yuan lazily leaned back in his wicker chair, closed his eyes, and fully relaxed, allowing the tree shadows to conceal his figure.

Time, like an unceasing river, flowed steadily forward.

In the blink of an eye, Yue’er grew from the age of learning to read and write to the age of learning martial arts.

After some dispute, it was ultimately decided that Hong Yuan would be her enlightenment martial arts teacher.

As Yue’er flourished, Master Lin Daoyan was gradually approaching the twilight of his life.

His hair and beard had turned white, and his vigor and spirit were greatly diminished. He was preparing to retire to the back of the Refining Equipment Hall and planned to promote Hong Yuan further before stepping down.

After much deliberation, Hong Yuan decided it was time for him to become a True Disciple.

He aimed to win one of the nine Phoenix Creek Tutelage positions and secure the Eagle Immortal Blessed Land, thereby repaying the kindness of his master and senior brother.

The nine Phoenix Creek Tutelage positions... the Eagle Immortal Blessed Land... Hong Yuan pondered silently.

These two objectives were not particularly challenging for the current Hong Yuan, but he had to achieve them through proper channels. He couldn’t just suddenly become a figure of immense influence before his peers had even made their mark.

That wouldn’t be good, as it didn’t align with his usual demeanor. He also didn’t want to attract any scrutiny.

Progressing step by step, in the proper order, was perfectly fine.

Suddenly, Hong Yuan’s eyes snapped open, his gaze fixed on Yue’er.

What’s going on? Yue’er has been distracted far more than usual today. This is abnormal, Hong Yuan thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Ahead, Yue’er was dressed in a white martial artist’s attire, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Her movements, a blend of action and stillness, possessed a heroic elegance that suited her exceptionally well.

Although her movements remained precise, Hong Yuan could sense that Yue’er’s heart wasn’t in her practice; her thoughts had drifted elsewhere.

Clearly, Yue’er was preoccupied and weighed down by heavy thoughts.

A conflict with classmates or teachers at the academy? No.

Her Beast Taming companion isn’t listening? No...

Surely it’s not a rebellious phase?!

Various thoughts flitted rapidly through Hong Yuan’s mind.

After a while, still unable to pinpoint the cause, he temporarily ceased his pondering.

Hong Yuan turned his gaze to the Energy Sea within his Aperture. Above the western side of this sea, several peculiar-looking butterfly Worms hovered.

These butterfly Worms were the lower-rank Dream Tao Worms Hong Yuan had derived using the Dream Butterfly Fairy Worm, ranging from first-rank to fifth-rank.

Daytime thoughts lead to nighttime dreams. I hope it’s not a rebellious phase; otherwise, that would be troublesome, Hong Yuan sighed inwardly.

With a thought, a dark gold butterfly slowly materialized in Hong Yuan’s hand.

...

...

「Night.」

The moon shone brightly amidst sparse stars as magpies flew south.

Soft, pristine moonlight fell upon the bamboo windowpanes.

In the room, Yue’er lay sleeping on her bed, her brow furrowed and her face troubled.

A dark golden butterfly in the corner quietly emitted a gray light, its form gradually vanishing.

CRACK—SNAP!

Hong Yuan’s will, transformed into a dark golden butterfly, silently entered Yue’er’s dream.

It was a gloomy scene. The sky was dark gray, and the earth shared the same somber hue.

Hong Yuan focused on the plaque above the gate, and his eyebrows involuntarily quirked.

General’s Mansion of Pengcheng!

His senior brother, Mo Jiuyou, had once been the General of Pengcheng, commanding the city. This was where their family had lived together, where Yue’er had spent her early childhood.

And it was in the General’s Mansion of Pengcheng that Hong Yuan had first met Yue’er.

Summoning strength to his back, Hong Yuan flapped his wings, stirring a slight breeze, and immediately flew high into the air, searching for Yue’er.

By now, Hong Yuan already had a suspicion about what was troubling Yue’er.

Not having seen her parents for a long time, Yue’er, who was growing older, had started to doubt if her parents even still existed!

The child has grown up, Hong Yuan thought, filled with a multitude of emotions.

Soon enough, Hong Yuan located Yue’er.

She was in a small garden.

The garden was brimming with vibrant flower clusters, with a small pavilion to one side.

Two blurry figures were playing with Yue’er, while a group of other vague figures waited nearby.

What surprised Hong Yuan, however, was that he could see his own figure.

His own likeness was the clearest of all and even seemed to have a beautifying effect applied, making him appear exceptionally handsome.

Isn’t this the moment I first arrived at Pengcheng, when Senior Brother Mo Jiuyou, his wife, and Yue’er were playing in the flower pavilion... Hong Yuan’s wings faltered slightly as he hovered in the air.

Watching the people below, Hong Yuan fell silent and continued to observe.

As expected, the two blurry figures were his senior brother and sister-in-law.

Below, Yue’er played with the two blurry figures again and again, occasionally interacting with the figure that resembled Hong Yuan.

She did so tirelessly, repeating the scene over and over.

Every time she embraced the two blurry figures and they dissipated, she would restart the dream to embrace them again.

Her face was wreathed in smiles, yet her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

Yue’er was not a foolish child; on the contrary, she was extremely bright.

Even in the Qing Song Academy, filled with the children of sect dignitaries and powerful families, she was an object of praise for the teachers, often called "that model child everyone else was compared to."

She had seen through the beautiful fairytale Hong Yuan and the others had woven.

But she was too clever, and so she played along, pretending not to know her parents were gone, all to put Hong Yuan and the others at ease.

I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t entered her dream. Yue’er is so perceptive and considerate, Hong Yuan thought, a mix of emotions swirling within him.

He felt both gratified and sorrowful.

The next moment, Hong Yuan focused on Mo Jiuyou’s figure and decisively activated the dark golden butterfly’s ability.

A spark of awareness flashed in the eyes of the Mo Jiuyou figure Yue’er was embracing. He returned her hug and gently stroked her hair.

Yue’er abruptly looked up at her "father."

"Yue’er, Daddy heard everything you said."

"It’s just that Daddy and Mommy went to another world, and it’s hard for us to return to this one."

"Daddy is very happy with your growth. In the future, you must also be filial to your Grandmaster and listen to your Uncle Hong Yuan..."

Tears streamed down Yue’er’s face as she cried with joy.

She hugged her "father" tightly, unwilling to let go even for a moment.

"I will, I will."

"I’ll definitely cultivate diligently and bring you both back from that other world!"