Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Pei Yi and I were once truly in love.

Back then, he was the pride of the heavens. Our Sect had produced two exceptional talents in a single generation-him and me-and everyone said we were destined to ascend to immortality together.

Because of this, my Martial Uncle made an early decision to arrange an engagement between me and Pei Yi.

He said the Immortal Path was a lonely one, and to find a person of one heart to walk it with was a supreme blessing that no amount of serendipity could replace.

With this bond between us, Pei Yi and I initially viewed each other as the most important person in our lives.

We practiced the sword together and studied the ancient texts side by side. For centuries, we advanced in lockstep; even our breakthroughs in cultivation stages happened one right after the other.

This continued until three hundred years ago, when Pei Yi and I were accidentally separated while training in a Secret Realm.

When he finally returned, he had a Mermaid by his side.

With skin like shimmering water and eyes like autumn ripples, the Mermaid was strikingly beautiful, yet she always wore a timid expression, hiding behind Pei Yi’s back.

In the beginning, Pei Yi told me not to mind her presence.

He explained that after we were separated in the Secret Realm, he had accidentally fallen into the Frost Abyss Cave, and this Mermaid, named Qianqian, had saved him.

Qianqian was a being born from the spiritual energy of the Secret Realm. She had come into existence within that abyss with no father or mother, living a life of utter solitude.

Until she met Pei Yi. Wanting to repay his debt of gratitude, Pei Yi asked her what she desired.

Qianqian told him she had been lonely for a thousand years, and now that she finally had a companion, she only wanted to stay by his side.

And so, Pei Yi brought her back, hoping the Sect would accept her in light of the fact that she was his savior.

It wasn’t unprecedented for the Sect to take in beings of other species, so Qianqian was allowed to stay.

However, she trusted no one but Pei Yi. She refused to live with the female cultivators and was even less willing to stay alone at the Star-Moon Pond in the rear mountains.

She wanted to find Pei Yi at every moment. The second his eyes were off her, she would bolt to his side.

It was manageable when Pei Yi was out and about, but even when he was resting, she would go directly into his quarters.

As the Senior Brother, Pei Yi had long ago established his own private cultivation cave. However, he had recently been put in charge of training the disciples for the upcoming Sect Grand Competition. To better supervise their practice, he had moved in with his Junior Brothers.

Qianqian would frequently appear on the male disciples’ beds without a care in the world, startling them so much they would scramble away in a panic.

Over time, the Junior Brothers’ training became a complete disaster.

Pei Yi eventually grew angry and scolded Qianqian, telling her to stop coming to find him.

Upon hearing this, Qianqian burst into tears. She said that when Pei Yi took her away, he had promised to stay with her forever, yet now he was trying to drive her away.

At that time, Pei Yi’s heart was still with me. He complained to me more than once about how Qianqian lacked human understanding.

But eventually, worn down by her persistence, Pei Yi chose to compromise. He returned to his private cave and created a pool of clear spring water inside for her.

From then on, Qianqian stayed in that spring day and night, keeping Pei Yi company while he meditated.

When I went to find Pei Yi, this was the scene I stumbled upon.

The enchanting Mermaid was leaning halfway out of the pool, her torso resting on the edge as she gazed into Pei Yi’s eyes.

Gradually, Pei Yi seemed to lose himself. His hand moved instinctively to caress her cheek.

The distance between them closed further and further, only to be interrupted the next second when I stepped into the room.

Pei Yi snapped back to his senses. A look of pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes as he looked at me, calling out affectionately, “Liufeng.”

Behind him, Qianqian let out a startled cry, diving into the spring with a splash of her massive tail.

Before she vanished completely, I clearly saw that her eyes, fixed on me, were filled with venomous resentment.