By the Sword-Washing Lake

To be honest, without the mischievous antics of Chasing the Wind and Li An, Dan Peak felt much quieter.

Even with beautiful scenery, the lack of liveliness made it rather dull.

Li Shiyin finally understood what her master meant when he said that home was never just a place or a grand building, but rather the people within it.

No matter how picturesque Dan Peak was, no matter how they had transformed it into a paradise, without its inhabitants, it would lose its vibrancy.

The female sword immortal walked to the edge of Sword Washing Lake and found the small stool her master used for fishing beneath the Devouring Demon Willow. She sat down quietly, knees together.

By the lake, she rested her chin on her hands and gazed at the lotus blossoms covering the water.

Some of the lotuses bloomed late and were now in full splendor, while others had already withered. The fallen petals and decaying leaves floating on the surface somewhat spoiled the view.

The female sword immortal wondered if there were too many lotuses in Sword Washing Lake and whether some should be cleared away. Freeing up space to plant other aquatic flowers and plants might make the lake more diverse and beautiful.

But then she remembered when the lake was first built—her master had tossed all kinds of seeds into it. For the first two years, the lake was a riot of colors, teeming with competing blossoms. But as time passed and maintenance was neglected, the other flowers gradually disappeared, leaving only lotuses. A lake full of lotuses.

She also recalled that Dan Peak hadn’t always had a lake. Sword Washing Lake had once been a patch of marshy land!

Back then, she had been naive, tricked by her master into digging the lake as a form of training, ending up covered in mud and tanned dark by the sun.

Did digging a lake really count as cultivation?

Yes.

But clearly, there were better methods.

She suspected her master had done it on purpose—a test of her patience.

Any other girl would have quit under such torment.

A faint smile touched her lips at the memory, but then she huffed lightly, thinking of her scheming master.

In the beginning, Dan Peak had nothing—no greenhouse behind her, no cottage for Long Qiqi and Chasing the Wind, no trees by the lake, not even the Devouring Demon Willow standing behind her now.

They had even defeated Liu Daoji themselves!

But now, Dan Peak had everything. Everything.

Dan Peak had been revitalized, reclaiming its rightful place within the Dao Sword Sect. New disciples had been recruited, and alchemy had resumed. But…

The smile faded from the female sword immortal’s face. Though Dan Peak had more people now, it no longer felt like their Dan Peak.

Dan Peak belonged to many.

Tushan Youyou spent most of her time in the back mountains, occasionally emerging to plant peach trees. Long Qiqi was always in the research pavilion, working on alchemy for her demon kingdom, only appearing at mealtimes. Zhang Junyi had become the de facto leader of the mid-slope area—her master had taught him cultivation techniques, alchemy, water-based plant manipulation, and even delegated authority to him. He was practically the next head of Dan Peak, always busy, barely seen throughout the year.

Dan Peak had more people, but fewer familiar faces. It felt lonelier.

She thought, If only I had a child…

Li An was a good boy, but he was Li Shiwen’s son, not hers.

Hmm…

She imagined a boy—she would teach him swordsmanship, molding him into the greatest sword immortal under heaven.

She would love him dearly, having long prepared for motherhood. She would sew him the finest clothes, cook him the most delicious meals, and take him to see the world’s grand rivers and mountains. And she would teach him to protect his father with his sword.

Ah, see the world’s grand rivers and mountains?

The female sword immortal suddenly realized she hadn’t done that herself!

She had visited many places within the Land of Immortal Legacy, but it was too small—beyond it lay vast, unexplored skies.

But her master had promised to take her traveling beyond the Land of Immortal Legacy…

"What are you thinking about?" Her master’s voice suddenly broke her reverie.

She blinked, refocusing her gaze, and looked up to see him standing before her. He smiled warmly, his eyes filled with nothing but her.

She knew he loved her deeply.

"Not telling," she replied with a grin.

Her master crouched in front of her, resting his hands on her knees, face-to-face. "Little troublemaker, you’re definitely plotting something naughty!"

She reached out and pinched his cheeks, giggling. "You’re the troublemaker! Only you think of such things!"

"I am a virtuous and honorable gentleman, the embodiment of justice, the nemesis of evil!" he declared, his words muffled as she squished his face. "Not a troublemaker!"

His puffed-out lips made his proclamation utterly unconvincing. His ridiculous expression made her burst into laughter. "Only a troublemaker would say they’re not a troublemaker!"

"A good person wouldn’t say they’re not a troublemaker either!" he retorted.

She released his face, curious. "Then what would a good person say?"

"A good person would say…" He suddenly leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips, then grinned. "I’m a big troublemaker!"

"Hmph! You admitted it!" She wrinkled her nose. "Big troublemaker!"

"I’m a good person." He tilted his head side to side, smug about his sneak attack.

"Look at you…" She rolled her eyes, thinking how adorable he was, but said, "Acting like a child! Even Li An isn’t this childish!"

"Am I childish?" He wrapped his arms around her thighs and leaned his head against her. "Then guess how old I am!"

His face pressed against her chest, and she knew exactly what he was up to. She pushed his head away, scolding, "Never serious! How old are you, really?"

"Three!" he declared shamelessly.

He didn’t resist as she pushed him back, but as soon as she let go, he nuzzled against her again, utterly shameless. Helpless, she cradled his head in her arms, stroking his hair and face as if he were a child.

"I’d say you’re not even three!" She pampered him with gentle massages but teased.

Her master basked in her affection, replying without hesitation, "Not even three, then!"

His antics left her no choice but to indulge him, treating him with the patience reserved for children.

…Meanwhile, Li An was probably crying in a corner—Where’s this tenderness when it comes to me, Auntie?!

As the couple continued their playful antics, Li Shiyin suddenly glanced up and noticed a group of people flying about beyond Dan Peak’s protective formation, higher in the sky.

She tapped Qin Ran’s head. "Master, what are they doing up there?"

His face still buried against her, his voice muffled. "Who cares?"

She forcibly lifted his head and turned it toward the sky. "They’re setting up an array, Master!"

"An array?" Qin Ran blinked, snapping to attention. His expression darkened as he looked up.

After a moment, confirming that they were indeed constructing an array, he stood up, his face grim.