This soft call caught the four people present completely off guard.

Yang Lingrui forcefully swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Li Cheng looked back, intending to say something, but ultimately held back.

"Lingrui, make your own decision. Don't force yourself," Li Cheng said.

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Li. Since Miss Li has spoken, it would be best to meet her. Otherwise, it would make my Yang family seem discourteous."

Hearing Yang Lingrui's reply, for some reason, Li Cheng felt a sudden relief in his heart.

"Very well."

He led Yang Lingrui to the inner courtyard gate. "I won't go in. The two of you can talk slowly."

Yang Lingrui walked into the Welcoming Spring Inner Courtyard. Green bricks paired with black tiles, white walls paired with indigo roofs-the overall architectural style of the courtyard was traditional and proper.

Only the lotus-filled pond stood out, appearing bright and lively.

It was like the woman in blue standing by the pond, her fair hands gently clasped, her embroidered brows slightly lowered, as if a figure from a painting had stepped into reality.

Looking from afar, Yang Lingrui could see that this woman's appearance was like the moon, her temperament carrying a sense of unrestrained grace.

On this point alone, the two could indeed be considered a well-matched couple. It was no wonder Li Cheng had taken a liking to Yang Lingrui at first sight that day.

Hearing Yang Lingrui's footsteps draw near, the woman turned around.

"Southern Mountain Li Family, Li Qingwan."

"Songshan Yang Family, Yang Lingrui."

The two exchanged names.

Just as Yang Lingrui was thinking of finding a topic to start a conversation, Li Qingwan stepped forward first.

"How did you end up in such a state?" she asked softly, looking at Yang Lingrui with pity in her eyes.

"Miss Li, this..."

"Shh, wait."

Just as Yang Lingrui was about to explain, Li Qingwan raised a finger to make a silencing gesture.

Then, with a flip of her palm, she summoned a Sandalwood Lotus.

She gently raised her hand, and the lotus floated into the air. A pale pink curtain of light descended, enveloping the entire inner courtyard.

"There. Now no one can eavesdrop on our conversation."

Having said this, Li Qingwan stepped forward and gently supported Yang Lingrui's arm, revealing a bright smile.

"With your body so weak, come sit down and tell me slowly. I finally managed to get a chance to come out from there."

"Ah, alright."

Li Qingwan's reaction left Yang Lingrui somewhat bewildered.

Earlier, Yang Lingqing had prepared many talking points for him, unsure of what Li Cheng's younger sister's temperament was like, worried she might belittle or harass him from the start.

But the Li Qingwan before him was completely different from what the Yang family had imagined.

The two sat down on stone chairs by the pond, and Yang Lingrui continued from where he left off, telling Li Qingwan the whole story of his situation from beginning to end.

"So that's how it is!"

After hearing Yang Lingrui's account, Li Qingwan appeared somewhat angry.

She turned to look at the courtyard gate and complained, "My brother has been like this since childhood. He always likes to act on his own, never caring about others. Your current state is all his fault!"

Hearing this, Yang Lingrui quickly shook his head. "The actions were mine. You cannot blame Young Master Li."

"How can it not be his fault! It is entirely his fault! If he hadn't arranged the marriage alliance and the Dharma Assembly between our two families, how could you have ended up like this?"

Li Qingwan said angrily, "You all respect him because you fear the Li family. What he's doing is bullying others through his power!"

Seeing this, Yang Lingrui quickly followed her words to soothe her a few times before Li Qingwan finally calmed down.

"Don't worry. The final decision on this matter rests with me. I won't force you, and I won't force the Yang family either."

"Thank you, Miss Li."

"Alright, let's not talk about these unpleasant things. Tell me about yourself!"

"Me?"

"Yes, yes. I was sent by my family to Wangyue City since childhood to cultivate under my master, and I've never left this city."

Li Qingwan looked at Yang Lingrui with eager anticipation.

Under her fervent gaze, Yang Lingrui deliberated for a moment, then recounted his experiences over the years.

From entering the Dao to cultivate, to his family's relocation, then the Beast Tide crisis, followed by the mining rebellion, and later the ancient tomb exploration...

Of course, many key details in these stories were altered.

For example, Chen Yang never appeared, and the person he killed during the mining incident was not Zhang Chen, but a bandit leader.

Li Qingwan propped her head up on one side, listening with great interest.

"Miss Li, that's all there is," Yang Lingrui said.

"How wonderful..."

Li Qingwan let out a sigh, then looked up at the towering city walls.

Hearing about Yang Lingrui's journey, and then thinking about herself, it was as if she were a caged bird without freedom. A look of sadness appeared in her eyes.

"Thank you for talking with me so much today. It's getting late, and the Dharma Assembly starts tomorrow. You should go back and rest early."

"Then Lingrui will take his leave. I hope Miss Li won't mind my intrusion today."

Yang Lingrui turned and walked to the door, only to find that the spiritual light curtain had not yet been withdrawn.

Just then, Li Qingwan's voice came from behind him.

"Wait. There's something I've never told you."

"Miss Li, what is it?"

Li Qingwan looked at Yang Lingrui, then suddenly smiled, pursed her lips, and said, "You... are very handsome!"

Hearing this, Yang Lingrui was stunned for a moment, watching a blush creep onto Li Qingwan's cheeks.

He then smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Miss Li. You are also very beautiful."

As his words fell, the curtain dispersed.

Yang Lingrui took his leave of Li Cheng in the outer courtyard, then returned to his residence.

"Well? How was it? How did it feel?"

After Yang Lingrui left, Li Cheng hurried into the inner courtyard to ask.

He hadn't heard anything from outside, and it had been driving him crazy.

"Hmph. Not good. Not at all."

Li Qingwan rolled her eyes at him and said testily.

"What kind of talk is that?"

"I refused. This matter is off."

"What!? You!"

Hearing this, Li Cheng's face instantly changed. "Don't be fooled by appearances! I thought it over carefully outside just now, and I feel there's something fishy. The Yang family might have done this on purpose, just to..."

"Just to avoid falling into your trap!" Li Qingwan shouted.

Li Cheng stood dumbfounded for a moment, then his face darkened as he said, "I do this for the Li family, for my kin. I have a clear conscience!"

"A fine 'clear conscience'!"

Li Qingwan rushed up to Li Cheng and grabbed his collar. "How many innocent people have you already dragged into the family's affairs? Do you not know what kind of end they will meet? And now you want to drag the Yang family down too? Li Cheng! What a venomous heart you have!"

"Shut up! How could you possibly understand my good intentions! What am I doing all this for!"

Li Cheng grabbed Li Qingwan's wrist in return. "I only want you to leave this godforsaken place, to live freely in this world for a few years!"

Li Qingwan, who had been burning with anger, now showed a look of deep sorrow in her eyes upon hearing these words.

"I don't want this, and I can't do this."

She said mournfully, "Brother, things have gone too far now. It's no longer something you or I can change. You should know that better than I do. Stop this futile effort..."

Hearing this, Li Cheng slowly released his grip and watched his sister walk out of the courtyard gate, disappearing from his sight.

Out of habit, he took a wine jar from his Storage Bag, but the next moment, he smashed it to pieces.

He wanted to roar, but fearing someone might hear, he could only clench his fists, letting his fingernails dig into his palms, using the pain to cut away the bitterness in his heart.

"Thirty years... If I could have another thirty years... why would I worry about failing to reach Condensed Origin..."

Li Cheng collapsed to the ground, utterly dejected, the light gradually fading from his eyes.

The ancestor would become a Human Dao Stone, and his sister would become a Cultivation Furnace.

And he was powerless, unable to do anything.