In his childhood, Gu Xiu was extremely endearing.

Not only was he as adorable as a porcelain doll, but he was also exceptionally well-behaved and clever. While ordinary children were still babbling, Gu Xiu could already speak fluently. When other children wailed for what they wanted, Gu Xiu would earnestly persuade his senior sisters and master. Although his reasoning often made people laugh, he was never prone to crying or fussing; he could even be described as quiet.

Moreover, his talent was outstanding. While there might have been a gap compared to those legendary once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigies, his innate aptitude was undoubtedly rare. He learned everything with ease, and later on, he was even able to help guide Lu Qingyao, who was only three years older than him.

Most importantly, Gu Xiu was very good to his senior sisters.

He would remember each of their birthdays and personally make gifts for them—even for Nian Zhaoxi, who had already begun cultivating the Art of Heavenly Secrets and deliberately distanced herself from others. Gu Xiu never forgot her.

"Gu Xiu loved carving lotus flowers for me the most when he was little. He said I was like a snow lotus on a snowy mountain," Nian Zhaoxi said, taking out a wooden lotus carving, her voice full of nostalgia.

Xu Wanqing and Qin Moran, along with the other two women, each produced a wooden carving of their own, lost in thought.

These scenes reminded them of many past events; memories that had been sealed away gradually became clear again.

Gu Xiu back then... was truly wonderful.

He was sincere to each of his senior sisters. Not only would he prepare gifts and remember their preferences, but he would also step forward to plead for them when they were punished by their master. Even as they grew older and developed their own hobbies, Gu Xiu would accompany each one in their interests.

He watched the sunrise and sunset with the Eldest Senior Sister.

He secretly forged iron and strange tools with the Second Senior Sister.

He picked flowers and herbs and kneaded mud pellets with the Third Senior Sister.

He studied various peculiar stones with the Fourth Senior Sister.

He composed poetry and practiced calligraphy with the Fifth Senior Sister.

He disassembled and studied cloth dolls and wooden dummies with the Sixth Senior Sister.

He caught fish and shrimp in the stream with the Seventh Senior Sister...

This was their shared childhood.

It was also Gu Xiu's childhood.

Growing up wasn't smooth sailing; there was laughter, but also tears; there were pleasant surprises, but also anger. But without exception, every time, Gu Xiu would take the initiative to lower his head, admit his mistakes, and wipe away his senior sisters' tears.

Looking at these scenes from the past, Qin Moran and the others felt their gazes soften. Third Senior Sister Xu Wanqing even felt her eyes reddening.

They couldn't help but recall the stories of their youth, the warmth that belonged to them and Gu Xiu.

Even... an involuntary thought emerged in their hearts:

Clearly, he was so good back then...

Why... did it change?

Was it Gu Xiu who changed, or did they themselves change?

"The carved railings and jade steps must still be there," Qin Moran murmured. "Only... the rosy complexions have changed."

After a moment, she snapped back to reality and shook her head. "Senior Sister, there's no need to look at these things anymore."

"Why?" Nian Zhaoxi asked.

Qin Moran shook her head. "Casually changed are the hearts of old friends, yet they say old friends' hearts are fickle."

"The past has turned to smoke. These things can be kept as memories; why bring them out now?"

"After all... I don't want to harbor malice towards the child in my memories just because of who he is now."

These words snapped Xu Wanqing and Lu Qingyao back to reality as well.

Yes! The memories were beautiful; the Gu Xiu of the past was good.

But... memories are ultimately just memories.

The Gu Xiu of today is no longer that person! He... has long since changed!

"Gu Xiu was indeed very good once, but five hundred years in the forbidden land has completely changed him," Xu Wanqing sighed.

Lu Qingyao added with malice, "Who knows? Maybe five hundred years ago, he was just pretending!"

Such words pained Nian Zhaoxi's heart.

Why?

Why do they still hold such prejudice against Gu Xiu? Even speculating with the unkindest thoughts about the Gu Xiu from five hundred years ago?

She understood Qin Moran's meaning now. Their prejudice wasn't because of the past; it was because of the present—because of who he became after returning from the forbidden land!

Trying to use memories from centuries ago to correct their views was fundamentally futile.

Thinking this, Nian Zhaoxi pursed her lips and looked into the mirror again.

Coincidentally, Gu Xiu, who was carving wood in the reflection, seemed to sense something. He looked up toward the window as if meeting Nian Zhaoxi's gaze across time.

His eyes were clear, innocent, and full of anticipation. Then, he broke into a smile.

This smile instantly caused tears to stream down Nian Zhaoxi's face—especially when she remembered the fleeting glance of the white-haired Gu Xiu from the present.

It made her heart ache even more.

With a wave of her hand, she dispersed the five-hundred-year-old scene.

"Since my Junior Sisters believe that Gu Xiu changed during his five hundred years in the forbidden land," Nian Zhaoxi spoke up, "then let us see."

"Who exactly..."

"Changed after five hundred years!"

As she spoke, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and once again activated the Heavenly Secrets Reincarnation Mirror. A drop of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, the price of her draining lifespan.

Seeing this, all three women frowned slightly. But in the end, they shook their heads, voicing no persuasion.

Their Senior Sister's obsession was Gu Xiu; perhaps by seeing how he changed, she would finally see him clearly! From then on, her obsession would dissipate!

Just... as they held this thought, the scene that reappeared in the mirror stunned them.

The scene had changed.

The once warm but somewhat shabby Qingxuan Sect had transformed into the magnificent Qingxuan Holy Land, bustling with endless streams of disciples and visitors.

And at this moment, fluctuations appeared in the crack leading to the forbidden land—a rift that had existed for five hundred years.

The forbidden land was closing.

Five hundred years ago, they had eagerly anticipated this moment countless times, praying for that person to walk out.

But now, when the moment finally arrived... no one knew, no one cared, no one paid attention.

Even... when Gu Xiu finally walked out—with hair as white as frost, severely injured, and completely drained of spiritual energy—there wasn't a single person there to greet him!

Xu Wanqing looked uncomfortable and spoke first. "I... I remember I seemed to be refining pills for Little Junior Brother at that time; it was at a critical juncture, so I couldn't be distracted..."

"I... I was comprehending Heavenly Dao Rhythms; I had inspiration at that moment; I couldn't be distracted either," Qin Moran said evasively, her eyes shifting.

Instantly, the pressure fell upon Lu Qingyao.

Lu Qingyao hemmed and hawed before finally saying, "I was with Little Junior Brother at that time; I... I worried that if I left him to go see Gu Xiu, it might make Little Junior Brother feel uncomfortable..."

"I... how would I know none of you went?"

"Eldest Senior Sister, didn't you not go either?" Lu Qingyao tried to shift the blame onto Nian Zhaoxi.

Unfortunately, she aimed at the wrong person.

Nian Zhaoxi merely sighed. "That day I wasn't within the sect. When I learned the news, I rushed back immediately and only managed to return late at night."

"Did you really not know this?"

This... Lu Qingyao stuck out her tongue and fell silent.

Nian Zhaoxi swept her gaze over Xu Wanqing and Qin Moran. Both felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny, subconsciously lowering their heads.

Actually... no matter how busy they were, being right within the sect, how could they possibly not know about the forbidden land closing or Gu Xiu returning?

The reason there hadn't been any movement—not even to greet him—was simply because they didn't know how to face him yet.

"I... back when Gu Xiu went into the forbidden land, I promised him that upon his return, I'd prepare an inexhaustible supply of top-grade pills for him..."

"But..."

"But after Little Junior Brother arrived, many pills were given to him; I didn't have anything presentable left, so... so..." Xu Wanqing spoke first, looking very uncomfortable. "I thought everyone else went; I... truly didn't expect that none of you actually went..."

Qin Moran stammered, "I also... didn't have the talismans I promised him either..."

"We just didn't greet him immediately—what big deal is that? Would he even care about such a trivial matter?" Lu Qingyao retorted defensively. "Besides, didn't we all go that night? We ate together—wasn't that welcoming him too?"

These words made Xu Wanqing and Qin Moran nod repeatedly.

But Nian Zhaoxi wore a bitter smile; she ultimately shook her head. "If so, let us continue watching then!"

Within the mirror, finally, someone approached. The first person to talk to him... was a menial disciple responsible for cleaning.

Later, Master Guan Xuelan came. She checked his injuries, brought him to Zhuofeng Peak, and notified the senior sisters to gather that night.

Coincidentally, someone asked Guan Xuelan what scale was required for the banquet.

And Guan Xuelan replied bluntly: "Gu Xiu returned, just returned; a lowest-scale casual gathering is fine."

These words made the three women feel ashamed.

And what made them even more ashamed was the banquet itself.