The autumn chill was intensifying when Ming Shuiyun threw off the covers and sat up, suddenly feeling her clothes too thin.

Only half of the dormitory was awake. Ming Shuangli was still asleep, half of her blanket kicked aside, her flat stomach exposed to the air. Anyone seeing her in such a state would be tempted to lie down beside her to sleep. As a third-year student, Ming Shuangli didn't have early classes every day, and with all courses being electives in the third year, she naturally wouldn't choose any that required early rising. Thus, she, being the oldest, slept the latest.

Ming Taolang was no longer in the dormitory; she had a habit of getting up early to practice Combat Technique. By the second morning of her arrival at the Imperial Academy, she had already measured the academy's perimeter with her own feet.

Ming Chaoyan was also not in the dormitory because she feared she might oversleep, so she got up early to sleep in the classroom—to sleep there and ensure she wouldn't be late!

Ming Yueyan was still sleeping, which was strange because her daily schedule was packed. Often, Ming Shuiyun and Ming Yueyan attended the same class, yet when Ming Shuiyun would leave the dormitory, Ming Yueyan was still asleep, but by the time she reached the classroom, Ming Yueyan was already seated.

In the past, Ming Shuiyun could only secretly marvel, believing that Ming Yueyan was a master of time management. But after discovering recently that Ming Yueyan's sword scabbard was the 'Thousand Faces' capable of impersonating others, Ming Shuiyun finally knew the truth—Thousand Faces surely covered many courses for Ming Yueyan!

Looking at Ming Yueyan's peaceful sleeping face and the slightly swollen dark circles from staying up late writing, Ming Shuiyun suddenly felt a bit envious—not just of Thousand Faces' willingness to substitute classes for her just to let her sleep longer but also of how others' scabbards cared about every little detail of their Sword Master's life, even becoming part of it.

Reflecting on herself...

Ming Shuiyun got out of bed to wash up. Ming Dailan, who was grooming her hair, called out, "The wind's picking up recently, it's getting colder and dry. Shuiyun, do you have any moisturizer? If not, use mine, so your face doesn't get frostbitten."

"No need, someone gave me a set of skincare products before. How about you show me how to use them, Dailan?"

"Sure," Ming Dailan readily agreed, walked over to look at the items on Shuiyun's desk, and exclaimed, "Shuiyun, who gave these to you? They're complete, all from the Witch Commerce and even considered your hair and skin type. You can just use them."

Ming Qingyun, who was brushing her teeth, turned her head and said, "Did your sword scabbard give it to you?"

"It was... his sister," Ming Shuiyun calmly replied.

Ming Qingyun, sensing something, smiled, "What, after winning first with him at the Eye of Omniscience, you still haven't gotten along?"

"He isn't willing; what can I do?" Ming Shuiyun gargled with a mouthful of cold well water, then forcefully spat it out, as if the sink had wronged her, "Do I need to kneel to him? Sure."

"From my experience, the bond between a Sword Scabbard and a Sword Master should deepen over time. Look at Dailan's, who initially was reluctant to even sit with her. Now, anyone who approaches Dailan a bit gets fiercely glared at by him..."

"It's all his fault; I can't even chat with handsome seniors," Ming Dailan grumbled, then suddenly asked, "Hey, do you think it's possible to grow taller after fifteen?"

"Hmm~ hard to say," Ming Qingyun mused, "Didn't you set your criteria very strictly before? Something like at least a head taller than you, right? Now, Mie Tangya is a head shorter; growing that much in a few years is quite challenging... If he can't grow that much, would our Dailan Palace be willing to lower the standards for the scabbard?"

"It's not about lowering standards, but I might become an Empress in the future. If my partner is taller than the Empress, it might be seen as lacking authority by the ministers, so having a partner a little taller or even the same height as me would be fine..." Ming Dailan said absentmindedly, looking in the mirror.

"Your imagination is wild, but does Mie Tangya even fancy you? He's not some pig sowing indiscriminately," Qingyun teased.

"Would he dare? At worst I'd just snatch a civilian man, what do you think I joined this sword quest for?"

To open a handsome man harem?

Ming Qingyun shrugged at Ming Shuiyun, "See, not only does a Sword Scabbard grow fond of the Sword Master, but the Sword Master will also develop feelings for the Sword Scabbard... It's rare for someone like your brother, Le Yin, to distance himself from his Sword Master."

"Maybe that's his way of expressing love?"

Awoken by their chatter, Ming Yueyan eagerly joined the discussion, "Shuiyun, don't just see that Qin Le Yin isn't orbiting Dailan like Mie Tangya does. Also consider what he's done—he let his sister introduce you to more friends, cleared all obstacles at the Eye of Omniscience for you, yet didn't claim credit but chose to support you from afar, trying not to affect your life..."

Ming Shuiyun doubted, "I don't think so. He seems indifferent when chatting with me."

"Shuiyun, you might not believe in Qin Le Yin, but do you not believe in the Holy Sword's radiance?" Ming Qingyun said, "Firstly, the Sword Master and Sword Scabbard are linked by a mark, so the scabbard would never harm you, right?"

"Yes, but..."

"Our experience shows, over time, the mark's power increases, meaning Qin Le Yin's feelings for you should definitely be deeper than when he first met you, right?"

"Yes, but..."

"But his actions suggest the opposite; he hasn't gotten closer but instead has grown more distant," Ming Qingyun, arms crossed, said, "Shuiyun, don't focus solely on your feelings, try putting yourself in Qin Le Yin's shoes."

Put myself in Qin Le Yin's shoes?

"Qin Le Yin should be growing fonder of you, yet for your sake, he endures the pain of longing without involving himself in your life, only discreetly caring for you through his sister... even if it leads to misunderstandings or dislike from you, it doesn't bother him because that's his way of loving someone..."

Ming Dailan listened, hands clasped together dreamily, "Ah, if only Qin Le Yin were my Sword Scabbard, I'd love such poignant romance."

Ming Yueyan also nodded repeatedly, bursting with inspiration, getting out of bed and opening a notebook to write furiously, a model of diligence and creativity.

Ming Shuiyun, unsettled by their words, still shook her head, "That's not true!"

Ming Qingyun smiled, "You'll see when you're in danger, Qin Le Yin will appear just in time to save you, just like the night he protected you from the Nirvana Blade."

"Hmm? Who's badmouthing Niruo?" Ming Shuangli suddenly sat up, rubbed her eyes mumbling a couple of times, then lay back down to continue sleeping.

"I don't believe it! ... Ah, I'm going to be late if I keep chatting with you. I need to go to the cafeteria for breakfast!"

Ming Shuiyun hurriedly grabbed her book bag and left the dormitory. Ming Qingyun leisurely tidied her hair, applied makeup, and changed clothes. As she passed by Ming Yueyan's spot, she tapped Yueyan's shoulder, "What are you writing about?"

"Qin Le Yin's love story!" Yueyan replied excitedly, "The tragic romance you mentioned suits his character perfectly, I'm adding this story to my new book."

"Qin Le Yin's love story with whom? Shuiyun? Writing about sisters isn't very appropriate... If you're looking to publish, I suggest not including Qin Le Yin..."

"Of course not Shuiyun! Don't worry, I already talked to Qin Le Yin, and he didn't outright oppose it."

Not outright opposing doesn't mean agreeing... Ming Qingyun shook her head, "So, who exactly is Qin Le Yin's love story with?"

"Zhengwei!"

"What?"

"Here's the story: the main stage is Dongyang Xuanzhu County. Qin Le Yin and Zhengwei are important figures in the Silver Blood Association. But Qin Le Yin had long seen Zhengwei's extraordinary skills and willingly prepared the way for Zhengwei's leadership, hoping that one day Zhengwei would become famous worldwide... How does it feel? Doesn't it suit Qin Le Yin's image?"

"But Zhengwei is dead."

Yueyan: "That's the brilliance of my story—after Qin Le Yin helps Zhengwei ascend to the position of Dongyang's overlord, Qin Le Yin's master orders him to kill Zhengwei and seize his legacy to join the sword quest in Yanjing. Remember the event of Xuanzhu County burning, the end of the Silver Blood Association? I could portray it as Qin Le Yin's scheme!"

Qingyun: "You actually tied it together, even slightly reflecting reality... But didn't you just say Qin Le Yin was wholeheartedly supporting Zhengwei, now a single order leads to murdering Zhengwei? Isn't that strange?"

Yueyan: "Not strange at all, it highlights Qin Le Yin's conflicted nature. Plus, the ultimate love-hate scene is the story's climax—the sweetest betrayal, the most brutal enjoyment, the two youths who toyed with the Silver Blood Association end up as each other's final enemies. In the firestorm of Xuanzhu County, they fight viciously like beasts, leaving each other scarred... Ah, what a beautiful scene."

Ming Dailan remarked, "Let me see it when you're done."

Ming Qingyun thought seriously for a moment and shook her head, "This story won't be appealing to anyone."

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