Yun Qingyi had been indulging Mi Xingzhe all evening—right up until he saw Li Luoning standing in the doorway of Mi Xingzhe's room.
His smile vanished instantly.
He began gesturing frantically at Mi Xingzhe, eyes wide with warning.
Mi Xingzhe, still focused on Yun Qingyi, didn't understand why his senior suddenly froze. He was half leaning on Yun Qingyi, tugging at his sleeve like a child, swaying with lingering drunkenness—and feeling a sharp twist of pain bloom at his waist.
Yun Qingyi pinched him hard.
Mi Xingzhe jolted, more from the pain than the meaning, and still didn't look toward the door. He continued pulling at Yun Qingyi as if nothing had happened, wincing again when his waist twinged.
"Ouch, what are you doing?"
Yun Qingyi's expression went blank with helplessness. He tightened his grip on Mi Xingzhe's arm, leaned in, and whispered through his teeth.
"It's Master."
Mi Xingzhe blinked at him, utterly unconvinced. He thought Yun Qingyi was trying to scare him into behaving. With a lazy, tipsy confidence, he waved a hand and started to talk loudly.
"Don't mess with me. It's late—Master must be asleep by now. You're always scaring—"
He turned—
—and saw Li Luoning.
Standing at the door, face dark, eyes cold, posture perfectly still.
Mi Xingzhe sobered in an instant.
The heat in his cheeks drained away. He straightened so quickly it was almost comical, then hurriedly smoothed his wrinkled clothes with both hands, trying to look dignified in the middle of disaster.
With a guilty reflex, he shoved the wine jug behind his back.
The movement was small.
It still didn't escape Li Luoning's eyes.
Yun Qingyi, standing at Mi Xingzhe's side, didn't know what to say. He simply stepped forward slightly, attempting—instinctively—to block Mi Xingzhe from the worst of it.
Mi Xingzhe's gaze flicked to Li Luoning's hand.
A deep brown Bingo flower lay between Li Luoning's fingers.
His heart sank.
Several hours earlier—
Yun Qingyi had placed a tray on the table and called into the room without looking up.
"Nian Nian, I put your medicine and honey here. Remember to take them later."
He set things down neatly, still believing Mi Xingzhe was in the study.
"Master asked me to fetch medicinal herbs today. After you take the medicine, copy the heart technique properly. I'll check it when I return, then you can submit it to Master."
No answer.
Yun Qingyi paused, listened—then realized with a sigh that Mi Xingzhe had slipped away again.
Helpless, he sat down and began copying the heart technique himself.
At dinner, Li Luoning looked at the table.
Two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
He asked quietly, "Where is Nian Nian?"
Yun Qingyi stiffened. He forced a calm tone. "Uh… he said he wasn't hungry today."
Li Luoning's eyes lifted. "Feeling unwell?"
"Don't worry, Master." Yun Qingyi smiled too quickly. "Nian Nian is fine. I left him food. I'll bring it to him later."
Li Luoning didn't expose the lie.
He only glanced—once—at the untouched copy of the heart technique on the side.
A few hours before dinner—
Mi Xingzhe had gone straight to the shelf behind the room and pulled out two bottles of Bingo wine.
This should be what Sister Ruling mentioned, he thought.
He opened the lid and sniffed. His eyes brightened in satisfaction. He'd worked in a wine shop once; he could tell good wine instantly.
He took two bottles and slipped out.
At the Starlight Pavilion of Liao Yin Immortal Realm, Mi Xingzhe and Yue Ruling sat facing each other. Fruit plates gleamed under lantern light. Two water-blue wine bottles sat on the stone table between them.
Mi Xingzhe poured her a cup. "Sister, is this the wine you wanted?"
Yue Ruling lifted the cup and sniffed. Her face bloomed into delight.
"Wow— Yes, Yes~ it is. You are amazing. Little Junior Brother, you actually got it. This floral scent—so refreshing, so elegant… mmm. Smooth, sweet, not heavy." She took a sip and sighed. "How did you get it?"
Mi Xingzhe drank casually and answered like it was nothing.
"Stole it from Master's storeroom."
Yue Ruling sprayed wine across his face.
Mi Xingzhe wiped his cheek with his sleeve, frowning. "Why are you spitting? You wanted it. And I couldn't let Master find out, so of course I had to steal it."
Yue Ruling stared at him as if he'd announced he'd stolen the Immortal Sovereign's crown.
"Do you realize the entire Immortal Realm covets your Master's wine?" she hissed. "Even the Immortal Sovereigns only receive a small pot once a year as a birthday gift. You just took two pots. If Master finds out—aren't you afraid he'll be furious?"
Mi Xingzhe's face soured. "Do you still want it? If not, I'll take it back."
"No, nonon, I want it , want, want!please~" Yue Ruling hugged one bottle to her chest like a treasure. "Since you already brought it, don't waste it!"
Mi Xingzhe sighed and set a rule, trying to sound responsible.
"Fine. But we drink only a little. I still have to go back and copy the heart technique."
Yue Ruling waved quickly. "Okay, okay. Just a little."
A few cups later, Mi Xingzhe's tongue loosened.
He leaned closer, voice turning proud.
"Sister, I got an elixir."
Yue Ruling blinked. "An elixir? What kind?"
"The one used for cultivation." Mi Xingzhe lifted his chin. "Made from Immortal Grass. You've taken it before."
Yue Ruling shot to her feet, thrilled. "Immortal Grass? You took Immortal Grass too? Let me see—let me see!"
She reached for his arm.
Mi Xingzhe dodged, embarrassed. "It's just ordinary Immortal Grass to help me form an inner core. Why are you so excited?"
"It's not ordinary!" Yue Ruling practically glowed. "Now I'm not the only one who's taken it. Of course I'm happy!"
She lifted her cup. "Come. For Immortal Grass—we drink this one!"
After dinner, Li Luoning went to the Medicine King's alchemy room to retrieve something. Passing Starlight Pavilion, he heard laughter—familiar, unusually bright.
It had been a long time since Yue Ruling laughed like that.
Curious, he turned—
—and saw Mi Xingzhe and Yue Ruling drinking together.
His gaze fell immediately on the two bottles on the table.
His own wine.
Li Luoning's brows drew together.
It wasn't that he couldn't spare two bottles.
It was that he had repeatedly told Mi Xingzhe not to drink while taking medicine.
But then he hesitated.
It's rare for Ruling and Wan Nian to get along so well.
So Li Luoning said nothing.
He turned away quietly.
Back at Mirror Cloud Residence, Li Luoning saw Mu Han waiting outside the gate from a distance.
Li Luoning walked forward and saluted. "Why didn't you come in?"
"Luoning, you're back." Mu Han's voice was calm.
"It's late. Why did Senior come to Mirror Cloud Residence?" Li Luoning invited him to sit at the stone table outside the gate.
Mu Han smiled lightly. "Nothing serious. I thought your wine should be ready. I came to visit under the pretext of catching up—and to share a cup."
Li Luoning chuckled. "If Senior likes it, you could've sent an immortal servant to fetch it. Why come in person?" He poured, half teasing. "What is it? Everyone seems to be thinking about my wine."
Mu Han gestured toward the courtyard. "It's different. I wanted to see your Blue Snow Flowers blooming as well."
"Senior has always preferred light tea and weak wine," Li Luoning said, amused, handing him a cup with both hands. "Rare for my humble brew to catch Senior's eye."
Mu Han laughed. "Mocking me for being a wine enthusiast?"
"Luoning wouldn't dare."
They drank.
After a few sips, Mu Han set his cup down and asked, tone faintly meaningful, "Luoning… has everything been going smoothly lately?"
Li Luoning answered evenly. "Mi Xingzhe has formed his inner core. There's no need to fear him dissolving into nothingness."
"Good." Mu Han nodded slowly. "Rare treasures have rare destinies. In the future, you'll need to put more effort into teaching him."
Li Luoning understood the meaning beneath the words. "Understands."
Then Mu Han added casually, "By the way—when did your Blue Snow Flowers develop different colors? Under the window outside my room, I saw one darker than the rest. A new variety?"
"Dark?" Li Luoning frowned. "Senior, are you mistaken? Blue Snow Flowers are blue by nature. I've never heard of them turning dark."
Li Mu Han gestured. "That one."
They walked to the window behind the room.
There it was.
A flower slightly darker than its neighbors.
Li Luoning plucked it and handed it over.
But the moment he brought it close—his expression changed.
A strong herbal scent rose.
Not just herbal.
Something bitter.
Something unmistakable.
Li Luoning didn't need anyone to explain.
He knew exactly what had fed that flower.
Now, in the study—
Mi Xingzhe and Yun Qingyi had been standing for the length of a stick of incense.
Li Luoning's gaze swept over Mi Xingzhe—still swaying faintly, face too pale for someone who'd been drinking, eyes too guilty—and then to Yun Qingyi, whose expression carried the helplessness of someone caught protecting the wrong person.
Li Luoning's mood was foul.
He knew Yun Qingyi doted on Mi Xingzhe.
But tonight had crossed lines.
First: copying the heart technique for him.
Then: lying at dinner, claiming Mi Xingzhe was unwell.
And now: hiding the fact that Mi Xingzhe had slipped out to drink.
Li Luoning couldn't decide whether Yun Qingyi was failing as a senior brother—
or whether Mi Xingzhe was corrupting Yun Qingyi.
Mi Xingzhe tried to peek around Yun Qingyi's shoulder—then saw Yun Qingyi subtly motioning don't speak.
So he clamped his mouth shut, swallowing whatever excuse he'd been about to offer.
Li Luoning stepped closer.
His eyes dropped to the wine jug still in Mi Xingzhe's hand.
He held out his palm.
Mi Xingzhe forced a weak, apologetic smile. Slowly, reluctantly, he pulled the wine jug from behind his back and placed it into Li Luoning's hand.
Li Luoning didn't acknowledge the smile.
He set the jug down, then produced the flower.
He held it up.
"Do you know what this is?"
Mi Xingzhe swallowed. "A flower… There are Blue Snow Flowers everywhere in the courtyard."
Li Luoning's voice was slow, controlled. "This is called Blue Snow Flower."
Mi Xingzhe nodded too quickly. "Oh. This is the flower you use to brew—"
He stopped abruptly, realizing he was about to confess.
Li Luoning watched him carefully.
"Since it's called Blue Snow Flower," Li Luoning continued, "it is mainly blue. It resembles delicate snowflakes. I've kept them in my courtyard for years."
He paused.
Then, very deliberately, he added, "But today, I found one with a different color under the window of your room."
Mi Xingzhe's body trembled.
He forced a laugh that sounded wrong even to him.
"Ah… is that so?" He shuffled a step backward. "Well… that's quite… special."
He began to inch away. "It's late. I should go back to my room. Senior Brother, you should also rest early—"
"Hold."
Li Luoning's voice cracked like a whip.
Mi Xingzhe froze.
Li Luoning's eyes narrowed. "Made a mistake, and you still want to run?"
Mi Xingzhe instinctively shrank his neck. A chill crawled down his spine. He edged toward Yun Qingyi and hid behind him again, refusing to meet Li Luoning's gaze.
Li Luoning's patience thinned.
A flash of gold.
A ruler slammed down onto the table with a sharp crack.
Mi Xingzhe and Yun Qingyi both flinched.
Mi Xingzhe peeked out from behind Yun Qingyi's shoulder, staring at the ruler with pure terror.
Yun Qingyi's heart sank.
He hadn't expected Master to bring out that.
But Mi Xingzhe's pleading eyes made Yun Qingyi's resolve harden. He took a breath, stepped forward, and bowed.
"Master…" Yun Qingyi's voice was steady, though his hands felt cold. "This is Qingyi's fault. As the senior brother, I failed to set a proper example. Please forgive him this once."
He swallowed, then continued, braver than he felt.
"Qingyi is willing to take the punishment on behalf of my junior brother."
Li Luoning didn't soften.
He looked straight at Yun Qingyi, voice cold.
"Qingyi. Since you enjoy copying heart techniques for him…"
His gaze flicked toward the piled scrolls in the study.
"…then go copy every heart technique in this room."
Yun Qingyi's face went blank.
"Master—" he began weakly.
Li Luoning's eyes sharpened.
Yun Qingyi stopped immediately.
Li Luoning's voice cut down like a blade.
"Step aside."
Yun Qingyi's throat tightened.
He knew this tone. He knew what came after it.
If he stayed, Mi Xingzhe would only suffer more.
So Yun Qingyi turned his head, met Mi Xingzhe's helpless eyes, and retreated—slowly—leaving Mi Xingzhe standing alone before Li Luoning's shadow.