He blinked away his confusion.
Seeing Xuan Tian's startled expression, Ling Yu deflated. But her frustration lingered. She didn't understand it herself. She rarely stayed angry—but this time, the sour mood just wouldn't leave her. It had started last night, when she returned to Qinglan Residence.
She knew she should apologize, but the words wouldn't come. So instead, she returned to sulking—brows furrowed, lips pouted, fingers mercilessly plucking petals from nearby flowers.
Xuan Tian sighed silently. He had never seen Ling Yu like this. Her moods were usually loud, fast, and fleeting. This one clung to her like damp fog.
"You okay? What's going on?"
Ling Yu didn't answer. She couldn't. She didn't know the answer—and that made her angrier.
The air suddenly thickened with spirit energy. Xuan Tian noticed it instantly. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Ling Yu's shoulder, trying to calm her.
He forgot.
Forgot that his cultivation had dropped. Forgot his core hadn't recovered.
The moment his palm touched her, he was blasted backward by a surge of wild spirit energy. He flew through the garden, crashed through several wooden pillars, and slammed into the wall of a room. He clutched his chest, coughed, and spat blood.
"Xuan Tian!" Ling Yu screamed, panic overtaking her. She rushed toward him.
"Don't come near me. Stay there," he rasped, holding up a hand to stop her.
Gu Tianzhu burst into the courtyard, alarmed. "Shengzun!"
The doctors were close behind, rushing in with urgent footsteps.
Zhao Zhi immediately knelt beside Xuan Tian, grabbing his wrist to check his pulse.
Xuan Tian swatted his hand away and instead pulled Zhao Zhi to help him sit up. Zhao Zhi immediately supported him.
Xuan Tian managed to get to his feet, one hand clutching his chest, the other draped over Zhao Zhi's shoulder for balance. His breathing was ragged and uneven, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Yet his eyes stayed fixed on Ling Yu.
She stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. The guilt crushed her. She hadn't meant to hurt him—she wanted to apologize—but now he was staring at her with an expression she couldn't bear. He looked... betrayed. Hurt that it was her who had done this.
His mouth opened.
She panicked. She was terrified of what he might say—afraid it would be something she couldn't bear to hear.
She turned and ran.
"Ling Yu," Xuan Tian called out—but it came out only as a broken whisper.
He turned to Gu Tianzhu, eyes wide, voice taut with urgency. "Her spirit energy is unstable. Stop her—before she hurts herself."
Gu Tianzhu nodded sharply. "Understood, Shengzun." He vanished in a flash, chasing after her.
Xuan Tian coughed hard and spat out more blood. Zhao Zhi helped him to a nearby chair.
Lin Qian stepped forward and handed him a towel to wipe his mouth. Xu Yun poured him a cup of tea.
"What happened?" Lin Qian asked.
Xuan Tian turned slowly toward her, his voice weary, but his eyes soft.
"Exactly what you said, Doctor... Fourteen years old."
Lin Qian exhaled, "Then I'll go too. I'm afraid Gu Tianzhu is not equipped to handle a young teenage girl."
Xuan Tian shook his head slowly. "Please don't, Doctor. Gu Tianzhu has to learn. She's his disciple now. Regardless of whether he took her in to curry favor with me, she's his responsibility."
His eyes narrowed. "If he abandons Ling Yu because of this—he'll answer to me."
The rasp in his voice didn't dull the threat. If anything, it made it more terrifying.
The doctors lit a silent candle for Gu Tianzhu in their hearts.
------------------------------
Shen Qingyu was pacing in the main hall, waiting anxiously for Gu Tianzhu. His three shidis were outside, loading their carriages with supplies—not just for the journey home, but also provisions and necessities for the entire sect.
He'd been helping them when he felt a sudden spike of spirit energy. Alarmed, he had wanted to go check immediately—but his Shizun had instructed him to stay put and protect the others.
Now, he was stuck pacing, torn with worry.
That was when Ling Yu flashed past him—crying.
He froze. Crying? Did Shengzun scold her?
Before he could decide whether to follow her, Gu Tianzhu shot past him.
"Shi—" Shen Qingyu started, but his Shizun was already gone.
"…zun."
He stared after them, bewildered. What's going on?
A moment later, Gu Tianzhu reappeared. "Follow me. But not too close."
Shen Qingyu nodded instinctively and dashed after him.
----------------------------
For the second time that day, Ling Yu was found in a garden. This time, it was the garden at Jianxin Courtyard, where Gu Tianzhu and his four disciples resided.
She was crying. She could feel her spirit energy going wild in her meridians, and she tried to control it—doing what Xuan Tian had taught her. Breathe in and out. Feel the energy. Follow it. Circulate it.
But it was easier to remember than to do. She knew she could—she'd done it before. But that was when Xuan Tian was with her.
She remembered his expression—blaming her. Her chest tightened, tears flowed harder, and her spirit energy flared again.
"Ling Yu," Gu Tianzhu called gently. He approached slowly, keeping a safe distance.
"Ling Yu, you need to calm down. Center yourself."
"Shizun," she sobbed. "I've tried. But it's hard."
"Close your eyes. Just concentrate on my voice."
Ling Yu obeyed. She closed her eyes and tried to still her breathing. But the moment she did, that image of Xuan Tian's face returned—accusing, hurt. Her breath hitched.
"I can't," she whispered, opening her eyes, looking at him desperately.
"Then don't hold it in," Gu Tianzhu said gently.
She blinked. "Shizun?"
"If it's too much, let it out. Yell, cry, scream—whatever you need. Let it out."
"But… I'm supposed to stay calm. Everyone keeps saying I need to control it."
"Yes. But not everyone calms the same way. For some, it's quiet breathing. For others… it's release."
"So," he encouraged with a soft smile, "if your way is to let it out, then do it."
"It'll hurt you, Shizun."
"No, it won't. I'm much stronger than you. I'll be fine."
"But Iron Wall…"
"Currently, my cultivation is the highest among us."
Ling Yu looked at Gu Tianzhu, torn between doubt and desperation. She wanted to believe him—he was her Shizun, after all—but fear of hurting him held her back. At the same time, her body trembled with the need to release the turbulent spirit energy building inside her.
"Xiao Shimei, Shizun's not lying," Shen Qingyu chimed in gently. "He'll be alright. Just do what he said."
She looked into Gu Tianzhu's eyes. All she saw was sincerity—and she remembered that Xuan Tian trusted this man.
He was her Shizun.
Ling Yu closed her eyes.
And let go.