It was the twelfth lunar month, with light snow falling.0

At the Hundred Lotus Manor, the maids bustled about making dumplings. Steam rose from the boiling pot, carrying with it the cozy warmth of daily life, and each dumpling brimming with broth spoke of simple home comforts.0

Ping’an didn’t quite understand what innate shadow blood meant, but he knew it was some kind of powerful gift. Every day, he asked, “Where’s my sister? When is she coming home?”0

Li Yuan hadn’t immediately brought Tang Nian and Sheng'er back because he feared Gu Xuejian might return. He had attempted to use his ninth rank chameleon parakeet hidden among the reeds by the Eternal Rest River to watch the boat departing in the distance, until a flash of cold light shot over and tore his bird to pieces. His two blackbirds further out witnessed the tragedy. They saw that the culprit was a lone chopstick, presumably fired by Gu Xuejian on board. Judging by its shape, it must have been the boatman’s own utensil.0

That startled Li Yuan. But the boat did not turn back. She had simply removed...0