When Wu LiJing returned to the sect, she went directly to her room with a slightly gloomy face. But just as she was about to enter, she heard a laugh and after contemplating for a moment, she didn't step into her room. She followed that laughter and entered her main courtyard.

The coldness on her body dissipated when she saw two familiar figures sitting around the stone table and interacting harmoniously with smiles on their faces.

There was a female cultivator who looked no younger than eighteen years old. She wore the Moon Sect inner disciple uniform while sitting on the left. She had a small pretty face and could be considered cute with the slight fat on her cheeks that contrasted with her thinner body. The changes of expressions on her face was refreshing and her sweet, doe eyes were animated as she spoke. The male cultivator across from her wore his usual yellow robes and was currently laughing.

Her younger cousin, Wu QiaoHua, continued chatting with her fiancé and Mo ShiLan was listening with a warm smile.

Wu LiJing's lips lifted when she saw that her fiancé was comfortable with her cousin. If she was to marry him in the far future, she wouldn't be too worried about him mistreating Wu QiaoHua, her only family. Wu LiJing slowly walked closer and didn't want to break this atmosphere, but it would be rude not to greet her guest.

"ShiLan, you're here. I hope Qiaohua kept you from feeling too bored."

Mo ShiLan appeared to jump a little when he heard her voice and looked over to her. He smiled and stood up along with Wu QiaoHua. "LiJing, you walked so quietly, you surprised me! Cheng ChunHua told me you would return soon so I decided to wait here. Luckily, QiaoHua saw me and decided to keep me company."

Wu LiJing nodded. "Please, sit back down."

Wu QiaoHua saluted and greeted her.

"QiaoHua, sit down. And we are in my manor, stop with the formalities. How is your cultivation going? Are the teachers teaching you well?" She has been out lately so she hasn't been able to look after Wu QiaoHua properly.

Wu QiaoHua raised her brows. "Eldest Senior Sister! I am tired of talking about cultivating this and that! The teachers have been very harsh lately and just lectured the ones who have been slacking off! I was chatting with Sir Mo about the rabbits I saw in the Silver Forest today. They were so adorable, jumping here and there. But they dared to eat the herbs I had gathered in my basket!" She fumed as she recalled that moment. Her hard work was wasted and she had to start over again.

Mo ShiLan chuckled and Wu LiJing smiled, shaking her head. "Alright, but I am still going to check on your cultivation. The competition is coming up as well as the test for disciples. If you want to be picked for the Sect Competition, you need to work harder."

Wu QiaoHua glanced at her cousin and sighed. She stood up with a pout and clasped her hands respectfully. "Alright. Eldest Senior Sister, Sir ShiLan, enjoy yourselves. I shall excuse myself and go rest. I had to run all over the place today due to those rabbits!"

Then she left. Mo ShiLan stared at her disappearing back for a moment before he turned his attention back to Wu LiJing.

"You should try not to be so strict on her," he said with a soft voice.

With a serious expression, Wu LiJing said, "I spoil her too much, actually. I let her slack off, but this might become detrimental to her in the future. The least I can do is make sure she is improving her cultivation."

Mo ShiLan sighed and nodded after a moment of silence. He smiled and held her hand. "I brought you and QiaoHua some cookies on my way here. But since it's getting late, you can eat them tomorrow instead."

"Mm. Many thanks."

Wu LiJing stared at Mo ShiLan as he started to talk again with a warm smile. After being lost in her thoughts for a while, Mo ShiLan finally realized that she wasn't listening to him.

"LiJing? Is something the matter?"

Wu LiJing snapped out of it and nodded. She stared at him and then suddenly ordered, "ChunHua, you can leave." Cheng ChunHua had been standing on the side in case they needed anything since a guest was over. The maid retreated quietly.

Mo ShiLan suddenly felt nervous when the atmosphere between them changed. Wu LiJing looked at him with a very solemn expression, as multiple thoughts raced in her mind.

She may have given others such a look but never to him before, so Mo ShiLan felt puzzled. What was so serious? Did something happen? Did he act oddly just now?

"ShiLan," she started.

Wu LiJing has been thinking about this for a while and finally decided to tell him. It wasn't fair to hesitate. He always treated her courteously and he also treated her only family well. Those are basically the only characteristics she wanted in her future partner. In fact, she never thought about marrying until those years ago when he appeared with Madam Shao.

He made an effort to get to know her, sent her gifts, visited her to chat with her, and now she could be comfortable around him. She liked the serene atmosphere around them. Not only was he a top bachelor because of his good-looks, he was also kind and patient.

"I was thinking about our marriage."

Mo ShiLan's eyes slightly widened and she didn't notice that the warm hand on top of hers went rigid.

He had a good personality, so she didn't want to wrong him. "Before you could ask for my hand in marriage in the future, I wanted to tell you that..."

"No!" Mo ShiLan let go of her hand and suddenly raised his voice, interrupting her. There was silence all around them.

She blinked. "What?"

He looked away, ashamed. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I cannot marry you."

Wu LiJing's lips slightly parted, but then they closed again and her shock turned to calmness. It was so quiet in the courtyard that sounds of twittering insects could be heard. The warm atmosphere from earlier abruptly faded away.

"I do not love you," he continued in a pained voice. "I-I... I love Wu QiaoHua."

Wu LiJing's eyes widened. A sudden picture flashed in front of her eyes. The feeling of the harmonious atmosphere earlier. The sound of his sincere laughter. He never really laughed like that around her. Now that she thought about it... whenever he sent her gifts, he never forgot to send some to QiaoHua as well. He also asked about her quite often when he visited. She simply thought that was him looking after her cousin for her.

"I'm sorry," he apologized once more. Then he looked up at her with unwavering eyes. "I had thought I could fall in love with you, LiJing. But when I met QiaoHua, I realized what love really was."

"Why didn't you just tell me then?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Because you love me!" he said. "I didn't want to break your heart..."

Wu LiJing was speechless. Actually...

"I also didn't want to make my parents unhappy. They like you very much, Wu LiJing. If I cancelled this engagement, three people who are dear to me would feel sad..."

Wu LiJing opened her lips but he quickly stopped her. "I know. You're probably very sad right now. I also thought I could marry you and watch Wu QiaoHua afar like I always have. But today when you mentioned marriage, I realized I actually can't go through with it."

Wu LiJing suddenly felt a little irritated. "Mo ShiLan, I actually don't love you..."

"Don't lie to make me feel better, LiJing," he said with a very pained face.

She was left speechless again. She wasn't lying, really!

"You always sent me gifts all these years... You made time for me when you could and smiled warmly at me, treating me and my parents well. But I can't lie to myself anymore even if I don't want to let you down." He stood up. "I'll tell my parents that it was my fault and break our engagement."

Before he left, he paused and said one last, "I'm sorry."

Wu LiJing's lips were left parted, and she stared at the courtyard exit for a long time without saying anything. She really was telling the truth! She actually just wanted to tell him that she didn't want to marry now; he would have to wait for many years because she wanted to concentrate on her cultivation! She needed to take revenge for her parents first.

But he suddenly revealed all these things, created a show for himself and made it awkward for her... Also, she only sent those gifts in return for the gifts he sent her as well! She was just being polite... She sighed and rubbed her temple.