Great Zhou Dynasty, capital city, Western District, deep within a bluestone alley.
An ordinary-looking small courtyard stood quietly there, its walls mottled with age and green vines winding around them, no different from its neighboring homes. Yet any perceptive passerby would faintly sense that the space around this courtyard seemed several degrees more "solidified" than elsewhere, as though an invisible barrier had completely isolated the aura and clamor within.
The courtyard held a world of its own. A refined, tidy two-story building stood inside, its windows bright and spotless. Several rare spirit plants grew in the yard, their branches and leaves stretching freely as they gave off a faint, refreshing fragrance. They had clearly been tended with great care.
This was the "home" Mo Lin, Zi Yan, and Su Youwei had quietly built in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty over the past year.
The lingering glow of the setting sun filtered through the window lattice, laying a warm golden halo across the quiet room on the second floor.
Mo Lin stood before the window with his hands behind his back. Over the past year, he seemed to have grown a little taller. The childishness had faded from his handsome face, leaving him more composed, while his black eyes were as deep as ancient wells. His aura was restrained, yet he faintly resonated with the heavens and earth around him.
"Creak—"
The door to the quiet room was gently pushed open.
The first to enter was a girl in a purple dress—Zi Yan. At thirteen or fourteen, her graceful figure was beginning to take shape. Her skin was fair, her face delicately oval, and her purple eyes were lively and crystal-clear. The corners of her lips naturally curled upward, giving her a bright, playful charm. Her purple hair was