Icy Snow Mountain! A Uproar for You!

Lin Zhiyan sat down without replying.

She sat on the stone bench, gazing at the emerald bamboo in the courtyard. Her eyes were calm, but a tempest raged in her heart.

Li Bufan sat down as well, directly across from her.

The two simply sat there, neither of them speaking. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

A breeze drifted past, carrying several fallen leaves that spun through the air.

For a full quarter of an hour, they sat quietly like that, listening to the wind, the birdsong, and each other's heartbeats.

Only then did Lin Zhiyan speak. "You became a core disciple?" Her voice remained cool, yet a trace of tenderness flickered through her eyes.

Li Bufan nodded. "Mm. At the Nine Peaks Martial Meet, I took first place on Blade Peak. The core disciple ceremony was held a few days ago, and the Sect Master personally bestowed the position upon me." His voice was calm and held not the slightest hint of smugness, though there was a thread of pride in his tone.

Lin Zhiyan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Once you become a core disciple, you can open up a mountain peak of your own. Have you chosen a location?"

Li Bufan said, "To the southeast of Songhe Gate, not far from Blade Peak."

Lin Zhiyan nodded. "That's good."

After a pause, she added, "From now on... you'll be the Peak Master of your own domain. No longer that little follower who trailed behind me."

Li Bufan looked at her, and a surge of impulse rose in his heart.

He took a deep breath. "Zhiyan, what... are we, now?" His voice carried both nervousness and anticipation.

At the word "Zhiyan," Lin Zhiyan's body trembled