Gu Nianjun Comes Calling, Jealousy Explodes, Beyond Peak Mastery, Toward the Great Self

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

Beneath flowers and moonlight, the red candles had long gone out. Third Layer proficiency steadily accumulated. The next morning, wind and snow gradually subsided. Red blossoms upon cold branches wore coats of snow, while frost hung from roof tiles and eaves. All sounds lay hushed; the scene was serene and pleasant.

Yet within the spacious bedchamber, their sword practice had been thoroughly exhilarating. The day before, their twin swords had joined in harmony, and the first, second, and third layers had all gained an initial degree of coordination. Still, it had been somewhat rushed. Now that they were alone in the chamber, there were no more restraints.

All the affection, desire, resentment, and grievance they had accumulated seemed to be poured into this sword art. They lost themselves entirely, their ears deaf to all else. In the blink of an eye, dawn had come. Though Xiao Tuan was young, she was clever by nature, and all affairs large and small at Jade Fragrance Water Pavilion passed through her hands. Last night's snowstorm had been rather fierce, so that morning she needed to have people clear the snow and tend the courtyard.

Xiao Tuan summoned workers from Delicacies Tower, hiring them with money to sweep away the snow and tidy the courtyard. She called out, "Before entering the courtyard, stuff your ears and keep your heads down. Remember this well—you must not look up or glance around. The flowers and plants inside all possess immense abilities. You are poor and frail; if you look at them carelessly, at best your minds will grow muddled and you will faint on the spot. At worst, cold wind will enter your bodies and blazing heat will scorch you, leaving you gravely ill. In the worst case, you will