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He had told her all this himself after they grew close. He had always reminded her not to be deceived by illusions.

Only now, upon seeing Feng Changdong again, did Qiao Ranran understand that he had always been warning her not to be deceived by "illusions." Those "illusions" had not meant Feng Changdong's Enchanting Demon gift, but everything between her and Wen Ziheng.

She still remembered Feng Changdong asking whether she liked Wen Ziheng. How had she answered then? She had said she did—only her kind of liking was probably different from what they imagined. Before she could explain any further, something had interrupted her.

And so she had never had the chance to see the light in Feng Changdong's eyes slowly go out.

Qiao Ranran's distraction lasted only an instant. In the flicker of an eye, she regained her usual composure and stood quietly behind Qi Zhuoyu, calmly accepting the scrutiny of everyone present.

Ever since his injury all those years ago, Ji Qingming had stopped concerning himself with affairs both within and outside the sect, so receiving Sword Venerable Jinglin fell to Qi Zhuoyu alone. In any case, this was just how the Profound Heart Sect was: only a handful of people from top to bottom, without even a disciple to serve tea. Qi Zhuoyu had to fetch Qiao Ranran himself, leaving Sword Venerable Jinglin and Feng Changdong waiting awkwardly in the great hall as cold drafts whistled through.

Qi Zhuoyu stepped aside, revealing Qiao Ranran behind him. "Sword Venerable, Fellow Daoist Feng, this is our sect's disciple, Qiao Ranran." Then he nodded to Qiao Ranran. "Junior Sister, this is Sword Venerable Jinglin of the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect, and this is the young master of the Feng Family, Feng Changdong."

Qiao Ranran greeted them politely. "Sword Venerable