When Jin Shu woke, he wasn’t sure what hurt more—his body, or the knowledge that Liu Hua still hadn’t let go.

“Jin Shu is fine, just qi exhaustion,” came a voice nearby.

He couldn’t turn his head to look, but he recognized the speaker—it was the same healer who had given him a pill after his match with Ling Shi. He still didn’t know her name.

“Kay, thanks, Xi Xi,” Liu Hua said casually.

A moment later, the world shifted around him without warning.

“Welcome back,” said Grand Elder Feng Lian. “That one must be important to you, if you held back even in your battle-crazed state.”

Apparently, they had returned to the elders’ platform. Before Liu Hua could respond, the scrape of three chairs rang out, followed by hurried footsteps.

“Sister Hua, how is Jin Shu?” Tian Li asked, arriving first.

“Is he injured?” Biyu added. “I can heal the wounds again, if needed.”

“By the looks of it, he's enjoying himself,” Li Xue teased.

He was most definitely not enjoying himself… much. Aside from the exquisite softness, the fresh, rain-like scent she carried, and the warmth of her body—he wasn’t enjoying anything about the experience.

Fighting against his exhaustion… and the comfort, he pulled his head out of Liu Hua’s embrace.

“Seriously, let me go, Liu Hua,” he said. His voice was steadier now; he didn’t need to drain every last drop of strength just to speak.

“Hmm…” she hummed, as if giving it genuine thought. “I’ll do it for a kiss.”

He looked up at her, baffled. “Have you been learning from Li Xue or something?”

An innocent whistle came from behind him.

Of course she had. He should’ve known better than to let the two of them chat after their match.

“I’m not kissing you. Just let me go.”

“No kiss? Then you stay.”

“Would you mind letting Jin Shu go during the reward ceremony?” came Chen Ai Yun’s voice from her seat.

“I guess… if Big Sis Ai Yun says so, I’ll have to,” Liu Hua said with an exaggerated sigh of disappointment.

“Well, the reward ceremony will begin in just a moment. Could you release him now?” Chen Ai Yun asked, her voice gently pressing.

“…Fine,” Liu Hua huffed, and abruptly let go.

Without warning, Jin Shu’s limp body slipped backward and crashed onto the floor with a heavy thud. He lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, wondering what he had done in his past lives to deserve torture at the hands of such a crazed woman.

Then, three beautiful and concerned faces leaned over him.

Perhaps… he was more blessed than cursed. If enduring one lunatic meant seeing this scene, maybe it was worth it.

“Do you need help?” Biyu asked, offering her hand.

“It’s his own fault. He gave up paradise for his pride,” Li Xue said with mock sympathy.

“Li Xue, don’t say that,” Tian Li reprimanded gently.

Li Xue shrugged. “What? It’s the truth.”

“Even so, you’ll just hurt his pride more.”

Maybe he wasn’t as blessed as he thought…

Still, he took Biyu’s outstretched hand, allowing her to help him up. He had to lean lightly against her shoulder just to stay on his feet.

“Biyu’s the only one who truly cares for me,” he sighed dramatically, channeling Li Xue’s flair. “But don’t worry… you two are still invited to the wedding.”

Tian Li and Li Xue both shot him icy glares.

“What about me and my little sis?” Liu Hua asked sweetly. “You’ve already slept with me, surely you wouldn’t be so cruel as to abandon me now?”

“We only slept together—!” he blurted.

But his support vanished once more, and he dropped back down, this time landing in a seated heap.

Looking up at Biyu, he saw the displeased twist of her lips. Around them, several elders and disciples were casting strange looks.

“No! We just shared a bed! Nothing happened!” he protested, trying to claw his way out of the hole he was digging. And digging. And digging.

It was then that his stepmother’s heavenly voice rang out to rescue him.

“Will the top eight contestants please gather on the main stage? The reward ceremony will begin shortly.”

He’d thought it before, but now he was certain: his stepmother wasn’t just a cultivator, she was his guardian goddess, ever there in his hour of need.

Down below, Bing Hou and Zhu Ren were the first to ascend the stage, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“Bing Hou—my Ice Phoenix! I love you!”

“Zhu Ren, I’ve decided you’re my idol from now on!”

“Hou!”

“Ren!”

The audience was split in its devotion—until the six from the elders’ platform began descending the steps. Then the crowd exploded into even wilder applause.

“Liu Hua is number one!”

“Tian Li! We love you! Fashion Queen!”

“Fan Biyu, she’s our Jade Goddess!”

“Li Xue and Zhu Ren! We will spread the doctrine of Smallness is Justice!”

“Ling Shi spares no mercy! She is a true warrior!”

“Jin Shu will show you all! Weapons are supreme!”

The cheering continued even after all eight contestants had taken their places on stage—until Elder Di Ti stepped forward and raised a hand, quieting the arena with a single gesture.

“Thank you all for your enthusiasm,” she said. “Now, we will begin conferring the rewards, starting from eighth place up to first.”

She paused, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Actually… it seems there were several ties. So instead, we’ll proceed from sixth to first.”

Stepping up to Li Xue, she spoke again. “Li Xue, you placed sixth. For your efforts, you will be awarded one hundred thousand sect contribution points and a Wind Source Stone to aid your cultivation of wind techniques.”

The crowd erupted again.

“Oh wow! So many points! It would take hundreds of missions to earn that!”

“Seriously? A Wind Source Stone?! If you're lucky, they say one can contain a Wind Spirit!”

“Even without one, a Wind Source Stone is priceless!”

Elder Di Ti handed Li Xue a crystal-clear stone. Within, a faint swirl of energy spun like a miniature tornado.

Then she turned toward Biyu and Zhu Ren.

“Fan Biyu and Zhu Ren, you both tied for fifth place. For your efforts, you will each be awarded one hundred fifty thousand contribution points.”

She held out a scroll to Biyu. “This is a record of all known details about the Life-Giving Jadeite Physique, along with medical techniques developed for you by our very own Elder Xi Yue.”

Biyu accepted it with a graceful bow. “Thank you.”

Then Di Ti turned to Zhu Ren and presented a pair of sleek daggers.

“These are attuned to your dagger substitution art. Though they appear as just two blades, each contains a spatial pocket holding thousands more. With them, you can carry a virtually unlimited number of daggers on your person.”

Zhu Ren examined the blades closely. “Thank you, Elder Di.”

Di Ti gave a small wave in acknowledgment, then turned to Bing Hou.

“Bing Hou, you placed fourth. For your efforts, you will receive two hundred thousand contribution points, along with this frost essence. With it, your cultivation of ice techniques may very well double in speed.”

She held out an icy-blue crystal, but Bing Hou hesitated before taking it.

“Elder, if I may, could I ask a question?”

Di Ti blinked. “Go ahead.”

“The rewards listed in the tournament announcement only mentioned physical prizes for third place and above. These rewards seem… different.”

“Oh? Is that all?” Di Ti chuckled. “These rewards were specially prepared for each of you by the elders. Even the Vice-Sect Master and Sect Master contributed personally.”

She gestured to the frost essence. “That one came from the Vice-Sect Master.”

Bing Hou accepted the crystal and bowed toward the elders’ platform. “Thank you, Vice-Sect Master, for the gift.”

Sun Mei’er smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, you’re one of mine.”

Bing Hou frowned slightly at the cryptic response, but before she could ask more, Di Ti turned to Tian Li and Ling Shi.

“You both tied for third place. Each of you will receive three hundred fifty thousand contribution points. In addition, Tian Li will be given a special technique I recently acquired.”

She produced a scroll from her sleeve. “This technique should elevate your clothing designs to the next level.”

Tian Li accepted it with a graceful smile. “Thank you, Elder Ti.”

Di Ti nodded warmly, then turned to Ling Shi.

“As for you… your master declined the special reward on your behalf. Instead, you’ll receive the original prize for third place.”

She held out a black token etched with runes. “This grants you a one-time pass to one of the core elders’ training grounds. Use it wisely—it’s a rare privilege.”

Finally, it was Jin Shu’s turn.

He straightened, barely able to contain his excitement—surely this was when they’d hand over the all-access pass to the sect library.

But instead, Elder Di Ti gave him a strange look… and muttered something under her breath. He barely caught it.

“…really does look like a woman…”

Jin Shu blinked. Of course he looked like a woman—he was disguised as one.

Di Ti’s voice rang out again, now more formal. “After a long and detailed discussion between the core elders, a special reward has been approved for you. One that required changes to long-standing rules and traditions.”

A strange unease curled in his chest.

Her next words confirmed it.

“Please undo your technique.”

He hesitated, eyes flicking toward his mother.

She nodded, calm and confident.

Taking a breath, Jin Shu trusted her—and undid the transformation technique. With a soft silver flash, his true form was revealed.

At first, silence.

Then, low murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Wait… is that…?”

“Oh my god! That’s a man!”

“Jin Shu’s a guy?!”

“No way! Why would a man be in our sect?!”

“Maybe he’s just a really masculine-looking girl?”

“Nope. That’s a man. A very handsome man.”

Elder Di Ti raised her hand again, quieting the clamor.

“Yes. Jin Shu is male. He is the son of the Vice-Sect Master and was accepted under special circumstances. As his prize, he will be permitted to remain in the sect for one month, with the possibility of occasional visits thereafter.”

She paused meaningfully.

“Certain conditions apply, which will be discussed with the elder council in private.”

The crowd erupted once more—this time in shocked disbelief.

“No way… That’s never happened before!”

“A man? In our sect? That breaks five hundred years of tradition!”

“I mean… he’s pretty hot. I wouldn’t mind.”

“If he’s allowed in, why can’t my boyfriend visit?”

“Is your boyfriend the Vice-Sect Master’s son?”

“…No?”

“Then there’s your answer.”

“But that’s not fair!”

“So? Rules are made by the strong.”

Jin Shu ignored the crowd and opened his mouth to say something—when he paused, feeling a prickling sensation on the nape of his neck. He glanced back and found Ling Shi glaring at him.

Right, with my secret revealed, I no longer owe her that favor… but maybe I can exchange it?

He covered his lips with qi and attempted the voice transmission technique for the first time. As he whispered, he could feel the qi around his mouth wrap around the sound waves, allowing him to direct the sound where he wished. And right now, he wanted it to go straight into Ling Shi’s ears.

“Uh… can you hear me?”

She gave him a confused glance. “What do you want?”

“Uh… about that favor. If you leave Tian Li alone from now on, I’ll still owe you one.”

“…Fine.”

“Yeah? Really?”

“Yes. Now leave me alone.”

He breathed a quiet sigh of relief—first because the technique had worked, and second because she agreed to leave Tian Li alone.

Then, before Elder Di Ti could move on to Liu Hua, he raised his hand slightly to stop her.

“Um… Elder Di, what about the library pass?”

She glanced back at him, studying him for a moment longer than she had the others. “It will be discussed with the elder council.”

She didn’t give him a chance to say anything else, spinning on her heel and stepping toward Liu Hua.

He blinked, a strange feeling settling in his chest. Her attitude had definitely shifted when speaking to him—shorter, colder. After a moment, he remembered that some of the women in the sect harbored resentment toward men.

She might be one of them.

He said nothing more, simply watching as Elder Di Ti continued the ceremony.