Several days later, in the serene realm of Liaoyan, Mi Xingzhe's initiation ceremony was held.
Li Luoning disliked crowds. He disliked ceremonies even more. But formality was formality—only after the initiation would Mi Xingzhe's name be officially entered into the sect records.
The hall of Xuanming Immortal Sovereign resembled a library more than a court. Ancient texts and hanging scriptures lined the walls, and countless initiation scrolls—each tied with talisman cords—floated in neat rows overhead like suspended history.
Sandalwood perfumed the air. From time to time, faint glimmers of gold flickered across the scrolls, like fireflies trapped in parchment.
The seating faced north, arranged on both sides by rank.
Li Luoning's attire today was more formal than usual: a silver hairpin set with a sparkling red gem held his hair in place, and subtle embroidery traced the hem of his white robe—refined, elegant, never ostentatious.
He entered the hall at an unhurried pace, Yun Qingyi and Mi Xingzhe following behind. Mu Han, as senior, sat on the left.
Mi Xingzhe's clothing had been adjusted for the occasion as well. His white robe fit neatly instead of hanging loose, a silver hairpin sat at his crown, and a translucent belt cinched his waist, making him look cleaner, fresher—almost like he belonged here.
Xuanming Immortal Sovereign's voice rang out, formal and clear.
"The initiation ceremony begins."
At once, the talisman scrolls in the hall began to rotate, faster and faster. One scroll peeled away from the formation—Mi Xingzhe's—and drifted forward with a quiet, deliberate weight, settling into Xuanming's hands.
Yun Qingyi stepped forward, received the scroll respectfully, then presented it to Li Luoning—who sat in the central position reserved for the master.
As the scroll unfurled, lines of shining gold characters floated into the air.
"Enter the immortal sect; honor the master's teachings. Seek benevolence; spread love to all. Respect elders; share the same Heaven, bear the same Earth. Life after life, never abandon one another."
Li Luoning read the golden words aloud. As his voice settled, the characters faded one by one into nothingness.
Then Li Luoning lifted his hand.
"In each generation, disciples are recorded in the scroll," he said, voice calm, carrying quietly through the hall. "May you be free of restless thoughts and needless burdens, transcending time and distance. In the future, may you find peace even in darkness, and dispel worries that cling to the heart."
He paused, gaze steady on the kneeling boy before him.
"Therefore, I grant you a sect name: Yun Wan Nian."
With two fingers, Li Luoning wrote the name on the edge of the scroll.
Yun Wan Nian.
Then he continued, voice turning slightly firmer—an oath, not a suggestion.
"A thousand thoughts return unbidden in dreams; solitary concerns are spoken only in verses. From this day forth, you are my closed-door disciple, Yun Wan Nian. With this initiation scroll, you must not betray trust, deceive, or harm others. As a disciple of our sect, you must hold compassion, uphold righteousness, and maintain propriety in all matters."
Li Luoning flicked his fingers lightly. The initiation scroll rolled itself up and flew back into the air, returning to the many others as if it had always belonged there.
Xuanming Immortal Sovereign declared, "The ceremony is complete."
The hall relaxed, the pressure easing like a breath finally released.
Mi Xingzhe's brows—tight with confusion and tension throughout—slowly smoothed out.
Beside him, Yun Qingyi beamed with open pride, almost like an overjoyed older sibling. Mu Han nodded, eyes gentle, then lowered his gaze to his tea, thoughtful for a moment.
Mi Xingzhe stood, still a little dazed, looking around as if he wasn't sure where to put his hands—or himself. When he noticed Yun Qingyi beckoning, he hurried over and tugged lightly at Yun Qingyi's sleeve.
"Qingyi… can we go now? There are so many people…"
Yun Qingyi patted his hand in reassurance.
"Just endure a little longer. We'll be able to leave soon."
"Oh."
Mi Xingzhe immediately lowered his head and tried to hide behind Yun Qingyi as much as possible.
A voice approached, bright and confident.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Xingzhe—ah, no." Moon Rulun clasped her fists with a grin. "It should be Junior Brother Yun Wan Nian. I didn't have the chance to thank you for speaking up in the hall that day."
Mi Xingzhe waved both hands at once, flustered.
"No, no—there's no need. I should be thanking you. If you hadn't stepped in that day, I would've died. War General Rushan… you saved my life."
Moon Rulun laughed softly, then slapped his shoulder with the easy force of someone used to armor and training.
"Heh. What a polite little thing." She turned to Yun Qingyi, eyes amused. "Qingyi, where did you pick him up? I like his temperament."
Yun Qingyi smiled.
"Today our junior brother officially joins the sect. Rushan—if you're free, you must come to Jingyun Residence for a small celebration."
Then, hearing the warmth in Rushan's tone, Yun Qingyi leaned close and whispered into Mi Xingzhe's ear.
"Hurry and call her 'Sister.' With a war general backing you, who would dare trouble you in Liaoyan Immortal Realm?"
Mi Xingzhe finally realized what was expected of him. He lifted his head and met Moon Rulun's smile—one that clearly said Go on.
"S-sister," he said softly.
"Good boy." Moon Rulun's voice softened, unexpectedly warm. "Wan Nian, if you need anything in the Immortal Realm later, come to me."
On the way back to Jingyun Residence, Li Luoning walked ahead, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. Behind him, Yun Qingyi and Mi Xingzhe chatted as they walked, unhurried.
Mi Xingzhe found a peach branch somewhere and twirled it as he talked, gesturing with it like a careless weapon.
"Qingyi… does Sister Rushan always treat people so kindly?"
Yun Qingyi considered for a moment, then answered slowly.
"Rushan… she accidentally consumed a fairy grass when she was young and formed an immortal core from it. After that, Master Qingyuan brought her into Liaoyan and raised her. She used to be quiet—didn't like to speak with others."
His voice softened as he recalled it.
"Once, Master found her crying alone in a corner and comforted her. Since then, Master told me to take more care of her. She's a war general, yes—but she's also kind. And now that you're Master's closed-door disciple, she naturally treats you differently."
Mi Xingzhe nodded, thoughtful.
"No wonder she called me 'little junior brother' today." He paused, then added, half-musing, "Even though she's not from our sect, she feels like… someone you and Master have looked after."
Yun Qingyi continued, voice steady.
"She was a mortal once. There was a famine—a once-in-a-century one. She got separated from her family and wandered alone until she was starving to death. At the edge of dying, she grabbed grass from the ground and ate it."
He glanced at Mi Xingzhe.
"One of those blades was fairy grass. By sheer luck, Qingyuan happened to pass by and picked her up."
Mi Xingzhe stared, stunned.
"Grass can… turn into an immortal core?"
Yun Qingyi nodded.
"Even in Liaoyan, fairy grass is rare beyond measure. For an ordinary person to eat it by accident… that was fate."
Mi Xingzhe twirled the peach branch again, the bloom brushing his fingers.
His voice dropped, almost to himself.
"I wonder if I could find a piece of grass like that someday… I don't need an immortal core. Just… any kind of core. Something that would make me not an ethereal body anymore."
He walked a few more steps—then suddenly remembered something else.
He hurried forward, asking quickly, disbelief still lingering in him.
"Do I have to call myself Yun Wan Nian from now on? And… do I have to call Li Luoning 'Master'?"
At the front, Li Luoning stopped and turned.
His expression held a knowing calm.
"Don't you like it?" he asked, faintly amused.
Mi Xingzhe shook his head quickly.
"No! The name is nice—really. But… I was an orphan. Grandpa Mi said my name had meaning."
At the mention of Grandpa Mi, sadness passed briefly across his face.
Li Luoning's gaze softened.
"If you're not comfortable, you can keep your original name," he said gently. "It's fine."
Yun Qingyi grinned.
"From now on, you're my brother."
The happiest person on the road wasn't Mi Xingzhe at all—it was Yun Qingyi. His smile didn't fade once, his steps light as if he'd just been given a gift.
And it made sense. From the first moment he'd seen Mi Xingzhe, Yun Qingyi had felt an inexplicable familiarity—as if the boy were a brother he'd somehow lost and found again. And after days of caring for him, Yun Qingyi had developed a stubborn instinct to protect him. Every time Mi Xingzhe looked timid, Yun Qingyi's chest would tighten.
Li Luoning glanced back, unbothered.
"As for calling me 'Master'…" he said lightly. "If you're not comfortable, then don't."
Mi Xingzhe lowered his eyes.
"I've just… never called anyone that before."
"It's up to you."
Li Luoning smiled, then turned forward again and continued walking.
Mi Xingzhe's fingers tightened around the peach blossom branch. His eyes darkened, thoughts turning inward.
Maybe he only needed a closed-door disciple for appearances… maybe he doesn't care who it is. That's why he doesn't care what I call him.
His mood sank so quickly Yun Qingyi noticed at once. He stopped, turning back.
"What's wrong?" Yun Qingyi asked.
Mi Xingzhe hesitated, then spoke in a voice threaded with self-doubt.
"Qingyi… today's ceremony was so grand. Master must be important in Liaoyan. Why would he choose someone like me…?"
Yun Qingyi blinked. "What do you mean?"
Mi Xingzhe's voice grew smaller, uglier with shame the more he spoke.
"Under Master Qingyuan there's Sister Rushan. Under Master there's you. Everyone else has talent, background, strength… and me?"
He dropped his head.
"I'm just a useless ethereal body. If Master takes me as his disciple… doesn't that embarrass him?"
Yun Qingyi reached out and patted his head, steady and gentle.
"Master would never care what others think. You have your own uniqueness. There's no need to compare yourself to anyone."
Mi Xingzhe nodded, but he walked forward absently, still tangled in his own thoughts—so absorbed he didn't notice Li Luoning had stopped.
When he lifted his head to speak again—
He found Li Luoning standing directly in front of him.
Too close.
Li Luoning's face was serious, the calm in his eyes edged with something firm and unmoving. Mi Xingzhe went silent at once, startled into stillness.
Li Luoning's voice dropped, low and cold—not cruel, but absolute.
"As your Master, I don't care what you used to think of yourself."
His gaze locked onto Mi Xingzhe, steady as iron.
"From today onward, you are no longer the same Mi Xingzhe as before. You are not worthless. You are my closed-door disciple."
Mi Xingzhe swallowed hard.
"I-I understand. I just… I thought—" He stumbled over his words, trying to undo everything he'd just said.
He didn't notice Li Luoning's expression darkening.
Yun Qingyi did.
He coughed lightly—a warning.
But Mi Xingzhe kept muttering, still trapped in old habits of self-denial, as if repeating them might keep him safe.
Li Luoning's brows drew together.
"Yun Wan Nian."
His voice was sharp enough to freeze the air.
Mi Xingzhe startled so badly he jumped. The peach branch slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
He lifted his head and met Li Luoning's stern gaze. Nervousness rose like a tide. His hands flew behind his back as if hiding them could hide him.
"M-Master…" he stammered, not sure what to do with the word once it came out.
Li Luoning stepped forward.
Mi Xingzhe retreated, step by step, until his back hit the peach blossom tree behind him.
He glanced back, then forced an apologetic smile and slid half behind the trunk, peeking out with only half his head, eyes wide—silently begging Yun Qingyi to save him.
Li Luoning's folding fan pressed against the tree trunk, close enough to Mi Xingzhe's cheek to make him go rigid.
"Now that I am your Master, we establish a rule today."
His voice was quiet. That made it worse.
"From now on, I don't want to hear you call yourself worthless."
Mi Xingzhe carefully pushed the fan away, voice small.
"I-I understand… I'm just… used to it."
Yun Qingyi stepped in quickly, smoothing the air.
"Master, our junior brother is still young. We can teach him slowly. There's no need to rush."
"I understand, Master," Mi Xingzhe blurted out at once, eager to end the moment.
Li Luoning studied him, then finally let the tension ease.
"Good."
He smiled, closed his fan, and turned forward again, continuing the walk as if nothing had happened.
Mi Xingzhe took one breath—
Then, without thinking, started again.
"But as an ethereal body, everyone said I was—"
Yun Qingyi slapped a hand over his mouth instantly.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Was this boy truly determined to test their master's patience to the end?
Yun Qingyi glanced at Li Luoning's back, then turned to Mi Xingzhe with a playful, wicked smile.
"Master," Yun Qingyi called out cheerfully, "it seems our junior brother hasn't remembered what you just said."
Ahead, Li Luoning's lips curved into a slow smirk. He opened his fan, turned his head slightly, and replied without missing a beat—
"It's fine if he doesn't remember. A few hits will make him remember."