Three days later, Chen Jinshu arrived in town with her senior brothers.
Their master's mortal self had been sold to Huayue House, a local pleasure hall. Because of her young age, she had been placed under strict training to learn music and the arts.
"What exactly is the key for Master to overcome her tribulation?" Chen Jinshu asked, seated on the third floor of Huayue House. She watched Liu Huameng being scolded and struck by the madam in the courtyard behind the house, clearly puzzled.
She had once believed that the trial centered around escaping from her toxic family, yet even after being sold to a brothel, there were still no signs of breakthrough. No signs of transcendence.
"I think what weighs most heavily on Master's heart isn't her family," Hua Jingyi said thoughtfully, "but the bitter years she endured in the brothel. At this point, she's already cut off from family life and begun growing as an independent person."
Zheng Shaosi gave a faint shake of his head. The others exchanged confused glances. Could it be that there was something none of them knew?
"Senior Brother, you were the first to become Master's disciple. Do you know if she went through something unusual while living as a mortal?"
Chen Jinshu looked toward Zheng Shaosi. He had spent the most time with their master and might hold answers they lacked.
"Before she entered the cultivation world," Zheng Shaosi said slowly, "Master experienced a painful romance. A regret she never forgot."
The others stared at him, stunned.
They hadn't expected this at all. That their master's tribulation… was a love trial?
"Then everything we did before… does that mean it was all meaningless?"
"No," Zheng Shaosi replied calmly. "You've all had a positive effect. What you did in Qingquan Village helped shape her outlook. When she was young, she missed her chance with the one she loved because she was too timid and insecure. But look at her now—she's the same age as back then, yet her eyes are different. Not timid anymore, but resolute."
The others turned their gaze toward Liu Huameng. She was practicing the pipa despite frequent mistakes and constant scolding. The madam hit her often, but there was no fear in her eyes—only determination.
The other girls, all new to the instrument, could barely hold it properly. Yet Liu Huameng, after only a few days, was already playing in earnest.
Though harsh, the madam couldn't hide her excitement. She had clearly stumbled upon rare talent and, driven by appreciation, had become stricter with her.
"Her eyes really are different," someone murmured. "Maybe she's already given up on that rotten family. At least here she gets food as long as she performs well. Better than being beaten and starved every day."
"I still can't believe Master is experiencing a love tribulation," Bu Yuanxiang said, face filled with disbelief. "What kind of man could be so remarkable that she still remembers him after all these years?"
In her mind, their master had always been a composed, disciplined cultivator—someone destined to ascend through sheer force of will.
"It's always the ones you can't have that you remember the longest," Chen Jinshu said softly.
"Let's just wait and see what happens next."
Another two years passed in the blink of an eye.
Though they still visited the brothel regularly to monitor their master's condition, most of their time was spent cultivating in a cave dwelling in the nearby mountains.
They had already lost several years helping their master, and they couldn't afford to fall too far behind. When she returned, they needed to be ready.
By now, aside from Dai Yuzhu, the others had all reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Bu Yuanxiang and the other senior disciples were just one rare spiritual item or breakthrough away from forming their Golden Cores.
Unfortunately, obtaining such treasures from the sect would not be easy.
They had missed the last Inner Sect Tournament three years ago, right when they had gone to aid their master. The next one was still around ten years away.
Of course, for Foundation-level cultivators, ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
"Did you notice that there's a boy hanging around Master?" someone asked.
"Where?" Dai Yuzhu leaned forward with interest, eyes scanning toward the rear courtyard. Sure enough, she spotted Liu Huameng and a boy talking in a secluded corner.
"My god. Leave it to the brothel to teach them how to flirt early," Xie Mofeng muttered.
"What are you saying?" Bu Yuanxiang shot him a glare. "They're just kids, barely into their teens. It's not like they're doing anything inappropriate. Just talking."
She didn't like anyone smearing their master's image, not even jokingly.
"Senior Brother, when did this boy show up?" Chen Jinshu asked. She hadn't noticed anything during her earlier visits. Their monitoring was done on rotation, and only special circumstances called for a full gathering.
"Three days ago," Zheng Shaosi said. "You were still in seclusion then, so I didn't mention it."
"What's his background?" Chen Jinshu asked. "The way Master looks at him… there's a hint of fondness."
"He's the son of a local butcher. They met when he stepped in to save her from some thugs on the street. Ever since, they've met up secretly, slipping out through a hole in the courtyard wall."
Realization dawned on the others.
"Why did she leave the brothel in the first place?"
"She must have felt cooped up. Anyone would want to breathe free air after being confined for so long. But dressed in brothel clothes, she stood out. The street thugs noticed right away and started harassing her. The boy happened to be nearby and stepped in. Classic hero-saves-damsel moment."
Chen Jinshu frowned.
Even if the butcher's son was strong, it seemed unlikely he could fight off several grown men alone. Especially just by coincidence when Liu Huameng was on the street.
"How many times has she left the brothel like this?"
"Six or seven. Each time, she only stayed out briefly before returning."
"And this butcher's son... are we sure this is his first appearance?"
Her expression turned thoughtful, though she didn't jump to conclusions.
"You think this whole thing was staged?" someone asked. "That she's being manipulated?"
"We can't rule it out," Chen Jinshu replied. "If this is her first love, and it ends in betrayal... it would explain the emotional weight of the tribulation. Or maybe... this isn't even the man tied to her fate."
"Let's wait and see," Zheng Shaosi said. "If he's genuine, good. If not, this might become the heartbreak that cements her trial."
"I hope it's not him," Bu Yuanxiang said, voice tight. "Master is still too naive. This is when she's most likely to make a mistake."