The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Great Cold.
At Lingjian Sect, by a lake near Siguo Cliff, a man in gray robes sat alone fishing through a freshly carved ice hole.
Large snowflakes fell like goose feathers, and Gu Shenzhi wore only a thin hemp robe.
His eyes were wrapped in silk cloth, and he lacked even common items like a straw coat or bamboo hat, holding just a crude bamboo pole.
The howling wind swept through, carrying crystalline snow, sharp as a blade.
Sitting alone by the lake, listening to the wind and snow in the mountains, Gu Shenzhi couldn’t help but lapse into a daze to pass the time.
Nineteen years ago, Gu Shenzhi was reincarnated into this world during a dream, becoming the son of the Lingjian Sect’s master with an exceptional wood spirit root—a truly privileged existence, as if his reincarnation had been well-practiced.
However, he was born blind, unable to see the splendid rivers and mountains or the beauties of the world.
From childhood, Gu Shenzhi lived a pampered life, with everything handed to him.
His doting parents ensured he wanted for nothing, even obtaining rare treasures of heaven and earth.
The spiritual treasures he wore could rival those of a Nascent Soul cultivator in both quality and quantity.
But six years ago, a tragedy changed everything.
His parents, attempting to break through to the Void Realm, succumbed to mental turmoil, their techniques faltering, and both perished under the thunder tribulation.
About six months later, the sect’s elders unanimously elected the former sect master’s prized disciple, Fairy Bai Qi, as the new sect master to oversee the five peaks.
In gratitude to her late master, Fairy Bai Qi took Gu Shenzhi as her first disciple, teaching him everything without reservation, even guiding his sword practice hand-in-hand, heedless of propriety between men and women.
Yet, the heavens are unpredictable, and misfortune strikes suddenly.
One night, while attending to his master during her seclusion, Gu Shenzhi’s dantian shattered, and his cultivation foundation was destroyed.
The next morning, an enraged Fairy Bai Qi banished him to Siguo Cliff for confinement, where he had remained for three years.
No one knew what happened that night, and no one dared ask Fairy Bai Qi.
It was said that both emerged from the cave disheveled.
Suddenly, a faint vibration traveled through the fishing pole.
With a casual flick, Gu Shenzhi yanked the bamboo pole and its nearly invisible line.
Water splashed, and in an instant, a fish hidden beneath the surface was flung into the air.
Swish.
A streak of blood flashed through the endless white.
The fish wasn’t hooked but ensnared by the thin line, gutted midair by what seemed an ordinary thread.
With a thud, it landed neatly in the wooden frame behind Gu Shenzhi.
The fish was peculiar—long and scaleless, yet shimmering silver.
Gu Shenzhi’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, thinking this would boost his maidservant’s chances of successfully forming her foundation today.
“Young Master, Young Master, can you hear me? If you can, please answer your servant!”
A woman’s voice called from the nearby bamboo grove, melodious as a nightingale, stirring the heart.
The voice alone suggested a breathtaking beauty.
A young woman approached, holding a rough oil-paper umbrella, dressed in pale red with tassel ornaments at her slender waist and a white fox-fur shawl over her shoulders.
Her jet-black hair was tied into twin buns, her starry eyes sparkling with charm, her tender cheeks like blooming peach blossoms, and her cherry lips evoking pity.
She was a peerless beauty, graceful and captivating, capable of making men willingly offer their hearts with just a glance.
Tao Yao, his nominal maidservant.
Ordinary households would never dare employ such a maid.
Out in the world, she could be mistaken for the master, and if a nobleman took a fancy to her, it could spell disaster—potentially even the ruin of a family.
It is said that she was originally a disciple of the sect, but because she offended a certain inner sect elder, she was framed and punished to serve at the Cliff of Reflection, tending to the Young Sect Master’s daily needs.
Blind in both eyes and unable to cultivate, yet still retaining the title of Young Sect Master for Gu Shenzhi, it was ironic to the extreme.
Anyone sent to a desolate place like the Cliff of Reflection could forget about attaining immortality.
Surviving day after day and stabilizing one’s realm was already difficult enough.
No disciple with a bright future would ever be banished here.
“I’m here!”
Gu Shenzhi deliberately shouted loudly to ensure Tao Yao could hear him clearly.
Seeing her young master fishing in the snow again, Tao Yao hurriedly ran to his side, carefully draping a fox-fur cloak over him and holding up an oil-paper umbrella to shield him from the wind and snow.
“Young Master, you won’t catch any fish in this freezing weather. This servant begs you to return quickly—don’t catch a cold!”
“Very well. I’ve already gained something today anyway. Trouble Little Yao to take a look for me.”
Gu Shenzhi faced the lake and spoke gently.
“Really?”
Tao Yao leaned down, peering curiously into the wooden frame.
Fish were already scarce at the Cliff of Reflection, and in winter, even finding an insect was difficult, let alone a fish.
Glancing into the frame, she saw a fish with eerie light still glimmering in its eyes.
Tao Yao froze for a moment before exclaiming in delight, “It’s a Silver Perch, Young Master!”
The Silver Perch was no ordinary fish.
Its flesh was tender and smooth, rich with spiritual energy, considered a mid-grade immortal delicacy, highly beneficial for Qi Refining cultivators.
Cunning by nature, it only ate live bait, never dead ones, and was incredibly fast and slippery.
Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators could only catch one by sheer luck.
A single Silver Perch was worth two or three high-grade Qi Replenishing Pills.
“Looks like I got lucky today.”
Gu Shenzhi said with a smile, slowly standing with Tao Yao’s support as they headed toward the bamboo grove.
On the way back, Tao Yao stayed close to the Young Sect Master, guiding him with gentle, clear words.
“Young Master, you can’t just wander off like that. What if a wild wolf from the mountain carried you away? This servant doesn’t want to be left alone.”
“Don’t worry. With Little Yao being so pretty and tender, the wolf would go for you first.”
“Hmph, this servant is serious!”
Tao Yao complained, her bright eyes gazing fondly at him.
She liked her blind master.
As if recalling something, Gu Shenzhi asked, “It should be around the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Has the sect sent up the customary porridge yet?”
“It arrived long ago. The person delivering it also brought a letter, written by Bai Qi herself. She said that as long as you admit your fault, you can still be her disciple, and she’ll let bygones be bygones.”
At the mention of this familiar name, Gu Shenzhi momentarily lost himself, memories flashing like a carousel.
Pain, grievance, and anger surged within him, but in the end, they subsided into restraint and helplessness.
At least, it wasn’t the right time yet.
“I’ve done no wrong, so why should I admit fault? Why does Master insist on pressuring me so?”
Gu Shenzhi sighed, saying no more.
“If your dantian hadn’t been destroyed, with your supreme Wood Spiritual Root, you’d probably have rebuilt your foundation by now, left the Cliff of Reflection, and entered the inner sect to cultivate,” Tao Yao said, hands on her hips, indignantly defending him.
“The destruction of your dantian back then must have been that wicked woman’s doing. Everyone knows she was possessed by a snake demon in her early years, and its remnant soul still lingers!”
“Speak carefully!”
Before she could finish, Gu Shenzhi cut her off sternly.
Beneath his silk blindfold, his eyes exuded an inexplicable, terrifying pressure, causing even the wind and snow to pause imperceptibly.
“Fine, fine, this servant admits her mistake.”
Tao Yao muttered, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.
She tilted the oil-paper umbrella slightly, letting a few snowflakes drift down.
A faint chill spread from the tip of his nose through his body.
Gu Shenzhi reached out, groping blindly as if he were a lost traveler in the dark, unable to find his way.
“This servant is here.”
Tao Yao took his right hand, guiding it to lightly tap her forehead—less a punishment, more a playful tease.
The master and servant, one in gray and one in red, walked quietly through the snowstorm under the oil-paper umbrella, their footprints quickly buried by fresh snow…
P.S. This book is free of toxic tropes and cuckoldry, with a full harem!