Qian Yu was still a little dazed and only slowly came back to his senses after Tao Xi called him.
"Qian Yuzi? Qian Yuzi?"
Tao Xi saw that the person in front of him was finally responsive, so he continued asking, smiling:
"We've finished today's competition. What are your plans next?"
"Nothing for now. Miss Tao, do you have any suggestions?" Qian Yu replied.
Tao Xi had been waiting for this moment and immediately brightened:
"During the Wanlai Festival, the Holy Tree of the Sound Clan activates its spirit-gathering power. I'm sure Qian Yuzi knows this?"
Qian Yu nodded, motioning for him to continue.
Seeing this, Tao Xi eagerly explained:
"I heard that the Otowa Tree looks completely different when it's gathering spiritual energy, and sometimes, golden sound-feather leaves fall from it.
It's said that whoever catches a golden sound-feather leaf will soon meet their ideal partner..."
At this point, Tao Xi felt as if he were awkwardly making a date invitation, and hurriedly added:
"Of course, our main goal is just to see the Otowa Tree in its transformed state. Catching golden leaves would just be a bonus."
Qian Yu noticed Tao Xi's slight embarrassment and said warmly:
"It's such a rare sight, we definitely can't miss it. Besides, we're free now anyway. Let's go."
Since the competition had just ended, they couldn't head out immediately. After resting at their lodgings for a while, they set off toward the Otowa Tree.
The Otowa Tree, sacred to the Sound Clan, stood on the highest hill. During the Wanlai Festival, its spirit-gathering ability activated, transforming its appearance.
Although most contestants knew about this, they were busy with battles and few had the time to visit. Only scattered figures could be seen making their way toward the sacred tree.
The Otowa Tree's roots and trunk were massive — it would take about ten people linking hands to encircle it.
Normally, its yellow, feather-shaped leaves didn't emit any light. But now, under the influence of spirit energy, the entire tree shimmered.
From a distance, it looked as if countless fireflies were dancing around it.
From time to time, fallen sound-feather leaves floated gently in the air.
Tao Xi reached out and caught one — but the moment his fingers touched it, the leaf seemed to ignite and dissipate into the breeze.
It left behind a sense of fleeting, delicate beauty.
There's an old poem: "You stand on the bridge enjoying the scenery, while upstairs, someone watches you enjoying the view."
The mood of that verse matched this moment perfectly.
Qian Yu quietly observed Tao Xi under the glowing Otowa Tree. His eyes, full of wonder, reflected the soft lights.
Qian Yu slowly opened his hand to catch a falling leaf — only to watch it disappear the instant he touched it.
"It's beautiful," he said dazedly.
Tao Xi, thinking he was talking about the scenery, nodded with a bright smile:
"It really is. This trip wasn't in vain."
Even someone as slow to feelings as Qian Yu realized then — he had truly fallen for Tao Xi.
In his previous life, he had been nothing more than a puppet, his fate dictated by others. First manipulated by his family, then betrayed by an ungrateful Song...
He had died early, never even tasting what love felt like.
But in this life, he wouldn't live the same way.
Every day with Tao Xi, they had been almost inseparable.
And habit, once formed, was a terrifying thing — difficult to break.
Tao Xi had become his habit.
Having recognized his feelings, Qian Yu didn't intend to rush a confession. Moving too fast might ruin things.
It would be better to observe for a while — if Tao Xi felt the same, all the better. Mutual love sounded wonderfully sweet.
If not... well, then he would have to use some special methods.
This peaceful moment, however, didn't last long.
A sudden gleam caught everyone's attention — a shining golden sound-feather leaf floated slowly down.
It drifted toward a figure and landed gently into someone's hand.
The man wore plain silver robes, much like Tao Xi's, with only a simple silver headband.
Under the rain of glowing leaves, he looked almost ethereal — like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.
When Tao Xi noticed the man's silver eyes, realization struck — it was Yin Mi, the owner of Yinshilou.
Silver eyes were a rare trait of the Sound Clan, and though beautiful, they came at a tragic price — Yin Mi had lost the ability to perceive light.
Tao Xi felt a pang of guilt.
She was, after all, part of the cause of Yin Mi's blindness.
The original story said that when Yin Mi and the Saintess of the Sound Clan were young, the mischievous Saintess (Tao Xi's original self) had dragged Yin Mi into the forbidden Forest of Beasts.
Two small children stood no chance there.
In the end, the Saintess, still somewhat lucid, carried the bleeding Yin Mi back to the Sound Clan.
Their mothers had been close friends — and had once joked about arranging a marriage between their newborns.
Thus, Tao Xi and Yin Mi had technically been childhood sweethearts.
After the accident, Yin Mi's mother, Lan Ci, didn't hold much resentment.
She owed a debt to Tao Xi's mother — Qian Zi — whose husband had perished trying to save Lan Ci years ago.
Still, the damage was irreversible.
Yin Mi had lost his vision. And though he learned to live normally over the years — his perception and senses sharpened — some losses could never fully heal.
Recalling all this, Tao Xi realized once again:
She could not be Yin Mi's destined partner, whether in the original story or now.
In the book, the Saintess abandoned her childhood sweetheart the moment she met the male lead.
Now, Tao Xi had developed feelings for Qian Yu — her true focus.
She had to sever the engagement with Yin Mi as soon as possible, to give him the chance to find real happiness.
Meanwhile, Yin Mi — despite his blindness — sensed Tao Xi's presence immediately.
He had always treated Tao Xi as his destined one.
Since returning from training, he had been waiting, thinking she would seek him out.
When she never came, he planned to visit her directly.
On his way, remembering that golden sound-feather leaves would fall during this period, he decided to stop by the Otowa Tree — just in case.
He never expected to really meet her here.
And, fatefully, the golden leaf had landed in his hand.
Unlike the regular leaves, golden sound-feather leaves stayed solid — they didn't vanish upon touch.
Yin Mi approached slowly, holding the glowing golden leaf, his silver eyes blank yet quietly focused.
Tao Xi was briefly stunned by the sight.
It felt almost like... the gods had sent him down from the heavens just for her.
Standing beside her, Qian Yu couldn't help noticing how the two — in their matching robes — looked perfect together.
An ideal pair.
Jealousy flared in his heart.
Without thinking, he reached out and tightly held Tao Xi's hand, fingers twining with hers, as if declaring ownership.
He didn't know whether he looked like a jealous kitten or an old man furious at losing a treasure.
Tao Xi froze, face instantly flushing crimson.
Oh my god — the male supporting character took the initiative to hold her hand!!
She could practically hear fireworks in her head.
After a heartbeat of panic, Tao Xi squeezed Qian Yu's hand back, their fingers now intertwined more tightly.
Yin Mi, despite his blindness, picked up on the shift in atmosphere immediately.
His pale face wavered, but he quickly steadied himself and continued walking toward her.
He stopped in front of Tao Xi and held out the golden leaf with a gentle, almost childlike smile.
"Xixi, I was on my way to visit you when I thought I'd stop by the Otowa Tree. I never thought I'd actually find you here.
This... is for you."
The lifeless silver eyes seemed to gaze straight into her soul.
Tao Xi wasn't a wishy-washy person.
If she liked someone, she was clear about it.
If she didn't, she wouldn't lead them on.
Now that she and Qian Yu had a mutual understanding, she had to make things clear to Yin Mi immediately — he deserved honesty, not a wasted heart.
And Tao Xi truly believed someone better suited for Yin Mi would appear someday.
Taking a breath, Tao Xi looked into those pure silver eyes and said softly but firmly:
"Yin Mi, thank you. I'm very sorry... but I can't accept it."
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