The next morning, Falling Sword Peak was unusually bright.
Disciples rushed around the courtyard, sweeping, polishing, and re-aligning every tile like they were preparing for a heavenly inspection. Shen Liang stood on the balcony, stretching lazily with a yawn so wide it could swallow a cloud.
"Ahhh, peace and paperwork," he muttered. "Two of Heaven's most underappreciated tortures."
Elder Zhou approached, wiping sweat from his brow. "Master Shen, you were gone all night! The disciples said the mountain trembled again was it an earthquake or… another one of your 'cleaning projects'?"
Shen Liang twirled his broom and grinned. "A bit of both. The mountain just had some... internal dust issues. Ten-thousand-year-old grime, very stubborn. Had to deep clean."
Zhou blinked. "You cleaned... the mountain."
"Exactly! You'd be surprised how much bad Qi collects under the floorboards of destiny."
Before Zhou could respond, a clear, ringing voice echoed from above. "You're still making jokes at the edge of calamity, Shen Liang."
Everyone turned toward the sky.
Descending on a trail of silver-blue light was a familiar figure — elegant robes fluttering, sword aura flowing like moonlit water. Her presence pressed gently against the hearts of all below, noble yet cold, serene yet commanding.
Su Qinglan had returned.
The disciples gasped. "The wandering cultivator Su Qinglan! The one who guided Master Shen's early path!"
Shen Liang shaded his eyes dramatically. "Oh, look who it is! Heaven's favorite ice sculpture decided to visit the janitor's shack again."
Su Qinglan landed gracefully, her boots touching the stone courtyard with barely a sound. Her gaze softened, though only slightly. "Still irreverent as ever, I see."
"Irreverence," Shen Liang said, smiling, "is just sincerity without filters."
They stood facing each other, silence charged like a drawn sword. The disciples, sensing the invisible sparks, began quietly retreating to the edges of the courtyard.
Elder Zhou coughed awkwardly. "I, uh… think I hear the cauldrons boiling. Disciples! Let's all… go… over there!"
Within seconds, the courtyard was empty.
Su Qinglan sighed. "Always the performer."
"Always the audience's favorite," he countered.
But then her composure slipped just a little. "You've grown stronger," she said quietly. "Core Formation already… and your aura feels—different. Refined, but… ancient."
"Just some overtime blessings from the Heavenly Labor Department," Shen Liang said lightly, tapping his broom. "They gave me a new buff—'Echo of Heaven's Work.'"
Her expression changed at the phrase. "You've awakened that?"
She stepped closer, her tone grave now. "That power… it's not from this era. The texts of the Spirit Library mention the Forgotten Laborer of Heaven — a celestial servant erased from divine records after purging a demonic catastrophe ten thousand years ago."
Shen Liang tilted his head. "So, a heavenly janitor got fired for doing his job too well?"
"Not fired," she murmured. "Silenced. Erased."
The mountain wind howled softly.
She looked up at him, eyes sharp yet full of unspoken worry. "The corruption beneath this sect — it predates Falling Sword itself. It might even predate the empire. That means what you cleansed wasn't just residual Qi. It was the echo of something sealed by Heaven itself."
Shen Liang leaned on his broom, unfazed. "Well, that explains the overtime pay."
She frowned. "Shen Liang, I'm serious."
"So am I! My broom's been vibrating like a possessed cat all morning."
Su Qinglan finally let out a small laugh — short, reluctant, but genuine. It startled Shen Liang more than any demon roar could.
He blinked. "Wait… was that a smile? Mark the date, disciples! The Ice Lotus of Heaven smiled before the janitor!"
"Don't push your luck," she said, trying to hide the faint blush that crept up her neck.
"I'm just saying," he teased, "I worked very hard for that 0.1% affection increase."
"Still making everything into a system log, I see."
"Of course. It's how I track progress. Speaking of—System, please note: Su Qinglan, current affection status—'Subtly Flustered.'"
"Shen Liang!"
They walked toward the Sect's inner garden, the laughter fading into quiet tension. The cherry trees were in full bloom, their petals dancing gently on the wind. Beneath their soft pink rain, Shen Liang grew uncharacteristically serious.
He looked at her sideways. "Qinglan, if the corruption runs deeper than the sect, does that mean something — or someone — is trying to unseal it?"
She nodded. "I suspect so. I've traced traces of similar demonic essence near Iron Flame Sect and Shadow Reed Pavilion. Someone is cultivating corruption deliberately — perhaps to awaken what was sealed."
Shen Liang sighed. "Great. So Heaven dumps its trash in our basement, and now demons want to recycle it."
"Your metaphors are… unique," she said dryly.
"Hey, I'm environmentally conscious."
Then she turned to face him, eyes glinting with quiet determination. "That's why I came back. Not as your teacher… but as your equal. I'll help you find the source."
He blinked. "Equal, huh? That means I get to give orders sometimes?"
"Try it," she said, smiling faintly.
"I order you to smile more."
She turned away, but the corner of her lips curved despite herself.
A gentle silence fell between them. The blossoms swirled down like drifting snow. For a moment, the chaos of Heaven and demons felt far away — replaced only by the heartbeat of spring, the faint brush of petals, and the strange, unspoken warmth between them.
Then the System chimed softly in Shen Liang's vision:
[System Log Updated]Fate Thread: Entangled → Status: RekindledNew Buff: Harmony Resonance – Dual Qi Flow Increases Cultivation Speed by 30% when training with Su Qinglan.
He blinked. "Huh. Guess Heaven ships us now."
Su Qinglan arched an eyebrow. "Ships us?"
"Ah, mortal slang. It means destiny approves."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress another faint smile.
As they stood beneath the falling petals, Su Qinglan's gaze turned distant. "You've changed, Shen Liang. You're no longer just a carefree laborer. There's a weight in your spirit now."
He chuckled softly. "Maybe. But I still sweep first, think later."
"Then let's sweep together," she said quietly. "This time, not just floors… but the truth buried under Heaven's dust."
He looked at her... really looked at her... and for once, didn't make a joke."Deal," he said simply.
Above them, petals fell like tiny blessings, dancing on the wind between laughter, destiny, and a faint echo of the forgotten Heaven.