The next morning, Wang Li awoke with the rarest of sensations in the cultivation world—peace.
Sunlight streamed in through the slatted windows of his residence, casting golden rays across the polished stone floor. A soft breeze drifted in, scented faintly with tea leaves and plum blossoms. For the first time in a while, no one was screaming his name, attacking him, or dragging him out to fight some arrogant young master.
He blinked.
Something's wrong, he thought. It's too quiet.
Before he could get up, his door creaked open without knocking—because of course it did—and in stepped Lin Ruoyan, carrying a tray of food.
"You better be grateful," she said flatly, setting the tray down on his desk. "I risked my reputation sneaking into the kitchens before sunrise."
"Risked your rep for me? I'm touched." Wang Li sat up, stretching, shirtless and half-asleep. "Is that… congee?"
"With ginseng, dried dates, and a bit of fire lotus root for vitality." She crossed her arms. "You're still healing from that duel, even if you're too stubborn to admit it."
Wang Li raised an eyebrow. "Wait, since when do you cook?"
"I didn't," she said. "I threatened the kitchen staff."
"Ah. There it is."
Lin Ruoyan's lips twitched. "Eat before I regret this."
As he sat down and took a bite, the spicy-sweet flavor warmed him all the way to his dantian. For a moment, silence settled between them again—less awkward now, more comfortable.
"You're not going to yell at me for risking my life yesterday?" he asked with a smirk.
"Oh, I will. But not before you finish breakfast."
Wang Li chuckled. "You've changed, Ruoyan."
She looked away, the morning light catching in her copper-red hair. "You're not the only one who's grown, Wang Li."
Just then, the door slammed open again—this time with zero subtlety.
"Li-li~! Did you really kiss Qingling on the mountain peak?!"
Mu Qingling burst in, hands on her hips, wearing an expression that was a wild mix of teasing, curiosity, and mock indignation.
Wang Li choked on his congee.
Lin Ruoyan turned slowly, eyes narrowing. "What did she say?"
"Oh?" Mu Qingling grinned and flopped onto the edge of his bed. "Did he not tell you about his moonlit kiss last night? So romantic. Honestly, I'm a little jealous."
Wang Li raised both hands defensively. "Wait—hold on, this is getting taken out of context!"
Mu Qingling leaned forward, chin in hand. "So… are you two official now?"
Lin Ruoyan scoffed. "As if. You think kissing one girl excuses him from the emotional damage he caused all of us?"
"Oh come on," Mu Qingling said, mock-pouting. "He's cute. He fights well. He's getting stronger every day. And he risked his life to fight that peacock from Azure Sky. That's gotta earn some romantic points."
"You're insane," Lin Ruoyan muttered.
"Maybe. But I'm also not wrong."
Wang Li sighed. "Can we not turn my romantic drama into a sect-wide gossip column?"
Too late.
From outside the window, someone sneezed and fell off the roof.
"Was that… one of the gossip disciples?" Wang Li groaned.
"They've been camping outside your courtyard since dawn," Mu Qingling said cheerfully. "You're famous now. The disciples have started calling you the Storm-Hearted Casanova."
"I want to die," he muttered.
"You're welcome," Lin Ruoyan said dryly.
Just then, Feng Yuling entered—quiet as frost, graceful as ever. The other two girls immediately sat straighter. Somehow, when Feng Yuling was around, it was like everyone else felt the need to behave.
"Wang Li," she said. "We need to talk."
"Morning to you, too," he muttered. "You're not going to ask me about the kiss too, are you?"
Feng Yuling blinked, then nodded calmly. "I already knew."
The other two stared.
"Of course she did," Mu Qingling said under her breath. "She probably has secret spirit beasts tracking you."
"Anyway," Feng Yuling continued, "The Sect Master has summoned you. Again."
Wang Li's amusement evaporated. "This soon?"
"He said to bring all three of us as well. It's about the Azure Sky delegation."
A chill swept through the room.
"I thought we handled that with the duel," Lin Ruoyan said.
Feng Yuling shook her head. "That was only the beginning. They're inviting us to a joint training exchange."
Mu Qingling groaned. "Let me guess. Remote wilderness. Dangerous ruins. Secret competition masked as 'friendship building'?"
"Yes," Feng Yuling confirmed. "And they requested Wang Li specifically."
Wang Li blinked. "Am I being hunted or courted?"
"Why not both?" Mu Qingling grinned.
Feng Yuling continued. "The invitation mentions a place called the Sky-Eye Mausoleum. It's an ancient ruin where powerful cultivators once trained. Dangerous beasts. Unstable arrays. High spiritual density."
"And lots of opportunities to 'accidentally' kill your rivals," Lin Ruoyan muttered.
Wang Li leaned back, sighing. "Why can't I just have one quiet week?"
"You're the protagonist of a romantic cultivation drama," Mu Qingling said brightly. "This is your quiet week."
Later that day, they stood before the Sect Master again.
He looked at them over steepled fingers, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"You have three days," he said, voice like distant thunder. "Prepare yourselves. The Sky-Eye Mausoleum is not a place for the faint-hearted. And make no mistake—this invitation is a test. For you, and for the entire sect."
Wang Li bowed. "Understood, Sect Master."
As they left, Feng Yuling turned to him. "You'll need new talismans. And a better defensive artifact."
Lin Ruoyan added, "I'll help you review the terrain and past records. I've read about the mausoleum before."
Mu Qingling grinned. "And I'm coming too. Because there's no way I'm letting you flirt with death—or another girl—without me watching."
Wang Li rubbed his temples. "This is going to be chaos."
But deep down… he didn't mind the chaos. Because this time, he wasn't facing it alone.
And whatever waited in the Sky-Eye Mausoleum—secrets, danger, romance, or all three—he would meet it head-on.
With three deadly, beautiful ex-girlfriends by his side.