Chapter 29: Entering the Mirror of the Heart

When Wei Yunqing arrived at the entrance of the Haoran Sect, the first person she spotted was Wei Yunxi—she couldn’t help it; she cared too much about her younger sister.

Following the direction Wei Yunqing pointed, Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan soon spotted their younger siblings who had fallen behind. The pair looked even more energetic than themselves, whispering quietly to each other.

Wei Yunqing charged ahead, leading the way, and loudly demanded, “Why did you arrive before us?”

Wei Yunxi and Wei Zonghao were both displeased by this. How could arriving early be considered a fault?

Wei Yunxi rose from the ground, bypassed Wei Yunqing, and addressed Wei Yunting, their team leader. “Big Sister, Zonghao and I were chased by a pack of weasels. In the end, we just couldn’t run anymore, so we ducked into the nearby woods to hide. We had no choice but to separate from you.”

Zonghao stood up and picked up the story, “I was the one who ran out of strength. Yunxi didn’t want to leave me behind and hid with me. After the weasels left, we followed the path trying to catch up with you. But that night, we ran into a pack of blue-eyed wolves and had to take a detour to avoid them. After that, we lost track of you. All we could do was head toward the sect gate, hoping to run into you on the way. Who would have thought we’d get here and not see you? We were actually worried you wouldn’t make it in time!”

Hearing the mention of weasels and blue-eyed wolves, the rest of the group instinctively turned to look at Wei Yunqing. She wanted nothing more than to shut Zonghao up, but she couldn’t.

Pretending not to know the truth, Wei Yunqing asked, “Big Sister, when we got separated, we noticed that the weasels were only chasing the Wei family’s group. Who provoked the weasel pack?”

Wei Yinying rolled her eyes impatiently and replied, “Who else could it be but your dear sister? She took a weasel cub, so we were chased the whole way. The blue-eyed wolves were her doing too—she mistook a spiritual yew for firewood and burned it, so we were surrounded all night and delayed another hour the next day, which is why we missed you.”

Wei Yunxi looked at Wei Yunqing with feigned surprise as if she couldn’t believe her exceptionally gifted sister would make such a blunder. This only made Wei Yunqing feel all the more humiliated and angry.

Zonghao, never one to miss an opportunity, raised his voice deliberately, “No wonder you’re so late. Someone was holding you back.”

“What did you say?”

“Did I say anything wrong? Isn’t it because of you that Yunting and the others arrived late?”

Zonghao had no intention of letting her off easily.

Wei Yunting frowned. “Enough, both of you. Do you want everyone else to see the Wei family as a joke?”

Immediately, Zonghao turned away from Wei Yunqing and beckoned to the most silent among them, Wei Zongyu. “Zongyu, come sit here.”

Zongyu was exhausted. He walked over quietly and sat next to the chubby boy, preparing to meditate, but Zonghao wouldn’t leave him alone and peppered him with questions about their journey.

Wei Yinying took the initiative to sit beside Wei Yunxi, inquiring about their experiences on the road.

Wei Yunxi and Zonghao had already agreed not to mention the little red-maned horse. They shared only what could be told, especially how they used the juice of the subtle grass to avoid spirit beasts. Hearing this, the other Wei family disciples regretted not joining them.

Wei Yunqing, meanwhile, found herself increasingly isolated. The look she shot at Wei Yunxi grew darker—the emotions of a five-year-old were not easily concealed.

All of this was noticed by the powerful elders hidden in the shadows, who sighed at the poor temperament of the Wei family’s otherwise gifted daughter.

Just before sunset, the last three children arrived at the mountain gate, supporting one another. Wei Yunxi noticed with particular care that the mortal girl who had gone to the restroom with Wei Yunqing earlier was nowhere to be seen in the square.

Soon after, Song Ke appeared before the little ones who had passed the first test. Smiling, he said, “Congratulations on passing the first round of the physical trial. Next, as long as you pass through this ‘Heart-Seeing Mirror,’ you’ll have cleared the second round.”

With that, he waved his sleeve and a mirror, two meters tall and one meter wide, stood at the entrance. Its frame was forged from meteorite iron, decorated with auspicious clouds and runes Wei Yunxi could not yet decipher—later she would learn these were array patterns.

The mirror reflected every child who stood before it, magnifying even the slightest expressions. No one dared take the first step.

It was Wei Yunqing who finally stepped forward and walked confidently through the Heart-Seeing Mirror. Her figure vanished, the surface rippled and then calmed, as if no one had ever passed through.

Wei Yunxi felt uneasy—she refused to go right after Wei Yunqing, fearing she’d be dragged down by association. Her caution proved wise.

The second to pass was Wei Yunting, dissatisfied with Wei Yunqing’s showmanship, but this was not the time to say so.

Wei Yunxi and Zonghao were the last of the Wei family to enter the Heart-Seeing Mirror.

As Wei Yunxi passed through, she felt a moment of disorientation. When she regained her senses, she found herself chained to a wall in what appeared to be a dungeon.

She frowned and struggled, but could not break free.

Just then, footsteps approached. Moments later, she saw the adult version of Wei Yunqing, accompanied by an exceptionally handsome and tall man. The two looked a perfect match.

Something felt off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

Wei Yunqing’s gaze was full of pity—a look that made Wei Yunxi want to claw her eyes out. Coldly, she snapped, “What are you staring at?”

Wei Yunqing’s expression faltered, then she spoke with disappointment, “Little sister, you’ve made a grave mistake. The sect won’t forgive you for this.”

“Bah! What did I do? No need for your crocodile tears.”

The man beside them, finding Wei Yunxi too rude, said displeased, “Qing’er, she may be your sister, but she’s also the one who harmed you. Seeing her one last time is more than enough for your sisterly bond. She deserves her punishment.”

“But she’s still my sister…”

“It’s precisely because she’s your sister that you mustn’t shield her. If not for stopping her, you wouldn’t have suffered such harm. Now, it’s her turn to atone.”

His tone was resolute, pulling Wei Yunqing into his arms to prevent her from interfering.

Wei Yunxi’s eyes flickered, then widened in realization: this was the final chapter of the novel she had read before transmigrating. The villainess was to have her spiritual roots and core carved out by the protagonist. Yet she distinctly remembered becoming the five-year-old Wei Yunxi, not this adult version. No wonder everything felt so strange.

She was being tested by the Haoran Sect’s entrance trial. The moment she realized this, she sensed the world ripple and then settle back into place. Narrowing her eyes at the affectionate pair, she sneered, “How shameless you both are! One wants to use evil arts to steal my spiritual roots and core, the other wants my talent for herself. Do you really think Heaven will let you get away with it?”

“Wei Yunqing, even if you ascend, it’s only because my aptitude surpasses yours. You will never surpass me!”