A faint sound, as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, rang out. Almost at the same time, a sliver of light burst from the tip of the demon-warding brush resting on the inkstone, like a miniature bolt of lightning. In an instant, it vanished, disappearing without a trace...

Jason Brooks, who was standing by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing outside, knew nothing of this.

After seeing Franklin Warren off, he continued to feel uneasy. Unable to find the Daoist and returning home, he was still on edge, as if sitting on pins and needles. The reason, apart from some concern for Franklin Warren, was mostly his suspicion about the true identity of that peach blossom—Jason Brooks wanted to get to the bottom of this matter. If things really were as dire and dangerous as he imagined, it would be better to be prepared than to lose his life in confusion.

Outside the window, the setting sun stained the sky blood-red.

Suddenly, Jason Brooks turned around, walked to his desk, and without hesitation picked up the demon-warding brush and wrote a large character on the white paper spread out before him:

“Chaos”!

The character was bold and unrestrained, full of vigor and momentum, utterly different from the neat, standard script he usually wrote.

Ever since he got used to writing with a brush, Jason Brooks had deliberately used his reading time to practice calligraphy. His interest in calligraphy far surpassed his enthusiasm for memorizing the Four Books—since his drive for studying wouldn’t change in the short term, he might as well focus on improving his handwriting, which was at least a useful skill for making a living.

In the Tian Tong Dynasty, good calligraphy was highly valued. If one became a renowned calligrapher, it was like wearing a halo—respected and sought after everywhere.

“Those who disturb my heart, today brings much worry...”

With a sigh, Jason Brooks put down the brush and walked out of the study.

“Liuxian, it’s almost time for dinner. Where are you going?”

Hearing movement, Olivia Morgan poked her head out from the kitchen and called.

Jason Brooks replied, “Mother, I’m just going out for a walk. I’ll be back soon...”

He had already stepped out the door, not stopping along the way, heading straight to the edge of the village.

The sun was setting behind the western hills, the sky awash with red clouds, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Jason Brooks arrived at the stream outside the village, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky. Suddenly, a timid greeting came from beside him: “Brother Liuxian, why are you here...”

Startled, Jason Brooks saw a young girl in a blue coarse cotton jacket standing three steps away. Her features were delicate and fresh, pure and unadorned. Though she wore nothing of value, she looked even more like a lotus rising from clear water—elegant and graceful, like a flower standing tall.

Belle...

Very quickly, the name surfaced in Jason Brooks’s mind—Belle was a girl who lived at the end of Jingyang Village, only thirteen this year. Orphaned at a young age, she lived alone, pitiful and lonely. When they were children, Jason Brooks and Belle often played together in the water and mud, almost like childhood sweethearts. But as Jason Brooks gradually devoted himself to his studies, their relationship grew distant and eventually faded away.

Back then, Jason Brooks was a typical bookworm—stubborn and ill-tempered, caring for nothing but his studies. Yet Belle would sneak over to the private school where Jason Brooks studied, listening from afar to his clear recitation, utterly entranced.

Of course, at the time, Jason Brooks was completely unaware of this—even if he had noticed, he wouldn’t have reacted.

After Belle’s parents died, her life became even more miserable. With no relatives, no land, and no skills, she survived by gathering firewood and wild fruits in the mountains. Her house had long since collapsed, so she took shelter in a small Earth God temple behind the village. The villagers, seeing her plight, would occasionally bring her some firewood, rice, oil, or salt to help her get by.

Children of the poor grow up fast. Though Belle was illiterate, she was honest and understood many things. With her gentle nature and natural beauty, she blossomed like a flower. Still young, she was not yet of marriageable age, but in a couple of years, she might find a well-off family to marry into and escape her hardships.

In fact, in recent years, some matchmakers had tried to arrange for Belle to become a child bride, even for wealthy families in Jiangzhou City. But for some reason, Belle always shook her head and refused, preferring to endure her lonely days alone...

Meeting Jason Brooks’s gaze, the girl quickly lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her jacket, and stammered, “Oh, um... I forgot you’re a scholar now, with a title. I should call you...”

“Just call me Brother Liuxian. I think it sounds nice.”

Her words were cut off by Jason Brooks.

Belle looked up in surprise, her clear eyes wide. When her gaze met Jason Brooks’s, she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing, not knowing what to say—for she realized she hadn’t spoken a word to Jason Brooks in years. Though they lived in the same village, fate had taken them on different paths, as if separated by a great distance.

Noticing her worn, patched jacket, Jason Brooks asked, “It’s so cold—why did you come out?”

Though the day was clear, the air was dry and cold. By evening, a northern wind had picked up, blowing against Belle and making her shiver, like a flower shrinking from the wind.