Chapter One: What? I Have a Cousin?

Sanctuary Alliance, Dragon’s Gate—the main hall of the Knights’ Sanctuary.

Today is the wedding of Long Xingyu, Divine Seal Knight of Judgment and Retribution in the Knights’ Sanctuary, and Bai Yue of the Priests’ Sanctuary.

Countless guests have poured into the wedding banquet.

This is because Long Xingyu is one of the masters of the Knights’ Sanctuary.

As a result, powerhouses from all six great Sanctuaries have come to attend the ceremony.

Bai Nianxuan stepped down from the carriage with her parents and walked toward the grand manor. Her lively black eyes were filled with wonder.

She had never heard of having relatives like these.

Traveling with such pomp from the southern stronghold of the Priests’ Sanctuary to the Dragon’s Gate of the Knights’ Sanctuary—Bai Nianxuan simply couldn’t make sense of it.

In one of the rooms, a young woman appeared before her eyes, dressed in a white wedding gown, crowned with a silver, star-studded coronet. Her beauty was dazzling, her gentle face wore a calm expression.

“Bai Yue.”

Those black eyes stared at them, finally settling on the petite Bai Nianxuan.

“Who are you?”

“I’m your uncle, Bai Heng,” he replied, pointing to Bai Nianxuan. “And this is your cousin, Bai Nianxuan.”

Bai Yue was momentarily stunned, then looked at them in disbelief.

She had always known she had an uncle, but had never met him.

She never expected to see her uncle’s family on her own wedding day.

“What brings you here today?” Bai Yue asked cautiously.

In truth, she valued her family deeply.

“Congratulations on your marriage…” Bai Heng paused, “and we wanted to see how you’re doing.”

Bai Yue stared at them blankly.

“Because of your mother’s death, I have never been able to let go. I couldn’t accept your existence. But after hearing about your marriage, I thought perhaps it’s time to let go of old grievances.”

“I’m here for two things today. First, to congratulate you on your marriage. Second, to let Nianxuan meet you.”

Bai Heng finished, stumbling over his words, not daring to meet Bai Yue’s eyes.

“I understand,” Bai Yue reached out and took Bai Nianxuan’s hand, speaking softly, “You feel guilty towards my mother, so you can’t face me.”

“Mmm…” Bai Nianxuan blinked her large eyes at Bai Yue, obediently letting her hold her hand.

“Uncle, all that’s in the past. I understand your pain.” Bai Yue forced a bitter smile. “I hope you can move on from it.”

Though it was her first time meeting her blood uncle, she did not blame him for his resentment.

“I’m sorry. You two should get to know each other. I’ll go now.”

Bai Heng left in embarrassment, his face flushed with shame.

He was too ashamed to face his niece.

“Papa…” Bai Nianxuan murmured, then turned her gaze to Bai Yue. “Sister Yue.”

Her soft, gentle voice brushed Bai Yue’s heart like a feather.

“Yes, I’m here.”

Bai Yue hugged her small frame and set her on the bed.

“Nianxuan—a lovely name.” Bai Yue smiled gently at her. “Nianxuan, do you like your name?”

Hearing this, Bai Nianxuan shook her head. Her delicate, porcelain face bore a complicated expression.

“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.”

“Why?” Bai Yue asked, puzzled, holding her hand tighter.

“Because Papa always looks at me as if he’s seeing someone else,” Nianxuan replied without hesitation. “I asked Mama about it—she said it’s because I look like my aunt.”

“Papa gave me this name because he misses her.”

“My aunt was Bai Lingxuan, so I’m Bai Nianxuan.”

“Mama said Papa can’t let go of her death. He always says that if Aunt hadn’t died, she would have been the master of the Priests’ Sanctuary.”

“Papa says Aunt was the pride of the Priests’ Sanctuary, a genius unseen in hundreds of years.”

Bai Yue lowered her head, her fair and beautiful face shadowed with complex emotion. “I…”

As she gazed into Nianxuan’s clear eyes, a trace of pain flickered in Bai Yue’s dark pupils.

It wasn’t just her uncle Bai Heng who couldn’t let go—even she herself couldn’t move on.

If only, back then, her mother Bai Lingxuan hadn’t gone through the blood exchange.

Then she wouldn’t have died.

Her mother, Bai Lingxuan, was the pride of the Priests’ Sanctuary!

Seeing the sparkling tears on Bai Yue’s cheeks, Nianxuan reached out her little lotus-root hand and gently wiped them away. “Sister, don’t cry.”

“It’s all in the past now.”

“Sister, you still have me.”

Bai Yue looked at her, overwhelmed by emotion.

Her eyes were especially red.

“Uncle must hate me,” Bai Yue whispered. “I took Mother’s life and left him without a sister.”

Nianxuan shook her head. “No, Papa doesn’t hate you. He only hates himself.”

“He hates that he couldn’t protect Aunt, and he hates his own weakness.”

Bai Yue said nothing, just held her tightly in her arms.

Feeling the warmth in her embrace, Bai Yue’s heart grew heavier.

If they had blamed her, it might have hurt less.

“Sister, don’t bottle it up,” Nianxuan said softly, her pure, innocent eyes reflecting Bai Yue’s pale face.

“Papa cares about you, Sister, he’s just afraid to face you.”

“Why?” Bai Yue asked in a low voice.

“He left so quickly, without daring to speak to you—that’s proof enough,” said seven-year-old Nianxuan with serious conviction.

Bai Yue pressed her lips together, tears falling onto Nianxuan’s hand.

“Nianxuan, do you hate me because of your name?”

Nianxuan shook her head. “Missing family is the best reason for a name.”

“Being forgotten by your family is the most frightening thing.”

Though only seven, Nianxuan already possessed a maturity and steadiness beyond her years.

Her lively eyes were calm.

“Thank you…” Bai Yue hugged her tightly. “I have a little sister now.”

A complicated tide of emotion rose in her heart.

“Yue’er.”

A unfamiliar male voice came from the doorway. “Are you ready?”

Hearing his voice, a flush rose on Bai Yue’s face.

“Nianxuan, would you like to be my flower girl?”

Looking at the delicate and lovely Nianxuan, Bai Yue asked softly.

“Yes!” Nianxuan nodded without hesitation.

“Is there still time?”

“There is,” Bai Yue replied, just as the door swung open from the outside.

A tall man dressed in a white groom’s suit entered the room.

With black hair and eyes, dignified and handsome—a man in his prime.

Nianxuan felt an invisible pressure from him, as if she were facing a mountain.

“And this is?” Long Xingyu looked at Nianxuan with surprise.

Especially upon seeing how much she resembled Bai Yue, a flicker of curiosity passed through Long Xingyu’s eyes.

“This is my cousin, Bai Nianxuan,” Bai Yue introduced gently.

“Oh.” Long Xingyu nodded. “As you wish, Yue’er.”

Clearly, he had overheard the conversation between Bai Yue and Nianxuan.