“Welcome to the Chen Clan estate, Junior May Shang. We hope you have a pleasant time,” said one of the security guards.

  May bowed her head politely and went inside. She arrived quite late, as most of the guests were already inside.

  She was holding a wrapped gift for the twins. It was two pieces of dried Saffron Milk Cap Golden Mushroom. They were quite rare and had healing properties, but also enhanced cultivation.

  The market price was as high as a thousand mu, which was quite an expensive gift for someone in her age group, but she bought them for only two hundred each from the system. People at the estate did not know this, however, and were impressed by her generosity.

  So, without spending too much, she built up a good reputation. In such situations, the system was really extremely helpful.

  She entered the main room and sat down at one of the tables that had been designated for her. Today was the party to celebrate the twins' tenth birthday. Unexpectedly, she had been invited, which she hadn't expected. She didn't know them very well, but she got an invitation anyway. La Xia pointed out, however, that it was probably for political reasons. Her talent was well known, so the head of the family had probably told the twins to invite her so they could familiarize themselves with her.

  May sat next to a girl with a shaved head. She greeted the people at her table, but they didn't pay much attention to her. May sighed, expecting this. They were children from the upper classes who had known each other since childhood, while she was a stranger. That's why they didn't pay attention to her.

  The tenth birthday held symbolic significance as it marked the start of the first phase of education at Cloud Academy. For larger families, it was also an opportunity to showcase their children's talents and demonstrate the strength of their clan by organising the biggest celebrations possible.

  Education began earlier in the Outer Courts, preparing children for the chance to enter the Inner Court. Here, however, the children had only just begun their education.

  Finally, the people in whose honor the party was being held entered the room. The Chen twins. Everyone stood up and began to offer them their wishes. Their elegant robes must have been absurdly expensive, as they were covered in gold.

  Soon, the celebrations began. May doesn't like such occasions, especially in this world and in this social circle.

  There was plenty of food, but she couldn't eat it—one dish is the standard, two is already intemperate eating. She could talk, but only to those of equal status, which meant basically no one. She knew how to dance, but she was too young and it was inappropriate.

  Everything was there, but she couldn't do anything.

  She adjusted her collar, which was digging into her neck. Her dress was too tight and uncomfortable, and she wanted nothing more than to throw it off. Conversations were going on around her, but she couldn't join in. She didn't understand what they were talking about, and even if she tried, she would be ignored. It was better to spare herself the embarrassment and sit alone.

  She didn't want to be here, but La Xia and Shui Gai were adamant. Declining the invitation would be out of the question. They could ignore lesser families, but Chen was a different matter. Their clan could easily take it as an insult.

  May sighed and thought about cultivation. Lately, she had had nothing else to do. Cultivation had become her whole life.

  She looked around the table where she was sitting. She was among her age group, but despite the difference in status, she was superior to all of them. Most were in the fourth stage, and a few were at the beginning of the fifth stage. So what if they were from the Inner Court? She knew she was better than them.

  But despite that, they don't want to get to know me? They are more interested in status than pure strength and talent. The naivety of children. In the future, they will do anything to be able to at least talk to me when the difference between us becomes more apparent. For now, they are too blinded by their own importance.

  Suddenly, a servant approached their table and bowed gracefully to half his waist. The conversations at the table fell silent. All eyes turned to the man with the distinctive hairstyle.

  “Cultivator Peng Chen extends an invitation to Cultivator May Shang to join his table,” he said, addressing her.

  A slight murmur spread across the table. Some looked at her with envy. An invitation to the organizers' table? It was considered a great honor.

  But why is he inviting me? We don't even know each other very well...

  May stood up and followed the servant straight to the center of the room. At the table, in the most important seats, sat two children she had met before. Other important figures from their family were also seated at the table.

  “May! Sit next to me, I've arranged a seat for you!” Peng said loudly, getting up from his seat.

  May nodded and sat down next to him. For a moment, she noticed that the eyes of the people in the room were on her, but after a while, everyone returned to their own activities. After all, staring at others was not very elegant.

  “To what do I owe this invitation?” she asked straightforwardly, wanting to know the reason for being invited to the most important table at the party.

  “Why not?” replied the boy with a laugh. “I just wanted to talk to you, I thought we got along pretty well!”

  May didn't quite believe him, but she didn't mind. His family was influential, so it wouldn't hurt to make contact with them.

  “I heard about your gift... You didn't have to spend so much money on those mushrooms...” He said, but suddenly his sister, who had been sitting quietly until now, interrupted.

  “Come on. Everyone knows she's supported by the Yun clan. You don't think she was able to buy two Saffron Milk Cap Golden Mushrooms on her own, do you?” she said with slight irritation. Then she put her hand on her head. She seemed bored with the party.

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  “Zu... Do you always have to ruin the good atmosphere?” he said to her. “May, forgive me for her.”

  “It's okay...” she replied uncertainly.

  “No, this is not okay…” he said awkwardly. “But please forgive her. My sister doesn’t like these kinds of occasions. She’d probably rather stay in her room reading a book.”

  “Could you please not say things like that about me?” she asked with malicious calmness, grabbing him firmly by the arm. After a moment, she let go of him. “Whatever. I’m going to get some fresh air,” she said and walked away from the table.

  Zu Chen got up from the table and left the room angrily. Her brother's comment must have upset her. May understood her a little.

  May noticed that Peng had become visibly disheartened.

  “Don't you get along with your sister?” she asked.

  “No... That's not it. I mean... Well, kind of... How can I put it, hmm... I love her and would give my life for her, but I don't like her as a person.” He said with uncertainty in his voice. “I think she feels the same about me. But I have no one else but her.”

  May was slightly surprised to hear his words.

  “You have no one else?” she said, looking around the table where his whole family was sitting.

  “I know what you're thinking. But I meant exactly what I said.” He replied with a sigh. “This whole party is in our honor, but... These people aren't here for us.”

  “It sounds to me like the relationships in your family are quite complicated,” she said in a lowered tone, not wanting anyone else at the table to hear their conversation. Fortunately, everyone was preoccupied with their own discussions.

  The boy chuckled quietly and replied, "Something like that. It's quite normal for children from large clans to be mere pawns in a bigger game. There isn't much room for love here.”

  “That's why you said you only had a sister...”

  “Yes, twins have an extraordinary bond, you know? Even if we usually fight like cats and dogs.” He said, smiling at her. “Apart from her? Our parents treat us like precious commodities. Friends? The parents told them to befriend us for their own benefit.”

  May began to guess the reason for the invitation to this table.

  “So you think I'm different from them?”

  “That's what I think.” He replied briefly, looking away for a moment. May looked in the same direction as him. He was staring at the table where May had originally been sitting. All the children there were watching them closely.

  “See? They're dying of envy of you. Ha! Their parents must have told them to befriend me at all costs!”

  May actually felt that such a life could not be easy. She felt weird after noticing only negative looks in her direction. But shaking her head, she quickly regained her peace of mind. She took a sip of water.

  “How do you know I'm not the same?” she said, putting the cup back in its place. “That I don't want something from you as well?"

  “I just know. For as long as I can remember, everyone has always tried to please me. It's usually not hard for me to see other people's intentions.”

  May sighed. Could it be that he wanted a real friend? She had nothing against him, but she wasn't sure if she would not fail to meet his expectations.

  "But we're talking too much about me. Tell me something about yourself. You're from the Outer Court, aren't you? I'm so jealous of you, being away from politics and scheming. How's your family?"

  "To be honest, I'm not sure if you'd still feel envious if you were aware of the actual situation... But you're right about my family, I am quite lucky. My parents have always supported me,” she replied.

  The boy nodded. “In that case, regardless of the ‘actual situation’ you mention, your relationship with your family outweighs the negatives of Outer Court.”

  May had never pondered the issue, but she acknowledged that he might have a point.

  “You're right,” she admitted honestly. “But at least you have your sister. Maybe try to find some common interests with her? Maybe that would improve your relationship somehow.”

  “I've tried many times. I tried talking about her favorite books... I read them in their entirety, but then she got mad at me for touching her things without her permission. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about art either. She laughed at me when she heard my interpretation of Jiang Mu's painting ‘The Crying Coffin’.”

  May sighed, not knowing what to say. She wasn't a psychologist or psychiatrist who could fix other people's relationships. Besides, what gave her the right to meddle in these matters? She decided it was better not to say anything more. After all, she could only make things worse.

  The boy suddenly got up from the table. “She's been absent for quite some time... Will you accompany me to look for her?” All eyes suddenly turned to them.

  “Is this... appropriate?”

  “No.” He said, taking her hand and leading her out of the room. “And that was even more inappropriate.”

  May giggled. “Won't you get in trouble later?”

  “It's my birthday. My parents are busy, and no one else has a say... Let's go look for her.”

  They left the room. The corridors also were filled with people who from time to time were sending them inquisitive glances. May finally realized that some strange rumors might arise because of this.

  However, she quickly dismissed these thoughts. Even if they did, so what? It was none of their business. She was too old to care about other people's opinions. She may have had the body of a small child, but deep down she was already an adult.

  The search continued, but the results were futile. Zu Chen had disappeared without a trace and no one had seen her.

  “Brother Peng! We've been looking everywhere for you.” Suddenly, a group of children appeared in front of them. An obese boy with bushy eyebrows, two girls who stayed close to each other, and two boys, one short and one tall. These were the people she had been sitting with at the table earlier.

  “Brother? We're not that close,” he replied reluctantly.

  “Oh, come on!” said the tall boy. He belonged to a small clan that was relatively new.

  Over the course of a year, May had made progress and was able to identify these people. Shui Gai's teachings had not been in vain. She also knew that this whole group was generally not particularly important. The fifth son, the fourth daughter, the grandson of a minor alchemist... And so on.

  Of course, their status was infinitely greater than May's, who was basically a nobody, a stranger from the outskirts of the sect, but unlike them, she had something else—talent.

  “We were hoping you would spend some time with us...” one of the girls suddenly interjected.

  The other girl immediately agreed with her. “Exactly! We came here because of you! I absolutely need you to hear the poem I wrote specially for you for this occasion...”

  Peng Chen sighed. “Thank you for coming, but you'll have to excuse me. I'll come see you later, I'm a little busy right now...”

  The fat boy frowned with slight irritation. “Busy? With what? That... girl?”

  All eyes turned to her. May sighed. Did someone always have to involve her in some strange business?

  “She's not a ‘girl,’ her name is May Shang,” he said, and May squeaked slightly in embarrassment. For some reason, his words sent shivers of awkwardness through her.

  “And for your information, she's already at the 6th stage of Qi Refinement!”

  The children let out a slight gasp of shock.

  Did they really not know? I introduced myself to them... And my level is pretty public knowledge, as far as I know…

  “May, follow me.” He said and went upstairs. He left the group of children without saying a word. They seemed devastated. May sighed and followed him straight away.