"Thinking about the first time I entered a city when my master bought me candied hawthorn," Jiang Qingyao spoke softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia. Once, the cities were surrounded by massive walls and moats, now replaced by towering skyscrapers and modern buildings. 0

"I miss my master too," the younger version of Celestial Sword Maiden piped up, her eyes brimming with tears. On a stormy night long past, her entire sect was mercilessly slain by a man in black—those faces she would never see again.0

"There’s still candied hawthorn to be found today, let’s go get some," Wang Xuan offered, trying to lift the spirits.0

Soon, both versions of the Celestial Sword Maiden, young and old, held a stick of candied hawthorn. Jiang Qingyao, lost in the echoes of her past, barely nibbled at hers. Though the setting had changed, the taste could not bring back those days; the sweetness had a shadow of melancholy.0

The younger Qingyao, however, seemed to find the present more delightful, chewing enthusiastically until thoughts of her master soured the sweetness, and she tried hard to steer her mind away from memories.0

With time still on their side before lunch, Wang Xuan decided to take them shopping to help adapt to the modern pace of life.0

"First thing's...0