After returning to WuHui Sect from the Upper Heaven Realm, life returned to normal and peaceful. Just as Qu WeiYin had advised, Luo JinXiao mentioned nothing about the sword she possessed. The divine sword appeared so ordinary that it attracted no attention. Elder Liu noticed it once, his gaze shifting slightly, but he asked nothing.
The disciple named Wei ZiRan vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed. For a while, everyone was on edge, and rumors circulated that he had perished in the Upper Heaven Realm. Elders sent people to search for him, but to no avail. Only Luo JinXiao knew the truth—that the disciple had disappeared within WuHui Sect.
Qu WeiYin hadn’t appeared for several days, causing Luo JinXiao to worry. She even asked Lu FanZhi to inquire with her master, Gui Jiu, who explained that Little Martial Aunt Qu had gone into seclusion to cultivate after returning from the Upper Heaven Realm and would not emerge for some time.
Hearing this, Luo JinXiao felt both relieved and slightly melancholic, suspecting that Qu WeiYin’s seclusion was due to seeing the illusion. Had she truly upset her that much? Luo JinXiao felt a pang of guilt, worried that Qu WeiYin might have misunderstood something. She thought to herself that she should find a day to explain and apologize to her.
However, figuring out how to apologize to the demoness was no easy task. After pondering for a while without any suitable gifts, Luo JinXiao had a sudden idea and dragged over the snoozing QiongQi beside her.
“Little Sweetie, I’m counting on you this time,” Luo JinXiao said, kneeling and extending a hand to shake QiongQi’s paw.
QiongQi ignored her, retracting its head.
“You just need to bear with it. The demoness likes you; she may seem fierce, but she’s actually easy to please. Just act cute, and she won’t stay mad,” Luo JinXiao coaxed. “Although it wasn’t intentional, I am at fault this time. As a righteous person, I must clear up any misunderstandings.”
QiongQi bared its fangs in response.
“Oh, right, you’re not a righteous person; you’re a fierce beast,” Luo JinXiao awkwardly scratched her face. “Help me this once, and I’ll give you two cows!”
She held up two fingers.
QiongQi continued to show its teeth.
“Ten cows, no more,” Luo JinXiao gritted her teeth.
Satisfied, QiongQi retracted its fangs and extended its paw, indicating a deal.
Meanwhile, at HanYun Pavilion:
Incense smoke curled through the room, blown by the wind through the window, blending into the gauzy curtains. The cold white jade chilled the air in the room.
Qu WeiYin sat at her desk, a book open before her, pages flipping in the breeze, unsure of where to stop. The wind tousled her hair, her phoenix eyes staring blankly ahead, serene and silent.
“Hey, you’ve been daydreaming all day. Are you done?” The Sword Spirit, sitting cross-legged across from her, asked impatiently.
Qu WeiYin lazily looked at her.
“Ever since you returned from the Upper Heaven Realm, you’ve been off. Either meditating like an old monk or sitting like a stone statue, not reading or practicing,” the Sword Spirit continued.
“Is it because you didn’t get the divine sword and feel unsatisfied? I can handle that. I’ll go scatter that little girl’s soul right now!” The Sword Spirit threatened, rising, but Qu WeiYin slapped her back down.
“Annoying,” Qu WeiYin said coldly.
The Sword Spirit puffed up like a balloon, fixing her messy hair with a pout, “Fine, I won’t go. No need to be so fierce.”
“Seriously, are you really going to protect that little girl? Be careful, she might turn against you. She looks so righteous, but what if she opposes you one day?”
“Besides, getting the divine sword shows she’s talented. She might be hiding something. Even if you can’t bear to eliminate potential threats, you should keep your distance.”
Qu WeiYin listened absently, idly flipping through the book. Too many oddities surrounded the girl, and the illusion from that day—what did it signify? Why did her past life appear in that girl’s vision?
She had only offered guidance because they shared the same yin-yang constitution and she didn’t want the girl to suffer as she had.
But if such minor kindness brought trouble, she should indeed distance herself.
As she mused, the image of her illusionary self surfaced, causing her hand to tremble and tear a page corner. Frustrated, she tried to fix the page, while the Sword Spirit, about to speak, was interrupted by a loud crack as a pottery jar broke in half on the desk, startling her.
The Sword Spirit fell silent. When Qu WeiYin was angry, things tended to break. Speaking further would be risking death.
“Someone’s here,” Qu WeiYin said, gesturing for the Sword Spirit to open the door.
Resigned, the Sword Spirit jumped off the table, opened the door, and found herself staring at QiongQi, who hovered with flapping wings, dangling its legs.
The Sword Spirit blinked, then slammed the door shut.
“Who was it?” Qu WeiYin asked, frowning. The Sword Spirit shook her head, indicating no one.
As she shook her head, QiongQi flew in through the window, landing steadily on the table, straightening its back and fluffing its fur.
“It’s…” Qu WeiYin’s eyes flickered, but she couldn’t bring herself to say “Little Sweetie.” “QiongQi?”
Remembering Luo JinXiao’s instructions, QiongQi immediately dove into Qu WeiYin’s arms, rubbing its furry head against her. Qu WeiYin, usually averse to contact, surprisingly smiled.
Her smile was beautiful, her phoenix eyes curved like crescents, her red lips pressed together, the harshness replaced by gentleness.
But the smile was fleeting, quickly replaced by indifference. She looked at the door, “Come in, no need to hide.”
Luo JinXiao pushed the door open, grinning sheepishly as she entered. Before she was fully inside, the door slammed shut, nearly knocking her over.
“Little Martial Aunt, I came to see you,” she said, smiling broadly but slowing her steps under Qu WeiYin’s cold gaze.
“Why aren’t you practicing? What are you looking at me for?” Qu WeiYin asked, stroking QiongQi’s fur, seemingly a different person from the one who had smiled moments ago.
“I was worried you’d be lonely, so I had Little Sweetie keep you company,” Luo JinXiao said, her bright eyes and smile giving her an innocent appearance.
“I’ve been alone before; I don’t need company. You may leave,” Qu WeiYin replied, setting QiongQi down and waving her off. Luo JinXiao, seeing this, quickly made faces at QiongQi.
Obeying, QiongQi suddenly whimpered and lunged back into Qu WeiYin’s arms, clutching her clothes and shedding tears.
Such a display melted Qu WeiYin’s heart, making her pause before sighing and hugging it again.
Seeing her plan work, Luo JinXiao relaxed, deciding to reward Little Sweetie with an extra cow for its performance.
“What is it? Speak,” Qu WeiYin said, meeting Luo JinXiao’s gaze, her heart skipping a beat before she looked away.
“I wanted to explain what happened the other day. I swear, I never had any improper thoughts about you, Little Martial Aunt. If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning,” Luo JinXiao said, even using a solemn oath, standing straight with three fingers pointing skyward.
Just then, the clear sky darkened, a flash of blue light at the horizon, followed by a thunderous clap.
Luo JinXiao flinched, turning to meet Qu WeiYin’s amused gaze.
She wanted to crawl into a hole; how could the weather change so quickly, as if conspiring against her?
“Wait, Little Martial Aunt, it’s a coincidence. As long as I’m not struck, it proves I’m truthful…” Luo JinXiao began, but Qu WeiYin interrupted.
“Enough, no need,” Qu WeiYin waved her pale fingers, the open window closing to block the storm.
She continued stroking QiongQi, “What you think is your business, irrelevant to me. I won’t get angry over it.”
“Really?” Luo JinXiao asked.
Qu WeiYin nodded, “But you must promise not to reveal anything from that day’s illusion. Otherwise…”
Her fingers tapped the table, another clap of thunder outside.
Startled, Luo JinXiao nodded quickly.
“If there’s nothing else, you may go,” Qu WeiYin said, her expression cold.
Luo JinXiao thanked her, opening the door only to be drenched by rain. She wiped her face with a laugh and flew off on her sword.
Qu WeiYin sighed, shaking her head with a hint of helplessness. She looked down at QiongQi, lost in thought, but the Sword Spirit noted her improved mood.
“Why do you smile when that little girl comes?” the Sword Spirit asked, climbing onto the table, puzzled. “What did you see in the illusion?”
“Never mention it again,” Qu WeiYin said, her gaze silencing the Sword Spirit.
“Fine, no need to be so fierce,” the Sword Spirit muttered, covering her mouth. “Your face is all red.”
Qu WeiYin, exasperated, covered her face with her sleeve, raising her free hand to summon the Crescent Moon Star Sword. The Sword Spirit yelped, retreating into the sword.
The next day, Luo JinXiao rose early, practicing new techniques in the courtyard. Elder Liu had taught her this secret technique shortly after her return to WuHui Sect.
Elder Liu had said it was his ultimate skill, a deadly art. He hadn’t intended to teach it so soon, but after the recent events, he felt that without it, Luo JinXiao might not survive long enough to learn it.
Though his words were harsh, the technique was excellent, and Luo JinXiao gladly accepted it.
She was still on the first level but had almost mastered it in just a few days.
As dawn broke, the sky turned a golden-red, spreading like ink on clouds, gradually covering half the sky. The morning sun warmed her like a blanket.
Luo JinXiao stretched contentedly and headed to WuHui Palace to find Lu FanZhi. The palace of cultivators had quickly returned to its pristine state.
“Why are you up so early?” Lu FanZhi yawned, entering. The hall was still empty, with only a few disciples chatting in groups.
“Nothing else to do, so I came early. Who’s teaching today?” Luo JinXiao asked.
“I think it’s Elder He.”
As Luo JinXiao nodded, a stranger in a yellow robe approached, looking her over, “Are you Luo JinXiao?”
“Yes,” Luo JinXiao replied, puzzled, glancing at Lu FanZhi, “What’s the matter, Senior Brother?”
“Elder He is looking for you. He needs you to meet him in the library about something regarding the ‘Zhi Yin Zhi Mai’ (Yin Meridian),” the disciple said.
Elder He? Luo JinXiao was about to ask more, but the disciple vanished.
“What’s ‘Zhi Yin Zhi Mai’?” Lu FanZhi wondered, concerned, “Many in the sect dislike you; it could be a trap. I’ll go with you.”
Luo JinXiao frowned, scanning the empty hall, shaking her head. The matter sounded suspicious, but anything related to her celestial vein was tempting.
“Even if it’s a trap, you can’t help. Stay here. If I’m not back by class, find…”
She hesitated. In a sect full of experts, whom could she turn to if something happened?
Elder Liu? Always reclusive and hard to find, even if located, he might not help.
Luo Ning, a young girl, shouldn’t get involved.
“If necessary, find Little Martial Aunt. Say I’ll repay with anything,” Luo JinXiao said, unsure why she believed Qu WeiYin would help.
But she hoped she was overthinking.
She smiled reassuringly at Lu FanZhi and turned to leave.
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