Chapter 139

Three years later, the time came for Elder Yun to "emerge from seclusion."

They returned to Taichu Sect as scheduled.

By now, Taichu Sect had thoroughly investigated Yu Ying's betrayal, clearing Qing Zhouxue of all suspicion. Outsiders might not know the details, but internally... in truth, everyone who knew Qing Zhouxue felt that the senior sister wasn't capable of such a thing—there must have been hidden circumstances.

However, to avoid reopening the old Xu family case, the Sect Leader glossed over certain matters—anything involving Yun Shuchen couldn't be investigated too deeply. The blame was heaped on the dead, and a plausible conclusion was handed down to close the matter.

"It would be difficult for one person to pull this off alone. Infiltrating near Taichu Sect, joining the inner sect, and knowing of Master's background... Judging by bone age alone, without someone telling her, she shouldn't have known such things."

The courtyard, unused for three years, remained spotless thanks to A Jin, though a few koi in the pond had mysteriously disappeared.

"Actually, it's fairly obvious," Yun Shuchen said, leaning against the pavilion as she watched the fish, her gaze steady. "What do you think?"

"Liuyun Sect."

Her master tilted her head, her eyes curving slightly. "Why do you guess that? I thought you'd say—the current Xu family."

Qing Zhouxue frowned. "I don't know. It's possible, I suppose. It's just a guess."

"Mm," Yun Shuchen straightened up. "Qing'er's intuition has always been accurate. Liuyun Sect is more likely. As for the current Xu family... their head is timid by nature, having snagged a great bargain, and he's content. Why would he want to overturn the previous head's case? Besides, those unsavory matters shouldn't be dredged up again."

"I've always felt that the leading immortal sect—they don't seem like good people," Qing Zhouxue said, looking at her directly.

"Between the various powers, there's no good or bad. Most are driven by profit."

"Is that so?" She sighed softly. "But I think Taichu Sect is good. And Master is good. I was such a burden back then, bringing death to many—yet you were willing to take me in."

Yun Shuchen was startled for a moment, then she lifted her lashes and smiled. Having raised her for so many years, watching her constantly, the Sect Leader and the other elders had indeed been attentive to her, and their feelings were not false.

But if not for... if not for what the divination had shown—that she had extraordinary talent and was of concern to Taishang Wangqing—Yun Shuchen knew she didn't have that much spare compassion. She wouldn't have taken in a little girl plagued by misfortune.

And if she weren't a Sword Soul, with the potential to shoulder the sect's heavy responsibilities in the future and an unlimited future, the Sect Leader would never have allowed the elders to weather the Thunder Tribulation for a young person.

In this regard, Xu Xiangjun and Lin Qingya were indeed more generous. Back then, when they learned she had Five Spiritual Roots, a quality Liuyun Sect looked down upon, they still took her in—though only later did they learn they'd picked up a rare Mixed Yuan Five Spiritual Root not seen in a millennium.

She met Qing'er's clear, gentle gaze and swallowed the faint guilt she felt.

"The Immortal Ascension Assembly is approaching. There's something..." Yun Shuchen frowned. "Have you heard of the Sword Soul?"

"Sword Soul?" Qing Zhouxue had some recollection. "You mean Gu Ruoshui, the senior disciple of Liuyun Sect?"

Yun Shuchen smiled instead. "No, not her. It's you."

Just then, the Qingshuang Sword, which had been hovering nearby, seemed to let out a sigh of relief, swaying its tassel in agreement.

Qing Zhouxue pulled her gaze away from the Qingshuang Sword, stunned. "...What?"

"Mm," Yun Shuchen rested her chin on her hand. "Actually, I should have told you sooner. After probing that old Sect Leader, it turned out he knew even earlier than I did."

"You were still young then, and you didn't really pay attention to others," she said gently. "I was afraid that if you realized you were too different from others, you'd become even more distant."

Under Qing Zhouxue's puzzled gaze, Yun Shuchen produced a book titled "Rearing Chicks Classic" from her storage ring and set it before her.

She lowered her eyes, flipped through a few pages, and pointed at a line with her fingertip. "Back then, the elders discussed this matter, and most were against telling you too early."

"..." Qing Zhouxue took the "Rearing Chicks Classic" and happened to catch the line "A Remedy for Preventing Night Crying in Infants."

"Besides, when Liuyun Sect found the so-called Sword Soul girl, they made quite a stir; the entire cultivation world knew about it. That set up a living decoy, which just shielded you from a lot of trouble," Yun Shuchen said. "Actually, it was a stroke of luck, so Taichu Sect didn't publicize it."

"This..." Qing Zhouxue snapped back to reality. "I have parents, just a daughter of an ordinary family. How could I be connected to the Sword Soul?"

"I don't know," Yun Shuchen said firmly. "But it can't be wrong."

That divination back then had cost her nearly a hundred years of lifespan, and she'd had to recuperate in the spirit pool of a cave for quite some time to recover. The price had been significant.

Qing Zhouxue's brows slowly furrowed, but Yun Shuchen smoothed them with her hand. "In a few years, you'll be going to Liuyun Sect as well. All those seeking the Dao usually have to arrive a year before the Immortal Ascension Trial begins."

She'd have to go and stay there?

Qing Zhouxue had spent most of her time on Heyi Peak. Through spring and autumn, cold and warm, she never seemed to tire of the gentle, sentimental evening glow each day. Even if she were planted here, she'd probably be content.

She instinctively resisted. "But..." She could have gone on the day of the competition instead.

Yun Shuchen seemed to see through her thoughts and cut her off first. "Your senior and junior sisters will all be going. If you're the only one left with me, what would that look like?"

This was a rare opportunity. Whether to befriend a group of outstanding talents or to train diligently, Liuyun Sect was a vast and powerful enterprise, standing atop the mountains in the center of the nine provinces, with all the immortal sects gathered around it like stars around the moon.

Though it was built on a mountain, it wasn't like Taichu Sect, which was built along the mountain. Beneath Liuyun Sect lay a massive floating rock, suspended high in the sky, nearly level with the sea of clouds.

Walking among it, one's gaze would fall upon clusters of surging, rolling clouds, as if they had arrived at a celestial palace.

That was how the sect got its name.

When it was founded, it had ambitiously chosen this spot, and now almost all of the nine provinces lay prostrate at its feet.

Yun Shuchen added that during this period, they wouldn't be idle. Aside from verifying identities and going through the required procedures, all of Liuyun Sect's cultivation caves would be open to the talented individuals who had come from afar.

Such a blessed place could match ten days of effort in a single day; no one would be unmoved by the prospect.

Qing Zhouxue sighed, reluctantly acknowledging the trivial benefit of staying there.

After that, her attention wandered even more. But she heard her master say, "Now you know your identity is peculiar. As I said before, don't reveal it lightly. Be careful when you're out."

Yun Shuchen paused, noticing that Qing Zhouxue had been staring at the teacup in front of her. She'd taken a sip, but the water level hadn't gone down much.

She decided not to say more. At this point, Qing Zhouxue probably wasn't taking it in.

When Qing Zhouxue looked up, a gentle touch came from above. "After three years of being lovesick, you've become even clingier."

Yun Shuchen lowered her hand and said warmly, "If you truly miss me so much that it makes you sick, Qing'er, you can write to me, alright?"

*

Time flew; seasons passed.

Qing Zhouxue spent a quiet period of secluded cultivation on Heyi Peak until she finally raised her cultivation to around mid-stage Spirit Transformation—just as Yun Shuchen had predicted, the competition was drawing near.

After completing her master's set goal, she first breathed a sigh of relief, then, counting the days, fell into a nameless melancholy.

"You leave tomorrow," Yun Shuchen said. "You haven't seen your fellow sisters in a long time. Why not meet with them here in Taichu Sect today?"

"Junior Sister Ruan's senior and junior brothers and sisters have arranged a small farewell banquet for her. I didn't want to disturb her. Senior Sister Bai is probably seeing patients about now."

Yun Shuchen said casually, "Mm, indeed, everyone's busy in their own way. I passed by Zhou Shannan's peak earlier, and Junior Lin is also in seclusion."

Qing Zhouxue looked down at a thin layer of spring snow on the ground and traced a shape lightly with the tip of her sword. The blade scraped across the snow, making a faint, crisp sound.

Yun Shuchen watched her sketch two or three circles, which ended up a bit messy, then were completely covered by a fresh layer of snow she raised with a flick of her hand.

"I've finished reading that fragment over the years, and I've also made many modifications myself," Qing Zhouxue said suddenly. "Master, would you like to see the sword manual I've written?"

Yun Shuchen gladly agreed. She took the manual, its edges worn soft from handling, and flipped it open with a pinch of her fingers. Each stance took up several pages, with Qing Zhouxue having carefully written many insights.

So detailed that even an outsider like her could understand seventy or eighty percent of it.

As she was flipping through, another hand suddenly grasped her wrist.

"Let me demonstrate it for you."

What was wrong with her today? She seemed to have a thousand words she wanted to say but didn't know how to express them, and in the end, she was a little restless, as if she had to do something.

Yun Shuchen calmly closed the manual and gave Qing Zhouxue's hand a light pat. "You don't seem to be in the mood. Once you leave tomorrow, it'll be a long while. How about you spend today talking with me more instead?"

"...Alright."

Yun Shuchen took Qing Zhouxue's hand and led her to the summit of Heyi Peak, passing by the large characters that read "Passing by this life is all but a dream."

She led her to sit casually on the cliff's edge, and the thick fur cloak she wore slipped off, spreading soft and thick across the ground.

Qing Zhouxue looked at her thin shoulders and instinctively embraced her, braving the howling wind. "Master, let's go back."

A flask of wine appeared in Yun Shuchen's hand and was pressed into Qing Zhouxue's arms.

"Drinking will keep you warm. It can ease sorrow and forget worries." Meeting Qing Zhouxue's gaze, Yun Shuchen smiled. "This isn't half-life wine. I think you'll like it."

Qing Zhouxue still hesitated, holding the wine.

But Yun Shuchen, taking a sip from her hand, leaned over, hooked her arm around Qing Zhouxue, and accurately found her lips.

Qing Zhouxue closed her eyes the moment she leaned in, about to furrow her brows, but sweet, fragrant wine flowed into her throat. Unexpectedly, it wasn't very bitter.

Yun Shuchen's kiss was also unexpectedly passionate, stronger than the wine. She pulled back slightly, murmuring against Qing Zhouxue's lips, "Are you nervous... about going to Liuyun Sect?"

Was this feeling nervousness? Qing Zhouxue's breath was ruffled by her. "I feel this journey is dangerous."

And her intuition had always been astonishingly accurate.

Her clear thoughts held for only a moment; after being fed a few more mouthfuls of wine, Qing Zhouxue was already leaning against her, listless. Her mind grew hazy, but the tension in her body gradually seeped away.

"Either way, you have to go. Worrying won't help." Yun Shuchen deliberately mimicked Qing Zhouxue's tone, and the girl lying against her gave a drunken chuckle.

The breeze blew past their ears, but Qing Zhouxue felt a bit hot, perhaps from the wine. She quietly lifted her head, looked at the face before her, and thought again that she might not see her for a long time.

As she looked, she suddenly wanted to hug her.

She straightened up, catching Yun Shuchen off guard, and pressed her backward. Beneath her was the white fur they'd spread out; it didn't hurt, but it startled her.

Qing Zhouxue lay limply on top, lowering her head for a long moment, her eyes growing increasingly misty and unclear, as if she were very drunk.

She had a terrible tolerance for alcohol.

It was only a few mouthfuls?

Suddenly, her own collar was tugged open a little, letting cool air rush in.

Yun Shuchen suddenly realized the situation. She froze for a moment. "What are you doing?"