Chapter 22

When one stops relying on sight, the other senses become extraordinarily acute.

Qing Zhouxue quieted her mind and steadied her breath, as though watching a flower bloom. In that moment, she was no longer in a hurry; time seemed to slow in her perception—how the swordsman gripped his blade, how the muscles in his arms moved, how spiritual power coursed through him.

Where would the next strike land?

When she opened her eyes again, she swung her sword to block. The impact jarred her hand, but she met the blow perfectly.

At last, she could see the pattern.

But then Senior Sister Lin's voice rang out: "—Stop!"

The illusion array dissolved, and the swordsman's figure vanished without a trace. Qing Zhouxue and Ruan Mingzhu turned to see Bai Su and Lin Xunzhen both forced out of the circle by the remaining phantoms.

"One of us needs to guard the rear. Instead, we all fought on our own." Lin Xunzhen's tone was heavier than usual. "If this were a real match, we would have already lost."

"Ruan Mingzhu, you charged ahead too recklessly at the start, leaving every opening exposed in an instant. If Bai Su were out of the fight and the opposing healer remained, we would be facing several immortals who could never be put down."

"And you too." Lin Xunzhen looked at Qing Zhouxue. "Why did you have to get tangled up with that warrior?"

Qing Zhouxue had indeed been absorbed in her breakthrough in swordsmanship, focusing entirely and forgetting everything else. She lowered her eyes and gave a slight nod.

Ruan Mingzhu pouted but said nothing, hefting her blade. "Again."

They tried again. Ruan Mingzhu held back a little at first, but after the phantom warriors provoked her a few times, she couldn't help but fling herself into the battle with abandon, forgetting everything else.

With the fire spirit root, her nature was naturally fierce, just like the blade in her hand, burning hot. She expended too much power, and it affected the entire field. Qing Zhouxue found it difficult to operate in that scorching air. The frigid aura around her Qingshuang Sword dissolved completely; if she tried to condense ice by force, she would have to expend far more spiritual power.

The warriors were already at late Core Formation, two minor realms above Qing Zhouxue. Now at such a disadvantage, she soon found herself unable to resist.

Again, the whole team was quickly defeated.

"Could you pull back your flames a bit?" Lin Xunzhen's brows furrowed tightly. "At least don't let them reach over here."

Having lost twice in a row, Ruan Mingzhu was irritated: "You handle your part—what right do you have to direct me? Just now you stood there without moving a muscle. Why should you interfere with how I fight?"

She grabbed Qing Zhouxue and pressed her brow down. "I was doing just fine with Senior Sister at the start, no need to hold back, and I didn't have to spare attention to protect anyone or listen to you talk!"

Bai Su looked awkward and said softly, "In that case, then..."

Lin Xunzhen, hearing this, placed a hand on Bai Su's shoulder, signaling that she need not continue.

She addressed Ruan Mingzhu, her voice clear: "I heard you two fought so well before without sparing energy to protect her. How is it that the three of you together haven't even matched two?"

Ruan Mingzhu sneered, "And how would you know about that? Surely you weren't lurking behind the scenes spying on us for days?"

She weighed her saber in her hand and muttered, "With a dual spirit root, who are you to act so high and mighty?"

Compared to Qing Zhouxue, Ruan Mingzhu, and even Bai Su with their single spirit roots, Lin Xunzhen's aptitude was indeed somewhat inferior, and she could not cultivate as quickly as they did.

The inner disciples were few, but they were all talented. This was precisely why she had not become the Sect Leader's disciple, and why she did not have the qualification to become a sword cultivator.

No matter how outstanding her other abilities were, it was all in vain.

Lin Xunzhen's face paled slightly. This was one of her heartaches.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Qing Zhouxue glanced at Ruan Mingzhu and said flatly, "Say no more."

Just as the atmosphere was reaching an impasse, a graceful female voice came through: "This is a place for martial competition. Why has it turned into a battle of words?"

Yun Shuchen walked slowly toward them, her gaze sweeping across each of their faces, lingering on Qing Zhouxue's a little longer.

Then she shifted her gaze to Ruan Mingzhu and smiled gently. "What did you just say? Say it again."

Seeing Elder Yun arrive, Ruan Mingzhu was momentarily at a loss for words. Yet she was one to speak boldly and take responsibility, so she set her jaw and said, "I said, she's only got a dual spirit root. It's harder for her to cultivate, so she should just hide behind me when she can't fight. Who is she to act so high and mighty!"

"Then this seat has five spiritual roots." Yun Shuchen spread her palm, five points of light rotating steadily and harmoniously in the center. She raised an eyebrow slightly. "And I sit quite firmly as peak lord. You still have to call me senior, don't you?"

Qing Zhouxue was stunned. She had only seen Yun Shuchen use water techniques, or wood techniques to grow branches.

She had never considered the possibility of five spirit roots, because with that many, cultivation would be extremely difficult—practically incompatible with immortality.

Ruan Mingzhu looked surprised but quickly recovered, raising an eyebrow. "That's because Senior Yun is formidable."

"Also, didn't you earlier think Bai Su was holding you back?" Yun Shuchen's expression remained unchanged. "Well then, your Aunt Liu is also a medical cultivator. What of her?"

Ruan Mingzhu pressed her lips together, her voice lowering, and said stubbornly, "That's because Aunt Liu herself is formidable."

"Times change, and fortunes turn. With such a proud temper, how can you know what others might become later?"

Ruan Mingzhu turned her head away. "...Oh."

She glanced at Senior Sister Bai, her tone much softer. "I have no issue with you." Then it sharpened abruptly. "I just can't stand some people who always want to lecture others."

Lin Xunzhen was not about to bicker with her for now; her entire mind was fixed on Yun Shuchen's words.

She stared at the five gleaming points of light in the woman's palm. The pressure of the Mahayana stage made her feel it was beyond reach, like a road over distant mountains and rivers.

With such aptitude, how had she done it?

A faint spark of hope seemed to kindle in Lin Xunzhen's heart.

Though Yun Shuchen had eased the tension somewhat, the gathering still ended on a sour note.

Ruan Mingzhu's features were naturally striking and deep, and when she wasn't smiling, she looked unapproachable. She left without any expression, though she cast a glance at Lin Xunzhen as she went.

Lin Xunzhen withdrew her gaze and bowed her head to Yun Shuchen, seeming somewhat regretful. "This disciple was at fault. I had not wished to argue here, but I didn't expect Junior Sister Ruan to be so outspoken... I hope Elder will forgive the display."

After all, she was someone who handled many affairs of the sect, and her attitude was far better than Ruan Mingzhu's—respectful and proper.

On the surface, she took the blame upon herself, but she still subtly emphasized Ruan Mingzhu's behavior before Elder Yun, subtly criticizing her.

This girl had more on her mind than she let on. Yun Shuchen smiled. "No harm done."

Bai Su sighed, somewhat self-reproachful. "Senior Sister need not say that. In the end, it was because of me."

"A medical cultivator is of the utmost importance. Don't belittle yourself."

Yun Shuchen comforted her, then turned to look at her own disciple, who was standing there with eyes lowered, in perfect composure.

Qing Zhouxue kept her gaze fixed forward, slightly closed eyes. She seemed uninterested in the commotion before her, showing no emotion, and had not said a single word throughout.

Bai Su and Lin Xunzhen took their leave, heading back together.

Qing Zhouxue still stood in place, seemingly lost in thought.

Yun Shuchen reached out and waved a hand in front of her eyes.

Only then did Qing Zhouxue snap out of it, her gaze no longer vacant. She looked at her master. "Master."

Yun Shuchen gave a soft sigh. "What had you so deep in thought?"

"...This disciple was contemplating what swordsmanship and techniques might have in common."

Yun Shuchen mused that this child was truly not like ordinary people. Her junior was practically about to throw fists right before her eyes, yet she remained so calm.

If Ruan Mingzhu still had a competitive fire, and Lin Xunzhen had a scheming heart, Qing Zhouxue had neither.

Calm—even indifferent.

Whether that was good or not was hard to say.

Yun Shuchen had long noticed that Qing Zhouxue's temperament was steadier than others, and she was also far more emotionally detached in the face of changing circumstances.

"It's getting late. Let's head back—you haven't had dinner yet."

"Master, why did you come to the main peak's training grounds today?"

"I was getting lazy on Heyi Peak, my bones practically turning to jelly. Thought I'd take a stroll, and just happened to run into you all." Yun Shuchen paused. "That junior sister of yours, Ruan..."

"Proud and arrogant, looking down on everyone."

But then her words took a turn: "Still, she does have some skill, and she's bold enough to own her words and deeds. She means well toward you. There's no harm in befriending her."

Qing Zhouxue was somewhat surprised. She had thought her master would favor Lin Xunzhen more, so she asked accordingly, "And Senior Sister Lin?"

"Her?" Yun Shuchen let out a light cough, a faint curve at her lips. "She entered earlier than you—I've known her longer than I've known you. She's far more clever than you."

Not clever in insight, but clever in the worldly sense.

Qing Zhouxue's attention was already diverted by her master's slight cough. She untied her outer robe, took a few steps forward, and wrapped it snugly around Yun Shuchen.

"Master, did you remember to take your medicine when you came?"

Yun Shuchen nodded. She clutched the robe, which carried the familiar scent of ninefold incense used on Heyi Peak, same as her own, mingled with the fresh, woody fragrance of the mountains that Qing Zhouxue had picked up during sword practice.

"Aren't you cold?" Sure enough, Qing Zhouxue followed with that very question.

Yun Shuchen said softly, "I'm not cold anymore."

She looked at the layered shadows of the mountains, the wind gentle now, the scenery of the Taichu Sect beautiful as it had been for five hundred years.

Her disciple still asked her the same question. This girl seemed never to tire.

Still, it had had some effect—since she paid more attention to staying warm, Yun Shuchen's health seemed relatively stable.

Over these past few years, with an extra person on the peak and an extra pair of chopsticks on the table, there was a bit more warmth to the place.

"You've been busy with sword practice these days. Are you still practicing the technique I taught you?"

Qing Zhouxue made an affirming sound. "What Master taught me, I practice every night before bed. I've finished learning it."

"Then it's time to learn the next one." Yun Shuchen said, "Do you remember those books piled high on the table, taller than you?"

"Even if there were more, studying them slowly, I'd finish them all eventually." Qing Zhouxue was unconcerned about the long road ahead. She turned her head to look at Yun Shuchen. "I find them quite interesting."

"You're a rare sort of child. Most complain endlessly about their studies. I remember back then, the several disciples under the Grandmaster were all racking their brains to try and fool their elders."

Qing Zhouxue disagreed.

"Finding your own way is painful, and sword practice is painful, but..."

"But what?"

"If I do well, you'll smile at me."

She said seriously, "When Master smiles at me, it feels like all dust has settled and light shines bright. There's nothing left to worry about in my heart."