Chapter 135

Yun Shuchen's wrist was suddenly lifted, revealing a string of thin, rosy pearls coiled around it. Her fingers twitched slightly. The color was exceptionally rare, and against her skin, it made her look like jade.

Qing Zhouxue kept her head down, adjusting the string to a comfortable tightness.

"Qing'er."

Yun Shuchen's gaze traced the top of Qing Zhouxue's dark hair, then fell to her crow-feather lashes, and then to her lips, which were naturally red without any rouge. The flowing fabric spread beneath her like clouds, as clean as a blooming white lotus.

It was beautiful.

Yun Shuchen stared at her for a long while, then said in a hoarse voice, "Have I been too controlling lately? Are you tired of it?"

"As for the Immortal Ascension Assembly, it's entirely up to you." She closed her eyes, still seeming weary. "Whether you go or not, it's fine. I won't say more."

Yesterday, Qing Zhouxue had instinctively pulled her hand away from Yun Shuchen's touch. Though the gesture had been small, she had never done such a thing before.

Yun Shuchen had been brooding over it since.

In truth, her master's thoughts were quite meticulous, and her experience far exceeded Qing Zhouxue's. Having her arrange everything was naturally good.

"I still have to go," Qing Zhouxue said. She raised her hand slightly, then clasped it between both of hers. "There's no such thing as being tired of you. Yesterday, I was being stubborn with you, but I was still angry because you insisted on hiding things from me."

"Then what do you think of me?" Yun Shuchen paused, then asked softly.

"Best not to implicate the innocent, and best not to kill anyone else."

Yun Shuchen's heart clenched. Her fingers tightened uncontrollably around Qing Zhouxue's hand.

"Master must survive the tribulation safely and ascend to immortality."

A flicker of surprise crossed her face. Lifting her eyes, she met a face unusually cold and detached, with brows and eyes that seemed untouched by the mundane world. But her words were full of concern, carrying a warmth of hope beneath their plainness.

"I've already said, don't keep things in your heart. Too many matters lead to worry; a worried heart leads to illness." Qing Zhouxue shook her head, then stood up and walked to the bow to check the path. Under the bright sunlight, her white robes gleamed, as if she might ride the wind away at any moment. She turned half her face, saying, "You were nervous again just now."

Her ability to sense others' emotions was now startlingly precise.

Yun Shuchen thought to herself that the Emotion Root seemed more complete than before.

If she ever grew into someone like that, she probably wouldn't be someone easily swayed.

She thought this with a slight curve of her lips. With a few words, Qing Zhouxue had soothed her heart and slowly let it rest.

"My intention was to head north to seek out Senior Ji Linjiang. She has been the gatekeeper of the Immortal Ascension Assembly for many years and is a highly respected arbiter. If we have her guarantee, no one will raise objections when you go to the assembly."

As Qing Zhouxue's master, Yun Shuchen's words would inevitably be seen as biased, making it difficult to convince others. Thus, she needed to borrow someone else's voice.

Why she chose Ji Linjiang in particular was because that woman was also a sword cultivator, obsessive to the point of madness, and might feel a sense of appreciation for Qing Zhouxue's talent.

Qing Zhouxue returned to the cabin. With her slight movement, the small boat swayed gently, like a cradle.

Hearing this, she nodded, seemingly unconcerned about whom they sought. Instead, she kept staring at the corner of Yun Shuchen's eye. It was still red and looked uncomfortable.

After a while of deliberation, she placed two small ice shards on the corner of Yun Shuchen's eye.

Yun Shuchen's shoulder suddenly felt a weight. Qing Zhouxue buried her nose and mouth in Yun Shuchen's clothes, taking a deep breath. She sniffed for a long while but couldn't figure anything out, so she shifted, burying her face at Yun Shuchen's waist, and sniffed again for a long time. Warm breath puffed against her waist, and Yun Shuchen trembled. She twisted her head around to ask, "...What are you doing?"

Qing Zhouxue said, "Master has Demonic Race blood, but you smell fragrant. Why?"

There were no demonic techniques or records in the study on Heyi Peak, nor any introductions. Qing Zhouxue's understanding of that race was limited to having killed a few demon beasts, barely knowing Fan Yin, or the casual gossip between senior and junior sisters.

Her curiosity for any subject was quite strong, and when it involved Yun Shuchen, her interest deepened further. So she sniffed her up and down, then looked up with a puzzled expression.

"Perhaps you've grown used to it after spending so long together. Also, I don't cultivate the demonic path."

Yun Shuchen had never imagined that her disciple would seriously consider this matter. She was still caught up in the shock that Qing'er knew about it, and that she hadn't mentioned the bloodline at all—wondering what she might think—when Qing Zhouxue had already started scrutinizing her openly.

This was fine, in a way. Yun Shuchen relaxed instead, choosing to close her eyes and let her do as she pleased.

Her outer robe wrinkled like spring water stirred by a passing boat, and eventually slipped off without notice. Qing'er's cool fingers brushed over her shoulder, lifting a small piece of fabric before letting it fall, as if searching for something.

Yun Shuchen clutched her innermost garment tightly. "What is this now?"

"I've observed that women of the Demonic Race have markings on their faces, necks, or legs."

Qing Zhouxue thought back for a while. She remembered that there was a red mole on Yun Shuchen's chest, delicate and tempting.

Yun Shuchen, suddenly asked about this, tilted her head slightly and coughed softly. Her disciple seemed unsatisfied. She leaned in close to search, a strand of black hair falling by her temple, slipping inadvertently into Yun Shuchen's collar and tickling her everywhere.

The fresh fragrance from Qing Zhouxue's clothes faintly surrounded her.

"Of course I have them." Yun Shuchen pulled the strand of hair out from her collar. "Do you want to see?"

"Then you may only look this time—don't touch."

The demonic markings Qing Zhouxue had seen were usually in conspicuous places. She had never imagined that her master would need to remove so many layers of clothing for her to see them.

From bottom to top, Yun Shuchen peeled away layer by layer. Her alabaster thighs flashed faintly through the disheveled garments. She hooked a fold of the thin, cloud-like fabric with her toes, dragging out a wrinkle, and then, after a moment's hesitation, curled her legs fully.

"Is it beautiful?"

Qing Zhouxue lowered her gaze. Her breath caught subtly.

The marking was shaped like a snake, yet also like a lush, blooming flower branch, coiling seductively around the top of her thigh.

"...Mm," Qing Zhouxue said, seeming distracted. "It's very beautiful."

She wasn't sure what she was looking at—perhaps she was looking at the marking after all.

Yun Shuchen straightened her clothes properly, completely covering that hint of vivid color.

Yun Shuchen showed her only once, but her gaze remained fixed on Qing Zhouxue, scrutinizing her with a hint of caution, hoping to discern any change in her expression.

Even a slight furrow of the brow would have made Yun Shuchen's heart tighten.

Yet there was nothing.

After a moment, Yun Shuchen felt a sudden helplessness toward herself.

She knew Qing Zhouxue wouldn't react that way.

What was she testing, then?

If only she could be like Qing Zhouxue—able to trust someone wholeheartedly once she decided. Her disciple loved openly and without reservation, showing signs of an untroubled past.

But Yun Shuchen feared she would never be able to do the same.

Qing Zhouxue noticed her master's subtle displeasure rising again. In truth, since they had spoken openly yesterday, Yun Shuchen's emotional shifts had become as elusive and unpredictable as mist that appeared and vanished amid the mountains.

Perhaps each of those hidden burdens left its own deep wounds.

That was why she reacted so strongly.

Qing Zhouxue suppressed a flicker of fantasy. Now that things were clear, she decided never to bring this up again.

They drifted lazily for a long time, watching three sunrises and two sunsets from the boat, before finally stopping at the shore.

If Yun Shuchen's memory was correct, this should be Ji Linjiang's cave dwelling.

She only hoped the woman hadn't gone into seclusion.

Ji Linjiang was a well-known figure in the path of the sword. She belonged to no sect, being a loose cultivator, so for events like the Immortal Ascension Assembly, she was an impartial choice as arbiter.

Fortunately, Yun Shuchen spotted her before even entering.

Ji Linjiang appeared to be a young woman at first glance. At this moment, however, she was hanging most carelessly from a tree, her long hair trailing down like a hanged female ghost. A gentle breeze stirred her occasionally, swaying her like dried meat suspended during the New Year.

Qing Zhouxue cast a strange glance at the woman, then confirmed with Yun Shuchen. Only after seeing her master's assured look did she believe they had come to the right place.

Just as she took a step closer to the tree, a sword shot out like lightning, embedding itself into the ground beside Qing Zhouxue's foot, nearly sending sparks flying.

Qing Zhouxue halted instantly, standing with her sword behind her back.

"Who goes there?"

"Qing Zhouxue of the Taichu Sect."

From the treetop, the woman, hanging upside down, sized her up for a moment. "Mm."

"Don't recognize you."

Ji Linjiang's gaze shifted to the Qingshuang Sword on Qing Zhouxue's back. "But I recognize this sword."

Then her eyes moved over Qing Zhouxue's head to Yun Shuchen. After a moment of thought, she said, "This one looks somewhat familiar."

"If you can't remember, then don't bother," Yun Shuchen said with a faint smile.

Ji Linjiang suddenly sensed something was off. She took a closer look and then blurted out, "It's you?"

Qing Zhouxue instantly felt the pressure around her intensify. The long sword hummed and trembled, pulling itself a few inches out of the soil before shooting toward the two of them.

The Qingshuang Sword instinctively met it, clashing with a ring as it blocked the incoming blade. At the same time, the woman hanging from the tree plummeted down at great speed. Just as Qing Zhouxue braced for her to hit the ground face-first—

Just before she landed—

She really did land face-first.

Senior Ji, with lightning speed, buried the upper half of her body into the dirt, stylish enough not to leave even a speck of soil scattering.

Qing Zhouxue blinked in surprise and took a step back. "...Senior?"

In the next instant, Ji Linjiang, incredibly flexible, used her toes to push off the ground and shot upright as if pulled by a force. By the time Qing Zhouxue reacted, Ji Linjiang was standing right before her, flicking dust off her sleeve that wasn't there.

She reached out, and the long sword flew back into her hand.

Ji Linjiang raised her eyes, pointed the sword at Qing Zhouxue, then gave a cold laugh. She shifted the blade an inch, aiming it at Yun Shuchen, who stood nearby.

Yun Shuchen had just raised her hand when a myriad of sword shadows slashed toward her, causing ripples to spread across the watery barrier she had formed in the void.

Qing Zhouxue blocked several strikes, her feet sinking a few inches into the mud. As a fellow sword cultivator, she could feel from these moves that the other woman was not in a calm state of mind—there was even a trace of resentment.

Ji Linjiang's attacks were fierce. Only when the two were forced to step out of the dwelling did she unceremoniously close the door.

—Declining visitors.