Chapter 18

"Customer, are you here seeking a sword?"

The dim shop was steeped in a musty scent, the air thick with perpetual darkness. The shopkeeper's voice was low and raspy.

The question struck an odd note. This was the busiest commercial street on Penglai Island, where every passerby was engaged in trade—one hand for goods, the other for payment. What did "seeking" have to do with anything?

He appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary middle-aged man. Qing Zhouxue could detect no cultivation on him whatsoever.

The shopkeeper's gaze lingered on Yun Shuchen's face for a moment, then shifted to Qing Zhouxue. "There is only one sword cultivator among you."

He bent down, rummaged through a pile of miscellaneous goods behind him, and finally produced a brocade box, extending it to her with one hand.

Yun Shuchen intercepted it first and opened it. The blade within shimmered with flowing light.

Yet she said, "Not worthy of her."

She handed the box back, speaking frankly, "The person is no ordinary one, but the sword is but an ordinary blade. Do you have anything better?"

"I have nothing better," the shopkeeper said emotionlessly. "A true sword cultivator cares not what they wield—a blade of grass, a fallen petal, a plucked leaf—all can become a sword. If one cannot grasp this, perhaps they are unworthy of any fine sword."

"It seems you already have someone in mind. Just say it plainly."

Yun Shuchen smiled. "The famed sword, Qingshuang."

The shopkeeper fell silent for a moment, then sighed lightly. "The Qingshuang Sword, matched with an Ice Spiritual Root, is a natural pairing. But unfortunately, it was promised to the chief disciple of Liuyun Sect a week ago."

"Let her take a look," Yun Shuchen said with a smile. "A famed sword will not easily acknowledge a master. What harm is there in looking?"

The shopkeeper did not respond, but as soon as Yun Shuchen finished speaking, one of the stacked brocade boxes trembled violently, as if eager to break free from its confines.

This inspection, it seemed, would give the sword away. In the end, he murmured, "Since it is fate, you may follow whomever you wish."

The box was rent open by a sharp edge, and a slender sword, gleaming white throughout, soared out. It seemed highly intelligent; it tapped the pommel against Qing Zhouxue's hand, forcing her palm open, then arrogantly nestled into it.

It was cold, like jade submerged in icy water.

That was Qing Zhouxue's first impression as her hand closed around the hilt.

The shopkeeper took note, and since it was the sword's choice, he said no more—though turning down Liuyun Sect would prove troublesome.

When Yun Shuchen and Qing Zhouxue left, the man merely charged a token sum. He cast Qing Zhouxue an extra glance, his gaze carrying a sigh she could not decipher.

"Master, how did you find this place?"

Qing Zhouxue sheathed the long sword and looked back at the gray, unremarkable shop.

"Years ago, the founding master brought my senior to fetch a sword here, so I came to know him. This shopkeeper is an old senior—once the renowned number-one sword immortal across the Nine Provinces. But he failed his tribulation, dissipating all his cultivation... Now, he simply lives here in seclusion."

"Number one?"

"Uncontested number one."

"He must have been formidable. Why did he fail his tribulation?"

"He walked a difficult path—the Emotionless Dao. His cultivation advanced swiftly, but..." Yun Shuchen seemed disapproving. "But every heart is made of flesh; who can truly treat all beings under heaven with absolute impartiality?"

"The Emotionless Dao..." Qing Zhouxue frowned. "I've never heard of it, nor seen it recorded in any book."

"Naturally, it isn't in the Taichu Sect," Yun Shuchen said with a curl of her lips. "Our founding master was an unrestrained soul; he deemed that path inhumane and burned every record of it."

"Is that so?" Qing Zhouxue nodded. "Master, this sword immortal was gifted beyond compare—even with cultivation gone, why not simply start anew?"

This time, Yun Shuchen pondered for a while before slowly replying, "Perhaps the hardest thing in this world is not the struggle to advance."

"It is starting over from scratch."

When they returned to Heyi Peak, it was nearly late autumn. The maple trees on the distant mountains were scattered in patches of sparse red.

Qing Zhouxue was slightly taken aback—the half of Heyi Peak that had collapsed was now propped back up. The courtyard that had been leveled to the ground was now neat and orderly; apart from the sparse furnishings, one could hardly tell it had ever weathered a thunder tribulation.

"Once you reach the late Golden Core stage, pick a secluded spot for yourself and stay there—don't come back to the peak," Yun Shuchen said with a sidelong glance.

Then she laughed. "Or I could send you to the Sect Leader's hall and let that old man witness what a real thunder tribulation looks like."

"...Master, aren't we nearly too poor to eat? Where did the money to repair this come from?"

"Over the years, I've had some profitable ventures. You didn't truly think the elders relied solely on the meager monthly allowance the Sect Leader doles out, did you?"

To her shame, her naive disciple had indeed believed just that.

Qing Zhouxue quickly realized. "That brothel—is it also yours, Master?"

"...Don't let the Sect Leader know."

...

In the distance, two golden eagles circled. Qing Zhouxue looked up, heart easing slightly—they were Ruan Mingzhu's birds. It seemed the revival effect had not been a lie.

But the two birds no longer dared approach Qing Zhouxue. They flew a few loops above her head, then released a piece of cloth that drifted down lazily.

Qing Zhouxue picked up the rag. Scrawled on it were a few characters—

'I'm in the confinement room. Senior sister, save me. I have something to discuss.'

The handwriting was unmistakably Ruan Mingzhu's.

Qing Zhouxue's mouth twitched. In just a few months, she'd gotten herself into another mess.

Yun Shuchen watched the two eagles flap away, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't those the ones that died long ago?"

"They..." Qing Zhouxue halted mid-sentence, nearly biting her tongue. Meeting Yun Shuchen's gaze, she said seriously, "It's nothing."

Yun Shuchen curled her lips, looking somewhat resigned. "It's not as if asking Liu Xunqin for spirit herbs is anything shameful—why so tense?"

"Still, she made a condition? Nothing too excessive, I hope?" Those beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

"Not at all."

"Very well."

A hand stroked her head, rubbed it gently, then gave her cheek a soft pat.

"Run along, then. Go play with your junior sister."

The confinement room was behind the main peak's rear mountain—an isolated pavilion surrounded by barriers, guarded. Disciples confined there to copy scriptures could not come and go freely.

"Senior Sister Qing."

Inner disciples held high status, so the ordinary gatekeepers were all extremely deferential.

"Could you tell me where Ruan Mingzhu is?" Qing Zhouxue asked one of them. The person directed her down a path, then added, "Senior Sister Qing, this is the place of reflection—you shouldn't stay long, and no loud noise."

Qing Zhouxue nodded, walked to the door indicated, and knocked lightly. A woman's voice from inside exclaimed joyfully, "Good heavens, finally a living person comes to see me!"

The door flew open, and Ruan Mingzhu yanked her inside. "Sit, sit!"

Qing Zhouxue settled into another chair while Ruan Mingzhu plopped down, crossing her legs. Copied scriptures were scattered all over the table.

Ruan Mingzhu took a deep breath. "Let me tell you, this place isn't fit for humans. The food? Bland enough to make a bird lose its taste. The guards outside? A bunch of wood or mutes. Call to heaven, no answer; call to earth, no reply."

Summing up, she snapped, "Damn it all!"

Qing Zhouxue listened quietly as she vented with colorful language, then said helplessly, "Why were you sentenced to reflection less than half a year after joining the sect?"

At that, Ruan Mingzhu stared blankly for a while, her fury deflating, and muttered, "That Elder Liu is a stingy one."

Months earlier.

Ruan Mingzhu, upon learning that the famed medical immortal Liu Xunqin appeared to be a mere maiden of sixteen, had been intensely curious—so that's how those who study medicine preserve their youth!

After a brief awkward period of behaving herself on the peak for a few days, Ruan Mingzhu's curiosity got the better of her again, and she snuck into Lingsu Peak—still calling her 'Senior Sister' to tease her.

Elder Liu remained aloof and carefree, robes loosely draped, long hair spilling down her back, barefoot as she moved between several medicine furnaces.

She was sniffing medicinal powder in her hand, expressionlessly mixing a batch of odd ingredients.

"Senior Sister, hello!"

A head popped in from the window, and Ruan Mingzhu flashed a brilliant smile. Then, with a nimble flip, she stood inside the herb hut.

"Senior Sister busy?" Ruan Mingzhu chirped, chin in hand. "Is your medical skill any good? Can you teach me to mix medicines?"

Liu Xunqin, pestered by her endless calls of 'Senior Sister,' got a headache and her face darkened. "I am not your senior sister. I am—"

"Sorry, junior sister," Ruan Mingzhu cut her off with a grin. "So you're younger than me."

*Slap!*

Bai Su, just returning from herb gathering, saw a fiery figure shoot out from her master's hut and slam hard into a tree.

Dust and debris scattered, and Ruan Mingzhu crashed to the ground again, landing in a sprawl.

"Ow..." She spat out a mouthful of dirt and cursed under her breath.

Then, Bai Su heard a cold, pressure-laden voice: "Toss this scourge out. Confine her to reflection for one month, and don't let her back in."

After Ruan Mingzhu finished her account, Qing Zhouxue pressed her fingers to her brow. "You..."

"...That's quite something," she conceded, half in jest.

"Forget that." Ruan Mingzhu rolled her eyes. "I've got actual business to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"My master told me that in three months, there'll be a minor sect competition. Winners advance to the next round—three rounds total. In the end, a few people will be chosen to represent Taichu Sect at the Immortal Ascension Assembly."

"That's the famous assembly known throughout the Nine Provinces," Ruan Mingzhu said, lifting her chin. "Aside from drawing the most talented cultivators in the world, the rewards are lavish—win, and you're a name on the leaderboard. I'm definitely going. What about you?"

Before Qing Zhouxue could answer, Ruan Mingzhu continued, "This year's different from before—it's not one-on-one but team battles."

"You were the champion of the inner sect tournament."

Ruan Mingzhu tilted her head. "I'm not too shabby either. If we fought again, it'd be hard to call a winner."

"So why not team up—strength plus strength? How about joining my team?"