Chapter 87

After all, she had come a long way to the Taichu Sect, a rare and honored guest. Naturally, Yun Shuchen kept her for a few more days.

Thinking that the Pavilion's affairs were not pressing at the moment, Li Chaoyin hesitated briefly, then agreed.

There were indeed many empty residences on Heyi Peak.

Years ago, when Qing Zhouxue had first moved in and chosen the most remote room, Yun Shuchen had thought that as her disciple grew older, she would need more space and couldn't be squeezed into such a small room. So in her spare time, she had A Jin tidy up several spacious guest rooms, always keeping them ready.

But fate had its own plans—who could have guessed that master and disciple would unknowingly end up sharing a bed, and from one winter onward, they'd slept together without any formal arrangement.

Looking back, time flew like an arrow.

That evening, the three sat together, drinking a few cups. Though "three" was said, in truth only two were drinking; Qing Zhouxue's cup had been silently replaced with tea—a light, plain cup.

So she could only watch the two elders enjoy their wine and conversation. Their topics ranged from business matters in the East Sea to old memories of years past. Qing Zhouxue couldn't follow much, so she kept her mouth shut and picked at the dishes.

"In the past, I never had such leisure to admire the scenery carefully," Li Chaoyin said, looking at the distant mountains, and couldn't help but sigh. "Though this place isn't as open as Penglai, it's far more beautiful in its elegance and seclusion."

"Winter snow is the most beautiful," Yun Shuchen said, setting down her wine cup. "But it's still early for that now."

She was about to pour another cup when her wrist was gently pressed and pushed back.

Qing Zhouxue looked at her.

Yun Shuchen withdrew her hand, a bit helplessly.

Li Chaoyin laughed. "Your master's tolerance for wine is quite good; this amount is far from intoxication."

But Qing Zhouxue shook her head. "Senior, more or less is only a matter of degree; all of it harms the body."

"How wonderful," Li Chaoyin seemed to think of something, sighing faintly, almost inaudibly. "Such a considerate disciple."

She took several bolts of fabric from her storage ring and handed them to Qing Zhouxue. Qing Zhouxue was startled for a moment; when she took them, her thumb brushed over the exceptionally supple material, feeling somewhat familiar—it seemed to be woven from mermaid silk.

Mermaid silk was rare, each inch worth its weight in gold, one of Penglai's specialties. Clothing made from it was flowing and beautiful, and ordinary blades could hardly pierce it—truly precious. She felt she couldn't accept this, and was about to decline when Li Chaoyin stopped her first.

"Since I come as a guest, it would be too rude not to bring a small gift." Li Chaoyin then examined Qing Zhouxue with the same appreciative gaze and said warmly, "Young friend, no need to be polite."

Qing Zhouxue was about to speak when she heard Yun Shuchen say lazily from the side, "Accept it without worry. The person before you is a magnate who commands half the East Sea's trade, so no fear of bankrupting her. But Pavilion Master, you only bring a gift for my disciple? What about mine?"

Li Chaoyin gave a soft tut. "Immortal Yun is a major patron every year. I wonder if your wardrobe can still fit all the clothes now?"

Only those with close rapport could tease each other like this. Qing Zhouxue thought this vaguely, then took a sip of her tea. She noticed that her master treated many people differently. Toward Sect Leader Liu, her words were formal; toward Sect Leader Yue, she was more casual and relaxed; with Pavilion Master Li, she revealed a subtle sense of mutual admiration and understanding.

With herself... her master was sometimes gentle, sometimes cold—unfathomable.

After three sticks of incense, the sky had darkened, and it was likely time for rest. Yun Shuchen stood up, but she didn't head to her own bedroom; she looked at Qing Zhouxue. "She and I rarely have a chance to catch up. Qing'er, go to sleep first; don't wait for me."

"...Okay." Qing Zhouxue's hand was already on the door. She stood there, watching Yun Shuchen and Li Chaoyin enter the same room.

Her hand, pressed against the door, lowered again. Finally, she shut it properly and turned to head to the study.

*

The door closed, and their conversation drew back from idle chatter, gradually turning to the main topic.

"So, you truly did put Liuyun Sect in a tight spot," Li Chaoyin asked. "How did you know she was the true reincarnated Sword Soul? Did you know before taking her as a disciple? Does that girl know herself?"

"She doesn't know." Yun Shuchen let out a faint, almost imperceptible sigh. "At the time, it was just because of the divination. The reasons behind it, I only vaguely pieced together later after consulting many classics, and I also made a special trip to Jiayin Temple. Huijue fulfilled a promise from years ago and lent his Ten Thousand Lotus Lamp, agreeing to examine my disciple's reincarnation."

"Reincarnation?"

"Mm."

"Why look into this?" Li Chaoyin mused. "All living beings cannot escape the six paths of rebirth—endless birth, aging, sickness, death in the mundane world, then repeating the same cycle. Even you and I, cultivators, cannot avoid this fate unless we ascend in a single lifetime. Reincarnation is a common thing; what deeper meaning is there?"

"It is indeed common." Yun Shuchen paused. "But when Huijue looked, he said the child has no past life, not bound by the six realms."

"If it were an ordinary soul, it could never be this blank." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Besides, the Heavenly Dao is wary of her, trying to strike her down several times—likely because it fears existence outside its 'laws.'"

"Truly special," Li Chaoyin said with a wry smile and a shake of her head. "The ancestor of Liuyun Sect, Taishang Wangqing, has been in seclusion for years. She went to great lengths to find this child back then. This suggests that at the next Immortal Ascension Assembly, held every fifty years, she will certainly come out to preside over it, and she will certainly recognize her."

"...She—Taishang Wangqing's cultivation has reached the peak. Her Emotionless Dao has progressed smoothly, and ascending to immortality isn't an issue. I truly don't understand—why she's been suppressing her cultivation, and what exactly she wants with this reincarnated Sword Soul?"

"It doesn't matter what she wants." Yun Shuchen smiled slowly. "Whatever she wants, I'll snatch it first. Qing'er and I are indeed fated, aren't we?"

"Mm." Li Chaoyin sighed in genuine admiration. "That child, though she doesn't talk much, seems to like you a great deal."

"Enough. I told you this because I'd like to use your connections in the East Sea to investigate. Could the Pavilion Master spare a convenience?" Yun Shuchen again returned to her usual gentle demeanor, lazily leaning back in her chair. "After all, Miao Shun and the others are demons; they can't enter Liuyun Sect, and the information they can gather is limited. As for what they truly intend with the Sword Soul and what level their cultivation has reached now—I want to know all of that before I plan my next move."

"As the foremost sect under heaven, Liuyun Sect's movements are naturally closely monitored by Penglai Pavilion." Li Chaoyin frowned. "But recently there's been nothing out of the ordinary, aside from the ancestor announcing her seclusion—though that was some time ago."

"'Possessing a jade is a crime,'" Li Chaoyin sighed again. "Your disciple's staying away from that Immortal Ascension Assembly would be the best option. These are but empty names; better to have peace."

At those words, Yun Shuchen paused for a long moment before speaking softly. "I've thought the same."

She was only twenty-two, already quite conspicuous. In another ten or twenty years, she wouldn't be a fine jade hidden in a box forever, but the full radiance of daylight after clouds part and rain clears.

Yet every time she saw her grueling sword practice, comprehending each move bit by bit, she never once complained of fatigue.

Yun Shuchen always had to dismiss this thought; she couldn't really keep her tethered to Heyi Peak forever, in company with the clear wind and cold snow. It was simply a pity.

Though she had felt that way once... that she had been tempted by it.

They replayed the unfinished game left earlier. Li Chaoyin said with implication, "Well, her future is boundless."

Beneath the calm surface, moves in the shadow chess game among the great immortal sects had begun. Yun Shuchen placed her final stone—the black dragon and white serpent constrained each other, the path ahead unclear.

*

Qing Zhouxue had buried herself in the study reading for a while, and drowsiness crept over her. She assumed her master should have returned by now, but when she left the study, she found the lamp in those two women's room still lit, glowing dim and yellow.

And on her side, when she pushed open the door, there was only a bed spread with cold moonlight.

In the past, when she was young, she often stayed home alone and never felt lonely. But now, for some reason, she couldn't fall asleep by herself.

The sleepiness that had brewed in the study vanished completely the moment she lay down. Outside, the wind rustled the treetops and scraped the tiles, insects chirped in the grass, and something else made faint rustling noises—in short, every sound reached her ears.

Usually, these distant sounds felt desolate, but now the more she listened, the noisier they grew. Qing Zhouxue turned to the left, hesitated for a moment, then turned back, and finally tried to take a breath in the bedclothes her master had slept in.

As her own breath mixed with her master's scent and returned to her nostrils, she vaguely recalled those kisses, tangled and lingering just like this.

In such hazy thoughts, she closed her eyes and gradually began to drift toward sleep. Just as she felt the faint edges of slumber—the blanket was ruthlessly pulled aside, and cool air rushed in.

Qing Zhouxue half-opened her eyes, and by her ear someone said helplessly, "Don't sleep all wrapped up like that; it's bad for your health."

"...Master?" she murmured, still groggy. "Why are you here?"

"It's the middle of the night. Why wouldn't I be here?" Yun Shuchen changed out of her outer robe, lifted the covers, and slipped in. As soon as she lay down, a disciple naturally pressed against her arm.

Qing Zhouxue's voice, still sleepy, floated as if suspended in the air. "I thought... you were sleeping with Pavilion Master Li."

Yun Shuchen was startled, then chuckled lightly. "Mm? Then I'll go, would my disciple be sad?"

She thought to herself: for this heartless little thing, she would probably just be uncomfortable, not truly sad.

But she spoke quickly, holding a hint of testing, and asked anyway.

She waited for a while, but only her own voice remained, the darkness swallowing the last of its echo. After a long moment, no answer came.

Yun Shuchen turned her head to look. Qing Zhouxue's eyes were closed; in the gap between speaking, she had slipped into slumber. She probably heard nothing, her sleeping face utterly serene, pressed against her arm.

Thinking carefully, the question was indeed senseless. She couldn't help but feel relieved those words hadn't been heard, while a faint disappointment slowly rose.

Besides, tonight Qing'er hadn't hugged her.

If she were to poke her awake now and specifically remind her, it would feel wrong. For instance, one enjoys seeing flowers bloom, but if the bud had to be pried open, the initial joy would be lost, making one look eagerly destructive. Put simply, Elder Yun cared quite a bit about her dignity.

After a moment's thought, Yun Shuchen suddenly turned over with somewhat exaggerated movement, moving away from her disciple.

Qing Zhouxue stirred, as if startled awake, and instinctively embraced her, pulling her close and holding her firmly, as if to keep her from falling off the bed.

The scheme succeeded.

Yun Shuchen said nothing, feeling the familiar force at her waist as a subtle smile curled at her lips. She closed her eyes and drifted into a dream.