《I will Bury the Gods》


 CH 0

    Upon the front platform of the Guanyin Pavilion, a young man, drenched in blood, cast a wary glance back at the City of Death as a raging tempest threatened to engulf him. The wind howled through the air, carrying the stench of death and despair.


    Before him loomed the imposing structure of the temple, rising high into the stormy sky with its two towering stories. Its steeply angled roof was a web of intersecting rafters, resembling the jagged bones of some ancient beast. The signboard above the entrance was blank, devoid of any characters, adding to the ominous atmosphere.


    With quivering fingers, Lin Shouxi pushed the gate open and stumbled into the sanctuary of the pavilion, grateful to find it unlocked. He leaned heavily against the door, gasping for air as he struggled to quiet the searing agony that ravaged his body. Though the rain outside had been muted by the pavilion¡¯s walls, he knew that danger still lurked in every corner.


    As Lin Shouxi took this moment to catch his breath, he began to reflect on the downfall of his sect.


    Though he appeared young, he was the current inheritor of the Demon Gate. A title that once held great reverence and commanded respect across the realm. But now, in the wake of the sect¡¯s defeat at the hands of the Tao Gate, his title meant nothing. His senior brothers and sisters were now prisoners, and he himself had spent the last day fleeing for his life, wounded and alone.


    What¡¯s more, despite his best efforts to evade his pursuers, he had been relentlessly pursued from the treacherous Black Cliff to the menacing City of Death. And to make matters worse, his unyielding hunter was none other than Mu Shijing, a formidable disciple of the Tao Gate, and the only one capable of ending his life.


    ¡°Mu Shijing¡­¡±


    Her name escaped his lips with deliberate slowness, as the words of his elders echoed in his mind.


    According to them, both he and Mu Shijing were born in this city fifteen years ago, and were the only survivors of the disaster that had befallen it.


    Unfortunately, these two heaven-blessed talents were not destined to be an immortal couple. From the moment they joined the Demon and Tao sects, their paths were set on a collision course that would lead to a battle of life and death.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s eyes drifted closed, his grip on his sword tightened, the blade¡¯s point touching the earth.


    He had always considered himself a killer driven by inspiration, and if fate would grant him but a single moment of triumph, even Mu Shijing, guarded by the impenetrable Myriad Laws List, might fall, struck down by a single fatal blow.


    Rain and wind careened into the straight window, a never-ceasing whistle piercing the air.


    In a flash, his eyes sprang open.


    She had arrived!


    ***


    Mu Shijing perched atop a Chiwei, her robes billowing in the wind. Her sword, a gleaming mirror of her tranquil gaze, was her constant companion as she surveyed the tempest-tossed city below.


    The City of Death was her birthplace, yet if not for the edict of her sect, she would never have returned to its polluted border. A place infamous the world over, it teemed with corruption and decay, where even the slightest touch could rot the common person. Though she donned pure white icy socks as a talisman against evil, her feet still felt a sense of foreboding as they touched the ground.


    The city held a certain renown among the cultivator circles, yet upon her arrival, she discovered that it was even more surreal and uncanny than she had ever imagined.


    The city gates had been firmly locked by the government for a decade and a half, bound with heavy chains and bolts, forbidding entry to all. Yet today, as Lin Shouxi sought refuge within its walls, the door mysteriously creaked open, its iron chains and wooden bolts snapping asunder and tumbling to the ground.


    Before venturing into the city, the sky was clear and unmarred by clouds. Yet, as soon as she crossed the threshold, the sky darkened and rain, heavy and relentless, began to pour down.


    The city and its surroundings were two entirely distinct realms, a dichotomy beyond compare!


    As she tracked Lin Shouxi¡¯s tracks down the streets, smashing down the doors of ancient abodes, the rooms she entered were thick with cobwebs and dust, each one revealing a new and eerie tableau.


    In the world, many families would set up statues of revered figures for blessings and protection, and the inhabitants of the City of Death were no different. Yet, the statues they venerated were not of gods or buddhas¡­ they were twisted and macabre, with heads like octopuses and bodies like serpents, and even the stones used to sculpt them had a texture akin to that of a serpent¡¯s scales.


    Could such evil entities truly exist in this world?


    From a young age, Mu Shijing had devoted herself to cultivation, paying reverence to the divine and striving for a tranquil and unblemished heart. However, since entering the city, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of a voice whispering secrets of terror in the depths of her mind. It was as if some sinister revelation was waiting to be uncovered.


    The maiden, steeped in contemplation, cast her gaze far beyond. Despite the downpour of rain, a delicate crimson thread beckoned her forth, guiding her to the location of Lin Shouxi.


    Lin Shouxi might have possessed a physique that was unmatched by any other in the world, but Mu Shijing¡¯s senses were second to none.


    Her eyes fixed upon the ominous Guanyin Pavilion at the end of the scarlet trail, she took a bounding leap into the tempestuous rain with nimble grace.


    The young girl, no more than a mere fifteen summers, parted the veil of raindrops as she hastened along the expansive, bleached avenue, stopping in front of the two-story temple, which rose tall and proud with its two-tiered facade.


    ***


    The rain fell with relentless fury, pounding upon the earth in a symphony of sound.


    As Mu Shijing approached the threshold, Lin Shouxi¡¯s senses were alerted to her presence.


    This rival, whom he¡¯d had but a fleeting glimpse of before, now stood but a mere door away!


    Despite the Demon Gate¡¯s disbelief in the deities of Taoism and Buddhism, a hushed prayer escaped his lips. ¡°May the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva watch over me.¡±


    In the holy halls of the Guanyin Pavilion, the statue of the thousand-armed Guanyin loomed behind him, its peak touching the brilliant ceiling. He held his sword firmly, the massive shadow cast by the statue enveloping him. His temples throbbed with pain, his body wracked with torment, yet his sword hand remained steadfast and unyielding.


    The weapon he clutched had been his faithful companion for many a year. In this moment, it seemed to awaken to its master¡¯s intent, its blade retracting like a slumbering black wolf in the shadows.


    The cacophony of the pounding rain, the rhythm of his pounding heart, the rise and fall of his breaths, the deadly intent of his sword, and the aura of violence all merged into one, clouding his perception and senses.


    With the sky alight with the brilliance of thunder and lightning, the Demon Gate¡¯s mightiest sword technique, the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture¡¯, reached its zenith, his mastery soaring to the eighth level in a single bound. Lin Shouxi¡¯s inner energy surged like a tempest, and with a lightning-quick chop, he shattered the wooden door and burst forth into the rain-lashed night.


    The blade shone with a chilling radiance.


    In but a heartbeat, the wooden door was reduced to splinters, and the rain was torn asunder by the sword¡¯s energy, soaring skyward to form a cascade of mist.


    Within the veil of the falling mist, the ringing of steel echoed across the air, the unmistakable sound of Lin Shouxi¡¯s strike.


    With a deft flick of his wrist, he cleaved the sword that had hung suspended in the air, sending it careening towards the earth below. It landed with a shuddering thud, embedded in the ground and trembling with the force of the impact.


    This was Mu Shijing¡¯s sword, yet its wielder was nowhere to be seen!


    ¡°Not good!¡± Lin Shouxi¡¯s eyes narrowed in alarm.


    The lightning had come and gone, but the deafening peal of thunder only now resounded. And amidst its rumble, another, even more piercing noise echoed forth.


    It was the sound of the roof being shattered, rent asunder.


    Mu Shijing had left her sword outside, misleading Lin Shouxi with its aura while she herself had taken to the roof.


    With her inner energy, she shattered the roof, swooping down from the towering structure like a bird of prey, armed with two shards of azure tiles.


    The azure tiles hurtled through the air, slicing towards Lin Shouxi like razor blades.


    Taken unawares, Lin Shouxi raised his sword to defend himself. Though weary, he managed to deflect the two hurtling tiles.


    The tiles shattered into dust, and he let out a pained grunt, nearly being thrown out of the Guanyin Pavilion.


    Mu Shijing alighted gracefully, her feet touching the ground. With the inner energy of the Tao Gate collected in her palm, she released it in an instant.


    Lin Shouxi attempted to wield his sword, but his grip was torn away and he was unable to maintain hold of it. He could only raise his left hand and confront her palm head-on.


    The two palms met, inner energy erupted with a thunderous noise.


    Lin Shouxi stumbled back, taking several steps to regain his footing and his sword as he planted his feet firmly apart. Though he knew defeat was inevitable, he remained composed and steady. As the youthful woman advanced, he unleashed an intuitive sword strike, abandoning all his prior sword forms.


    The young woman¡¯s visage grew taut as she gazed upon the blade thrusting towards her. Though it appeared to be a straightforward maneuver, its lethality could not be underestimated. Yet, fate would have it that she had to parry with her left hand.


    With a fierce determination, Mu Shijing stood firm, facing the dangerous sword strike head on. Her pride as the reigning martial arts master of the world would not allow her to take a step back. Her jaw clenched, she leaned forward, her left hand outstretched and ready, the ultimate technique of the Tao Gate, the Wondrous Finger, summoned forth.


    The metallic clang echoed as steel met flesh, the sword and finger, in a fleeting embrace of mortality.


    The skies bellowed with fury as the lightning danced among the clouds, its jagged tendrils illuminating the night. The wind howled, lifting the fallen strands of hair like ribbons caught in a tempest, as the thunder clapped its applause.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s blade hovered at the brink of her cheek, its gleaming edge but a hair¡¯s breadth from flesh. Meanwhile, Mu Shijing¡¯s finger, unyielding, stood steadfastly pointed at his own chest.


    And in that instant, the outcome was determined.


    The young man was cast into the air, hurtling towards the moonlit platform with a thunderous impact, landing amidst the pounding rain.


    His right arm, now broken, hung askew. The raindrops that dared to touch it hissed and boiled away, transformed into wisps of white steam that vanished into the night.


    Mu Shijing¡¯s hand withdrew, and she strode forth from the Guanyin Pavilion, her fingers laced behind her in a display of regal grace.


    The catastrophic collision of true energy had wrought destruction upon the already fragile eaves, causing them to crumble and fall in a tempest of broken timber and dust.


    Mu Shijing remained unaffected by the ruins of the Guanyin Pavilion, her gaze fixed upon Lin Shouxi, who lay still and prone in the rain¡¯s relentless downpour.


    To Mu Shijing¡¯s amazement, her peer of the Demon Gate, whom she had thought defeated, had the fortitude to rise up and take a seated position.


    Yet that was all the energy he could muster.


    ¡°Why did you choose to succumb to the demon?¡± Mu Shijing queried, her voice calm and steady, as was her custom.


    ¡°I was taken in by my master as a child, and he nurtured me as if I were his own kin,¡± Lin Shouxi replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice, as he thought her question was stupid. ¡°How could I possibly betray one who had shown me such kindness?¡±


    ¡°Your master has passed, but there is still hope for redemption,¡± Mu Shijing spoke softly, her words tinged with a hint of compassion for her only equal. ¡°Surrender to me, and I shall offer you a chance to atone for your sins before the gods of the Tao. If they find forgiveness in their hearts, and you are willing to abandon your dark path, the Tao Gate may yet show mercy and set you free.¡±


    ¡°I crave life, but not at the cost of your charity,¡± Lin Shouxi sneered, a bitter laughter on his lips. ¡°The Demon Gate recognizes no gods, least of all those of your Tao.¡±


    ¡°If you must choose this path,¡± Mu Shijing sighed softly, her eyes growing distant and inscrutable, ¡°I can only ask if you have any last wishes?¡±


    Lin Shouxi lay huddled in the murky puddle of his own blood, the chill seeping into his bones like slithering worms. He trembled uncontrollably, his once strong features now drained of color, washed pale by the rain¡¯s relentless downpour.


    Through his hazy vision, Lin Shouxi caught a glimpse of those elegant white boots as Mu Shijing drew near.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Lin Shouxi countered. ¡°Do you harbor any regrets?¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Mu Shijing queried, her brow furrowed in a delicate frown.


    ¡°Will taking my life prove your Tao heart?¡± Lin Shouxi asked, his voice barely audible. He longed to lift his gaze, to look upon his adversary one last time, but his weary body refused to obey. All he could do was cast his eyes downwards, towards the soaked earth.


    Mu Shijing understood his question.


    As sworn enemies, this fight between them had been a matter of fate. Yet, it was a final confrontation that had been anything but fair because before Mu Shijing could lay pursuit, he had already been severely injured by her elders.


    ¡°My sect did not want me to take any unnecessary risks, and my master would not allow me to endanger the sect¡¯s future,¡± Mu Shijing explained, her lips pursed. ¡°This battle won¡¯t prove my Tao heart, but it can prove the legitimacy of the Tao Gate.¡±


    ¡°The legitimacy of the Tao Gate?¡± Lin Shouxi sneered, gritting his teeth against the pain as he spoke. ¡°They seek to break your Tao heart by using me as a pawn. You are too powerful, and once I am gone, the Demon Gate will be utterly destroyed, leaving the Tao Gate unrivaled. At that point, you will become a threat¡­ Your future won¡¯t be much brighter than mine.¡±


    Mu Shijing did not dispute his words. She gazed upon the young man as he lay dying, and said, ¡°I grew up in the Tao Gate. My master nurtured and educated me. It is a kindness I cannot forget. Furthermore, for three centuries, the Tao Gate has devoted itself to expelling demons and protecting the Tao. As the current inheritor, the flame of the Tao burns within me, and I must protect it from extinguishment.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to convince me or are you trying to convince yourself?¡± Lin Shouxi sneered.


    Mu Shijing remained silent.


    She cradled her sword with her delicate fingers, brandishing it before her.


    The brilliant shine of the blade was focused at her fingertips.


    Lin Shouxi, unable to resist, lifted his head fervently, as if he were trying to etch her face into his memory forever.


    Today marked Lin Shouxi¡¯s first encounter with Mu Shijing, though tales of her legend had reached his ears. It was said that on her visit to the Buddha Gate, she sat and listened as the rector expounded upon the Dharma. Her comprehension had been so profound that it shattered the Zen minds of countless Buddhist disciples within but a single incense stick¡¯s worth of time.


    In Lin Shouxi¡¯s eyes, the young woman from the Tao Gate was even more breathtakingly beautiful than the legends had portrayed. Yet, in this moment, her beauty was nothing but a harbinger of death, ominous and foreboding.


    Another lightning strike split the sky and the world became bright and dark.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s pupils constricted!


    As the veil of death descended upon him, his gaze abruptly diverted from Mu Shijing¡¯s face and fixed upon something behind her, a sight even more terror-inducing than death itself.


    Mu Shijing shook her head gently, a look of disappointment etched upon her face, ¡°Do you really think I will fall for such a trick?¡±


    Lin Shouxi appeared not to have heeded her words, his gaze empty and devoid of life, as if he had already passed on


    As Mu Shijing¡¯s eyes beheld the blood that flowed from the corners of Lin Shouxi¡¯s eyes, a gasp of surprise escaped her lips, and a chill descended upon her neck.


    With hesitance in her every step, she slowly swiveled about.


    What she saw next rooted her to the spot.


    The Guanyin Pavilion had collapsed, yet the statue of Guanyin still stood in the rain-soaked night, its appearance illuminated by the flashing lightning.


    But upon closer inspection, Mu Shijing realized that this was not a statue of Guanyin at all.


    Mu Shijing felt as though a lance of fire had pierced her eyes, rending her with pain. A low moan escaped her lips, as she hung her head, unable to bear the searing agony that burned within her gaze.


    Yet, even through the haze of agony, the image of the ¡°statue¡± remained etched upon her mind: a divine figure garbed in a tattered yellow cloak, its visage hidden behind a ghostly mask, and its hand, jagged and bony, reaching forth from its cloak, clutching a seal of ivory.


    She didn¡¯t dare to take a closer look, but from her position, she could see the cloak hung suspended, exposing the writhing mass of bloated, scabrous tentacles that writhed and pulsed beneath it. The stench that wafted from the obscene tendrils was overpowering, filling her nostrils with a noxious reek.


    With mounting terror, she beheld that the dingy yellow cloak was festooned with eyes and gaping maws, sending shudders down her spine. Each eye gleamed with malevolent intent, and each maw gaped hungrily, as though eager to devour all that lay before it.


    Of course, a statue alone would hardly be cause for fear, but the truly harrowing aspect was that these nauseating appendages were not statues at all, but instead writhed and squirmed with a life of their own, even as the tempest raged around them.


    What manner of being was this?!


    Mu Shijing¡¯s body was seized with fear, as a chill ran through her veins and her slender form was wracked with uncontrollable tremors.


    Lin Shouxi, his vision briefly clouded, likewise lowered his head. His master¡¯s words rang true, for there indeed roamed untold horrors in this world.


    The realization that this entity had loomed so close, behind him, filled him with a frigid dread that seeped into every fiber of his being.


    They must flee, escape from this accursed place!


    Whether it be a living entity or not, in this moment, flight was their only thought. Yet, try as they might, their bodies remained rooted to the spot, frozen in terror, as their minds struggled to break free from the paralyzing grip of fear.


    And then, the terror mounted as Lin Shouxi felt an ethereal hand, icy to the touch, trace down his spine, counting each of his vertebrae as it reached his neck.


    Nay, that was not a hand!


    Lin Shouxi, with great effort, turned his head to gaze upon the source.


    Fog!


    That intangible hand was none other than the heavy, encroaching fog.


    In the blink of an eye, a massive fog descended upon them, a pale tide that obscured the city and reduced it to a deep chasm obscured by a dense, billowing veil.


    In this ¡®abyss¡¯, they could sense the presence of unseen and frightening ghosts, their true forms obscured by the fog, yet their crazed howls and shrill cries still echoed through the veil.


    Where was this the city of death? This was clearly the vestibule of purgatory!


    Despite their gifts and abilities, Lin Shouxi and Mu Shijing were but children, mere fifteen years of age. Under the relentless onslaught of terror, their hearts, honed by the Tao, teetered on the brink of collapse.


    ¡°Do you¡­ remember the stories about the day we were born?¡± Lin Shouxi croaked, his voice hoarse and strained as he struggled to form each word.


    It took a moment before Mu Shijing gave a small nod in response.


    Though they had not witnessed the scene themselves, the tragedy of that fateful night was a somber tale, forever imprinted upon the minds of the elders who had seen it. And for fifteen years, the story had been imparted to all who would listen.


    On the night of Lin Shouxi¡¯s and Mu Shijing¡¯s birth, a mysterious white fog descended upon the city, and the sky was torn asunder by the claws of a demonic presence. Yellow lightning writhed in the sky, striking the city with ferocity, and rain poured down in sheets, drenching the land in a deluge of sorrow. When the storm cleared and the morning dawned, the city was left a ghost town, with naught but bodies littering the streets.


    The fateful event that had claimed the lives of all save two newborns¡­ now stood before them once again, threatening to repeat its tragedy.

 CH 1

    Lin Shouxi felt like he was dreaming.


    Ordinary children do not retain memories from their infancy, but he did, and they were strikingly vivid.


    Recollections flooded his mind, of his master carrying him back to the sect while he was still wrapped in swaddling clothes, and the intricate calligraphy etched on the tablet at the Demon Gate¡¯s stele pavilion which read ¡°do good deeds and accumulate virtue¡± (ÐÐÉÆ»ýµÂ). He even recalled the nursemaid assigned to his care, and the experience of being weaned shortly after he was born.


    But the memory that left the deepest imprint on his mind was the day his master presented him with an array of items to choose from ¨C coins, pens and inks, an abacus, and jade ornaments, among other things. It was as if he was drawing lots, with each item holding its own significance.


    After pondering for what felt like an eternity, he finally reached out and grabbed a black scale that looked like a shell. The onlookers were momentarily stunned, then one of them said, ¡°When we found this child, he was clutching this thing tight in his hand and wouldn¡¯t let go for days and nights. And now he¡¯s chosen it again¡­ Could it be true? Is this child the evil dragon¡¯s reincarnation, and that black scale his inverse scale?¡±


    The rumor that ¡°the evil dragon will be reborn, inhabiting a human form and bearing an inverse scale in its mouth, to bring misfortune to the common people¡± had been causing a stir among the members of the Demon Gate for quite some time, despite it having no basis.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s master cast a stern glare at the people who would soon become his senior brothers and sisters, his voice cutting through the murmurs and whispers like a knife. ¡°These unfounded rumors must never be spoken of again,¡± he declared firmly.


    Unbeknownst to them, Lin Shouxi understood every word they had spoken.


    However, he hadn¡¯t understood the reason for their apprehension.


    The black scale, later inlaid in white bronze and hung around his neck, appeared to be an ordinary object at first glance. Despite its hardness, it was unremarkable in every other aspect. However, he had come across a single mention of it in ancient texts that stated, ¡°Wearing the scale of a true dragon can grant immunity to confusion¡±. This discovery had intrigued him, but over time, the scale became an afterthought in his life and he eventually forgot about it completely.


    But after the incident with the black scale, Lin Shouxi became drawn to the stories and conversations of his senior brothers and sisters in the Demon Gate. The tales of their adventures and the mysteries of the world beyond captivated him, even at the age of two. He would sit quietly on the sidelines, absorbing every detail and every word, and they didn¡¯t mind his presence. In the tight-knit sect of the Demon Gate, bonds and relationships were valued above all else, and Lin Shouxi¡¯s charming personality and good looks had quickly won them over. His senior sisters doted on him like a younger sibling, while his senior brothers playfully teased him, referring to him as their ¡°little junior sister¡±.


    That said, it was during those same conversations that he first learned about Mu Shijing, a young girl in the Tao Gate who, like him, had been discovered in the City of Death. The thought of having a counterpart in the world both intrigued and fascinated him, and he often found himself wondering about her.


    By the age of three, Lin Shouxi suddenly thought he should be able to speak, and so he did.


    ¡°Master,¡± he began, his head slanted in a curious tilt, ¡°we not only abstain from doing evil, but we also stand for justice, eradicate bandits and put an end to wrongdoings. Why then are we called the Demon Gate?¡±


    This was the first question he had ever asked.


    On that day, his master¡¯s eyes glinted with a hint of amusement as he spoke, ¡°This demon is not that demon.¡±


    With those enigmatic words, his master went on to explain the history behind their sect¡¯s name.


    Decades ago, the martial arts world was stagnant, with those who could traverse rooftops and crush stones with their bare hands deemed as the highest experts. Tales of floating on water and killing with flying swords were nothing more than imaginative stories spun by storytellers.


    But then, sixty years ago, those tales became a reality.


    Two monsters emerged from the Yellow and Luo River regions. One was a headless fish with a hundred whiskers and legs, while the other was a four-legged snake with a hundred eyes and scales, and each was carrying a book. These two books, as fate would have it, were acquired by the founders of the two sects of the Demonic Path and were named after the ancient cosmological diagrams of the two rivers.


    The pages of the two books held secrets that defied description, secrets that could only be unlocked through touch.


    The experts who inherited these techniques soon discovered that they could breathe in a potent energy, one that coursed through their bodies and turned into a force of the unknown. This energy empowered them to perform extraordinary feats, like killing with the mere intent of their swords, which was once thought to be nothing more than fantasy.


    The martial arts world was transformed, its glory reignited, as people began to explore the limits of their newfound abilities. They sought the source of this energy, tracing it to its densest concentration and finally arriving at an ancient city, long-since abandoned, called the City of Death.


    The City of Death attracted the most powerful individuals to reside and cultivate their abilities. But the power of true energy was a double-edged sword, bringing with it both strength and corruption. Some cultivators, in the midst of their training, would suddenly develop black-purple veins that spread rapidly over their bodies, reducing them to rot and decay.


    Amid the wild expansion of the martial arts world, the corruption seemed to be an unavoidable curse. It only festered, growing stronger and more widespread.


    But not everyone was content to let the world slide into darkness. The founder of the Demon Gate, based in the River Luo Inscription, saw the true energy for what it was: the insidious breath of demons. He believed that to stop the spread of corruption, the ancient city must be sealed, the River Luo Inscription destroyed, and all cultivation ceased.


    In stark contrast stood the Tao Gate. They saw cultivation as a divine gift, and humans as merely too weak to control the raw energy of the universe. But with each passing generation, they would grow stronger and more capable. To them, destroying the book was tantamount to self-castration, an act of sacrilege against the gods that must not be done. They saw the Demon Gate as misguided heretics, blinded by fear and ignorance.


    The two sides clashed, each with its own staunch followers. The Tao Gate, with its overwhelming might, denounced the other side as the ¡°Demon Gate¡±.


    ¡°We have fought for many years, with the Tao Gate always holding the upper hand. If it weren¡¯t for the sudden disaster that struck the ancient city three years ago, killing all the Taoist experts who stayed there, our Demon Gate may have already been destroyed,¡± his master said.


    ¡°Cultivation is such a dangerous thing,¡± said Lin Shouxi, his voice tinged with emotion.


    ¡°Yes,¡± his master answered with a heavy breath. ¡°True energy is like a curse, a means for demons to infect the world. Sadly, the Tao Gate refuses to see the truth.¡±


    Lin Shouxi furrowed his brows. ¡°And yet, we still cultivate it, despite knowing its true nature?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the only way we can defeat the Tao Gate and secure the River Luo Inscription,¡± his master said, determination in his voice. ¡°We must harness true energy if we are to defeat our enemies.¡±


    Lin Shouxi was filled with uncertainty. ¡°Will I become contaminated?¡±


    ¡°You are special,¡± his master declared with conviction. ¡°You will not fall to the demons¡¯ influence.¡±


    Lin Shouxi nodded hesitantly, his uncertainty still lingering. ¡°So if the Tao Gate dubbed us as the  ¡®Demon Gate¡¯, what was our original name?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°The Joyous Union and Harmony of Heaven and Earth and Yin and Yang Sect,¡± his master replied in a commanding voice.


    ¡°¡­Demon Gate also sounds pretty good,¡± Lin Shouxi said bluntly, in the way only a child still wet behind the ears could.


    At four, Lin Shouxi was gifted with the touch of the River Luo Inscription, granting him the ability to absorb true energy and embark on the journey of practicing the Demon Gate¡¯s core method. By seven, he had mastered all of the sect¡¯s martial arts techniques, but his curiosity and longing for the sect¡¯s history lingered.


    ¡°Master, will we still pass on the secret arts of the past?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    The leader of the Demon Gate shook his head, ¡°No, those techniques are incompatible with our way of drawing in true energy. Our sect once lived in accord with the world, simply striving for happiness. But after our ancestors stumbled upon the fish¡¯s and snake¡¯s books, our purpose shifted. We had to relinquish our former existence in order to combat the encroaching miasma of the demon¡¯s breath.¡±


    A tinge of remorse laced Lin Shouxi¡¯s sigh, but his master jolted him back to reality. ¡°Beginning tomorrow, you must unlearn all the spells you¡¯ve acquired over the past three years,¡± his master ordered.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s preoccupied mind caused him to miss the latter and most crucial part of his master¡¯s statement.


    Noticing his pupil¡¯s absentmindedness, the master regarded Lin Shouxi with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. ¡°Do you not wish to inquire as to why?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°Why?¡± the youth replied, his voice laced with confusion.


    ¡°Simply put,¡± his master replied enigmatically, ¡°the various techniques you have acquired will coalesce into the ultimate sword technique of the Demon Gate ¨C the revered White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture.¡± With a swift motion of his sleeve, he turned on his heel and departed.


    The statue of the White Pupil Black Phoenix loomed tall before the mountain gate, a symbol of reverence and worship for the Demon Gate. The statue, black as a flame and proud as a bird of prey, never lost its ferocity, even as the winds of time blew past it. Its white pupils shone bright, as if they could peer into the very depths of the universe.


    His master recounted forth a legend, passed down through the generations of their sect. It was said that the founder had beheld a dream where the Black Phoenix, a deity revered and worshiped, had made its presence known. In this mystical vision, the deity gifted the founder with a sword scripture, a set of nine levels, seemingly elementary yet enigmatic. Despite the centuries that had transpired, no one had ever succeeded in unlocking its complete and utter might.


    ¡°Dragons reign over a hundred scales, and phoenixes rule over ten thousand birds. Endowed with a scale and bestowed with this sword scripture, you shall undoubtedly become unrivaled in the world.¡±


    On the first day of Lin Shouxi¡¯s sword cultivation, his master encouraged him with these words.


    But Lin Shouxi was aware of the journey ahead. ¡°The higher the technique, the longer the road¡­¡± he told his master. To this, his master replied with a twinkle in his eye, ¡°That¡¯s a saying of the Tao Gate. Ours is quite the opposite. Besides, there¡¯s another saying that states that what is short in length may be long in width.¡±


    Lin Shouxi inclined his head in a measured manner, allowing the wisdom imparted to take root within him. With a blazing resolve, he continued his journey along the path of cultivation.


    Because Lin Shouxi was gifted with a rare aptitude, he did not disappoint his master¡¯s belief in him. In a mere handful of seasons, he had scaled to the pinnacle of the eighth level, outpacing even the most prodigious of his fellow disciple-brothers and sisters.


    However, life was not akin to cultivation, and his exceptional talent would not ensure a lifetime of smooth sailing.


    The year he turned fourteen, his master passed away, felled by the fatal disease of true energy erosion. On his deathbed, his master summoned Lin Shouxi to his room and showed him his wrist, where a black and purple stripe, like a leech, clung to his once-strong skin.


    ¡°Death has come for me,¡± his master said calmly.


    ¡°Can I do anything?¡± Lin Shouxi asked, heartbroken.


    ¡°Shouxi, you are the disciple I have invested the most effort into, and I called you here today to teach you one final thing,¡± his master looked at him, speaking gravely and with great emotion.


    Lin Shouxi thought that his master was going to teach him some hidden technique, but no, his master simply stood before him, letting him watch as the true energy slowly eroded his body, consuming him before his very eyes.


    Lin Shouxi fell to his knees, eyes wide with shock and terror, as he gazed upon his master. His figure was now a twisted and distorted visage, his skin marred by writhing purplish veins, his bones melted away into grotesque contortions. The demon of corruption had been awakened within him, devouring him limb by limb, a voracious beast consuming its host.


    Lin Shouxi, for the first time, comprehended the full measure of his master¡¯s advanced years. He reached for his sword, intent on delivering the final mercy, but his master, wracked with suffering, shook his head and emitted a pained moan.


    The putrefying flesh, rife with rot and foul sores, was a torment beyond comprehension. Still, the old man persevered, enduring unspeakable agony, until the sky was cast in shadow and there was a sharp snap, the sound of his eyes tumbling from their sockets and smashing on the ground. A final, haunting scream sundered the air.


    Tears streamed down Lin Shouxi¡¯s face as he clutched his own face in sorrow. He grasped the sword of his fallen master, ¡°Death¡¯s Proof¡±, a weapon passed from generation to generation of the Demon Gate¡¯s leaders. Its ominous name was a testament to their unwavering resolve to meet their end with dignity.


    He ran the sword across the palm of his hand.


    ¡°The evil dragon will be reborn, inhabiting a human form and bearing an inverse scale in its mouth, to bring misfortune to the common people¡­ Master, you always believed in me, and I shall not let you down,¡± Lin Shouxi vowed, his eyes fixed on the bloody scar on his hand. ¡°I will vanquish all wickedness and usher in a new era of prosperity for the world.¡±


    ***


    Amidst the raging storm, Mu Shijing silently watched Lin Shouxi labor to his feet, nearly stumbling several times before finally attaining steadiness. As he went to retrieve his rain-pelted sword from the ground, utilizing the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Technique to infuse his limbs with energy and dull the pain of his wounds, her gaze never broke. Even as he girded himself for battle and began to walk towards the demon, with the tip of his sword leaving a trail of water in its wake, her eyes followed.


    Ignoring her persistent gaze, Lin Shouxi raised his head to the demon.


    ¡°You are the source of all filth¡­¡±


    When he suddenly started laughing, Mu Shijing¡¯s voice rose from behind him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked him coldly.


    Lin Shouxi paused to face her. ¡°Is this one of the deities you worship?¡± he asked back, his eyes accusatory.


    Mu Shijing¡¯s heart was in chaos. This was the City of Death, the nexus of all true energy, yet this horrible demon was burning with it.


    It shouldn¡¯t have been possible.


    How could a deity be such a thing?!


    Struggling to come to terms with what she was seeing, Mu Shijing finally spoke up. ¡°That¡­ that thing is no deity of mine,¡± she declared, her voice quivering. ¡°It is a demon! A creature of chaos and destruction that has defiled the pure and unblemished energy granted to us by the gods beyond recognition.¡±


    ¡°A demon¡­?¡± Lin Shouxi chuckled softly, as if mocking the idea that gods and demons were distinct entities.


    Without another word, he pivoted on his heel and faced the demon head-on. Blood gushed from his eyes, cascading down his ashen cheeks. He dashed towards the monster, defying the howling winds, and with a fierce swing of his sword, he vaulted into the air, striking at the demon with all his might. The blade shimmered like a broken moon, casting a frigid light upon the tumultuous scene.


    The moment seemed to still, as the only peer she had in this world was about to be killed. Mu Shijing felt a pang of loneliness, and the cold laughter of the one whose back was turned to her echoed piercingly in her ears, as an understanding blossomed within.


    Mu Shijing lifted her sword from the ground, its blade reflecting her porcelain face like a mirror. ¡°It¡¯s a demon,¡± she said. ¡°My sect has been committed to exterminating these creatures for the past three centuries. And now that one is right before me, how can I turn a blind eye?¡±


    Her voice was tender and had a touch of sadness and determination in it.


    The Tao Gate¡¯s core method began to circulate again.


    Pushing down her inner despair and fear, she tightened the grip on her sword and swooped into the pouring rain.


    The demon was in front of her, and the girl, like a silverfish desperately spreading its fins, made a leap towards the empty sky.


    In this moment, the heirs of the Tao and Demon sects moved as one, their swords pointing in the same direction, glinting like celestial bodies streaking across the heavens.

 CH 2

    As dawn broke, the rainstorm subsided. Beams of light pierced through the clouds and shone down on the City of Death, which now resembled a desolate graveyard.


    After Mu Shijing entered the city to hunt down Lin Shouxi, the people of the Tao Gate had encircled the city. However, after keeping watch all night, Mu Shijing had yet to emerge.


    So come morning, under the guidance of the young female leader of the Tao Gate, several elders entered the city to search for her.


    Clutching a duster close to her chest, the young Tao Gate leader paced down the main street with measured steps. As she made her way along the limestone pavement, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the numerous marks that had been viciously slashed by sword energy. The buildings on either side of the street had their doors and windows shattered, their roofs ripped apart into jagged pieces. It was a desolate and unsettling sight, as if the street had been struck by a violent tempest or some arcane power.


    The battle between Lin Shouxi and Mu Shijing had clearly been fierce. The aftermath was evidence of their deadly clash.


    But despite searching all the streets, the elders found no sign of life.


    The young man and woman seemed to have vanished into thin air.


    Finally, they arrived at the moonlit platform of Guanyin Pavilion via a staircase.


    ¡°This must have been the site of their final battle,¡± said one of the elders as he stooped down to examine the ground. The hard stone pavement was riddled with cracks, and debris from the fight, including bits of rock and wood, were scattered about. It was hard to imagine just how intense the battle must have been to cause such destruction.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the sect leader nodded her head and continued walking forward.


    Until eventually, she stopped in front of the collapsed Guanyin Pavilion.


    In the ruins of the Guanyin Pavilion, the thousand-handed and thousand-eyed Guanyin stood unscathed on the lotus platform, forming the Seal of Gentleness and Wonder. In the face of the clear light and dew, her countenance was kind and compassionate yet cold.


    The Guanyin statue gazed upon the earth, seeming to behold the suffering of the world, yet also seeming to gaze upon her.


    The elders followed their sect leader, whose face they had never seen, afraid to say a word.


    The leader of the Tao Gate advanced with a Mili, a veil that trailed down her hips, enveloping her slender form, leaving only her icy, piercing aura that was akin to a mountain peak piercing through the clouds visible.


    As the morning light streamed into the city, a rainbow formed from the mist atop the statue of Guanyin, as if granting divinity.


    ¡°Such a shame,¡± she said, her voice gentle and indifferent, as soft as the snow-white veil that danced in the wind.


    ¡°Indeed, sect leader,¡± a senior elder replied, ¡°who would¡¯ve thought that the young lady¡¯s fate would become uncertain after the ten years you put into grooming her as your successor and the defeat of the Demon Gate. It is truly a shame, indeed.¡±


    ¡°You misunderstand me. What I mean is that it¡¯s a shame that she was unable to retrieve the River Luo Inscription,¡± she said, shaking her head lightly, seemingly unconcerned with Mu Shijing¡¯s life or death. ¡°Children can never be relied upon to do things properly. I should have taken matters into my own hands from the start.¡±


    The others looked at each other, unsure of what to say.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± the sect leader said matter-of-factly.


    ¡°But what about the young lady¡­¡±


    ¡°She is not dead.¡±


    ¡°Not dead?¡±


    The confusion only heightened as the elders had searched the entire city and found no trace of Mu Shijing. How could their sect leader be so certain of her survival? If she was indeed alive, then where was she?


    The sect leader remained silent, fixated on the Guanyin statue as if it were a gateway to a realm beyond. Her imposing presence filled the hearts of those around her with dread, and none dared to question her further. With a sense of resignation, they abandoned their quest for Mu Shijing and Lin Shouxi in order to get out of this place where one was apt to get into trouble.


    As the people slowly dispersed, the sect leader in her white skirt glanced once more at the thousand-handed, thousand-eyed Guanyin statue. Behind her veil, her eyes held the haughty gleam of one who regards all with disdain. Her red lips twitched, and she whispered just two words:


    ¡°Evil creature.¡±


    ***


    Am I still alive? Where am I¡­


    Lin Shouxi felt himself careening through the darkness, something hot on his heels that he could not see. His strength was waning, his breaths coming in increasingly ragged gasps, yet he dared not slow down, as if even a moment¡¯s pause would allow the darkness to tear him apart.


    His leg muscles tightened, numbly pumping, the cold sensation creeping up his back. It was as if he were a drowning man struggling in a river with no bank, the dark currents tying his limbs, gradually dragging him towards despair.


    The feeling of suffocation pressed upon his chest, and just as Lin Shouxi was about to lose consciousness completely, an ethereal voice wafted from behind him.


    ¡®Evil creature.¡¯


    With that clear rebuke, the feeling of suffocation vanished.


    Without a moment to decipher the origin of the voice, Lin Shouxi lunged forward, and suddenly¡­ he jolted awake! Sitting upright in his bed, he felt the lingering ache still coursing through his body.


    Where¡­ where am I?


    Lin Shouxi looked around, discovering that he was in a narrow wooden cabin, sleeping on a crude grass mat. The smell of mold and acidity filled his nostrils, like a damp tomb.


    It was as if he had just had a nightmare of something chasing him in his dream, and it seemed¡­ as if someone had saved him?


    Lin Shouxi shook his head, trying to clear the fog of confusion that clouded his mind.


    As he leaned against the wall for support, he pressed a hand against his chest and breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the steady rhythm of his heart. He was still alive, and not yet in the afterlife.


    His memories were jumbled, but as he searched through them, he saw glimpses of his past. He remembered the fierce battle in the City of Death against the dreaded Mu Shijing, and fighting against a foul evil deity with his sword. The memories were painful, causing a throbbing ache in his head, but he was glad to find that his past was still intact.


    Somewhat relieved, Lin Shouxi shifted his attention to his body, not checking for wounds, but searching for the River Luo Inscription, an object of utmost importance that his master had tasked him to guard with his life.


    He felt all over himself and scoured the surrounding area, but the Inscription was nowhere to be found.


    To his further dismay, he realized that the black scale amulet that had hung from his neck for many years was also missing. Although it had never shown any extraordinary qualities, it had been his talisman for over a decade, and its sudden loss left a void in his heart.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Lin Shouxi soon found himself learning the hard way that ¡°misfortune never comes alone¡±. When he tried to quiet his mind and meditate, he realized that his injuries were too severe to allow the flow of his inner energy. His once-mighty cultivation was temporarily weakened by the extent of his wounds, adding another layer of hardship to his already difficult situation.


    But such a dire state of affairs should not have come as a surprise to him. The injuries that marked his body would have been fatal to any ordinary being, yet his robust physique, a gift of his innate nature, had spared him from certain death. Still, it would be at least a span of ten days, if not a full month, before his wounds could fully heal and his strength could be fully restored.


    That woman really hit hard¡­


    With that thought, Lin Shouxi leaned against the wall, allowing his weary body to rest for a time. Once his strength had returned to him, he rose from his bed, eager to discover where he was and who had saved him.


    Following the faint light, Lin Shouxi made his way to the door. However, just as he took his first step out of the room, he collided with something.


    Having just regained consciousness, his injuries were far from healed, causing his steps to be unsteady and his body unable to maintain balance. As a result, he quickly stumbled and fell to the ground.


    Grimacing in pain, he lifted his head and caught a glimpse of a figure standing before him, their silhouette illuminated by a brilliant, backlit glow. The delicate figure stumbled backwards after being collided with, and in the light, Lin Shouxi could only make out a few strands of white hair, stark against the shadowy backdrop.


    The figure exuded no sense of danger.


    Could this old woman be the person who saved me?


    With effort, he rose to his feet and, in a slightly hoarse voice, prepared to speak.


    But before he could utter the second syllable, he froze. For there before him stood not an old woman, but a young girl with snow-white hair cascading elegantly down her back.


    With a graceful gesture, the girl appraised Lin Shouxi¡¯s form and adjusted her delicate hair, before saying in an unfamiliar language, ¡°The Perfected One sent me to see if you were awake. Since you are, come with me to see him.¡±


    Lin Shouxi couldn¡¯t help but feel taken aback upon seeing the girl¡¯s youthful beauty. However, what truly surprised him was his ability to comprehend and respond to words she had spoken.

 CH 3

    ¡°Who is this Perfected One?¡± Lin Shouxi asked as he slipped into the white Taoist robe handed to him by the young maiden, before stepping out the door and onto the damp, ancient corridor with her by his side.


    ¡°The Perfected One is said to be a Taoist master hailing from the famous Yunkong Mountain,¡± the snow-haired maiden replied, as she led the way. ¡°His skills are profound and unfathomable, so when you meet him, be mindful of your words.¡±


    Yunkong Mountain¡­


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. Her tone suggested that he should be familiar with this place, but he was certain he had never heard of it before.


    He hoped she would say something further on the matter. When she didn¡¯t, he finally took notice of her striking hair. He could see now that it was not the withered white of old age, but instead of newfallen snow, flowing down her back like liquid light. It was especially remarkable against the backdrop of the dreary, rain-soaked sky.


    It¡¯s so beautiful.


    Just as this thought crossed his mind, his gaze inadvertently swept outside the corridor, and he froze.


    Beyond the aging structure lay a sheer cliff that plummeted into a seemingly bottomless abyss. A wind howled along the cliff face, and massive clouds surged up from the depths. The gaping maw that was the abyss below swallowed up the falling rain and spit out billowing white mist. Lin Shouxi couldn¡¯t help but feel drawn into its tumultuous currents.


    He was so lost in the sight that he almost didn¡¯t hear the young maiden¡¯s voice when she began to speak again. ¡°This abode has been submerged in water for who knows how many years,¡± she said gently, ¡°you might want to step back a bit so you don¡¯t fall off the edge.¡±


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s attention snapped back to the present moment at the young maiden¡¯s warning. ¡°Submerged in water for who knows how many years?¡± he asked, surprised by the information.


    The young maiden nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± she explained in a soft voice. ¡°This was once a vast lake, known as Wuzhu Lake. Recently, most of the water mysteriously evaporated, causing this sunken ancient courtyard to be uncovered. In addition, the cliffs and ravines below have accumulated yin for a long time, which has made them a breeding ground for evil spirits,¡± the young maiden explained softly.¡±


    A dried up lake¡­ an ancient courtyard at the heart of it¡­ as well as evil spirits¡­


    As the maiden spoke of these things as if they were normal, Lin Shouxi¡¯s heart gradually tightened. He began to suspect that he had stumbled into a new world, a world filled with countless mysteries that he could not even begin to fathom yet.


    It was then that memories of a conversation he¡¯d once had with his master flooded back into his mind.


    ¡°Our world may not be the only one,¡± his master had said.


    ¡°What?¡± he¡¯d asked.


    ¡°Our world is gradually being corrupted by evil forces,¡± his master explained, ¡°like a drop of ink falling into a crystal-clear vase of water. But if the clear water in the vase represents our world, then who could have dropped that ink in?¡±


    ¡°There are other worlds out there? With people in them?¡± Lin Shouxi could hardly believe it.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    ¡°Do those people want to come here?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°They may already have,¡± was his master¡¯s solemn reply.


    At the time, Lin Shouxi had dismissed his master¡¯s words as mere ramblings. But now, he found himself in one of those worlds.


    In the midst of that violent storm in the City of Death, the gateway between two worlds had opened before him, and he had been drawn in.


    ¡°So that is how it is,¡± he muttered, both in response to the young maiden by his side as much as to himself.


    After gaining some slight insight into his current situation, he was certain that he couldn¡¯t let anyone discover his true nature as an outworlder.


    Immersed in their own thoughts, the two continued on in silence down the ancient cliffside corridor. But every now and then, Lin Shouxi couldn¡¯t help but sneak a glance at the snow-haired maiden. Other than her hair, she seemed like an ordinary girl, with no discernible special features. Despite this, she walked with a light and graceful step, as if she were a palace maid carrying a lantern.


    As they passed through the straight corridor and turned the corner, the cliffside dropped away behind them.


    Lin Shouxi saw a few trees that resembled iron. At first, he thought nothing of it, but then he remembered that this place had once been at the bottom of the lake. His heart shuddered at the thought ¨C had people really lived at the bottom of this lake and had enough time and leisure to plant trees and flowers down here?


    Many of his preconceptions were being shattered at a breakneck pace.


    ¡°We¡¯re here, the Perfected One is inside,¡± the girl said as they arrived at an old and weathered wooden pavilion.


    Lin Shouxi gazed upon the two shattered bronze beasts guarding the entrance and felt a chill run down his spine. He stepped into the pavilion, hand in hand with the young girl. The pavilion was dimly lit, with a few candles flickering, casting a weak glow that was more suitable for some sort of ritual than for illumination.


    Within the pavilion, there were about a dozen people, mostly young boys and girls around the same age as Lin Shouxi. They knelt on the ground, heads bowed, while a young white-faced Taoist sat cross-legged in front of them, his left hand clasping a stone and his right hand clutching a wooden sword. The Taoist was dressed in black, with his pale face illuminated by the candlelight.


    Lin Shouxi quickly scanned the room, but Mu Shijing was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, a young boy of about ten years old timidly approached the Taoist.


    ¡°Hand,¡± the Taoist ordered .


    The boy nervously extended his hand. The Taoist placed the stone in his left hand and asked, ¡°What is your name? Have you been married or have you lain with a woman?¡±


    The boy answered with his name but shook his head to the other questions, indicating that he was still a virgin.


    The Taoist nodded, but then his brow furrowed.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    The Taoist picked up the wooden sword and slashed the boy¡¯s arm. A layer of dirt fell, revealing a black and purple line that looked like a bloodsucker hiding under his skin.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s heart sank as he beheld the boy¡¯s condition. He recognized the telltale signs of demon¡¯s breath all too well, having witnessed its ravages before. Even his master, with all his skill and training, had succumbed to its deadly grasp, confirming his suspicions. This world was awash with the taint of demon¡¯s breath. Perhaps this place was the very origin of the darkness.


    ¡°You have been sullied by evil.¡± The Taoist¡¯s voice was cold and emotionless.


    The boy¡¯s pupils shrunk like beans as fear gripped him. He had tried to conceal the revealing mark on his hand by slathering it in mud as dark as his skin. But his attempts at deception were in vain, for he never anticipated the keenness of the Taoist¡¯s vision. With a gaze as sharp as lightning, the Taoist had seen through his ruse, even in the dimly lit environment.


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not it¡­ It¡¯s a birthmark, a birthmark¡­ I was born with it! I haven¡¯t been possessed by evil, I swear¡­ Please, great one, believe me!¡±


    The boy raised his head, his face now ashen, and stammered out his defense, his body shaking like a live wire, but the Taoist remained unmoved.


    A bloodstain appeared on the boy¡¯s chest and quickly spread, expanding rapidly into a pool of vermilion. The boy¡¯s pupils dilated and his voice fell to a few meaningless syllables before he crumpled to the ground like a wooden puppet, never to rise again.


    The Taoist¡¯s gaze fell upon his two disciples seated in the front row, who promptly rose to their feet and carried the boy¡¯s lifeless body away, tossing it over the cliff with practiced ease.


    As he peered at the wound on the boy¡¯s chest, Lin Shouxi couldn¡¯t help but feel a jolt of shock course through him. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Many more will die,¡± the young maiden whispered, mistaking his surprise for fear. When in truth, he had been awestruck by the Taoist¡¯s swordsmanship. Even as one of the top swordsmen in his world, he had never witnessed such a swift and deadly strike, a sword draw so imperceptible.


    The girl and he took their seats among the crowd. She sat with an air of detachment, as if she didn¡¯t belong.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s emotions still churned within him, and he had to forcibly quell his killing intent. He sneaked a furtive glance at the Taoist, who now summoned another young man forth. This man was finely dressed and appeared to hail from a wealthy family, but his bloated physique belied his outward appearance.


    The young man approached the Taoist, visibly trembling. ¡°Wang, Wang Ji,¡± he said nervously.


    Glancing at the young man¡¯s wrist, the Taoist handed him the stone and asked the last two customary questions: ¡°Are you married? Have you had sexual relations?¡±


    The young man¡¯s legs swung nervously as he replied in a trembling voice, ¡°No¡­ I haven¡¯t.¡±


    The stone emitted a sharp hum that caused everyone in the room to shudder and straighten their backs.


    The slightly overweight young man sat on the ground, feeling as though his insides were about to split apart. As a scion of a prestigious family, he had yet to marry, but his family had many maids. How could he still be a virgin? In the past, he and other young masters of noble families had boasted about their sexual exploits, but now his virginity had become the very thing that would cost him his life.


    He fell to his knees with a thud and screamed, ¡°I am the third young master of the Wang family. I don¡¯t know how I got here, but I heard that the Perfected One is from Yunkong Mountain¡­ My family has an old connection with one of the elders there. If you send me back to the Wang family, I will do everything in my power to repay you¡­¡±


    His scream was cut short as he collapsed to the ground, his back covered in blood. He convulsed twice and then lay still.


    Next up was the snow-haired maiden. Like the previous disciples, she had to answer the three questions.


    The young maiden took the stone from the Perfected One and glanced at her wrist before answering in a soft voice, ¡°My name is Xiao He. I am not married, but I have had sexual relations¡­¡±


    She paused for a moment, seeming to hesitate.


    The Perfected One looked at her with surprise and asked, ¡°How old were you when you lost your virginity?¡±


    ¡°Eighteen,¡± Xiao He replied.


    The room fell silent.


    The Perfected One asked the question that was on everyone¡¯s mind: ¡°How old are you now?¡±


    ¡°Fourteen,¡± Xiao He answered.


    The stone in her hand remained silent, indicating that what she had said was likely true.


    What was going on?


    The Perfected One, who had seen and experienced much, furrowed his brow and took out a pen, writing a line on a piece of paper: ¡°Suspect ¡®foresight spirit root¡¯.¡±


    Xiao He turned around and walked back to her spot, sitting on the ground and tucking her feet under her skirt. As she passed by him, Lin Shouxi wasn¡¯t sure if it was his imagination or if she had given him a faint glance, her pale eyes hazy with emotion.


    Now it was his turn.


    Lin Shouxi approached the demonic-looking Taoist, feeling an oppressive force pressing against his chest that he couldn¡¯t resist. Even in the past, when he had exchanged swords with his master, he had never felt this way.


    He took the stone handed to him by the Taoist, and something seemed to enter his palm from the surface of the stone, making his arm feel cold. If he lied, the stone would emit a warning sound that meant death.


    The Taoist looked at his arm to confirm that he was not tainted by demon¡¯s breath before asking the usual questions: ¡°What is your name? Are you married? Have you had sexual relations?¡±


    ¡°My name is Lin Shouxi,¡± he answered crisply. ¡°I am not married, and I have not had sexual relations.¡±


    Even though he knew he was telling the truth, Lin Shouxi still didn¡¯t feel safe. In his world, he had been a top master. But now he was at the bottom again, in an unfamiliar and alien world, facing a Taoist whose depth was unfathomable. He even had a hallucination that the stone might go off any second now.


    The stone remained silent.


    The Taoist held his tongue, then a hmm escaped his lips.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s heart pounded in his chest as he handed the stone back to the Taoist, careful not to make any sudden movements. He stole a quick glance at the Taoist¡¯s face, which was covered in white powder and marred with scars that looked like they had been burned into the skin.


    He quickly averted his gaze.


    But before he could compose himself, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye and instinctively turned to the right.


    He saw a great shadow crawling over the window.


    The shadow looked like a grotesque creature with a long tail, resembling an infant in some ways. Its large, bloated body clung to the glass like slime, its wrinkled flesh contorting its face. The crab-like pupil in its eyes glowed with a blood-red hue, and it opened its mouth, revealing its sharp teeth as if it were grinning at those inside.


    Lin Shouxi back straightened up, his heart racing as he realized that none of the others in the room had yet noticed the monstrous apparition. Suddenly, the Taoist¡¯s sharp voice cut through the silence.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± he demanded, fixing his gaze on Lin Shouxi.


    With a deafening crack, lightning ripped through the air, but Lin Shouxi remained surprisingly still.


    He remembered the vow he had made to his master before he died, swearing to vanquish all wickedness no matter the cost. Even though he had thought he would never have the chance to fulfill that promise after his confrontation with Mu Shijing and the evil god, fate had brought him to this strange world, and he refused to squander it by dying here.


    Gathering his courage, Lin Shouxi met the Taoist¡¯s gaze with a steady one of his own and said. ¡°Perfected One, it¡¯s raining heavily outside.¡±

 CH 4

    In response to Lin Shouxi¡¯s reply, the Taoist¡¯s right eye, which had been closed this entire time, twitched as if yearning to open.


    Lin Shouxi felt uneasy, as if he were on the verge of being exposed. He had a premonition that if that eye were to open, all of his secrets would be laid bare.


    Thankfully, it appeared that prying open the eye would exact a hefty toll, causing the Taoist to pause briefly before abstaining from any further action.


    With no more words spoken, Lin Shouxi silently made his way back to his seat. The demonic Taoist sat in the eerie silence of the flickering candles, the scent of decay filling the room as the storm outside raged on. The grotesque imp outside looked in with a wicked grin, relishing in their torment.


    In this surreal reality, only three other individuals remained with Lin Shouxi: Xiao He, the snow-haired maiden who had come to fetch him, Wang Erguan, the bawling tubby man who seemed to be related to Wang Ji, and a cold-faced young man whose name eluded him as the Taoist had examined him before he entered the room.


    Out of the ten young men and women who had initially been present, only these four had survived. The Taoist, the mastermind behind the chaos, regarded their survival with indifference.


    ¡°You are all fortunate,¡± he said, his one eye sweeping over the remaining four in a tone as gentle as a spring breeze.


    Everyone held their breath, no one daring to respond.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all wondering why you¡¯re here and where you¡¯re going next, right?¡± the Taoist said with a slight smile. Despite his previous killing spree, he spoke to the selected youths as if they were precious treasures.


    ¡°I am the chief priest of the Wu family and I once practiced at Yunkong Mountain. You can call me¡­ Perfected Yun.¡±


    After the introduction, Perfected Yun began to explain the situation.


    ¡°You find yourselves at Wuzhu Lake, where my family worships an ancient and slumbering deity known as the God of Protection, or the Lord Protector, who rests in the depths below.¡±


    ¡°Lord Protector was one of the few great deities to survive the ancient god wars,¡± he explained. ¡°When my family¡¯s first head made a pact with it at the shores of this lake, few in the world knew of its existence. Even now, few still do. But from that day forth, my family has lived on this contaminated land, watching over it for two hundred and ninety-nine years.¡±


    ¡°As for the pact itself,¡± Perfected Yun continued, ¡°it was simple. Lord Protector would grant my family a powerful bloodline, and in return, we, as its inheritors, would guard its shores and enter its divine residence upon its passing to carry on its legacy.¡±


    ¡°Furthermore,¡± he added, ¡°at the time the pact was made, Lord Protector predicted that its life would endure for three hundred more years¡­ until next year. But,¡± he paused for emphasis, the smile on his face evaporating like blood on a shattered mirror, ¡°ten days ago, Lord Protector was killed.¡±


    Killed?!


    Wang Erguan and Xiao He exchanged a surprised look. They had no idea what kind of deity the God of Protection was, but in their understanding, gods were legendary beings of ancient and immense power. It was said that a primordial god once bellowed from atop a mountain, ¡°Who, besides boundless time and I, can bring about my demise?¡±


    ¡°How could a god be killed?¡± Xiao He shook her head gently, her voice soft.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ how could that be¡­¡± Wang Erguan echoed in agreement, his eyes widening.


    Perfected Yun¡¯s face turned cold as ice, his Taoist robe rhythmically swaying with the candlelight around him.


    ¡°I can hardly believe it myself,¡± he said. ¡°Even though Lord Protector slept at the bottom of the lake, its idol has always stood at the cliff, its golden eyes shining year-round as a symbol of its presence. But just ten days ago, a storm raged and lightning pierced the sky, and the lake water began to evaporate, creating an unprecedented fog that blanketed the area for miles.¡±


    ¡°When the fog finally cleared, the eldest son of my family ascended the cliff to pay homage to the idol. As he approached, he was struck by a shocking sight. Two deep gashes, as if from a sword, marred the idol¡¯s surface, which even heavenly lightning couldn¡¯t harm. Its once-burning eyes had lost their light, and the idol lay in ruins, shattered into countless shards that tumbled into the depths of Wuzhu Lake below. In the wake of this destruction, the lake water began to evaporate rapidly, exposing the divine path hidden beneath its surface¡­.¡±


    Perfected Yun trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.


    But Lin Shouxi understood the implication ¨C the destruction of the idol represented the god¡¯s death, a prediction that had arrived a year early.


    Lin Shouxi also understood that even though the deity had been killed, the duties of the Wu family still had to be fulfilled. Now, with the lake¡¯s waters receding, revealing the divine court below, they had to go to the heart of the lake to receive its inheritance.


    Lin Shouxi speculated that he and the others had been summoned for this reason. It was a guess Perfected Yun confirmed with his next words.


    ¡°With Lord Protector¡¯s passing, my family has decided to split its power into three parts which will be given to the first and second young master, and the third young lady respectively.¡±


    ¡°As for you¡­¡± he said, ¡°¡­you were summoned here by Lord Protector before its death. It used the divine altar to bridge the vast expanse of space, pulling you from thousands of li away, all to ensure the safety of the young masters and young lady as they journey to the divine residence in half a month to claim its inheritance. If all goes according to plan, you will be rewarded with the position of divine attendant, granting you the chance to ascend to the realm of demigods in the future!¡±


    Demigods.


    As soon as the word was uttered, the rain outside quieted down a bit.


    Perfected Yun¡¯s voice held a mesmerizing power as he spoke, ¡°You are truly fortunate, it makes me green with envy.¡± Lin Shouxi observed the rapt expressions of those around them, betraying signs of longing and obsession. However, with the corpses scattered below the cliff, Lin Shouxi couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease, rather than any luckiness.


    Furthermore, based on his vast experience, there was a good chance that this so-called Wu family was a cult, and that they had all been brought here as sacrificial offerings.


    ¡°Alright, everyone, get some rest,¡± Perfected Yun announced, ¡°I¡¯ll be teaching you spells tomorrow, so that you will be ready to accompany the young masters and young lady when they arrive in a few days to choose their companions.¡±


    These were Perfected Yun¡¯s last words.


    As the flicker of the candles died out, a chill seeped through the window and Perfected Yun vanished into the night, the malevolent spirit following.


    Under the eaves and before the rain curtains, Perfected Yun paused, his thoughts turning to the young man named Lin Shouxi. ¡°Could he see my heart demon?¡± he wondered.


    With a furrowed brow, Perfected Yun gazed at the grotesque spirit that trailed behind him. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. My heart demon is not something other people can see.¡±


    Sigh, perhaps he had been thinking too much lately, to have given rise to such an unrealistic thought¡­


    Perfected Yun stepped into the rain and disappeared into the mist.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid that the children would escape since the ancient residence was surrounded by cliffs and ruins, making it difficult for them to move.


    In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the doorstep of a dark and gloomy mansion. This was the home of the Wu family.


    Amidst the pitter-patter of rain, Perfected Yun encountered a small, aged man who stood waiting at the doorway with an umbrella in hand.


    ¡°Is something wrong? Did that crazy old woman prophesize something important again?¡± Perfected Yun asked casually.


    ¡°No,¡± the dwarf replied with a furrowed brow. ¡°Today, the grand priest went to inspect the idol and altar. He found something in the mud at the bottom of the cliff.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡± Perfected Yun pressed.


    ¡°A sword,¡± the dwarf answered.


    ¡°A sword? Is it a great artifact? Or an object left behind by Lord Protector?¡±


    Perfected Yun hazarded a guess, but the reality proved far beyond his expectations.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not a great artifact. The sword is in good condition, but there are no divine inscriptions on it either. It¡¯s just an ordinary sword, but¡­¡± The dwarf elder¡¯s voice suddenly trembled.


    ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°But when the grand priest compared it to the markings on Lord Protector¡¯s idol, one of them seemed to match it!¡± The dwarf elder took a deep breath before delivering the shocking news in a cold voice. ¡°That sword may very well be the weapon that killed Lord Protector!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean,¡± Perfected Yun exclaimed in shock.


    The old man fell silent.


    ¡°A common blade had killed Lord Protector¡­ How is that possible? If a common blade was the murder weapon, what kind of person must the killer be?¡±


    Is the Wu family¡­ in peril?


    Perfected Yun stood in the rain, the clothes on his back slowly soaking through.


    Meanwhile, in that bloody room, Lin Shouxi leaned against the wall, lost in thought.


    Ever since he woke up, he felt as though he had forgotten about something important. It wasn¡¯t the River Luo Inscription or the black scale, but something else¡­


    What could it be?


    He was too exhausted, and his headache was so severe that it made remembering hard.

 CH 5

    Amidst the wooden hall, which was besieged by the raging thunder and lightning, Lin Shouxi sat in a state of deep meditation, cross-legged. His lustrous black hair flowed down his shoulders, concealing his cold and delicate features within the pitch-black shadows.


    As the storm raged on outside, it became increasingly clear that this would be a night without repose. The portly Wang Erguan sat weeping alone for an hour, and the unnamed youth remained hidden in the darkness, deep in contemplation.


    By the window, Xiao He sat curled up with her knees to her chest, gazing out at the violent deluge of rain. Her slender frame was cloaked in a delicate blue cotton skirt and a thin shirt, and the gentle curves of her figure were already beginning to emerge. Her face was angelic and youthful, with soft lines that could make one¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    As Lin Shouxi¡¯s eyes fluttered open in the midst of his meditation, a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the room, briefly revealing Xiao He¡¯s profile. The sight reminded him of a tranquil lake enshrouded in a blanket of pristine snow.


    ¡°Truly, she is a person with secrets,¡± he pondered to himself. ¡°And perhaps they all have their own hidden depths,¡± he reflected.


    Lin Shouxi let out a deep sigh as he finished his meditation, allowing his mind to calm and settle. He had been embroiled in a fierce battle when he was suddenly whisked away to this strange and unfamiliar place.


    In a tale spun by Perfected Yun, he claimed that his family¡¯s deity had conducted a summoning ritual to acquire protectors, divine attendants, before being killed. However, Lin Shouxi was aware of the actuality. While ¡°attendants¡± was the term used, it was in truth referring to slaves, and the pretext of their duty to protect was a guise to guarantee their sacrifice in place of the three descendants of his family if the necessity ever arose.


    It was a grim future that lay ahead for Lin Shouxi and his fellow survivors. They were left with only two options: to become sacrificial pawns or lifelong slaves. But Lin Shouxi refused to succumb to despair. Though the path ahead was fraught with peril, he knew that the first order of business was to recover while he had this rare moment of respite. As for the rest, he would simply have to adapt.


    Perhaps, he mused, there might even be a glimmer of hope. Maybe the enigmatic figure who had slain the God of Protection could turn their sights on the Wu family and destroy this seemingly nefarious clan.


    Lin Shouxi was lost in this thought when the stern-looking young man suddenly spoke up. ¡°Stop crying!¡± he reprimanded Wang Erguan.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you mind your own business!¡± Wang Erguan retorted, wiping his tears. ¡°Even the heavens are crying, but I don¡¯t hear you asking them to stop.¡±


    The cold-faced young man, seemingly unbothered by his reply or feelings, asked with little tact, ¡°Was it your little brother who died?¡±


    ¡°No, my older. He was born third. I came afterward,¡± Wang Erguan replied, still sniffling.


    The young man cocked his head as if confused. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± he said. ¡°If you are the fourth child, why did your parents give you the name Wang Erguan?¡± (T/N: Íõ¶þ¹Ø, the ¶þ in Wang Erguan¡¯s name means 2. )


    ¡°Why do you care what my parents named me?¡± Wang Erguan snapped, his irritation growing.


    The young man chuckled, amused by his response. After he stopped messing with the chubby youth, Lin Shouxi quietly assessed the young man in the darkness. He was dressed in a clean and neat short-sleeved shirt, carrying an aura of calmness that suggested he came from a family of martial arts practitioners.


    Noticing his gaze after a while, the young man suddenly looked at Lin Shouxi. ¡°What are you looking at me for?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I was merely curious about your name,¡± Lin Shouxi said, attempting to make small talk.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know who I am?¡± the young man replied in a cold tone.


    ¡°Why should he?¡± Wang Erguan chimed in, still upset. ¡°Your Ji family only became prominent in the last two years. You¡¯re not from some great noble family, and you yourself aren¡¯t anyone special. You¡¯re just a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.¡±


    Ignoring Wang Erguan¡¯s slight, the young man said, ¡°My name is Ji Luoyang. Lu¨°y¨¢ng, as in the setting sun (ÂäÈÕ²ÐÑô), son of the Ji family.¡±


    As Lin Shouxi mentally scribbled down the name, Wang Erguan scoffed, ¡°Ji Luoyang¡­ never heard the name. It seems even a prominent family can give birth to a nobody!¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard Wang Erguan either,¡± Ji Luoyang replied nonchalantly, unfazed by the chubby youth¡¯s attitude.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you know nothing!¡± Wang Erguan retorted, his frustration growing. ¡°I am the fourth young master of the Wang family in Wangye City, and we are backed by Yunkong Mountain, one of the three sacred mountains. It is not something you can compare to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but at least my brother isn¡¯t dead, his body growing cold, third young master,¡± Ji Luoyang returned lightly.


    Wang Erguan¡¯s tears returned immediately at the mention of his deceased brother.


    Ji Luoyang sneered, ¡°Enough with the charade. I can tell you¡¯re holding back your laughter right now!¡±


    Wang Erguan glared at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Ji Luoyang chuckled coldly, prodding at Wang Erguan¡¯s nerves with each word. ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush. Your brother met his untimely demise because he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of losing his virginity. I¡¯m willing to wager he even tried to coax you into joining him, but you refused. And now you¡¯re secretly grateful you didn¡¯t follow in his footsteps, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Wang Erguan¡¯s eyes widened, feeling exposed. ¡°Mind your own business! Do you want to die?¡± he threatened.


    The chubby youth stood up abruptly, rolling up his sleeves as if preparing to fight. However, after assessing Ji Luoyang¡¯s cold sneer and sturdy build, he thought better of it and sat back down dejectedly. ¡°Just wait, I¡­ I will avenge my brother,¡± he muttered, defeated.


    As they waited, the rain outside slowly subsided, and the sky brightened.


    When Perfected Yun in a Taoist robe pushed open the door, Xiao He was asleep leaning against the window. Lin Shouxi roused her with a tender touch, and Xiao He, with a murmured expression of gratitude, trailed after Perfected Yun as he exited the room.


    Perfected Yun led them to a courtyard, where the algae and water plants were swept aside, and a large tripod decorated with cloud and thunder patterns stood in the center, borne by eight-clawed fish.


    ¡°I shall impart to you a core method, for you to practice assiduously and strive to coagulate a pill as soon as possible,¡± Perfected Yun spoke.


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t opened my spirit veins,¡± Wang Erguan said.


    The others nodded in agreement.


    The most important condition for cultivation is the opening of veins, for without that, one is forever a mortal embryo.


    ¡°Spirit veins?¡± Perfected Yun smiled, ¡°The altar has already opened them up for you.¡±


    Wang Erguan¡¯s heart was torn between two conflicting emotions, one of skepticism and the other of conviction. With fervent determination, he started to execute his own core method, and his exhilaration swelled to the point where he was on the verge of leaping up in ecstasy.


    For the past decade, he had sat in meditation for countless days and nights, and his veins had never responded. But now, as he recited the core method once more, a vague, unobtrusive stream seemed to have been unclogged within his body, gurgling without end.


    Ji Luoyang and Xiao He also closed their eyes, and when they opened them again, their expressions differed.


    Lin Shouxi feigned an attempt.


    The true energy of the two worlds was not much different, and he had been gifted with spirit veins since birth. Yet, at this moment, his inner wounds were too severe, and the veins that ran through him had gone dormant, rendering him powerless to evoke the true energy.


    However, the fact that he did not need to open his veins, served to reinforce his belief that his arrival here had been an accident.


    Perfected Yun had many pressing matters to attend to, and he had little time to waste. Seated in a cross-legged position, he quickly imparted a brief Tao art for them to practice before declaring. ¡°You are free to cultivate on your own or engage in friendly sparring, but take care not to cause any harm to others. If you do, you will face my wrath.¡±


    After speaking these words, Perfected Yun vanished like a ghost.


    Wang Erguan, who had vowed to avenge his older brother¡¯s death the night prior, now saw his hatred dissipate into the clouds beyond. He quickly found a place to sit and greedily absorbed the true energy permeating the world.


    Ji Luoyang, too, began to meditate and adjust his breath.


    Lin Shouxi also sought out a secluded spot to sit. Xiao He cast surreptitious glances at him as she delicately lifted her deep blue skirt to avoid the damp ground, finding a discarded piece of paper to cushion herself upon before sitting down beside him. Her gaze lingering, she cautiously scrutinized him.


    Her lashes were long, her eyes a pale hue akin to gleaming amber.


    Lin Shouxi cast a fleeting gaze in her direction before immersing himself in the depths of meditation. Though his body was marred with wounds, he found upon introspection that not all the scars he bore had been inflicted by Mu Shijing¡¯s hand. There appeared to be traces of other struggles, yet the details eluded him, like an elusive dream that slipped from his grasp upon waking.


    That said, shouldn¡¯t Mu Shijing have arrived in this world by now? Where was she?


    At this thought, Lin Shouxi was suddenly reminded of an old tragedy he had heard in his youth.


    At the time, he was a mere child of but three or four years, when the City of Death claimed the lives of numerous members of the Tao Gate. The tragedy weakened their power, prompting the head of the Tao Gate to consider the possibility of a truce with the Demon Gate, one that would be cemented by a matrimonial alliance.


    The Demon and Tao sects planned to betroth him to Mu Shijing. The marriage certificate was said to have been drawn up. However, the Tao Gate suffered a sudden change when its old leader passed away and a mysterious woman came from Cloud Mountain to take the helm.


    The marriage was never mentioned again after that, and under the stewardship of the new sect master, the Tao Gate rose anew, its momentum unstoppable. In Lin Shouxi¡¯s heart, the newly appointed leader was the most enigmatic figure under the heavens.


    As Lin Shouxi opened his eyes, he discovered that Xiao He was still looking at him. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°Can I cultivate with you?¡± Xiao He¡¯s voice was soft and weak.


    ¡°Can¡¯t,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    Xiao He was taken aback by his answer, momentarily stunned. She hung her head and wrung her deep blue skirt, somewhat at a loss.


    Lin Shouxi knew she had misunderstood and explained, ¡°What I mean is, I cannot cultivate.¡±


    ¡°You cannot cultivate?¡± Xiao He blinked.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Lin Shouxi replied with a solemn tone, ¡°My injuries are grave, impeding the flow of my inner energy, and¡­ I confess my ignorance on the matter of pill coagulation.¡±


    ¡°Pill coagulation, hmm¡­¡± Xiao He nibbled at her fingertips and after a moment¡¯s thought, said, ¡°When you sit in meditation for a long time, you will feel a bright white center in your body. Gradually, true energy will be drawn to this point, and when it reaches a critical mass, it will crystallize into a gleaming white pill. That is pill coagulation. Only those who have achieved this feat can be deemed true cultivators.¡±


    Lin Shouxi, eyes shut, took to meditation. He did, in fact, perceive a hub, yet it was a black void, devoid of even the faintest speck of white.


    The true energy flowed into the center, as if being devoured by a black hole. He shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright if you can¡¯t cultivate, just sit next to me,¡± said Xiao He.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Lin Shouxi, curious.


    ¡°Because you smell really good,¡± said Xiao He, with sparkling eyes and long lashes that quivered in the wind.


    ¡°Do you want to eat me?¡± asked Lin Shouxi, befuddled.


    ¡°Eat you?¡± repeated Xiao He, taken aback, and her snow-white cheeks blushed cherry red. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? How frivolous¡­¡±


    Just as Lin Shouxi was about to explain, Wang Erguan, who had just completed a celestial circuit, could no longer contain his frustration. He had been overhearing the incessant chatter between Lin Shouxi and Xiao He in the corner and couldn¡¯t take it any longer. ¡°Lin Shouxi,¡± he burst out, ¡°I had thought you were a man of virtue and honor! How can it be that she saved your life and you¡¯re so eager to throw yourself at her feet?¡±


    ¡°Saved my life?¡± Lin Shouxi responded, puzzled. ¡°What on earth are you talking about?¡±

 CH 6

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice that you woke up later than everyone else?¡± Wang Erguan asked, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity.


    Lin Shouxi certainly had, but he had attributed it to the brutal battle with Mu Shijing and the evil god.


    ¡°Do you know why?¡± Lin Shouxi asked, wanting to know if there was another reason.


    Wang Erguan answered with his typical candor, as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube.


    ¡°The altar that summoned us was perched perilously on the cliff¡¯s edge, and as we all lost consciousness above it, you tumbled down inexplicably.¡± Wang Erguan¡¯s words dripped with sarcasm, as he spoke. ¡°Had it not been for Xiao He, who gazed downwards before Perfected Yun led us away, you would have been devoured by the insatiable bugs in the mud by now.¡±


    I fell down the cliff¡­ could part of my injuries be from the fall?


    ¡°Was the cliff high?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°It definitely wasn¡¯t short,¡± Wang Erguan replied nonchalantly.


    Lin Shouxi felt more and more that it was a miracle he had survived.


    ¡°Many thanks for your life-saving grace, Xiao He,¡± Lin Shouxi expressed his earnest gratitude as he turned towards her.


    ¡°It was nothing,¡± Xiao He lightly shook her head in response.


    ¡°How did you know I was down there?¡± Lin Shouxi inquired.


    Xiao He closed her lips and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain, but a certain feeling prompted me to investigate. I never expected that someone had truly fallen.¡±


    Lin Shouxi spoke with genuine sincerity, ¡°I appreciate your kindness. If the opportunity arises, I will surely repay it.¡±


    ¡°After all that, you still have the audacity to act as if you¡¯re willing to offer yourself,¡± Wang Erguan interjected with anger.


    Lin Shouxi chose not to dignify his rudeness with a response.


    ¡°We can discuss repayment at a later time,¡± Xiao He said softly, her voice like a gentle breeze. With that, she fell silent and closed her eyes, slipping into a meditative state. Her pale pink lips moved soundlessly as she recited the core method.


    The thin sunlight slid over the eaves and shone onto her hair, which resembled white cloth, shimmering and translucent.


    Lin Shouxi also took a cross-legged position.


    At this juncture, he knew that attempting to cultivate would be futile. He didn¡¯t force himself, instead, he turned his attention to recovery. His robust constitution came in handy; had another person been afflicted with the same wounds, it would have been their demise.


    Lin Shouxi gazed at the large cauldron in the courtyard, the slanting aquatic plants, and the classical flying eaves adorned with imposing dragon sculptures. They appeared through the mist, evoking a feeling that was at once familiar and yet foreign.


    When he was a child, he often sat alone on a bamboo chair under the eaves, picking up any book he fancied and reading for the whole day. Because his martial arts skills improved so rapidly, even when he held forbidden books, others would look at the serious expression on his face and think he was contemplating the great truths of the universe. When in fact, his face was naturally cold.


    Sitting on that bamboo chair, he would often ask himself whether he loved this world, and the answer would always be the same resounding yes. From the distinct four seasons, the fragrant flowers and herbs, to the people coming and going, he could find a sense of tranquility amidst it all. Yet, this peace would occasionally be disrupted.


    For example, when he was twelve, his senior siblings heard that Mu Shijing had visited the Buddha Gate and, without saying a word, broken countless Zen minds. His senior siblings felt that the Demon Gate had lost face because they had not accomplished a matching feat and tried to forcibly drag him to the Merciful Navigation House of Tranquility to regain their reputation.


    But, he, remaining pure, refused to go.


    His kind senior sisters advised him, ¡°Those pretty nuns have no grudges against you. You¡¯re just going for a visit. What are you afraid of?¡±


    ¡°I have no grudges against them either,¡± he responded innocently and wronged.


    ¡°Now everyone in the martial arts world is discussing Mu Shijing. If this continues, little junior brother will be overshadowed again,¡± his senior siblings said with anxiety.


    ¡°Master has said that still waters run deep, and all things can begin to develop from the smallest of seeds. Why must we fight over a momentary thing¡­¡± he said with a blush, and they surrounded him. He then ran away to the mountains and forests for three days before returning, trembling.


    When he saw his senior siblings again, they were all very worried. His three-day disappearance had frightened them. They gathered around him and promised never to force him to do anything again.


    Lin Shouxi looked at the earnest crowd and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so concerned about me.¡±


    ¡°How can we not be concerned? You¡¯re our sect¡¯s last hope,¡± they said in earnest.


    ¡°Last hope? Am I really¡­?¡± Lin Shouxi asked, surprised.


    ¡°If not you, then who? Little junior brother, you must never say such pessimistic words again,¡± they replied, determined to boost his morale.


    Me, the Demon Gate¡¯s last hope¡­


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s expression became distant.


    Some last hope, he thought.


    When the time had come for him to face the flooding tides, he realized that he was even weaker than he had imagined.


    During the Tao Gate¡¯s siege on Black Cliff, only a handful of people had managed to escape, while the rest were captured and imprisoned. Though the Tao Gate, claiming to be a righteous sect, did not slaughter everyone, the lives of his captured sect members were not likely to be any better.


    Perhaps they were still waiting for their youngest to save them.


    Lin Shouxi felt his injured body and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    There was nothing he could do for them right now.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t cultivate, don¡¯t pretend to. There¡¯s no need to put on a show,¡± Wang Erguan said, gloating at his difficulties after hearing him sigh.


    As Lin Shouxi cast a dispassionate glance towards him, Wang Erguan felt as though he was being pinned by needles. Despite the calm and unremarkable appearance of the gaze, he was so frightened that he couldn¡¯t move a muscle.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lin Shouxi said after a brief pause. Rising from his seated position, he strode purposefully out of the courtyard.


    Wang Erguan let out a sigh of relief, grateful that the tense moment had passed. He waited until Lin Shouxi was out of sight before he touched his throat, still feeling the lingering sensation of fear.


    Strange¡­he was just a disabled man, injured to the point of being unable to cultivate. Why did I feel that way? Perhaps it was just a temporary setback in my cultivation¡­ Wang Erguan, you¡¯re going to be the third young master soon. You can¡¯t be so timid that anything can scare you.


    He glanced at Ji Luoyang and saw that he was looking at him with a mocking smile.


    ¡°What are you laughing at? Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t see it. Your true energy circulation is far from smooth, much worse than mine,¡± Wang Erguan said proudly.


    ¡°How about we fight and see?¡± Ji Luoyang¡¯s smile remained.


    Wang Erguan looked him up and down, feeling like he had some kind of advantage.


    ¡°Forget it, it wouldn¡¯t be good to explain to Perfected Yun if I cripple you.¡± Wang Erguan sat down sullenly, determined to cultivate until he could defeat Ji Luoyang.


    Ji Luoyang shook his head and glanced at Xiao He, whose true energy was flowing steadily, without any particular problems.


    ***


    Outside the courtyard, Lin Shouxi stood on a secluded cliff and looked into the distance. His gaze passed through the thick fog and could vaguely see the dried-up lake.


    The lake looked like a desolate canyon, vast and indistinct, with huge white mist surging up from the lake bed, as if a dying giant beast was breathing under the mud.


    The courtyard was built on the wall of the lake and was located around the middle of the mountain, now that the lake water had receded.


    There were strange shells attached to the rock walls and chaotic algae hanging from them, emitting a stench.


    In a white Taoist robe, Lin Shouxi sat down on the edge of the cliff and meditated for a long time.


    After coming back to his senses, he casually picked up a tree branch. Although his true energy could not circulate, the moves of the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture had long been engraved in his bones. He gestured with the branch a few times and suddenly remembered something.


    Previously, aside from the River Luo Inscription and the Black Scale, he always felt like he was missing something.


    Now he finally remembered that he was missing a sword.


    He clearly remembered that he was holding a sword before he lost consciousness. It was, ¡®Death¡¯s Proof¡¯, the sword his master had given him. Where had it gone? Had Perfected Yun taken it?


    ¡°So you¡¯re here,¡± a girl¡¯s voice came from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.


    Lin Shouxi turned around and saw Xiao He walking towards him, her skirt held up in her hands.


    ¡°How did you find me?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°I told you, you have a distinct smell,¡± Xiao He said, pursing her lips.


    ¡°I smell?¡± Lin Shouxi sniffed himself.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a feeling, uh¡­I can¡¯t really explain it.¡± Xiao He lifted a hand to cover her windblown hair.


    Lin Shouxi thought to himself that perhaps this was what his senior brother meant when he said that a woman¡¯s intuition could transcend the five senses. As he pondered this, he nodded absentmindedly, his gaze once again drawn to Xiao He¡¯s hair. He found himself increasingly captivated by it the more he looked at it


    Bathed in different lighting, the white hue of her long tresses exhibited slight variations, but all were gentle and tranquil, and beautifully long.


    ¡°Why do you keep looking at my hair?¡± Xiao He felt a bit embarrassed.


    As a newcomer to this world, Lin Shouxi didn¡¯t want to give her the impression that he was too inexperienced, so he lied with a straight face, ¡°I¡¯m taller than you, so when I look down, I can only see your hair.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Xiao He frowned slightly, seeming displeased. She stared at Lin Shouxi, her lips moving but not saying anything.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have something else to say?¡± Lin Shouxi asked, sensing her hesitation.


    The cliff wind blew her skirt endlessly, and the endless mist drifted between them. Her snow-white hair was curled up, and her cheeks were delicately carved and beautiful beyond measure.


    For a long time, she stared at Lin Shouxi, gathering the courage to ask, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m pretty?¡±


    Lin Shouxi was completely stunned. He wasn¡¯t stupid and could sense the undertones in her words. But they had only known each other for a day. Even if he had feelings for her, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to be so direct. Besides, although she was as beautiful as an elf, he really didn¡¯t have any other thoughts.


    He now bore deep hatred and anger, and was trapped between life and death. How could he have the leisure to think about unrealistic romances?


    He just wanted to practice and train well, uncover the thick fog of this world, and expel the demons and monsters lurking in the darkness!


    Moreover¡­ he didn¡¯t know anything about the other person.


    Were all the girls in this world so proactive? Or did she have some ulterior motives?


    Lin Shouxi felt that he was alone, apart from his skin and this ¡°smell¡± she mentioned, there was nothing else about him worth pursuing.


    ¡°Is this question difficult? Why are you taking so long to answer?¡± the girl tilted her head slightly and asked.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re asking this,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°I¡­ my aunt taught me to ask like this,¡± the girl hesitated and said.


    ¡°Your aunt?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°Uh, anyway, just answer the question,¡± Xiao He said firmly.


    Lin Shouxi didn¡¯t want to continue to be evasive since she was insistent. He didn¡¯t like telling unnecessary lies. He planned to sincerely compliment the other person¡¯s appearance, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a gust of cold wind swept past them, and his words of praise were stuck in his throat.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Perfected Yun emerged from the thick fog at the edge of the cliff, carrying a wooden sword.


    ¡°We¡­ ¡± Lin Shouxi was about to make up an excuse.


    ¡°Enough, don¡¯t try to deceive me.¡± Perfected Yun coldly interrupted, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, go back. I don¡¯t care if you have romantic feelings for each other, but if you dare to lose your virginity, you will die without a doubt.¡±


    Lin Shouxi and Xiao He exchanged a glance, and replied with a ¡°we understand¡± before following Perfected Yun back to the courtyard.


    Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang rose and saluted when they saw Perfected Yun.


    Perfected Yun came to inspect their progress in cultivation today.


    He had already checked on Wang Erguan, Ji Luoyang, and Xiao He, and nodded slightly in satisfaction.


    ¡°No wonder Lord Protector chose you as his disciples. Your speed of progress is enough to make most geniuses feel ashamed,¡± Perfected Yun said.


    But when he came to Lin Shouxi, he frowned.


    ¡°Although you accidentally fell from the god¡¯s altar, did Lord Protector forget to open your spirit veins because of that?¡± Perfected Yun frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s because my injuries are too severe.¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°Your injuries?¡±


    Perfected Yun placed his hand on Lin Shouxi¡¯s shoulder, and after a slight sense, his brows furrowed even more tightly.


    ¡°Are you not in pain with such injuries?¡± Perfected Yun asked.


    ¡°I am in pain.¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    Perfected Yun stared at him for a while, and he suddenly had a desire to open his right eye. But of course, he wouldn¡¯t do it just for a boy.


    ¡°Your willpower is good, but it¡¯s a pity¡­.¡± Perfected Yun sighed indifferently. ¡°In this world, there are countless cultivators like you who have strong willpower but are unable to achieve anything. So don¡¯t feel too bad.¡±


    ¡°I will take good care of my injury.¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°No need.¡± Perfected Yun said lightly, ¡°There two young masters and young lady can only take one person with them to inherit the divine power. If you are a waste, it saves me the effort of having to choose who among you will go.¡±


    Perfected Yun no longer looked at Lin Shouxi. He looked at the other three and said, ¡°Practice well. I will test you in three days. This test is very important, don¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    Then Perfected Yun disappeared once again.


    After a few hours, an old woman with a cane walked in and placed the food she brought on the table. The young men and women, who had endured a whole day without food or water, suddenly realized their hunger and quickly grabbed their share of the food.


    After dinner, the sky quickly turned dark.


    Lin Shouxi sat on the veranda, following the River Luo Inscription¡¯s breathing method to heal his wounds. Today, Wang Erguan was particularly excited. He didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all, so he put on his white Taoist robe and went to the courtyard to practice his family¡¯s boxing style, his movements fierce and powerful.


    However, Lin Shouxi, noticing many flaws in his moves, shook his head unconsciously.


    Wang Erguan observed Lin Shouxi¡¯s head-shaking motion and surmised that the Perfected One¡¯s words had disheartened him. Wang Erguan felt that by showcasing his superior boxing technique, he had inadvertently reminded Lin Shouxi of his own predicament, causing him to feel hopeless.


    Wang Erguan shook his head and let out a deep sigh. He had initially believed that Lin Shouxi¡¯s striking good looks hinted at some exceptional abilities or hidden talents. However, now that Perfected Yun had labeled him a ¡°waste¡±, Wang Erguan saw no reason to worry about him.


    With the psychological advantage and a sense of superiority, he said, ¡°Brother Lin, life is full of trials and tribulations. Do not be disheartened. Who knows, perhaps you will encounter some opportunities. Once you have recovered, I will teach you a set of martial arts as a token of our chance encounter.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Lin Shouxi replied, feeling like Wang Erguan had misunderstood something again.


    Wang Erguan¡¯s sudden generosity disappeared without a trace. He grumbled, ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Then, he fiercely performed several sets of boxing techniques before resting for a while, satisfied.


    ¡°Brother Lin, don¡¯t you feel uncomfortable wearing these tattered clothes?¡± Wang Erguan shook his Taoist robe and complained.


    These were the clothes that Perfected Yun had issued to them.


    ¡°I think they fit well,¡± said Lin Shouxi, who had never had many demands when it came to food or clothing.


    Wang Erguan saw an opportunity to flaunt his wealth and seized it. ¡°Hmph, I think you¡¯re just used to wearing them,¡± he scoffed. ¡°In Wangye City, I wore only the finest satin and silk. They were impervious to water and fire, and even demons and monsters couldn¡¯t come near them. Even our servants don¡¯t wear such coarse cloth like this. It¡¯s like wearing mourning clothes.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you in mourning right now?¡± Lin Shouxi said calmly.


    Wang Erguan¡¯s obese body trembled as the gruesome image of Wang Ji¡¯s death flashed through his mind like a nightmare. He shuddered and swallowed the rest of his complaints back into his bloated stomach.


    He glared at Lin Shouxi with anger, his thoughts on boxing forgotten, and turned silently to go back to his room.


    Before he closed the door, he couldn¡¯t resist a parting shot: ¡°Wishful thinking won¡¯t do you any good. Go to bed early, maybe you¡¯ll have a good dream by some miracle.¡±


    The door slammed shut.


    The rain had ceased, but the eaves continued to drip. Lin Shouxi lifted his gaze.


    This world, too, had a moon.


    Its radiance was exquisite and untainted, like the slender threads of fiber that were as fine as a maiden¡¯s hair.

 CH 7

    Early in the morning, Wang Erguan pushed open the door, ready to begin his day of hard training. He thought he was the earliest to rise, but he found that Lin Shouxi was still sitting on the veranda, lost in thought.


    Did he stay up all night?


    Wang Erguan could not tell for a moment who was the one cultivating immortality.


    ¡°If you are injured, you should rest more. Did the attack leave you rattled?¡± he asked.


    Lin Shouxi did not respond to him. In fact, he did not even hear Wang Erguan¡¯s words. He had entered a state of deep meditation, where his mind was free from all distractions. It wasn¡¯t until Xiao He sat down beside him that he emerged from his trance.


    When he opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.


    As usual, the old woman with a cane came to deliver their meals. Wang Erguan observed her slow, labored movements as she hobbled along the rugged terrain towards their ancient dwelling. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how she managed to navigate the treacherous cliffs that surrounded them on all sides.


    Thinking that she must be an expert, he pretended to be kind and went to help her. But as soon as he approached, the old woman pushed him aside with great force, sending him crashing into a wall and nearly knocking him out.


    After the incident, Wang Erguan recounted to his companions a tale of the old woman being a monster in disguise, with two rows of razor-sharp teeth that glinted in the light.


    ¡°What¡¯s so scary about monsters?¡± Xiao He said as they sat down to eat.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of them?¡± Wang Erguan asked, not believing her lack of fear. He had seen young girls in his family be scared half to death by ghost stories.


    ¡°I grew up in the mountains,¡± Xiao He explained.


    ¡°The mountains?¡± Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang were both surprised.


    At first, Lin Shouxi did not understand what was so astonishing about her upbringing. After all, he too had been raised in the mountains, where the high peaks were shrouded in mist and the sky was a never-ending expanse of blue. It was the perfect place for cultivating the Tao.


    ¡°How did you manage to survive in these wild mountains, where monsters and evil spirits abound?¡± Wang Erguan asked, sensing that Xiao He was not an ordinary person.


    ¡°My aunt raised me,¡± Xiao He replied, her words small and measured as she ate her meal. ¡°She told me that I was once a young lady from a prominent family, but I was persecuted and almost killed by my own kin. My aunt and my mother were close, so she rescued me and we fled to the mountains, where we have lived in seclusion for many years.¡±


    ¡°Your aunt must be formidable,¡± Wang Erguan said, impressed.


    ¡°Yes, she is very fierce,¡± Xiao He confirmed.


    ¡°I imagine your aunt must be very worried about you right now,¡± Lin Shouxi added.


    ¡°Me too¡­¡±


    ¡°May I ask, do you have a surname?¡± Ji Luoyang inquired, curious about her background as her voice trailed off.


    ¡°My aunt never told me,¡± Xiao He said, shaking her head. ¡°She said that she hopes one day I can return to the family and reclaim it.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Ji Luoyang nodded in understanding.


    ¡°And what about the incident where you told Perfected Yun you had lost your virginity at eighteen despite being fourteen?¡± Ji Luoyang asked, voicing the question that was on everyone¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Well¡­,¡± Xiao He faltered, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.


    ¡°Ji Luoyang, I¡¯m surprised that someone from a wealthy family like you doesn¡¯t know about this,¡± Wang Erguan interjected, eager to show off his own knowledge. ¡°Xiao He must have a spirit root.¡±


    Spirit root?


    Lin Shouxi had never heard of this term before and pondered its meaning. Ji Luoyang seemed equally perplexed and turned to Wang Erguan for an explanation.


    With his arms crossed, the chubby boy tantalizingly built up the suspense before finally speaking. ¡°Spirit veins are already a rare gift in this world, but spirit roots are even rarer among cultivators who possess spirit veins. For instance, my uncle was born blind, but he is fortunate enough to have the ¡®Eyesight Spirit Root¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Eyesight Spirit Root?¡± they echoed in unison.


    ¡°Even though he was born blind, his spirit root bestowed upon him the ability to see the world. Not only that, but he can also see in all directions at the same time, even things that ordinary people cannot see¡­ it is truly a formidable power,¡± Wang Erguan bragged.


    ¡°What exactly is a spirit root?¡± Ji Luoyang asked, pressing for more information.


    ¡°How would I know? I don¡¯t have one,¡± Wang Erguan snorted.


    ¡°What about Xiao He?¡± Ji Luoyang asked.


    ¡°Xiao He, do you have some kind of spirit root that can deceive the True Speech Stone?¡± Wang Erguan asked, but he didn¡¯t really believe it was possible. The True Speech Stone was a treasure condensed from the world¡¯s spirit energy. Even the great cultivators who claimed to be immortals had to hold the True Speech Stone when making their Tao companion vows.


    ¡°Deceive the True Speech Stone?¡± Ji Luoyang¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°No.¡± Xiao He finally said, ¡°I¡­. I seem to be able to see the future.¡±


    ¡°See the future?¡± Everyone was even more surprised.


    ¡°Yes. Sometimes, I have visions of scenes that have never happened before. For example, when Perfected Yun asked me that question the other day¡­,¡±


    There was no need to say more. They all understood that she had seen a vision of herself and her Tao companion consummating their love four years from now.


    ¡°Did you get a good look at the person?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°N¡­ No I didn¡¯t.¡± Xiao He put down her chopsticks, seeming unable to take another bite.


    ¡°Is it okay to ask such a personal question so casually? Haha, did you upset the little girl again?¡± Wang Erguan gloated.


    But his laughter quickly froze on his face.


    Before Xiao He closed her lunch box, she meticulously picked out the remaining pieces of meat and placed them one by one into Lin Shouxi¡¯s bowl. Only then did she get up and leave without saying a word.


    The young woman walked back to her room, her blue skirt trailing behind her like a gentle stream of flower petals, and closed the door shut.


    Lin Shouxi looked at the few pieces of meat lying in his lunch box and fell into silence.


    Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang exchanged a glance, both seeming to understand something.


    ¡°I think I know who Xiao He saw,¡± Wang Erguan chuckled meaningfully.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s right,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why? Are you being coy and shy? Do you need to go hide in your room like a little girl?¡± Wang Erguan laughed heartily.


    As he laughed, he noticed that Ji Luoyang¡¯s face became somewhat dark.


    Wang Erguan was taken aback for a moment, then incredulously asked, ¡°Do you also have feelings for¡­?¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Then why is your face so dark¡­¡± Wang Erguan asked, growing more confused.


    Ji Luoyang closed his lunchbox and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to practice.¡±


    Wang Erguan was stunned for a moment, feeling that these people were somewhat insane and incomprehensible.


    ¡°Are you unable to eat as well?¡± Wang Erguan looked at the dazed Lin Shouxi and asked.


    Lin Shouxi nodded, but he managed to finish the meat on his plate before leaving.


    Wang Erguan felt a sense of sadness. He might be the only sane person left here.


    After the matter regarding the Foresight Spirit Root, nobody mentioned it again. However, Lin Shouxi and Xiao He¡¯s relationship naturally improved.


    They would eat together, meditate together, and sometimes even go to the cliff to watch the clouds.


    Whenever they watched the clouds, Wang Erguan would always point and jest at them from a distance. In reality, they didn¡¯t talk much when they were together, and the topics they discussed were mostly unimportant.


    Xiao He often talked about the events she encountered while living with her aunt in the mountains. The mountain, which was supposed to be some scary thing shrouded in demonic energy, transformed into a vibrant and beloved hometown.


    As for Lin Shouxi, he too shared stories from his childhood, often adding his own local flair to the tales. In some ways, it felt like he was recounting these memories to himself, a way to remind himself of who he was and what his purpose was.


    During their occasional gatherings, Wang Erguan would often tease his fellow young men and women, playfully calling them shameless. However, he always did so with careful restraint, never wanting to push too far and risk angering anyone who might then train even harder. He hoped that these two would continue to be idle like this.


    Lin Shouxi was used to his talkativeness and never took it to heart. Similarly, he was aware that he didn¡¯t actually have feelings for Xiao He. But he didn¡¯t dislike her either.


    Xiao He was beautiful, and her voice still carried a hint of childishness, like the cry of a yellow oriole. When he talked with her, his mood would relax, and more importantly, he was slowly learning about the world through their idle chatter.


    He learned that people in this world gathered in the center of the earth, where there was a sacred mountain protecting them and holy fire surrounding them. Even the fiercest evil spirits dared not approach.


    However, Wuzhu Lake, where they currently were, was located outside the protection of any sacred mountain, in a desolate wasteland where the land was polluted and evil spirits roamed freely. This land was filled with dangerous ancient sites, battlefields, and nests of evil creatures, and only a small number of people could survive here.


    ¡°What exactly pollutes the land?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s filth,¡± Xiao He explained. ¡°Countless impurities have seeped into the earth. There are various opinions about the origin of this filth, but there is still no clear conclusion.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t the filth be eradicated?¡±


    Xiao He sighed softly, ¡°It¡¯s very difficult,¡± she said. ¡°But we must remember that it¡¯s not entirely bad. After all, the true energy we breathe is emitted by it.¡±


    True energy is emitted by filth? Lin Shouxi furrowed his brow.


    It was ironic that the source of the energy which humans used to cultivate was also responsible for polluting the land. It¡¯s no wonder it was so dangerous. Without care, one could easily fall into energy deviation.


    ¡°Huh? Hasn¡¯t your sect told you about this before?¡± Xiao He looked at his eyes and asked.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t need to, as my veins weren¡¯t open, and I was merely a sweeper,¡± Lin Shouxi said, rubbing his temples. ¡°What¡¯s more¡­ because of the fall, I can¡¯t seem to remember many things.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Xiao He looked at him and pursed her lips in thought. ¡°They truly wasted your potential, making you work as a sweeper. With your looks, you could have descended the mountain just once and returned with a crowd of female recruits.¡±


    ¡°Had I done that, the sect would have become a nunnery,¡± Lin Shouxi joked.


    ¡°A nunnery? What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a sect consisting only of women. That¡¯s what we call it in my hometown.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Xiao He suddenly realized, ¡°You¡¯re being narcissistic.¡±


    The two laughed together.


    Xiao He¡¯s smile quickly faded as she had the sensation of being watched from behind. Lin Shouxi noticed and turned with her to see the old woman walking towards the courtyard with her cane to deliver food.


    ¡°Her footsteps make no sound,¡± Xiao He remarked.


    ¡°Neither do yours,¡± Lin Shouxi pointed out.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the same. That old lady might not even have feet,¡± Xiao He whispered cautiously, as if afraid the old lady might hear.


    ¡°No feet?¡± Lin Shouxi frowned. ¡°How can she walk without feet? Does she float like a ghost?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not the old woman who¡¯s walking,¡± Xiao He squinted her eyes. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s the cane that¡¯s carrying her around.¡±


    ¡°The cane?¡± Lin Shouxi found the idea bizarre.


    ¡°Yes, maybe there was once an old woman who walked with a cane for many years, and when she died, the cane gained a spirit. The cane doesn¡¯t want to believe that the old woman is gone, so it carries her lifeless body around and continues to do what the old woman used to do,¡± Xiao He explained in a hushed tone.


    ¡°I see.¡± Lin Shouxi was faintly bewildered.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a guess,¡± Xiao He smiled.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± Xiao He fixed her bright eyes on him.


    ¡°I am,¡± Lin Shouxi admitted.


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re lying.¡±

 CH 8

    For the past three days, Lin Shouxi and Xiao He had been practicing martial arts together, exchanging ideas and chatting intermittently. Despite the seriousness of their training, Lin Shouxi seemed carefree and relaxed, while Xiao He maintained a calm and steady composure, showing no sense of urgency.


    Wang Erguan was the most diligent and hardworking member of the group. He worked hard throughout the day, patting his stomach and sighing during meals, expressing his determination to lose weight. His hard work paid off as he visibly improved his control over his true energy, making him appear the strongest among the four.


    Ji Luoyang, on the other hand, was the most consistent and steady in his training. Lin Shouxi was impressed by his boxing skills and could not identify any flaws, despite his sharp eyesight. Ji Luoyang was friendly towards Lin Shouxi and offered to treat his injuries, which made Wang Erguan uneasy as he believed that Lin Shouxi¡¯s disability was a form of protection.


    However, Lin Shouxi politely declined the offer.


    ¡°Are you disappointed because you can¡¯t cultivate?¡± Xiao He sat beside him, hugging her knees, her legs covered in a white cotton skirt that gleamed brightly.


    ¡°Of course, I am,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    Over the past few days, he appeared carefree, but in reality, he had not stopped for a moment in his efforts to heal himself. The speed of his recovery was faster than he had expected, but it was still not enough.


    ¡°Where exactly are you injured? I can help you bandage it up,¡± Xiao He offered.


    ¡°My injuries are internal,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    ¡°Oh¡­ who hurt you so badly?¡± Xiao He asked.


    ¡°A girl my age,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    ¡°Is she your enemy?¡±


    ¡°Sort of,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°Sort of?¡± Xiao He furrowed her brows, her eyes searching for answers. ¡°Could it be a case of love turning to hate?¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Lin Shouxi smiled bitterly and shook his head.


    Xiao He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his reaction, but then her expression turned serious as she remembered something important.


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to ask,¡± she said hastily. ¡°When I woke you up the other day, did you call me something?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Shouxi was taken aback, his mind racing to recall the details of that morning. And then it hit him ¨C he had been feeling a bit dizzy at the time and had mistaken Xiao He for an old lady because of the white hair that had been floating in front of his eyes.


    ¡°Did you call me¡­l¨£op¨®?¡± Xiao He asked, recalling after a moment of reflection.


    Lin Shouxi was momentarily at a loss for words. ¡°I¡­,¡± he began to explain.


    ¡°Is that the same thing as l¨£op¨®po?¡± Xiao He, who had lived in the mountains for a long time and was unfamiliar with some words, touched her cheek and asked, ¡°Do I look old?¡±


    Lin Shouxi was about to clarify his misunderstanding, but Ji Luoyang opened his eyes at an inappropriate time, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°That¡¯s not what l¨£op¨® means. Although this word has one less character, that absence makes the meaning of the two words vastly different.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What does it mean then?¡± Xiao He asked innocently.


    ¡°It means x¨ªf¨´,¡± Ji Luoyang stated bluntly.


    Xiao He¡¯s mouth fell open and her youthful cheeks turned red. She straightened her skirt and said ¡°frivolous¡± before running back to her room, quickly closing the door behind her.


    Lin Shouxi sighed, realizing that this was one misunderstanding he would never be able to clear up.


    Ji Luoyang laughed at his misfortune.


    Later that afternoon, Ji Luoyang invited Lin Shouxi to spar with him, and to his surprise, Lin Shouxi agreed.


    They traded some simple punches and kicks, being careful not to exert any true energy or too much force to avoid aggravating Lin Shouxi¡¯s injuries.


    Wang Erguan was surprised to find that Lin Shouxi¡¯s moves were quite beautiful, but without true energy, what was the use of them?


    ¡°Fancy but impractical,¡± he remarked with disdain.


    When Xiao He came back out of the room, Wang Erguan leaned over to taunt her, ¡°Miss Xiao He, you were only gone for one morning, but your husband has already run off with someone else.¡±


    As Xiao He watched Lin Shouxi and Ji Luoyang spar, she bit her pink lips and murmured, ¡°Who said I¡¯m his wife?¡±


    Despite her earlier comment, they still sat together to eat when dinner time came.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that again in the future,¡± Xiao He said seriously.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Shouxi agreed readily.


    The atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Lin Shouxi turned around and saw Xiao He looking at him, lips pursed and face cold.


    ¡°Did I say something wrong again?¡± Lin Shouxi had never considered himself foolish, but lately he had started to doubt himself.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± Xiao He huffed, then got up and went back to her room.


    After pondering for a moment, Lin Shouxi turned to Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang, and humbly asked, ¡°She said I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, but did I really not do anything wrong?¡±


    Wang Erguan burst out laughing, while Ji Luoyang jokingly asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t your elders teach you these things?¡±


    ¡°They did,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    ¡°How did they teach you?¡± Ji Luoyang asked curiously.


    ¡°By being unchanging in the face of a thousand changes,¡± Lin Shouxi said, then continued to eat his meal calmly, following the teachings of his master.


    Ji Luoyang was stunned.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s strategy was effective. The next day, Xiao He continued to practice and eat with him as if nothing had happened.


    Ji Luoyang joked that it was a case of ¡®no resentment lasting overnight between a husband and wife¡¯. Xiao He glared at him fiercely in response.


    On a day when the weather was not good and the clouds were dense, Xiao He sat on the edge of the cliff and watched as a black bird circled below the clouds, her gaze following its path over the dry lake.


    ¡°I wonder what the God of Protection looks like,¡± she said. ¡°My aunt once told me that any god who has survived until now must have been a powerful figure in their time. Even though it only had one breath left, to be able to slay a god, I can¡¯t even imagine how terrifying that being must be¡­. Do you think they¡¯re still here, secretly watching us?¡±


    She leaned closer to Lin Shouxi.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Perhaps it¡¯s just a fearsome monster,¡± Lin Shouxi suggested casually.


    ¡°No, monsters aren¡¯t scary at all,¡± Xiao He corrected him. ¡°It is the evil gods in the deep sea and the dragon corpses buried in the earth that you must worry about.¡±


    ¡°Dragon corpses?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°Yes, especially dragon corpses,¡± Xia He replied, shuddering. ¡°Even though the dragon race has been extinct for so many years, their bones refuse to rest in peace and occasionally crawl out of the ground. My aunt told me that the city walls outside the sacred mountain have been broken through several times by dragon corpses, and the strongest one almost forced our ancestor¡¯s dharma body to appear.¡±


    ¡°Our ancestor¡¯s dharma body?¡± Lin Shouxi was curious.


    ¡°Yes, the dharma body of our human ancestor,¡± Xiao He said.


    ¡°Our human ancestor¡­ has he really survived until now?¡± Lin Shouxi asked, thinking of Pengzu in the writings of Zhuangzi.


    ¡°How could you not know about that?¡± Xiao He was surprised.


    ¡°There are many things I can¡¯t remember. My brain is damaged, you¡­ should be able to tell,¡± Lin Shouxi said, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    Xiao He nodded gravely. ¡°Yes, I can tell,¡± she said, thinking about the past few days they¡¯ve spent together.


    Lin Shouxi sighed, but didn¡¯t inquire further about the ancestor. Since he was such a well-known figure, there would be plenty of opportunities to learn about him in the future.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Shouxi suddenly said afterward.


    ¡°What are you thanking me for?¡± Xiao He asked.


    ¡°Thank you for helping me remember so much,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°Show me how thankful,¡± Xiao He replied in a coy voice.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±Xiao He grinned, ¡°¡­how about letting me eat you?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s change the request. I still want to live,¡± Lin Shouxi said seriously.


    Xiao He sighed. ¡°You are no fun.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m not delicious,¡± Lin Shouxi said. ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you.¡±


    Xiao He laughed. ¡°You don¡¯t seem so boring now.¡±


    They sat on the cliff, gazing into the distance, until the black bird and the lake were swallowed up by the darkness of night.


    The next morning, Perfected Yun appeared in the courtyard as usual, carrying a wooden sword on his back and a copper wire birdcage in his hand. Inside the cage was a beautiful white sparrow with pure white wings.


    He was there to test them.


    Perfected Yun briefly explained the test, which consisted of two parts: first, they would use their true energy to pierce the wood with iron needles and see how deep they could go; second, they would stand in front of the birdcage and touch the copper wire. The level of their root bone would be judged by the loudness of the sparrow¡¯s cry.


    ¡°This little sparrow is so clever?¡± Wang Erguan said, marveling at the beautiful white bird in the cage.


    ¡°This is the most precious bird of the Wu family. It carries the blood of the ancient white phoenix that has long been extinct,¡± Perfected Yun said calmly, his words brimming with pride. ¡°If it weren¡¯t in the cage, it would have torn open your belly and pecked out your eyes, and devoured your flesh and blood, just based on what you said.¡±


    Ancient white phoenix¡­


    Wang Erguan was shocked. He knew what that meant. Legend had it that in ancient times, dragons and phoenixes dwelled between the thunder and clouds, overlooking the mortal world from the sky. Their gaze covered the land, and wherever their shadow passed, all evil spirits and gods would be silenced!


    If most gods were just legends, then white phoenixes were even more so. They belonged to the end of the legends, when chaos first opened and few black shadows shrouded the world!


    This small bird was its descendant, although it was separated by thousands of generations. Nevertheless, it was still noble.


    Wang Erguan quickly clasped his hands together and called out ¡°Great Immortal, Great Immortal¡± to the bird, hoping to calm it down.


    Perfected Yun didn¡¯t waste any words. He carried the birdcage and led them to an ancient tree.


    The ancient tree had twisted branches and withered leaves, as if it had long been dead.


    Perfected Yun took out a slender iron needle and handed it to them, telling them to use their true energy to pierce the old tree in front of them.


    Wang Erguan volunteered to go first. At first, the iron needle was unstable, but once he grasped the key, it quickly became stable. However, although the tree was dead, its trunk was still hard. After the iron needle pierced a few inches, it could no longer move forward.


    Wang Erguan looked at Perfected Yun nervously. It wasn¡¯t until Perfected Yun nodded that he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Ji Luoyang wielded the needle with the same mastery as Wang Erguan, and the outcome was nearly identical.


    Then it was Xiao He¡¯s turn. Xiao He¡¯s true energy was soft and steady, but because it was too gentle, she lacked strength when piercing the tree and her result was slightly behind the first two.


    Finally, it was Lin Shouxi¡¯s turn.


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work, don¡¯t force it, so as not to aggravate your injuries,¡± Wang Erguan said with a smile.


    Ji Luoyang stared at him with a solemn expression.


    Xiao He clenched her fists, as if cheering him on.


    Wang Erguan¡¯s smile froze on his face.


    Because the needle actually flew up.


    Wang Erguan looked at Xiao He. ¡°Are you helping him cheat?¡±


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t disturb him,¡± Xiao He said, glaring back.


    ¡°But I thought he was a waste,¡± he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    ¡°He¡¯s not a waste, he¡¯s merely injured,¡± Xiao He interjected, coming to Lin Shouxi¡¯s defense. ¡°And mark my words, once he recovers, he¡¯ll surpass you in every way. Perhaps this experience will teach you not to take advantage of others in their time of need.¡±


    Wang Erguan nervously watched the needle. Fortunately, Lin Shouxi¡¯s injury had a significant impact, and the needle could not penetrate the tree despite touching it.


    Perfected Yun looked at the light needle, thought of Lin Shouxi¡¯s injuries, and felt a sense of regret.


    He believed that Lin Shouxi possessed exceptional talent that could be nurtured and refined. But with the divine inheritance ceremony looming on the horizon, time was not on his side.


    The feeling of regret that gnawed at him was faint and meaningless.


    Perfected Yun dangled the copper wire birdcage in mid-air, and the small sparrow inside chirped twice, its white feathers and black eyes giving it an innocent appearance.


    The three disciples touched the birdcage in turn. And as expected Lord Protector¡¯s chosen, whether it was Wang Erguan, Ji Luoyang, or the seemingly weak and delicate Xiao He, the small bird that carried the blood of the white phoenix made a loud chirp, giving each of them a high evaluation.


    With the loudest chirp being for him, Wang Erguan¡¯s earlier frustrations had been swept away, replaced with a sense of overwhelming pride. He flashed a grin and provocatively glanced over at Lin Shouxi.


    Lin Shouxi ignored the look because his thoughts were somewhere else. When the sparrow had evaluated Wang Erguan, Ji Luoyang, and Xiao He, he had spotted a hint of contempt in its pupils.


    It was the contempt of a superior bloodline.


    Lin Shouxi didn¡¯t know why, but he felt resistant and hesitant to step forward after seeing that look.


    Xiao He noticed his strangeness.¡±What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked.


    Lin Shouxi shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Wang Erguan didn¡¯t forget to mock him, ¡°Are you scared by this white-eyed¡­ white-pupiled great immortal?¡±


    Lin Shouxi didn¡¯t answer.


    He felt a tremor in his heart, as if some unseen force was leading him. Without realizing it, he approached the cage and touched its cool surface.


    The tremor became palpable.


    As if the blood and flesh were a pool, this tremor sank into it, causing a sound like armor cracking as all the bones in his body trembled together.


    Then, the moves of the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture rose from the depths of his heart like a nameless mist, settling softly in his chest, as if a black sparrow had spread its wings and enveloped him.


    Lin Shouxi felt himself standing alone on a vast white snowy field, surrounded by a silence that was only broken by the never-ending fall of snow. In the depths of the snowfield, a copper palace was faintly visible, its presence shrouded in mystery. At the center of the palace, a black shadow was impaled by a sword covered in green rust.


    When he came to his senses, he found that it was quiet around him.


    It was Wang Erguan¡¯s laughter that broke the peace.


    Perfected Yun looked at Lin Shouxi and shook his head, the regretful expression in his eyes vanished. The white bird in the cage remained silent, as if it held the utmost contempt for the young man before it. But only Lin Shouxi could see that the disdain in the bird¡¯s pupils had already disappeared, replaced by a deep sense of fear! Like a criminal before a king, it dared not lift its head, let alone make a sound!


    Lin Shouxi withdrew his hand from the cage as he turned and strode away. Only when Perfected Yun approached to pick up the birdcage did the white bird issue a belated cry. In the next instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and a bolt of lightning struck the ancient tree, reducing it to a smoldering ruin. The bird¡¯s cry was silenced by the thunder, rendering it inaudible to all.

 CH 9

    After Perfected Yun left, Wang Erguan feigned some consolation. ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened,¡± he said. ¡®That black-eyed chicken doesn¡¯t know its place. Besides, we¡¯re human beings. When did we start letting mere beasts dictate to us?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not disheartened,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    On the contrary, he was growing more curious about his own origins. He knew that the fear in the white sparrow¡¯s pupils stemmed from the sword scripture within him. The black phoenix¡­ what connection did it have with the white phoenix of legend?


    Xiao He couldn¡¯t stand Wang Erguan¡¯s dismissive attitude anymore. With a determined look, she walked over to Lin Shouxi and grabbed his sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said firmly. ¡°We don¡¯t need to listen to a mere beast dictate to us.¡±


    Wang Erguan¡¯s face reddened as he glared at the others. ¡°You!¡± he exclaimed, then muttered to himself, ¡°Hmph, you must be jealous because I performed the best today. But arguing with you won¡¯t change anything, so I¡¯m not in the mood to waste my time.¡±


    The assessment for today had ended. Though that sudden thunderbolt at the end had scared everyone, Perfected Yun had passed it off as a coincidence after failing to calculate its origin.


    But before he left, he wrote down several cultivation methods on the courtyard walls in order of importance.


    In everyone¡¯s eyes, Lin Shouxi, who couldn¡¯t make the white sparrow speak, had performed the worst. But Xiao He still liked to stick to him.


    ¡°Xiao He is really loyal,¡± Ji Luoyang said with a smile.


    ¡°Hmph, I think that girl is just shallow. Watch me, I¡¯ll look better than him once I lose weight!¡± Wang Erguan said angrily.


    Ji Luoyang¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Lin Shouxi is not just some pretty boy. He has solid martial arts skills.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like the two of you have gotten pretty close,¡± Wang Erguan said, narrowing his eyes.


    ¡°The divine inheritance is drawing near. He has extraordinary talent but suffers from serious injuries that won¡¯t heal. Yet he doesn¡¯t wallow in self-pity. He¡¯s a very decent person,¡± Ji Luoyang said.


    ¡°Heh, I think he¡¯s just putting up a front. Who knows, when he¡¯s alone in his room, he might be crying.¡±


    Despite Wang Erguan¡¯s strong opinion about Lin Shouxi, he had witnessed his impressive martial arts skills during a spar with Ji Luoyang. Wang Erguan shamelessly asked Lin Shouxi for guidance, but he only received a one-word reply: ¡°Forgot.¡±


    This left Wang Erguan feeling resentful and angry for a long time.


    However, Lin Shouxi had not lied to him. The moment he began studying the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture, he had forgotten everything he had previously learned. All his previous martial arts skills had dissolved into his instinct, refined by the sword scripture.


    Following that conversation, the next few days went by with everyone working hard on the core method left behind by Perfected Yun.


    This core method, which was the most fundamental and effective one, consisted of three parts: refined body, tempered soul, and transcendent consciousness. It allowed practitioners to strengthen their physical and mental capacities while enhancing their perception.


    In addition to this core method, Perfected Yun had also left behind three small spells that were of little use to them, intended only to relieve boredom. These three spells were cold expulsion, water repulsion, and taunt.


    While cold expulsion¡¯s ability to dispel cold was self-explanatory, it was currently summertime and unbearably hot, making it impossible to dispel any cold. Similarly, water repulsion was easy to understand, but the ancient courtyard was surrounded by steep cliffs, and the nearby lake had dried up, making it difficult to find any water to repel.


    Taunt, on the other hand, was used to release hostility, causing nearby enemies to have a desire to attack oneself. However, as they were still relatively new to cultivation and barely able to protect themselves, they couldn¡¯t see any situation in which they would ever use the provocation spell.


    In general, the three spells were not very useful, yet they proved to be challenging to master. According to Perfected Yun, their purpose was to assess the disciples¡¯ aptitude for learning while they worked on building a solid foundation.


    After the core method was introduced, Lin Shouxi only read through the techniques once on the first day and never looked at them again.


    Xiao He accompanied Lin Shouxi in his leisurely activities. Meanwhile, Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan seemed to be secretly competing with each other.


    ¡°Why do you keep looking at this Cold Expulsion Technique? What use is this useless skill? Learning it is just a waste of time,¡± Wang Erguan asked Ji Luoyang curiously.


    ¡°There must be a deeper meaning to it since the Perfected One left it here for us to learn,¡± Ji Luoyang replied.


    ¡°What deeper meaning?¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be a deeper meaning if it could be easily understood?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ makes sense,¡± Wang Erguan muttered to himself. ¡°But now that it¡¯s so hot, just seeing the words ¡®cold expulsion¡¯ makes me feel irritable. Practicing this type of spell is difficult, and its usefulness is limited. It¡¯s really not that meaningful. It¡¯s not too late to practice it during the winter season.¡±


    ¡°Whether you practice it or not is up to you,¡± Ji Luoyang said nonchalantly.


    That night, Wang Erguan couldn¡¯t sleep, so he came to the wall and began to practice the Cold Expulsion Technique.


    Two days later, he ran to Ji Luoyang, sweating profusely and said proudly, ¡°Hahaha, this Cold Expulsion Technique is nothing. I have already mastered it! Come on, let¡¯s compare!¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t practice it,¡± Ji Luoyang said.


    ¡°What?!¡± Wang Erguan was shocked. ¡°Then why were you looking at it?¡±


    ¡°Trying to see if I can learn anything from it,¡± Ji Luoyang said. ¡°I never said I was practicing it.¡±


    ¡°What have you been doing the past two days?¡± Wang Erguan demanded.


    ¡°Strengthening my foundation,¡± Ji Luoyang said calmly.


    Wang Erguan felt a tightness in his chest. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± he exclaimed.


    In contrast to the diligent cultivation inside the house, there was heavy fog and tranquility outside the courtyard. Lin Shouxi still sat at the cliff¡¯s edge with Xiao He, looking out at the hazy, endless dried-up lake, silent.


    After a while, Xiao He spoke, and her first words startled Lin Shouxi.


    ¡°That bird from the other day, it was afraid of you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Xiao He said. ¡°It may have had the blood of the white phoenix, but it was too scared to speak up.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡± Lin Shouxi thought for a moment before saying, ¡°You must be mistaken.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not mistaken,¡± Xiao He replied. ¡°I grew up in the mountains and was close to birds. Although we were far away from it, I could sense the bird¡¯s emotions.¡±


    ¡°What do you think then?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xiao He shook her head. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know your background, at the least, I know you¡¯re special.¡±


    ¡°You are special too,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    ¡°I¡­ am not,¡± Xiao He protested, closing her eyes.


    Lin Shouxi looked down at the steep cliff beneath them and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Xiao He admitted timidly.


    ¡°Then why do you come here every day to keep me company?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re here,¡± Xiao He replied simply.


    Lin Shouxi fell silent, and Xiao He leaned against his shoulder and slowly drifted off to sleep.


    In her dreams, her slender shoulders trembled lightly, her thin lips slightly opened, and she murmured, ¡°Aunt¡­ it¡¯s cold.¡±


    Lin Shouxi lightly tapped the void with his fingers, using the Cold Expulsion Technique to chase away the cold for her. Then he took off his Taoist robe and draped it over her.


    As if a soft part of his heart had been touched, Lin Shouxi looked at her and, for once, stopped his cultivation.


    The girl¡¯s slender body under her cotton skirt was as beautiful as a cluster of clouds. He couldn¡¯t help but think of a young lotus floating in a pond, decorating the snow.


    ¡°Was it really me that you saw in your vision that day?¡± Lin Shouxi asked the girl softly, but she was already asleep and couldn¡¯t hear him.


    Lin Shouxi suddenly felt that it would be nice to have this little girl as his companion.


    Three days had passed unnoticed.


    Perfected Yun returned after three days to inspect everyone¡¯s progress, and found that Wang Erguan had made the most rapid improvement. He took Wang Erguan aside and the latter knew that Perfected Yun was going to focus on nurturing him. He followed behind Perfected Yun, appearing humble but in reality, he was ecstatic.


    Perfected Yun took Wang Erguan away from the steep cliffs and led him to an outer mansion belonging to the Wu family. The mansion was shrouded in a sinister atmosphere, with a huge roof resembling a hat, casting a large shadow. Several birdcages were suspended under the eaves, housing red-eyed sparrows.


    ¡°Choose a magic tool or a secret manual,¡± Perfected Yun said.


    ¡°Can I choose anything?¡± Wang Erguan asked.


    ¡°This is the Wu family¡¯s treasure vault, and even I cannot control the real treasures inside. If you have the ability, take whatever you want,¡± Perfected Yun said coldly.


    ¡°If even the Perfected One, whose methods span heaven cannot control them, how could I dare be so presumptuous?¡± Wang Erguan flattered.


    Perfected Yun remained silent and drew a talisman on the door with his finger.


    The door opened.


    What came was not the sparkle of treasures, but a suffocating sense of oppression.


    Wang Erguan walked in carefully and felt as if something had grabbed his heart. The deeper he went, the heavier the feeling became. He was sure that if he dared to go further, his heart would burst and he would die.


    Wang Erguan wandered around inside for quite some time. He realized that his skills in swordsmanship and martial arts were inadequate, and even if he took a famous sword or knife, it would only be a decoration. If he chose a magic technique, he would have to spend time practicing it, which would not be worth it.


    So he decided to pick a magic treasure that wouldn¡¯t be a loss.


    After browsing through countless items, he finally chose a ring with a red gemstone on it. When activated with mana, it could shoot out rockets unexpectedly.


    Wang Erguan wanted to take a few more small magic treasures, but as soon as the thought came to him, he felt as if his heart was being twisted by a knife.


    He quickly dismissed the idea.


    Finally, he walked out of the vault and saw an old man with a hunched back standing in front of Perfected Yun.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter now?¡± Perfected Yun asked.


    ¡°The Diviner¡­ died last night,¡± the old dwarf said cautiously.


    The Diviner was a type of sorcerer whose duty was to predict the future.


    ¡°So what? That old woman went crazy fifteen years ago and has been babbling nonsense ever since. It¡¯s better that she died earlier and brought peace,¡±Perfected Yun said indifferently. ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything crazy before she died, did she?¡±


    ¡°Before the Diviner died, she did predict something. She asked me to¡­¡± the old dwarf hesitated.


    ¡°She asked you to pass on a message to me?¡± Perfected Yun asked.


    ¡°Perfected One is extremely intelligent.¡±


    ¡°What did she say?¡±


    The old slave looked at Wang Erguan and hesitated to speak.


    ¡°He is the future divine servant of the first young master. You can speak in front of him,¡± Perfected Yun said.


    With those words, Wang Erguan finally knew who Perfected Yun had been preparing him for. And since he had a first in his title, he most likely held the highest position among his siblings¡­


    As he was pondering this, the old slave suddenly imitated the crazy Diviner¡¯s appearance before she died. His pupils dilated, his irises trembling like a buzzing fly, and he spoke in a hoarse, unpleasant voice like a dying crow:


    ¡°Death comes for you, Perfected Yun. I await you in the underworld.¡±

 CH 10

    Perfected Yun waved off the mad ramblings and said, ¡°Many have wished for my death since I left Yunkong Mountain, but I am still alive. Unless someone from the sacred mountain or a deity appears, who can kill me?¡±


    The old dwarf agreed, saying, ¡°Perfected One speaks the truth.¡±


    Curious, Perfected Yun asked, ¡°Did the crazy woman say anything else?¡±


    The old slave then recounted the Diviner¡¯s final words, saying that she had stared at the divination for a long time before she died. He then showed Perfected Yun a painting.


    Perfected Yun looked at the painting and shook his head in disdain, muttering, ¡°More mad ravings.¡±


    Meanwhile, Wang Erguan perked up his ears and listened intently. He pretended to respectfully approach Perfected Yun¡¯s back to sneak a peek at the painting.


    Fascinated by what he saw, Wang Erguan decided to tell Ji Luoyang and the others about what he had seen.


    ***


    The courtyard was quiet.


    Ji Luoyang sat in front of the courtyard wall practicing the core method, while Lin Shouxi and Xiao He sat by the cliff watching the clouds.


    In the tranquility, Xiao He folded her hands on her slender legs, her body slightly sideways, and her little head resting on Lin Shouxi¡¯s shoulder.


    The mountain breeze brushed their faces, and the mottled light and shadow danced on the deep blue skirt.


    Since the day she fell asleep leaning against Lin Shouxi, Xiao He had often leaned on him like this.


    Suddenly, Xiao He remembered something and asked, ¡°By the way, that day when I was sleeping, it felt very warm. Did you¡­ do something to me?¡±


    Lin Shouxi nodded candidly. ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡± Xiao He¡¯s heart tightened, and she hugged herself.


    ¡°I put my robe over you,¡± Lin said simply.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you did?¡± Xiao He didn¡¯t quite believe it. She felt he was hiding something from her.


    ¡°Mm,¡± Lin Shouxi confirmed.


    Xiao He closed her eyes and leaned on his shoulder again. An hour passed, and she opened her eyes resentfully. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you put any clothes over me?¡±


    ¡°Because you were pretending to sleep and testing me,¡± Lin Shouxi answered truthfully.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Xiao He felt a little dizzy in her head. She said displeasedly, ¡°You¡¯re so rigid.¡±


    ¡°Time shouldn¡¯t be wasted on such meaningless things,¡± Lin Shouxi lectured. ¡°Xiao He, focus on your cultivation. In the end, the only ones who can ensure our safety are ourselves.¡±


    ¡°But aren¡¯t you the most relaxed?¡± Xiao He was unconvinced.


    ¡°I am always working hard,¡± Lin Shouxi said seriously.


    ¡°Really?¡± Xiao He was surprised. She looked at Lin Shouxi and asked, ¡°Are you constantly cultivating?¡±


    Lin Shouxi shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m recovering from my injuries.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Xiao He was silent for a moment, not knowing how to argue.


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve been forgetting to ask you. What was the name of your sect?¡± Xiao He changed the subject to avoid being irritated by him. ¡°Judging by your appearance, you must come from a prestigious sect, right?¡±


    ¡°The Joyous Union Sect,¡± Lin Shouxi admitted truthfully for once.


    Xiao He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, ¡°You just made a joke right after I called you rigid? You¡¯re really rebellious.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s true, you couldn¡¯t have been a very good disciple. With that kind of rebellious behavior, there¡¯s no way they didn¡¯t kick you out.¡±


    ¡°What? I was an excellent disciple,¡± Lin Shouxi protested.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡­ Didn¡¯t you say you were a floor sweeper last time? Besides, if you really came from the Joyous Union Sect, with your appearance, your senior sisters would have caught you and taken advantage of you¡±


    Xiao He narrowed her eyes like a curious little cat.


    ¡°No, my senior sisters were good to me,¡± Lin Shouxi said seriously.


    ¡°Good? How good?¡± Xiao He suddenly became nervous.


    Lin Shouxi smirked and changed the subject. ¡°You have a strange smell on you.¡±


    ¡°What smell?¡± Xiao He sniffed herself and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t smell anything.¡±


    But then, she realized what he was getting at and blushed. ¡°I¡¯m not jealous!¡± She exclaimed before running back into her room, leaving Lin Shouxi chuckling to himself.


    When Lin Shouxi returned to the courtyard, he found Xiao He¡¯s door tightly shut, and a black bird perched on the rooftop, cawing as if mocking his cluelessness.


    ¡°Care for some sword practice?¡± Ji Luoyang offered as Lin Shouxi returned, handing him a wooden sword.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Lin Shouxi accepted without hesitation.


    ¡°I spent quite some time picking out two pieces of wood that are still usable. Please be careful not to break the sword when you use it,¡± Ji Luoyang reminded him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful,¡± Lin Shouxi assured him as he tightened his grip around the wooden sword.


    Even though it was just a wooden sword, it brought him some peace of mind.


    The two young men faced each other, motionless, until their wooden swords clashed in an instant.


    Ji Luoyang¡¯s movements were swift and agile, his sword movements like a venomous snake that continuously struck, slashed and thrust at Lin Shouxi, relentlessly attacking him. Lin Shouxi¡¯s movements were smaller, but his sword strikes were precise and sharp, often intercepting Ji Luoyang¡¯s attacks at key moments and forcing him to retreat time and time again.


    After several rounds of sparring, they finally separated.


    Neither of them had emerged as a clear winner.


    ¡°We always end in a tie. You¡¯re not holding back on me, are you?¡± Ji Luoyang sighed.


    ¡°Me? What about you? It¡¯s obvious that you¡¯re being considerate of my injuries and are not using your full strength,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    ¡°You noticed?¡± Ji Luoyang asked with a grin.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Shouxi nodded.


    ¡°Your swordsmanship is the most elegant I¡¯ve ever seen. I hope you recover soon so we can have a proper fight,¡± Ji Luoyang praised.


    ¡°I hope so too,¡± Lin Shouxi handed him the wooden sword.


    ¡°You can keep it. Consider it a gift for our meeting,¡± Ji Luoyang said generously.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Shouxi accepted it gratefully.


    ¡°Hey, do you have any secret sword techniques that you haven¡¯t shown me yet? Let¡¯s try them out together,¡± Ji Luoyang asked eagerly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any left. I used all my strength just now,¡± Lin Shouxi said with a smile.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ji Luoyang nodded understandingly. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, take care of your injuries. We¡¯ll have another match next time.¡±


    Lin Shouxi nodded in agreement.


    The two sat down at the stone table, resting for a while before Ji Luoyang¡¯s curiosity got the better of him. He gestured towards Xiao He¡¯s closed door and asked, ¡°Did you upset her again?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t upset her. She said she was tired and went back to her room to rest,¡± replied Lin Shouxi calmly.


    Ji Luoyang couldn¡¯t resist starting some gossip, ¡°Do you really like her?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t dislike her,¡± Lin Shouxi replied cryptically.


    ¡°That girl is always following you around, clinging to you,¡± Ji Luoyang observed. ¡°But from what I¡¯ve seen, I don¡¯t think you have feelings for her.¡±


    Lin Shouxi was puzzled, ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s young, with an average figure and a plain face. She¡¯s not as good-looking as you are,¡± Ji Luoyang whispered, ¡°I feel like you two aren¡¯t a good match. But of course, don¡¯t tell her I said that.¡±


    Lin Shouxi was taken aback, ¡°What? I think she¡¯s very beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful? Are you sure you haven¡¯t hit your head?¡± Ji Luoyang teased, ¡°Or maybe love is blind? Oh, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re really falling for her.¡±


    ¡°Plain face? Not as good-looking as me?¡± Lin Shouxi thought to himself. ¡°Is that so¡­¡±


    He was certain he hadn¡¯t hit his head, and in his opinion, Xiao He was a breathtakingly beautiful woman, a match for a snow-haired goddess.


    No!


    Wait a minute¡­


    Suddenly, it felt as if ice crystals were forming in his blood, and a chill ran through his body along his spine.


    For the past few days, Lin Shouxi had sensed that something was off, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on what it was. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that he finally caught that thought!


    Ji Luoyang noticed Lin Shouxi¡¯s expression and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Lin Shouxi was about to confirm his suspicion when Wang Erguan strolled in confidently, interrupting their conversation.


    ¡°Hey, have you been secretly practicing swordplay behind my back? Did you feel jealous when Perfected Yun met with me alone and decided to work harder?¡± Wang Erguan sat down next to them, intentionally twisting the ring on his finger to draw their attention.


    ¡°What did Perfected Yun say to you?¡± Ji Luoyang asked.


    ¡°Perfected Yun said he wants to train me to be the first young master¡¯s attendant and gave me this treasure,¡± Wang Erguan boasted.


    Ji Luoyang offered a simple congratulations.


    Wang Erguan nodded with a smile, then turned to Lin Shouxi and found him looking down, his face as dark as murky water.


    What¡¯s with this attitude?


    Wang Erguan was displeased by Lin Shouxi¡¯s lack of interest, but he decided to set aside the feeling for the moment as he continued chatting with Ji Luoyang, describing the Wu family¡¯s sinister atmosphere and the treasures in the pavilion in detail. Ji Luoyang listened with genuine interest and amusement, nodding and occasionally interjecting with questions or comments.


    As Wang Erguan spoke, spittle flew from his mouth in his excitement. However, when he looked over at Lin Shouxi again, he found him still seeming distracted. Growing increasingly annoyed that he wasn¡¯t taking interest in his story, he cleared his throat and spoke in a mysterious tone: ¡°Hey, but those things aren¡¯t the main dish though. This time, I learned some incredible secrets.¡±


    ¡°What secrets?¡± Ji Luoyang asked. Lin Shouxi also perked up a bit.


    ¡°I heard that the Wu family had a diviner. Do you know what that is? It¡¯s a shaman who specializes in divination,¡± Wang Erguan began, his voice low and conspiratorial. ¡°But it seems the Wu family changed the name from ¡®shaman¡¯ to ¡®diviner¡¯. I suppose they find using the word ¡®wu¡¯ outside of their family name to be taboo.¡±


    He leaned in closer, his tone becoming even more hushed. ¡°Well, that diviner was a crazy woman, and she died yesterday. Apparently, before she passed away, she divined quite a few things.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I believe this,¡± Ji Luoyang said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± Wang Erguan shook his head and replied, ¡°Those who reveal the secrets of heaven shall be punished by heaven. It is likely that the old woman met her tragic end because she divulged some heavenly secrets.¡±


    ¡°So what did she divine?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    Wang Erguan lowered his voice even further. ¡°She divined two things. The first is that Perfected Yun is going to be killed.¡±


    Ji Luoyang shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Who can kill that monster?¡±


    Wang Erguan continued. ¡°The second thing is¡­ the Wu family is going to fall apart.¡±


    Lin Shouxi was surprised. ¡°Is it related to the person who killed the God of Protection?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that, but that crazy woman claimed to have seen the source of calamity before she died. She opened up a piece of paper, picked up a brush, and drew the vague outline of that figure,¡± Wang Erguan said coldly. ¡°I saw that drawing. It was of a female ghost!¡±


    ¡°A female ghost?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a female ghost!¡± Wang Erguan said. ¡°That crazy woman drew the silhouette of a young girl, and the shadow alone was so beautiful it was frightening. What¡¯s even more eerie is¡­¡±


    Wang Erguan paused, lowering his voice even further. ¡°What¡¯s even more eerie is that the girl had all white hair!¡±


    ¡°White hair? There aren¡¯t many young girls with white hair in this world,¡± Ji Luoyang mused, his brow furrowed in thought. ¡°It¡¯s probably an old witch in disguise, right?¡±


    ¡°Or a female ghost.¡±


    As Wang Erguan repeated this, he glanced over at Lin Shouxi only to be startled.


    Lin Shouxi, who usually showed no interest in anything, now looked like he was seriously ill. His pupils shrank, and his face was so pale that there was not a hint of color!


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you? Did you get scared silly?¡± Wang Erguan shook his shoulder.


    Lin Shouxi regained his senses slightly, and was about to speak when a crisp, moving voice sounded behind him:


    ¡°Hey, what are you guys secretly chatting about?¡±


    Xiao He had appeared behind him, her eyes as cold as ice and snow.

 CH 11

    The sky was unexpectedly drizzling with a fine rain, despite the scorching summer heat. The raindrops fell onto Lin Shouxi¡¯s neck, sending chills down his spine.


    As he stood there, memories of his interactions with Xiao He flashed before his eyes. Xiao He was pure and gentle, like a flower untouched by dust or dirt. She harbored an indescribable affection towards him, and this subtle connection drew them closer. However, Lin Shouxi had always felt that there was a veil of mystery surrounding her.


    Today, he had finally uncovered the truth behind the veil. Xiao He was beautiful, with a delicate and charming air that reminded him of sakura blossoms floating on the surface of a jade pond. He couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly moved by her.


    However, he noticed that Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang, both young and full of vigor, didn¡¯t seem to have much of a reaction towards Xiao He. During the times when he hung out with Xiao He, only Wang Erguan would occasionally display a trace of jealousy.


    This phenomenon was not because they had seen that Xiao He was interested in him alone, and so they had been keeping a respectful distance. Rather, it was because the Xiao He he saw was not the same person they saw!


    And as for Xiao He¡­


    ¡°Why do you keep looking at my hair?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m pretty?¡±


    ¡°Is this question really that difficult? Why are you taking so long to answer?¡±


    ¡°Did you call me¡­l¨£op¨®?¡±


    ¡°Is that the same thing as l¨£op¨®po?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Even Xiao He had noticed.


    All those questions were tests. She had become suspicious and repeatedly tested his opinions on her appearance and hair color. But he had never noticed.


    Fortunately, he had come to this new world with the intention of hiding and disguising himself, so he had lied a lot. His answers at the time didn¡¯t seem to have any flaws.


    The last image in his mind was of Xiao He tilting her porcelain-white face up towards him, her eyes sparkling as she said, ¡°Well¡­ how about letting me eat you.¡± The words that he had brushed off so easily back then now sent shivers down his spine.


    Who was she really? What did she want?


    And how had he managed to see through her?


    As Lin Shouxi remembered the grotesque spirit he had seen while crouching by the window during the storm, he realized that he possessed the ability to see things that others couldn¡¯t. This ability allowed him to easily see through Xiao He¡¯s delicate disguise, to the point where he didn¡¯t even realize it himself.


    Was this ability due to the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture, or¡­?


    Xiao He stood behind him, and her gentle questioning sliced through his thoughts like a knife.


    ¡°Hey, what are you guys whispering about?¡± Xiao He giggled, her eyes curved like crescent moons. ¡°You¡¯re not talking behind my back, are you?¡±


    Xiao He¡¯s sudden appearance startled Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan, with the latter even letting out a cry and almost using his newly acquired ring.


    ¡°How come we didn¡¯t hear you walking?¡± Ji Luoyang asked.


    Xiao He chuckled softly, then bent down and placed a hand on Lin Shouxi¡¯s shoulder. Her delicate brows furrowed with concern as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Your face is so pale¡­ and your neck is so cold.¡±


    Wang Erguan was about to mock him for being so timid, when Lin Shouxi¡¯s head suddenly jerked up.


    His face contorted in pain as he clutched at his chest and began coughing uncontrollably.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Xiao He quickly grabbed his wrist and checked for any black and purple lines, but thankfully there were none.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s pale lips trembled as he struggled to speak: ¡°My injuries¡­ they¡¯re relapsing.¡±


    ¡°Your injuries? How could¡­,¡± Xiao He anxiously patted his back and asked about his condition, but his coughs only grew more intense and his face turned from white to blue. He tumbled off the stone chair and writhed on the ground in agony.


    Wang Erguan was also frightened by this sudden turn of events, but before he could react, Ji Luoyang had already bent down to check on him.


    Lin Shouxi groaned, sweat pouring down his face.


    ¡°Quick, help him back to his room!¡± Xiao He urged.


    Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan carried him, one in front and one behind, and rushed him to his room. Xiao He, extremely anxious, continuously asked him about his condition, but Lin Shouxi could only respond with a few painful syllables.


    The three of them stayed by his bedside, taking turns infusing him with true energy. Half an hour later, Lin Shouxi¡¯s breathing finally stabilized.


    He lay limply on the bed, his eyes unfocused for a long time before he finally spoke: ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fine? You¡¯re not fine at all!¡± Xiao He frowned anxiously.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Ji Luoyang asked.


    ¡°My¡­ true energy, it was running amok in my body. It felt like¡­ knives cutting through my internal organs,¡± Lin Shouxi weakly explained.


    ¡°And now?¡±


    ¡°Hmph¡­ much better.¡±


    ¡°This is a sign of energy deviation,¡± Wang Erguan frowned. ¡°By continuing to cultivate despite your injuries, you have been courting disaster.¡±


    Lin Shouxi pressed his lips together and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his complexion having improved somewhat.


    Seeing him recover, Wang Erguan turned to Xiao He and joked, ¡°Xiao He, you haven¡¯t even gotten married yet, and you almost became a widow.¡±


    Xiao He let out a cold snort and ignored him. Then, she sat on the edge of the bed and said in a commanding tone, ¡°From now on, until your injuries are healed, you¡¯re not allowed to cultivate.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Shouxi nodded obediently, having learned his lesson the hard way.


    Xiao He sighed, like a sulking child, and reached out to touch Lin Shouxi¡¯s cheeks and forehead, repeatedly checking his condition.


    ¡°I¡­ want some water,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go heat up some water for you,¡± Xiao He sat up on the bed, but then frowned, ¡°But where can I get fire?¡±


    A moment of silence followed.


    Ji Luoyang and Lin Shouxi both looked at the ring on Wang Erguan¡¯s finger.


    ¡°I just got this treasure and the first thing you want to use it for is starting a fire?¡± Wang Erguan was indignant.


    In the end, Wang Erguan couldn¡¯t handle the pressure from the group, especially not from Xiao He¡¯s dominant and intimidating gaze. He handed over the ring obediently.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose it, and be very careful!¡± Wang Erguan repeatedly warned.


    ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, why don¡¯t you do it yourself?¡± Xiao He asked.


    ¡°Hmph, starting a fire is a servant¡¯s job. I¡¯m the third young master of the Wang family!¡± Wang Erguan declared.


    Xiao He took the ring with a sneer and walked outside.


    Once she was gone, Wang Erguan looked at Lin Shouxi and asked, ¡°Should we tell Perfected Yun about this? With your hidden illness, it¡¯s only a matter of time before something happens.¡±


    Lin Shouxi shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡±


    ¡°How come?¡± Wang Erguan asked.


    Lin Shouxi remained silent, unable to provide an answer.


    ¡°Speak up and tell us what¡¯s really going on,¡± Ji Luoyang said, his gaze cold and unsympathetic. ¡°I just examined your body, and the flow of your true energy wasn¡¯t smooth, but it wasn¡¯t chaotic either. Your injuries didn¡¯t relapse at all, so¡­ what are you up to?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Wang Erguan was stunned. ¡°You were faking it?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lin Shouxi shook his head.


    ¡°Then what¡¯s going on?¡± Wang Erguan pressed.


    Lin Shouxi remained silent.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, we¡¯ll have Perfected Yun force it out of you,¡± Ji Luoyang said calmly.


    ¡°I¡­,¡± Lin Shouxi lowered his head and seemed to gather his courage. He spoke with difficulty, ¡°You¡¯re right, my old injuries didn¡¯t relapse, it was¡­ it was a punishment from Perfected Yun.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Wang Erguan was taken aback. ¡°A punishment from Perfected Yun? Why would he need to punish you?¡±


    ¡°Because I told him secrets,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    Translator Profile

 CH 12

    ¡°Secrets? What are you talking about?¡± Wang Erguan¡¯s tone was fraught with inexplicable urgency.


    ¡°Xiao He¡¯s secret,¡± Lin Shouxi glanced out the window and continued, ¡°Perfected Yun was interested in her spirit root, but for some reason, he didn¡¯t want to ask her about it directly. Instead, he came to me at night and knocked on my window.¡±


    ¡°I relayed Xiao He¡¯s words to him.¡±


    Lin Shouxi looked contrite, as if the incident had really happened.


    ¡°You are this kind of person?¡± Wang Erguan was shaken.


    ¡°But if you did what he told you to, why the need for punishment?¡± Ji Luoyang asked, more puzzled.


    Lin Shouxi lowered his head and said, ¡°Perfected Yun is capricious. After hearing what I had to say, he nodded then suddenly poked me in the chest, saying ¡®I abhor secret tellers. If there¡¯s another time, I¡¯ll execute you on the spot.''¡±


    Wang Erguan and Ji Luoyang exchanged a skeptical glance.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to do such a thing,¡± Ji Luoyang said, disappointed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think there was anything to hide,¡± Lin Shouxi replied.


    ¡°But she¡­,¡± Ji Luoyang¡¯s voice trailed off as Wang Erguan scoffed.


    ¡°No wonder you were in so much pain,¡± Wang Erguan said, shaking his head. ¡°You were being punished for being faithless. I¡¯m going to tell Xiao He about this and see if she still wants to be with you!¡±


    Lin Shouxi made no move to stop him, watching silently as Wang Erguan prepared to stomp out of the room, his bulky figure shaking with emotion. But just as he was about to leave, Lin Shouxi spoke up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re a secret teller too,¡± he said at Wang Erguan¡¯s back.


    Wang Erguan¡¯s steps stalled at the accusation. He spun around to face Lin Shouxi, his fleshy body trembling with indignation. ¡°Me? A secret teller? Don¡¯t slander me!¡± he exclaimed, his voice rising in defense.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you? You told us about the diviner¡¯s divination without Perfected Yun¡¯s explicit permission, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    Thinking of the intense pain Lin Shouxi had just suffered from being a secret teller, Wang Erguan¡¯s bravado faltered. He gritted his teeth, but couldn¡¯t find a response to Lin Shouxi¡¯s pointed question. Finally, he said in a quiet, almost desperate voice.


    ¡°You¡­ there¡¯s no way Perfected Yun would treat me the same way,¡± he said. ¡°I am the most valued person in his eyes, the person he is grooming to be the first young master¡¯s divine servant. He needs me!¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t,¡± Lin Shouxi said matter-of-factly. ¡°¡±There are four of us, and he only needs three. That makes you as expendable as the rest of us in Perfected Yun¡¯s eyes.¡±


    Wang Erguan¡¯s face alternated between red and white, his mind swirling with images of his brother¡¯s death. A wave of nausea washed over him, making him feel like he was going to be sick.


    The two of them stared at each other for a moment.


    Finally, the chubby youth let out a sigh and looked out the window at Xiao He¡¯s busy figure in the distance.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll keep your secret.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Lin Shouxi immediately replied. ¡°Also, don¡¯t ask me about my injuries in front of Xiao He anymore. I¡­ I won¡¯t do anything to harm Xiao He again.¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­¡± Wang Erguan slumped in a chair, looking utterly exhausted. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡±


    Lin Shouxi turned to Ji Luoyang, preparing to persuade him with the logic of ¡°if you reveal our conversation, you will also be a secret teller.¡± However, Wang Erguan spoke up for him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ji Luoyang won¡¯t say anything,¡± he assured.


    ¡°Really?¡± Lin Shouxi was somewhat surprised.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll keep your secret too,¡± Ji Luoyang replied.


    With a single glance at them, Lin Shouxi immediately understood that they must have some secret between them.


    Before he could think any further, Xiao He returned with the hot water.


    Ji Luoyang tugged on Wang Erguan¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Since Lin Shouxi¡¯s wound is better now, let¡¯s give them some alone time,¡± Ji Luoyang said with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re always being too considerate.¡± Wang Erguan forced a smile and followed him out.


    Xiao He frowned at them, feeling that something was off.


    Without giving it a second thought, she handed the cup to Lin Shouxi. ¡°I¡¯ve cooled it down for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± As Lin Shouxi took the cup, he intentionally or unintentionally brushed his fingers against hers.


    Xiao He¡¯s eyelashes trembled, and she drew back her hand.


    After taking a sip, Lin Shouxi suddenly exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still hot?¡± Xiao He asked in confusion.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, try it,¡± Lin Shouxi handed the cup back.


    Xiao He took a sip, then frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not hot.¡±


    Lin Shouxi took the cup back and drank from the same spot where Xiao He had sipped.


    Xiao He was briefly stunned, then balled up her fist. However, she seemed to be worried about Lin Shouxi¡¯s injuries, so she didn¡¯t hit him. Finally, she just grumbled out of habit.


    ¡°Why do you follow such a frivolous person like me every day?¡± Lin Shouxi asked.


    Xiao He turned her head to the side. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you.¡±


    Lin Shouxi gently covered her hand with his. ¡°I know why even if you don¡¯t say it.¡±


    Surprisingly, Xiao He didn¡¯t resist. She lifted her eyelids and looked at Lin Shouxi with watery eyes. ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ ¡± Lin Shouxi hesitated.


    Xiao He bit her lip, her impatience evident. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re so indecisive. Show some backbone.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Lin Shouxi said in a low voice, ¡°When I thought I was going to die, all I could think of was the time I spent with you these past few days.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been with me these past few days, what else could you have been thinking about¡­¡± Xiao He trailed off, unconvinced.


    ¡°It¡¯s different. I¡­¡± Lin Shouxi hesitated before saying, ¡°I want to continue being with you.¡±


    Xiao He withdrew her hand. ¡°You¡¯re still in shock. What you say right now doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°But it does,¡± Lin Shouxi insisted.


    ¡°Humph, I don¡¯t believe it. I¡­I dress so plainly and I¡¯m not pretty. How can I compare to an actual fairy?¡± Xiao He lamented.


    Like a young daffodil, born from dining in the wind and drinking dew, Xiao He was pure and spotless, without a trace of dirt. Her words sounded absurd and eerie in this context.


    ¡°No, you are beautiful,¡± Lin Shouxi declared firmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m beautiful?¡± Xiao He lifted her head in surprise, her eyes flickering with a strange color.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful in my heart,¡± Lin Shouxi said with a smile.


    Xiao He¡¯s eyes narrowed, her cheeks puffed up with anger. ¡°So you mean I¡¯m only beautiful in your heart?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Lin Shouxi hesitated again.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you think, right?¡± Xiao He interrupted.


    ¡°No, listen to me¡­¡±


    ¡°No need to say anything. I know the answer,¡± Xiao He huffed and got up. Whether she was being stubborn or angry at Lin Shouxi was unclear. After saying, ¡°Take care of yourself,¡± she left without looking back.


    After closing the door, she leaned her slender back against it and took a deep breath. Gradually, her expression softened into a smile. Her heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, finally settled down.


    Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan had long since left.


    ¡°Could you really detect the flow of energy in his spirit veins?¡± Wang Erguan asked curiously.


    ¡°No,¡± Ji Luoyang replied. ¡°I only said that because I thought there was something suspicious about the whole situation. I never expected my little trick would actually work.¡±


    ¡°You are quite cunning,¡± Wang Erguan exclaimed before sighing. ¡°I used to think that Lin Shouxi cared about nothing, that he had the mindset of a transcendent being, but it turns out he¡¯s just a small person.¡±


    ¡°Everyone has their own worries,¡± Ji Luoyang replied.


    ¡°But it¡¯s good that he¡¯s like that,¡± Wang Erguan said, patting his belly. ¡°If he is really that kind of person, then there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    Ji Luoyang nodded and then sensed something. He turned around and saw Xiao He walking towards them quickly.


    ¡°How is Lin Shouxi? Is there something you need from us, Miss Xiao He?¡± Ji Luoyang asked.


    ¡°No, he¡¯s fine. I asked him to rest,¡± Xiao He replied.


    Ji Luoyang then asked, ¡°And what about you?¡±


    Xiao He tilted her head and said, ¡°I just wanted to ask what you guys were talking about earlier.¡±


    Ji Luoyang explained, ¡°Not much, just telling stories.¡±


    Xiao He questioned, ¡°Just telling stories? I thought I heard something about a female ghost¡­¡±


    Ji Luoyang chuckled and replied, ¡°You heard right. We were telling the story of a female ghost.¡±


    Wang Erguan joined in with laughter. ¡°And when we were telling the story, Brother Lin got scared, like a coward reincarnated. Haha, Xiao He, you have a poor eye for picking husbands.¡±


    Xiao He pouted and turned around quickly, saying, ¡°You guys¡­ hmph, who said he was my husband?¡±


    The courtyard returned to silence.


    Lin Shouxi lay in bed, watching the night engulf everything outside the window, his heart finally feeling calm.

 CH 13

    The heavy rain that had fallen overnight had washed away the mugginess that had been building up for days, leaving the distant mountain cliffs basked in golden light, with white clouds drifting over them like fish swimming in the sky.


    When Lin Shouxi pushed open the door in the morning, he felt a cool breeze and saw the empty courtyard. For the past few days, he had been carrying a faint mist in his heart, but after seeing through Xiao He¡¯s true nature, the mist lifted with the rain and sunlight. As he walked towards a waterlogged depression, Lin Shouxi caught his reflection in the water for the first time in this world.


    He noticed his long black hair flowing over his shoulders, his youthful cheeks revealing a slight sharpness, and his black and white eyes clear as water.


    His white Taoist robe swayed in the water, blending with the clouds in the sky.


    He felt somewhat unfamiliar with himself due to his thinness, but after a moment¡¯s observation, he smiled faintly and shifted his gaze to a distant place.


    Gradually, the lake¡¯s appearance became clearer, steam rising from the center, and a large flock of black birds hovering over the surface. Lin Shouxi turned sideways and looked up, and he could even vaguely see a corner of the Wu family mansion.


    Behind him, the ancient courtyard hung alone on the cliff, like a row of rooted old trees, always on the verge of being torn apart by frequent storms.


    Taking a deep breath, Lin Shouxi took in the new reality of the world that had been given to him. Soon after, Wang Erguan pushed open the door, his diligent nature leading him to the wall with the core method written on it early in the morning. Sitting down like Perfected Yun, Wang Erguan lifted his head, poked his chest out, and began to practice.


    Upon Lin Shouxi¡¯s return to the courtyard, Wang Erguan was surprised. ¡°Why did you get up so early today?¡± he asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve started practicing again?¡±


    Shaking his head, Lin Shouxi replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to sleep well since yesterday¡¯s episode. I¡¯m afraid that if I close my eyes, I won¡¯t be able to open them again.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± said Wang Erguan, feeling relieved.


    Not long after, Ji Luoyang pushed open the door as well. Initially cold when they first met, he now seemed more amicable. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked Lin Shouxi.


    Sighing helplessly, Lin Shouxi replied, ¡°I¡¯ve accumulated new injuries on top of old ones, so about as good as one can expect. I¡¯ve almost given up all hope.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t strike me as someone who gives up easily,¡± Ji Luoyang said with a smile.


    Wang Erguan snorted. ¡°Appearances can be deceiving. The more carefree someone appears on the surface, the more they take everything seriously deep down.¡±


    Following a light smile from Lin Shouxi, Ji Luoyang found a position next to Wang Erguan. He began to cultivate when the chubby youth suddenly started to boast about his progress.


    ¡°How are you coming along with the Cold Expulsion Technique? I¡¯m about to master the Water Repulsion Technique,¡± he said.


    ¡°Where you have a natural talent for practicing spells that surpasses mine,¡± Ji Luoyang replied, humbly. ¡°I¡¯m still just getting started.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t even master the Cold Expulsion Technique, then our gap will only get wider,¡± Wang Erguan said, his tone condescending. ¡°This is because of your weak martial arts foundation.¡±


    The jab had also been for Lin Shouxi, but when Wang Erguan glanced back and saw that he was no longer there, he chuffed.


    ***


    Lin Shouxi shut the door to his room and sat silently on his bed, his eyes closing.


    Yesterday, to keep Wang Erguan from revealing the diviner¡¯s prophecy and to deceive Xiao He, he feigned illness. During the fake episode, Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan had shared some of their true energy with him, resulting in a happy accident. The infusion had accelerated the time he needed to recover.


    After getting a taste of the benefits, he wondered whether he should trick other people into doing the same. Of course, now that Ji Luoyang and Wang Erguan knew the truth, the only other person he could target was Xiao He.


    Not wanting to think about this, he used the River Luo Inscription¡¯s breathing method to circulate his inner energy and found that the pain in his body had greatly subsided.


    He loosed a sigh of relief at the discovery and began to reflect on his study of the White Pupil Black Phoenix Sword Scripture.


    Years ago, before he ever learned the sword scripture, his master brought him to the back of the mountain to see a stone tablet. The tablet had been weathered down by centuries of wind, frost, rain, and snow, its ancient characters deformed by time, as if human hands had not carved them.


    To his young self, it had been a sad looking thing, but the reverent light in his master¡¯s never dimmed for a moment.


    ¡°The Black Phoenix, sovereign of the skies,¡± his master began, reading the back of the tablet, ¡°was born of water and molded by wind. Its feathers were heavenly thunder, earth, and fire made form, its eyes coalesced from the clouds and light of the upper heavens. Over the course of its life, it pierced through the heavens and the void, entering nirvana three times, burning away flesh and bone, cutting away its shadow until it became immeasurable.¡±


    ¡°This is the story of the Black Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°Is this a myth and legend?¡± Lin Shouxi asked his master.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s neither,¡± his master replied.


    ¡°Then why is there no record of it in the Mountain and Sea Scripture?¡±


    ¡°Because real gods cannot be captured by human language. They are one of the original symbols,¡± his master replied.


    He couldn¡¯t quite understand his master¡¯s answer, so he went on to ask about the Black Phoenix¡¯s sword scripture, ¡°There are nine levels to the Black Phoenix¡¯s sword technique. What are they?¡±


    ¡°The first six levels are of the same elements of water, wind, thunder, earth, fire, cloud, and light that made up the Black Phoenix¡¯s body. Sundering void, nirvana, and shadow elimination are the final three, and their power is beyond measure,¡± his master said, recounting what the founder had heard in his dream all those years ago.


    ¡°It¡¯s that amazing?¡± He asked, astounded.


    ¡°Of course, and if you encounter any difficulties in your practice in the future, just ask your master.¡±


    Years later, after Lin Shouxi successfully reached the eighth level, he could not help but ask his master, ¡°I¡¯ve reached the eighth level, but I don¡¯t feel even a fraction of the power you said i would obtain after attaining the first six levels, let alone of the sundering void and nirvana realms. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°How would I know? Though I¡¯m your master, I¡¯m only at the sixth level,¡± his master responded with confidence.


    To this day, Lin Shouxi had not been able to figure out where he had gone wrong in his training and could only blame his master or the founder for exaggerating their words.


    But after the incident with the white sparrow, his confidence in the sword scripture had boosted. Furthermore, after being stuck at the eighth level for a year now, unable to uncover a path to advancement, his surroundings and inner world had undergone a sweeping transformation, and he had caught a fleeting glimpse of that elusive ninth level.


    Whether time would permit him to achieve his aspiration, however, remained a mystery.


    As Lin Shouxi continued to cultivate, he was interrupted by a knock at the door.


    ¡°You can come in, Xiao He,¡± he said.


    A slender, snow-haired girl pushed open the door, her arms bent as she carried a wooden box of food from the old woman with the cane.


    ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± Xiao He asked.


    ¡°By the sound of your footsteps,¡± he replied, surprising Xiao He.


    ¡°You can hear my footsteps?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I knew it was you precisely because I didn¡¯t hear them,¡± he explained.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Xiao He placed the box of food by his bedside and went to the window. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been cultivating, are you feeling better now?¡± she asked, opening the curtains to let in the light.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling somewhat better. The flow of my true energy has improved at least,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Good,¡± Xiao He said, giving a happy nod.


    The room fell silent again. As Lin Shouxi returned to cultivating, true energy flowed around him, creating intricate patterns.


    Initially bored, Xiao He gradually became interested, her eyes fixed on Lin Shouxi¡¯s movements and the flow of his energy.


    When Lin Shouxi opened his eyes, he saw that Xiao He was still watching him intently.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left? Why are you staring at me so intensely?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Because you¡¯re handsome,¡± Xiao He replied sweetly. ¡°I can¡¯t help but look at you when you¡¯re so good-looking.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you get angry with me yesterday?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It was just a joke. I¡¯m not that petty,¡± she replied. Her small body curling up in her chair, her hands holding her knees, she looked at him, a faint smile in her eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stare at me anymore, you¡¯ll disrupt my cultivation.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t disrupt anything,¡± she said, unconcerned.


    With an exasperated sigh, Lin Shouxi began his second round of cultivation.


    After watching for a while longer, Xiao He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What are you cultivating right now? It doesn¡¯t look like the core method taught by Perfected Yun.¡±


    ¡°Why do you care about this?¡± he asked.


    Her face turned stern. ¡°Because I care about you. Yesterday, your energy deviation frightened me. I won¡¯t allow you to practice some random technique.¡±


    ¡°This is not some random technique,¡± Lin Shouxi retorted. ¡°It¡¯s a swordplay my master passed down to me.¡±


    ¡°A swordplay?¡± Xiao He¡¯s eyelids rose.


    In this world, swordplay was more valuable than martial arts and spells, for the two greatest enemies of the human race, evil spirits, and dragon corpses, could only be truly eliminated by a sword engraved with divine patterns or ancestral seals.


    ¡°My master said that when he was young, he met a swordsman covered in blood at the foot of the mountain. The swordsman had one eye and one arm, as if he had suffered torture. He passed on this swordplay to my master before he died, saying that it was a technique from an immortal. He told my master to remember it no matter what. Later, my master passed it on to me.¡±


    Lying without changing his expression, Lin Shouxi continued, ¡°But I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything special about it. The story about the immortal is just a fantasy. I only practice it occasionally to stay fit.¡±


    ¡°A one-eyed, one-armed swordsman¡­ an immortal¡­¡± Xiao He looked at him skeptically, and a flash of strange emotion flickered in her eyes. ¡°Does this sword technique have a name?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called the White Snow Drifting Cloud Sword Scripture,¡± he said, quickly changing the name of the Black Phoenix¡¯s sword scripture.


    ¡°White Snow, Drifting Cloud?¡± Xiao He subconsciously tucked the strand of hair hanging in front of her chest and looked down at the tip of her hair. She lightly twisted her fingers and said, ¡°It¡¯s a name with a poetic feel.¡±


    After Lin Shouxi nodded in agreement, Xiao He asked him, ¡°Why are you practicing it in secret?¡±


    ¡°Because my master said it¡¯s a secret that cannot be passed on,¡± Lin Shouxi answered seriously.


    ¡°I see,¡± Xiao He smiled, ¡°Then why did you practice it in front of me?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Shouxi hesitated, ¡°I thought you had left.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xiao He rested her chin on her knees, tilting her head up at him.


    Lin Shouxi did not answer.


    ¡°Or is it that you don¡¯t treat me as an outsider?¡± Xiao He asked.


    Lin Shouxi¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he appeared flustered but tried to remain calm.


    Xiao He walked to his bed silently, and sat down. She lightly swung her slender legs and stared at the boy next to her, as if trying to force an answer out of him.


    ¡°The truth is,¡± Lin Shouxi took a deep breath, ¡°You remind me of my sister when she was a child¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xiao He jumped.


    ¡°When I was young, I had a sister¡­¡± Lin Shouxi remained silent for a long time. His eyes were slightly red as he looked at Xiao He. ¡°If she were still alive, she would be about your age.¡±


    This was the first time Xiao He had seen so much emotion cross Lin Shouxi¡¯s face. Her eyes trembled slightly, infected by the deep sadness she felt in his slightly choked voice.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anything more.¡±


    Xiao He did not want to ask about this sister of his if it meant bringing him pain.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lin Shouxi said, a sad smile on his face.


    Xiao He sat with him in silence for a while, and after about half an hour, Lin Shouxi looked back at her, his face calm now.


    ¡°Are you very interested in this sword scripture?¡± Lin Shouxi had already figured out how to tamper with it.


    ¡°Ah¡­ not particularly,¡± Xiao He said, a little shy.


    ¡°Then forget I said anything.¡±


    ¡°Hey, wait,¡± Xiao He quickly said, ¡°isn¡¯t this a secret of your sect? Even if I¡¯m really interested, you wouldn¡¯t teach it to me, right? After all, it¡¯s forbidden by your ancestors¡¯ teachings.¡±


    ¡°There is a way,¡± Lin Shouxi said.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I can take you as my student on behalf of my master. That way, you¡¯ll be part of our sect, and I can teach it to you without breaking any rules.¡±


    ¡°What? Take me as a student on behalf of your master?¡± Xiao He blinked, at a loss for words. ¡°So then, wouldn¡¯t I become your¡­ junior sister?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you would be my junior sister.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Xiao He replied, her voice rising in protest.