Chapter 160
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Chapter 160: Young Master Shadow Guardian
“Your subordinate is here.” The shadow knelt on one knee, her gaze lowered and brow furrowed, her voice deep and raspy. Her flowing black hair cascaded down as she bent, casting a dark shadow on the bloodstained ground.
Ming He’s eyes dimmed slightly as she spoke softly, “Lift your head.”
The shadow stiffened, then slowly raised her head under Ming He’s piercing gaze, revealing a delicate face marred by a jagged scar that ran across her features.
In her right hand, she clutched a black broken knife, its blade stained with blood—unmistakably the woman who had appeared at the Merchants’ Guild auction in Tianwu City.
From the Nine Heavens Pavilion, Mu Nan Zhi.
She was of Mu Chen’s lineage.
Back then, the girl in black had stood with an imposing presence, wielding the broken knife with pride, her eyes brimming with murderous intent as if she and the blade were one, exuding unyielding resolve.
Seated at the top floor, she had glanced down with a scrutinizing gaze, and though she stood below, her spirit had remained unbroken.
Ming He had never imagined that one day, this same woman would bow her head, kneeling before her in such a humble posture, now as her shadow guardian.
The Contract with the Shadow Guardian bound their lives together.
From that moment on, if Ming He lived, Mu Nan Zhi lived; if Ming He died, Mu Nan Zhi died.
It was akin to a master-servant bond.
Thus, when Ming He’s cultivation broke through to the seventh level of the Human King stage and she entered the battlefield of the heavens, Mu Nan Zhi and Lou Qing Shang, as her shadow guardians, also ascended to the Human King realm, remaining by her side, sharing her life and death.
At the central pavilion of the battlefield of the heavens, Ming He had used the Jing Ying Sword as a blood lure to deploy the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array. In that moment, her spiritual energy had been nearly depleted, and the sudden surge in her spiritual ocean had come from Mu Nan Zhi and Lou Qing Shang.
They hid in the shadows, forbidden from revealing themselves, their movements restricted, their names nearly erased.
Thus, all the glory—slaying the Tian Yan Tribe, unleashing the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array, aiding Nineteen in setting the Sealing Sky Formation—belonged solely to Ming He.
It was natural, expected, yet no one had ever asked if she desired it or if she was willing.
From her departure from Liu Yun Sect until now, her path had been shaped by the whims of fate and the guidance of the Imperial Palace. Her cultivation journey seemed less her own and more a product of their designs.
Ming He was now at the seventh level of the Human King stage.
She knew well that without the Star Lock’s cleansing, without the power of the celestial laws bestowed during the ceremony appointing her as the young leader, even with her prodigious talent, she could never have reached the Human King stage or set foot on the battlefield of the heavens at such a young age.
She had no right to judge, nor the luxury to refuse.
But as for the path ahead, she wished to follow her heart.
The celestial laws, the Star Lock, the Imperial Palace—none of it would dictate her choices.
As the young leader of the human race, she held sway over her people.
The girl in blue sat cross-legged, her gaze steady as she looked at the girl in black kneeling before her. Her eyes sparkled with starlight, and her pale lips parted as she spoke with clarity and resolve, “Stand up.”
Mu Nan Zhi hesitated, then rose to her feet under Ming He’s unwavering gaze, her expression a mix of confusion and unease.
“Is the Broken Mountain knife sharp?” Ming He asked, her tone calm yet probing.
Mu Nan Zhi nodded, though her confusion deepened.
The blade of the Knife Emperor had tasted the blood of countless Tian Yan Tribe members, a weapon born of slaughter. Even broken, it surpassed many other blades in lethality.
“Yet in your hands, it has not drunk the blood of the Tian Yan Tribe on the battlefield of the heavens,” Ming He said, her gaze fixed on the blood-dripping black blade. “You spent one hundred thousand upper-grade spirit stones to acquire it. Was it meant to remain hidden in the shadows?”
Ming He straightened her posture, her voice clear and steady. “Mu Nan Zhi, tell me, what is your purpose in cultivation?”
Her tone was lighter now, no longer as deep, carrying a hint of curiosity, yet laced with an undercurrent of persuasion and exploration.
In an instant, Mu Nan Zhi recalled the chilling loneliness she felt when the cultivators of the Imperial Palace unearthed her from the profound ice. They declared her a descendant of the Mu family.
Descendant of the Mu family.
These four words seemed to chart the course of her life from that moment onward.
Driven by the notion of atonement, she chose to enter the Nine Heavens Pavilion and pursue the path of swordsmanship.
She had no desire to practice swordsmanship.
Her aim in mastering swordsmanship was to annihilate the Tian Yan Tribe.
Even if she were not a descendant of the Mu family, she would have made the same choice.
Mu Nan Zhi understood this clearly, so she never felt hardship or injustice.
Thus, she embarked on the path of cold and fierce swordsmanship, starting as the little girl unearthed from the profound ice, step by step becoming a cultivator of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, transforming into the fearsome Mu Nan Zhi, who struck terror into many hearts, and later, at the Merchants’ Guild auction, she agreed to the Imperial Palace’s request and became Ming He’s shadow guardian.
As the shadow guardian of the young leader, she was willingly devoted.
Yet now, when Ming He asked her why she cultivated, she seemed somewhat shaken.
Being a shadow guardian meant hiding in the darkness, and never seeing the light.
Though there was little light on the battlefield of the heavens as well.
“To kill the alien races,” Mu Nan Zhi replied, standing tall and speaking clearly.
Ming He smiled, her eyes sparkling with the brightness of starlight, her words laced with a smile: “Then go kill the alien races.”
She looked at Mu Nan Zhi, who appeared bewildered, and spoke seriously: “You don’t need to stay by my side from now on.”
“I want you to find the leader of Tianwu East City, receive the black heavy armor, hand over your Broken Mountain knife to the artifact refining room to be tempered with Phoenix Fire Seed, and then join a team of ten, a group of a hundred, or the armored guards.”
Mu Nan Zhi’s emotions surged within her as she looked at Ming He in disbelief, seeing the sparkle of pride hidden in her eyes, her words light but carrying an undeniable, firm resolve.
She said, “Previously, in the five regions of Tianwu, you swept the alien races with your blade. In the battlefield of the heavens, you must do the same. Do you understand?”
Mu Nan Zhi remained silent.
She was Ming He’s shadow guardian, her duty was to stay by her side and protect her safety with her life.
This was a promise made to the Imperial Palace.
Sworn by the heavens, it could not be broken.
Thinking this, she felt a hint of bitterness in her eyes.
Ming He noticed the bitterness in her gaze and remained unchanged, finally saying after a while, “This is an order.”
“Since you are my shadow guardian, my words are orders, and you must obey.”
“It has nothing to do with the Imperial Palace, nor the heavenly oath.”
Mu Nan Zhi suddenly raised her eyes, shock filling her gaze.
She was astonished by Ming He’s clarity of mind; how could she know!
“Yes, I know,” Ming He replied with a smile and a nod.
If there were no restrictions from the heavenly oath, how could the Imperial Palace trust allowing Mu Nan Zhi to stay by her side?
The human race was passionate and sincere, yet they were also skilled in schemes. There was never a contradiction between the two.
They were paving the way for her, so she had no right to judge, as she was the beneficiary of their efforts.
“But I am your shadow guardian,” Mu Nan Zhi said with difficulty.
A shadow guardian is a servant who lurks in the shadows, rarely able to leave the Young Master’s side.
Ming He’s smile remained unwavering, “When you don Heavy Armor and wield the Broken Mountain, charging into the Tian Yan Tribe’s army to claim the glory that awaits you, you will still be my shadow guardian.”
“There is no contradiction in that.”
She gazed at Mu Nan Zhi’s puzzled expression and spoke softly, “Have you heard of Young Master Qin Chu Yi?”
The Qin Clan stands at the pinnacle of the Ancient Clans, and Qin Chu Yi is a figure born to unveil the splendor of the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb. Those three words embody extraordinary genius and unmatched grace, so Mu Nan Zhi had undoubtedly heard of her.
She nodded in affirmation.
Ming He continued, “Do you know who Qin Chu Yi’s shadow guardian is?”
Mu Nan Zhi’s breath hitched, as if she already knew what Ming He was about to say. She nodded again, “Yes.”
“The shadow guardian of the Qin Clan Young Master is named Zhan Qing Yi. She once accompanied Young Master Qin to join the Floating Cloud Sect in the Eastern Region at Snowfall Peak, becoming a true disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect.”
She spoke these words while meeting Ming He’s amused gaze.
Most cultivators in the central region who knew of Qin Chu Yi’s identity would also know of Zhan Qing Yi.
As the Qin Clan Young Master’s shadow guardian, she had followed Qin Chu Yi since childhood, managing clan affairs. The cultivators of the Qin Royal Palace would bow deeply to her, addressing her as “Senior Sister Zhan,” their gestures filled with reverence and admiration.
“Senior Sister Zhan is also a shadow guardian,” Ming He said, observing the thoughtful look in Mu Nan Zhi’s eyes.
Since inheriting the Heavenly Dao, Ming He had come to understand many rules of the Imperial Palace and the Ancient Clans.
The shadow guardians of the Ancient Clans are chosen in childhood to remain by the Young Master’s side, serving as protectors and substitutes in death.
Zhan Qing Yi, however, was not like that.
She could openly show her face, boldly participate in Qin Clan affairs, represent Qin Chu Yi’s identity to apologize at the Haoran Sword Sect, and even take Wang Xue, the master of Snowfall Peak in the Floating Cloud Sect, as her teacher.
Zhan Qing Yi could do so much.
These were not the duties of a shadow guardian, but with Qin Chu Yi’s permission, she was able to shine in her own light, visible to the world.
The shadow guardians of the Ancient Clans were not originally meant to be this way, but Qin Chu Yi did not need a shadow guardian to serve as a substitute in death, so she restored Zhan Qing Yi’s grace.
From her Senior Sister, Ming He first learned what true elegance of the Ancient Clan truly meant.
The foremost of the Ancient Clans, the Qin Clan Young Master, and her Senior Sister were exceptional in every way.
When Ming He first read about the Ancient Clans, she had imagined their grandeur, and Qin Chu Yi was the perfect embodiment of it.
If Zhan Qing Yi could achieve such freedom, why couldn’t Mu Nan Zhi?
Ming He was willing to grant them their freedom, allowing them to reclaim their grace and splendor.
Her Senior Sister did not need a substitute in death, and neither did she.
Mu Nan Zhi and Lou Qing Shang fighting on the battlefield of the heavens would be far more meaningful than staying by her side.
“Besides, even if you are not by my side, the shadow guardian contract cannot be broken.”
This was the truth; once the Contract with the Shadow Guardian was formed, it could not be undone.
Unless Ming He ascended to the Great Emperor realm.
“If I am ever in danger and need your aid, it would be but a thought away.”
The battlefield of the heavens appeared vast, yet the bond of the Contract with the Shadow Guardian was deeply rooted in the soul, transcending mere distance.
Ming He withdrew her gaze and, with a wave of her hand, summoned a dark shadow. Seeing Lou Qing Shang kneeling on one knee, she rubbed her temples, feeling a slight headache. "Rise."
Lou Qing Shang obeyed, standing up but still keeping her head lowered in silence.
Ming He cleared her throat and asked, "Did you hear what I said to Mu Nan Zhi earlier, second Senior Sister?"
What had been said? What words?
It was about Mu Nan Zhi standing boldly in Heavy Armor, wielding the broken knife, and fighting on the battlefield of the heavens, rather than hiding in the shadows and concealing her presence.
Lou Qing Shang nodded softly.
"Then you may leave now," Ming He said, noticing their hesitation and sighing. She stood up, looking intently at Lou Qing Shang:
"Second Senior Sister, you are of the royal lineage of the Shadow Clan.
Yet, whether in the myriad worlds or the annals of the human race, the Shadow Clan is depicted as lurking in darkness, following the strong, living as mere shadows of others, devoid of their own pride and dignity.
Do you believe the Shadow Clan to be as such?"
Ming He’s voice was low as she posed the question to Lou Qing Shang, who remained silent, her head bowed. Yet, her dark, ink-like eyes flickered with a hint of defiance, her brows slightly furrowed.
"The Xuanyuan Sword imparted to me the Xuantian Sword Classic, revealing the grandeur of the Myriad Races in ancient times. The Shadow Clan was not as it is now."
Ming He watched as Lou Qing Shang raised her head slightly, her gaze uncertain, and spoke each word deliberately, "In ancient times, the Shadow Clan was mighty and glorious, not a whit inferior to the Tian Yan Tribe."
"The character ‘shadow’ in Shadow Clan signifies overshadowing others, eclipsing their brilliance so they exist as mere shadows before the Shadow Clan. Casting an indelible shadow upon others is the essence of the Shadow Clan."
She met Lou Qing Shang’s gaze, now ablaze with fervent determination, and softly said, "Is that not what you believe, second Senior Sister?"
Ming He’s gaze lowered, a flash of light passing, as her left hand grasped a translucent green bamboo sword. "I wish to give this bamboo sword to you, to be your blade on the battlefield. Would that be acceptable?"
A bamboo sword.
Why a sword?
Lou Qing Shang lowered her gaze, her emotions a tumultuous sea.
It was not so much that her heart was too shattered to wield a sword, but rather that the Imperial Palace forbade her from continuing her practice of Swordsmanship.
Yet now, Ming He was offering her a bamboo sword…
Meeting Lou Qing Shang’s complex gaze, Ming He smiled warmly, "I carved this bamboo sword myself, always intending it for you."
It was not the Bright Moon Sword gifted by Yóu Lìng.
Long before stepping onto the battlefield of the heavens, she had resolved to prepare this.
"To me, Lou Qing Shang is not merely the shadow guardian of the young leader, nor a royal of the Shadow Clan or the Young Master of the Merchants’ Guild. You are simply my second Senior Sister in the Liu Yun Sect."
Lou Qing Shang’s body trembled, her deep gaze fixed on Ming He, her eyes moist with emotion, realizing she knew everything!
Her second Senior Sister in the Liu Yun Sect.
"Little Junior Sister!"
She murmured softly, her hand trembling as it rested on the hilt of the bamboo sword, feeling its warmth. The sword gleamed, refracting a greenish hue in the darkness, a truly beautiful blade.
Yet, it was a sword that had yet to taste blood.
Finally, Lou Qing Shang raised her head, earnestly looking at the woman before her, clad in blue clothes, her demeanor a blend of serenity and sharpness. Compared to their first meeting in the Liu Yun Sect, she had grown immensely, like a golden dragon emerging, ready to soar across the heavens.
"Aren’t you afraid I might betray our people and side with another race?" she asked, her expression and voice grave.
After all, the Shadow Clan was considered another race to the human race.
Before entering the Tianwu Continent, the Shadow Clan was a vassal of the Tian Yan Tribe.
Ming He’s expression remained unchanged, her lips still curved in a smile, "Would you, second Senior Sister?"
"… I would not." Lou Qing Shang tightened her grip on the bamboo sword, tugging at Mu Nan Zhi’s sleeve as she turned to leave, her back showing a hint of joy and anticipation.
Ming He chuckled softly, sat cross-legged once more, holding her breath and focusing her mind, beginning to carefully refine the alien blood essence within her spiritual ocean.
After an unknown amount of time, a clear and gentle voice sounded from beyond the barrier: "Qin Huai Yuan has come to return a sword, requesting an audience with the young leader."
Qin Huai Yuan? Was he not Qin Chu Yi’s brother, the eldest son of the Qin Clan, the foremost of the Ancient Clans?
Her Senior Sister’s brother!
Ming He took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and instantly stood up, her expression surprisingly tense.
She glanced over herself, ensuring her blue clothes were still clean and tidy, feeling slightly relieved as she stored the North Star Sword and the Bright Moon Sword. She lifted the hem of her robe and stepped out, seeing a Young Man in black heavy armor, his features handsome and demeanor graceful, holding several swords nearby.
Ming He then respectfully bowed and greeted him, “Greetings, elder brother.”
Qin Huai Yuan: “…”
