Chapter 78

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Chapter 78: Crimson Feather Mu Qian

“True disciple, the peak master requests your presence.” A servant clad in gray approached from outside the courtyard and knocked on Ming He’s gate, his tone respectful.

“Understood.” Ming He sheathed her sword, wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve, and pushed open the courtyard gate, making her way to Luoheng Palace.

Her chosen courtyard was not far from Luoheng Palace, and with her swift pace, she arrived in no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. A middle-aged man in blue robes stood atop the rocks outside the palace, his gaze fixed on the horizon, exuding an air of carefree abandon.

“Shishu.” Ming He stood beside him, bowing her head slightly in greeting. Her posture was upright, her eyes bright, and her blue robes fluttered in the wind, revealing the bearing of a sword cultivator.

“Xiao He, no need for formalities.” Xie Dan Chen seemed momentarily lost in thought as he settled onto the stone. “I will be leaving for a while, and my return is uncertain. Chu Yi Qing is also absent from the sect, which is why I summoned you.” He was concerned that someone within the sect might cause trouble for Ming He.

“Shishu, I can protect myself.” Ming He paused briefly before responding with a gentle expression. Having survived life-and-death situations, she no longer saw herself as the weak and vulnerable outer sect disciple she once was.

“Are you and Senior Sister Qin leaving because of the alien races?” Ming He ventured to ask.

Xie Dan Chen was taken aback by her insight and nodded without denial. A shadow of worry crossed his otherwise carefree expression. “During the past half-month while you’ve been quietly cultivating in your courtyard, the Black Wind Alliance and the Alien Race Hunting Hall have been unusually active. They’ve launched sneak attacks on human prodigies and gathered forces to assault cities and towns. Countless cultivators and mortals have perished. As a major sect in the Eastern Region, the Floating Cloud Sect cannot remain idle.”

If left unchecked, the alien races would grow bolder, and the human race would suffer devastating losses. They needed to unite their strength to suppress the Black Wind Alliance and the Alien Race Hunting Hall, creating time and space for the rising talents of the human race to flourish.

Thus, this time, aside from the Sect Master overseeing matters, all the peak masters, elders, and high-ranking true disciples were mobilized, presenting a formidable force.

“Since you are now a true disciple of Luoheng Peak, you are entitled to practice advanced techniques and swordsmanship.” Xie Dan Chen, unaware of the Star Technique and the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique, assumed Ming He had reached the top of the Young Tiger List through the standard techniques of the Floating Cloud Sect.

“I summoned you not only to inform you of these matters but also to impart a sword technique to you.” With a faint smile, Xie Dan Chen handed her a jade slip. “This is the Floating Cloud Technique, which is closely related to the Liu Yun Technique. From now on, you will use this as your cultivation method.”

“As for swordsmanship, today I will teach you a sword style called the Luoheng Sword, the foundational sword technique of Luoheng Peak.” The Scholar in Blue rose to his feet, plucking a willow branch from a nearby tree and holding it in his hand. His usually casual demeanor turned serious. “In swordsmanship, I am no match for my senior brother, and in cultivation, I fall short of my senior sister. This sword is the culmination of my life’s learning.”

Xie Dan Chen stepped down from the rock and, within a confined space, unfolded his movements like wind and lightning, as if celestial waters were cascading down to the mortal world. With a graceful twist of his right hand, his blue sleeves seemed to encompass the entire world. “This sword is called Luoheng.”

It was one of the Floating Cloud Nine Styles and the foundational sword of Luoheng Peak. The Floating Cloud Sect had nine peaks, each corresponding to a sword. Originally, the sect was known as the Sword Sect, the Floating Cloud Sword Sect.

“Pay close attention; I will only teach you this once.” Xie Dan Chen’s tone was firm. He would demonstrate this only once, just as their Master had done for them long ago.

The willow branch in his hand, once swaying gently in the wind, no longer resembled a mere branch but had transformed into a sword.

It cut through the air with a sharp, piercing sound, its brilliance surpassing that of any blade. Beneath the blue robes was a sword intent that was both unyielding and gentle, a paradox that harmonized perfectly.

Xie Dan Chen’s feet remained motionless, but his right hand seemed to unfurl a painted scroll, allowing Ming He to glimpse the grandeur and turbulence of a thousand years of history—light as a feather, yet weighty as a mountain.

“The Luoheng Sword: ‘Luo’ means to scatter, and ‘Heng’ means balance.” Xie Dan Chen murmured softly, his gaze lingering on Ming He as he tucked the willow branch away. The Sword Cultivator in Blue stood beneath the rocks, a look of understanding dawning on her face. He chuckled lightly and casually tossed the willow leaf aside before turning to leave.

To scatter is to let fall; to balance is to maintain equilibrium.

Though the sword light before Ming He had faded, the sword intent in her mind continued to resonate.

Floating Cloud Sword Sect, Luoheng Sword—she repeated these words in a daze before suddenly picking up the fallen willow leaf. Gripping the branch tightly in her right hand, she thrust it forward like a sword. The sound it made as it sliced through the air was faint yet crisp, not as swift as Xie Dan Chen’s lightning-like movements, but it carried a profound understanding of the sword.

This was Ming He’s interpretation of the Luoheng Sword.

She dropped the willow branch, her eyes alight with realization, a gentle smile spreading across her face, as radiant as the sun in the sky.

With one last glance at Luoheng Palace, she turned and left, not heading back to her courtyard but making her way to the Floating Cloud Sect’s library.

The library of the Liu Yun Sect housed countless volumes, with eight thousand already etched in her mind. However, the records of Liu Yun were limited, and now that she had the opportunity to explore the grand sect’s collection, she was determined not to miss it.

She also planned to select a volume on foot techniques.

In her heart, she quietly laid out her plans. Perhaps she could further explore the trials of the Floating Cloud Sect. She had already experienced Woodman Lane and the Floating Cloud Ladder, but there were still the Whirlwind Valley, the Offshores Cliff, and the Hollow Bright Cave to conquer and grow stronger.

The azure silhouette gradually receded into the distance, and the willow tree behind swayed abruptly, shedding its leaves as if autumn had arrived.

Yet, it was not autumn at this time.

The library of the Floating Cloud Sect stood solitary on its peak, with towering purple-gold palaces. The celestial stairs descended from above like a ladder to the heavens, each step engraved with a lotus jade seal, symbolizing the blossoming of lotuses with each step.

Ming He adjusted her robe and stepped through the grand stone door of the library. An attendant disciple, slightly taken aback, bowed respectfully upon noticing the white jade disciple token hanging from her waist—a mark of a true disciple, specifically of Luoheng Peak.

She nodded slightly in acknowledgment and ascended directly to the sixth floor. The three floors above were reserved for high-ranking true disciples and elders, and even if she ventured there now, the one hundred contribution points she had received as a new true disciple would be of little use.

The sixth floor was perfectly suited for her, housing low-grade techniques and martial skills, from which true disciples could freely select one.

Ming He passed through the technique and swordsmanship sections, heading straight for the movement technique area. A glimmer of light flickered in her eyes as she pondered. Her master had once said that the myriad laws of the world are not defined by their grades; a true cultivator could move the heavens and earth with the slightest gesture.

She was far from the level of the cultivators her master spoke of, so she still needed external aids and to tread the paths of her predecessors, seeking her own way until it became clear and precise, without error.

The Phantom Steps she had obtained from the library were merely a low-tier martial skill, of little use to her now. Though she did not intend to abandon this technique, she also needed a new movement skill to deepen her cultivation.

Ming He flipped through the yellowed scrolls, puzzled. The techniques and martial skills here were not recorded on jade slips but on solid paper. The yellowed edges bore witness to their ancient heritage, a true path of the ancestors.

Holding two scrolls in her hands, she fell into thought. In her left hand was the Cloud Dragon Sword Steps, which signified a dragon soaring through the clouds, supported by sword energy and closely linked to the Floating Cloud Technique, though she was not cultivating the Floating Cloud Technique.

Ming He glanced at the Shadow Steps in her right hand and made her decision. The Shadow Steps, as the name suggests, allowed one’s form to move like a shadow, elusive and unpredictable. When mastered, it could even create illusions to deceive others, sharing a similar essence with the Phantom Steps she had previously chosen, both being martial skills of the darkness.

She did not favor darkness, but if it was inevitable, she might as well confront it. Her mindset now was vastly different from when she first arrived, so after some contemplation, she firmly decided on her choice.

Of course, if she had enough contribution points, she could still exchange for the Cloud Dragon Sword Steps.

Her current cultivation was stable at the Dust Dispersal stage, so she needed to first refine her movement and sword techniques before taking on sect missions to earn contribution points.

Ming He took a stack of jade slips containing miscellaneous records of the Tianwu Continent and turned to descend the stairs. After registering with the attendant disciple, she stepped out of the library and unexpectedly encountered a young man in white, standing with a sword on his back, his clear and sincere eyes meeting hers with a spark of light.

“Ming He.” The young man glanced at her to confirm her identity, then bowed calmly with an unreadable expression. “I am Mu Qian, a true disciple of Chiyu Peak, and I have been waiting for you here.”

Mu Qian? Ming He furrowed her brow, feeling the name was somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it before, but her mind drew a blank when she tried to recall.

“Are you looking for me because of something, Brother Mu?” Ming He returned the greeting, standing upright with a composed demeanor. Was he here to cause trouble? He didn’t seem the type.

“My master is Elder Zheng of Chiyu Peak.” The young man tilted his head slightly and spoke softly.

Ming He remembered that when she had entered the Floating Cloud Sect through Woodman Lane, an elder named Zheng had blocked her path and even tampered with the Floating Cloud Ladder, causing her to spit blood. Later, Qin Chu Yi had told her that Elder Zheng had allied with the alien races and was killed by her own hand.

So, was this man here to settle the score? Ming He assessed the young man’s cultivation, realizing he was at the Dust Dispersal stage four, and she estimated she could not defeat him.

However, this was the library, where fighting was prohibited, so she felt no fear, maintaining her calm demeanor and standing quietly without responding.

“I am not here to provoke you.” Mu Qian lowered his head, looking somewhat apologetic. “I apologize to you on behalf of my master.” He bowed again. “My master was overwhelmed by grief and made a mistake as a result.”

His hands, tucked into his sleeves, clenched slightly. “You don’t need to tell me whether or not you forgive; I am not seeking your understanding. I simply feel that as his disciple, this is what I should do.”

As he straightened, his expression turned serious. “Besides that, I would like to learn about your swordsmanship. You learned the sword technique from Senior Sister Lingyun.”

Though Qu Lingyun had gained fame at a young age, she was not particularly senior among the many brothers and sisters. The bond of brotherhood was deep, and Elder Zheng had once fought alongside her against beasts.

Ming He fell silent for a moment, sensing that Mu Qian might have other intentions. Yet, looking at the young man’s face, she saw only sincerity and a genuine desire to learn, with no trace of malice.

“Alright.” She murmured without hesitation, drawing her long sword to unleash a flickering light, swiftly executing a technique that surged forward like a startled dragon, then withdrew as softly as falling snow.

In the blink of an eye, the sword technique had danced and blossomed in the air. “If you wish to know what kind of person my master is, then I feel this sword just now hardly captures one-tenth of his grandeur.”

After saying this, Ming He turned and descended the peak, returning to her small courtyard, feeling that everything that had happened in front of the library was merely an interlude.

However, a few days later, Mu Qian knocked on her courtyard door again, inviting her to join him on a true disciple mission, his expression serious with no hint of jest.

Ming He was somewhat perplexed by his reasoning. “Why are you seeking me out?” Her master had a falling out with her, indirectly leading to his death after she was implicated in colluding with alien races. Did he think she appeared foolish?

“Because this task might only be achievable by you,” Mu Qian replied earnestly.

“What I mean is, we’re not exactly close, are we?” Ming He’s expression remained impassive.

“Are you worried I’m setting a trap for you?” Mu Qian belatedly realized his awkward position and the implications of his identity. “Ming He, I mean you no harm. If you doubt me, I can swear a Blood Oath to the heavens. But this task is of utmost importance, and I truly need your help.”

Ming He remained unconvinced. “I’m only at the second level of the Dust Dispersal stage. Any true disciple in the Floating Cloud Sect would be stronger than me. If it’s truly urgent, shouldn’t you be seeking an elder?”

“Not necessarily,” Mu Qian shook his head. “The elders are preoccupied with exterminating alien races and have no time for mundane matters. The other true disciples are occupied with their own tasks and cultivation. Besides, they wouldn’t pay me any heed now.”

The young man’s face bore a trace of bitterness. As a disciple of Elder Zheng, who had colluded with alien races, it was already a great mercy that he hadn’t been expelled from the Floating Cloud Sect.

“Then why do you think I’d help you?” Ming He asked, surprised.

Mu Qian met her gaze with bright eyes. “Because I believe in the unity of person and sword. A sword cultivator’s character is reflected in their swordsmanship, and yours is as upright and pure as your blade.”

“What’s the task?” Ming He had to admit, if the young man wasn’t putting on an act, he might possess a legendary pure heart—naive to the point of foolishness, even ignorant of worldly affairs.

“Recently, I received a mission concerning Bailu Village in Chixia Town, under the jurisdiction of the Floating Cloud Sect. It’s said that demonic creatures are wreaking havoc there, and the entire village is shrouded in black fog, with the villagers’ fates unknown.” Urgency flickered in Mu Qian’s eyes.

“But when I arrived at the village, even with my cultivation, I couldn’t penetrate the black fog. I couldn’t enter the village.”

Demonic creatures running rampant, a village enveloped in black fog?

Ming He narrowed her eyes, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “The elders aren’t concerned?”

“The elders are busy exterminating alien races and capturing members of the Black Wind Alliance. The other Senior Sisters and Brothers have their own tasks. Besides, the black fog didn’t appear overnight—it carries unknown dangers, so…” His implication was clear.

No one knew the extent of the unknown dangers. In this world, few were willing to sacrifice themselves for others, while most preferred self-preservation.

Ming He fell silent for a moment. “Earlier, you said the task is crucial. Why is it so important?”

“Human lives are at stake. Isn’t that important enough?” The young man countered, his eyes filled with confusion.

“It is,” Ming He replied solemnly, tightening her grip on her sword. “You think I can break through the black fog, don’t you?”

“I’m not certain,” Mu Qian admitted, shaking his head. “There are no answers to things not yet attempted.” He paused, then added, “I just hope you’ll give it a try, because you seem like the one most likely to succeed.”

No answers to things not yet attempted.

Suddenly, Ming He felt compelled to ask the young man for his opinion. “Do you think my Master was wrong back then?”

She expected a definitive “right” or “wrong” from him, but to her surprise, he remained silent for a long time before finally uttering four words.

“Perhaps right, perhaps wrong.”

But when Ming He pressed him for an explanation, he fell silent again, simply turning and channeling spiritual energy toward the sect’s exit, confidently assuming she would follow.

Ming He watched his retreating figure and shook her head, ultimately choosing to follow.