Chapter 8
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Chapter 8: Meeting Again
The girl in blue curiously opened her eyes and turned her gaze downward, catching sight of a woman bathing in the misty hot spring below.
She sat serenely at the water’s center, her long black hair floating on the surface, mingling with the rising steam. With a fair hand, she splashed water over her shoulder, the droplets cascading down her skin.
For the first time, Ming He considered her cultivator’s vision a burden. Perched in the tree, she could clearly see the woman’s features despite the distance.
Her beauty was breathtaking – cold eyes, slightly pursed lips, and brows like distant mountains.
Through the swirling mist, Ming He glimpsed the woman’s flawless skin and delicate collarbone. Water droplets traced paths down her pale neck, hinting at the form beneath the mist – both ethereal and alluring.
As the woman splashed water on her shoulder, her expression softened in the warm spring, becoming vibrant and captivating.
With a light tap on the water’s surface, she began to rise, the mist swirling around her, creating an otherworldly vision that held Ming He spellbound.
Ming He’s breath caught, her heart quickening. Anyone would struggle to remain composed witnessing such a scene.
The girl in blue felt her cheeks flush and quickly averted her gaze, preparing to leave.
"Who’s there?" The woman’s icy voice shattered the tranquility, accompanied by a rustling in the air.
"Oh no!" Ming He panicked, gathering her spiritual energy to escape.
"Whoosh—"
A single water droplet sliced through the air, striking Ming He’s right ankle with precision, dislodging several leaves.
Caught off guard, Ming He tumbled from the tree, landing hard on the ground with a pained grimace.
"Who is here?" A cold voice called from nearby.
Ming He heard approaching footsteps, her stomach knotting with dread. Her injured ankle throbbed, making escape impossible.
"Who are you?" The calm voice came from behind, sending shivers of danger down Ming He’s spine.
Slowly, reluctantly, Ming He turned. "Young Master—"
She forced a strained laugh. "It’s… nice to see you again."
"It’s you." The woman’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise, though her voice remained cold. "Explain yourself. Surely this isn’t another coincidence."
Though her words were playful, her tone held no humor – the very image of a cold beauty.
Ming He blinked, taking in the woman’s appearance. She now wore a white garment, the fine fabric clinging to her damp form, accentuating her curves.
Fresh from the water, her black hair tumbled in disarray, yet she maintained an air of elegance, the hot spring’s steam rising behind her – a striking vision.
Ming He’s gaze faltered. She coughed awkwardly, turning to the towering tree beside her. "You’re absolutely right, Young Master. I was merely passing by."
The Woman in White observed Ming He’s evasive movements, a flash of irritation crossing her features before her composure returned.
She approached with measured steps, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Do you expect me to believe that?"
Ming He stood rigid, caught between the woman’s chilling presence and the warm scent of sandalwood. Her breathing grew uneven, torn between tension and discomfort. "Young Master, I admit my explanation sounds… convenient."
The girl in blue offered a wry smile. "But it’s true. Perhaps fate has brought us together again."
Ming He found the situation perplexing. Why would the esteemed Young Master visit the remote Liu Yun Sect, let alone its outer sect?
The outer sect’s scenery was pleasant enough, but to immediately indulge in a hot spring bath? It seemed most peculiar.
Could this be part of Su Cheng Feng’s hidden story? Ming He wondered silently, pondering if she’d inadvertently taken her eldest brother’s place in some unfolding drama.
She wasn’t foolish. Connecting the first encounter in the valley of the Liu Yun Mountains with this second meeting, it wasn’t hard for her to deduce that the Woman in White was Qin Chu Yi, the mother of Su Yu, the Dragon Hero, and the beautiful wife of Su Cheng Feng.
Qin Chu Yi.
Ming He repeated the name softly, her mind naturally conjuring the brief yet poignant description of Qin Chu Yi’s life from the book. A faint sense of pity stirred within her.
Though she had never met Su Cheng Feng in person, she could piece together a rough image from the memories of the original host.
Su Cheng Feng was a young and accomplished man, gentle yet sharp, a well-known genius—though only within the confines of the Liu Yun Sect.
But if one were to broaden the scope, Su Cheng Feng would quickly be overshadowed by the tides of the era. He would struggle to even step beyond the shadow of Qin Chu Yi’s influential family, let alone venture beyond the maps outside the Liu Yun Sect.
To Ming He, such a man was utterly unworthy of the cold, graceful, and ethereal Woman in White standing before her.
She believed in equals.
In her eyes, someone like Qin Chu Yi deserved to shine in a far grander world—whether on the battlefield of the heavens or wandering freely through the vast expanse of the universe. Such a destiny would be far superior to the one written for her in the book.
“Fate?” Qin Chu Yi mused inwardly, amused by the girl in blue who had been lost in thought for so long only to utter those two words. Yet, as she observed Ming He’s expression—flustered yet composed, nervous yet resolute—she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity.
Was it truly just a coincidence?
The Woman in White’s gaze swept over the girl in blue, pausing momentarily on the fair, sweat-dampened skin of her neck. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Perhaps you and I are indeed fated.”
Her voice was cool, her expression unreadable as she locked eyes with Ming He. “Since fate has brought us together, would this junior sister be willing to assist me with a small matter?”
Assist her?
Ming He’s internal alarms blared. She bit her lip, forcing herself to remain calm as she replied cautiously, “Sister Qin, you honor me too much.”
She quickly adjusted her tone, adopting a more deferential manner. “It would be my privilege to assist Sister Qin, but as you can see, my cultivation is pitifully weak. I fear I may not be of much use.”
She lowered her head, feigning humility, her words dripping with polite refusal.
After all, the parents of the Dragon Hero were, in a sense, protagonists in their own right. Being around them would undoubtedly lead to countless twists and turns. Perhaps she and Su Cheng Feng might survive long enough to witness the birth of the Dragon Hero, but she was different.
She was nothing more than a minor cannon fodder in the original plot. A single breath from the Heavenly Path could snuff her out like a candle. Was she out of her mind to willingly step into such treacherous waters?
No, her priority was clear: cultivate diligently, strengthen herself, and survive. In her spare time, she could observe the unfolding plot and indulge in a bit of gossip, then live freely and unburdened. Such a future was stable, strategic, and perfectly suited for a refined egoist like her!
To her, there was no conflict between avoiding harm to others and pursuing her own interests to the fullest.
She admired figures like Su Yu, the Dragon Hero, but she had no desire to emulate his exhausting path.
“Does the junior sister refuse?” Qin Chu Yi stepped closer, her presence towering despite their similar height. The pressure was palpable, making Ming He feel as though the air had grown thinner.
Ming He took a deep breath, realizing that this unknown task was likely unavoidable. Still, some people wouldn’t back down until they hit a wall.
With a final attempt to wriggle free, the girl in blue spoke hesitantly, “Sister Qin, may I ask what it is you need me to do? I truly fear my abilities may fall short.”
“There’s no need for you to know just yet,” the Woman in White replied, her tone haughty as she tilted her chin upward, clearly pleased with her own foresight. “When the time comes, you’ll naturally find out.”
She paused, then added with a faint smirk, “Besides, even if you refuse, you’ll have no choice. After all, some things cannot remain unseen.”
Huh?
Ming He nearly stumbled, her mind reeling. Had she misheard? But the Woman in White’s expression confirmed it, leaving her utterly bewildered.
“Sister Qin, I truly didn’t see anything,” she protested, her voice earnest. In the misty atmosphere, she had been more focused on the ambiance than the scenery. Ahem, there really hadn’t been much to see…
And besides—
“We’re both women, so even if I did see something, it’s not like it matters, right?”
Her words trailed off under the Woman in White’s icy glare. Slowly, it dawned on her that this was the cultivation world, where the Great Path was long and winding, and the pursuit of kindred spirits often transcended trivial matters like gender.
Well, that was awkward.
Ming He, who had lived over twenty years in her previous life without so much as a romantic encounter, and whose current self was a mere seventeen-year-old with nothing but cultivation to her name, was utterly clueless when it came to matters of the heart.
The girl in blue cleared her throat, feeling a sudden itch. “If Sister Qin has no further business, I’ll take my leave now.”
Seeing the Woman in White standing silently, she hesitated for a moment before bowing deeply in the traditional manner of the cultivation world, then turned to leave.
From now on, she vowed never to nap in a tree again.
“Wait.” Qin Chu Yi’s voice halted her in her tracks. “Leave your name.”
Though she hadn’t asked earlier, Qin Chu Yi could easily uncover Ming He’s name and background with a mere thought. But since the girl was right there, why bother with unnecessary effort?
“Sister Qin, my name is Ming He—’bright’ as in the moon, and ‘congratulations’ as in the character for ‘He,’” Ming He replied, pausing briefly to ensure her words were clear.
“Ming He,” Qin Chu Yi repeated, her tone thoughtful. “I’ll remember it. When the time comes, I’ll seek you out.”
The Woman in White remained with her back turned, her white robes fluttering gently in the breeze, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance and detachment.
“Understood,” Ming He replied, confirming that there were no further questions. She then hurried away from the grove, sprinting back to her small courtyard, her heart heavy with regret.
She should have returned straight after her cultivation session instead of dozing off outside!
The girl in blue seethed inwardly, her mind weighed down by the favor she now owed. What could Qin Chu Yi possibly want from her? If even the Young Master of a prominent family couldn’t accomplish it, how could she?
Her thoughts drifted back to the flag she had seen in the valley and the hot spring in the woods, and a sense of unease settled over her.
The outer sect of the Liu Yun Sect was the lowest tier, a place for outer sect disciples. How could a hot spring exist in such a place?
That hot spring was undoubtedly Qin Chu Yi’s doing. Just how many secrets did the Woman in White hold?
Ming He’s curiosity flickered, but she quickly suppressed it. Some things were better left unknown.
Shaking off her chaotic thoughts, the girl in blue picked up her sword and began to practice under the moonlight.
Sleep was out of the question now.
With only three days left until the outer sect grand competition, she would soon have the chance to advance to the inner sect’s map.
The thought filled her with a faint sense of anticipation.
So, she steeled herself. Today, as always, was a day of hard work and long journeys.
