Chapter 11
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Chapter 11: Title
"Your sword might need these."
The offer made Xia Shi lower her blade. "Agreed."
After the woman departed with Song Chen, Xia Shi immediately swung Broken Stream behind her back while retrieving the Tai Chi Seal. Her hand throbbed with pain, fingertips turning leaden gray. Had the confrontation continued, the outcome might have been different.
Suiyin caught Broken Stream effortlessly. The sword’s golden spiritual power dissipated like smoke around her hand. Though the blade didn’t reject her touch, it remained masterless.
Xia Shi observed this silently before storing both the seal and restoration materials.
The group regrouped cautiously.
Lu Ciyou avoided eye contact, checking Xia Shi’s condition from the corner of her eye before snapping her head away. "Consider this debt repaid. Show my name at any Liujin Pavilion branch if you need help." She suddenly whirled back, eyes blazing. "But I still hate you!"
Jiang Xinian started when Liu Sheng nudged him. Both clasped hands in formal salute. "Our thanks for your protection, Senior."
Following the woman’s lead, they recognized Xia Shi’s cultivation level far exceeded their generation’s.
"Senior?" Suiyin’s smile held no deference. Closing the distance until their shoulders touched, she whispered words only Xia Shi could hear: "Then shouldn’t we… discuss our unfinished business?"
The honeyed threat made Xia Shi’s eyelashes flutter, guilt flickering in her eyes.
“What do you want to discuss?”
At Ascending Immortal Platform, clear wine in the cup mirrored a full moon. A pale bony finger slowly traced the cup’s rim, its tip immediately drawing blood.
The crimson liquid blended with wine as the woman appeared unaware, watching a young branch swaying at cliff’s edge before gulping down the blood-tainted liquor. A man knelt at her feet – Song Chen, who’d recently failed his self-detonation attempt.
Song Chen pressed his forehead desperately against cold stone.
“Song Chen?”
The icy voice pierced his eardrums. He trembled, wishing to bury his head deeper. “Your servant is present!”
“Look up.”
Song Chen raised his head fearfully, eyes avoiding the figure by the table. His peripheral vision caught a black longsword on the table, its scabbard scarred like battle-worn warrior, indifferent to pain, steeped in carnage.
Fabric rustled. Song Chen sensed the blade’s owner standing, footsteps approaching.
“You recognize me?”
“Though never witnessing City Lord’s face, this humble one knows Blood-Draining Knife.”
A century ago during Thirteen Ghost Domains’ turmoil, someone had carved through Floating Life Palace with blade, decapitating old City Lord to claim throne. Endless Sea’s dweller named her Blue Knife. None learned her true name. When curious souls probed her pre-ghost realm past, their corpses hung at city gates next dawn. None dared cross new City Lord since.
Song Chen had entered ghost domains before her. He’d seen this blood-drinking ruler climb corpse mountains, understood her ways. Yet their paths never crossed – why seek him now?
Dread coiled in his gut.
“Which City Lord’s orders brought you here?” Blue Knife’s casual tone crashed like tidal waves in his skull.
His lips moved soundlessly, face chalk-white.
“Never mind. I care not.”
Song Chen’s relief shattered as weight crushed his shoulder. Cold steel glinted in his vision – Blood-Draining Knife’s edge kissing his throat. One twitch would end him silently.
“M-mercy, City Lord!” His voice splintered, body petrified.
“Tell your backer: I won’t interfere with Canghai plunder. But certain people are forbidden.” Pressure increased. A bone snapped, Song Chen’s choked scream piercing Ascending Immortal Platform’s stillness.
After prolonged torment, she added, “I’d not mind ruling two cities.”
Song Chen’s spine creaked near breaking. “Y-yes!”
The crushing force vanished. Howling cold wind swept the platform, leaving only broken man gasping on stone, grateful for borrowed life.
Cultivators flocked to Lingyang Secret Realm not just for treasures, but for Nine Realms’ unparalleled mortal spectacles. Ascension demanded shedding human frailties – greed for earthly joys, flavors, attachments. Yet these mundane desires defined mortal realm.
Nine Realms and mortal world once connected. Each year, talented mortals joined cultivator ranks, while spiritual energy-rejecting descendants of cultivators returned to mundane lives.
After cultivators frequently meddled in mortal affairs and met tragic ends, the Esteemed Elders Sect joined forces to seal all pathways, leaving only the Heavenly Gate connecting the Nine Realms to the mortal world.
Lingyang Jun originated from the mortal world. Within the Purple Mansion Secret Realm formed after his death existed a place he’d frequented in life – the Lantern Festival.
This festival now served as one of the few remaining connections between cultivators and mortal society.
When disciples entered Lingyang Secret Realm for training, elders or senior disciples always accompanied them – fearing Junior Disciples might lose their focus to the festival’s temptations and develop worldly attachments.
Xia Shi had only heard of this place. Unlike others drawn to festivities, she preferred scaling Linglong Pavilion’s heights. Yet standing amidst hanging lanterns and unfamiliar novelties, an odd restlessness stirred within her.
Though merely a common mortal celebration, every face – even street vendors’ – glowed with unfeigned joy. Born into the conflict-ridden Nine Realms where cultivators constantly sparred with blades and schemes, Xia Shi had never witnessed carefree living like this.
Now she understood the sect’s restrictions. This place possessed dangerous allure.
Xia Shi straightened her posture, eyes regaining clarity.
The scene was pleasant, but not her destination.
"Liu Sheng! Taste this pastry!"
"Amazing! Xinian, these mortal treats surpass spirit fruits!"
Jiang Xinian and Liu Sheng juggled armfuls of snacks while chewing enthusiastically. Nearby, Wen Zhishu dragged a reluctant Lu Ciyou toward jewelry stalls. Though the young lady initially scoffed, her eyes lingered on delicate hairpins until she tried every piece.
"I’ll take them all," Lu Ciyou finally declared, waving dismissively.
Xia Shi: "…"
"Enjoying yourself?" Suiyin appeared beside her, grinning.
"These illusions vanish when we leave, correct?" Xia Shi picked up a fox mask from a vendor’s stall.
"Only Lingyang Jun’s manuals and elixirs remain real," Suiyin confirmed, selecting her own mask and tossing coins to the seller. "The rest are spiritual projections from his memories."
"Why pay for illusions?"
Suiyin chuckled. "The vendors behave as Lingyang Jun remembered. Try stealing and they’ll chase you down."
Xia Shi nodded when sudden heat encircled her wrist. An unfamiliar scent enveloped her as someone pulled her into a half-embrace. She stiffened, free hand rising instinctively.
"Don’t," Suiyin’s laughter tickled her ear. "No spiritual energy allowed here. Disturb the peace and Lingyang Jun’s wrath might awaken."
Xia Shi shoved at the arm trapping her. "Release me."
Suiyin maintained her grip. Then Xia Shi felt the other woman’s breath hitch, her body turning rigid against Xia Shi’s back.
"Hey. What’s wrong?"
Before she could respond, the person collapsed forward, falling into Xia Shi’s arms with their head resting against her neck.
“Ah! What’s wrong with this girl?” The mask stall’s shopkeeper startled, hastily pointing ahead. “There’s a clinic nearby—go quickly!”
He clearly wanted no trouble.
“Thanks.”
Xia Shi glanced at the cloth-wrapped sword in her hand, then at the group nearby.
Wen Zhishu lacked the strength to carry anyone. Lu Ciyou would likely refuse. The other two men couldn’t assist without breaching propriety.
“Hurry, girl! Can’t delay with sickness!” The shopkeeper urged, anxious to avoid involvement.
Xia Shi pressed her lips together, crouched slightly, and hoisted the unconscious Suiyin over her shoulder.
She strode steadily toward the clinic, leaving the gaping shopkeeper behind.
Only when out of sight did Xia Shi set Suiyin down by a wall, slipping a nourishing pill between her lips.
Suiyin stirred awake moments later, blinking at Xia Shi.
“You fainted suddenly.”
“Apologies. I… dozed off.” The evasion hung thick between them.
Everyone had secrets. Xia Shi hummed in acknowledgement, letting it drop.
She’d seen Suiyin bloodied and breathless, only to revive hours later. Seen Broken Stream yield to her despite its seal. Felt no pulse when Suiyin collapsed earlier.
None of her concern.
Only one matter needed settling.
“You wanted to talk. Here works.”
