Chapter 15

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Chapter 15: Title

Cracks spiderwebbed through the sword formation. Qin An clutched Yan Li’s abandoned artifact, staring desperately where her senior sister had vanished.

Outside the barrier, frenzied beasts hammered against the weakening shield. Their minds enslaved, demonic energy churned within them like storm seas, coalescing into a Blood Demon matching the formation’s colossal size.

The monstrosity rose on two legs, four arms clawing the air. Translucent flesh revealed viscous fluids sloshing beneath its horned skull—a nightmare given form.

“What kind of hellspawn is that?!” Younger disciples recoiled, morale crumbling.

The Blood Demon raked talons across the barrier. Each shriek of claw on energy sent shivers through the defenders.

It didn’t strike to kill. It toyed with them, crimson eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“Hold steady!” Qin An’s voice cut through the panic. She stared unblinking at the distant woods. “Senior sister will return. Trust her.”

The greatest disciple of Sanqing Realm couldn’t fall here.

Before the junior disciples could respond, a shrill whistle pierced the air. The Blood Demon howled, ramming its massive skull against the formation’s weakest point.

_Crack._

The central Long Sword disintegrated to dust. Others scrambled to replace it with their own blades.

But their spiritual power flickered like dying candles. Sword after sword shattered.

Qin An’s palms slicked with sweat. “Senior sister…”

The Blood Demon redoubled its assault. Qin An barked orders, rallying disciples around her. The artifact in her hand grew clammy.

She mimicked Yan Li’s stoic stance, but her heart battered her ribs like a trapped bird.

Qin An stood frontmost—a frail figure facing the Blood Demon’s gaping jaws.

When the formation fell, she’d be the first morsel swallowed.

She was terrified, eyes brimming with tears, legs trembling uncontrollably.

Another whistle pierced the air, shattering the sword formation.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

Qin An squeezed her eyes shut and screamed, holding the life-protecting artifact high above her head – completely forgetting to channel spiritual power into it.

The chilling whistle of blades passed her ears. Thinking the artifact from her senior sister had worked, she cautiously peeked through trembling eyelids.

The terrifying beast had vanished. Instead stood two female cultivators – one in black, one in white.

“You…” Qin An wiped tear-streaked cheeks, then froze. The white-clad cultivator wore disciple’s robes resembling Sanqing Realm’s inner sect design… but not quite. Despite spending three years here, she’d never seen this style.

Yet the Six-petal flower emblem gleamed on the sleeves – undeniable proof of sect affiliation.

Qin An bowed deeply in junior’s greeting. These must be robes from older generations.

Suiyin blinked. "Don’t thank me. Thank her." She retreated behind Xia Shi.

"Saved…?" Qin An stared blankly at the dormant artifact in her hand – no spiritual energy expended. She’d never activated it!

Her face drained of color. She’d almost gotten her sect siblings killed.

Drawing shaky breath, she bowed formally to Xia Shi. "Our gratitude, Fellow Immortal!"

Behind her, junior disciples trembled as they copied the gesture. Some sniffled quietly.

"Thank you!"

This first mountain expedition had become their first brush with death.

A debt no one would forget.

Suiyin scanned the group. "Where’s Yan Li?" The senior sister wasn’t one to abandon others.

Qin An jolted. "She… she followed the whistle!" Her voice cracked.

Xia Shi’s gaze sharpened, turning toward faint disturbances lingering where she’d slain the Blood Demon. After moments, she faced Suiyin again.

Suiyin tilted her head with plastic-perfect smile. "Well?"

"You want babysitting duty?" She jabbed at Xia Shi’s unspoken request.

"Then you owe me." Xia Shi met her gaze squarely.

"Your favor?" Suiyin stepped into Xia Shi’s personal space, hovering at the edge of tolerance. "What’s that worth?"

"You didn’t even glance my way earlier. Now you need me?"

"Even if we’re not friends, have you forgotten our agreement?"

Xia Shi froze – she’d genuinely forgotten about that matter.

"What do you want?" Having just met, anyone could tell something felt off about this conversation, so Xia Shi humored her.

Suiyin made a simple request. "I don’t want favors. After this, let’s become friends?"

Xia Shi studied her. Just to be friends?

"Fine."

Before Xia Shi could search for Yan Li, the ground violently shook – no, the entire secret realm trembled.

The secret realm’s sky began fracturing overhead, a jade gate faintly materializing in the air.

Xia Shi said, "The secret realm gate’s opening."

Suiyin pouted discontentedly. "Already? They claimed this was a major secret realm. Barely days passed – shouldn’t it last months?"

"Broken Stream’s red jade appeared here. The early gate opening means – a divine weapon found its master."

Lingyang Jun’s Shenwu Sword had chosen a new wielder.

"What? Those people actually obtained it?" Though uninterested in the sword herself, Suiyin hated seeing famed blades fall to unworthy hands.

"They say divine weapons have spirits. Clearly exaggerated."

Like Broken Stream’s terrible judgment.

Xia Shi addressed the Sanqing Realm disciples. "Exit first."

"But Senior Sister…" Qin An showed concern.

Xia Shi cut in, "The gate stays open briefly. I’ll find her."

She headed toward the disturbance, telling Suiyin while passing, "Please escort them out."

Suiyin found this puzzling – previously aloof, now so invested in Sanqing Realm disciples?

Glancing at her worn clothes, she muttered, "Truly not from Sanqing Realm?"

————

Xia Shi tracked the disturbance to a waterfall, finding iron sword fragments and a hilt by the water.

Her gaze rose to sword marks and bloodstains marring the cliffside.

Evidence of conflict.

Xia Shi’s fingers danced, conjuring a formation that summoned a watery screen. It showed Yan Li clashing with a woman using the iron sword.

After one strike, the sword exploded into dust. In the next instant, the woman effortlessly seized Yan Li’s vital points.

The vision faded.

Frowning, Xia Shi cast another formation. A spiritual power-formed crystal butterfly circled before landing on the water surface.

"Strange." Suspecting error, she sent the butterfly searching again.

The weakened butterfly eventually returned to perch on her shoulder, spiritual power exhausted.

Xia Shi searched in disbelief, unable to locate her target.

This was her senior sister’s sole disciple – she couldn’t simply abandon her.

As time dwindled, Xia Shi barely escaped the secret realm before its closure.

Neither Yan Li nor any trace of her breath could be found.

————

The secret realm’s entrance buzzed with activity. Concealing herself, Xia Shi swiftly approached the Junior Disciples.

Qin An’s tears fell freely when she saw Xia Shi emerge alone. "Senior sister, she…"

"Don’t worry. She’s already out of the secret realm." Xia Shi had checked the Sanqing Realm disciples’ Soul Lanterns immediately after exiting. Yan Li’s still burned brightly.

No presence within the secret realm meant Yan Li must be outside. But had she escaped alone, or been taken by that faceless woman?

Though not closely acquainted with her sect-niece, Xia Shi knew Yan Li would never abandon her fellow disciples.

Qin An slumped in relief against her supporting senior sister.

"Junior Sister Qin? Are you hurt?"

"Just tired," Qin An smiled weakly, tension dissolving now that her senior sister was safe.

With Yan Li missing, the eldest disciple present took charge. After thanking Xia Shi and Suiyin, she led the group back to Sanqing Realm to report everything to the sect leader and elders.

The Thirteen Ghost Domains’ intrusion and Blood Demon’s appearance demanded immediate attention.

"Secret realm’s closed," Suiyin stretched, inhaling deeply. "Our deal stands?"

Xia Shi nodded. "Where to?"

Having wandered the Nine Realms for Four Hundred Years, she knew every path.

"Sanqing Realm."

"Where?" Xia Shi blinked.

"Sanqing Realm," Suiyin repeated cheerfully.

Xia Shi’s finger trembled as she pointed at the retreating disciples. "They just left for…"

"Sanqing Realm," Suiyin finished, grinning.

"Then why not follow them?"

"Because we made a pact," Suiyin declared solemnly. "I give Hanyu Stone, you guide me. No changes."

This was essentially gifting the precious stone while pretending otherwise.

Xia Shi pressed her lips tight. "Keep your Hanyu Stone. My sword needs no more materials."

"Then—let’s call this a friend’s gift?"

The girl removed the jade hairpin from her hair, her smile radiant under sunlight that bathed her in a warm glow.

Xia Shi froze. It’d been ages since she’d received such genuine kindness from a friend.

She pushed the hairpin back. Suiyin’s lips drooped, mistaking it for rejection.

"You’re breaking your promise!" she grumbled. "We agreed to be friends."

"Friends don’t need gifts," Xia Shi said with a faint smile.

Suiyin brightened—this meant acceptance.

She twirled around Xia Shi before latching onto her arm.

Xia Shi tried to retreat but got pinned.

"Friends always link arms," Suiyin declared, mischief dancing in her eyes.

"Really?" Xia Shi blinked. Her past friends had never clung like this.

"Absolutely!"

"See?" Suiyin gestured as two female cultivators passed by.

The pair not only held arms but gripped each other’s waists, cheeks nearly touching as they whispered.

Xia Shi: "…"

"Friends…do that?" Her eyes widened.

"They do!"