Chapter 21

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Chapter 21: Title

The spoon hovered near her mouth, but Xia Shi couldn’t bring herself to accept it. Leaning back, she took the bowl from Suiyin’s hands. "I can manage."

The soup, brewed with spirit herbs, radiated warmth as she drank. Xia Shi gulped three mouthfuls straight from the rim, her pallor improving visibly—the effect was immediate.

Suiyin watched with a pleased smile.

"Works faster than I thought."

After storing the empty bowl, she carried the food box downstairs.

Alone on the bed, Xia Shi’s thoughts knotted like tangled thread—no clear start or end.

Would they really share the bed tonight?

She glanced at the window. Moonlight bathed the sparse stars, making the opposite rooftop seem inviting.

The door creaked open again. Suiyin entered with two blankets and a lumpy bundle clutched to her chest.

Xia Shi blinked. "…What’s this?"

"Making a floor bed." Suiyin spread one blanket near the bedside, pulling out a pillow. Her smile softened. "I kick in my sleep. Wouldn’t want to crush you."

"……"

The earnest smile disarmed Xia Shi. Here she’d been overthinking, while Suiyin radiated sincerity.

Darkness swallowed the room when the lights died. Neither slept. Xia Shi heard Suiyin’s restless breaths.

Rolling toward the edge, she squinted through the faint glow from the window. A human-shaped lump lay rigidly on the floor—hands folded over stomach, posture unnaturally still.

So much for "kicking in her sleep."

"Still awake?" Suiyin’s face tilted toward her in the gloom.

"I…" Words stuck in Xia Shi’s throat.

"I’ve no family. No friends. Aunt Yan’s been my only companion since childhood." Suiyin’s whisper cut the stillness. "You’re the first person who feels… familiar. Aunt Yan says I’ve forgotten something. A person? A memory? I don’t know."

Pause. Then, softer—

"Xia Shi. Have we… met in the past?"

Suiyin’s voice was soft, yet it hit Xia Shi’s ears like thunder.

Her heart thumped steadily before suddenly quickening.

She remembered the illusion formation in Linglong Pavilion from before her thunder tribulation. There had been someone constantly following her, clinging to her side, who ultimately stabbed through her heart with the Heartless Sword.

Without experiencing that illusion, she’d never have known this person existed or discovered the abnormality during her tribulation.

Her memories had been erased.

Suiyin’s words now made Xia Shi feel like she’d fallen into icy water.

Illusions don’t include unrelated people – Suiyin had entered mere moments after her.

In those missing memories, was the companion who betrayed her actually Suiyin?

Xia Shi refused to dwell further. Digging nails into her palm, she turned to face the wall.

Hearing movement but getting no reply, Suiyin hurried to the bedside in darkness. As her hand reached toward the figure under blankets, cold light flashed.

The merciless sword energy sliced past her cheek, severing a lock of hair.

Half-inch closer would’ve meant death.

————

Sanqing Realm, Wentiang Peak.

Xia Shi barely made it back using her emergency teleportation formation. The pre-set formation in her room prevented complete spiritual exhaustion.

Frost crystallized between her brows as cold invaded her bones.

Howling winds froze meridians while snow pelted the peak.

Collapsed on frozen ground, she couldn’t even twitch a finger before darkness claimed her.

The faceless woman from the illusion reappeared in dreams. They sat shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing through conversations.

Watching as bystander, Xia Shi witnessed their life-and-death journey ending in Dark Domain. Xia Wuwei erected a barrier against thunder tribulation while the woman deployed protective formations.

Though swordless for four hundred years, Xia Shi recognized formations instantly. These weren’t protective – but overwhelming teleportation patterns that would forcibly relocate everything within.

She jerked her head up as the dream-woman completed the formation. Slowly turning, features emerged:

Sharp brows above blade-straight nose, lips carved like steel – a face weaponized by severity, terrifying as unsheathed steel.

Recognition struck as the face cleared. Xia Shi awoke choking on blood.

Bitter medicine assaulted her nose. Blinking at hanging herbs, she realized she lay in Autumn Forest – realm of medical cultivators.

Every limb ached as she spat dark blood. The dream’s revelation terrified her – that vicious expression twisting Suiyin’s familiar features.

"Waking patients shouldn’t tax their minds," came a voice. "Faint again and how will I face the sect leader?"

The woman’s voice was gentle as she walked over with a bowl of pitch-black medicine. Seeing the pool of blood by the bed, she looked relieved.

"Good that you spat it out. You’d have slept for days otherwise. Drink this."

She helped Xia Shi sit up and offered the medicine bowl.

Xia Shi didn’t take it. Staring at the ink-dark liquid, she rasped, "Senior sister, I…"

Shen Huaiwen smiled faintly, one eyebrow quirking upward.

Xia Shi remembered this expression from their youth – it always meant trouble for someone.

Once, a noble’s son studying at Sanqing Realm had insulted them repeatedly. They’d tolerated it until he crossed the line, burning her sister’s herb fields in Autumn Forest one night.

Xia Shi recalled how her senior sister had worn this same expression the next morning, surveying the scorched earth.

Within days, poisonous creatures had bitten the young man in his sleep. When they carried his swollen body into Autumn Forest, he stayed six months under Shen Huaiwen’s "care" before fleeing home, terrified of smiling faces.

Seeing that smile again after a century, Xia Shi shivered. The matured version looked more frightening.

She gulped the medicine obediently. Fire exploded in her throat, bitter spice coating her tongue. Clutching the bedframe, she croaked, "Why’s it spicy?"

She’d expected bitterness, not this burning!

Tears welled as she hissed, frantically scanning the room.

Shen Huaiwen chuckled, offering prepared water and candied fruits.

After gulping two mouthfuls and sucking the sweets, Xia Shi’s forehead grew damp with sweat.

"The sect leader says to come to the main peak when you can move."

Knowing she’d be scolded, Xia Shi slumped back weakly. "Senior sister… I can’t go…"

Shen Huaiwen tapped her with a scroll – a featherlight rebuke. "I’ll say you’re still unconscious."

"Thank—"

Darkness filled the doorway.

"Unnecessary."

Ye Xiao stood framed in the entrance, authority radiating from him. "Huaiwen, leave us."

Shen Huaiwen approached him. "Don’t be too harsh."

"I know my limits."

Xia Shi sat up straight, head bowed.

"Xia Wuwei!" Ye Xiao’s voice cracked like ice. "Still think your sword can challenge heaven? Did I not forbid leaving Sanqing Realm without permission? Ah, but without Master here, why heed anyone? Heaven’s favored genius!"

"You return half-dead. Does Sanqing Realm owe you? Four Hundred Years Ago we shielded you from leading sects. Now more trouble?"

"Junior sister!" Shen Huaiwen reentered, scowling. "That’s too much!"

"Too much?" Ye Xiao stared at the bowed head. "I’m being kind. Were it not for Master’s order, she wouldn’t be here!"

Shen Huaiwen caught her breath and shouted sharply, “Ye Xiao!”

“Enough.”

Ye Xiao turned away abruptly.

Shen Huaiwen sighed and stepped forward to stroke Xia Shi’s hair. After a long silence, she murmured, “Her heart’s softer than her words. When she brought you here last night, her eyes were swollen from crying. She guarded your door until dawn, only leaving when your condition stabilized.”

“Don’t dwell on her harshness.”

Xia Shi shook her head weakly. “She’s right. This is my fault.”

A dull ache spread through Shen Huaiwen’s chest. The memory of her once-proud Junior Sister seemed to fade further away.

She bent to embrace Xia Shi, feeling warm tears soak through her robe. The younger woman’s choked whimpers gradually quieted as sleep reclaimed her.

After tucking the blanket around Xia Shi, Shen Huaiwen slipped outside. Two steps down the wooden stairs, she spotted Ye Xiao leaning against a pillar.

“Was cruelty necessary? These years haven’t been kind to her either.”

Ye Xiao’s earlier sharpness had cooled. “Her recklessness angers me. If she’d just stay put instead of courting disaster, I could protect her properly.”

“You know she can’t. Four Hundred Years of the path of tranquility couldn’t tame her spirit.” Shen Huaiwen’s brow furrowed. “She’s recalling things.”

“That incident?” Ye Xiao stiffened.

At Shen Huaiwen’s grim nod, he exhaled sharply. “Master warned this day would come. Her choices are hers alone now.” His life sword materialized with a flick of wrist. “Keep her safe.”

————

Qingshou, Valley of Subdued Dragons

Suiyin secured the blood fruit pouch, feet skimming the water surface like a darting kingfisher.

“Have you gone mad?” Lu Ciyou’s shout echoed across the lake. “She abandoned you!”

A scaled shadow breached behind them. The black dragon’s jaws snapped where Suiyin had stood moments before.

“I need answers!” Suiyin dodged, eyes blazing.

“Then ask living people, not dig for rotten fruits!”

Their argument enraged the beast. Waterspouts erupted as the dragon ascended, its roar shaking heaven and earth.