I Have a Sword to Ask the Heavens

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Chapter 24: Title

Deep in the night, Suiyin’s words surfaced in Xia Shi’s dreams.

"You resemble a friend of mine."

Their subsequent conversation revealed they’d later ventured to the Valley of Subdued Dragons, fighting dragons for seven straight days to obtain blood fruit.

Guilt prickled Xia Shi’s conscience. She thrashed in bed, sleep abandoning her.

She hated owing debts.

Dressing quickly, she slipped out of Wentiang Peak toward the main peak.

Evading patrolling disciples, she crept toward Suiyin’s quarters.

"Another midnight rendezvous?"

The sudden voice raised goosebumps on Xia Shi’s skin. She’d masked her breath – who could’ve detected her?

Whirling around, she nearly collided with the sect leader’s looming face.

Staggering back two steps, she scowled. "What are you doing?"

Ye Xiao tsked disapprovingly, clasping his hands behind his back. "Mind your manners, junior!"

Xia Shi’s racing heart gradually steadied. "Why are you awake, Senior Sister?"

"While handling the Thirteen Ghost Domains turmoil, I noticed barrier fluctuations." His eyes glinted mischievously. "Imagine my surprise finding my junior sister sneaking about."

Xia Shi crossed her arms. "I’m walking through Sanqing Realm where I was raised. Since when is that thievery?"

Ye Xiao lightly hummed, "Aren’t you here to find someone?"

This thought couldn’t be hidden from anyone.

He reached out and grabbed the person’s collar, saying, "She’s already asleep now; walk with me."

The main peak had a spot at an extreme height, rarely visited by disciples due to its remote and treacherous paths.

Standing atop the mountain, Xia Shi gazed down at the sprawling scenery of Sanqing Realm’s peaks.

Tonight’s moonlight bathed the mountain spirits in a faint phosphorescence, their twinkling glow mirroring the starlit sky above – a breathtaking sight.

Winds whipped fiercely at the cliff’s edge, tangling Xia Shi’s hair. She inhaled sharply, the biting chill wrapping around her body like a refreshing embrace.

The coldness faded as warmth bloomed through her meridians.

A barrier materialized before her, carrying the aroma of fresh tea from behind.

With the wind now blocked, both chill and rising warmth vanished. "Come taste Kunlun’s new tea," Ye Xiao called. "I rarely share this."

Turning, Xia Shi saw Ye Xiao arranging tea and pastries beneath a silver-blossomed tree – all her favorite treats. She sat across from him, accepting the offered cup.

"Does Senior Sister have something to say?"

This midnight meeting couldn’t be about duties – he’d clearly intercepted her intentionally.

Ye Xiao sighed faintly, his voice carrying reproach. "Must I always want something when seeking you?"

Xia Shi stared at her quivering reflection in the teacup, ripples distorting the image with every tremor.

After prolonged silence, Ye Xiao traced his cup’s rim. His voice cut clearly through the barrier. "You resent me."

"Never." Xia Shi sipped the cooled tea, then grimaced.

Bitter.

The acrid taste pierced from tongue tip to heart.

Ye Xiao sighed again, changing subjects. A sword materialized in his hand, which he laid beside hers. "I know you sought Hanyu Stone for repairs. It’s been mended."

Xia Shi’s lashes fluttered as her gaze settled on the Long Sword. Her trembling fingers hovered uselessly above the weapon.

"What? Afraid to hold your own blade?"

Xia Shi curled her retreating fingers, voice thickening. "I thought… you meant to stop me from wielding it."

"Would you heed me if I did?" Ye Xiao stood abruptly, pressing the frost-glinting sword into her palm. "Keep your sword. Don’t lose it again."

Xia Shi clutched the hilt, her senior sister’s words echoing. She’d never lost the physical blade – only her sword spirit and conviction had slipped away.

Ye Xiao stood with hands clasped behind his back, his voice scattering on the wind like distant chimes.

"Master once said, ‘Apart from life and death, nothing else matters.’ I still remember when you first won the top spot at the Immortal Sect competition, shining brighter than anyone. Back then, you declared, ‘For a sword cultivator, the sword in hand outweighs life and death.’ Now that the sword is back in your grasp, won’t you return too?"

Her fingertip brushed the sword body. The cracks had been fixed so well that even she could hardly tell it had once been broken.

A tear hit the blade, silently spreading across the moon-white robe, leaving a dark patch.

A warm hand touched her head. Xia Shi froze, catching a flash of white in the corner of her eye.

Shen Huaiwen smiled, holding out an ornate box.

"Happy birthday, Junior Sister."

Today… was her birthday.

Xia Shi opened the box to find an exquisite sword tassel.

Few sword cultivators used tassels, dismissing them as pointless decorations.

But young Xia Wuwei had loved them—the way the flowing strands danced with each sword stroke.

She fastened the tassel tightly to the hilt. The frost-pale blade and silver-threaded tassel looked perfect together.

Xia Shi’s eyes burned as emotions held back for Four Hundred Years poured out. Her fingers kept tracing every mended crack on the sword.

"…Thanks." The words came out shaky, still wet with tears.

Shen Huaiwen sighed softly, pulling her close. "Why thank me? As your senior sister, looking after you is my duty. You’ve carried too much these years."

The Sword Pavilion had been sealed for four centuries. Her junior sister had trapped herself just as long—that old wound still stabbed like a thorn.

—

Xia Shi didn’t recall returning to the peak. She only remembered sobbing in Huaiwen’s arms till midnight, then babbling nonsense. The last memory was Ye Xiao hauling her up angrily while Huaiwen chuckled.

A faint smile touched her lips as she sat up. Her gaze landed on the Heartless Sword resting in its box on the table, now with a sword sheath.

Bare feet met cold floorboards as she approached. The sword’s chill felt reassuringly real under her palm.

Last night’s starry sky, the repaired blade, her senior sisters’ care—it all felt like the four-century-long dream she’d never wanted to end.

Dressed in Sanqing Realm elder robes with the sword at her hip, Xia Shi headed to teach when the jade bell chimed.

The sect leader’s voice transmission came: "Master Fan’s covering your class. Go supervise the training ground."

Supervising beat teaching any day. Xia Shi hid her relief.

She’d always been the one watched by elders before. Never thought she’d get to oversee others.

At the training ground, inner disciples already practiced diligently. Their self-discipline made supervision easy.

Xia Shi watched the eager junior disciples below, hiding softness in her gaze.

Soon, a girl approached clutching her sword, eyes darting nervously.

Xia Shi recognized her—the one who’d forgotten to channel spiritual power into her artifact at Lingyang Secret Realm.

Qin An, was it?

"What’s troubling you?"

Xia Shi noticed Qin An’s awkward movements as she practiced the Sanqing Sword Style, her occasional frowns betraying a lack of understanding.

"Elder Wuwei," Qin An bowed respectfully, clutching her sword with a troubled expression. "I… can’t control this sword."

A sword that defied its wielder…

Xia Shi took the blade. Its craftsmanship was impeccable, freshly forged. New inner sect disciples rarely received such high-grade artifacts unless the weapon itself chose its master. Even access to the Sword Pavilion didn’t guarantee such treasures.

"This sword—"

Qin An hurried to explain under the elder’s gaze, "Senior Sister Yan Li gifted it to me." Her eyes lit up when she mentioned Yan Li.

Upon returning to the Sanqing Realm, Qin An had worried endlessly about her senior sister’s safety but dared not question the sect leader or elders. Then days ago, another disciple had approached her with this sword, claiming it was Yan Li’s wish.

"Demonstrate the Sanqing Sword Style," Xia Shi ordered, returning the weapon.

Qin An retreated several paces before executing the thirteen-form sequence. Each defensive pivot and offensive thrust followed the prescribed motions with textbook precision. Yet the sword moved stiffly in her hands, its transitions between forms abrupt rather than fluid.

A small figure caught Xia Shi’s peripheral vision – Suiyin, mirroring Qin An’s movements with a wooden sword. The Sanqing Sword Style formed the bedrock of all disciples’ training, and since the sect leader clearly intended Suiyin to join their ranks, early practice couldn’t hurt.

Qin An sheathed her sword and stood waiting for feedback.

"Do you spar with others?"

"They won’t practice with me." Qin An stared at her feet. "The senior disciples say I’m too new. They don’t want to seem unfair."

Xia Shi’s gaze shifted to Suiyin, who immediately waved her wooden sword and bounded over.

"…Elder!" The girl grinned up at Xia Shi without a trace of decorum.

Qin An gaped at the familiar face. "You?!"

Suiyin beamed.

"Your sparring partner arrives," Xia Shi told Qin An.

"But…" The dark-blue gleam of Qin An’s artifact contrasted sharply with Suiyin’s plain training sword. "Shouldn’t I use a wooden sword too?"

"No." Xia Shi’s tone brooked no argument. "Mastering that blade requires real combat."

Suiyin jabbed her practice weapon forward. "Enough talking! I haven’t crossed blades in ages – don’t blame me when you lose!"

As the pair faced off in the clearing, Xia Shi raised her hand. A translucent barrier sealed around them.

"Begin."

Qin An had never sparred with anyone before. At the command, she merely tightened her grip on the sword without moving.

Suiyin raised an eyebrow, spun her wooden sword, and wrapped it in spiritual power. The temperature within the barrier plummeted.

Xia Shi felt her waist-mounted sword quiver briefly.

When she glanced down, the sword tassel hung motionless—perhaps she’d imagined it.

The duelists inside the barrier now clashed, both using Sanqing Sword Style. Yet Qin An could only defend, constantly retreating under Suiyin’s fluid chain of the thirteen forms. The younger girl’s forehead glistened with sweat, every attempted counter crushed before it began.

A sudden sting in Qin An’s wrist. Her sword clattered to the floor.

She bit her quivering lip, eyes shining.

Suiyin had been grinning at the elder outside the barrier. Now she froze at Qin An’s tears. The wooden sword thudded to the ground as she scrambled to retrieve the fallen blade.

"My fault—I went too hard."

"No. I’m… inadequate." Qin An swiped at her eyes, lifting her chin with forced cheer. "Thank you. I see my flaws now." A pause. "Could I… challenge you again?"

"Anytime!"

The barrier dissolved. Qin An bowed toward Xia Shi before hurrying back to the training ground.

Suiyin bounded over, grinning. "Well?"

"Well what?" Xia Shi resumed her observation post facing the training grounds.

"Me! How’d I do?"

Xia Shi looked up as Suiyin leaned in. Their eyes met—still pools reflecting crimson robes and a smile bright as spring’s first dawn.

It struck Xia Shi then: Suiyin’s ever-present grin. The way her eyes crinkled, lips curving like twin crescent moons. The words escaped unbidden.

"Beautiful."

A delighted chuckle. "Elder! I meant my swordsmanship."

Heat flooded Xia Shi’s cheeks. She stared fixedly ahead, fingertips burning.

"I didn’t order you to seduce her!"

The gritted voice transmission came from someone she knew.