I Have a Sword to Ask the Heavens

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Chapter 28: Title

Autumn Forest Peak

"Superficial wounds," Shen Huaiwen announced, mixing herbs. "Medicine will heal her in days, though her body’s weaker than most."

Suiyin exhaled. "Thank goodness."

When the person was brought back, they barely had the strength to breathe, terrifying her.

Xia Shi suddenly turned to Suiyin. "The selection trial approaches. Shouldn’t you prepare?"

"Prepare… for what?" Suiyin glanced between her and Shen Huaiwen.

Realization dawned. They needed privacy. She hastily stood.

"Right! I’ll prepare now." Suiyin fled, shutting the door carefully behind her.

Shen Huaiwen placed the medicine bowl aside, smiling. "What troubles you?"

Xia Shi’s gaze fell on the unconscious Wen Zhishu. She raised a hand, casting a barrier between them.

"Even shielding from unconscious ears?" Shen Huaiwen chuckled.

"Senior sister," Xia Shi’s voice strained as pain lanced through her consciousness at Pei Jiu’s name. She forced spiritual power through her meridians, steadying herself. "Do you know Pei Jiu?"

"Cease this." Shen Huaiwen pressed a solidifying pill into her palm. "The Master sealed those memories." After checking Xia Shi’s consciousness, she withdrew her spiritual energy.

"Why?" Xia Shi frowned. "I thought Pei Jiu hid them to avoid my vengeance."

Shen Huaiwen hesitated. "If unspoken, you’d never rest. Pei Jiu… was your dearest friend."

"Friend?" Xia Shi gripped the table edge. "Did I bring her to Sanqing Realm?"

"No." Shen Huaiwen lit incense. "You sought only cultivation then – conquering secret realms, advancing your cultivation level, mastering swordsmanship beyond rivals—"

"Ahem." Xia Shi turned away, cheeks burning. "Speak of Pei Jiu."

"Four hundred years past," Shen Huaiwen continued, "Xuanhua and Lu Qingyu sought your company for Lingyang Secret Realm. You declined, nearing breakthrough. They planned celebrations upon their return."

"Later, you told our Master you’d depart three days. When three became six, she sent voice transmissions. Only then we learned you’d gone to Sixteen Peaks of Dark Domain. With Pei Jiu."

"The Dark Domain!" Xia Shi shot upright. "My tribulation ground was truly there! Pei Jiu altered it! All her doing!"

Her vision swam. Stumbling backward, she clutched the table until Shen Huaiwen steadied her.

"Why hide this?" Xia Shi’s trembling fingers twisted Shen Huaiwen’s sleeve, eyes glistening.

Shen Huaiwen averted her gaze. "The Master’s command."

"Master… where is Master? I’ll go ask her myself," Xia Shi said, attempting to stride out, but Shen Huaiwen gripped her firmly.

A flicker of grief passed through Shen Huaiwen’s eyes as her voice softened. "Master… ascended long ago."

"Ascended—right. Then where’s the statue?" Xia Shi’s breathing grew erratic, a chill seeping from her lips. She pressed stubbornly, "I’ll burn incense and seek her guidance. Master cherished me—she wouldn’t refuse me."

"Senior sister, answer me! Where’s the statue? Where—"

Xia Shi abruptly crumpled into Shen Huaiwen’s arms. Shen Huaiwen slipped a silver needle back into her sleeve and carried her to the inner room.

After administering acupuncture and medicine to suppress the cold poison, Shen Huaiwen finally relaxed.

Ye Xiao arrived, noted the unconscious figure outside, and cast a barrier upon entering. His face tightened with suppressed anger. "Why tell her this? You know her health—if something happens, how dare we face Master?"

Shen Huaiwen met his gaze, her usual smile absent. "She’s learned of Pei Jiu. Even if we stayed silent, she’d investigate alone. You know her temper. I suspect she’s aware of the poisoning too."

"I’ve failed to uncover Pei Jiu’s identity for years. How could she?" Ye Xiao sat heavily, draining the tea Shen Huaiwen offered.

"Precisely why I fear her searching. What if she dead-ends and spirals?" Shen Huaiwen massaged her temples. "She demanded Master’s statue for prayers. Should we fabricate one?"

Ye Xiao’s eye twitched. "Forge a divine statue? Do you want lightning strikes for blasphemy?"

Shen Huaiwen smirked. "The lightning wouldn’t target me."

Ye Xiao: "…"

"Then what? If she discovers Master didn’t ascend but—"

"Quiet!"

Ye Xiao jerked his chin toward the bed. Shen Huaiwen nodded, cutting off.

"After the selection trial conference," Ye Xiao switched to voice transmission, "I’ll ask Qingyun City’s lord to craft a formation conjuring a statue."

The Sanqing Realm’s sect leader and elder sat face-to-face within a barrier, yet still resorted to covert speech. Shen Huaiwen wrinkled her nose in disdain but complied.

"You think Xuanchen would help? His sister Xuanhua remains comatose. He’s cut ties with our realm for years."

"I’ll offer half the Taiqing Mountains." Ye Xiao’s jaw trembled.

"Madman." Shen Huaiwen’s smile sharpened as her fingers dug into his waist.

Ye Xiao hissed through clenched teeth, "Forgive my recklessness, senior sister."

He hadn’t used "senior sister" since becoming sect leader—a blatant plea for mercy.

Shen Huaiwen snorted, flicking her sleeve dismissively. "This humble space overcrowds easily. We shan’t delay the busy sect leader."

Ye Xiao: "…"

At the doorway, he paused. "Who’s that outside?"

"My junior sister and Suiyin rescued them from Baijiang Town," Shen Huaiwen’s voice floated after him.

Ye Xiao quickly grasped the key point. "With whom? Suiyin again?"

Shen Huaiwen asked curiously, "What’s wrong? Didn’t you tell her to show off around Suiyin?"

Ye Xiao gritted his teeth and stormed off.

——

Training ground.

Suiyin’s flamboyant red dress drew numerous glances from disciples, especially when paired with her fluid movements holding the wooden sword.

With three days remaining before the selection trial, the training ground buzzed with focused practitioners. Some observed others to gauge their potential rankings.

After practicing Sanqing Sword Style, a bored Suiyin scanned the crowd. Spotting Qin An in a corner, she strode over.

"Qin An! Spar with me!"

The sudden shout startled the distracted Qin An, almost making her drop her sword. After hesitation, she nodded.

At their usual practice spot, Suiyin spun her sword playfully. "In three days, you’ll officially become Senior Sister Qin An."

"Skill determines seniority," Qin An murmured, eyes downcast.

"Why not? Senior sister stays senior sister." Suiyin grinned. "When your sword fully harmonizes with you, I’ll never beat you again."

Qin An’s blade flashed from its sheath. Gone was her initial hesitation – now she attacked first, channeling all her spiritual power into the sword body. Each swing released powerful sword energy that forced Suiyin to dodge backward, knowing her wooden sword couldn’t withstand direct clashes.

A faint smile finally surfaced in Qin An’s gaze.

As she prepared to intensify her assault, Suiyin shouted "Stop!" But Qin An kept pushing until her arms trembled – too late realizing she’d lost control of the spiritually-attuned blade now lunging wildly at Suiyin.

"Dodge!" Qin An screamed helplessly.

Instead of retreating, Suiyin channeled spiritual energy around her wooden sword. Qin An’s eyes widened in terror. "Are you insane? MOVE!"

The metallic clang of colliding blades shocked Qin An. Her trembling hands regained strength as she opened her eyes – Suiyin now held not wood, but a shimmering sword of pure spiritual energy frostily resisting her strike.

Qin An yanked her sword back, spotting the splintered wooden sword behind Suiyin from the corner of her eye.

Suiyin let the spiritual sword vanish from her hand, muffling coughs behind her palm as her face turned pale.

She forced a smile. "You won today’s duel."

Qin An gripped her sword, staring at the ground without speaking.

"Why didn’t you use *Late Winter Snow*? Those sword moves counter aggressive styles."

If she’d learned it, why hold back?

"Why would I?" Suiyin tilted her head. "We agreed to practice *Sanqing Sword Style*. Sparring helps you understand your weaknesses and bond with your blade."

Qin An froze. She’d been so obsessed with *Late Winter Snow* she’d forgotten their original purpose.

"Besides," Suiyin added, squinting with amusement, "*Late Winter Snow* is Elder Wuwei’s creation. Unless I’m her disciple—which I’m not—using it against you would be disrespectful."

"But didn’t Elder Wuwei teach you that technique?" Qin An pressed.

Suiyin laughed. "Why would she? I’d be lucky to catch her attention."

Qin An remembered Suiyin’s earlier words:

*"I watched someone else practice."*

Who?

Before she could ask, Suiyin waved and turned away. "I’m heading back."

Suiyin hurried to her quarters and coughed up blood the moment she entered.

Slumping against the door, she felt her consciousness slip away again.

When her eyes opened, Elder Wuwei lay beside her—so close she could feel the elder’s body heat.

Suiyin blinked in confusion before noticing the frost-white Long Sword nearby.