Chapter 31

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Chapter 31: Title

Pei Jiu?

Suiyin vaguely remembered this name – the Chengxian Restaurant’s shopkeeper had mentioned Elder Wuwei and Pei Jiu saving Xia He.

Why would the elder utter this name now?

Her genuine confusion answered Xia Shi’s unspoken test.

The elder pressed a palm against Suiyin’s shoulder, cultivation power suppressing resistance as she sent her consciousness diving inward.

A cultivator’s consciousness sea permitted no intrusion – one misstep meant spiritual annihilation.

Yet Xia Shi found no resistance, only calm acceptance.

The endless mental expanse contained but one element:

Swords.

Innumerable blades hung suspended like celestial guillotines.

Suiyin was indeed heaven-born sword cultivator material.

The consciousness sea couldn’t be faked—such a person would never scheme or betray.

As Xia Shi withdrew from the consciousness, the chill in her eyes softened.

She tried to step back, but Suiyin gripped her wrist and pulled her close.

Their noses brushed before they swiftly separated.

Before Xia Shi could scold her, Suiyin’s firm voice cut through: “Xia Shi.”

This wasn’t a probing tone.

Hiding the flicker of panic in her gaze, Xia Shi pushed her away, brows furrowed sternly. “You’re mistaken.”

Mistaken?

Suiyin pondered. When Elder Wuwei had examined her consciousness earlier, the elder hadn’t noticed her own spiritual power slowly leaking.

Pale golden energy glowed starkly against the snowy landscape.

Leaking spiritual power meant regression in one’s realm.

The healer had described Xia Shi’s condition the same way. Now Elder Wuwei shared it.

Most tellingly, that same tightness in her chest struck Suiyin when she saw either of them.

Thinking deeper, Xia Shi and Elder Wuwei mirrored each other: both guarded against closeness, both radiated icy sword energy, both hid secrets behind their eyes.

Coincidence?

Suiyin’s lips curved.

“Didn’t you mistake me first, Elder? Consider us even.”

Relieved by Suiyin’s retreat, Xia Shi gave a curt nod. “Hm.”

“The trial’s ending. I’ll return now.” Suiyin bowed.

“Go.”

Walking toward the main peak, Suiyin kept puzzling over the pair’s connection. Beyond shared mannerisms, nothing proved they were the same person.

The main peak buzzed with voices as the second trial concluded. The timing incense had shrunk to a child’s fingernail length. All trial participants had returned—except one.

Elder Fan Wen fidgeted in his seat. “Where is that girl?”

Though eager to take her as a disciple, rules were clear: failing two trials meant expulsion from Sanqing Realm.

“Patience,” Elder Xuwu said, sipping tea.

“Easy for you—your disciple’s accounted for!” Elder Fan Wen snapped.

From the central seat, Ye Xiao frowned. He’d reviewed Suiyin’s trial task—it shouldn’t have challenged her.

As the last incense ash fell, Ye Xiao gestured to a disciple. The disciple raised the bell hammer, ready to strike.

“Wait!!!”

The bell-ringing disciple froze as a figure in a red dress appeared in the arena.

Someone also arrived to fill the empty seat at the end of the elders’ row.

Shen Huaiwen slid her teacup aside and sent a voice transmission: “What luck? Joining me? The sect leader’s staring.”

Xia Shi had barely sat down when she turned her head, immediately meeting the sect leader’s disapproving glare.

“…”

No explanations would help now.

Since the bell hadn’t sounded yet and Suiyin retrieved her inner core, she’d passed the test.

Elder Fan Wen snickered, jabbing Elder Xuwu with his elbow.

“Look at this!”

Elder Xuwu scooted away, refusing to engage.

The third round involved sparring matches between trial participants to choose outer sect disciples. The real selection trial for determining first place among inner/outer sect members would come tomorrow.

After multiple rounds, only Suiyin, Chu Xun, and Meng Jingqi remained unbeaten.

Suiyin would next face Meng Jingqi.

Meng Jingqi wielded a premium magic sword with fire-aligned spiritual roots – ice’s natural counter. Though Suiyin surpassed her in cultivation level thanks to her barrier between life and death, Meng Jingqi’s family had poured endless resources into her imminent breakthrough.

To make matters worse, Suiyin only held a common Long Sword.

The match could swing either way.

Meng Jingqi studied her opponent in the arena. “So you’re the heavenly stairs climber?”

Nothing special, she decided.

Suiyin blinked. “Just stairs. What’s hard about climbing?”

Meng Jingqi: “…” Insufferable.

Spectating disciples: “…” So cocky.

Up in the elders’ seats, Huaiwen chuckled and nudged Xia Shi. “She’s your mirror image.”

During their own disciple trials, Xia Shi had similarly dismissed the heavenly stairs as “just stairs” – though she’d stopped one step short of the summit.

Below them, combat erupted.

Meng Jingqi’s sword moves came fast and fierce, her family’s “Pierce Through Air” technique moving like flowing water.

Xia Shi needed only one glance to predict the result.

Suiyin would win.

Meng Jingqi’s flashy swordplay lacked substance – all show, no staying power.

Suiyin appeared to dodge, but she was actually pinpointing her opponent’s flaws.

In three more moves, Meng Jingqi would lose her sword.

First move… Suiyin countered.

Second move… Instead of retreating, Meng Jingqi swung her blade forward.

Third move… Meng Jingqi overextended her strike. Suiyin seized the chance to hit the sword, knocking it from her grasp.

Xia Shi lowered her eyes and sipped tea.

With a *thud*, Meng Jingqi crashed outside the arena. Suiyin won.

Behind her teacup, Xia Shi’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Just as she’d predicted.

This subtle expression didn’t escape Shen Huaiwen’s gaze.

"You’re pleased she won?"

*Cough—*

Xia Shi turned away, choking on her tea.

Those two senior sisters seemed to be everywhere lately.

Suiyin’s next opponent, Chu Xun, also revealed the same problem – both had practiced sword moves diligently but lacked real combat experience. Their sword techniques remained disjointed, transitions sluggish.

Unsurprisingly, Suiyin claimed first place in the trial.

A disciple announced results to mixed reactions. Only a dozen of nearly a hundred trial participants joined the outer sect.

"The selection trial starts tomorrow," declared the sect leader. "Inner disciples of less than ten years may compete. The first-place winner may enter the Sword Pavilion, select a treasure, and choose any elder – even myself – as their master."

As elders rose and departed, the crowd dispersed.

Suiyin stood in the arena’s center, sword raised toward the last seat at the elders’ platform. "I’ll take first place!"

Elder Fan Wen chuckled, stroking his beard. "That girl." He nudged Elder Xuwu beside him with smug satisfaction.

Elder Xuwu shot him a withering look. The old fool – she hadn’t even been addressing him.

The two elders passed by Xia Shi.

Shen Huaiwen stood. "Aren’t you leaving?" she asked her motionless junior sister.

No answer.

Frowning, Shen Huaiwen touched Xia Shi’s hand – and recoiled. The skin felt like frozen lakebed stone, not living flesh.

"M-med…"

The trembling whisper made Shen Huaiwen freeze. "Medicine? Where?"

Xia Shi weakly lifted a finger bearing a storage ring.

Inside the storage ring was a bottle of medicine provided by the healer. She had used it once before with excellent effect.

Fortunately, the storage ring contained few miscellaneous items, and the medicine bottle’s intricate patterns made it easily recognizable. Shen Huaiwen located it without difficulty.

She uncorked the bottle and sniffed its contents, verifying it was indeed cold poison suppressant before administering a pill to Xia Shi.

"What’s happened to Elder Wuwei?" Suiyin called out from below, rushing up the steps. Her eyes immediately locked onto the medicine bottle in Shen Huaiwen’s hand.

That bottle…

Shaking off her distraction, Suiyin blurted, "Blood fruit! The blood fruit works!"

Shen Huaiwen’s brows lifted. "From the Valley of Subdued Dragons?"

Suiyin nodded emphatically. "Yes!"

Relief flooded through her. Thank the heavens she’d ventured to that valley, thank the heavens she’d obtained the blood fruit.

The crimson orb dissolved into glowing strands as it touched Xia Shi’s lips, vanishing between them.

The chilling aura dissipated abruptly. Xia Shi’s body sagged forward like a puppet with cut strings.

Suiyin darted forward, catching the falling elder. Cold dampness seeped into her palm where it cradled Xia Shi’s cheek, strands of icy hair clinging to her fingers.

The faint warmth of Xia Shi’s breath ghosted across her skin.

Brushing sweat-plastered hair from the unconscious woman’s face, Suiyin’s gaze wandered across delicate features – the furrowed brows, straight nose, pale lips.

This transformed version of Xia Shi felt paradoxically right. The elder should always have looked this striking.

A polite cough interrupted her thoughts.

"Let’s convey Elder Wuwei to Autumn Forest Peak," Shen Huaiwen suggested mildly.

Suiyin jerked her hand back as if scalded. Without waiting for agreement, she swept Xia Shi into a bridal carry.

Shen Huaiwen’s eyes widened briefly before she composed herself. After sending a voice transmission to the sect leader, she led the way.

The dying sun stained the sky crimson as they ascended. Autumn Forest Peak’s disciples had retired for the day, leaving the paths deserted.

Halfway up the mountain, the body in Suiyin’s arms shifted.

Cold obsidian eyes met hers.

"Awake, Elder? Any discomfort?" Suiyin inquired cheerfully.

Xia Shi squirmed to escape the hold, only to be gripped tighter. A firm pat landed on her thigh.

"……"

"???"

"!!!"

"Seeking death?" Xia Shi hissed through clenched teeth.

Suiyin blinked innocently. "Why would I? The world’s full of wonders worth living for."

Hearing the exchange, Shen Huaiwen doubled back and pressed two fingers to Xia Shi’s wrist.

Not long after, she sighed in relief, "Thankfully, Suiyin’s blood fruit came through. The situation’s under control now."

"The blood fruit meant nothing to me. I originally prepared it for a scoundrel. Helping Elder Wuwei gives it purpose," Suiyin stated solemnly.

Scoundrel…

Xia Shi’s eyelid twitched. Was this about her?

The choice of words felt off.

"With Suiyin’s beauty and talent, that fool must’ve been blind," Shen Huaiwen remarked.

Suiyin nodded, stealing a glance at Xia Shi.

Just as expected—the girl sat rigidly, mouth twitching.

Suiyin felt a flicker of satisfaction. This petty revenge sufficed for that sword strike from last night.