Chapter 35

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Chapter 35: Title

Yuxing Hall

"Sect Leader, you summoned me."

"Mm." Ye Xiao nodded at an adjacent disciple, who promptly closed the hall doors and ushered out the guards. Only Wen Zhishu remained.

"The Book of All Knowledge reveals all in the Nine Realms." Ye Xiao studied her. "Investigate someone for me."

Another investigation? Wen Zhishu hid her surprise. Xia Shi had recently requested information about Pei Jiu. Now the sect leader…

"Dig into Suiyin’s background. Everything about her origins."

"Suiyin?" Wen Zhishu nearly doubted her ears.

Ye Xiao nodded but didn’t explain further, simply saying, "Don’t tell anyone."

Wen Zhishu spread her palm, and a jade scroll materialized. She tapped it, releasing golden runes from its surface. Channeling her spiritual power into the scroll, she searched for the words "Suiyin."

Golden characters soon glowed in the air: *Half a Divine Bone Transformed into Linglong*.

Nothing else appeared.

Ye Xiao frowned at the text. The Book of All Knowledge never erred—so what did this mean?

Divine Bone? Could Suiyin truly be descended from immortals? Though the Book knew all matters of the Nine Realms, anything relating to celestials would indeed be veiled in ambiguity.

Given this revelation and Suiyin’s ability to ascend the heavenly stairs, her nature must be pure and unblemished. Placing her near Xia Wuwei would ease his concerns.

Ye Xiao gave a slight nod. "My thanks."

Wen Zhishu withdrew the Book of All Knowledge, smiling faintly. "No need for formalities, Sect Leader. It’s my duty."

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

Ye Xiao acknowledged her with another nod—this had been his sole reason for summoning her.

The hall doors swung open as Wen Zhishu departed.

Descending the mountain path, she inhaled deeply. The lingering malaise from her recent illness vanished, replaced by crisp clarity.

Sanqing Realm truly excelled as a cultivation haven. Spiritual energy saturated every corner.

Groups of disciples passed her on the path, nodding respectfully. Some offered warnings: "Watch your step—the trail’s slippery."

Though Wen Zhishu’s shallow cultivation laid bare her weakness, her presence in Sanqing Realm marked her as either guest or sect member.

She returned their courtesies with smiles that faded once they’d passed.

Her gaze wandered across the main peak. She plucked vibrant roadside blooms, crushing dew-laden petals between her fingers. Crimson stains bloomed across her pale skin.

White robes swished as she walked, scattering bruised petals across mud.

"Had enough yet?!"

"No more! Please stop!"

"Ah—"

"Still screaming?"

"Mmph—"

Muffled voices seeped from a thicket. Wen Zhishu tilted her head—the overgrowth showed no signs of passage.

Her spiritual power might be meager, but clearing brush posed no challenge.

Following the noise, she glimpsed a girl’s silhouette—slender shoulders squared beneath fluttering red dress. A wooden stick rested casually on her shoulder.

"Snitch about today, and you’ll regret it."

The voice tugged at Wen Zhishu’s memory. She stepped closer, revealing three groaning disciples clutching injured limbs.

"W-we won’t tell!"

One looked up—and spotted Wen Zhishu approaching.

He brightened and shouted, "Junior sister! Report to the Discipline Hall! Suiyin’s assaulting fellow disciples!"

This was the same person who’d claimed during the selection trial that Suiyin fancied Elder Wuwei’s looks. Now he lay battered, his face swollen and nose bleeding.

Suiyin delivered another kick, then turned at approaching footsteps to see Wen Zhishu raising an eyebrow.

"Zhishu?"

Wen Zhishu smiled. "Suiyin."

The accusing disciple’s gaze filled with despair when he realized they knew each other.

"Planning to tattle to the Discipline Hall?" Suiyin hefted her wooden stick.

Two nearby disciples quickly protested, "Not us! This was all Chen Yu’s doing!"

Chen Yu shot them a venomous glare.

The stick came crashing down.

Chen Yu collapsed sideways. His companions trembled violently.

Suiyin discarded the stick, pulverizing it midair with spiritual power. Dusting her hands, she tugged Wen Zhishu’s sleeve. "Let’s head back."

They returned to Autumn Forest where Xia Shi basked on a rattan chair while Shen Huaiwen tended Spiritual Plants.

"Your Master’s medicine," Shen Huaiwen gestured to the simmering pot without looking up.

Suiyin nodded obediently, beginning her task. Mere moments ago she’d been brandishing a stick like a thug.

Wen Zhishu shook her head, settling beside Xia Shi.

"What did the sect leader want?" Xia Shi shielded her eyes with one hand, peering through single squinted eye.

"Questions about the Wen family."

Their conversation halted as a Discipline Hall disciple descended via sword.

After formal greetings, the messenger announced, "Elder Xuwu summons Junior Sister Suiyin."

Xia Shi opened both eyes. "What offense?"

"Unspecified."

"Inform Master Fan I’ll deliver her personally." Xia Shi rose.

As the messenger departed, Shen Huaiwen chuckled, "Can’t she walk herself?"

"My duty as her Master," Xia Shi declared solemnly. "To discipline wrongdoing or defend against false accusations."

Discipline Hall summons never meant good news – this Xia Shi knew well.

"Or escaping your medicine?" Shen Huaiwen countered.

Xia Shi froze.

"Be quick." Shen Huaiwen returned to her herbs.

Xia Shi pulled Suiyin, who was still brewing medicine, and flew away on swords. Though Suiyin could wield invisible swords, it was wiser not to attract attention within the Sanqing Realm.

Suiyin gazed at the crystalline Long Sword beneath their feet. "Master, what’s this sword called?"

"Heartless."

"The Heartless Sword." Suiyin shook her head, murmuring, "Not good." In her view, swords too possessed feelings.

They soon reached the Discipline Hall guarded by disciples. Upon seeing Xia Shi, they bowed. "Elder Wuwei."

Xia Shi nodded and entered. Distant wails echoed through the halls. "Elder, you must defend us!"

Raising an eyebrow at the uncharacteristically meek Suiyin, Xia Shi guessed instantly: "You beat someone up."

Suiyin shook her head vigorously. "Master, believe me. I didn’t."

Xia Shi scoffed inwardly. As if.

Three outer sect disciples knelt in the main hall – faces swollen like pumpkins, bodies bruised. Elder Xuwu sat sternly on the central dais. "These three claim Suiyin assaulted them," he declared, never lenient about Sanqing’s anti-fighting laws.

Suiyin stood beside the kneeling trio, smiling down. "I’ve never met these senior brothers."

Chen Yu lurched upright, leg pain making him stagger. "You lying–!" He choked back curses, glaring. "She’s lying!"

"Any proof, senior brother?" Suiyin’s smile held icy glints.

The two kneeling disciples trembled. Her harmless appearance belied ruthless wooden stick strikes that left no spiritual traces.

"Proof…" Chen Yu retreated half-step. The destroyed stick left no evidence. "Elder Xuwu!" He kowtowed desperately. "I swear it’s true!"

"I swear I’ve never seen them," Suiyin countered sweetly.

Xia Shi sipped tea from a disciple, watching. How naive. The Discipline Hall could detect any brawl, spiritual or not.

As Elder Xuwu frowned, Xia Shi cut in: "If Suiyin attacked, why would she?"

Suiyin’s eyes lit up; her Master was stepping in to defend her.

So she wasn’t completely heartless after all.

Elder Xuwu on the dais frowned at Xia Shi’s interference but only shot her a sidelong look without objecting.

Xia Shi avoided his gaze, resting her left elbow on the armrest and cupping her chin in a gesture that conveniently shielded her face from the elder.

Years hadn’t dulled her wariness toward Master Fan—she’d spent enough childhood days hauled before the Discipline Hall.

"She…I…" Chen Yu stuttered, eyes darting sideways.

He knew exactly why Suiyin had beaten him, but admitting it would insult the elders. Lin Feng’s fate still haunted him.

"I…"

"Go on," Suiyin chirped, crescent-eyed with glee. "Tell them why I struck you."

Chen Yu’s face purpled. His finger jabbed toward her, trembling with choked rage.

His companions exchanged glances before blurting: "We fell! It was an accident! Junior sister Suiyin’s innocent!"

"Right! We tripped!"

Tripped? With bruises like those?

"Chen Yu?" Elder Xuwu’s voice cracked like a whip.

The boy’s teeth ground audibly, copper tang flooding his mouth. "Yes," he forced out.

Elder Xuwu’s palm struck the table. "Fools! You dare waste the Discipline Hall’s time with lies? One month scrubbing the main peak’s steps!"

The light sentence proved he saw through their ruse—true slander would’ve earned worse.

As Discipline Hall attendants led Chen Yu away, his venomous stare clung to Suiyin.

Xia Shi rose. "Our gratitude, Master Fan."

"Justice required it," the elder snapped. "But your disciple still assaulted peers. One month transcribing sect rules in the Scripture Hall."

"But—" Suiyin’s protest died when Xia Shi gripped her wrist.

"Your mercy is acknowledged," Xia Shi said firmly.

A Discipline Hall attendant materialized beside Suiyin. "Junior sister."

Suiyin plucked at Xia Shi’s sleeve. "Shifu~"

The honeyed whimper prickled Xia Shi’s scalp with peculiar warmth.

She retrieved her sleeve with a gentle shove. "Go."

Delaying risked Elder Xuwu adding bamboo strikes to the sentence.

Suiyin trudged out, pouting.

Xia Shi offered the elder a conciliatory nod before retreating.

She didn’t want to stay here any longer.

"Wait," Elder Xuwu stopped her.

"Smuggling outsiders into Sword Pavilion, disrespecting the sect leader during selection trial, then shielding disciples earlier."

"Elder Wuwei, you’ve nearly forgotten sect rules too. Three offenses combined – you’ll copy scriptures in Scripture Hall."

Xia Shi’s eyes widened. She admitted the last two charges, but bringing people to Sword Pavilion wasn’t her doing!

"Master Fan! Let me explain…"

"Elder Wuwei, proceed."

Xia Shi: "…"