Chapter 49

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Chapter 49: Title

The Wugui sword’s recognition made Suiyin famous overnight. People everywhere called her "Little Sword Immortal".

"Oho! Our Little Sword Immortal!" Lu Ciyou laughed, throwing an arm around Suiyin’s shoulders.

Suiyin squirmed halfheartedly. "Stop teasing."

Though she protested, happiness shone in her eyes.

She couldn’t wait to tell Xia Shi.

Suppressing her inner emotions, Suiyin turned to her friend and asked, "The sword trial’s done. Where to now? Back to Liujin Pavilion?"

"Me?" Lu Ciyou tilted her head before grinning. "With my skills? Obviously going demon-hunting."

"Master Lu allows this?" Suiyin pressed. "Those Thirteen Ghost Domains aren’t pushovers. Remember that woman from Lingyang Secret Realm who wielded Broken Mountain Sea? She meant business."

Lu Ciyou shrugged. "Wasn’t she just higher-leveled? I’ve broken through now. Next fight’s anyone’s game."

"Besides," she added, eyes sparkling, "I’ve always wanted to test myself against Jiang family’s Broken Mountain Sea from Canghai. If Dad says no, I’ll just sneak out!"

The young lady elbowed Suiyin. "Join me. You’ve got Wugui sword – you’re meant for action."

"Why?" Suiyin glanced at her waist-sword.

Does having this sword make me a sucker?

"Immortal blades terrify evil," Lu Ciyou explained. "This Immortal Sect Conference aims to wipe out the Thirteen Ghost Domains. Keep Wugui but stay idle? Every sect leader and elder’ll chew you out."

Suiyin winced. She planned to gift the sword to Aunt Yan tonight.

Would she need a fake replica later?

"Travel with me," Lu Ciyou coaxed, "and you’ll feast daily with endless spiritual stones."

Suiyin considered. Hunting evil with Lu Ciyou beat crowded groups where her fake sword might get exposed. Not that she cared about money, obviously.

"Deal!"

"Meet me at Chengxian Restaurant in three days." Lu Ciyou hummed cheerfully. "Let’s fetch A Li too."

Suiyin’s brows jumped. "A Li? You found her?"

"She came crawling back nights ago," Lu Ciyou smirked. "Said her Master dragged her home. Still visited me secretly though." The young lady twirled a lock of hair. "Think she’s sweet on me?"

Suiyin blinked. "Sweet… how?"

"She brings gifts every night!" Lu Ciyou’s cheeks pinked. "Must be my charm. Hey! Stop that face!"

Suiyin quickly smiled. "You’re right. She misses you terribly."

Who knew Yan Li, the model Sanqing disciple by day, became a night-time stalker?

As if summoned, Yan Li passed by with disciples, glancing at their voices.

"Senior Sister Yan Li." Suiyin bowed, eyes teasing.

Yan Li: "…"

She’d avoided this girl since Scripture Hall, yet patrol duty betrayed her. Maybe Lu Ciyou was right – Sanqing Realm felt claustrophobically small.

Whispers of "divine connection" reached her ears. That damned rumor spread.

"Silence!"

She nodded stiffly at Suiyin, face frostier than winter peaks.

“Let’s go.”

After others departed, Lu Ciyou clicked her tongue. “See how cold she acts? Not an ounce of warmth for fellow disciples. Nothing like our Liujin Pavilion where we’re as close as family.”

“See the difference? Regretting your choice? Now that you’ve got the sword, maybe…”

“Enough chatter. Move along.”

…

When Suiyin returned to Autumn Forest’s medicine room, the night sky blazed with stars above her.

“You’re back. Deliver this medicine to your Master.”

“Master?” Suiyin suppressed a smile. “Doesn’t Master take her medicine in the daytime?”

Shen Huaiwen hesitated, recalling her troublesome junior sister’s dual identities. How to explain this?

“Right! Your Master’s… condition worsened. Freshly brewed medicine. Off you go!”

The lie rolled out smoothly.

“Is she at Scripture Hall or…” Suiyin accepted the medicine bowl.

“Inner room. Hurry!” Shen Huaiwen shooed her away.

Suiyin approached the inner chamber, calling out early to warn its occupant: “Master! Medicine time!”

Immediate rustling answered her.

Pushing inside, she found Xia Shi propped against pillows in thin sleepwear, scroll in hand. More lay scattered across the floor – perfect image of a scholarly master.

Suiyin played along, setting the bowl down. “Master.”

Xia Shi hummed acknowledgment, eyes locking onto the Shenwu Sword at the girl’s waist.

“So Wugui chose you.”

Beaming like a child with new sweets, Suiyin presented the blade. Xia Shi silently studied its gleaming surface before reaching for the medicine.

The bowl touched her lips but didn’t tilt. Memories surfaced – Lingyang Secret Realm’s Broken Stream harming none when Suiyin grasped it, Sword Pavilion’s hundred blades circling her, now Wugui’s submission.

If two millennium-old divine weapons yielded so easily, why not the Heartless Sword too? Not true recognition then – this girl simply commanded all blades.

Relief made Xia Shi gulp the bitter brew in one go.

Suiyin’s eyes widened.

“Koff! Koff!”

The vile taste crushed Xia Shi’s brief joy. Crimson-faced, she doubled over coughing.

Sword forgotten, Suiyin perched bedside patting her master’s back, offering honeyed dates to the trembling lips.

Suiyin’s fingertips brushed over her soft, moist lips and inexplicably paused, pressing down slightly with her fingertip.

So soft.

Before she could recover from the sensation, a sharp “slap” rang out—

The back of her hand burned. She jerked her arm back.

“Ow!” Suiyin winced, blowing on her reddened hand.

A nudge at her lower back forced her to stand up from the bedside, giving the bedridden figure a wounded look.

Not even letting me sit now. How petty.

“Basic decorum applies even in private,” Xia Shi said tersely, residual irritation sharpening her tone.

Suiyin gave a sloppy salute. “Yes, Master.”

So quick to pull rank, she thought.

Eyes darting, Suiyin tried again. “Master?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know what happened to the person who was here?” She helpfully added, “My friend Xia Shi.”

Xia Shi: “…”

“She…” Xia Shi faltered, “Left.”

“Left?!” Suiyin pretended to panic while studying the other’s reaction. “She was badly injured! Where would she go? Do you know, Master?”

Xia Shi reopened her book. “No.”

Suiyin crouched by the bed to meet Xia Shi’s gaze. “Which elder’s peak was she from? I’ll search—”

Irritated by the pestering, Xia Shi pushed Suiyin’s forehead back with her book. “She’s mostly healed. Stop fussing.”

And stop looking.

One lie breeds a hundred more.

“Mostly healed…” Suiyin muttered. “She must hate me. I shouldn’t have pestered her for divine connection.”

Xia Shi: “…”

Who says that so casually?

“Master,” Suiyin peered up through her lashes, “if someone forced a consciousness entanglement with you accidentally… what would you do?”

Xia Shi’s eyes flashed. “I’d make them stay the hell away.”

Anyone else would’ve died.

Suiyin’s face drained of color. Clutching the Wugui sword, she fled.

Xia Shi exhaled. More questions would’ve unraveled everything.

“You scared her off.” Shen Huaiwen entered, amusement lacing her voice. “That girl adores you.”

She backtracked, “Platonically, I mean.”

The kind who shares divine connections?

Xia Shi remained silent, continuing to read her book.

Suiyin’s closeness and fondness toward her all stemmed from the Taiji Golden Seal. She had thought the golden seal was gifted by her Master, but since her Master remained in seclusion without having ascended, it must have come from another.

"Senior sister, have you seen this before?"

Shen Huaiwen set aside the objects in her hands and glanced up, confusion flashing in her eyes.

"Never."

When Suiyin rushed back to her small courtyard, the sour tightness in her chest lingered.

She couldn’t comprehend why witnessing genuine disgust in Xia Shi’s gaze had felt more agonizing than death itself.

She feared no mortal end, yet dreaded confronting that look of utter rejection.

Upon opening the door, a woman already sat waiting in the room. The figure extended a hand as Suiyin entered.

"The sword. Hand it over."

Yan Ge’s voice held a suppressed anger and chill.

Suiyin froze, then hastily shut the door before surrendering the weapon. She stood motionless with bowed head.

The Wugui sword didn’t lash out with sword energy when grasped by another. Instead, a pure white spiritual power manifested from its blade, tenderly enveloping Yan Ge’s hand like the caress of its former wielder.

"You still recognize me." Yan Ge stroked the sword body as if addressing an old companion.

"Wugui… do you miss her?"

The blade quivered faintly in reply.

"Shall I take you to her then?"

As the divine weapon slid from its sheath, Yan Ge studied the tiny "Tian" character etched near the blade’s tip.

After a long pause, she resheathed the sword and rose to depart. But the obedient Wugui suddenly wrenched free, flying back to Suiyin’s grasp.

"This… ah!"

Icy fingers clamped around Suiyin’s throat. She stared wide-eyed at the grim-faced woman before her.

"Yan… Aunt Yan…"