Chapter 70
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Chapter 70: Title
Doubts lingered in Xia Shi’s heart when the jade bell chimed again.
Another message from Ye Xiao:
"Return immediately after handling that matter, or I’ll descend the mountain to retrieve you myself."
Xia Shi could perfectly imagine her Senior Sister Sect Leader’s tone. A faint smile touched her lips as she dismissed the message.
She sent back: "Understood."
The Sanqing Realm’s safety reassured her. With the sect leader present and the protective formation active, even Thirteen Ghost Domains couldn’t easily breach their defenses.
With worries eased, Xia Shi finally noticed her half-damp clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
She cast a cleansing spell but remained unsatisfied.
"Want to bathe?" Suiyin’s voice came from beside her.
Their eyes met and immediately darted away like startled birds. After their recent consciousness merging, their minds remained subtly connected – of course Suiyin could sense her thoughts.
Xia Shi nervously curled her fingers, uncertain how to face Suiyin.
The sword moves and sword intent from Suiyin’s consciousness perfectly mirrored her own. The figure Suiyin saw…
Was herself from Four Hundred Years Ago.
That absurd thought resurfaced. If Suiyin truly was the Heartless Sword spirit, this would explain both Sword Pavilion’s disturbance and the sword’s awakening. But the Book of All Knowledge claimed she possessed Divine Bone – could this explain a sword spirit’s reincarnation into human form?
Then the sword she sought must be Heartless Sword.
Xia Shi looked down at the Long Sword beside her. Grasping the hilt, she drew it forcefully—
Cold frost coated the blade, but emptiness dwelled within.
She’d once used this sword to claim first place in Nine Realms’ sword techniques. She remembered its true form:
Frozen wastes blanketing Nine Realms,
Heartless Sword demanding answers from heaven.
No ordinary spiritual weapon should rival divine arms, yet none could match this blade.
Heartless Sword’s edge shouldn’t be this dull.
Xia Shi stroked the sword body, lowered lashes veiling the storm in her gaze.
Suiyin watched silently, feeling the waves of sorrow radiating from Xia Shi.
When the Long Sword suddenly appeared before her, Suiyin froze.
She looked over in confusion and found Xia Shi’s expression gentle. Though sorrow lingered in her gaze, it was now softened by warmth.
So unlike her usual self!
Suiyin felt like she’d seen a ghost.
She gulped, eyes darting between Xia Shi’s face and the offered sword.
“Wh-what do you want me to do?”
Xia Shi treasured this sword dearly, wiping it meticulously after every touch as if fearing the slightest scratch. Why would she suddenly present it now?
“Hold it.” Nervousness flickered through Xia Shi.
Sword spirits were mere spiritual entities, sharing their master’s thoughts but never speaking. When the Heartless Sword’s spirit first spoke, Xia Shi had panicked, believing some evil possessed the blade. She’d run tearfully to Master Fu Qing for purging evil, only to be met with hearty laughter.
After learning it was her sword spirit, she’d grown fearless. They’d conversed daily like old friends – greeting dawn’s dew together, stargazing after snowy sword practice, meeting in midnight dreams.
Now facing this old companion, Xia Shi hesitated to reveal the truth. She’d forgotten Qinghu Region’s details, but remembered holding this shattered blade – its destruction partly her fault.
As Suiyin slowly accepted the Long Sword, Xia Shi watched until starlight patterns emerged on the blade. The Heartless Sword glowed crystalline blue like millennium-old ice, finally easing her burdened heart.
When the sword first stirred with “life” in Suiyin’s hands, she’d assumed it accepted a new master. Never had she imagined the spirit’s return.
“Th-this…”
Suiyin stammered, staring at the transformed blade. “I didn’t…”
Any sword but this! She couldn’t outshine its true master.
Xia Shi steadied Suiyin’s trembling hand. “This is the sword you’ve sought.”
“What…?” Suiyin froze before murmuring, “This is yours. Mine was broken… gone…”
Her words died as she stared at the spiritual Long Sword in her grip. Since obtaining Wugui, she’d rarely manifested blades. The snowflake cracks on Xuwu’s form had vanished, leaving two identical swords in her hands.
Xia Shi showed no surprise, only confirmation.
Everything made sense now – Suiyin was the Heartless Sword spirit. All those clues she’d missed, even suspecting Pei Jiu’s schemes. And how poorly she’d treated Suiyin…
Xia Shi bit her lip, guilt rising.
To Suiyin, her lowered eyes conveyed silent grief. Panicking, Suiyin thrust the sword back.
“Not mine! Yours! It’s yours!”
She repeated urgently, terrified of causing Xia Shi more pain.
Xia Shi slid her sword into the sheath, lips curving in an irrepressible smile, her heart brimming with joy she struggled to contain.
“Do you like things as they are now?”
With human form, spiritual power, and friends, she could finally pursue whatever she desired.
She recalled words once spoken by the Heartless Sword’s spirit:
“I want to walk beside you.”
Her response had been careless then: “A person and sword fighting together—isn’t that side by side?”
The sword spirit had fallen into rare silence, muttering what sounded like “clueless fool.”
Only now did Xia Shi realize “walking together” had meant journeying through the Nine Realms as equals—not master and blade.
Suiyin sensed Xia Shi was acting oddly tonight. The questions felt peculiar.
“Things as they are now”? What did that even mean?
Yet Xia Shi kept staring, demanding an answer.
The yearning in those eyes betrayed the response she craved.
“I do.”
The woman’s elegant brows softened into a smile.
Xia Shi’s happiness became her own.
Yet Suiyin’s contentment felt hollow. This body wasn’t fully hers. Certain impulses remained chained.
Why did Aunt Yan ban physical contact with others? The woman only cared about preserving this flesh vessel.
Suiyin’s fragmented consciousness suggested her spirit hadn’t merged completely with the body.
Who had she been before?
She resolved to ask Sister Hongling later. Confronting Aunt Yan directly would bring trouble.
Silence draped the room as both women retreated into private thoughts.
The quiet broke when Xia Shi sighed wearily.
Suiyin looked up to see fingers working at the waist sash, the outer garment slipping free.
She sprang up, gaze darting anywhere but the disrobing figure.
The boldness had been hers before. Now tables turned.
Xia Shi halted mid-motion. “Why fidget? Coming to bed?”
“B-bed? Yes!” Suiyin’s limbs locked, only her lips moving.
“Inside or outside?” Xia Shi tugged her hairpin free. Dark tresses cascaded down her waist, ends brushing against the thin undergarment clinging to her skin, tracing her curves.
Suiyin’s throat tightened. She clenched her fists, wrenching her gaze from the exposed lower back.
“Daydreaming?” Xia Shi perched on the bed’s edge, loose collar framing pale collarbones—ivory skin rarely touched by sun.
She beckoned. “Come.”
Suiyin inched forward, certain this version of Xia Shi was some seductive spirit, every movement designed to ensnare.
“Sleep inside?” Xia Shi, oblivious, kindly offered her a choice.
Suiyin didn’t even resist and just nodded blankly.
After obediently settling on the inner side, clutching the blanket with both hands, her head remained foggy.
Xia Shi extinguished the candle, lay down quietly, and murmured, “Why stay so far if you’re scared of me?”
The bed was meant for one person, but there was still space for another between them.
The girl inside nearly pressed sideways against the wall, almost merging with it.
The blanket shifted faintly, and Xia Shi sensed someone inching closer yet keeping a gap.
In the dark, Xia Shi arched a brow—such restraint?
This wasn’t how things used to be.
Because of Yan Ge?
Assuming she had reservations, Xia Shi stayed silent.
“Sleep.”
The next morning, Suiyin and Lu Ciyou locked eyes, both sporting identical dark circles.
The young lady snorted, “What? Robbed a bank last night?”
Suiyin shot back, “Yeah, with you.”
Lu Ciyou smirked, “Shouldn’t you thank me? I did you a huge favor.”
Suiyin countered bluntly, “Wasn’t it just to room with A Li yourself?”
As they bickered, the door creaked open behind them.
Lu Ciyou spun around, grinning. “Morning, A Li! Sleep well?”
“…Mm.” Yan Li’s gaze faltered, especially when spotting Suiyin nearby.
Anyone would find this odd.
Suiyin yanked Lu Ciyou aside, hissing, “What did you do to her?”
Look what you’ve done.
Yan Li was still her senior sister—she couldn’t let the young lady bully her.
Lu Ciyou widened her eyes innocently. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m honorable. Would I do anything?”
Suiyin squinted. “Really?”
Lu Ciyou giggled, crooking a finger.
Suiyin leaned in, their heads nearly bumping.
“Some joys are best left unshared.”
Suiyin: “……”
