Chapter 8

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Chapter 8: Title

The woman’s voice battered Xia Shi’s mental defenses. Cracks spread through her Four Hundred Years’ accumulated tranquility.

"Xia Wuwei! You doomed everyone! You should join them in death!"

The biting cold wind rushed into the wound left by the Heartless Sword in Xia Shi’s chest. Her face turned pale as her fingertips darkened to purple.

She still couldn’t see the woman’s face clearly.

Xia Shi narrowed her eyes and abruptly swept her hand forward. A powerful force scattered the mist-like figure, leaving only the frost-formed sword hovering before her.

When she cautiously reached to touch the sword body, icy sword energy repelled her hand. Blood welled from the fresh cut on her palm, freezing instantly around the edges.

The Heartless Sword rejected her.

Xia Shi curled her stiff fingers, grief flashing through her lowered gaze.

Before she could compose herself, a large white blur crashed into her chest. Stumbling back, she looked down to see Suiyin clutching the cloth-wrapped sword she knew too well.

Xia Shi’s eyes narrowed dangerously. This illusion was meant for her alone. How had Suiyin entered – unless she was the woman who’d nearly shattered her path of tranquility moments ago?

In one motion, Xia Shi’s hand clamped around Suiyin’s throat while the other snatched back her sword. Wind howled through the corridor, tangling their hair and robes like storm-tossed banners.

Pressed against Xia Shi’s shoulder, Suiyin managed a strained laugh. "Just… wanted a look." She assumed the anger stemmed from touching the treasured blade – everyone knew how Xia Shi cherished that broken sword.

"How?" Xia Shi tightened her grip. The frost sword had vanished, though the illusion remained otherwise unchanged.

Suiyin twisted slightly in the chokehold, surveying the snowbound corridor. "Touched the wrapping cloth and got dragged in," she answered casually, as if discussing tea flavors. "Bleak place. No life here."

This was Wentiang Peak in the Sanqing Realm – Xia Shi’s solitary domain where eternal winter reigned. The Star Viewing Platform’s frozen vistas had never troubled her; she’d often watch constellations blaze through snowstorms, her sword cold comfort at her side.

The pressure at Suiyin’s throat lessened.

"Does my criticism upset you?"

Xia Shi shoved the woman away. "No."

Yet the illusion magnified every emotion, threatening Four Hundred Years of cultivated calm. Her supposed mastery of the path of tranquility crumbled here, exposing old wounds never truly healed.

Grey mist flooded the corridor, swallowing all sight.

"Xia Shi!" The fog muffled Suiyin’s urgency.

A warm hand seized her wrist, yanking her forward before she could react. "Stay close," Suiyin’s breath brushed her ear. "Your weak spiritual power puts you at risk."

Xia Shi stopped resisting. She couldn’t reveal her true capabilities yet.

When the mist cleared, they stood beneath a tree in an unfamiliar courtyard where the snowy corridor once lay.

Under the tree sat two figures cross-legged at a chessboard. The woman in green robes held black pieces, her brow lightly furrowed as she placed a stone.

Xia Shi recognized her. Though only seen in portraits, this woman’s quiet sorrow mirrored the late Lingyang Jun’s expression. Cultivators feared emotional instability – that’s why most immortal statues showed calm composure. Only Lingyang Jun remained bound by grief, never achieving ascension to immortality.

As for her opponent-

Xia Shi shifted her gaze. The other figure blurred within faint mist, nearly merging with white robes. The woman’s lips curved downward, as if unaccustomed to smiling.

"Lingyang, you lost again." The woman placed white stones with a light sigh. "Qingyun City still lacks its guardian. You-"

Lingyang Jun sorted the chess pieces, answering calmly, "Tiansui, I can’t become immortal."

Tiansui’s cool eyes showed rare confusion. "Why?"

Lingyang Jun touched the red rope around his wrist, smiling faintly. "Immortals protect all without attachment. Yet my heart holds love."

"You-" Tiansui sighed, abandoning persuasion.

Their figures dissolved like morning fog. Suiyin tugged Xia Shi’s sleeve. "Why can’t immortals love?"

"Love breeds favoritism. Partial immortals cease being divine." Xia Shi added after pause: "My guess."

After all, she wasn’t immortal.

Suiyin mumbled "…Oh."

As the figures vanished, Xia Shi glimpsed a golden mark flash across Tiansui’s neck.

She blinked at the unfamiliar symbol.

A broken sword materialized on the chessboard beside an ornate box.

Suiyin squinted at engraved characters on the hilt:

"Broken Stream."

"Broken Stream…" She read aloud, puzzled.

"Lingyang Jun’s Shenwu Sword," Xia Shi explained.

"Fine blade," Suiyin sighed. "Shame it’s broken."

Xia Shi spotted the missing tip – shorter than a pinky finger.

"True pity."

"Would she leave her weapon on the fifth floor?" Suiyin edged closer. "Anyone could-"

Xia Shi yanked her back as sword energy slashed the ground before Suiyin’s feet.

The barrier enveloped Broken Stream and box, barring approach.

Suiyin patted her chest. "Close call!"

She grinned at Xia Shi. "Thanks!"

The bright smile made Xia Shi blink. "Lingyang Jun neared immortality. Charging at her sword like-"

Her gaze dropped to Suiyin’s head.

Suiyin tilted her neck. "Like what?"

Xia Shi: “…”

The sword energy was as vast as the sea yet restrained, clearly left by Lingyang Jun to drive away sword-seekers rather than kill.

Suiyin asked, “Placing a divine weapon where everyone can see it, then setting up illusions and sword energy – does she want people to take it or not?”

Xia Shi looked down, rubbing the cloth strip between her fingers. After a long pause, she answered,

“She didn’t want her sword claimed by others, yet couldn’t bear to let this treasure gather dust. She hoped someone could fix her Broken Stream someday.”

“Fix?” Suiyin followed her gaze to the ornate box beside Broken Stream. “That contains—”

“Red jade.”

“The kind that repairs divine weapons?”

“Yes.”

Since the Book of All Knowledge had marked the red jade’s location, there could be no mistake. What surprised Xia Shi was finding Broken Stream beside it – this red jade had clearly been left by Lingyang Jun for his own sword.

Xia Shi stared at the ornate box for a long moment before sighing. “Let’s go.”

The red jade already had an owner. Taking it wasn’t an option.

Noticing her conflicted expression, Suiyin whispered, “You came for the jade?”

Then she tacked on: “To fix that battered sword of yours?”

Xia Shi glared at her coldly.

Suiyin hastily covered her mouth with one hand, waving apology with the other. “Alright! I spoke out of turn.”

When Xia Shi remained silent, Suiyin pressed, “It’s right there. Why leave it?” She suddenly wondered if Xia Shi’s weaker cultivation kept her from breaking the barrier. “I could help you take it.”

The barrier formed by the sword energy looked formidable but thin – easily breakable. Xia Shi clearly cherished that sword. Why come all this way just to leave empty-handed?

“No.” Xia Shi’s eyes lingered on the ornate box before she looked away. “That jade belongs to Broken Stream. Taking it would be theft.”

Suiyin blinked, surprised by this moral stance. She muttered without thinking, “Both named Xia, yet one’s honorable while others exploit the weak…”

They stood close enough for Xia Shi to hear every word.

“…”