Chapter 84

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Chapter 84: Title

Sanqing Realm, Wentiang Peak.

The woman lying motionless on the bed snapped her eyes open, momentary confusion flashing through her gaze before vanishing like smoke.

Xia Wuwei performed her dawn meditation routine as usual, then automatically reached toward the bedside. Her hand closed on empty air.

Where’s the sword?

Her sword?

Wait—she wasn’t a sword cultivator. Why would she have a sword?

Rubbing her temples, Xia Wuwei rose and opened the chamber doors.

Wentiang Peak’s eternal spring greeted her—white cranes carving arcs through misty valleys, their cries reverberating between cliffs. She wandered along the corridor until she reached the Star Viewing Platform, where a Junior Disciple sweeping leaves bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Sect Leader."

Xia Wuwei hummed in acknowledgment. Only after the disciple left did she frown.

Sect Leader?

Since when? Wasn’t the Sect Leader…

Her thoughts shattered as foreign memories flooded in—

The weight of leadership seal pressing into her palms during the succession ceremony. Her master Fu Qing’s proud smile before ascending. Of course—she’d assumed leadership after her breakthrough.

"Sect Leader."

That voice. Xia Wuwei’s hands clenched until nails bit flesh, bitter hatred rising like bile. Yet when she grasped for its source, only hollow confusion remained.

The crescent-shaped marks in her palm stung insistently.

Turning slowly, Xia Wuwei tried to smile at the approaching figure, but her muscles rebelled. After several strained heartbeats, she managed a brittle twitch of lips. "Pei Jiu."

Pei Jiu closed the distance between them, peering up with concern.

"You’re pale as death. What troubles you?"

Xia Wuwei focused on the stone tiles rather than that deceptively gentle face. Her hidden hand kept digging into the half-moon wounds.

"Poor sleep. Nothing more."

“I see,” Pei Jiu smiled and stepped back.

“I’ve brought some calming incense.”

Xia Wuwei sighed quietly in relief, accepting the incense with gratitude.

“How does being Sect Leader feel?” Pei Jiu abruptly asked.

Xia Wuwei hesitated before answering, “I always assumed Senior Sister Ye Xiao would inherit Master’s position. Why me?”

Her tone couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

Pei Jiu laughed softly and patted her shoulder. “Your natural talent exceeds hers. The Sect Leader’s seat was always meant for you.”

“…Really?” Xia Wuwei stared at her own palms—smooth and unblemished, bearing no calluses from sword training.

“Pei Jiu… did I ever study swordsmanship?”

“Never.” The woman’s smile remained unchanged. “You mastered the art of formations.”

“Formations…” Xia Wuwei flexed her fingers. A glowing formation materialized and rotated between them.

“Precisely. Only years of dedicated practice could yield such skill.” Pei Jiu nudged her. “Enough doubts. Young Master Lu has waited long enough.”

“Young Master Lu?” Xia Wuwei’s mind flashed an image—a red-clad girl tilting her chin upward, silver gun gleaming.

Lu…

Who was that?

“Lu Qingyu. Did the heavenly lightning scramble your memories after your breakthrough?” Pei Jiu teased. “Have you forgotten even friends?”

“You’re the scrambled one,” Xia Wuwei retorted. The girl’s image dissolved, replaced by a young man’s form.

Young Master of Liujin Pavilion, Lu Qingyu.

They reached Yuxing Hall on the main peak.

Noticing Lu Qingyu stood alone, Xia Wuwei blurted, “Where’s Xuanhua?”

“Delayed by matters.” Lu Qingyu bowed slightly. “Congratulations on your dual triumphs—ascending as Nine Realms Sword Immortal and becoming Sanqing’s Sect Leader.”

His smile aimed past Xia Wuwei at Pei Jiu, who glared daggers at him.

_Damn fool,_ her furious eyes seemed to say, _after I just explained her expertise lies in formations!_

Sword Immortal. Sanqing Sect Leader.

The titles felt foreign, ill-fitting. A searing pain erupted in Xia Wuwei’s skull. She staggered as the world blurred, fingers clutching desperately at the hand steadying her.

Through gritted teeth, a name escaped her—

“Suiyin.”

Who was Suiyin? She had no knowledge.

“Why does she remember?!”

Darkness swallowed her consciousness, carrying the echo of a woman’s icy, enraged voice.

"Lu Qingyu" dropped her disguise as the woman fainted, scoffing coldly, "What’s the meaning of this? Trying to atone? Pure self-deception – you’ve only ever cared about yourself from the beginning!"

"Silence." Pei Jiu cut him off sharply. "My actions are none of your concern."

The Lord of Shura City curled his lips into a sinister grin. "If you truly want her memories erased, just slaughter everyone involved. No witnesses, no recollections."

Pei Jiu lifted the unconscious Xia Wuwei, her smile never reaching her cold gaze. "Clever scheme, Lord of Shura. Kill Suiyin, pit me against Ghost Lord, then swoop in for the spoils?"

The crimson-eyed man chuckled, leaning on his fist. "You want the Divine Bone within her too. With Liuli Pen obtained and Past Mirror seized from Ye Xiao, Ghost Lord becomes insignificant through our combined might."

Pei Jiu secretly cursed his stupidity while crushing his delusions. "Recall she was once celestial – her power rivals Tiansui’s."

"Was being key." The demonic lord licked his lips hungrily. "Now she’s tainted by demonic energy, weakened beyond measure."

"Seek death if you wish, but keep me clear of it." Pei Jiu turned toward Wentiang Peak with her burden.

Frustration twisted the Lord’s features as dark mist swallowed his form. Four hundred wasted years! Now when he could claim Past Mirror and Baiyu Minghun Sword to activate the demon suppression array, he still had to perform for Xia Wuwei. Why keep the girl alive?

Murderous intent bloomed in his eyes. If Suiyin remained untouchable under Ghost Lord’s protection, Xia Wuwei would make suitable target – both eliminating loose ends and shocking Pei Jiu to her senses.

At Wentiang Peak, Chen Ci lounged against the doorway. "Summoning me repeatedly without compensation, Qing Jiu?" His eyebrows shot up seeing Xia Wuwei. "Poison cured? Your work?"

"Not mine."

"Then why call me?" He turned to leave.

Pei Jiu halted him. "Divine Doctor Valley. Yours."

"Deal!" Chen Ci’s smile widened. Twenty years earlier, Thirteen Ghost Domains had stormed the valley. By his arrival, the Lord of Shura already controlled everything – eleven survivors including his senior brother Hua Sheng imprisoned, valley’s fall hidden from Nine Realms.

Exiled long ago, Chen Ci had schemed endlessly to reclaim his birthplace from Ghost Lord’s grip. Discovering Qing Jiu held it shocked him; her sudden surrender more so.

His spiritual power recoiled from Xia Wuwei’s pulse. "This energy…"

"I altered her memories. Why do they return?" Pei Jiu demanded.

"You rewrote memories?" Chen Ci stared. Valley archives only mentioned memory sealing, never modification. When Pei Jiu remained silent under his probing look, he swallowed his questions.

“You just needed to tell me how she was now.”

“She was once a cultivator at the transformation stage. Some memories get carved deep into one’s spirit. Certain words or people might’ve trapped her in a memory, causing spiritual turmoil that knocked her out.” Chen Ci hissed and added, “Why not try altering her memory again? Though two changes might turn her brain to mush.”

He glanced up and met Pei Jiu’s icy stare.

Chen Ci grinned, “Joking! Just a joke.”

Pei Jiu stretched out her palm. “Hand it over.”

“What?” Chen Ci feigned ignorance.

“No need to pretend,” Pei Jiu said with a humorless smile. “Remember why the Divine Doctor Valley exiled you? That thing you made years ago—must work better now.”

Chen Ci’s face tightened as his eyes narrowed. “How’d you learn about that?”

Only the valley’s elders and his senior sister had known.

Pei Jiu answered flatly, “Divine Doctor Valley.”

Chen Ci’s expression darkened. He’d forgotten—the Ghost Lord had given Qing Jiu control of the valley.

“You’ll really use it on her?” He passed the item over reluctantly.

“No antidote exists. If she goes mad or stupid later, don’t come crying.”

“Noted.”

Pei Jiu gripped the vial while tossing him a jade pendant.

Chen Ci snatched it, excitement flashing across his face before he strode from the room.

He’d aided Qing Jiu repeatedly just to steal this pendant. Others’ fates meant nothing to him.

Still, he pitied Xia Wuwei—being entangled with Qing Jiu was revolting.

Though despising Pei Jiu’s methods, Chen Ci wouldn’t lift a finger to help. He preferred watching from the sidelines.

Alone, Pei Jiu moved to the bedside.

“Why cling to memories? Forget everything.”

She poured the vial’s contents into the unconscious woman’s mouth, gently wiping spilled drops. No mercy softened her gaze as the woman’s face contorted in agony.

“Tomorrow you’ll awaken as Sect Leader of Sanqing—Xia Wuwei.”

Xia Shi wandered through endless white mist, her white robes swirling.

“My sword? Wait…I study formations. No—I’m a sword cultivator!” Her fractured whispers echoed as memories tore at her mind.

One moment she stood as the Nine Realms’ Sword Immortal. The next, she became its greatest traitor—the murderer of a thousand cultivators.

“Xia Wuwei! You deserve death!”

“Why do you live when they perished?”

“This is all your fault!”

……

Suddenly, figures emerged from the white mist, surrounding Xia Shi. She heard accusing voices and curses around her, yet felt everything might be false.

For on another path, people revered her as she ascended step by step.

Yes. That was her true destiny.

She frantically swiped at the nonexistent crowd before stumbling toward distant light.

But pursuing darkness nearly swallowed her whole.

"No… Not me…" Xia Shi sobbed helplessly.

"Xia Shi!"

A voice cut through the noise.

She froze. Turning, she saw a red-dressed girl smiling behind her, hand outstretched.

"Xia Shi, this wasn’t your fault."

Never your fault.

Tears flooded forth as Xia Shi curled inward. When she finally faced the abyss, the girl’s features seemed utterly unfamiliar.

"Who… are you?"