Chapter 85

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Chapter 85: Title

One month later.

Xia Shi glared from her elevated seat at disciples practicing sword moves below, her scowl deepening with each clumsy strike.

"Halt."

Blades stilled. "Sect Leader," they chorused, bowing to the stern woman.

"Pathetic display." She massaged her throbbing temples, the pounding in her temples only fueling her irritation.

"You two."

Her finger stabbed toward the group leaders.

Senior Sister Zuo Ji and Qi Sheng.

"Cliff of Reflection. One month."

The coldest pit in Sanqing Realm held disciples who’d committed grave sins. Years in that lightless prison broke minds, leaving husks more demon than human.

Murmurs rippled through juniors protesting the harsh sentence.

The new sect leader’s volatile temper sparked punishments for slightest offenses – even a drifting leaf could ignite her fury.

Sword energy exploded.

Every disciple buckled mid-bow, suddenly transported to Kunlun’s frozen peaks. Blood turned to ice in their veins.

One sword silenced Sanqing. Within breaths, the entire realm became winter’s barren wasteland.

When the chill lifted, trembling juniors kept eyes downcast, silenced.

"Racket," Xia Shi hissed, skull pounding.

"Pain returning?"

Warm fingers gently pressed her temples.

Xia Shi gave a soft hum. Perhaps weary, she pushed aside the woman’s hand and rose.

"Keep watch here. I’m returning first."

Pei Jiu’s raised hand lingered midair as she stared at the woman’s retreating silhouette, unreadable emotions swirling in her gaze.

"I’ll escort you."

Xia Shi offered no refusal. They descended the high platform together.

While passing the training ground, Xia Shi abruptly halted, her eyes fixed on the mountain gate’s direction.

"What is it?" Pei Jiu studied the faint shadows in her eyes.

Nostalgia?

What memories did the foot of the mountain hold? Or perhaps… someone? Had she remembered?

A storm of suspicions rose as Pei Jiu’s hidden hand twitched behind her back—

"Pei Jiu." Xia Shi suddenly spoke, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Do you recall Chengxian Restaurant at the mountain’s base?"

Pei Jiu nodded. "I do."

"Their chestnut cake was exceptional." Xia Shi sighed. "Last tasted when you brought it. Years have passed, yet I still crave it."

The tension in Pei Jiu’s chest eased. "If you desire it, I’ll fetch some."

"Truly?" Xia Shi arched an eyebrow.

Pei Jiu nearly agreed, then froze. Leaving Xia Shi unattended risked unwanted recollections…

Those profound eyes reminded her of their first encounter at Chengxian Restaurant – Baijiang’s raging currents, the lone swordsman drawing crowds with mere presence, white attire gleaming like celestial cloth.

Xia Shi remained unchanged.

While Pei Jiu hesitated, Xia Shi summoned a Junior Disciple from the training ground.

"Fetch chestnut cake from Chengxian Restaurant."

The disciple turned to obey.

"Wait!"

Pei Jiu paled, tempests churning in her eyes. "Why her?" she demanded. "Do you know her?"

Why Qin An? Of all disciples, why choose Qin An?

Xia Shi blinked, examining the unfamiliar face she’d randomly selected. "Her clumsy sword moves disrupted the grounds. Better employed as messenger." Noticing Pei Jiu’s pallor and beaded forehead, she softened. "Are you ill? Should I fetch Senior Sister Huaiwen?"

"No!" Pei Jiu gripped her arm, strained smile cracking. "I’m well."

Can’t let her contact them.

"Proceed." Pei Jiu ordered Qin An, emerald light flashing into the girl’s forehead.

Qin An departed wordlessly.

"Your hands freeze." Xia Shi channeled spiritual power to warm them, but Pei Jiu jerked away.

Their eyes met briefly before Pei Jiu averted her gaze.

"I’m fine."

Xia Shi sighed and walked forward slowly, aware the person behind would follow. She murmured, "You’ve grown distant from me."

Pei Jiu trailed after her, smile stiff and unnaturally rigid. "Nonsense."

"I wish we could return to those wandering days—carefree and unrestrained." Xia Shi’s ahead-spoken words dripped with undisguised nostalgia.

Had Pei Jiu stepped closer then, she’d have glimpsed the blade-sharp murderous intent flashing in the woman’s eyes.

"Soon," Pei Jiu answered quietly from behind.

Meanwhile in Baijiang Town,

The streets lacked their usual bustle. No disciples from Sanqing Realm remained, only resident rogue cultivators and merchants.

A small group still lingered at Chengxian Restaurant, trading rumors.

"Strange—not a single Sanqing disciple seen all month," someone muttered.

Others joined in, speculating wildly: "Might end up like Canghai—hollowed out by Thirteen Ghost Domains."

"Sanqing still has Fu Qing. Those ghostly scum wouldn’t dare!"

"You believe that ‘closed-door breakthrough’ tale? Four Hundred Years Ago she fought countless masters alone. Her sudden passing of leadership to Ye Xiao proves she never recovered from those wounds. Probably…"

The speaker drew a finger across their throat.

Doubtful faces turned. "Truth or lies?"

When great powers fall, the Nine Realms manifest signs—falling stars or emerging secret realms. Though Fu Qing’s death had been rumored, no such phenomena occurred at Sanqing, leaving doubts unresolved.

"Reliable Sanqing news—ten spiritual stones." A green-robed knife-wielder appeared before them, narrow blade on back, aura reeking of bloodshed.

"Who’re you?" Someone waved dismissively. "Scram!"

Casual gossipers balked at paid information.

Unfazed, the blade-bearer climbed to the second floor. A voice halted her at a room’s entrance:

"Your news concerns Sanqing?"

The disguised voice carried youthful undertones.

"Yes."

The knife-wielder’s lips curved. "One hundred stones."

"You—!"

"Deal or not?"

After audible teeth-grinding came a growled: "Deal."

"Enter."

The blade-bearer entered, removing her face-covering cloth after the door shut—revealing striking beauty.

"You?!"

Upon seeing the person’s face, Lu Ciyou’s voice nearly cracked. Trembling, she pointed her spear at him, barely holding back curses.

Regaining composure, she swiftly raised her weapon, eyeing him with suspicion.

"Such hostility?" Jiang Fenghe glanced at the spear tip near his face, unimpressed.

"What do you expect, Floating Life Palace Master?" Lu Ciyou shot back.

He shrugged. "Merely delivering a message on someone’s behalf."

Lu Ciyou and Yan Li exchanged glances before asking together:

"Suiyin?"

Jiang Fenghe snapped his fingers. Under their hopeful stares, he answered, "No."

"No need to know the sender." He produced a delicate jade bell, offering it.

"That’s Xia Shi’s!" Lu Ciyou exclaimed.

Yan Li pressed, "Did Master Fan—"

"Unknown owner." Jiang Fenghe cut her off. "Take this to Cliff of Reflection. No questions."

"Cliff of Reflection?" Lu Ciyou frowned at the bell. "Where’s that?"

Though unfamiliar to Lu Ciyou, every Sanqing Realm disciple like Yan Li knew this place. Their real problem? Entering the sealed Sanqing Realm. The altered outer barrier explained why no disciples had descended for months—they were trapped inside.

"Message delivered." Jiang Fenghe moved to the window, revealing Baijiang’s churning white currents beyond.

As he turned to leave, Lu Ciyou blurted, "What does Thirteen Ghost Domains want?!"

Instantly regretting questioning a Ghost Domain lord, she stiffened. To her surprise, he answered:

"Not the Domains. Only she ever wanted to disrupt Nine Realms. Others just watch—even Endless Sea’s Ghost Lord observes from sidelines."

Before departing, Jiang Fenghe demanded exactly one hundred spiritual stones. The young lady paid without fuss.

Then—

"Wait!" Lu Ciyou slammed the table. She’d paid for information but learned nothing about Xia Shi or Sanqing Realm!

Voices interrupted from the hallway:

"Long time no see, Fairy Lord. Well?" Xia He’s voice floated from Chengxian Restaurant’s entrance.

"Chestnut cake."

Yan Li’s breath hitched. Throwing open the door, she spotted Qin An down the corridor.

"Qin An!"

Lu Ciyou also peeked out from the room, pursed her lips and poked Yan Li’s lower back. "Isn’t this your junior sister?" she said, clearly recognizing the girl.

The same junior sister who’d gifted a sword.

Meanwhile, Qin An mechanically lifted her head, repeating her request like a broken record: "Want chestnut cake."

"Something’s wrong with her," Lu Ciyou frowned. The vacant expression resembled those puppet creatures controlled by Qing Gui.

The two women exchanged glances and quietly retreated indoors.

After obtaining the chestnut cake, Qin An stepped out of Baihe Town and prepared to summon her sword to fly away.

"Sorry about this, Junior Sister Qin An."

The words barely registered before pain exploded at Qin An’s skull. Darkness swallowed her vision as she collapsed unconscious.

A faint blue glow seeped from her forehead, nearly imperceptible until a multicolored bird swooped down to snatch the light midair, swallowing it whole.

"Good bird!" Lu Ciyou tossed Zhuque a premium spiritual stone and stroked the magnificent elongated feathers crowning the phoenix’s head.

Zhuque preened under the praise, permitting the rare tactile compliment.

At Wentiang Peak, the woman propped her head on one elbow, temples throbbing as two warring voices clamored in her mind.

"Xia Wuwei!"

"Xia Shi!"

"Xia Wuwei!"

"Xia Shi!"

Snapping her eyes open, she conjured two identical paper dolls – their only difference being the swords they clutched. The "Xia Shi" figure held a dull blade, while "Xia Wuwei" brandished a gleaming weapon radiating vigor.

"Fight," the woman commanded darkly. "The winner chooses my name." She even marked out a makeshift arena with her finger.

The paper dolls lunged at each other, stabbing viciously with their tiny swords. But without a sword spirit’s power, Xia Shi’s paper avatar soon lay defeated beneath her radiant counterpart.

"I win!" The victorious Xia Wuwei doll bounced triumphantly, only to freeze when the woman’s fingers closed around the vanquished Xia Shi figure.

"Now you abandon me too?"

The plaintive question pierced Xia Shi’s consciousness like shrapnel. Her scattered thoughts coalesced briefly before the familiar agony dragged her back. She dug fingers into her forehead as violent energy flooded her gaze.

"Xia Wuwei."

"Xia Shi."

The conflicting names still echoed when she looked up through crimson-hazed vision to see a weeping girl. Strangely, tears began streaming down Xia Shi’s own face too. She touched her damp cheek, staring at the moisture on her fingertips in disbelief.

She was crying.

The door abruptly swung open, and the girl’s silhouette dissolved in the incoming draft.

"Xia—"

Pei Jiu’s voice lodged in her throat as she gaped at Xia Shi’s raging killing intent.

"It’s… me."

The wildness in Xia Shi’s eyes gradually focused. When she realized her actions, she instantly released her grip.

Pei Jiu gasped for air, cautiously asking, "What did you see just now?"

Xia Shi’s eyes shone with unnatural crimson as spiritual power raged out of control around her. Her dangling fingers kept flexing – the instinctive motion of grasping a sword hilt.

"Out!" Xia Shi barked.

Before Pei Jiu could respond, a powerful force blasted her through the doorway. Wooden panels slammed shut with finality.

A male figure materialized in the Void, chuckling at her predicament. "Serves you right."

Pei Jiu’s lowered eyelids couldn’t conceal the glacial chill in her gaze.

Inside the sealed room—

Xia Shi dragged out someone hiding in the shadows and shoved them into a seat. Their knees bumped, shared breath mingling in the narrow space.

"Why come?"