Chapter 24
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 24: Qiongming Peak’s Prosperity Is Just Around the Corner!
The room was *pristine and devoid of any lingering scent.
*[ clean and fresh as if new; spotless.]
Being newly built, it had been thoroughly cleansed multiple times by wind-type and water-type spirit Qi.
Su Youwei sat silently in the dim light.
Through the faint moonlight filtering in from the window, she could barely make out her delicate palm, as smooth and tender as jade. But the most noticeable features were the two “正” characters etched onto her wrist.
She traced the characters with her index finger, the texture of the strokes still discernible. She knew that only with spiritual power could she completely erase them, yet she hesitated.
Su Youwei pressed her lips together tightly.
After a long internal struggle, she dispersed the spiritual power gathered in her other hand.
She couldn’t bring herself to erase Martial Sister Bai Lian’s words of encouragement. Those characters symbolized a memory too precious to discard—one that reminded her to temper her impulsive nature.
However, staying on Qiongming Peak after her earlier transgression felt unbearable.
Take this as my last keepsake from Martial Sister Bai Lian, she thought.
Her heart ached as she imagined the impossibility of ever returning these characters to her Elder Martial Sister.
Wiping the corners of her eyes, Su Youwei muttered, “I’m so foolish.”
You don’t cherish what you have, only to regret it when it’s gone.
It was inevitable for someone burdened by inner demons to falter.
Slowly, Su Youwei rose to her feet.
She had nothing to pack—everything she held dear was either *etched into her heart or carried on her body.
[*engrave (metal, glass, or stone) by coating it with a protective layer, drawing on it with a needle, and then covering it with acid to attack the parts the needle has exposed, especially in order to produce prints from it. Here it refers to “engraved”.]
Taking a final, lingering look around, she committed every corner of the room to memory before stepping out.
The night was calm as Su Youwei slipped through the courtyard like a cautious little mouse.
“The sky is so clear tonight,” she murmured, gazing upward.
The crescent moon hung slightly fuller in the heavens, accompanied by a smattering of faint stars.
Her musings were interrupted by a soft sound.
“Haw?”
Su Youwei froze mid-step, her body stiffening like a rusted machine. Slowly, she turned her head.
Sitting atop a bluestone near the gate was the jade rabbit.
One of its ears drooped lazily, while the other stood upright, a stark contrast to the awkward, scribbled characters engraved into the bluestone beneath it.
Was the jade rabbit practicing calligraphy at night?
Su Youwei blinked, momentarily taken aback.
Before she could make a sound, she pressed her index finger against her lips and whispered, “Shh.”
The jade rabbit tilted its head quizzically but nodded in agreement.
Satisfied, Su Youwei resumed her departure.
“Thank goodness it wasn’t Martial Sister Bai Lian,” she murmured under her breath. “If it had been her, I wouldn’t know how to explain myself.”
Her steps grew heavier as she moved farther away.
With memories spanning two lifetimes, Su Youwei felt as though the world around her was losing its solidity.
Was everything I’ve seen and heard real? Or is this just a dream?
Her thoughts spiraled deeper until a loud crack shattered her reverie.
Standing in front of her now was Xiao Jinse, her Second Martial Sister.
The night framed Xiao Jinse in sharp contrast, the moonlight reflecting off the broad Blowing Snow Sword in her hand.
With one precise slash, Xiao Jinse reduced a tree before her to splinters.
Her movements were swift and decisive. As she turned, her sword swept through the air in a wide arc. Another tree beside her fell instantly, its trunk splintering with a thunderous crack before flying several feet away.
Su Youwei’s breath caught in her throat.
Her Second Martial Sister stood resolute, her expression unreadable under the pale glow of the crescent moon.
Su Youwei blinked.
“?”
Cutting trees in the middle of the night? Doesn’t Qiongming Peak have a single normal person?
Her gaze met Xiao Jinse’s.
Xiao Jinse was fuming.
She had tried to banish thoughts of the special course from her mind, but no matter how much she tossed and turned, the memories refused to fade. Worse, they only deepened, branching into vivid imaginings of what it would have been like if she had been the one in Su Youwei’s position.
Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
Unable to bear it, Xiao Jinse grabbed her Blowing Snow Sword and stormed out.
Her first stop had been Su Youwei’s door. She paced there for what felt like hours, considering whether to burst in and confront the third Martial Sister. But reason held her back at the last moment.
It was just an accident, right? Sure!
Su Youwei’s mind had been unstable, and it was only natural to lose composure when faced with Martial Sister Bai Lian’s ethereal presence.
As the second Martial Sister, Xiao Jinse reminded herself to be tolerant…
Damn it!
The reminder failed.
After circling the area twice, she reluctantly stepped away from Su Youwei’s room. Unable to sleep and desperate to vent, she stumbled upon two crooked trees along the mountain path and decided to channel her frustrations into sword practice.
The result was so loud it drew Su Youwei from her retreat.
Now, Xiao Jinse leaned against her Blowing Snow Sword, staring at Su Youwei with narrowed eyes.
Time seemed to stretch indefinitely in the silence between them.
The moonlight flickered, seasons turned, and centuries seemed to pass—only to snap back into place as the present moment returned.
“The moonlight is beautiful tonight,” Xiao Jinse finally said. “Are you out to enjoy it too, Third Martial Sister?”
Su Youwei gritted her teeth, willing herself to stay calm. I can’t tell her I was trying to run away!
“That’s right,” she said.
“Do you want to spar with me, then?” Xiao Jinse asked, her voice deceptively casual.
“I…” Su Youwei faltered. Sparring was the last thing on her mind.
Xiao Jinse’s eyes gleamed with suspicion. “Or were you about to run away?”
Su Youwei froze.
How could she know?!
The second Martial Sister leaned forward, the weight of her stare pressing down. You had the audacity to grab Martial Sister Bai Lian’s feet, but you’re too much of a coward to spar with me?
Her frustration boiled over. “You unpleasant woman!”
“I—I wasn’t running away!” Su Youwei stammered, shaking her head. “I was just… taking a walk!”
Xiao Jinse’s lips curved into a sly grin. She sheathed her Blowing Snow Sword and declared, “Since it’s a friendly duel between sisters, let’s use fists instead. That way, no one gets seriously hurt!”
“What?!”
Before Su Youwei could fully process the situation, Xiao Jinse lunged.
The impromptu duel quickly devolved into chaos.
Su Youwei, inexperienced and distracted, found herself thoroughly outmatched. She struggled to keep up, stumbling under the force of Xiao Jinse’s relentless attacks.
“Ow! Stop, stop!” Su Youwei yelped, scrambling away.
Xiao Jinse paused, planting her hands on her hips. At first, she felt satisfied, having asserted her dominance as the second Elder Martial Sister. But her triumph quickly gave way to concern.
At this rate, we’ll both be humiliated when we face the disciples of Yunluo Peak!
Her brows furrowed. I can’t let Martial Sister Bai Lian down!
“You’re holding back!” Xiao Jinse shouted. “Show your real strength!”
Su Youwei blinked in confusion.
“How do you plan to overcome your inner demons with such weak resolve?!” Xiao Jinse continued. “Stop running away and fight back! Attack, don’t defend!”
Her scolding grew more animated.
“I’m so mad! You’re the worst Martial Sister I’ve ever seen!”
“Are you planning to disappoint Martial Sister Bai Lian? No way! I won’t allow it!”
Xiao Jinse crossed her arms decisively. “It’s clear now—you need special training!”
This was the scene that greeted Bai Lian as she emerged from the forbidden array.
At first, her blood pressure spiked. From a distance, it looked like Xiao Jinse was mercilessly beating Su Youwei. Why are they trying to kill each other all of a sudden?!
But as she got closer, she overheard Xiao Jinse’s impassioned rant.
Realization dawned.
Oh, this is… friendship.
Bai Lian sighed in relief, her heart settling.
“Good, good,” she muttered under her breath. “Qiongming Peak’s prosperity is just around the corner.”
A sense of ease washed over her.
Soon, I’ll be able to hand over all my burdens and live a leisurely life as the Elder Martial Sister who eats and waits to die.
Comfortable.
