The sword tip drew closer to Shen Jin. Seeing that Xue Ying was truly about to strike, Shen Jin panicked, “I am your master!”
Xue Ying remained cold and ruthless, “If you have the guts, draw your sword and fight me, you useless waste.”
Shen Jin nearly spat blood, “How outrageous! To strike a fatal blow when someone is unprepared—such behavior is unworthy of a gentleman!”
Not a single person present stepped forward to mediate fairly. Xue Ying cursed, “You still have the nerve to talk? You couldn’t become the Sword Immortal yourself, so you resorted to scheming against others. Even your own disciple wasn’t spared—Yuhengzi, you’re not human!”
“Exactly, exactly,” Yu Xuzi chimed in. “Our Tai Xuan Sect is a righteous and prestigious sect. How can we tolerate such selfish abuse of power? Junior Brother, I know you’ve worked hard all these years, but age catches up to everyone. It’s better to step down gracefully and enjoy your retirement. Xue Ying is filial—she’ll take care of you. Right, Xue Ying?”
Shen Jin wanted to retort, *You old bastard, how dare you talk about age? How old are you yourself?*
When her name was mentioned, Xue Ying reluctantly nodded. “If you cooperate, we can still maintain a master-disciple relationship.”
*This old fool needs to be taught a lesson.*
Shen Jin wished he could summon his Heaven-Burning Sword and skewer the lot of them like kebabs. Clinging to his last shred of dignity, he gritted his teeth.
“No! The title of Sword Immortal must be passed down honorably. At my peak, she wouldn’t stand a chance against me!”
“But…” Elder Qixia frowned. “Senior Brother, you’ve succumbed to inner demons. You’re already finished.”
Shen Jin: “…”
“Accept it,” the other elders said. “For the sake of Tai Xuan Sect and the greater Daoist world, Junior Brother Yuheng, you should sever your meridians now.”
“If word gets out that a Sword Immortal has fallen to demonic influences, how will our Tai Xuan Sect maintain face? Junior Brother, hurry up—don’t force us to act.”
Shen Jin: *Kill them! Kill all these hypocrites!*
After watching the chaos for a while, Wen An, the source of the trouble, finally spoke. The ever-gentlemanly senior disciple offered his suggestion: “I have a proposal. Inner demons arise from desires—no desires, no suffering. Therefore, why not seek the Forgetfulness Elixir from Sage Cangwu? One sip, and all worries vanish.”
*Go for the cruelest option—wipe his mind clean and turn him into an idiot.*
Everyone praised the idea as brilliant—killing two birds with one stone. It would salvage the strained master-disciple relationship and rescue Yuhengzi from his predicament.
Most importantly, Tai Xuan Sect’s reputation would remain intact.
Yu Xuzi nodded approvingly. “My disciple is truly capable of great responsibility.”
Wen An humbly replied, “I don’t deserve such praise,” while his popularity soared.
For now, Yu Xuzi ordered, “To prevent Junior Brother from losing control, let us form a formation to suppress Yuhengzi.”
Shen Jin could no longer sit still. Though these sword cultivators weren’t specialized in demon suppression, a brutal beating would still be unbearable. If they added a Buddhist lotus to his head, he might ascend on the spot.
“Wait!”
Everyone turned to Shen Jin, who spoke through gritted teeth, “This was my fault.”
“I was jealous of Xue Ying’s talent.”
Tears welled in his eyes as he bowed his head in shame. “After returning injured, I realized my swordsmanship would never progress further. Seeing Xue Ying’s brilliance, I grew envious and deliberately framed her.”
Never in his life had Shen Jin imagined such a humiliating day—weeping and confessing before his enemies.
Yu Xuzi sighed. “Junior Brother, was this really necessary?”
Xue Ying, the aggrieved party, looked disappointed. “Master, you’ve changed.”
Shen Jin thought, *Shut the hell up—you’re the most annoying one here.*
Still, Xue Ying was magnanimous. “Fine. If you hand over the Sword Immortal title to me, I’ll still acknowledge you as my father. How about an annual pension of 250 spirit stones? It’s not like you need much anyway—you don’t even eat.”
Since he had achieved *bigu* (fasting immortality), starving for three to five years wouldn’t kill him.
Suppressing the urge to fight Xue Ying to the death, Shen Jin forced a smile. “Thank you, disciple.”
Yu Xuzi, watching this heartwarming scene of reconciliation, affectionately beckoned Xue Ying. “Come here, Xue Ying.”
“Traditionally, the succession of the Sword Immortal title requires a formal duel. Given your master’s current state, it would be an embarrassment. To ensure fairness, you must prove yourself in a proper competition. I’ll schedule the succession ceremony after the Martial Evaluation Tournament. How does that sound?”
Xue Ying understood—her current reputation was too small, and taking the title directly would invite criticism. Building her fame first would give her legitimacy.
“I’ll bring back first place for you.”
“Excellent, excellent.” Yu Xuzi beamed, looking every bit the proud master—as if *he* were her teacher, not Shen Jin.
Shen Jin sneered inwardly, already planning to consult Ming Gong upon his return. But then, Wen An struck.
The ever-elusive senior disciple finally bared his fangs. “Sect Leader, for the sake of Tai Xuan Sect and Junior Sister’s reputation, I propose temporarily imprisoning Elder Yuheng to prevent loose tongues from spreading rumors.”
Shen Jin slammed the table. “You dare?!”
Wen An smiled like a spring breeze. “Elder, you may not know—but my swordsmanship has improved significantly.”
The implication was clear: *I can beat you up too.*
Shen Jin: “You—”
Yu Xuzi: “Approved.”
Yu Xuzi’s calculations were simple—Wen An handled all sect affairs. If Wen An quit, he’d have to step in himself.
Having already entered retirement, Yu Xuzi had no desire to return to work.
Besides, Yuhengzi was already finished. Why offend the promising Wen An over a has-been?
A self-righteous believer in survival of the fittest, Yu Xuzi readily agreed and even asked, “Where do you think we should detain him, disciple?”
Shen Jin: *Once I regain my original body, I’ll kill every last one of you! QAQ*
The painful tribunal finally concluded. Wen An and Xue Ying left one after the other. The vindicated Xue Ying tried to curry favor with Wen An. “Thank you, Senior Brother. About that…”
Wen An stated his price outright. “Rescue fee: 3,500 spirit stones. Hurry up—I have manuscripts to finish.”
In this world, beyond cold, hard cash, what pure senior-junior relationship existed?
……
Under the executioner’s gaze, Shen Jin walked step by step into the depths of darkness. The last sliver of light vanished at the door.
He looked at the snow weasel in the basket. Sensing his sorrow, the creature lifted its head and gazed at him.
His shattered heart found solace. Stroking its head, he sighed with the weight of years. “In all of Tai Xuan Sect, only you in this basket are pure.”
“Ah, I haven’t given you a name yet. Your fur is as white as snow—how about ‘Xiao Bai’?”
“Xiao Bai is so well-behaved. Come, give me a kiss—hey, don’t run!”
……
Days later, Xue Ying met up with her fellow disciples and Du Yizhou. The first thing she asked was, “Finished writing?”
Standing beside her, Wen An shot her a meaningful glance.
*Just you wait.*
Xue Ying felt wronged—it wasn’t her fault Du Yizhou kept spying on Wen An’s progress.
*Finishing a manuscript is such a big deal.*
The group split up. Aside from the elite disciples, there were also those who got in through connections—like Liu Junzhuo. Who knew what kind of sweet talk his master had fed the sect leader to get him in? Did they expect him to fight in the finals?
His *recharge* hadn’t even arrived yet.
Xue Ying thought for a moment before pulling Liu Junzhuo aside. Solemnly, she advised, “Once we reach Yunmeng Marsh, don’t take out Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), and don’t tell anyone you’re from Tai Xuan Sect.”
Liu Junzhuo was hurt. “Senior Sister, I—”
“I don’t want to hear about any Tai Xuan disciple losing in three moves. If you’re weak, at least have some self-awareness. Understood?”
Clenching his fists, Liu Junzhuo agreed. Xue Ying’s words stabbed deep into his pride. For the first time, he yearned for strength—to stand before his senior sister as an equal.
“Don’t wear the sect uniform. Do you have spare clothes? Change into them. You’ll be my sword bearer.”
He had been humiliated.
The next day, when Liu Junzhuo appeared before the group carrying the sword case, the others’ gazes weren’t mocking—but envious.
“Senior Sister Xue Ying treats Junior Brother Liu so well—she actually made him her sword bearer! I want to hold Bailu (White Dew) too!”
That was a sword cultivator’s lifeline—their one and only wife.
A fellow disciple, Ziya, sidled up and cooed, “Senior Sister, can I be your sword bearer? I’ll take good care of Bailu.”
Xue Ying refused but kindly suggested, “You can hold Senior Brother Du’s sword instead.”
Du Yizhou’s murderous glare made his stance clear: *Try touching my wife, and you’re dead.*
Ziya hastily shook her head. “Never mind. I was being presumptuous.”
Under the crowd’s scrutiny, Liu Junzhuo instinctively tightened his grip on the sword case—only to be scolded by Xue Ying. “Gently! Why are you squeezing it so hard?”
Liu Junzhuo: *…I still don’t understand sword cultivators.*
Xue Ying and her group hitched a ride on Tai Chu Sect’s flying vessel, the *Boeing*—far superior to Lin Jiujiu’s small passenger plane. She even enjoyed special privileges.
*First-class seating!*
In high spirits, Xue Ying happily engaged with her juniors—teaching swordplay, discussing the latest hairstyles.
Pure bliss.
Upon arriving at Yunmeng Marsh, aside from the floating platform at the center, the ground was packed with people. Stalls for food, clothing, lodging, and even sect recruitment lined the area.
The Martial Evaluation Tournament was no joke when it came to boosting the local economy.
Du Yizhou, likely briefed by the elders, pretended to be familiar with the place. “Let’s head to our lodgings first.”
As they walked, a few female disciples whispered about going shopping. Xue Ying’s fingers itched—she wanted to grab a bite.
Their accommodations had been booked a year in advance. Tai Chu Sect got villas; Tai Xuan Sect got small apartments. Next door were civilian homes, and Cangwu leaned against the doorway, smoking with a charming smile.
“Yuheng’s disciple, we meet again.”
Before Xue Ying could react, Du Yizhou and the disciples bowed. “Greetings, Valley Master.”
Cangwu’s gaze shifted to Du Yizhou, softening. “You’ve grown so much.”
A flicker of nostalgia crossed his face before he resumed his teasing. “Where’s the snow weasel I gave you?”
Xue Ying answered truthfully. “I gave it to my master.”
Seeing Cangwu’s expression darken, she added, “I’ll write a letter and have Senior Brother Wen An retrieve it.”
Cangwu didn’t press further. Instead, he mentioned another matter. “Our Tai Su Valley is renowned for medicine. We participate in the Martial Evaluation Tournament as healers, though occasionally, some disciples insist on competing.”
He took a drag, his expression unreadable. “A rabbit has escaped the valley. If you see it, please bring it back. I’ll reward you handsomely.”
At the mention of money, the Tai Xuan disciples responded enthusiastically, earning Du Yizhou’s disdain.
*Hmph. Sword cultivators.*
The details came from Tai Su Valley’s head disciple, Baizhu. “It’s Junior Brother Su Yu. He abandoned medicine for the sword at a young age and is quite skilled. He’s been trying to leave the valley for training but was always stopped by the Valley Master. Recently, he found an opportunity to escape.”
Cangwu’s exact words were: *I’m craving spicy rabbit head.* Baizhu swallowed, reminiscing about Cangwu’s cooking.
Xue Ying asked curiously, “Why? Friendly martial exchanges are a joy in life.”
Baizhu sighed. “Junior Brother Su transformed early. Though his swordsmanship is good, his cultivation is shallow. If he exhausts himself, he reverts to his true form. He’s naturally effeminate—the Valley Master is just worried he’ll meet misfortune.”
*If he stumbles into a BL novel, it’s over.*
Everyone agreed to report any sightings. Xue Ying even asked for Su Yu’s portrait, but Baizhu chuckled behind her sleeve. “You’ll recognize him the moment you see him.”
With that settled, Baizhu took her leave. Xue Ying escorted her out and inquired about the Tang siblings.
“Junior Sister Tang is too young—the Valley Master won’t let her leave. As for the other one…” Baizhu winked. “You’ll see in a few days.”
Mysterious, just like her Valley Master.
Returning to the hall, Xue Ying overheard Lin Jiujiu’s fawning. “Senior Brother, I bought this magical artifact for you.”
Du Yizhou ignored the elixirs, focusing instead on Lin Jiujiu’s sect robes. Coldly, he said, “I usually let you do as you please, but now that we’re outside, you still flaunt your sect robes? Do you want people to say Tai Chu Sect accepts backdoor entrants?”
Lin Jiujiu, unused to such scolding, burst into tears. The onlooking disciples stayed silent—some things could be debated, but not sect honor.
Disciplinary expulsion wasn’t unheard of.
The newly recruited Liu Junzhuo, however, didn’t understand. He jumped to Lin Jiujiu’s defense. “Ignorance isn’t a crime. Senior Sister Lin didn’t mean to.”
Du Yizhou’s voice was icy. “Draw your sword.”
Lin Jiujiu bit her lip. “Don’t be rude. Senior Brother, Junior Brother Liu—”
Du Yizhou repeated, “Draw. Your. Sword.”
Lin Jiujiu dared not argue further and retreated.
Though Liu Junzhuo’s Jingzhe surpassed Du Yizhou’s Dahan (Great Cold), the novice was no match. Defeated in three moves, Liu Junzhuo watched as Du Yizhou sheathed Dahan and sneered, “You’re unworthy of a divine sword.”
The crowd dispersed, leaving only Liu Junzhuo. After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Jiujiu approached to console him. “You shouldn’t have contradicted the senior brother…”
Liu Junzhuo’s humiliation deepened—*Senior Sister Lin is defending him?*
Xue Ying tactfully slipped away to explore. She’d spotted a candied hawthorn stall earlier—maybe there was stinky tofu too?
The food street was a paradise—skewers, hotpot, fried chicken, barbecue, desserts…
Pulling out her savings, Xue Ying ate her way through the stalls. After garlic-clam noodles, she headed for spicy rabbit head. At the entrance, she found someone arguing with the cashier.
“Bunnies are so cute! How can you eat them?”
The burly owner retorted, “Are you blind? If I don’t sell rabbit heads, how do I make a living? Little girl, go home.”
The crowd laughed. The red-eyed youth snapped, “Who are you calling a girl?”
The owner remained patient. “Little sister, stop reading those novels. Cross-dressing isn’t trendy anymore. Here’s a free plate—eat up and go home.”
Furious, the youth drew his sword, only for Xue Ying to stop him. “Don’t cause trouble.”
Su Yu tensed, thinking a senior sister had caught him. Turning, he saw a veiled female cultivator.
*Probably ugly.*
Xue Ying now understood Baizhu’s words—Su Yu was indeed beautiful, with delicate features and red-rimmed eyes. Dressed in white, he embodied the saying *elegance in mourning*.
She spoke first. “The Valley Master has been looking for you.”
Su Yu’s temper flared. “Piss off! I don’t need your help.”
Remembering Cangwu’s reward, Xue Ying kept her cool. “The Valley Master is worried. Come back with me.”
Su Yu drew his sword. “Ugly freak, back off—or I won’t hold back.”
*Ugly freak?* Xue Ying’s smile froze. “I was being polite for the money, but if you want to play hard, fine. I’ll send you home crying. Screaming at rabbit heads—what, are you summoning souls or proposing marriage? Will spicy rabbit heads give you strength?”
Su Yu gaped. “Y-You can’t swear!”
Xue Ying grabbed his hair. “I’ll do more than swear—I’ll drag you home.”
Su Yu’s ears nearly popped out from the pain. He slashed at Xue Ying, who disarmed him effortlessly. As they were about to brawl, the owner stood, his massive frame casting a shadow.
“You two—fighting?”
Xue Ying and Su Yu bowed in unison. “Apologies, Senior!”
Outside, they glared at each other before heading to a small arena at the street’s end—where feuding cultivators settled disputes.
Su Yu pointed angrily. “If I win, you apologize!”
Xue Ying smirked. “Not happening.”
The duel began. As Baizhu had said, Su Yu was talented—his swordplay sharp and precise. Finally facing a worthy opponent, Xue Ying fought seriously.
Their blades clashed, Bailu humming with excitement.
The arena trembled under their strikes, the crowd gasping. Xue Ying grew fiercer, while Su Yu weakened, his movements sluggish.
*Eight seconds of glory—then defeat.*
Disarmed, Su Yu glared as Xue Ying approached.
“This doesn’t count!”
Picking up his sword—Xiaohan (Little Cold), another of Tai Chu Sect’s divine blades—Xue Ying said, “Watch.”
She swung. Instantly, snowflakes swirled, ice shards erupting around her.
Su Yu stared, stunned. *Xiaohan had never responded like this for him.*
Refusing to meet her gaze, he flinched as Xue Ying whispered in his ear—words that would haunt him, the shame of every swordsman:
“Your wife is amazing.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage