Chapter 9:

Wen An cast an extremely complicated glance and sighed, “Like teacher, like disciple.”

Xue Ying didn’t like hearing that. She put down her brush and boasted to Wen An, “Master isn’t as popular as I am. This time when I went to Taichu Sect, my junior brothers and sisters gave me so many things… Stop looking, I won’t give you any.”

Wen An looked rather melancholic, his smile tinged with sorrow as he gazed at Xue Ying with adoration in his bright eyes. “As long as you’re happy, junior sister, I’ll indulge you in anything.”

Xue Ying played along, asking softly, “Then, senior brother, would you be willing to give me all your commission this time?”

The fake sibling affection ended there, and the two buried themselves back in their tasks. Perhaps because Yuhengzi had suddenly returned, Xue Ying still hadn’t fully accepted the fact that her master wasn’t dead yet. Staring at her sketches, she muttered to Wen An, “Senior brother, do you think Master has ever been with a woman?”

Wen An stretched out his hand to Xue Ying—pale, slender, with calloused palms, yet still beautiful. It lay there like a delicate hand, silently tempting.

“Ten mid-grade spirit stones.”

Xue Ying twitched her lips. “Wen An, you might as well die buried in spirit stones. Selling old gossip like this?”

After rummaging through her gifts, she reluctantly handed over a hairpin.

Wen An, who had no girlfriend, accepted it without guilt and said, “It’s just a rumor, but Yuheng-shishu never visits Taichu Sect.”

Xue Ying had joined the sect later than Wen An, so there were things he knew that she didn’t. Now that he mentioned it, she realized Yuhengzi indeed rarely went to Taichu Sect.

“Wait, every generation’s lifebound swords come from Taichu Sect. If Master never went there, how did he get his Yaoguang?”

Her generation had the Twenty-Four Divine Swords, the previous generation had the Twenty-Eight Famous Swords—each was a treasure capable of shaking the Four Realms. Taichu Sect wouldn’t just carry them around like street vendors.

Instead of answering directly, Wen An brought up someone else. “What do you think of the Sect Leader?”

Xue Ying didn’t have much of an impression. Rumors said the Taichu Sect Leader achieved enlightenment young, taking over the sect before a hundred years old—a true prodigy. Aside from cultivation, the Sect Leader was also renowned for peerless beauty, with an icy elegance that made them one of the Four Realms’ greatest beauties.

The waiting list for an audience stretched years long.

These were just rumors. As a disciple of Taixuan Sect, Xue Ying knew the Sect Leader had been missing for years, completely neglecting Taichu Sect.

Truly capricious.

“You brought up the Sect Leader—does that mean they have a connection with Master?”

Wen An’s smile turned suggestive. “In his youth, Yuheng-shishu was very close to the Sect Leader. There was also Cangwu, the Divine Physician of Taisu Valley. The three were inseparable—close friends.”

Xue Ying had seen portraits of Cangwu—a dashing figure in white robes with ink-black hair, devastatingly handsome. With that face as their poster boy, no wonder Taisu Valley’s Immortal Pearl Soul-Cleansing Pills sold so well.

A love triangle between two men and a woman? Now that was juicy. Xue Ying was hooked. “And then?”

“Back then, the Four Realms were in turmoil. As the leader of the Daoist faction, the Sect Leader felt the weight of responsibility but lacked support. To achieve greatness, they needed Yuheng-shishu’s help. Yuheng-shishu had cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness since childhood—his progress in cultivation was rapid, but his mental state stagnated, preventing his sword intent from reaching perfection. To ensure success, Cangwu gave the Sect Leader an idea.”

From scandalous gossip to world-shaking events, Xue Ying had a bad feeling.

Wen An continued leisurely, “He told the Sect Leader to confess to Yuheng-shishu. Then, when the time was ripe, Cangwu would have an affair with the Sect Leader to deliberately provoke Yuheng-shishu.”

Xue Ying: “…So they played the cuckold?”

Wen An sighed. “Yuheng-shishu truly lived up to his name. After this incident, he broke through his mental block and became the Sword Immortal of this era.”

That was one hell of a play. Xue Ying couldn’t help asking, “What happened next?”

Wen An wasn’t too clear about the rest. He’d only heard fragments from the Sect Master. “Apparently, the Sect Leader and Cangwu apologized. They were in the wrong, but for some reason, the Sect Leader stormed off after their talk. Later, when the Four Realms stabilized, they left a note and disappeared—still missing to this day.”

This part always puzzled Wen An, but even the Sect Master didn’t know what had happened that day. He couldn’t very well ask the parties involved. Now, with Yuhengzi’s disciple before him, Wen An discussed it with Xue Ying. “Junior sister, you’ve been taught by Shishu since childhood and share his temperament the most. If you were in his place, how would you feel?”

Xue Ying thought about it. If Wen An and Du Yizhou dared to cuckold her together—”If my sword intent was stuck, and someone helped temper my mental state through such means… and I found out afterward…”

She looked at the sword in her hand, Bai Lu, and smiled sweetly. “I’d thank you, senior brother.”

Wen An: “…”

Now he understood why the Sect Leader never returned.

Genuine emotions wasted on someone like this would only lead to self-inflicted rage.

They cuckold you, and you thank them gratefully?

Are you insane?!

…

After working late into the night, Xue Ying yawned and bid Wen An farewell. At this hour, most disciples hadn’t woken yet, so she planned to practice swordplay at the training grounds before heading back to sleep.

But as soon as she arrived, she spotted a dark figure—Liu Junzhuo, practicing late into the night.

Not wanting to train alongside the male lead, Xue Ying stopped and greeted him.

“Senior sister.”

Liu Junzhuo was both surprised and delighted to see her. Gazing up at Xue Ying hovering mid-air, his palms grew slightly sweaty, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on his sword.

“Up so early?”

Liu Junzhuo stole glances at Xue Ying. The dawn light hadn’t yet appeared, and half her face was shrouded in shadow, giving her a hazy beauty.

“I didn’t wake up early…”

Xue Ying understood—he was pulling an all-nighter, just like her. Looking down at the top of his head, she warned him based on Taixuan Sect’s principle that all disciples were beauties: “Staying up late causes hair loss.”

“Monks may find love, but baldness is forever.”

Bald men struggled to find romance—just look at the monks of Deer Park.

Liu Junzhuo looked blank and replied honestly, “I’m slow-witted and don’t understand.”

Xue Ying said mysteriously, “Then close your eyes with your confusion.”

Go to sleep and stop bothering her.

Having claimed the entire training grounds, Xue Ying was satisfied. Remembering the incident with the Purple Micro Path, she didn’t dare go all out and simply practiced a set of sword forms before stretching and heading back to sleep.

As for Liu Junzhuo hiding to the side…

She was blind and couldn’t see him.

After Xue Ying left, Liu Junzhuo quietly stepped forward, standing where she had stood. Recalling her movements, he couldn’t help but smile.

Senior sister… doesn’t seem good with words.

The training grounds were unusually lively tonight. No sooner had Xue Ying left than Yuhengzi arrived.

Liu Junzhuo didn’t dare slack off, sheathing his sword and bowing.

“Greetings, Master.”

Yuhengzi seemed to have a peculiar habit of wandering around late at night during his recovery. Hands behind his back, he studied the bowing Liu Junzhuo.

“You’re diligent.”

Liu Junzhuo replied, “This disciple is slow to comprehend, so I can only make up for it with practice.”

Yuhengzi’s expression remained impassive as he offered a few words of comfort. “Swordplay requires balance. Rest early.”

Liu Junzhuo acknowledged but didn’t leave immediately. Hesitating, he mustered his courage to ask, “Eldest senior brother said if I practice swordplay diligently every day, I might get to choose one of the Twenty-Four Divine Swords at Taichu Sect. Back then, senior sister received Bai Lu within half a year of joining. I still haven’t mastered a single sword form—am I embarrassing you, Master?”

Liu Junzhuo was under a lot of pressure. His master was the Sword Immortal of this era, and his senior sister was born with a Sword Bone—both were extraordinary, making him feel utterly inadequate since joining.

So embarrassing.

Yuhengzi saw through Liu Junzhuo’s unease and smiled faintly. “Throughout history, countless prodigies have risen, but just as many have fallen midway. Only diligence leads to the Great Dao. Don’t stress—follow your heart. If you’re truly worried, I’ll accompany you to Taichu Sect.”

Liu Junzhuo was overjoyed. “Thank you, Master!”

…

A few days later, Xue Ying descended the mountain. Her mission was at White Deer Valley, tasked with clearing out the wandering demons there. The reward? None.

There should’ve been merits, but Xue Ying’s performance was at the bottom, so she left the Merit Hall as empty-handed as she’d entered.

Xue Ying: When will Master recover? I’m really itching for a beating.

Before leaving, she repeatedly asked Wen An, “Senior brother, are you sure you won’t come with me? Senior brother Du is arriving tomorrow to repair the Purple Micro Path.”

Wen An’s usually gentle smile twisted slightly—clearly, Du Yizhou had done something again. Calmly, he said, “Don’t joke.”

The two always descended the mountain separately to prevent anyone from challenging the sect and disturbing the elders.

Unless the challenger was Du Yizhou.

Noticing Xue Ying’s schadenfreude, Wen An chuckled and carefully reviewed the White Deer Valley terrain and records. “Staying on the mountain won’t help you grow. Take some disciples down and let them gain experience.”

Then, Wen An slipped Liu Junzhuo into the group.

Xue Ying’s face turned green during roll call. The other disciples were fine, but why was the newly joined Liu Junzhuo here?

This being his first mission—and with Xue Ying, no less—Liu Junzhuo was excited, his eyes shining as he looked at her. “I won’t embarrass you, senior sister!”

Xue Ying poured cold water on him. “You’re the weakest.”

Despite her complaints, she wouldn’t deny him fair treatment. She tossed him into the male disciples’ group based on gender and happily surrounded herself with junior sisters.

“White Deer Valley has hot springs!”

Everyone cheered as if this were a vacation, not a mission. Liu Junzhuo watched eagerly, hoping to catch Xue Ying’s attention, but the male disciples shoved him to the back, obscuring him completely.

“Senior sister Xue Ying, can you give me some swordplay pointers?”

“Any tips for slaying demons?”

Considering the disciples’ varying skill levels, Xue Ying deliberately slowed the pace, setting up camp in a small town on the first night. Adhering to the principle of “never skimp on the kids,” she dipped into her savings to secure lodging. That night, the town held a lantern festival. As the lights lit up the streets, the disciples peeked outside eagerly. Xue Ying didn’t stop them, letting them go.

She herself was dragged by the junior sisters to see the lanterns. After Xue Ying left, Liu Junzhuo also went out, hoping to run into her.

But the streets were packed, and he soon lost sight of her. Wandering with the crowd, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

“Senior sister!”

He rushed forward excitedly, only to find a different face.

Delicate brows, tearful eyes, a sickly pallor—yet still breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing Liu Junzhuo in the dim light, the woman froze, her lotus lantern falling to the ground.

“Jun… Junzhuo…”

Hearing a stranger call his name, Liu Junzhuo felt odd. Realizing it wasn’t his senior sister, he politely apologized to Lin Jiujiu. “Sorry, miss. I mistook you for someone else.”

He picked up the lotus lantern, intending to return it, but the delicate thing had already been crushed at one corner. As he fumbled with it, it tore further.

The maid snapped, “What are you doing?!”

Embarrassed, Liu Junzhuo fished out a few coins. “Let me buy you a new one.”

As a new disciple, he hadn’t yet learned the seniors’ spatial storage techniques. Fortunately, Taixuan Sect didn’t spoil its youngest disciple—this was all the money he had.

The maid thought he was a scammer or a flirt. Snatching the lantern, she barked, “We don’t need your money. Get lost!”

“But—”

“Zhen’er.” Lin Jiujiu softly stopped the maid, signaling her to step back before turning to the young man.

Handsome, youthful, with a hint of sheepishness in his eyes.

Nothing like the cold, ruthless Liu Junzhuo from her memories.

The Junzhuo she had loved so deeply…

Her heart ached. Lowering her gaze, she clutched her handkerchief, forcing herself not to dwell. “It was just an accident. No need for this.”

“I was the one who bumped into you.” Liu Junzhuo was stubborn—if he broke something, he had to make amends. Otherwise, he’d feel guilty.

“Let me buy you a new one.”

“Do you even know how much that lotus lantern costs? Can you afford it?” The maid chirped, trying to shoo him away.

Liu Junzhuo looked awkward, stealing a glance at Lin Jiujiu. “Is it really that expensive?”

Lin Jiujiu didn’t know what came over her. Reason told her to stay away from Liu Junzhuo, but seeing him now, her eyes couldn’t help but follow him.

She wanted to hear him speak, to see him smile at her.

Snapping out of it, she lowered her head. “No need. Any lantern will do.”

With that, the two were temporarily inseparable. Liu Junzhuo was new to the area and didn’t know where to find good lanterns, but the festival streets were lined with them, giving them plenty to choose from.

Lin Jiujiu followed Liu Junzhuo toward the riverbank, now holding a rabbit lantern. Though not as exquisite as the lotus lantern, it had its own charm.

After replacing the lantern, it was time to part. Lin Jiujiu was about to voice the words she’d rehearsed when Liu Junzhuo suddenly exclaimed joyfully.

“Senior sister!”

Her heart sank. Following his gaze, she turned to see Xue Ying standing at the bridgehead—a sight unto herself amid the passing crowd.

Xue Ying…

A pang of jealousy shot through Lin Jiujiu. She told herself not to interfere, but as Liu Junzhuo left her side for Xue Ying, tears welled up.

Even now, in this different life, why did he still choose her?

She knew she should leave, yet her feet carried her toward the bridge.

Liu Junzhuo’s voice drifted over on the wind, tender as if offering his heart to Xue Ying.

“Senior sister, do you want to release a river lantern?”

“I already did. Three hundred steps ahead—fewer people, and it floats farther.”

“This is my first time… I’d like to do it with someone…” His voice brimmed with affection, eyes sparkling.

Xue Ying understood—first-timer jitters. Turning to a male disciple squatting by the river, she said, “Junior brother Fang, Liu Junzhuo’s nervous for his first time. Keep him company.”

Liu Junzhuo watched as a shadow by the river morphed into a towering figure. Dressed in the same black-and-red robes, this disciple was brawny, muscles straining against the fabric. Smiling understandingly, he slapped Liu Junzhuo’s backside and cooed, “Don’t worry, big bro’s got you.”

Liu Junzhuo: “…”

After sending off the dismayed Liu Junzhuo, Xue Ying noticed Lin Jiujiu in the crowd. Unlike her maid’s wariness, Lin Jiujiu looked awkward. “Senior sister Xue Ying.”

After all, thanks to the Voice of Diting, all of Lin Jiujiu’s secrets had been laid bare.

The two stood in silence until Lin Jiujiu broke first. “That day, when the Voice of Diting spoke of past lives… Aren’t you curious about me and Liu Junzhuo?”

Xue Ying truly wasn’t. What kind of moving love story could it be? Just because Liu Junzhuo was a scumbag, did she have to play the fool?

No thanks.

“Little sister Lin, want to release a river lantern?”

Clearly dodging the topic, Xue Ying left Lin Jiujiu disappointed. Stroking her rabbit lantern, Lin Jiujiu said, “Senior sister, haven’t you heard the town’s legend? They say couples who release lanterns together tonight will love each other forever.”

She hoped to provoke even a hint of jealousy, but Xue Ying…

“What? I thought it was for making wishes come true. So it’s not for getting rich? Shouldn’t have wasted my time.”

Lin Jiujiu: “…”

Xue Ying looked genuinely cheated. She turned to argue with a vendor, muttering about the Three Pure Ones favoring the wealthy.

After a long debate, Xue Ying walked away with another lantern, surrounded by junior sisters. She waved goodbye to Lin Jiujiu before leading the group away.

Lin Jiujiu stood dejected. Her maid whispered, “Miss, should we also wish for riches?”

“What riches?” Lin Jiujiu sighed. “As if we don’t have enough spirit stones at home?”