Chapter 15: Journey to Canglang

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Zhou Pi inwardly cursed, feeling the situation was becoming awkward. To avoid an unpleasant scene, he quickly gestured to the nearby steward disciples and said, “This is a probationary disciple from Qingyang Commandery. Hurry and escort her to Elder Zhao.” He blinked with some emphasis as he spoke.

The steward disciples, having honed their keen perception in the Hall of the Lone Deer, immediately grasped the situation. The eldest among them warmly greeted Huai Sheng.

“Sister, come with me quickly. The Sword Intent Path has opened today, and the probationary disciples are lining up to enter. You should hurry too!”

Chu Su fixed her gaze on the three figures approaching the main gate, her eyes briefly sweeping over the character “Zhang” embroidered on the sleeve of Xiao Ruoshui’s robe. She said calmly, “Elder Lu dislikes noise. I won’t go in with you. I’ll wait here.”

Though her tone was casual, she tightly gripped a shimmering red whip, exuding an aura capable of holding off countless foes single-handedly.

Huai Sheng cooperated fully and followed the steward disciples.

However, just as she was about to step through the gate of the Hall of the Lone Deer, a broad blade suddenly swung across. The rust-covered blade shimmered with a blood-like gleam, radiating a chilling murderous intent like a biting cold wind.

Zhou Pi, ever vigilant, reacted instantly. A bright blue sword light flashed from its sheath, aiming to intercept Xiao Ruoshui’s long blade.

The beautiful woman beside him seemed well prepared. She flicked a long silk ribbon forward, firmly binding Zhou Pi’s Rushing Wave Sword.

Seeing his sword restrained, Zhou Pi’s expression changed drastically; he thought to himself, “This is bad!” Just as he was about to execute a teleportation technique, the woman stepped forward and smiled softly, “Master Zhou, don’t be anxious. My lady only wishes to ask a question.”

Zhou Pi had only just reached the Pill Realm, his cultivation far inferior to the beautiful woman who had already mastered that stage. He grew anxious and shouted, “Elder Lu!”

In contrast, Chu Su was much calmer, seemingly confident that Zhang Ruoshui’s blade could not stop Huai Sheng.

Still, she acted. With a twist of her wrist, the crimson whip swung out, leaving a scarlet afterimage as it struck directly at Xiao Ruoshui’s face.

Daring to lay hands on Huai Sheng, she would show no mercy!

“Miss, be careful!” Zhu Cong, having suffered from Chu Su’s fiery attacks before, nervously drew his sword.

“You’re injured; there’s no need to intervene,” Xiao Ruoshui said, producing a small azure sword in her palm, swiftly meeting the whip’s strike.

Just as the two were about to clash, three jade-green bamboo leaves suddenly shot out from the inner courtyard of the Hall of the Lone Deer.

One leaf knocked down the rusty blade, another sliced through the white silk ribbon, and the third transformed into a strong gust of wind, forcibly separating Chu Su and Xiao Ruoshui by several meters.

Then, a deep, resonant voice asked gravely, “Who is causing trouble here?”

The beautiful woman leisurely retracted her silk ribbon, stepped forward, and smiled, “Elder Lu, this is your junior, Zhang Yu. Why are you still the same as before, unable even to joke? My lady’s blade was only meant to block, not to kill. What, does the eldest miss of the Xiao family no longer even have the right to ask a question on Yaijian Mountain?”

The Xiao family was currently the largest cultivator clan in Canglang. At their peak, they had produced numerous true masters and sent countless gifted disciples to Yaijian Mountain.

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Yaijian Mountain had gradually declined over the years, but the Xiao family remained loyal to it. As an elder of the Hall of the Lone Deer, Lu Pingyong naturally remembered their contributions.

After a brief silence, he asked, “Xiao Ruoshui, what is your question?”

Xiao Ruoshui sheathed her blade and said coldly, “According to the rules of Yaijian Mountain, those whose dual orifices remain unopened are forbidden entry. If that is so, how can someone with only one orifice open be registered in the Hall of the Lone Deer?”

Lu Pingyong’s thoughts turned swiftly and he knew exactly whom she meant. There was only one probationary disciple in the Hall of the Lone Deer with a single orifice open—

Nan Huai Sheng, the only daughter of Nan Xinjio and Xu Qingru.

He stated bluntly, “Nan Xinjio and Xu Qingru are disciples of Yaijian Mountain. They have made such great contributions to the sect that their daughter rightfully enjoys the status of an outer disciple under protection.”

Xiao Ruoshui sneered, “Even if they are disciples, why hasn’t the Law Hall of Yaijian Mountain punished Nan Xinjio? Just because he conspired with outsiders to murder fellow disciples—”

Before she could finish, a frost-white sword light suddenly flashed from its sheath.

Earlier, Xiao Ruoshui’s Ling Tian Blade had struck the threshold near Huai Sheng, not intending to harm her but to block her entry. Huai Sheng’s sword light now was not meant to injure Xiao Ruoshui but to silence her.

There were several Pill Realm cultivators inside and outside the Hall of the Lone Deer. Huai Sheng’s strike could not harm them, nor did she intend it to. Unexpectedly, the frost sword was not blocked by bamboo leaves or a white silk ribbon but by a sword intent as gentle as spring breeze.

The spring wind melted the frost; the frost sword was gently sent back to Huai Sheng’s hand.

“Is it not laughable that you two fight so before even entering the sect?”

The newcomer strolled into the outer courtyard of the Hall of the Lone Deer. Handsome and elegant in a green robe and simple shoes, he was none other than Ye Heguang, the newly minted True Master of Yaijian Mountain.

He spoke politely, “The sect has countless hierarchies and opportunities for sparring. Let today’s matter end here.”

His words framed the feud between the Xiao and Nan families as mere youthful quarrels, preserving dignity for both sides.

Zhou Pi breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands respectfully to the newcomer, “Greetings, Uncle Ye.”

True to his name, Ye Heguang exuded warmth like harmonious sunlight and gentle spring rain.

He smiled kindly at Zhou Pi, “Take the new disciple to Elder Lu. I will take away my mischievous disciple first.”

Zhou Pi had been meaning the same and nodded slightly before hurrying toward Huai Sheng to escort her inside.

Ye Heguang looked toward Xiao Ruoshui, signaling her to come forward.

The probationary disciples, hearing that True Master Ye from Yaijian Mountain had arrived, craned their necks eagerly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the True Master.

True Master Ye did not notice, but outside, the young girl in white robes and a green skirt suddenly turned around and called out to Ye Heguang and Xiao Ruoshui as they were about to leave.

“Wait.”

Ye Heguang was a little surprised, stopped, and looked back at Huai Sheng. His refined face showed a hint of helplessness.

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“If you don’t go in now, I will have no choice but to have Elder Lu revoke your protected disciple status. Nan Huai Sheng, your parents worked hard to secure this spot for you. Don’t disappoint their hopes.”

“It doesn’t matter. I never intended to use the protected status to enter Yaijian Mountain,” Huai Sheng said. “With the mountain gates open, I will climb the Broken Sword Cliff and challenge for my own right to enter. But before that, I have something to say.”

Under the pale daylight, the young girl stood tall, straight as pine and bamboo, like a sword yet unsheathed.

“My parents have served Yaijian Mountain since joining, completing one thousand six hundred and seven sect missions, repairing the Heaven and Earth Mirrors at one hundred twenty-six outposts, defending ninety-six mortal cities in the Central Plains, and slaughtering countless fiend beasts. Over these hundred-plus years, they have abided by the sect’s rules, acting with a clear conscience. My father, Nan Xinjio, has never murdered a fellow disciple—not in the past, nor today! I hope everyone will not sully the righteous with slander, nor confuse the upright with darkness!”

The murderers of Xiao Chi’nan and Zhu Yun had yet to be caught by the Law Hall. Most knew little about the events from thirteen years ago; rumors abounded, but no decisive proof existed.

Yet Xiao Ruoshui’s earlier words had sealed the matter, labeling Nan Xinjio as a “murderer of fellow disciples.” If Huai Sheng did not speak now, would her father’s reputation survive?

Huai Sheng spoke solemnly, but Ye Heguang regarded it as childish tantrum, smiling and waving his hand to ask if she had finished. Suddenly, he sensed a presence rapidly approaching from afar.

That presence…

Ye Heguang furrowed his brow and instinctively glanced toward the dense mountain forest behind.

The Hall of the Lone Deer was built beside Tang Creek, surrounded by green bamboo and pines. At noon, the pine waves rustled, and the mountain stream shrouded in light mist.

A figure clad in a dark disciple robe walked slowly along the mountain path by the creek, brushing aside the mountain haze.

Huai Sheng stared at the face she had seen just an hour ago, her breath slightly catching.

“Li Ciying…”

—

Perhaps arriving in haste, the youth’s jet-black long hair was disheveled behind him, lifted and tossed by the lingering chill of the spring breeze. His narrow phoenix eyes were cold, pupils unfocused at first, but upon seeing a face, they involuntarily sharpened and finally focused.

Half an hour ago, when Huai Sheng had stood by the stone bed watching Ciying, he seemed unfamiliar. But now, seeing him alive and present, an unexplainable strangeness welled within her.

She instinctively licked her dry lips, about to speak, but then remembered—

She was no longer the little child with only ten baby teeth.

Thirteen years had passed in a flash; he had changed, and so had she. She wondered if he could even recognize her.

Before the thought fully formed, Ciying shifted his gaze away from her and looked toward Xiao Ruoshui.

A white fox lazily resting on Ciying’s shoulder raised its head and transmitted a voice, “Tsk tsk tsk, such a small, insignificant place, yet it produced a born spiritual body, a Buddha-hearted Daoist. This one is even more interesting—”

It narrowed its eyes at Xiao Ruoshui, “There’s even a trace of divine aura! Hey, Li Ciying, are you sure you didn’t mistake the person? The one you’re looking for is either divine or immortal. This little bean sprout just doesn’t seem likely!”