At dusk, the setting sun coated the mountains of Tianxuan Sect in a layer of warm gold.
Disciples, having finished their day of cultivation or labor, walked along the paths in twos and threes. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than in the morning.
Song Xunzhen, holding her newly acquired Flying Sword, walked straight toward the residential area for Inner Sect Disciples.
Outer Sect Disciples were not usually allowed to enter the inner sect area freely. However, perhaps because of her current fame, or perhaps because the sword she held looked far from ordinary, the two Inner Sect Disciples guarding the mountain path entrance merely gave her a few extra glances without stopping her. Instead, their eyes held curiosity and inquiry.
According to the original owner’s memories, Chu Yao, as an Inner Sect Disciple, lived in Cuizhu Residence in Nanyuan.
It was a bamboo forest with a quiet and secluded environment, allocated to promising female disciples.
As Song Xunzhen walked, she drew the sideways glances of many Inner Sect Disciples.
She did her best to keep her eyes forward, but she was secretly glad to have this sword in hand. At the very least, it didn’t look like she was there to cause trouble.
She found Cuizhu Residence, an exquisite small courtyard surrounded by verdant, elegant bamboo. The courtyard gate was ajar.
Standing at the entrance, Song Xunzhen took a deep breath and raised her hand to gently knock on the door knocker.
“Please come in,” Chu Yao’s soft voice came from inside.
Song Xunzhen pushed the door open and entered.
The small courtyard was planted with some flowers and plants, and it was kept clean and elegant.
Chu Yao was sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard, seemingly wiping a short sword. When she saw it was Song Xunzhen who had entered, she was visibly stunned. She then stood up, a look of surprise and bewilderment on her face.
“Song… Junior Sister Song?”
Chu Yao put down the short sword in her hand and spoke with some hesitation, “Why have you come? Please, have a seat.”
She pointed to a nearby stone stool, her polite attitude tinged with a trace of restraint.
Evidently, the experience at the Enforcement Hall made it impossible for her to see this Junior Sister Song in the same way as before.
Song Xunzhen did not sit down. She stood in the courtyard and presented the sheathed longsword she was holding to Chu Yao, her tone sincere. “Senior Sister Chu, I’ve come about yesterday’s matter. This is the compensation I promised, a new Flying Sword. I hope Senior Sister will accept it.”
Chu Yao’s gaze fell upon the sword.
The scabbard was made of black wood, polished to a very smooth finish, giving it a low-key and reserved appearance.
Just from the quality of the scabbard, it seemed to be much better than her previous one.
She quickly waved her hands. “Junior Sister Song, there’s no need for this. The elder already said yesterday that it was a misunderstanding. Besides, you acted with good intentions, just that your method was improper. This sword is too valuable; I can’t accept it.”
“Senior Sister must accept it.”
Song Xunzhen’s attitude was firm, and she pushed the sword forward again. “A mistake is a mistake. I almost delayed Senior Sister’s participation in the Grand Competition, and my heart is truly troubled. Although this sword is no divine weapon, its quality is decent. I hope it can be of some help to you. If Senior Sister doesn’t accept it, it means you’re still angry with me.”
She spoke with such sincerity and a touch of insistence that it made it difficult for Chu Yao to refuse again.
Chu Yao hesitated for a moment. Looking at Song Xunzhen’s sincere eyes, then at the indeed extraordinary longsword, she finally reached out and took it. “Then… then thank you, Junior Sister Song.”
The moment the sword was in her hand, Chu Yao was slightly startled.
The weight and feel of the sword were just right, even better than she had expected.
She couldn’t resist gripping the hilt and, with a clang, drew the blade out partway.
In an instant, a clear, cold glint flowed out. The blade was like a pool of autumn water. While the spiritual energy within it wasn’t overwhelming, it was exceptionally pure and condensed—absolutely incomparable to an ordinary Flying Sword!
How was this just “slightly better”? It was clearly better by more than just one grade.
A look of shock immediately appeared on Chu Yao’s face. She looked up at Song Xunzhen. “Junior Sister Song, this sword is too…”
“As long as Senior Sister likes it.”
Song Xunzhen interrupted her, a smile of relief on her face. “Finally, I can make up for some of my mistakes. Senior Sister still needs to prepare for the Grand Competition, so I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Fearing that Chu Yao would refuse again, leading to a back-and-forth entanglement, she gave a slight nod after speaking and turned to leave quickly, giving Chu Yao no time to react.
Chu Yao, holding the new sword, stared at Song Xunzhen’s departing back, momentarily frozen in place with incredibly complex feelings.
This Junior Sister Song truly seemed different from before.
Not only was she generous, but her attitude was also sincere, making her seem like a completely different person.
It seemed that, just as Junior Sister Song had said, everything she had done before was a misunderstanding, all in an attempt to help her.
Chu Yao caressed the cool blade, feeling the pure spiritual energy within. The doubts and the bit of resentment she had held in her heart unknowingly dissipated by more than half. In any case, this compensation was far too generous.
…
Song Xunzhen walked briskly out of Cuizhu Residence and only let out a long sigh of relief after she had left the inner sect area.
She had finally resolved another major issue.
Chu Yao had accepted the sword, and her attitude seemed to have softened. At least for the short term, the crisis regarding compensation should be over.
Her mood relaxed considerably, and her steps became lighter.
Now, she still had fifty-one Low-grade Spirit Crystals. Although not much, at least the imminent pressure was gone.
Next, she could plan her next steps with a bit more leisure.
The most urgent matter was still to earn Spirit Crystals to draw cards.
Only by possessing more and stronger cards could she truly establish a firm foothold.
That storage ring…
The plan to capture Medicine-Seeking Bees surfaced in her mind again.
Although difficult, it seemed to be the only way to quickly earn a relatively large amount of Spirit Crystals at the moment.
She needed information. She needed to know where to find Medicine-Seeking Bees and how to capture them safely.
This kind of knowledge was hard for Outer Sect Disciples to come by, but Inner Sect Disciples, or those who often went out for training, might know.
Who could she ask?
She had just interacted with Chu Yao, so she couldn’t go to her again; it would seem too deliberate.
Xiao Che?
She wouldn’t go to him even if it killed her.
Perhaps she could go sit in a tavern or teahouse in the Marketplace?
Those places were often where news traveled fastest, as many disciples went there to chat during their breaks.
With her mind made up, Song Xunzhen changed direction and headed toward the Marketplace.
As evening fell, the Marketplace grew even more lively, brightly lit and bustling with voices.
Many disciples who had finished their day’s cultivation came out to stroll, trade, and relax.
Song Xunzhen found a teahouse that seemed to have a good number of customers but wasn’t too noisy, and walked in.
Inside were mostly Outer Sect Disciples and a few Inner Sect Disciples, sitting in groups of three or five, drinking tea and chatting.
She found a quiet corner against the wall, ordered a pot of Spirit Tea, and then pricked up her ears, listening carefully to the conversations around her.
The surrounding disciples chatted about all sorts of things: exchanging cultivation insights, complaining about difficult missions, and discussing Sect gossip. Song Xunzhen listened patiently, filtering out the useless information.
After a while, the conversation from a few travel-worn Inner Sect Disciples at the next table, who looked like they had just returned from outside, caught her attention.
“This trip to Heifeng Valley was a huge loss. We were almost surrounded by that pack of Poison-Claw Badgers. We barely managed to pick a few stalks of Purple Cloud Herb, which isn’t even enough to trade for elixirs,” a tall disciple complained.
“Tell me about it. That damn place is full of poisonous insects, too. You get bitten if you’re not careful.”
Another short, stout disciple chimed in, scratching his arm. “Especially those Silver-Striped Bees. They’re so annoying, chasing you all over the place. If we hadn’t run fast enough, our heads would’ve been covered in stings.”
Silver-Striped Bees?
Song Xunzhen’s heart stirred, and she listened more intently.
“Silver-Striped Bees are manageable. Their venom isn’t strong, just painful. You’d be truly unlucky if you ran into Medicine-Seeking Bees. Those things hold a grudge. Once they lock onto you, they can chase you for ten li!” the third disciple, who looked slightly older, said with lingering fear.
Medicine-Seeking Bees! She finally heard the keyword!
Song Xunzhen’s spirits lifted. She focused her listening even more, pretending to lower her head and sip her tea to conceal her interest.
“Medicine-Seeking Bees? Senior Brother, you saw Medicine-Seeking Bees in Heifeng Valley?” the short, stout disciple asked curiously.
“Of course. There’s a hive right near that Moon-Gazing Flower Thicket in the southern part of the valley. We accidentally got too close and nearly got into trouble.”
The older disciple lowered his voice. “But speaking of which, the bee pupa of those Medicine-Seeking Bees are good stuff. The Hundred Herbs Pavilion in the Marketplace has a long-standing high offer for them. They say it’s for medicine or for taming, or something. A single live, healthy bee pupa can sell for this much.”
He discreetly made a hand gesture.
Song Xunzhen saw it clearly. The number represented by the gesture was about forty to fifty Spirit Crystals, which matched the rumors in her memory.
Moreover, Heifeng Valley, southern part, Moon-Gazing Flower Thicket—she now had the location information as well.
It was truly a case of finding something by chance after a long and fruitless search.
Song Xunzhen suppressed her excitement, drank the last of the tea in her pot, left a Spirit Crystal for payment, and got up to leave the teahouse.
Although Heifeng Valley was infested with Demon Beasts and fraught with danger, for the sake of Spirit Crystals, for the sake of drawing cards, this was a risk she had to take.
She returned to her dormitory and began her final preparations.
After getting everything she needed ready, Song Xunzhen looked up at the sky outside.
The sky had already darkened. Entering the mountains at night would be even more dangerous. It looked like she would have to wait until tomorrow.
“Tomorrow,” she said to herself. “I’ll set out at dawn!”