Jiang Qiao sat awkwardly at one side of the square table, feeling a bit unsure of whether she should be tactful and find another place to sit.
Left with no choice, she picked up the tea in front of her, pretending to admire the scenery outside while taking another bite of the peach blossom pastry.
As the fresh fragrance filled her mouth, she reflected that Wen Chiyue was actually right, cultivation was about doing what one knew to be impossible and going against the heavens. If one had a heart demon, the correct approach was to sever it, not to flee from it.
How had she managed to get stuck on such a point?
Jiang Qiao took another bite of the pastry, finding it more delicious with every chew. Paired with the bitterness of the tea, she quickly finished the snack in her hand.
Mortals did not cultivate, and their lifespans lasted only a few decades, far shorter than those of cultivators. However, the interesting and delicious things they invented were countless times more numerous than those found in the cultivation world.
She thought to herself that the path cultivators walked was truly dull and lonely.
Jiang Qiao stood up and bowed to Wen Chiyue. “Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wen. I understand now.”
Wen Chiyue: “?”
Wen Chiyue asked, “Why are you still here?”
Jiang Qiao froze. “I… Should I leave then?”
Wen Chiyue actually hoped Jiang Qiao would leave quickly. That way, she could be alone with her Master.
However, seeing that Jiang Qiao was so knowledgeable about the Secret Realm, it wouldn’t be bad to coax some information out of her. In the whole wide world, nothing was more important than curing her Master’s eye ailment.
If it weren’t for the suddenness of the situation and the fact that the “Half-Moon Grass” required for her Master’s treatment grew under harsh conditions only on steep cliffs with dense spiritual energy, they wouldn’t be here. Only a Secret Realm that opened at least once a year stood a chance of growing Half-Moon Grass.
While this particular Secret Realm did have cliffs, it was difficult to harvest there, and most of the area was forest, making it a sub-optimal choice. However, it was the one opening soonest.
“No need,” Wen Chiyue waved her hand, pushing Jiang Qiao back into her chair. She casually asked, “By the way, what’s this on the plate? It smells so sweet. Did you buy it at the tea stall too?”
Jiang Qiao had expected a serious question, she hadn’t expected this. She shook her head with a helpless smile and pushed the plate toward Wen Chiyue. “I bought it in town. Would you like to try some? The taste is quite good, though it doesn’t contain any medicinal herbs…”
Before she could finish, Wen Chiyue had already impatiently reached out, swallowing a peach blossom pastry in one gulp.
She squinted her eyes happily and unceremoniously took another piece, holding it to Jiang Xiechen’s lips. “Master, Master, try it quickly!”
The crust of the pastry was very flaky, and some of it brushed against Jiang Xiechen’s mouth. Jiang Xiechen tilted her head back slightly, avoiding Wen Chiyue’s enthusiasm, and said apologetically, “I do not care for sweets.”
“Fine, I’ll remember that.” Since she already had it in her hand and couldn’t put it back, Wen Chiyue had no choice but to eat that piece as well.
“Pfft.”
Suddenly, Jiang Qiao covered her mouth, a smile leaking from the corners of her eyes.
The two of them turned their gazes toward Jiang Qiao simultaneously.
Jiang Qiao hurriedly explained, “I didn’t mean… I just feel that Fellow Daoist Wen has a very genuine personality.”
Even though Wen Chiyue’s pupils were a strange color, appearing neither quite demon nor quite human. Jiang Qiao felt a pure, innocent heart radiating from her.
Wen Chiyue was the type of person who beamed at the slightest bit of sunshine. She leaned closer to Jiang Xiechen, resting her head on Jiang Xiechen’s shoulder, and giggled. “Master, did you hear that? She’s praising me!”
For a chatterbox like Wen Chiyue, those few words were hardly enough to satisfy her. She leaned into Jiang Xiechen’s ear and asked affectionately, “How about it? Your little Sword Spirit hasn’t embarrassed you, right? With me, the Autumn Frost Sword, in hand, it’s like having divine assistance!”
Jiang Xiechen took a light sip of tea.
She hadn’t intended to give praise, but since the little Sword Spirit was practically begging for it right in front of her face, she hesitated before reaching out to pat Wen Chiyue’s soft head. “Good girl.”
Wen Chiyue: “!!!”
Wen Chiyue sat bolt upright instantly, shaking out her clothes and trying hard to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth.
Unfortunately, a smile, much like love is impossible to hide.
To earn more praise from Jiang Xiechen, Wen Chiyue swayed her head and looked at Jiang Qiao, asking, “By the way, are you also going to the Secret Realm here?”
Jiang Qiao nodded. “Most of the cultivators sitting here are likely preparing for the Secret Realm. There’s a rumor this year that a legendary peerless sword will appear, so there are exceptionally many sword cultivators here this time. I assume you two are as well?”
Neither Wen Chiyue nor Jiang Xiechen had heard of this, but it didn’t stop them from nodding. “Yes.”
Jiang Qiao had been curious about the sword at Jiang Xiechen’s waist for a long time. She asked, “Is that your natal sword?”
That sword was very strange. It looked plain and unremarkable, with a pitch-black scabbard. If one wasn’t paying attention, they wouldn’t notice it at all. It looked like the kind of practice sword used by beginners, completely featureless, the sort you could find by the dozen at any market.
Yet, Jiang Qiao’s sixth sense had made her hair stand on end the moment she saw it. An inner voice was constantly urging her to move away.
And that voice actually came from her own natal sword at her waist.
Jiang Qiao had never told anyone, but she suspected her natal sword was close to developing its own spiritual consciousness. In time, it might truly birth a sword spirit.
And now, this nearly-conscious natal sword was feeling a sense of overwhelming pressure from another blade.
Jiang Xiechen did not hide it, though she didn’t draw the sword for Jiang Qiao to see. She said, “It is my natal sword.”
This caused Jiang Qiao to steal several more glances at Jiang Xiechen.
Jiang Qiao was an inner disciple of the Sword Sect, gifted and apprenticed to the Sect Leader. She would likely become one of the Peak Masters in the future. With such backing, finding a natal sword was naturally a quick process.
Judging by Jiang Xiechen and Wen Chiyue’s clothing, she couldn’t see any sect emblems, which meant these two were very likely rogue cultivators.
One must understand that once a natal sword is bound, it is very difficult to change. Rogue cultivators lacked resources, so most waited until they were powerful before binding a natal sword. Furthermore, swords have spiritual energy, if they perceive their master’s strength to be too low, there is a risk of backlash.
Jiang Xiechen showed no cultivation level or perhaps it was so low it was hard to detect. Had she bound a natal sword this early? Was it possible no master had guided them into the cultivation world?
That seemed unlikely. Setting aside Jiang Xiechen, Wen Chiyue clearly looked like prime material for a sword cultivator, how could no other sword cultivator have noticed?
Jiang Qiao remarked, “This sword is quite unique.”
Jiang Xiechen replied, “It is no different from any other sword.”
Since she put it that way, Jiang Qiao couldn’t keep prying. Instead, she asked, “Then, are you accompanying Fellow Daoist Wen to find a sword?”
Jiang Xiechen shook her head. “I’m just here to see the world.”
For some reason, Jiang Qiao felt that during Jiang Xiechen’s sentence, she had caught the faint sound of a low chuckle, though it vanished instantly.
After eating one peach blossom pastry, Wen Chiyue’s cravings were triggered, and she hadn’t stopped eating. Hearing this, she teased, “Eh? You already have a natal sword, so why are you here? Could it be you’re also here to ‘see the world’?”
This blocked Jiang Qiao from using the same excuse.
Jiang Qiao was an honest person and truly laughed, answering, “No, I am leading my junior brothers and sisters here for experience. The Secret Realm is deep and unpredictable, and with so many people fighting over things, I wouldn’t dare get involved. Oh, right, my juniors are buying things in town. Is there anything you’d like to eat, Fellow Daoist Wen? I’ll have them bring some back.”
Anyone else might have been polite and declined, but in Wen Chiyue’s heart, the concept of being “polite” didn’t exist. She immediately chimed in, “Yes, yes, yes! I want… more of those peach blossom pastries! And, well… basically, as long as it’s food, bring it all. Money is no object!”
“Where are you getting the money?” Jiang Xiechen asked coldly.
Wen Chiyue smiled bashfully. “I don’t have any, but Master loves me so much, she’ll pay for it, right?”
Her eyes were round and watery, seemingly hiding a thousand charms.
Unfortunately, she was casting pearls before swine or rather, a blind person who was also immune to such charms. Jiang Xiechen ignored her.
Jiang Qiao laughed and smoothed things over. “It’s fine, it doesn’t cost much. I’ve enjoyed my conversation with Fellow Daoist Wen; consider this my treat.”
Jiang Xiechen pulled silver from her robes and tossed it accurately in front of Jiang Qiao. “No need. I will pay.”
Jiang Qiao’s juniors soon returned to the tea stall and saw the mess inside.
Understanding Jiang Qiao’s temperament, they naturally looked toward the corner. As they turned their gaze, they saw Jiang Qiao sitting quietly right next to a collapsed table.
It was… quite conspicuous.
Even more surprising was that two other women were sitting with her.
They knew that while Jiang Qiao appeared approachable, she was actually quite cold and distant. She wouldn’t even bother talking to people who didn’t interest her.
Jiang Qiao waved to her fellow disciples and deactivated the sound-isolating array. “Over here.”
Wen Chiyue said in shock, “You have so many fellow disciples!”
A large group of people walked majestically from the entrance to the table. They cupped their hands and saluted. “Senior Sister.”
The voices weren’t particularly loud, but in the small tea stall, the sound was quite noticeable.
People nearby whispered, “It’s the Sword Sect. Has the Sword Sect sent people too?”
“It’s fine, that person looks like an inner disciple.”
“But if an inner disciple is here, there must be a powerful master overseeing them.”
“It means the sword this time is truly extraordinary if even the Sword Sect is attracted.”
Jiang Qiao introduced them to her fellow disciples: “This is Jiang Xiechen, Fellow Daoist Jiang, and this is Wen Chiyue, Fellow Daoist Wen. Both are very powerful sword cultivators.”
The fellow disciples looked at the cultivation levels of Jiang Xiechen and Wen Chiyue and fell into deep thought: “…”
However, they had absolute trust in Jiang Qiao. “We have heard much of your fame.”
Wen Chiyue gasped. “You guys are actually from the Sword Sect!”
She had also heard the surrounding discussions.
The Sword Sect was the number one sect in the cultivation world and was primarily a sword based sect. It was the dream destination for countless sword cultivators.
Jiang Qiao nodded modestly. “Yes.”
Wen Chiyue tugged at Jiang Xiechen. “Master, did you hear that? They are from the Sword Sect! The Sword Sect!”
Jiang Qiao felt that something wasn’t quite right.
Jiang Xiechen sighed helplessly and pulled her sleeve back. “Do you even know what the Sword Sect is?”
“No!” Wen Chiyue said righteously and crisply. “But it sounds very impressive!”
She turned back to Jiang Qiao and said with sparkling eyes, “You are so amazing too!”
Jiang Qiao: “?”
She felt like she had been praised, yet also like she hadn’t.