Amidst the sound of everyone coughing frantically, Wen Chiyue, blinded by love, failed to notice anything amiss. She swayed her body shyly, her long skirt fluttering with her movements, exuding the youthful beauty of a girl in the first flushes of love.
Blushing, Wen Chiyue muttered, “We haven’t reached that stage yet.”
Jiang Qiao, assuming Wen Chiyue was referring to becoming cultivation partners, quickly apologized: “My apologies, my apologies. Seeing how close you two are, I thought you were already Daoist partners.”
“Actually, that’s not quite right… but you could say we have that kind of relationship…” Wen Chiyue mused. After all, she was indeed Jiang Xiechen’s natal sword spirit. Rounding up, she essentially was Jiang Xiechen’s Daoist partner.
Jiang Qiao was bewildered: “This…”
Can a Daoist partner relationship be a ‘maybe’?
Jiang Qiao and the other Sword Sect disciples were confused and instinctively looked toward Jiang Xiechen.
Amidst the continuous coughing and baffled stares, Jiang Xiechen stood tall and straight atop the Autumn Frost Sword. Though her eyes were covered by white cloth, she remained calm and composed, as if Wen Chiyue’s shocking words had nothing to do with her.
Jiang Xiechen asked, “Do you know what a Daoist partner is?”
Wen Chiyue nodded vigorously, her tone cheerful: “I know! It’s the person you are closest, closest to!”
The explanation wasn’t technically wrong, but Jiang Qiao keenly sensed something off. Just as she opened her mouth to explain with a smile, she saw Jiang Xiechen raise a hand and beckon Wen Chiyue over.
The gesture was casual, almost like summoning a pet. But because it was Jiang Xiechen doing it, it didn’t feel belittling, instead, it created the illusion of a great honor.
Wen Chiyue lifted her skirt and ran excitedly to Jiang Xiechen’s side, tilting her head. “Master?”
Jiang Xiechen leaned down and whispered into Wen Chiyue’s ear, “A Daoist partner represents desire. It is carnal love.”
Wen Chiyue: ???
The term was foreign to Wen Chiyue, yet she had heard it before. Suddenly, images flashed through her mind: a group of people lying on a floor without a roof, their bodies bare, entwined shamelessly and unclearly. Even when passersby walked past, those people would smile, greet them, and even invite them to join.
Black and red hair tangled together, it was the purest, yet most loathsome emotion to Wen Chiyue.
She instantly broke into goosebumps and recoiled three or four steps, falling straight onto the ground.
Jiang Qiao gasped and rushed forward to help her up. Wen Chiyue shrank back, avoiding Jiang Qiao’s hand, and looked up at Jiang Xiechen.
Bathed in sunlight, Jiang Xiechen stood high and unreachable. Her Master was proud and pure.
Wen Chiyue stood up, vigorously brushed the dust off her skirt, and fixed her brow in a cold glare. “How can you use that word to profaned the bond between Master and me!”
The sudden reversal in her demeanor was so drastic that even someone as sharp as Jiang Qiao couldn’t react in time. Jiang Qiao felt Wen Chiyue had misunderstood something again, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She could only apologize: “Fellow Daoist Wen, I…”
“Are we going or not?” Wen Chiyue stepped back onto the Autumn Frost Sword, her face still tense. “If we don’t move, there won’t even be a place left for us to stand.”
Jiang Qiao had to set her confusion aside. “Right. You lot, hurry up, stop dawdling.”
The Sword Sect disciples didn’t dare disobey Jiang Qiao and nodded in agreement.
A crowd had already gathered before the Secret Realm.
The entrance was open, filled with a white mist that obscured the interior. Just as the disciples had said, although it was open, no one dared enter, fearing they would be the first sacrificial victims. The path leading to the entrance remained empty.
Seeing newcomers arrive, a few people in the back glanced over. Spotting the disciples’ uniforms, they couldn’t help but chuckle. “Such a dangerous Secret Realm, and the Sword Sect dares to send green disciples who only recently joined? Truly, they have resources to burn.”
As the sect most coveted by sword cultivators, the Sword Sect never lacked disciples; other sects often had to settle for their rejects, leading to much jealousy.
The speaker continued, “But I see the Great Elders of your sect arrived long ago. Aren’t you going to join them?”
Jiang Qiao explained, “No need. Our group is just here for a standard disciple trial.”
The man said, “Oh, I see who it is. It’s Fellow Daoist Jiang. Long have I heard your name. Since you already have a natal sword, you naturally don’t care for the swords inside the realm. No wonder you’re willing to play babysitter.” He sighed half-mockingly, “Must be exhausting leading these people, eh?”
Jiang Qiao snapped, “Fellow Daoist Chen, watch your words.”
Chen’s gaze swept quickly over the group and immediately landed on Wen Chiyue and Jiang Xiechen, whose clothes stood out. They were with the Sword Sect but didn’t wear the uniform or any sect insignia, clearly rogue cultivators.
Wait, Chen thought. Their cultivation levels are pitifully low. If they are rogues, how do they have the courage to come here, and how did they hitch a ride with the Sword Sect?
After a moment of silence, Chen spoke up: “Could these two be uninitiated disciples of the Sword Sect?” He burst into laughter. “Wait, is the Sword Sect taking in ‘connected’ members now?”
Even for uninitiated disciples, major sects usually check cultivation. Low cultivation suggests either a lack of talent or laziness, neither of which bodes well for the path of immortality. Furthermore, sword cultivation is far more grueling than other paths, the Sword Sect would never recruit someone who hadn’t even reached the Qi Refining stage.
Chen’s eyes were experienced, and he saw through their cultivation levels instantly. Though there was something peculiar about the pair, cultivation usually told most of the story. He sneered, “This is ruining your own reputation. Even if you want to recruit, find someone decent. If you’re truly desperate, I can introduce my cousin to your sect. What do you think?”
His cousin was too young for a sect yet but was already famous, with several sects fighting over him. Even the Sword Sect had reached out early. Obviously, Chen wasn’t actually trying to help.
Jiang Qiao said with a fake smile, “No need. As for Fellow Daoist Jiang and Fellow Daoist Wen, they naturally have their own extraordinary qualities.”
Chen said contemptuously, “Those two? I think you’ve lost your mind and forgotten your own status.”
Wen Chiyue was never one to take an insult lying down. She balled her hand into a fist and threw a heavy punch at Chen.
Chen was preparing to launch another round of mockery and didn’t expect Wen Chiyue to skip the verbal sparring entirely. He took the punch squarely and hit the ground. Because he was larger than the average cultivator, his fall landed with a loud thud, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
Enraged, Chen scrambled up. “You dare lay a hand on me?!”
Wen Chiyue rubbed her fist righteously. “Well, you laid your tongue on us.”
Can those two even be compared?!
Chen was so angry he drew his sword with a shink. “You even used a sneak attack! If you have the guts, fight me fairly! Using a sneak attack… are you even human?!”
At this, Wen Chiyue gave a bright, cheerful smile. “I’m not!”
Her answer was so blunt that Chen didn’t know how to respond. The atmosphere turned awkward until a man standing next to Chen chuckled, pulling him back. “Everyone is a friend here. Harmony brings wealth, harmony brings wealth.”
Chen spat venomously, “With your Qi Refining cultivation, you dare be so arrogant. You really aren’t afraid of dying here? This realm is full of the Demon Race. Don’t end up as demon food with no corpse left to bury.”
As soon as he finished, Jiang Xiechen suddenly turned her gaze in his direction. Despite knowing she had no cultivation and was blind, Chen felt a sudden chill in his heart. Only after Jiang Xiechen looked away did he realize his back was covered in a cold sweat. He cursed inwardly.
Jiang Xiechen asked, “Shall we go in?”
Wen Chiyue was a woman of action. She took Jiang Xiechen’s hand and headed toward the entrance.
“Wait, wait!” Chen shouted, shocked. “You… you’re going in just like that? You’re not waiting for anyone else?”
Wen Chiyue, still annoyed, rolled her eyes. “Are you blind? What ‘anyone else’? Or are you just looking for trouble?” She made a move to strike him again.
This time Chen was prepared and leaped back gracefully, only to realize Wen Chiyue hadn’t actually moved, she was just scaring him.
Even the man who had been calming Chen down was stunned. “Fellow Daoist Chen, you’re…?”
Seeing Wen Chiyue’s mischievous grin, Chen realized he’d been played. He swung his sleeve angrily. “Just you wait!”
Wen Chiyue couldn’t care less about his threats.
Jiang Qiao, however, was a bit worried. “Should we… wait a bit longer?”
Wen Chiyue instinctively looked to Jiang Xiechen. Jiang Xiechen shook her head. “No need.” Seeing Jiang Qiao’s genuine concern, she added, “In cultivation, one must not retreat.”
It was the first time Jiang Qiao had heard this philosophy phrased so simply. Or rather, she knew the theory, but practicing it was different. They were taught that sword cultivators go against the heavens, but doing so in front of so many powerful experts was easier said than done.
Jiang Qiao chased after them. “Aren’t you afraid?”
Around this Secret Realm were countless powerful masters watching their every move. Even knowing one should defy the heavens, facing that much pressure made one want to step back.
Wen Chiyue was puzzled. “What is there to be afraid of?”
Even Chen, who despised them, couldn’t help but chime in: “With so many people with higher cultivation than you watching, of course you should be afraid.”
Wen Chiyue: “Huh?”
As a sword spirit, she had inherited the finest tradition of sword cultivators, she had no concept of fear. Her logic was simple, one sword to break all laws.
Jiang Xiechen, however, understood what these people were afraid of. She said calmly, “If you are afraid, then you should just leave.”
“That’s impossible!” Chen said. “I came here to fight for treasures. How could I leave?”
“Exactly,” Jiang Xiechen replied.
She didn’t say more. She and Wen Chiyue stepped onto the path to the Secret Realm together. The path was wide, but no one else walked it. With a flash of white light, Jiang Xiechen was pulled into the realm, and the path was empty once more.
Chen stood there, momentarily stunned.
Indeed. Unwilling to leave, yet too afraid to move forward. If one is so hesitant, how could they ever reach the peak?
Chen turned to his friend. “Let’s go too.”