Wen Chiyue stared curiously at the entrance of the secret realm.
It looked as though a thin layer of cloth covered it, obscuring the view inside. If one touched it with their cultivation, the “cloth” would ripple like water, sending out layer upon layer of waves.
It was the first time Wen Chiyue had seen something so wondrous. She tugged at Jiang Xiechen’s sleeve in amazement, exclaiming, “Master, look! It moves!”
Fellow Daoist Chen and Jiang Qiao followed closely behind. Chen, in particular, was already half-doubting the abilities of Jiang Xiechen and Wen Chiyue. Walking down this path, he could clearly feel the gazes of various powerful figures fixed on his back, making him feel incredibly frantic.
Hearing Wen Chiyue’s words now, he felt a mental collapse. If it weren’t for his final shred of stubbornness preventing him from making a fool of himself in public, his legs would have likely buckled long ago.
Chen’s voice was sharp and trembling: “You… you’ve never even seen this before?”
You had to know, the entrances to all major secret realms looked like this!
Wen Chiyue didn’t catch the breakdown in Chen’s tone, she thought he was mocking her ignorance. She curled her lip, thinking to herself that she was just a newly born sword spirit, what could she possibly know?
At this thought, Wen Chiyue became emboldened: “Yeah, so what if you know so much? Want to show off? Then tell me, what’s the principle behind this?”
Chen replied, “How should I know!”
“Tch.” Wen Chiyue’s brows rose. In her eyes, bright as the morning sun, a reflection of Chen appeared, looking closely, there seemed to be a faint flame burning within them.
Chen couldn’t help but take two steps back.
Wen Chiyue curled the corners of her mouth in triumph and laughed, “So you don’t understand it either.”
Jiang Qiao smiled, stepping in to smooth things over: “This is a secret technique left behind by a great master thousands of years ago. It has long been lost. Lowly cultivators like us cannot glimpse its mysteries. What Fellow Daoist Chen likely meant is that other secret realms use the same technique.”
There was a hint of scrutiny in Jiang Qiao’s gaze as well.
Jiang Xiechen, who appeared to have no cultivation, remained unfazed by these things, whereas Wen Chiyue who had impressed her initially, acted as if she were seeing them for the first time.
But… that was impossible.
If Wen Chiyue’s sword intent hadn’t been tempered through secret realm trials, where did it come from?
Jiang Xiechen perceived Jiang Qiao’s probing.
However, she ignored it and asked calmly, “Going in?”
“Wait, wait.” Chen raised his hand, hurriedly calling out to the two. He hesitated, “Aren’t you going to hold hands? Aren’t you afraid of being separated?”
“Hold hands?!” Wen Chiyue’s eyes lit up. She stared at Jiang Xiechen with a spark in her eyes, a flush creeping onto her face. She nervously wiped her palms and said bashfully, “I must study this secret technique thoroughly!”
Jiang Xiechen looked at Wen Chiyue’s clothes, which were stained with dust from the scuffle at the tea shop: “…Unnecessary.”
Jiang Qiao also disagreed. Thinking that Jiang Xiechen and Wen Chiyue didn’t understand the mechanics, she advised, “It’s better to hold hands. Even if you two are extraordinary, holding hands ensures a much higher chance of landing in the same place.”
Jiang Xiechen looked at Jiang Qiao with a touch of appreciation.
Jiang Qiao was well-spoken. Even now, she didn’t directly ask if they were ignorant, instead, she quietly explained the situation and gave them a graceful way out.
Nevertheless, Jiang Xiechen replied, “We won’t be separated.”
Jiang Qiao was stunned: “But, but it will…”
“Isn’t this just reckless?” Chen frowned. “Since you’ve agreed to come together, don’t start acting up at the entrance of the secret realm.”
Jiang Xiechen gave Chen a brief glance.
From that look, Jiang Qiao understood something. She smiled gracefully and said, “Indeed, since you two dare to come here, you must possess unique skills. I was overthinking it.”
Whether Jiang Xiechen and Wen Chiyue weren’t afraid of being separated or had their own methods to stay together, it was a display of confidence.
Jiang Qiao bowed: “Please.”
Missing the chance to hold her master’s hand, Wen Chiyue’s face fell. She gave an unwilling “oh,” then worried that her expression might cause people to doubt her master.
She had to grunt twice and say, “At least you’re sensible.”
Wen Chiyue had absolute trust in her master.
Even after all the chatter from Jiang Qiao and Chen, she stepped inside without a hint of doubt.
Jiang Xiechen followed close behind. As soon as she stepped into the water-like fabric, the expected sensation of weightlessness arrived.
Jiang Xiechen waited a moment. The surroundings shifted, and they appeared atop a mountain peak.
Howling waves crashed against the rocks below. The cold wind bit at the skin, the piercing chill raising goosebumps.
Beneath their feet, there was only a tiny patch of ground. Even standing close together was a struggle. Fortunately, a third person hadn’t landed with them.
Wen Chiyue took the opportunity to hug Jiang Xiechen tightly.
Jiang Xiechen’s warmth seeped through her thin clothing.
Sensing Jiang Xiechen’s resistance, Wen Chiyue quickly explained, “Master, there’s nowhere else to stand. Don’t push me away!”
Jiang Xiechen was only blind; her other senses were fine. Through the sound of the wind, she could naturally guess the precariousness of their position.
Jiang Xiechen pursed her lips tightly. After a long silence, she gave a reluctant “Mm.”
However, her body remained tense. Wen Chiyue could even see that Jiang Xiechen’s mouth had tightened into a straight line.
It was clear the Master was not used to others being close.
Wen Chiyue thought to herself: But I’m not ‘someone else.’ I’m the spirit of Master’s natal weapon, the Frost Autumn Sword. What sword spirit wouldn’t want to snuggle with their master?
Wen Chiyue gripped tighter. Her eyes darted around, and taking advantage of the fact that Jiang Xiechen couldn’t see, she intentionally made her voice tremble with fear: “What should we do, Master? It’s so high, and the nearest foothold is so far away.”
Though her voice shook, she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from turning up. Excitement flooded her face.
Jiang Xiechen suddenly looked toward Wen Chiyue.
The smile on Wen Chiyue’s face froze. Even though she knew her master couldn’t see, she felt inexplicably flustered. In her nervousness, her tone rose slightly: “W-what is it, Master?”
Jiang Xiechen indeed saw nothing.
She paused slightly and said, “Your cultivation hasn’t been sealed here.”
Based on her understanding of the little sword spirit, the girl was fearless. Even in the face of great trouble, she would joke around, as long as she wasn’t in actual danger.
She wondered who the girl had inherited this personality from.
It seemed that as a “newborn,” the little sword spirit still got flustered when facing big events.
Jiang Xiechen lowered her eyes. The snow-white silk covered her sight, and Wen Chiyue couldn’t see her movements. Wen Chiyue could only hear the rapid thumping of a heart.
Thump, thump, thump.
The waves surged below. Wen Chiyue let out an “Ah.”
Her voice was full of confusion.
Jiang Xiechen’s voice softened slightly: “Just turn back into the Frost Autumn Sword.”
Secret realms either restricted the cultivation level of entrants or suppressed everyone’s cultivation to ensure fair competition. This was why sword cultivators often gained the most in secret realms.
On one hand, a sword cultivator’s physical stamina and technique became instinctual over time; cultivation was merely the icing on the cake.
On the other hand, a sword was a sharp tool, which offered an inherent advantage over other items.
This was also why Jiang Xiechen, despite having lost all her cultivation, dared to venture here.
In either scenario, she had the advantage.
She had Wen Chiyue.
A sword spirit was not a cultivator and would not be suppressed.
“Oh, oh! Right, yes.” Wen Chiyue had never been in a secret realm and knew nothing of these unspoken rules. She thought her little secret had been discovered and her face flushed.
Wen Chiyue changed the subject: “By the way, how did Master know we wouldn’t be separated?”
She hadn’t seen Jiang Xiechen use any tools.
It didn’t seem like a secret technique either.
If it were anyone else, Jiang Xiechen wouldn’t have bothered to answer such a pointless question.
But for Wen Chiyue’s sake, Jiang Xiechen explained, “Because you are my natal sword.”
No matter how treacherous the secret realm, it would not separate a sword cultivator from their natal sword.
Wen Chiyue understood.
Her eyes shone like stars, reflecting Jiang Xiechen’s figure as if there were room for no one else. She nodded vigorously, excited: “Yes! I am Master’s! I will always be Master’s!”
The little sword spirit’s confession was always so passionate and sudden.
She seemed to want to announce her affection to the whole world.
Unfortunately, the little sword spirit was dealing with the emotionally oblivious Jiang Xiechen. Jiang Xiechen slowly added a clarification: “You are my natal sword.”
“Even if I’m a natal sword.” Wen Chiyue muttered, swaying slightly, “that still means I belong to Master forever.”
Suddenly, her expression changed drastically: “Master, you haven’t set your sights on another sword, have you? Am I not good enough?”
Jiang Xiechen knew the only way to deal with the little sword spirit was to stop responding; otherwise, it would go on forever.
Jiang Xiechen said, “Let’s go.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she plummeted straight down from the towering cliff.
The headwind blew back Jiang Xiechen’s loose hair. Wen Chiyue was actually left behind by several paces.
When she finally reacted, Wen Chiyue cried out in alarm: “Master!”
She instantly transformed into the Frost Autumn Sword, catching Jiang Xiechen. Once Jiang Xiechen had felt her way to a steady stance, Wen Chiyue couldn’t help but say, “Master, at least give me a moment to react.”
Jiang Xiechen said with a hint of a smile, “Can’t you catch me?”
Wen, Wen Chiyue naturally couldn’t say she couldn’t.
She coughed lightly and said, “Of course I can.”
The movements of the Frost Autumn Sword became much gentler as she carried Jiang Xiechen steadily to the ground.
After returning to her human form, Wen Chiyue said triumphantly, “How about that? I’m amazing, right?”
Without looking, Jiang Xiechen could imagine Wen Chiyue’s proud, haughty expression. She suddenly reached out and patted the back of Wen Chiyue’s head.
Wen Chiyue froze instantly, unable to move.
Wen Chiyue opened her mouth several times but couldn’t say anything. She rubbed her bright red earlobe and said coyly, “Master, what’s wrong?”
Her voice was sweet enough to be cloying.
Jiang Xiechen suddenly realized how to handle Wen Chiyue.
She was about to speak when her ear twitched. She suddenly yanked Wen Chiyue toward her.
Wen Chiyue fell against Jiang Xiechen.
Jiang Xiechen spun around, hiding in the tall grass. She put a hand to her lips and whispered shortly: “Shh. Someone’s coming.”
Wen Chiyue looked at Jiang Xiechen’s rosy lips and turned her eyes away awkwardly.