The dark blood flowed along the branches and into the soil. Within just a few breaths, the towering tree actually began to wither. Its lush, emerald leaves gradually turned maple-red and drifted slowly from the twigs, landing amidst Jiang Xiechen’s silky, raven-black hair.
“Ma… Master?”
As that fallen leaf landed on Jiang Xiechen’s head, Wen Chiyue felt Jiang Xiechen’s stature bend once more.
Her master was a sword cultivator recognized by the Autumn Frost Sword, how could such a powerful figure be bent by a single falling leaf?
Wen Chiyue’s heart ached transitionally. Her chirping, noisy chatter lowered instinctively as she asked in trepidation, “Master, are you alright?”
Jiang Xiechen lifted her eyes, her hand clenched into a fist. Leaning against the withered tree, she took several deep breaths before simply gathering all her internal strength. She forced it through her meridians and into her heart to expel the toxins.
This action was extremely taxing on the body. Jiang Xiechen coughed violently several times and, with a sharp sound, spat out a mouthful of blood. Only then did she straighten her back and say steadily, “It is nothing.”
The hair on her head swayed as she moved, and the fiery red leaves contrasted with her dark, shining eyes. Her brows arched like a soaring eagle’s wings, her gaze piercingly sharp.
As her sword, Wen Chiyue could tell that Jiang Xiechen was actually in a state of great suffering. The toxins hadn’t been fully expelled by using such a violent method, she could only temporarily suppress a portion of them to recover a bit of her cultivation. It didn’t solve the underlying pain. When the poison fully erupted later, the agony would be even more bone-deep.
“That god-awful wretch! How could he use poison on his own daughter?” Wen Chiyue’s cheeks puffed out in indignation. Unable to bear seeing her master suffer, she started cursing, “Stinking trash, shameless bastard…”
She cycled through the same few insults over and over.
Jiang Xiechen curled the corner of her mouth and gave a huff of a laugh, though it was unclear which wound the movement agitated.
Wen Chiyue stopped her cursing and asked worriedly, “Can Master still walk? Do you want to rest for a while?”
“Mm,” Jiang Xiechen hummed lowly. She looked behind her. Though no one was there, based on her knowledge of the Moonview Pavilion, they would likely realize what happened before long.
Jiang Xiechen looked down at the foul blood on the ground. Because she had vomited quite a bit, some had stained her shoes, and the bloodstains on the grass were disorganized.
After walking a few steps to the right, she channeled her energy and leapt onto the treetops. Although there were dots of blood there too, they were hidden among the leaves and not easily discovered. By the time the Master of the Moonview Pavilion noticed, a significant amount of time would have passed.
Jiang Xiechen moved as light as a swallow, advancing continuously through the branches. Thin rays of sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting a glow on her face that made her pallor clearly visible.
Even after using only a small amount of cultivation, fine beads of sweat had formed on Jiang Xiechen’s forehead.
Wen Chiyue was incredibly nervous but didn’t dare make a sound. She held her breath, fearing that a single word from her might startle Jiang Xiechen.
When the noisy voice by her ear vanished, Jiang Xiechen found herself momentarily unaccustomed to the silence. Treading upon a tiny, fragile twig, she called out, “Wen Chiyue?”
This was the first time Jiang Xiechen had called Wen Chiyue by name. Wen Chiyue felt her bones go numb and tingly, even her consciousness felt as though she had been drinking, floating in a daze. She snapped out of it and instinctively replied, “Present!”
“…Pfft.” Jiang Xiechen smiled beautifully, her eyes bright as stars. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and her pale complexion regained a hint of color because of this smile.
Wen Chiyue had originally been embarrassed by her reaction, but hearing that laugh made her heart bubble with joy. She felt that even if she made a fool of herself, it was worth it, to die under the peony flower and be a romantic ghost. Being able to win a smile from her master was a gain.
She giggled along and asked, “By the way, does Master have any orders? I, Wen Chiyue, will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
Wen Chiyue was an expert at taking an inch and wanting a mile. Her resolute declaration actually left Jiang Xiechen unsure of what to say. Jiang Xiechen paused, rarely at a loss for words, before saying, “It’s nothing.”
She grabbed a branch and used the leverage to land lightly on the ground.
Pushing aside the tall grass, a hidden cave was revealed. The space wasn’t very large. Jiang Xiechen bent down slightly, her grip tightening on the Autumn Frost Sword in a defensive posture as she cautiously probed into the cave.
The cave was dark and damp, smelling of decay.
In the past, Jiang Xiechen might not have been able to perceive the Autumn Frost Sword’s emotions. However, since Wen Chiyue’s birth, she and the sword had developed a sense of mental connection. For instance, at this moment, she could feel an emotion that belonged either to the sword or to Wen Chiyue.
It was a bit solemn, mixed with a hint of trepidation, and even… a sense of pride?
Jiang Xiechen couldn’t understand where that last emotion came from.
Since it was her own sword, after walking a few steps, Jiang Xiechen suddenly spoke: “Where are all these ‘fire and water’ matters coming from?”
“Huh?” Wen Chiyue didn’t catch the meaning immediately, first saying blissfully, “Master, your voice is so beautiful. You should speak more.”
Jiang Xiechen suddenly didn’t want to speak anymore.
Fortunately, as a qualified “die-hard fan” of her master, Wen Chiyue could admire and listen at the same time. It didn’t hinder her understanding of Jiang Xiechen’s point at all.
Inside the Autumn Frost Sword, Wen Chiyue shook her head and said, “As long as it’s Master’s business, it’s important. To treat it with the attitude of going through fire and water is what a qualified sword spirit should do!”
Having said that, she patted her chest proudly.
Jiang Xiechen remained silent for a moment.
Looking at the narrow path, she could only hear the sound of water dripping in the cave amidst the silence. The quiet almost threatened to swallow her whole, much like Jiang Xiechen’s life since childhood.
Hearing such a heroic declaration caused Jiang Xiechen’s ears to flush slightly, though her voice remained calm as she said, “Silly. You are a sword spirit now, not the sword itself. If the sword is destroyed, the spirit is destroyed. Protecting yourself is what you should be doing.”
Wen Chiyue was puzzled: “But the primary responsibility of a sword spirit is to protect the sword master.”
She suddenly thought of something, and tears welled up in her eyes. Sniffling and feeling wronged, she asked, “D-Does Master have another sword? No, no… is there something wrong with Autumn Frost…”
Jiang Xiechen was not good at handling this sort of thing.
In her eyes, if there was any dissatisfaction, one should simply strike. At most, it would cost a life. Encountering such a crybaby sword spirit left her with no idea how to respond. After a long while, she managed only two words: “No.”
“No what?” Wen Chiyue asked relentlessly.
Jiang Xiechen brushed away the leaves overhead and passed through the small path, finally discovering a spacious clearing. A small stream flowed nearby, and looking up, she could see sunlight and glowing little insects dancing in the air.
“Autumn Frost is… very good.”
Wen Chiyue said proudly, “Of course! Wow, Master, look quick! Those glowing things are Fluorescent Birds!”
Though called birds, they were much smaller than a thumb. To the naked eye, they looked like glowing dust. Fluorescent Birds were rare, legend said they only appeared in places where the essence of heaven, earth, sun, and moon gathered, so they were seen as birds of good fortune.
In this place, any treasure that could be named had been stripped clean by the Moonview Pavilion. Jiang Xiechen hadn’t expected to see Fluorescent Birds here, it truly exceeded her expectations.
She gave a steady “Mm” as a response to Wen Chiyue.
Wen Chiyue said joyfully, “Master, rest here for a bit. You’re badly injured and shouldn’t move anymore. I’ll help you guard the cave entrance. If anything happens, just call me.”
Jiang Xiechen had exactly that intention and nodded in agreement.
Upon receiving the answer, the Autumn Frost Sword turned its tip and sped toward the cave entrance like a gust of wind. Jiang Xiechen could even see a sense of jubilation in the “back” of the sword.
…As expected of Wen Chiyue.
Even after only a short time together, Jiang Xiechen could feel the infectious energy and vitality coming from Wen Chiyue.
She never held back her emotions, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all displayed boldly. Like the Fluorescent Birds in this cave, even in the darkness, she was a brilliant and dazzling existence.
Under this light, the impurities in one’s heart would have nowhere to hide.
Jiang Xiechen thought… she liked this feeling.
The Autumn Frost Sword was perhaps happy to the extreme, it didn’t notice a turn and hit the rock wall with a thump. It spun around dizzily for a few circles, and Wen Chiyue’s voice followed.
“Master, don’t worry! I just hit the wall. You just focus on your cultivation. Don’t even think about slacking off, or else. ” Wen Chiyue exaggerated intentionally, “Or else the two of us will be stuck here forever! This place is so boring. Master definitely wouldn’t be able to stand it, right?”
Despite the crash, the Autumn Frost Sword continued “jumping” away, the hilt trailing an afterimage in the air. Watching this, Jiang Xiechen couldn’t help but shake her head and let out a low laugh.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught her reflection on a stone. It was a face with smiling eyes. The expression wasn’t broad unless someone was very familiar with Jiang Xiechen, they wouldn’t see the mirth in her gaze.
But her eyes were indeed filled with laughter.
Jiang Xiechen froze. The curve of her mouth softened. Unsure of what she was thinking, she placed her hand on her forehead, sighed, and sat cross-legged to begin regulating her chaotic internal energy.
The upheaval inside her was even worse than she had estimated. Jiang Xiechen tried several times to suppress it, but the turbulence only grew stronger, nearly rupturing her meridians.
She didn’t know what kind of poison the Moonview Pavilion had placed in her body. The more she resisted, the more powerful the poison became, as if it intended to fight her to the death.
If she stopped now, she would have to constantly endure the presence of this “time bomb.”
The Master of the Moonview Pavilion likely intended to use this poison to force her into submission.
Jiang Xiechen pondered for a moment and stopped trying to stabilize her breath. As she did, the poison seemed to sense her “surrender” and gradually slowed down.
At the very moment it was about to settle, Jiang Xiechen suddenly concentrated all her energy and slammed it directly into her abdomen. The most important meridian for a cultivator could not withstand such immense pressure and collapsed. A loud ringing filled Jiang Xiechen’s ears, forcing another mouthful of blood from her.
Wen Chiyue seemed to sense it and transmitted her voice: “Master? What happened? Are you okay? Our connection just broke inexplicably for a moment.”
As Jiang Xiechen’s life-bound sword, even if she were heavily injured, hanging by a thread, or even reduced to a commoner with only one breath left, her connection with the Autumn Frost Sword would never truly break.
However, that impact just now had been so violent that Jiang Xiechen’s vision was currently black.
She steadied herself and replied, “It’s nothing. Have they caught up?”
“They haven’t found this place yet,” Wen Chiyue answered crisply. “But I hear sounds. I reckon they’ll search here soon. But don’t worry, Master, even if they do find us, I have a way to stop them.”
Jiang Xiechen naturally knew how much weight Wen Chiyue, a “newborn” sword spirit, actually carried. Those words were likely just said to keep her from being distracted.
Jiang Xiechen wiped the blood from her lips and said unhurriedly, “It’s fine.”
She was injured, so she walked slower than usual. Following the small path, she made her way slowly to the cave entrance. The sun was setting, and the dark red afterglow spilled onto the Autumn Frost Sword, creating a carefree atmosphere of “watching the flowers bloom and fall in the courtyard, and the clouds roll and unroll in the sky.”
Jiang Xiechen smiled. Just as she was about to call for Wen Chiyue, she saw the sword tip turn, followed by Wen Chiyue’s voice: “Master, you…?”
Her voice shifted from the joy of seeing Jiang Xiechen to hesitation upon noticing the dissipation of her cultivation aura.
Before Jiang Xiechen could explain, she suddenly heard Wen Chiyue’s teeth-gritting voice: “I knew it! They are wicked to the core to give Master this kind of poison! My poor Master, your spiritual energy has vanished… those two people deserve to be struck by lightning!”
Jiang Xiechen pressed down the corners of her mouth, swallowing the explanation she had been about to give, and said lowly, “Mm.”