This is a theft prevention chapter. "How could I?" Spirit Sword Destiny lowered his gaze. "Every word and every sentence the Master has said, I have firmly remembered in my heart and have never forgotten."
If anyone else were to hear such words from the Master, their expression would surely change dramatically. For a subordinate, this evaluation would be quite a severe reprimand.
However, their bond was different.
Shen Jinglan was not only his mentor but also like a father and brother to him, having raised him single-handedly. All of his cultivation skills were taught by Shen Jinglan... The ties between them were something no one could understand or compare to.
Shen Jinglan's words sounded more like a gentle yet helpless reproach from an elder to a disobedient junior.
Although Spirit Sword Destiny vehemently denied it, he internally acknowledged that the Master indeed had a point. There had been many times when he avoided the Master, who was in seclusion, and acted on his own to investigate the whereabouts of the Elixir that could cure the Master's ailment.
It wasn't that he didn't want to obey.
The Master had already seen through the fact that his time was limited, but Spirit Sword Destiny couldn't grasp it at all.
"Is that so?" Shen Jinglan smiled and shook his head. "I see you running around after you return with me this time."
"Are you going to break my legs?" Spirit Sword Destiny laughed as well.
"I have watched you grow up; you have long since matured enough to stand on your own. You have your own ideas. Even if I can restrict you with words now, what will happen in the future when I can no longer speak or move? Your feet are on your own body; the path you choose is up to you." Shen Jinglan said, "If I ever truly have the thought of breaking your legs, I will first break my own hands."
From the flowing sleeves of his robe emerged a hand with long fingers, which appeared even longer due to its slenderness, presenting a sickly pallor.
Spirit Sword Destiny looked at his hand.
On the surface, no one would believe that such a hand holds the power to destroy the world.
Spirit Sword Destiny did not continue with Shen Jinglan's words; he had nothing more to say.
"Master, did you take the Azure Essence Pill...?" he asked again.
"Yes."
"Let me see." Spirit Sword Destiny also reached out to grasp his wrist, feeling his pulse.
The slow and faint heartbeat slipped from his fingertips and sank deep into his heart.
It felt like a hammer gently tapping on his chest.
Spirit Sword Destiny truly wished that this hammering spirit would never tire or stop.
"The Azure Essence Pill hasn't improved your body; it merely prolongs your life..." Spirit Sword Destiny said softly, "At this rate, it can sustain you for another five years."
"Five years is not short," Shen Jinglan replied. "With Autumn Moon and Spring Breeze, Winter Snow and Summer Lotus, I can still witness them five more times. In my lifetime, I have gained more than others and seen more scenery."
Shaoyuan: "..."
These two would soon forget about him as they talked. Although he had transformed into a human form, it felt as if he had become a mere wisp of air.
He idly fumbled at his waist and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!"
"What's wrong?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked. Both of them turned to look at him.
"My folding fan is missing," Shaoyuan recalled after a moment. "It was probably left in the Banquet Hall."
A folding fan?
Spirit Sword Destiny remembered that Shaoyuan always carried a folding fan made from Xuan Turtle Shell for the ribs and Silk for the surface. It wasn't particularly valuable, but it had some benefits for spiritual energy circulation. He carried this fan because the first person he devoured also had one at his waist.
More than sixty years ago, that young master, raised in a prestigious family, faced a great upheaval and was forced to flee to Youzhou. He didn't have the luck or strength of Shen Jinglan and Spirit Sword Destiny, and soon he was devoured by the Shenmo in the waters. This Shenmo retained his appearance, name, and habits up to this day—this is now Shaoyuan.
Of course, Shaoyuan's folding fan did not carry any of the charm of his original self; it was entirely a superficial elegance.
"That's not something worth worrying about; let Qiongqi buy you another one," Shen Jinglan said. Qiongqi was responsible for procurement within the Evil Sect.
Spirit Sword Destiny thought to himself that this folding fan had likely fallen into Xu Xiaofei's hands.
As a BSS (Boss Support System), aside from experience points, equipment and spiritual materials should also drop regularly, right?
In future battles with the protagonist, he would need to pay attention to what he had on him.
The Ruiyun flew extremely swiftly; while Shaoyuan was distracted, they quickly returned to the nearest secret branch of the Evil Sect.
Back on their home turf, Spirit Sword Destiny and Shaoyuan released the traitors they had captured.
Upon seeing Shen Jinglan, Wu Shuang's legs trembled uncontrollably, and his face turned ashen.
Mu Ruo Song was indeed calmer than him.
As soon as he emerged from the spatial artifact of Spirit Sword Destiny, he said to Shen Jinglan, "It has been a long time since the leader has seen me, hasn't it? I also haven't seen the leader's face for quite a while. I didn't expect to meet under such circumstances. It's a pity that even if I wanted to compliment the leader on still being as graceful as before, I can't bring myself to say it. The leader's complexion is certainly not as good as it used to be..."
He sighed deeply, "Does the leader still remember the events from forty years ago? Back then, you were so heroic, and I was also young and vigorous. The territory of Evil Sect was all conquered by us at that time. Time has changed, time has changed! You are now seriously ill and no longer concerned with the affairs of the sect, while I have become a useless person living off others. The reason I defected is simply because I couldn't accept it! How much have I done for This Sect, and what was my fate afterward? The leader must not have paid attention to it, right? I was captured after defecting, and I had nothing to say. But if I hadn't defected, there would have been no place for me in the sect anymore!"
He did not mention Spirit Sword Destiny even once; his words were all veiled references to it.
"Forty years ago..." Shen Jinglan also sighed, "That truly was a long time ago. I haven't forgotten the camaraderie we shared on the battlefield."
His gaze momentarily lost focus, as if he was recalling that period of time.
Back then, his illness was not as severe as it is now, nor did he live in seclusion year-round like he does now, leading his followers on campaigns and spilling blood on the battlefield. Those were indeed exhilarating days!
Unlike now, when he is tormented by various ailments every moment. His heart is still young, but his body has already aged...
"However," Shen Jinglan changed his tone, "since you have already defected, what is there left to argue about? Have you never thought that stripping you of your power was my intention? I have long seen that you are not someone who can stay put; you have proven that my judgment was correct."
He looked deeply at Mu Ruo Song: "You are an Elder in the sect; you know what fate awaits those who defect. Even if you are dissatisfied, you can betray me but not the sect... The Branch of This Sect in Water City was destroyed by a surprise attack from Righteous Path due to your leak of information. Out of thirty-one members of the sect there, not one survived. How will you repay those thirty-one lives?"
You can betray me but not the sect...
Because betraying me is merely like an ant shaking a tree; it doesn't even require me to glance at it.
Is this what the leader means?
Spirit Sword Destiny Standing beside him, I silently thought of this.
Even if the leader is gravely ill, no one within the sect can shake his position.
I cannot either...
Spirit Sword Destiny This thought surfaced in my mind. His eyes dimmed slightly.
Indeed, I cannot.
"I understand," Mu Ruo Song sighed, "I do not seek a way to live, but I hope that the leader will grant me a swift end out of consideration for our past."
"Good, I won't say more," Shen Jinglan said, "I will have them capture you instead of disposing of you on the spot. You must want to know what I am going to ask. What information have you leaked? Who was it that assisted you when you escaped Youzhou? There must be an insider among your This Sect Branch. If they all come out, I will make your deaths quick and painless."
Mu Ruo Song exchanged a glance with Wu Shuang, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright."
"Most of the information we know has not been leaked yet; we only..."
A burst of azure smoke suddenly emanated from him.
The smoke seemed to carry a deadly poison.
"When these old foxes swore before me, they were indeed much more honest. Using force to speak is always an easy way to get people to listen."
Shen Jinglan smiled lightly, glanced at him, and suddenly said, "I think it’s you who sometimes doesn’t listen to me very well, isn’t it? What I say seems to go in one ear and out the other while you secretly do something else."
"I would never," Spirit Sword Destiny lowered his gaze, "Every word and every sentence spoken by the Master, I have firmly etched in my heart and have never forgotten."
If anyone else were to hear such words from the Master, they would likely turn pale. For a subordinate, this evaluation is already a rather severe reprimand.
However, their bond was different.
Shen Jinglan was not only his mentor but also like a father and brother to him. He had raised him, and all of his cultivation skills were taught by Shen Jinglan... The ties between them were something no one could understand or compare to.
Shen Jinglan's words felt more like a gentle yet helpless reproach from an elder to a disobedient junior.
Although Spirit Sword Destiny vehemently denied it, he internally acknowledged that the Master was indeed right. There had been many occasions when he avoided the Master, who was in seclusion, and acted on his own to investigate the whereabouts of the Elixir that could cure the Master's ailment.
It wasn't that he didn't want to obey.
The Master had seen through the fact that his time was limited, yet Spirit Sword Destiny could not grasp it at all.
"Is that so?" Shen Jinglan smiled and shook his head. "I see you running around again after returning with me this time."
"Are you going to break my legs?" Spirit Sword Destiny laughed as well.
"I watched you grow up; you've long since matured enough to stand on your own. You have your own ideas. Even if I can restrict you with words now, what will happen when I can no longer speak or move in the future? Your feet are your own; the path you choose is up to you," Shen Jinglan said. "If I ever truly had the thought of breaking your legs, I would first break my own hands."
His hand, revealed from the flowing sleeves of his robe, had long fingers that appeared even longer due to his slenderness, presenting a sickly pallor.
Spirit Sword Destiny looked at his hand.
On the surface, no one would believe that such a hand holds the power to destroy the world.
Spirit Sword Destiny did not continue with Shen Jinglan's words; he had nothing more to say.
"Master, did you take the Azure Essence Pill...?" he asked again.
"Mm."
"Let me see." Spirit Sword Destiny also reached out and grabbed his wrist, feeling his pulse.
A slow and weak heartbeat echoed from his fingertips, sinking deep into his heart.
It felt like a hammer gently tapping against his heart.
Spirit Sword Destiny truly wished this hammering ghost would never tire or stop.
"The Azure Essence Pill hasn't improved your body; it merely prolongs your life..." Spirit Sword Destiny said softly, "At this rate, it can sustain you for another five years."
"Five years is not short," Shen Jinglan replied. "With Autumn Moon and spring breeze, Winter Snow and Summer Lotus, I can still see them five more times. In my lifetime, I have gained more than others and seen more scenery."
Shaoyuan: "..."
The two of them conversed together, quickly forgetting about him. He clearly transformed into a human form but seemed to have become a mere wisp of air.
Bored, he fumbled at his waist and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!"
"What's wrong?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked. The two of them looked at him.
"My folding fan is missing," Shaoyuan recalled for a moment, "I probably left it in the Banquet Hall."
A folding fan?
Spirit Sword Destiny remembered that Shaoyuan usually carried a folding fan made of Xuan Turtle Shell for the ribs and Silk for the surface. It wasn't particularly valuable, but it had some benefits for spiritual energy circulation. He carried this fan because the first person he devoured also had one at his waist.
More than sixty years ago, that young master, raised in a prestigious family, faced a great upheaval and was forced to flee to Youzhou. He didn't have the luck or strength of Shen Jinglan and Spirit Sword Destiny, and soon he was devoured by the Shenmo in the waters. This Shenmo retained his appearance, name, and habits until now—this is the current Shaoyuan.
Of course, Shaoyuan carrying a folding fan did not carry any of the original's charm; it was entirely an affectation.
"That's not a good thing anyway; let Qiongqi help you buy another one," Shen Jinglan said. Qiongqi was responsible for procurement in the Evil Sect.
Spirit Sword Destiny thought that this folding fan had probably fallen into Xu Xiaofei's hands.
As a BSS, aside from experience points, equipment and spiritual materials should also drop regularly, right?
In future battles with the protagonist, he needed to pay attention to what he had on him.
The Ruiyun flew extremely swiftly; while Shaoyuan was distracted, they quickly returned to the nearest Evil Sect secret Branch.
Back on their own territory, Spirit Sword Destiny and Shaoyuan released the traitors they had captured.
Upon seeing Shen Jinglan, Wu Shuang's legs could still suppress their trembling, but his face had already turned ashen.
Mu Ruo Song was indeed calmer than him.
As soon as he emerged from the spatial artifact of Spirit Sword Destiny, he said to Shen Jinglan, "It has been a long time since the leader has seen me, hasn't it? I have also not seen the leader's face for many occasions, and I never expected to meet under such circumstances. It's a pity that even if I wanted to compliment the leader on your enduring grace, I cannot bring myself to say it. The leader's complexion is certainly not as good as it used to be..."
He sighed deeply, "Does the leader still remember the events from forty years ago? Back then, you were so heroic, and I was also young and vigorous. The territory of Evil Sect was all conquered by you and me during that time. Time has changed, time has changed! You are now gravely ill and no longer concerned with the affairs of the sect, while I have become a useless person living off others. The reason I defected is that I could not accept it! How much have I done for This Sect, and what was my fate afterward? The leader must not have taken notice of it, right? I was captured after defecting; I have nothing to say. But if I had not defected, there would soon be no place for me in the sect!"
He did not mention Spirit Sword Destiny even once; his words were all veiled references to it.
"Forty years ago..." Shen Jinglan also sighed, "That truly was a long time ago. I have not forgotten the camaraderie we shared on the battlefield."
His gaze became distant for a moment, as if he recalled that period of time.
Back then, his illness was not as severe as it is now, nor did he lead a secluded life like he does now. He led his followers on campaigns, fighting fiercely on the battlefield; those were indeed exhilarating days!
Unlike now, when he suffers from various ailments every moment. His heart is still young, but his body has already aged...
"However," Shen Jinglan shifted his tone, "since you have defected, what is there left to argue about? Have you never thought that stripping you of your power was my intention? I have long seen that you are not someone who can remain content; you have proven my judgment correct."
He looked deeply at Mu Ruo Song: "You are an Elder in the sect; you know what fate awaits those who defect. Even if you are dissatisfied, you can betray me but must not betray the sect... The Branch of This Sect in Water City was destroyed by a surprise attack from Righteous Path due to your leak of information. Thirty-one members of the sect perished without a single survivor. How will you repay these thirty-one lives?"
You can betray me but must not betray the sect...
Because betraying me is merely like an ant shaking a tree; it doesn't even require me to glance at it.
Is this what the leader means?
Spirit Sword Destiny Standing beside him, I silently thought of this.
Even if the leader is seriously ill, no one in the sect can shake his position.
I cannot either...
Spirit Sword Destiny This thought surfaced in my mind. His eyes dimmed slightly.
Indeed, I cannot either.
"I understand," Mu Ruo Song sighed, "I do not seek a way to live, but I hope the leader can grant me a quick end out of consideration for our past friendship."
"Alright, I won't say much more," Shen Jinglan said, "I will have them capture you and bring you back instead of disposing of you on the spot. You must want to know what I am going to ask. What information have you leaked? Who helped you escape Youzhou? There must be an insider among your This Sect Branch. If you all come out, I will make your deaths a bit easier."
Mu Ruo Song exchanged a glance with Wu Shuang, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Fine."
"Most of the information we know has not been leaked yet; we only..."
A burst of azure smoke suddenly emanated from him.
The smoke seemed to carry a deadly poison.
When Xu Xiaofei came to the Herb Room to see him, Spirit Sword Destiny was busy weighing herbs.
After sending off Yang Zhen's message via Azure Bird, he finally had time to address him: "Why do you have the leisure to see me? Are you slacking off?"
"Where," Xu Xiaofei said, "Han Shixiong taught me the technique of flying with a sword today, so I flew around the Xiaoyao Sect a few times. I just came to see you while I was at it. Han Shixiong even praised me for picking it up so quickly, as if I had learned to fly with a sword in my previous life."
"You're bragging again."
"I'm not bragging! If you don't believe me, tonight I'll take you out for a ride on my sword. It's been a while since we've been down the mountain, how about it?"
Xu Xiaofei looked at him eagerly.
"…Alright." Since there was nothing to do after nightfall, Spirit Sword Destiny agreed, "Let's just hope neither of us breaks a leg."
"How could that happen?" Xu Xiaofei immediately cheered up.
Just then, there was a loud noise, and the ground shook violently, making it hard to stand. Bottles and jars clattered all over the place.
"What’s happening? Is the mountain collapsing?" Xu Xiaofei exclaimed in confusion, his face changing dramatically as he grabbed Spirit Sword Destiny's shoulder. "Quick, I'll take you out of here!"
In an instant, he summoned a bright and shining celestial sword.
Spirit Sword Destiny calmly shook his head and didn't move his feet: "It's fine, no need to panic."
"But…" The force on his shoulder suddenly increased as Xu Xiaofei seemed determined to drag him away.
Spirit Sword Destiny silently removed his hand.
In the span of just a few words, the sudden earthquake gradually subsided.
Xu Xiaofei turned around and noticed that even this room remained unchanged, letting out a sigh of relief. "What is going on?"
"It's just the commotion from Master Alchemy."
"Alchemy?" Xu Xiaofei suddenly recalled something, as it seemed Han Yue had also mentioned the deeds of the elder in their Alchemy Room. "Did the Stove explode again? No, no, that's too dangerous! Are you really going to stay here? Qi Shijie has already changed his path; it's not too late for you to learn swordsmanship with me."
"I only want to learn Alchemy," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "Don't worry about me; look, nothing has happened, right?"
"Although nothing happened this time, who can guarantee..." Xu Xiaofei paused, still looking worried. He thought for a moment, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a stack of pale yellow Talismans. "Take these; they are protective charms drawn by Han Shixiong. He gave them to me. When you need to use them, just pinch one between your fingers and recite the word 'Yu.'"
Spirit Sword Destiny did not take them.
"Since you're learning swordsmanship, you'll need to fight more in the future, going down the mountain to slay demons and eliminate evil. These charms will be even more useful for you; you should keep them yourself."
"No need; I can take care of myself! Even if I can't defeat the demons in the future, can't I still escape on my sword?" Xu Xiaofei insisted, stuffing the Talismans into his hands.
"...Alright then, accept this." Spirit Sword Destiny didn't insist further and took the Talismans back. He reached into his collar and pulled out a delicate White Jade Pendant from against his skin and handed it over.
"What is this?" Xu Xiaofei looked a bit stunned.
"A protective treasure passed down from my ancestors in cultivation," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "It originally contained a trace of spiritual power, but it has gradually dissipated and needs to be recharged. The more power you infuse into it, the stronger its defense becomes; it can be said to grow stronger against stronger foes. My spiritual power is far less than yours; in your hands, it will be more useful. By the way, this item is also said to gather souls and solidify spirits; I don't know what that means exactly, but it's definitely a good thing. You should make good use of it." He smiled gently.
Every morning, when the two practiced the Xiaoyao You technique together, he could indeed feel that Xu Xiaofei's spiritual power was growing by leaps and bounds. Out of ten thousand people, there might not even be one with such a rapid cultivation speed.
As Spirit Sword Destiny spoke, he stepped closer and helped Xu Xiaofei reattach the white jade pendant around his neck.
At this distance, the two could already hear each other's breaths.
"I..." Xu Xiaofei seemed to want to decline, but somehow, before she could finish her words, her face turned red.
He picked up the warm white jade that hung between his neck and glanced down at it, saying, "Don't worry, I... I will definitely use it well."
"Mm." Spirit Sword Destiny replied. Suddenly, he turned his head and looked aside.
Yang Zhen's Azure Bird was sitting in a bowl with its legs crossed, suspended in mid-air, not knowing how long it had been waiting.
The Azure Bird coldly glared at Xu Xiaofei for a moment. It seemed that Yang Zhen was not too pleased about someone trying to lure his disciple away. Without much hesitation, the Azure Bird spoke directly to Spirit Sword Destiny: "One tael and nine turns of Dan Sha, half a penny of sagebrush, and three kinds of herbs that can treat fire spirit burns, each one penny."
"Understood." Spirit Sword Destiny quickly got to work.
"You should also leave; practice your sword flying a bit more. I don't want you to fall from above like a wounded goose tonight." He said to Xu Xiaofei without looking up.
"Don't worry, see you tonight!"
After returning from Baopu Peak and having dinner, Xu Xiaofei pulled Spirit Sword Destiny out of the courtyard and summoned his Flying Sword.
The Xiaoyao Sect was vast and sparsely populated, with considerable resources. Originally, every newly promoted disciple could be assigned a separate house. Xu Xiaofei really wanted to continue living in the courtyard where they were recuperating with Spirit Sword Destiny, and Spirit Sword Destiny agreed.
The night breeze was gentle, and the moonlight was bright.
Xu Xiaofei jumped onto the sword's body and reached out his hand to Spirit Sword Destiny: "Come on, stand in front of me."
This scene feels somewhat familiar yet also a bit off. Without thinking too much about it, Xu Xiaofei stepped forward. He tightly wrapped his arms around his waist, silently reciting the sword control technique. The sword trembled lightly and shot out like an arrow released from a bow.
Xu Xiaofei was not boasting; his flying technique was indeed quite skilled.
Before he lost his memory, had he really learned this? Spirit Sword Destiny couldn't help but wonder.
The Flying Sword moved swiftly, crossing the peaks of the Xiaoyao Sect in just a few breaths, continuing to fly outward.
"How is it? Am I flying well?" Xu Xiaofei asked, leaning close to him amidst the howling wind.
"Not bad."
"Hahaha! I can even roll while flying and spiral around. I'm just afraid you might get dizzy... Oh, is that a village up ahead? Let's go take a look."
A few lights appeared, emerging from the darkness ahead.
"Okay."
Xu Xiaofei maneuvered the Flying Sword, gradually descending from the high altitude.
The scene below became increasingly clear; it was indeed a village built against the mountains.
"Ga—"
Just about ten zhang above the ground, a panicked Night Owl suddenly collided with them head-on. Xu Xiaofei quickly dodged, twisting the sword sharply and suddenly overturning.
“……”
“How are you?” Xu Xiaofei seemed to have fallen hard, gritting his teeth and gasping for air, still asking Spirit Sword Destiny.
“I’m fine.”
Xu Xiaofei finally reacted quickly; at a critical moment, he grasped the sword's body and hung Spirit Sword Destiny beneath it, slowing their fall, which prevented both of them from dying.
At this moment, his palm was already bleeding profusely. When they landed, he first reached out to the ground, and Spirit Sword Destiny seemed to hear a “crack,” indicating that his foot might have twisted as well.
This development felt familiar, like a side quest in a game…
Only in the original plot, Xu Xiaofei had sneaked out alone; now that he had become friends with Spirit Sword Destiny, he brought Spirit Sword Destiny along.
“Reach out,” Spirit Sword Destiny said.
He tore a piece from his robe to bandage Xu Xiaofei's injury.
“We can’t stay in the mountains; there are wild beasts at night, and there might even be monsters. Let’s head to that village first,” Spirit Sword Destiny suggested.
The location where they crashed was on a hillside near a village, where the grass grew thick and many wildflowers bloomed here and there.
Xu Xiaofei leaned against the ground and slowly stood up. As soon as his right foot touched the ground, he gasped again.
“Did you hurt your foot too?”
"...Yes."
"Help me walk."
"Okay." Xu Xiaofei wrapped her arm around his shoulder and limped down the mountain with Spirit Sword Destiny.
"This Head of Household is really kind to take us in for the night," Xu Xiaofei said as she sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a satisfied sigh and smiling.
His condition was not suitable for sword flying anymore. Once they entered the village, they found a family to stay with, planning to leave early the next morning. The family's son was out on business, and they happened to have a clean, empty room available.
"What was I saying? I don't want to fall down like a goose shot with an arrow," Spirit Sword Destiny replied irritably.
But it wasn't entirely Xu Xiaofei's fault; this was part of the plot—essentially, fate's arrangement.
Spirit Sword Destiny also borrowed a copper basin and a towel from a kindly old woman, filled the basin with some cold well water, and now, by the faint light of a candle, was soaking the towel before wringing it out slowly.
"People make mistakes, horses stumble... It won't happen again next time," Xu Xiaofei said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"That's right. The horse stumbled, and now your ankle is swollen too," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "Take off your shoes and socks; I'll give you a cold compress."
Xu Xiaofei obediently removed her shoes and socks, revealing that her right ankle was indeed quite swollen.
Spirit Sword Destiny placed the towel on her ankle and wrapped it gently.
At that moment, a melodious sound of a guqin drifted in through the half-open window with the wind.
Fleeting like a dream, as if it exists yet does not.
Lin Yan Face expressionless, waited for Xu Xiaofei's towel on her ankle to get a bit hot, then took it off and soaked it again in cold water.
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