I packed up my supplies and got ready for the new day of tournants. Bai Ye's strangeness last night still confused a little—even though retreats always ant a chance of danger, he never seed like the type to be afraid of such things—but considering this was the first ti he needed to go through one of these ever since we t, I suppose it was natural to feel a bit uneasy, as he was probably more worried about my safety than his own. I had been too good at getting myself into trouble these days, and he wouldn't be able to co to my rescue like always if I needed help while he was gone.
With those thoughts, I secured Twin Stars onto my belt and made my way out the door. But just as my feet crossed the threshold, a strong surge of spiritual power flooded through , so powerful that I stumbled. That pulse of presence at the edge of my consciousness was back. I looked down at Twin Stars, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the familiar crimson light glowing through the sheaths.
It wasn't my usual ditation ti yet. How did its power awaken without being called through that technique? I instinctively wanted to resist the pull of that spiritual presence, but it was too late. The next thing I knew, I was in an unfamiliar room again. Bai Ye was standing by the window, staring into the light rain falling over the awning.
Another vision. Was this the power of Ocean Tear? Had it strengthened my bonding with Twin Stars so much that the visions could reach now even without ditation?
Knowing there was no way out of a vision until Twin Stars let , I turned my attention to the Bai Ye in front of . He looked a little different this ti from the previous two visions. That lighthearted, daring look was lighter on his face than before. His eyes seed darker, his gaze into the distance heavier, the air about him more solemn. He was a lot more like the present-day him this ti.
I wondered if these visions could've been in chronicle order. How much ti had passed in between each of them?
Footsteps sounded behind . Bai Ye turned, and I followed his gaze to find the girl in the red dress coming into the room.
"You went to the cave again," he said.
"The yin power in that chamber helps ," the girl replied. "I think I've perfected this technique now. If you'd like, I can carve it on the stone walls next ti I go."
My eyes widened. So this was happening at Mount Hua after all … And this girl was the one that carved those illustrations in the cave chamber? I studied her more carefully, realizing belatedly that she hadn't aged either since the last vision. But although her look hadn't changed at all, the way she carried herself was completely different. No longer the spirited, innocent girl, she seed much sharper, much stronger.
She must've grown up since last ti. But how was that possible? Immortals only stop aging after ascension, and reaching ascension at sixteen was unheard of. Let alone the fact that as soon as disciples arrived at that stage, they were no longer supposed to remain at their master's halls.
"You know what I'd like." Bai Ye sighed. "That technique makes your power grow too fast. You should've stopped long ago."
The girl glared at him. "You were the one that nagged to practice. Now that I'm good at it, you are the one that nags to stop."
"That was a long ti ago. You needed it then. But the bond is strong enough now to support your body—"
"Or you've gotten enough out of it from , so you don't need to do it anymore."
A hint of hurt flashed across Bai Ye's eyes. "You know that's not the case."
I gaped at how different this conversation was from the last one I saw. Although Bai Ye's tone towards the girl had been cold back then, he didn't seem to want to hurt her feelings, and I could tell there was genuine attachnt between them. But this ti, she seed … estranged from him, and I had never seen anyone talk to Bai Ye in such a dominating way. It surprised that he had simply tolerated it.
The girl looked at him. Then she turned her head away. "I'm sorry," she said in a softer tone. "You're right. This power … sotis I can't help but feel I'm not myself anymore. It's almost like another person is controlling what I do and say. I didn't an it. I …"
Bai Ye strode forward and gathered her in his arms. "I know," he said. "I know how hard it is for you … but that's precisely why you have to stop further bonding before it's too late. The power of a demonic sword is not sothing we can challenge. Not yet. If this power in you gets any stronger …"
The girl nodded. "Give a little more ti. Before your next retreat, I'll try to get everything under control. I promise."
The two of them stayed still in that embrace, and the vision slowly faded. With a bright flash of light, I was back at the pagoda again, still in the middle of my doorway.
My hands grew cold. The cave chamber, the bonding, the power of Twin Stars and its influence … It seed like these visions were trying to tell sothing, but too much of the crucial information was left out. How was the girl able to improve that technique? Why did Bai Ye say she needed the bonding to support her body? What did she an by he was getting sothing out of it from her?
But above all, what stunned most was the realization that she was indeed bound to Twin Stars.. Because I rembered very clearly that a demonic sword could only bind to one person in its lifeti, and that person right now was .
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