Qu Hongxiao’s courtyard was small and secluded, but the yard itself was kept quite clean.
"Martial Uncle Guu isn’t here?"
"My master died."
"..." Zhu Ju said apologetically:
"My condolences."
"It’s okay." Qu Hongxiao waved her hand dismissively, a nonchalant look on her face.
"Everyone dies. I’ll die, you’ll die. I was only sad for a little while."
She pinched her index finger and thumb together, giggling.
"That’s true."
Zhu Ju nodded, studying Qu Hongxiao before him.
’This woman really is different from ordinary people. She clearly struggles to take care of herself.’
Her long, unkempt hair fell in tangled strands down her back, and her clothes were ragged and torn.
Her shoes, however, were very new and clean, but they didn’t fit properly.
He asked,
"How did you get by before?"
During the joint sect gathering, Qu Hongxiao had been dressed so normally that he’d failed to notice her ntal state.
"Xiaocui was with back then. She helped with my laundry and getting ready," Qu Hongxiao said, a little embarrassed.
"Senior Brother, am I really useless?"
"Where is Xiaocui now?" Zhu Ju asked.
"After Martial Uncle Guu passed away, he should have left you a sizable inheritance. Hiring a servant shouldn’t be a problem."
"Xiaocui went to work for another family," Qu Hongxiao said, scratching her head.
"My master did leave so things, but the families of my senior brothers and sisters ca and took them all away."
"They said..."
"...that Master spent a lot taking care of over the years, and the remaining things shouldn’t be spent on ."
"Now I only have this small courtyard and a few sets of clothes. Of course, no one can take my sword away."
She lifted the longsword in her hand, her face filled with pride.
"When did this happen?" Zhu Ju asked after a mont of silence.
"You should have told when Martial Uncle Guu passed away."
"No need." Qu Hongxiao waved her hand.
"Master said he was used to a life full of hustle and bustle, so when it was his ti to go, he wanted to leave quietly, by himself. As for ..."
"I have to learn to live by myself, because Master said no one could take care of forever, and he was no exception."
"Master didn’t lie."
"Martial Uncle Guu was a man of great wisdom," Zhu Ju said with emotion.
"After he passed, have you been living alone like this the whole ti?"
"Mhm." Qu Hongxiao nodded, turned to grab a stool, then found two pastries in the kitchen.
She placed the larger one in Zhu Ju’s hand, took the smaller one for herself, and stuffed it into her mouth with a silly grin.
"Senior Brother, try it."
Looking at the pastry in his hand, which wasn’t very appealing or clean, Zhu Ju smiled and put it in his mouth.
"The flavor is average."
"As long as it’s edible."
Qu Hongxiao said as she busied herself:
"I know how to live by myself now. The trick is to stay away from crowded places."
She gestured, then continued:
"I’m not like other people. I should eat alone, sleep alone, until... I die alone."
"Don’t bother others, don’t trouble others. Just live my whole life like this."
"Master said a lot of people are like this!"
"Yes," Zhu Ju said, his expression complicated.
"A lot of people are like this. I’m the sa. Living alone is fine once you get used to it."
"But..."
"A person needs sothing to look forward to."
"I have sothing!" Qu Hongxiao’s eyes lit up. She flicked her finger forward, and a faint glimr of sword light flashed.
"My Sword Technique!"
"My Sword Technique keeps company, and I’ve already opened my fourth acupoint."
"Master said that once I have opened all nine of my acupoints and established my Dao Foundation, there will be a way to cure my illness."
Her face was filled with anticipation.
"I really want to experience what it feels like to be a normal person."
"Junior Sister, your talent is astounding. I’m impressed," Zhu Ju praised.
’As expected of soone with an Innate Sword Bone. Such talent rivaled that of Pei Jingque or the Qii Siblings.’
’What a pity...’
’If her mind were sound, she would undoubtedly be a Core True Inheritance disciple.’
"Senior Brother, you were looking for Martial Uncle Yuk to forge a magical artifact. Did you get on the list?" Qu Hongxiao asked, scratching her ssy hair.
"I rember he’s very busy."
"I’m on the list," Zhu Ju said with a faint smile.
"I received a token from Senior Sister Pei, so I got to cut in line. But it will probably still take more than half a year for the magical artifact to be forged."
"Junior Sister."
He took out an item:
"This is for you."
"What is this?"
"A Sword Talisman," Zhu Ju said.
"A Dragon-Shaped Sword Talisman. Junior Sister, you can cultivate the Flying Dragon Sword Technique. It will make controlling this Sword Talisman much easier."
"This..." Qu Hongxiao waved her hands frantically.
"This is too valuable. I can’t take it."
"Take it." Zhu Ju didn’t let her refuse, pressing the Sword Talisman into her hand and saying with a smile:
"It’s just sothing I picked up. Junior Sister, you happen to have an Innate Sword Bone. It’s more suitable for you than it is for ."
Before he ca, he had originally planned to use an Outer Pill to repay the favor.
He hadn’t expected that Qu Hongxiao would have already opened her fourth acupoint, which made the Outer Pill much less useful.
On the other hand, this Dragon-Shaped Sword Talisman’s power increased with the user’s cultivation level. It wouldn’t beco obsolete even for a Late-Stage Innate cultivator.
"You once told we’re friends, so we shouldn’t act like strangers, right?"
The familiar words made Qu Hongxiao’s face flush red. She lowered her head and carefully tucked the Sword Talisman away safely against her body.
"Senior Brother."
"I... I’ll make you a al."
"There’s no need," Zhu Ju said, shaking his head.
"We both need to get used to living alone. That goes for you, Junior Sister... and for , too."
"Farewell!"
Watching Zhu Ju’s back as he walked away, Qu Hongxiao’s lips parted slightly.
In truth,
what she wanted more than anything was to have soone by her side.
...
The autumn wind had arrived, bringing with it a coming chill.
As news of the Tribulation Cultivators spread, more and more disciples of the Bright Void Sect were attacked when they went out.
A sense of paranoia swept through the sect; every shadow seed to hide an enemy.
The Tier Two Array covering Dragon Head Peak was activated, and every move within it was now monitored.
While this guaranteed safety, it also made many things inconvenient.
In his small courtyard, Zhu Ju had planted two unknown flowering plants. They ca from two different worlds.
At this mont, the flowers swayed, blooming in the wind.
In the Quiet Chamber, pages of a book turned, one by one.
’The Profound Void Body truly lives up to its na as one of the Innate Dao Bodies. With this constitution, there’s almost no such thing as a blocked acupoint.’
’As long as one doesn’t start their cultivation too late in life, they can reach the realm where all nine acupoints are open.’
’I never thought...’
’...that there would actually be a thod designed specifically for this constitution?’
The Four Symbols Star Ban!
This was a secret technique that could conceal one’s aura and, at critical monts, unleash the body’s latent potential to its limit.
Most importantly,
the burst of power from this secret technique didn’t harm the body.
Of course,
it was only a limited burst, increasing one’s strength by ten to twenty percent at most. Any stronger, and it would cause harm.
Zhu Ju propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought:
’Although I don’t have a true Profound Void Dao Body, if I add the Hidden Elent Technique on top of this, my ability to conceal my aura will probably be no less than Pei Jingque’s.’
’Even a Dao Foundation Cultivator probably couldn’t see my true cultivation without a careful inspection.’
’Tsk tsk...’
’Breaking through two acupoints, achieving Great Success with my true body, and getting a secret technique... latching onto a powerful connection really is the fastest shortcut.’
’If Senior Sister Pei really becos a Dao Foundation Cultivator, my status in the Bright Void Sect will rise along with her.’
’And now...’
’First, the Fire Chamber.’
*
*
*
「Otherworld.」
「Yidu.」
"COUGH COUGH!"
Situ Sheng lay in bed, coughing ceaselessly. With each cough, bloody foam spewed from his mouth.
"Father!"
Situ Kongli, her eyes filled with tears, knelt by his side, tending to him carefully.
"Haa..." Situ Sheng gasped for breath, his body trembling intermittently as he struggled to look at his daughter.
"Has... has your aunt arrived yet?"
"Soon!"
Situ Kongli’s eyes were red-rimd.
"Father, please don’t worry about these trivial matters. Aunt will definitely co see you the mont she arrives."
"Father... I’m... not going to make it." Situ Sheng’s eyes were lifeless, his breathing ragged.
"The Life-Locking Pill is supposed to grant you one more year of life, but who would’ve thought that all these symptoms would start showing up after only six months."
"I’m afraid..."
"I won’t last the year!"
In his current state, so what if he did last a year? Could he really fight to the death with soone?
"Father!"
Situ Kongli’s voice was full of grief.
「Two years ago.」
The City Lord’s Mansion was still filled with esteed guests, and the Situ Family was at the height of its power.
And now,
danger lurked on all sides.
The turmoil from the General’s Mansion was not yet fully resolved, and the threats from Celestial Star City and Silk Ridge were already looming.
Before the external enemies had even arrived, internal strife had already begun.
Situ Sheng didn’t even dare let anyone know of his condition; even his illness had to be tended to by Situ Kongli personally.
"TAP..."
"Brother-in-law!"
A familiar voice ca from outside the door.
The father and daughter’s eyes both lit up. Situ Kongli hurriedly opened the door, but her expression imdiately underwent a subtle change.
Two people stood outside the door.
One was a beautiful young woman, and the other was a handso young man dressed in lavish clothes.
"Kongli."
The young woman nodded to Situ Kongli and began to introduce the young man:
"This is Young Hero Bai, Bai Qianjue of Baiyun Temple. Don’t be fooled by his youth; he is already a Peak Mage."
"Young Hero Bai."
Situ Kongli pursed her lips and nodded.
"I’ve heard much about you."
"Miss Kongli," Bai Qianjue said, his eyes growing brighter and brighter as he looked Situ Kongli up and down. He couldn’t help but praise her:
"The rumors are indeed true. Miss Kongli’s grace is peerless, a rare sight in this world."
Hearing this, Situ Kongli showed no hint of pleasure on her face. Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly, suppressing the wave of disgust she felt.
"AHEM!"
The young woman coughed lightly.
"Young Hero Bai, now is not the ti for such things. I’ll have to trouble you to take a look at my brother-in-law’s condition first."
"Yes, yes." Bai Qianjue snapped back to his senses.
Indeed. The woman’s father was on his deathbed; no amount of flattery could win her over at a ti like this.
Although Baiyun Temple was not famous for its dical skills, it did have many from the dical Family, and Bai Qianjue was an expert among them.
However,
"The Life-Locking Pill!"
After examining Situ Sheng’s condition, he shook his head with a regretful expression.
"Please forgive this junior for being powerless. This situation is already hopeless. I can only try to alleviate the senior’s pain."
"That’s enough," Situ Sheng said, propping himself up.
"Thank you for your trouble, Young Hero Bai."
"Also, I hope you will keep this old man’s current condition a secret. Do not tell anyone else."
"Of course," Bai Qianjue nodded in agreent.
After seeing Bai Qianjue off, Situ Sheng leaned against the headboard. A complicated look flashed in his eyes as he looked at the glamorous young woman who no longer resembled the girl she once was.
"Zhiyu."
"The Situ Family... is counting on you now."
"Don’t worry." Yun Zhiyu casually brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and spoke calmly:
"Even if I don’t like you as a brother-in-law, for my sister’s and Kongli’s sake, I will help the Situ Family."
"However..."
"The Situ Family is not in a good situation!"
"I know," Situ Sheng nodded.
"My second brother is dead, and I don’t have long to live. It will still take a few years for Kongli to beco a Great Mage."
"The threats..."
"...are already at our doorstep."
"I know," Yun Zhiyu said, propping her chin on her hand.
"Celestial Star City and Silk Ridge both have a True Man presiding over them. Dealing with them won’t be easy."
"Even with , that’s just one more Great Mage. Don’t you have anyone else you can use?"
"I do," Situ Sheng said, his throat working.
"The Corpse Daoist of the Ghost Market is an old friend of many years. As long as his own life isn’t threatened, he will stand with the Situ Family."
"There’s also Tree Grandmother in South City. The Situ Family once saved her life, so we can ask for her help in a ti of crisis."
"There are also a few Demon Catchers who can help."
"And there’s an adept nad Zhu Ju. He owes Kongli a favor, so we can get him to take action once."
"Only once?" Yun Zhiyu frowned.
"Yes," Situ Sheng nodded.
"This person has a mysterious background and an indifferent personality. Even getting him to act that one ti is not guaranteed."
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