Chapter 12
Chapter 12: That Was Close
An Ru Xu leaned out and peered into the next courtyard. Nothing stirred—no footsteps in the yard, no light or sound from the rooms.
“Junior Sister Jiang is probably worn out,” he said. “She’s asleep.”
Zhao Ke Xin curled her lip. “No wonder she’s so useless. She wastes all her good time.”
She didn’t even want to see Jiang Li Sheng, so after a couple more jabs she lifted her chin and asked with bright eagerness, “Senior Brother An, will you practice sword with me and Senior Sister?”
An Ru Xu didn’t really want to, but Spirit Beast Peak disciples spent their days dealing with spirit beasts. They had to have real skill. Secret realm trials always came with demon beasts, and beasts were beasts—there had to be overlap he could learn from. He nodded. “Fine.”
So the three of them moved into An Ru Xu’s courtyard and began to spar, each showing off their own tricks.
The noise woke Jiang Li Sheng. She flicked out her spiritual sense, checked what was happening in a single breath, then drew it back before anyone could notice and rolled over to keep sleeping.
Next door, the fight raged like thunder. She slept on, warm and deep, as if nothing in the world could disturb her.
The next morning, An Ru Xu called her on time for early class.
Jiang Li Sheng had slept her fill and felt clearheaded. She grabbed a sword and dashed to the door. Today, she was absolutely not going to be late.
An Ru Xu yawned until his eyes watered. “I’m so tired.”
She glanced at him. “Senior Brother An, you didn’t rest well?”
“I sparred with the two junior sisters from Spirit Beast Peak until midnight.” He drew his sword. “Come on, Junior Sister Jiang.”
The two courtyard gates next door opened as well. Zhao Ke Xin and Zhu Wen Yin stepped out together and greeted him.
“Senior Brother An, good morning.”
“Morning, you two junior sisters,” An Ru Xu replied, polite as ever.
Zhao Ke Xin’s gaze slid to Jiang Li Sheng’s sword. “Junior Sister Jiang, is that thing sturdy? Don’t tell me you’ll be halfway there and it shatters under you.”
Jiang Li Sheng answered evenly, “Don’t worry, Senior Sister Zhao. If it breaks, I’ve got more.”
After that brief exchange, the four of them rose onto their swords and headed toward the lecture hall.
Halfway there, Jiang Li Sheng’s blade snapped clean through.
For a heartbeat she was weightless, her footing gone. Wind tore at her sleeves as she pitched forward and dropped.
An Ru Xu’s blood ran cold. He shot toward her. “Junior Sister Jiang!”
But before he could catch her, she reacted—fast and sharp. Spiritual power steadied her body mid-fall, and she landed firmly on the ground, knees bending to absorb the impact.
An Ru Xu arrived a step too late, chest tight. “Junior Sister Jiang… Junior Sister Zhao actually called it. That sword really was flimsy.”
Jiang Li Sheng glanced at Zhao Ke Xin and Zhu Wen Yin, who had both paused in the air. A quiet sigh slipped out. It wasn’t worth making a scene—not if it meant being late. She pulled out another sword and held it up like it was nothing.
“It’s fine. I have plenty,” she said. “Senior Brother An, let’s go. I don’t want to be late and get punished.”
Seeing she was unharmed, An Ru Xu nodded hard and remounted his sword. “Then hurry.”
This time they made it—right on the dot.
An Ru Xu entered first. Zhu Wen Yin followed.
Zhao Ke Xin lagged just long enough to turn back to Jiang Li Sheng and breathe, almost soundlessly, “Junior Sister Jiang, be sensible. Stay away from Senior Brother An. Next time it won’t be a broken sword and a fall.”
She was smart enough to know Jiang Li Sheng had noticed the sabotage. Otherwise, that look after the landing wouldn’t have happened.
Jiang Li Sheng’s answer stayed quiet and sincere. “Senior Sister Zhao, don’t waste your strength on other women. It’s pointless.”
Zhao Ke Xin’s face darkened. “If you’re looking to die, no one can stop you. Just wait.”
Jiang Li Sheng had nothing to say to that.
He Zhen Tang arrived soon after.
Jiang Li Sheng looked at his face and let out a silent breath. That had been close—so close. One small delay, and she would’ve been late again.
She had barely settled when He Zhen Tang called out, “Jiang Li Sheng.”
She sprang to her feet at once, posture straight, voice obedient. “Instructor.”
“Recite the Kun Lun Sect rules,” He Zhen Tang said. “First scripture. One hundred lines.”
Jiang Li Sheng’s mind went blank.
Yesterday she’d been afraid he would test them, so she’d memorized in class while her head throbbed. But afterward she’d gone back, forgotten to review, and slept like the dead. Could she even recite it now?
Her face went pale.
He Zhen Tang’s expression stayed hard. “Can’t do it? Then bring that broken sword of yours over here.”
“I can!” she blurted. Then she forced herself to breathe and began.
The words came out clumsy, halting—more like she was hauling them up from a dark well than speaking them aloud. He Zhen Tang didn’t interrupt. He just watched her, eyes hooded, until she stumbled through the final line.
When she finished, he said flatly, “That was a damn mess.”
Shame flushed hot under her skin. She lowered her head.
“Sit.” He flicked his hand. “At least you got it out. You’re not beyond saving. I’ll let you off today.”
Relief hit her so hard she almost swayed. She sat down quickly, hands folded, as if she could disappear into her seat.
An Ru Xu leaned over, eyes wide with admiration. “Junior Sister Jiang, you’re incredible. You actually memorized it.”
He didn’t get to admire her for long.
“An Ru Xu,” He Zhen Tang snapped. “Stand. Second scripture. One hundred lines.”
An Ru Xu stood as if someone had yanked him up by the collar, his face turning a sick sort of gray. “In-Instructor, I… I haven’t memorized it.”
“Then come here.” He Zhen Tang’s gaze was cold. “Bring your sword.”
An Ru Xu could only grit his teeth and walk forward.
He had taken five moves yesterday and somehow convinced himself that was normal. Today he learned the truth.
The first strike came down like a collapsing mountain—blade-light exploding, pressure slamming into him so hard his bones rang. An Ru Xu swung up to block, but his guard shattered on contact. He flew backward with a brutal crack, hit the wall, and felt as if his insides had been pulverized.
He coughed—then spat a mouthful of blood.
“Senior Brother An!” Zhao Ke Xin bolted up.
Zhu Wen Yin moved with her, just as fast.
They reached him together, one on each side, hands under his arms, faces twisted with the same raw worry.
Jiang Li Sheng watched, seeing more than they meant to show. Even quiet Zhu Wen Yin had been hiding feelings for An Ru Xu.
Peak Master Jin’s only two personal disciples were both caught on the same hook. Men really were trouble.
An Ru Xu struggled to rise, shaking. Jiang Li Sheng felt a small, private jolt of gratitude. If she hadn’t crammed the rules in class yesterday, she might have been the one pinned to the wall today.
No one here would shield her. This was Kun Lun Sect. If she wanted to survive, she had to learn—if only to avoid being beaten.
Zhao Ke Xin fumbled out a pill and forced it past An Ru Xu’s lips. “Senior Brother An, take it!”
He barely had time to refuse before it was down. His face was bloodless as he rasped, “Th-thank you, Junior Sister Zhao. Is this a Heavenly Fragrance Pill? I’ll repay you.”
“My master gave Senior Sister and me a bottle each yesterday,” Zhao Ke Xin whispered. “It’s for Master He’s punishments. Only Heavenly Fragrance Pills heal sword wounds.”
An Ru Xu nodded faintly, breathing rough, then tried to regulate the chaos inside his spiritual palace.
Zhao Ke Xin leaned close. “Does it work? Do we need to go to the Medical Hall?”
“It works,” he managed. “No need. Thank you.”
They helped him back into his seat. An Ru Xu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glanced toward Jiang Li Sheng, eyes full of accusation. He had assumed she was the hopeless one.
Turns out he was.
The fragile little friendship they’d built—Senior Brother and Junior Sister against the world—shattered the moment only one of them got spared.
Jiang Li Sheng rubbed her nose, awkward. She hadn’t expected he couldn’t recite a single line. She’d only studied because she was afraid of being kicked out of Kun Lun Sect.
She hadn’t expected it would also save her from a beating.