Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Stolen Things Must Be Returned Sooner or Later

Long Yan rushed over, his spirit form flashing to Ye Zhao Zhao’s side as he cried: “Master!”

Since joining the sect, Ye Zhao Zhao had never been this embarrassed. Long Yan reached out to help her, but still fuming, she slapped his hand away and snapped: “When Jiang Yi attacked out of nowhere, where were you? Did you just watch her throw me like that?”

Ye Zhao Zhao was about to lose her mind. She was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, while Jiang Yi was only at Golden Core Stage. But this was inside the sect; she never thought Jiang Yi would suddenly make a move. Jiang Yi was a stray that Lin Qing Ling had picked up, a mixed blood of the Human Race and the Demon Clan. With that bloodline, her body was frighteningly strong. Ye Zhao Zhao was unprepared and took the hit.

Her face twisted with anger, and a cruel light rose in her eyes. Long Yan froze. The Ye Zhao Zhao in his heart was not like this. When she looked at him, she was always gentle as water, and her sweet smile made him sink into it.

He was willing to do anything for Zhao Zhao’s smile. When they formed their bond, she told him that a Sword Spirit and a Sword Cultivator were the closest of partners, that no one could ever be closer than the two of them. She said she would cherish and protect him all her life, that they would be together forever.

Swayed by her soft words, he had not hesitated to sign the strictest Master-Servant Contract with her. But now, so soon after, the same Ye Zhao Zhao who had promised to protect him was staring at him with eyes that seemed frightening. [Is it just because I, like her, failed to react and let Jiang Yi land a hit?] Long Yan’s face went pale.

Ye Zhao Zhao realized too. The Dragon Roar Sword had been tempered by Li Shuang for years; it was a peerless weapon, and she still needed Long Yan. The Master-Servant Contract meant he could not resist her, but it was always better if he was willing.

She forced a smile and said: “Long Yan, I’m sorry. I was too angry just now.”

Relieved, Long Yan pulled her up and said: “It was my failure. I did not protect Master.”

As Ye Zhao Zhao stood, Shen Yue, who had been pinned under her, began to cough violently. She hurried to help him up. Once so sharp and proud, Shen Yue now looked as if his spirit had been broken, his gaze still fixed on Li Shuang’s direction.

Waves crashed inside his heart. He had always thought he was a true Way of the Sword genius and that Li Shuang’s teachings were just nitpicking. But today, Li Shuang had given him a real lesson. The sword arts he was proud of had so many flaws in front of a true expert.

First Senior Sister had, in the past, truly been teaching him with care. If he had taken even a few of her words to heart, he would not have lost so badly today. Struggling to stand, his lips trembled as he called: “First Senior Sister…”

He spoke without thinking, then a daze swept over him. Right now, Luo Ming Yue was guarding in front of Li Shuang with iron defense. Liu Jun Cheng stood with his sword, expressionless, watching him. Jiang Yi had also stepped in front of Li Shuang without hesitation.

At Ling Xu Peak, Li Shuang always stood before them and shielded them from wind and rain. But after going to Emotionless Peak, Li Shuang had become the one others protected. Shen Yue’s body trembled beyond his control. First Senior Sister standing with Luo Ming Yue and the others formed a harmonious picture.

In that moment, a huge fear flooded him. So from now on, no one would stand in front of them. No one would urge him again and again to practice basic sword forms. No one would patiently spar with him over and over.

Luo Ming Yue’s voice cut like ice as she said: “Shen Yue, what else can you say now? Li Shuang is a natural sword prodigy. If she only focused on herself, her skill would already be far beyond this. Everyone knows she spent a lot of time on you Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters besides her own cultivation. She treated you with true feeling and full duty, but one by one you ungrateful lot never appreciated it. Since that is so, from now on, all of you stay away from Li Shuang.”

She continued, her tone fierce: “You took Li Shuang’s efforts as something owed, and you trampled on her feelings like dirt. Immortal Ling Xu even struck her with his own hand and broke the bond of master and disciple. Remember this, Li Shuang never owed you anything. It was you who cast her aside.”

Looking at the people standing in front of her, Li Shuang’s eyes softened. Her heart felt light for the first time. This was the first time someone stood before her and spoke loudly for her. [So I too deserve to be defended, and I too deserve to be loved.] The flow of the Supreme Emotionless Art seemed to speed up a little. Something strange was changing within her.

Ye Zhao Zhao’s expression shifted. For some reason, in that instant, a slice of her cultivation vanished. Panic seized her, and she cried in her mind: “System! System!”

“I am here,” answered the cold voice of the System.

“My cultivation… why did it drop?” she asked, frightened.

The System’s voice stayed icy as it said: “This System is bound to Li Shuang. The more negative emotions Li Shuang produces, the greater the Host’s gains. Now, Li Shuang is not producing negative emotions. She is producing many positive emotions. If negative emotions strengthen the Host, then positive emotions will naturally have a harmful effect on the Host.”

“If this continues, the cultivation the Host took from Li Shuang will be absorbed back by Li Shuang. Host, you should think of a way.”

Ye Zhao Zhao turned as white as paper. For ten years, her rapid growth had all been stolen from Li Shuang. Li Shuang was heaven’s favored. Without the System’s binding, she would likely have been the first among the young Disciples to reach Divine Transformation. Even with losses in the transfer, Ye Zhao Zhao had used the System to steal enough cultivation to reach Nascent Soul Stage.

But the System had never said that the cultivation could go backward. She had worked so hard to reach Nascent Soul Stage; to lose it was worse than death. She screamed in her mind: “This is huge. Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

The System’s tone turned sinister as it said: “Are you questioning me? Without me, you would not even reach Foundation Establishment. Do you think you are Li Shuang, able to advance quickly on your own? Ye Zhao Zhao, you are trash that can only rely on others. Instead of questioning me, you should hurry and make Li Shuang produce more negative emotions.”

With that, the System fell silent again. A flash of venom crossed Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes. [Li Shuang. Li Shuang. Always Li Shuang.] Outsiders saw her shining, but who knew how much effort she spent to keep up her cultivation and image. [Why can Li Shuang have everything easily, while I must scheme so hard just to barely keep up the act of being a genius? No. Everything I struggled for is mine. Even Li Shuang cannot take it away.]

She rubbed her eyes until they reddened, then looked at Li Shuang with a pitiful face.