Chapter 39

Chapter 39: No Longer Needed

Chang Le An blinked, then broke into a happy smile and said: “Second Senior Brother, you’re awake?”

That day, Shen Yue had a Qi Deviation. Immortal Ling Xu paid a heavy price to invite a Divine Transformation Stage Steward to come, and only then was Shen Yue’s heart fire calmed. He had slept ever since, and only just woke up.

Shen Yue nodded and asked, his voice a little dry: “The Langya Secret Realm is about to open. Did you say the First Senior Sister registered for the selection?”

“You still call her First Senior Sister?” Chang Le An said through clenched teeth: “You were unconscious, so you don’t know yet. She no longer treats us like fellow disciples. She’s vicious. If not for her, Junior Sister wouldn’t have suffered, and Ling Xu Peak wouldn’t be such a mess.”

Shen Yue pressed his lips together and said quietly: “First Senior Brother already told me.”

“Second Senior Brother, are you alright?” Ye Zhao Zhao asked with worried eyes.

Forcing a smile onto his tired face, Shen Yue said: “Junior Sister, you shouldn’t have done that for me.”

Ye Zhao Zhao lowered her head and said: “I saw you spit blood and faint. I was too anxious.”

Shen Yue sighed. Zhao Zhao had always been pure and kind. If she hadn’t been so eager to stand up for him, she wouldn’t have made such a foolish move or been punished by the sect.

“Second Senior Brother, I won’t do it again,” she said, sounding wronged.

Looking at her, Shen Yue’s gaze softened: “If there’s fault here, it’s mine.”

He fell silent. During this Qi Deviation, it felt like he had wandered in a very long dream. In that dream, the teachings he had once brushed off from the First Senior Sister rose up, clear word by word, each pointing straight at the flaw. If he had listened to even a little… [I was ungrateful and let down her goodwill.]

In this matter, the First Senior Sister was not wrong, and Zhao Zhao was not wrong. The one who was wrong was him.

First Senior Brother had also said that five years ago, during Shen Yue’s previous Qi Deviation, it was the First Senior Sister who saved him. The Divine Transformation Stage Steward who calmed his heart fire this time would need to go into seclusion for months to recover. What kind of pain did the First Senior Sister suffer five years ago, yet appeared so calm when she returned?

Sadness touched Shen Yue’s face. Seeing that, Chang Le An said: “Second Senior Brother, your body has only just recovered. You can’t draw your sword yet. I know you want to take revenge on Li Shuang yourself, but this time let me teach her a lesson for you. With her strength now, she might not even make it to face me.”

“Third Junior Brother, there’s no need,” Shen Yue said.

Chang Le An frowned and was about to argue. Ye Zhao Zhao tugged his sleeve and said softly: “She is still our First Senior Sister. If I meet her on the stage, I will have a sense of measure.”

Shen Yue nodded. Zhao Zhao really was gentle and kind. He had worried too much.

Ye Zhao Zhao pulled Chang Le An away under the excuse of sword practice. Shen Yue lowered his eyes, his gaze tangled with struggle. Five years ago, the First Senior Sister had been misunderstood because of him. Now, again because of him, Junior Sister took the wrong step and was punished by the sect. What Junior Sister lost, he could still repay little by little. But the First Senior Sister?

[Would she even want to see me?]

After wrestling with it for two days, he finally gathered his courage and went to Emotionless Peak. No matter what, he should thank the First Senior Sister for what happened five years ago.

The sky was bright and clear. At Emotionless Peak’s Sword Practice Terrace, several people were practicing swords.

Two days earlier, Li Shuang had registered first and reported it after, only then saying she planned to enter the Langya Secret Realm. With Li Shuang’s cultivation so low now, Lin Qing Ling felt a bit worried, but she knew this was Li Shuang’s own path. As Master, she had no right to interfere.

Among the Emotionless Peak disciples, Luo Ming Yue had just crossed the age of fifty and so had no chance in this opening of the Langya Secret Realm. She was depressed, but there was nothing she could do. Jiang Yi had never left Emotionless Peak since the day she came up the mountain, so as usual, she did not register. The third disciple was still away on a mission and would likely miss this opening of the secret realm. This time, only Li Shuang and Liu Jun Cheng would take part.

On the Sword Practice Terrace, Luo Ming Yue and Jiang Yi watched while Li Shuang and Liu Jun Cheng crossed swords. When Shen Yue arrived, he saw those two sparring. He meant to call out to Li Shuang, but the scene made him hold his tongue.

Liu Jun Cheng’s swordwork was strong. With a water spiritual root, his blade moved like rolling waves, one surge after another. Last time, he had knocked Shen Yue off the stage. Facing him now, Li Shuang still looked relaxed and at ease. She broke his moves as she liked and even had the spare breath to give him a few pointers.

Watching, Shen Yue felt dazed. When he first joined Ling Xu Peak, the First Senior Sister had fed him moves just like this, patiently pointing out what he lacked. But now, the person facing her was Liu Jun Cheng.

His hand tightened.

On the terrace, Li Shuang suddenly stopped. An apologetic look crossed her eyes, and she even seemed a little at a loss as she said: “Sorry. Second Senior Brother, your swordwork is already very fine. What I said might not be right, so don’t take it to heart.”

She remembered the mistake she once made with Shen Yue. Not everyone wants to be corrected. [Have I been too eager to help without thinking?]

Liu Jun Cheng sheathed his sword and looked at her in surprise, then said: “Junior Sister, why would you think that? I gained a lot from this spar. I only fear I wasted your time.”

“Little Shuang, what are you thinking?” Luo Ming Yue called out loudly: “His sword skills are way worse than yours. If you agree to stomp him, he ought to burn incense at midnight to thank the heavens.”

Li Shuang blinked. [Will Liu Jun Cheng be upset if she talks like that?]

Liu Jun Cheng shot Luo Ming Yue a helpless look and said: “First Senior Sister, you can mock me, but do you dare compare swords with Junior Sister?”

“Is losing to Junior Sister so strange?” Luo Ming Yue said, full of pride: “If we only compare swordwork, even Senior Brother Jiang can’t beat her. As long as I can crush you, little rookie, I’m satisfied.”

Liu Jun Cheng dared not speak back. He turned to Li Shuang and said: “Junior Sister, the next time you thrash First Senior Sister, please let me watch.”

“You won’t get the chance,” Luo Ming Yue said, making a face.

Jiang Yi didn’t join in, just listened with a smile. From time to time she nodded or shook her head, looking very cute.

Watching them, Li Shuang couldn’t help smiling too. [This time, it’s different after all, right?]

She and Liu Jun Cheng started discussing swordwork again. Shen Yue watched in silence for a while. His lips parted a few times, but in the end he said nothing. He turned and left, looking a little broken.

[My thanks are no longer needed.]