Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Wen Xuan’s Dream Shattered

The light in Wen Xuan’s eyes dimmed little by little with Elder Yin’s words.

Elder Yin sighed and shook his head: “I am sorry. I cannot help you.”

Years of hope suddenly collapsed, and Wen Xuan felt like he had been hit by a heavy blow as his mind went blank. He looked at Shen Sang Ruo beside him, but her expression did not change as she stared back at him with calm eyes. [His panic grew stronger.] [It felt like he had lost the only way to win her back.] [Now he was a dying man who had just lost his last straw.]

[If there is no Access Jade Token, how can I ask Little Ruo to forgive me? How can I fix what is broken between us?] He swallowed a bitter taste and asked: “Elder Yin, is there really no other way?”

Elder Yin said in a low voice: “The Access Jade Token was made from a material passed down since the founding of our sect. In the entire Cultivation World, there is only that one piece.” He did not go on, but the meaning was clear.

Wen Xuan slumped in defeat, a knot of sorrow pressed deep between his brows.

Elder Yin offered two paths as he turned to leave: “One, you look for a second piece of that material. I will be blunt. The chance of finding it is next to none. Two, you replace your Warding Seal and make a new Access Jade Token. But that Warding Seal is also a Formation handed down by our seniors. It is extremely rare. Think it through.” With another sigh, he walked away.

Wen Xuan frowned, as if weighing Elder Yin’s two choices.

Luo Chu gaped and blurted out: “It is just an Access Jade Token. Second Senior Brother, you are not seriously thinking of replacing the Warding Seal, right?” As a Formation Master, he knew how clever Wen Xuan’s Warding Seal was. Breaking it would be a real waste. A new Restriction Formation would take time and effort to hire someone to set up, and it would not be as good as the one he had now.

Wen Xuan lowered his eyes so no one could tell what he was thinking. But Luo Chu knew that look meant Wen Xuan had already made up his mind which way to go.

Luo Chu snapped, sounding stunned: “Second Senior Brother, are you out of your mind? Master values you. Master asked the sect for that Restriction Formation just for you.” He waved his hands and pressed on: “And now you want to replace the Warding Seal over Shen Sang Ruo? That is a slap in Master’s face. Master will never agree.” He could already picture Master Ling Xiao’s anger when Wen Xuan told him.

Luo Chu kept talking, full of confusion: “It is only one Access Jade Token. Why replace the whole Restriction Formation? Besides, she hardly goes to your place now. She is about to go down the mountain for three years. Even if she has an Access Jade Token, it is useless. If she really wants to see you, she can call you and you can open the Warding Seal. She does not need an Access Jade Token.”

Wen Xuan’s voice came rough with tangled feelings: “It is not about whether Little Ruo can come or whether it is easy. The point is that all of you have an Access Jade Token, and only she does not. We are from the same sect. That is treating her differently. How can I be like that?”

Luo Chu frowned deeper, still not getting it: “But has she not always not had one?”

The simple question made Wen Xuan’s eyes freeze, and his heart sink even more. [Yes. Without noticing, we have treated Little Ruo like this for years.] [So long that even Luo Chu takes it for granted and thinks this is the treatment Shen Sang Ruo deserves.] A sharp pain spread through his chest.

While Wen Xuan stood there dazed, Luo Chu kept going, impatient: “Fine, fine, it is just an Access Jade Token. I am not like some people who keep brooding over how Second Senior Brother gave the Access Jade Token to Junior Sister. I am generous. I will give mine to her, alright?” The hint in his tone was clear. He was calling Shen Sang Ruo petty.

He shot her a glare. In his mind, anything tied to Shen Sang Ruo never ended well. Every time, she had to stir up a storm. Now she had even pushed Wen Xuan to replace the Warding Seal. It was beyond reason. He snorted and dug through his storage bag, pulled out his Access Jade Token, and held it out to her as he said coldly: “Take it. Now you do not need to play tricks and act pitiful in front of Second Senior Brother. You got what you wanted.”

Shen Sang Ruo found it funny and even laughed: “When did I ever say I must have an Access Jade Token?” She turned to Wen Xuan and said in a clear voice: “Second Senior Brother, I remember telling you when I woke up from my coma that I did not need an Access Jade Token.” She looked back at him and asked: “Why are you forcing your thoughts onto me?”

Wen Xuan paled and tried to explain: “Little Ruo, I did not…”

She cut him off: “You did.” Then she slapped away Luo Chu’s outstretched hand and stared straight at him as she said: “You said I was putting on an act. I return those words to you, Fourth Senior Brother.” Her gaze did not waver as she added: “If you were really as generous as you claim, why push those dirty deeds onto me? When you saw I would not take the blame, you resented me. Can you say your attitude toward me now is not because of that matter? The one who cannot let it go is you, Luo Chu.”

Luo Chu had never expected the usually soft Shen Sang Ruo to question him this sharply. He could not think of a reply and could only repeat in disbelief: “I am brooding? I am brooding? Ha…” In his head, she was the one who had gone too far. How could it be him? To him it was upside down and wrong. Too much. Too much.

She looked at the token in his hand and said, word by word: “Fourth Senior Brother, keep your Access Jade Token. I do not take just anything.” She added with icy calm: “I find it filthy.”

Luo Chu’s face turned bright red, and even the tips of his ears flushed. [Simply put, he overheated.]

He sputtered and pointed at her as he shouted: “You dare look down on me? What right do you have to despise me? Shen Sang Ruo, you really have grown bold! How dare you talk to me like this! This is great disrespect to your Senior Brother. I will tell Master. Just you wait!”

Shen Sang Ruo watched him rage like a random three year old next door throwing a tantrum and said lightly: “Do as you like. I do not mind spending a few more years down the mountain.”

“You!” He jabbed a finger at her, finally sorting his thoughts and ready to fight with words. But before he could start, Wen Xuan yanked him hard and threw him aside, almost into some passing Disciples.

Luo Chu stared at Wen Xuan in disbelief and cried: “Second Senior Brother, are you bullying me together with her?”

Wen Xuan did not spare him a glance. He looked only at Shen Sang Ruo and said firmly: “Little Ruo, I promised I would give you an Access Jade Token, so I will keep that promise.”