Chapter 13: Third Junior Brother, Shen Yue
Li Shuang turned slowly, her eyes calm as a mountain lake as she looked toward the new arrivals.
Shen Yue. Ye Zhao Zhao.
Once, Shen Yue had been her Third Junior Brother. Now he stood as the Second Disciple of Spirit Void Peak.
Among the Sword Sect, Shen Yue was known as a rare genius of Sword Dao. From his first day at the sect, his talent shone brightly. Li Shuang herself had guided his every step, carefully teaching each sword technique. Whenever he stumbled, she patiently corrected him, smoothing his path like a caring older sister.
In merely three short years, Shen Yue had risen swiftly, earning fame as the Sword Dao prodigy among younger disciples.
In those days, Shen Yue had greatly valued her teachings.
Then Ye Zhao Zhao appeared.
Li Shuang never truly understood what changed, but one day Shen Yue began to believe his achievements belonged only to himself. He grew frustrated hearing others whisper that Li Shuang’s guidance had shaped him—it felt like an insult.
When Li Shuang offered more advice, Shen Yue lost patience. And when her own cultivation faltered, when the once-bright star of her reputation dimmed, Shen Yue no longer respected her. Instead, he drew closer to Ye Zhao Zhao, who fed his pride with endless praise.
Li Shuang had often wondered what mistake she had made to deserve such coldness.
Once, his indifference had deeply hurt her.
But now…
Now, her heart was as tranquil as water beneath a calm sky.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Luo Ming Yue’s fists tightened in anger.
Shen Yue’s eyes flashed provocatively. “Eldest Senior Sister? Ah, no—I should be calling you sect traitor instead.”
His gaze was sharp as a drawn sword, fixed directly upon Li Shuang. He had barely finished his secluded cultivation when the news reached him: Li Shuang had refused to admit her wrongdoing and defected to Emotionless Peak.
He had wanted to confront her immediately, but Little Junior Sister advised patience, claiming Eldest Senior Sister must have her reasons.
[Reasons?]
[What reasons could she possibly have?]
[She looks perfectly fine to me!]
Standing nearby, Ye Zhao Zhao saw Li Shuang behind Luo Ming Yue, and her heart leaped joyfully!
It had been days since she last tasted Li Shuang’s negativity, and without it, her cultivation had completely stalled.
On Spirit Void Peak, Ye Zhao Zhao was known as a peerless talent whose cultivation always advanced swiftly. Yet these recent days, while her Senior Brothers meditated and absorbed spiritual energy, she alone had made no progress at all.
When they asked her what was wrong, Ye Zhao Zhao blamed everything on Li Shuang, claiming worries about her former Senior Sister disturbed her heart and blocked her cultivation.
That excuse was enough to quiet their concerns.
Ye Zhao Zhao had been desperate, wondering how she might visit Emotionless Peak to feed again on Li Shuang’s negativity.
Yet here was Li Shuang herself, walking right into her grasp!
“Sect traitor? If you don’t know how to speak properly, shall I personally teach you?” Luo Ming Yue retorted angrily.
Li Shuang, however, remained calm. “The Sect Master witnessed it, and the Peak Masters agreed. I joined Emotionless Peak willingly. What now, Shen Yue? Are you the only one displeased?”
Shen Yue’s expression darkened at her steady words. His gaze fell to the items she carried. “Planning to use those treasures to buy their favor?”
Once, Li Shuang had freely shared all her cultivation resources among her fellow disciples, never once complaining.
But now? Now she kept them for herself, as naturally as breathing?
“Ridiculous! Unlike you, we are not so shameless!” Luo Ming Yue shouted, her voice full of righteousness.
Liu Jun Cheng sneered coldly, “Only one whose own heart is shameless sees wickedness everywhere.”
Jiang Yi gripped her robe tightly and nodded firmly in agreement.
“Hah! Fine words indeed!” Shen Yue said sharply, eyes burning into Li Shuang. “Speak clearly—how do you intend to distribute those resources?”
Li Shuang’s voice was calm as a serene lake. “The resources granted by my sect are mine alone. Who are you to question how I wield them?”
Yet her mind lingered on the Heaven and Earth Furnace. She could awaken it now, swallowing the Black Abyss Sword whole. But that sword held a spirit. [How could I devour a blade with its own soul?] She too was a sword cultivator; she required a sword companion of her own.
What she needed were treasures and rare wonders to forge her own martial path.
The resources from her sect—spirit stones, elixirs, and cultivation treasures—could be used directly, traded in markets, or poured into strengthening the Heaven and Earth Furnace.
So many choices, yet must she explain herself to Shen Yue?
Shen Yue clenched his teeth, anger flashing in his eyes. “You truly intend to take everything? Are you cutting off all bonds between us?”
In the past, Li Shuang had always yielded to her juniors, willing to suffer herself if it meant aiding them first.
But now?
They had waited, expecting her to return with apologies. Yet today, she stood firm, drawing a clear divide.
Was this not betrayal?
Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes filled with sadness, her voice trembling gently. “Second Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Sister has joined Emotionless Peak. She… no longer wants us. We should know our place.”
Had Ye Zhao Zhao remained silent, it might have been different. But her words stoked the flames in Shen Yue’s proud, youthful heart.
His gaze cut like a sharpened blade toward Li Shuang. “Just yesterday, Little Junior Sister said she wished to visit you at Emotionless Peak! Despite how you’ve treated her, she still cared enough to see you! Yet you? Out of petty jealousy, you’d discard bonds of master and disciple, the ties among fellow cultivators?”
Li Shuang sighed quietly.
Would their accusations never end?
She had only claimed what was rightfully hers.
Her voice remained tranquil. “I do not wish to see you. You do not wish to see me. From now on, let us travel separate paths.”
Ye Zhao Zhao glanced at the system panel—she hadn’t yet gathered even a hint of negative emotion.
Was that all? A quiet farewell?
No, she could not accept this!
She softened her voice, pleading gently, “Eldest Senior Sister, please don’t speak rashly. We’ve cultivated side by side for so long—no matter our disagreements, we’re still family. Return to Spirit Void Peak. Let us all be as we once were.”
Hearing her words, Shen Yue’s expression hardened further. Remembering something, he coldly declared, “Each month, among your allotted resources, there’s always a Frost Flower. Little Junior Sister loves its beauty and always took it. Hand it over. And the Sword Stone—I have long used it to sharpen my sword heart. That should remain mine. The rest… I won’t argue over.”
His words rang confident and righteous.
Even Luo Ming Yue and the surrounding disciples were stunned into silence.
Was Li Shuang not second only to the sect master at Spirit Void Peak?
Yet Shen Yue spoke as if she had no authority at all.
Luo Ming Yue erupted, her voice shaking with fury. “I’ll reserve judgment on your disrespectful behavior, but first, answer me this—Ye Zhao Zhao has mixed spiritual roots! Why does she need a Frost Flower? Only those with Ice Spiritual Roots can use it for cultivation!”
These precious resources had always been tailored for Li Shuang’s martial path!
Shen Yue frowned deeply. “Didn’t you hear? Frost Flowers are beautiful. Little Junior Sister loves them.”
Silence fell heavily.
To Li Shuang, the Frost Flower was essential for cultivation.
To Ye Zhao Zhao, it was merely beautiful.
Yet Shen Yue believed it naturally belonged to Ye Zhao Zhao.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation