Chapter 3: Tranquility Returns
Lin Qing Ling stood in quiet meditation beneath the ancient pine trees. After a moment of silence, she called her chief disciple, Luo Ming Yue.
Luo Ming Yue was like a bright sword among many dull blades, the finest among her peers. But because she had chosen the path of the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art, many had stepped away from her. At Emotionless Peak, there were only four disciples in all, and Luo Ming Yue was the calmest and most reliable of them.
Lin Qing Ling slowly extended a smooth jade slip. Her voice rang out steady as a mountain stream.
“Ming Yue, this jade slip feels the power of the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art. Someone has begun to walk that legendary path, and its light has awakened. This matter is very important. I am bound here by my alchemy duties and cannot leave. The task now falls to you. Remember, the closer the jade slip comes to its new master, the brighter its glow. Search well, for soon a new junior brother or sister will join our way.”
A gentle smile played on Lin Qing Ling’s face, like a quiet sunrise over a misty valley.
A thousand years had passed, silent as a river flowing through time.
At last, the Sword Sect had produced a rare talent who could grasp the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art. A hidden sword technique, sealed away for ages, was ready to be reborn beneath the heavens.
“Yes, Master,” Luo Ming Yue replied with heartfelt sincerity. She cradled the jade slip as if it were a treasure of the heart.
“Go now,” Lin Qing Ling said, waving her sleeve like a gentle breeze.
Luo Ming Yue bowed deeply and stepped away. She looked at the jade slip with a slight smile. [Her master had waited so long for this moment. At last, a new path was being opened.] Whether the inheritor was a brother or a sister, she must find them without delay.
Filled with hope, Luo Ming Yue dashed off, swift as a sharpened blade slicing through the clouds.
…
Days passed.
Li Shuang stood like a stone before the tall, imposing gates of Sword Sect. She had returned.
Before her blade, the Snow Monsters of Snow Mountain had trembled and fallen. Only a few scattered fragments of fear remained, drifting like lost leaves on a frozen wind. With the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art steadying her senses like tempered steel, she slipped past the surviving beasts and icy gales. She descended the mountain unscathed.
True Immortal Ling Xu had cast her aside, no longer accepting her as his disciple. By all rules, she should never have come back.
Yet—
The Grand Supreme Emotionless Art belonged to Sword Sect. Having learned its teachings, she was duty-bound to report back to the sect.
This was her only reason for returning.
She cared not for the company of Spirit Void Peak disciples. Instead, she walked straight toward the Sect Master’s mountain.
As she passed near the Scripture Pavilion, voices like gentle wind chimes reached her ears.
“Zhao Zhao, you still do not have a proper sword technique. Now is your chance. Choose one from the Scripture Pavilion. I have gathered some contribution points—take them and use them well,” said Sheng Yuan warmly.
Little Junior Sister had fought alone against countless Snow Monsters and was badly wounded. He was determined to mend his ways.
“Thank you, Second Senior Brother,” Ye Zhao Zhao answered softly. “Master gave me some points too. With yours added, I can choose a truly excellent sword skill.”
“There is no need for thanks. What is mine is yours,” Sheng Yuan replied kindly.
Ye Zhao Zhao blushed and her voice turned even softer.
Li Shuang remained as silent as a still pond. She wished not to meet disciples of Spirit Void Peak, yet fate had brought her here.
Without a moment’s pause, she turned to leave.
At that moment—
“Eldest Senior Sister! You have returned?” Ye Zhao Zhao cried out in surprise.
Sheng Yuan turned quickly too, his eyes darkening like storm clouds. “Eldest Senior Sister, now that you have returned, why have you not gone to Spirit Void Peak to apologize? You still owe Little Junior Sister a sincere atonement!”
Li Shuang’s face stayed calm as a mirror-like lake. Without a word, she stepped away.
Furious at her silence, Sheng Yuan drew his sword with a ringing clang. He thrust it sharply toward Li Shuang!
Li Shuang’s eyes narrowed as she gathered the little spiritual power left in her. Her strength was weak—like a tiny flame flickering in the wind. She barely dodged the fatal strike, but the blade left a crimson cut upon her body.
Sheng Yuan’s eyes widened in shock. His grip on the Sinking Water Sword trembled.
[How can this be?] he thought. He had used only a small part of his strength, yet she could not avoid his attack?
The rules of the sect were as clear as still water: no disciple should cross swords in anger. He had no wish to truly harm Li Shuang. He only hoped she would apologize to Zhao Zhao!
“Eldest Senior Sister, why did you not dodge?” Ye Zhao Zhao suddenly asked, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. “Oh, could it be that you let Second Senior Brother wound you on purpose? Now he will surely be punished!”
At her words, Sheng Yuan’s face turned as cold as winter ice.
So, this was her plan!
Li Shuang had let the injury happen so that he would be punished for striking a fellow disciple!
On that snowy mountain day, she had left Zhao Zhao—left them all—and yet she still plotted such a shameless act!
Suppressing his anger, Sheng Yuan spoke in a chilling tone, “Eldest Senior Sister, your schemes run deep! Are you still bitter that you failed to leave us completely on Snow Mountain?”
Blood dripped from her wound. Li Shuang fought to still the bleeding, lifting her calm eyes to meet Sheng Yuan’s furious glare.
This was her Junior Brother. When Sheng Yuan first arrived on the mountain, he was a frightened child, trembling like a leaf in a storm. Fear kept him awake night after night.
She had patiently told him ancient tales until he drifted into sleep. Before he could even muster a spark of spiritual energy, he was just a fragile boy, easily ill. Soon after joining, he fell gravely sick.
She had studied ancient prescriptions, brewed careful medicines, and stayed awake for three long nights until his fever broke.
Her gaze then fell upon the sword in Sheng Yuan’s hand— the Sinking Water Sword.
When first drawn from the Sword Pavilion, it was an ordinary blade, unrefined and plain. It was she who had searched far and wide for rare metals, tempering and refining it time and again until it shone with true strength.
And now, Sheng Yuan wielded that very sword against her without mercy.
Once, such an act would have pierced her heart like a dagger. But now, with the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art coursing through her veins, she felt only endless, silent calm.
Li Shuang’s eyes were cold and distant. Sheng Yuan’s heart trembled as he looked upon her.
Something was wrong. In the past, her eyes had shone warmly when she looked at him. But now, they were filled with only chill indifference.
How dare she? He thought bitterly. She was clearly in the wrong! Yet she looked at him as if he had betrayed her.
Clenching his teeth, Sheng Yuan declared, “Eldest Senior Sister, you must apologize to Zhao Zhao immediately! If not, I will call the Enforcement Hall, and they will judge your crimes on Snow Mountain!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation