Chapter 61: Requesting Li Shuang’s Aid
The assembled disciples exchanged troubled glances as the question echoed in the courtyard: Are we to seek Li Shuang’s aid? They all knew too well that Li Shuang now regarded them with cold disdain. How could she ever be expected to help?
Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she spoke in a trembling tone, “I know Senior Sister Li holds deep grudges against me and may refuse to help Long Yan. But we cannot simply stand by while he falls into ruin.”
Chang Le An’s heart ached at the sight. With passion in his voice he declared, “If we speak of duty, then Li Shuang must bear some of the blame. She abandoned Dragon’s Roar out of selfish pride! Her actions forced Long Yan to sacrifice his spirit body. Without that, how could he so swiftly be tainted by dark, impure qi?”
Ye Zhao Zhao pleaded, her voice quavering, “Third Senior Brother, please do not blame her entirely. She and Long Yan have shared a bond for over ten long years. Surely, she would not watch him suffer so gravely. I have no other recourse.”
[Her heart ached with every word, like a blade struck by an unyielding enemy.]
Tears fell from her cheeks like shattered pearls.
Long Yan stared at her in a daze.
[Was she weeping for him?] he wondered.
Did her tears mean that, deep inside, she still cared for him—even though he had become a defiled sword spirit? A small flicker of hope kindled in his eyes.
True Immortal Ling Xu’s face remained impassive as he spoke coolly, “If you wish to plead with her, then go. I will not stand in your way.”
With that, he turned and departed, leaving them to their fates.
Ye Zhao Zhao looked to Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue, her face still wet with sorrow, “Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother…”
Sheng Yuan clenched his jaw and said, “Let us go. We must appeal to Eldest Senior Sister together. She has helped Long Yan dispel impure qi before—one more effort should not hurt.”
Shen Yue hesitated, then nodded, “Saving Long Yan is our highest priority.”
Eldest Senior Sister was a true devotee of the sword. No matter what had happened before, she could not ignore Long Yan’s suffering. Chang Le An, his resolve burning like a fierce flame, agreed without a word.
Thus, the group from Spirit Void Peak set off toward Emotionless Peak.
True Immortal Ling Xu watched their figures fade into the distance, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light. He sent a challenge to Lin Qing Ling, inviting her to a duel. True to her nature, she accepted without hesitation. A sly smile touched his lips—while Lin Qing Ling was occupied, Ye Zhao Zhao and her companions had a real chance.
Li Shuang…
Will you choose to save Long Yan, or will you let him slip into despair? Even I, a mere observer, am eager to see your answer!
As the journey continued, Ye Zhao Zhao made no effort to hide her anguish. Clutching the sacred Dragon’s Roar close to her heart, she wept and cried out, “Long Yan, hold on! We are almost at Emotionless Peak! Senior Sister Li will surely come to your aid!”
She added, “Do not fear—for all the years you have shared, she would never let you be consumed by impure qi!”
Her desperate cries spread like wildfire throughout the sect. Soon, many disciples learned that Long Yan’s soul body had been grievously wounded—and only Li Shuang could restore him. Curiosity and worry stirred as a crowd gathered to witness this unfolding drama.
A spark of satisfaction lit Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes.
[In my world, such a move is known as moral coercion.]
She cared not for the labels—as long as it worked, it mattered little.
Wasn’t Li Shuang now the pride of the sect? Faced with this dire choice, how would she act? If she saved Long Yan, it might stir negative feelings that Ye Zhao Zhao could use. But if she refused, the weight of abandoning a comrade would stain her honor. [Could she bear the scorn of the disciples?] Ye Zhao Zhao mused that Long Yan’s wounded soul body might be the perfect chance to draw out Li Shuang’s hidden resentments.
Lost in these thoughts, she clutched Dragon’s Roar tighter, her expression growing ever more anxious.
“Long Yan, you must not be lost!” she cried. “I will save you, no matter the cost!”
She raced to Emotionless Peak—a secluded sanctuary where only a few direct disciples dwelled. At the great door, she collapsed to her knees and shouted, “Senior Sister Li, Long Yan is in grave danger! I beg you, please save him!”
Fearing no reply, she pounded her forehead against the cold stone, “Senior Sister Li, if you save Long Yan, I will do anything you ask!”
With every plea, she bowed repeatedly, her forehead turning red from the relentless blows.
“Zhao Zhao!” Chang Le An cried out, rushing to her side. “Your forehead is injured!”
“Third Senior Brother, do not stop me,” she insisted, her face filled with grief. “Long Yan… he will not last much longer! If Senior Sister Li can save him, what is a kowtowing if it costs me my life?”
Her desperate resolve moved Shen Yue. [Have I underestimated her?] he thought. He realized that her earlier misfortune in the Arena was not carelessness but a burst of panic. Now, her determination for Long Yan was clear.
Stepping forward, Shen Yue spoke firmly, “Senior Sister Li, Long Yan’s body is overrun by dark energy. Only you can banish it! We know we have wronged you, and Long Yan, too, may have erred. But he does not deserve to die. For the sake of your bond over these ten long years, please, lend him your aid.”
Without delay, he knelt.
Sheng Yuan sighed and added, “Senior Sister Li, I know that nurturing a Defiled Sword Spirit into what he is today cost you much. Can you bear to watch him crumble, his spirit on the edge of collapse?”
He too knelt with resolve.
In his heart, he believed that their past grievances paled in comparison to saving a Sword Spirit. Eldest Senior Sister, she could not be so unfeeling.
Chang Le An, nearly leaping to his feet in frustration, cried, “All of you, why are you kneeling? She knew Long Yan was a Defiled Sword Spirit from the start, yet she still entrusted him to Little Junior Sister and even forced him to burn his spirit body! It is her duty to save him!”
Ye Zhao Zhao met his eyes with tears, and with a helpless sigh, Chang Le An relented, “Fine, fine, I will kneel too.”
Reluctantly, he lowered himself to the ground.
The gathered disciples exchanged knowing glances. This Long Yan—wasn’t he once hailed as a Peerless Sword Spirit? But in truth, he had always been a Defiled Sword Spirit.
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