Chapter 78: Yan Father’s Worries
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
The notion of a “comfortable distance,” dictated by conventional logic, often shapes interpersonal boundaries. Yet for Yan Shu Yi and Ji You, such principles did not apply.
This peculiar closeness began when the young Mirror Master, on a whim, descended from the mountains during the harshest winter, meeting Ji You for the first time. Together, they huddled by a fire, the warmth and glow of the flames creating a cocoon of comfort against the biting cold. This scene, etched into their souls, marked the beginning of their disregard for the concept of personal boundaries.
Still, one individual occasionally entertained thoughts of reducing that distance to a negative number as night fell.
“Mirror Master, can I call you sister?”
“?”
Yan Shu Yi and Yuan Cai Wei both blinked in unison, exchanging baffled glances at Yuan Chen’s abrupt question. At that moment, this Direct Disciple of the Pill Sect seemed to be grappling with an extraordinary mental burden, his thoughts spinning at lightning speed.
He had resolved not to change his brother-in-law. Seeing his elder sister’s lack of resolve, he decided to swap elder sisters instead.
Ji You set down his teacup, his eyes gleaming as they locked onto Yuan Chen. [You little brat, this unmatched, peerless brother-in-law might actually win your favor after all.]
As the sun climbed higher, following the conclusion of breakfast, Ding Yao briskly entered from outside. She carried a transmission from Spirit Sword Mountain, which she presented to the Mirror Master.
Heavenly Sword Peak had suffered significant losses in the recent ruins expedition. As a result, a sect assembly was being convened, and Yan Shu Yi’s approval was essential due to her position as Spirit Sword Mountain’s Appraiser-in-Chief. Furthermore, such assemblies required her personal attendance.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Cai Wei and Yuan Chen also mentioned their plans to set out. Like Ji You and his group, they intended to travel aboard an Immortal Ship.
Traveling by Immortal Ship had its advantages: the presence of numerous passengers made covert threats unlikely, and boarding required an Immortal Sect Jade Token, reducing the chances of unseen danger. The Heavenly Script Academy had taken this precaution, anticipating that Ji You’s recent Realm-Breaking could attract peril.
After a brief moment of thought, Yan Shu Yi responded, “The situation surrounding the ruins is complex and may involve risks. After lunch, I’ll assign a team of disciples to escort you.”
“That… would trouble you, Mirror Master Sister,” Yuan Cai Wei said with a polite bow.
“Sister Cai Wei, no need to be so formal. Just ensure that our Mystic Sword Peak gets priority access to rare pills in the future.”
Having said this, Yan Shu Yi turned and gave her instructions. “Wan Qiu, you will lead this mission. Report back to Mystic Sword Peak afterward.”
Zhuo Wan Qiu immediately cupped her hands in acknowledgment. [Indeed, my little Mirror Master is quite watchful.] If Senior Sister Ding Yao had been present, she might have speculated that her young master was simply seeking the Pill Sect’s assistance. But only Zhuo Wan Qiu understood the true intentions behind the orders.
Her guess was correct, though Yan Shu Yi’s thoughts extended beyond that. She cast a sideways glance at the man dressed in white, emanating a chilling sword aura yet maintaining an attractive composure as he silently sipped tea. His cultivation was progressing at an alarming pace.
The world often claimed that the Chu Clan possessed unparalleled talent in cultivation. Yet this man seemed poised to shatter such assumptions.
The divide between the Lower Three Stages and the Upper Five Stages was vast, despite the seemingly trivial distinction in nomenclature. Many spent their entire lives trapped at the pinnacle of the lower stages, aging toward the Mystic Enlightenment Stage with great effort. But not only had Ji You broken through, he had also skipped directly from the initial to the mid-stage of Mystic Enlightenment. If news of this feat spread, it would undoubtedly create a storm.
Thus, Yan Shu Yi felt a deep unease about Ji You’s return to the Heavenly Script Academy.
“It should be fine. With so many people aboard the Immortal Ship, no one would dare act recklessly. Besides, after the incident at the ruins, there are plenty of matters demanding everyone’s attention. Who would waste their time targeting a mere Mystic Enlightenment cultivator?” Ji You’s calm words carried an unshakable confidence. “As long as no Dao Fusion cultivators intervene, no one will be able to kill me.”
“Furthermore, I’ll be accompanied by many Heavenly Script Academy disciples. Senior Sister Wen is already at the Dao Fusion Stage, and Senior Brother Ban recently achieved his breakthrough.”
Having packed his belongings, Ji You joined Yan Shu Yi at the round table in the hall, where lunch had just been delivered. Observing her pensive expression, he ventured, “It seems you’ve figured out what’s on my mind. Why are you as clever as I am?”
“You’re the hope of Yuyang County, while I’m the hope of Mystic Sword Peak. Naturally, we’re both clever,” she replied.
“Then don’t forget to clean my cup when you return,” she added.
Ji You’s gaze sharpened. “Are you planning to sneak into the Heavenly Script Academy again?”
Yan Shu Yi picked up her chopsticks and casually plucked a lotus root slice. “Not necessarily. I might wander down the mountain whenever I feel bored.”
“A wealthy heiress addicted to secret rendezvous with a stunning young man…”
“What did you say?” Her voice turned icy.
Ji You immediately backtracked. “I said it’s a great habit, one worth maintaining.”
Pleased with herself, Yan Shu Yi responded, “So you admit you can’t beat me?” [When I return, I’ll train diligently and make you face my cold, pitiful expression.]
Ji You chewed on a peanut, replying fiercely, “You’re absolutely right.”
As she playfully swung her legs, Yan Shu Yi suddenly paused, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. Turning toward Ji You, she asked, “How long have you been cultivating?”
“A little over three years,” he replied.
Three Years?
Ji You frowned as he considered the man before him, someone who had only crossed his path twice but dared to pinch her cheek despite their vast disparity in cultivation realms. [If he’s this bold now, where will his hands wander in three years?]
Her brow furrowed in response, and she lashed out with a kick, sending the man stumbling.
“What’s with these sudden rewards just because I said something correct?” Ji You muttered, clearly baffled.
At that moment, the siblings of the Pill Sect, Dan Qiong Zi and his sister, arrived in the main hall and shared a simple lunch with them. The atmosphere was tinged with an unspoken camaraderie forged through trials. Bonds made during adversity were rare, especially for disciples of the immortal sects, who seldom found genuine allies outside their factions. As the meal concluded, and toasts were exchanged, the group prepared to part ways in the serene courtyard.
Yan Shu Yi, their Mirror Master, was also ready to depart. Arranging for Ding Yao to escort the Pill Sect siblings back alongside the disciples, she cast one last glance at Ji You before soaring into the skies.
Watching the figure disappear into the heavens, Ding Yao grabbed Ji You by the arm, pulling him aside with an expression darkened by discontent. As one who had served the Mirror Master since childhood, Ding Yao found herself abruptly replaced by Zhuo Wan Qiu after this journey. To Ding Yao, Ji You was to blame for it all. She had held her tongue while Yan Shu Yi was present, but now she could restrain herself no longer.
“You and the Mirror Master are an impossibility,” Ding Yao said, her voice sharp. “I advise you to bury whatever thoughts you have and stop dreaming of marrying into Spirit Sword Mountain.”
Her tone grew colder as she continued. “For three centuries, Heavenly Sword Peak has dominated Spirit Sword Mountain. Even though Mystic Sword Peak now holds the sect’s Daoist Lineage, our Mirror Master remains isolated and in need of strong allies. Do you think the union between Mystic Sword Peak and Dao Seeking Sect was my idea? No. I merely carried out orders. Her parents made that decision.”
Fixing him with a piercing gaze, she added, “Your swordsmanship may be unparalleled, but in the vast dominion of Azure Clouds, it is lineage that determines everything. The Dao Seeking Sect’s candidate is the current sect master’s child and future leader. Can you claim such a destiny within the Heavenly Script Academy?”
Ding Yao’s voice dropped further. “I’ve already reported the events under the moonlight to her parents. But I didn’t name you.”
She sneered. “The Mirror Master spends most of her time secluded and wouldn’t grasp the implications of someone touching her face. If you have any sense, you’ll lock your heart away and never let her know.”
Ji You’s eyes remained calm as he met her gaze. “I never intended to confess my feelings,” he said plainly.
His composure caught Ding Yao off guard, and she chuckled humorlessly. “At least you’re clear-headed,” she said, though her disdain for Yan Shu Yi’s judgment in men only deepened.
But what Ji You said next wiped the smirk from her face.
“I never planned to confess because I’ve always hoped she’d speak to me first,” he said, his tone unyielding.
“What?” Ding Yao’s brows furrowed.
Ji You’s smile vanished, and his voice turned icy. “Go ahead. Tell them my name. A looming threat will only sharpen my blade.”
This wasn’t empty bravado but the truth of his convictions. Back in Yuyang County, he had been a lazy cultivator until Clan Qiu faced ruin, driving him to break through two realms in a single day. Few knew the depths of his resolve.
…
Meanwhile, at the southernmost edge of Ling Prefecture, Spirit Sword Mountain loomed beside the Mystic Sea. A sect-wide summons had filled the Immortal Gazing Valley with disciples forming dense ranks under a rising tide of sword qi. High above, the elders of Heavenly Sword Peak accompanied the sect master, seated upon a grand cliff with solemn expressions. Only one seat remained unoccupied—positioned beside the sect master himself. All eyes turned toward the palace atop Spirit Sword Mountain, hidden amidst the sea of clouds.
Within the palace, Yan Jing Xiang, clad in a black robe adorned with cloud patterns, held Ding Yao’s report with a grave expression. Beside him, his wife’s face shifted from disbelief to anger.
“She… and a man?” she exclaimed. “Shu Yi has acted so irresponsibly! What will the Dao Seeking Sect think if this becomes public?”
Yan Jing Xiang crushed the letter in his fist. “Whether or not it is true, rumors do not emerge from nothing.”
His wife recalled her daughter’s most recent excursion—an entire month away from the mountain—and her doubts deepened. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a sharp surge of sword qi pierced the palace. A golden radiance heralded Yan Shu Yi’s arrival as she strode through the grand hall.
“Prepare my attire,” she commanded.
Two maids entered promptly, presenting the crimson Appraiser’s Immortal Robe and the Glazed Immortal Crown. Fully adorned, Yan Shu Yi exuded both divine grace and a beguiling allure—not due to her features, but because of the commanding intensity of the red garments.
“Did anyone trouble you during my absence?” she asked as the maids stepped back.
“None, Mirror Master,” they answered in unison.
Satisfied, she exited the chamber to greet her parents. “Father, Mother, I have returned.”
Yan Jing Xiang said nothing of the letter, merely suggesting, “You should send a message of thanks to Dao Seeking Sect. They came to congratulate you on your breakthrough, only to find you absent.”
“Unnecessary,” Yan Shu Yi replied curtly.
Her father hesitated before warning, “Heavenly Sword Peak suffered significant losses. Their grievances may hinder your succession.”
Yan Shu Yi’s voice sharpened. “Then I will show them I am Spirit Sword Mountain’s sharpest blade.”
Raising her hand, she summoned the Spirit Mirror, and the mountain erupted in celestial brilliance. From the cliff, the sect master, Yan Zhong, frowned as his gaze locked on the radiance surrounding her. He had never liked his niece. Her very existence, as heir to the previous Mirror Master, ensured that Yan Zhong would remain the only sect master without the honor of wielding Spirit Sword Mountain’s sacred artifact.
Yan Shu Yi, for her part, disliked these formalities. She detested seeing others bow before her. But, as the embodiment of Spirit Sword Mountain’s legacy, she could not refuse.
For she was the mountain’s rightful heir.