Chapter 80: The Mirror Master’s Path Back
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Since Ji You and Pei Ru Yi departed from the Heavenly Script Academy to explore the ancient ruins, Cao Jin Song had been keeping a low profile outside the academy. Part of this was to lay the groundwork for Ji You’s staged “death” in case he didn’t return. But, deep down, his concern for the duo’s safety consumed him, leaving him restless, especially during the night when a divine thunder shook the Nine Provinces. On that sleepless night, his mind churned with anxiety until Ji You’s message finally reached him. Now, he stood upon the White Jade Terrace of Ascension, his demeanor reminiscent of a younger self, exuding unparalleled charm and vigor.
“What’s the matter?” someone asked.
“It seems related to the Pill Sect. Everyone’s speaking in hushed tones about ‘hot blood’ and something ominous… It’s unsettling.”
“The details don’t matter. Judging by this… Ji You is likely on his way back.”
Under the night’s canopy, a celestial ship soared over the Angry River, its radiant light folding beneath the hull to form the sharp edge of a blade, slicing through oncoming winds and waves. Ji You returned to his chamber from Bai Ru Long’s room, a slip of paper in hand. Settling cross-legged, he began to meditate, his aura swirling like a storm. Ever since he entered the Mystic Enlightenment Stage, his perception of the world had grown profound. Even without sight, he could clearly sense the nuances of the flowing wind and water around him.
This stage amplified the five senses to an extraordinary degree, allowing one to observe the microscopic aspects of reality and comprehend higher techniques. It marked the true beginning of Dao cultivation. Ji You could now sense the ever-flowing spiritual energy with greater intensity than before. After a long meditation, a tiny vortex of air seemed to form in his palm, imperceptible to the naked eye but subtly altering the room’s airflow.
In the ruins, when battling against those in the Dao Fusion Stage, no one employed spells due to the Heavenly Dao’s inability to respond. Without this limitation, it would have been impossible for him to defeat someone at a higher realm. He exhaled deeply, his aura receding as the residual wind swept papers and brushes off the table.
“Tremble, Headmaster of the Heavenly Script Academy…” he murmured. “The fierce bandit has returned.”
He chuckled to himself, his ambition surging at the thought of facing the old master again. The letter sent to the academy must have arrived by now, heralding his triumphant return.
When he opened his eyes, Zhuo Wan Qiu stood by the door, her arms cradling a sword and a warm towel in hand. She seemed momentarily startled as she gazed at him.
“Young Master, please wipe your sweat,” she said softly.
“Ah, thank you…” Ji You replied, taking the towel and wiping away the faint sheen on his brow. He couldn’t help but ponder her evident favoritism. [Wasn’t she here to protect the Yuan siblings? Why does it seem like Spirit Sword Mountain’s disciples have taken a peculiar liking to me?]
He recalled Zhuo Wan Qiu’s slip of the tongue earlier, calling him ‘Mirror Master’s husband.’ Though he dreamed of marrying a wealthy woman, he never intended to become a live-in son-in-law. He preferred to earn his meals the hard way.
“Your Appraiser Master has returned to the mountain?” he asked casually.
Zhuo Wan Qiu nodded. “Yes, I’ve received word. With Heavenly Sword Peak’s diminished strength, they’ve proposed merging with Sword Inquiry Peak. Sword Inquiry Peak seems to have been promised certain benefits and has privately agreed. Although the Mirror Master holds the Spirit Mirror, the position of Sect Master of Spirit Sword Mountain still resides with Heavenly Sword Peak. Naturally, this infuriates them.”
Spirit Sword Mountain was divided into three primary factions: Heavenly Sword Peak, Mystic Sword Peak, and Sword Inquiry Peak. Heavenly Sword Peak was the most dominant, with the deepest foundations, while Sword Inquiry Peak was the weakest. Having suffered losses in the ruins, Heavenly Sword Peak sought to replenish its strength by absorbing Sword Inquiry Peak’s resources.
Human desires have always been relentless—a millennia-old cycle of rise and fall. Yet, centuries ago, such conflicts were far less severe. Back then, worldly kingdoms dominated the landscape, and immortal sects remained reclusive sanctuaries. Common folk had heard of cultivators but saw little reason to envy their isolated lives. However, the chaos of warring factions in the Central Plains eventually drew the immortals into mortal disputes through ritual offerings. Once they tasted the allure of power, they could no longer resist. Over time, noble clans allied with immortal sects, marriages strengthened bonds, and even the Pill Sect began seeking advantageous unions. Step by step, these alliances forged the behemoths that exist today.
The core reason for this shift lay in the rarity of true ascension. For most, power in the present held more appeal than a distant, uncertain eternity.
Ji You handed the towel back, placing his hands on his knees. “How is she on the mountain?”
Zhuo Wan Qiu smiled faintly. “The Mirror Master is highly revered, always maintaining a cold and aloof demeanor. She’s the idol of all young disciples on Spirit Sword Mountain. But no one would believe how playful she becomes when she’s with you.”
“She has no friends?”
“Ever since the Spirit Mirror chose her, no one dared to call her a friend. Later, due to the incident with Ding Yao, she began intentionally distancing herself, avoiding close bonds.”
Ji You frowned. “Ding Yao?”
Zhuo Wan Qiu nodded. “At first, the Mirror Master insisted on calling Ding Yao her sister, disliking the reverence others showed her. But as Ding Yao gained prestige, she started forming factions and grew increasingly arrogant…”
“No wonder,” Ji You murmured.
Zhuo Wan Qiu glanced up. “How did you and the Mirror Master meet?”
Recalling their encounter on Mount Void, Ji You nodded slightly. “It was by chance.”
“That explains it. The Mirror Master despises arranged paths. Deep down, she has a…”
“Rebellious streak?” Ji You interjected.
Zhuo Wan Qiu coughed lightly, her thoughts murmuring, [The Appraiser belongs to you. Of course, you can say whatever you want, but I cannot.] She then said aloud, “It is said that when the Mirror Master was young, she never wanted to become the Sect Master. She threw the Spirit Mirror away many times. Once, she even sunk it into the Mystic Sea, which gave the entire Spirit Sword Mountain quite a fright.”
Ji You imagined a mischievous little girl, barefoot, running to the seashore, stubbornly tossing the mirror into the waves.
“And then?” he asked.
“After that, disciples of Mystic Sword Peak were often bullied by those from Heavenly Sword Peak. Perhaps it was influenced by the Appraiser’s attitude—everyone thought the Spirit Mirror would ultimately return to Heavenly Sword Peak, given her rejection. The Mirror Master eventually realized that her disdain had dampened the spirits of the Mystic Sword Peak disciples, leaving them demoralized and vulnerable to mistreatment. From that moment on, she never mentioned not wanting to be Sect Master again,” Zhuo Wan Qiu explained, recalling the events.
“Eventually, the Appraiser secluded herself on the mountain, dedicating her days to Dao Enlightenment. She became the strongest direct disciple of her era.”
Although Ji You and Yan Shu Yi had met through the Heavenly Tome, he didn’t know much about her personal life or background. During the winter, she had secretly visited to play, and they had talked then, but she always spoke of herself as the “Great Appraiser,” the mightiest direct disciple of the era and the future Sect Master of Spirit Sword Mountain.
In truth, her life was monotonous, centered around guarding that broken Spirit Mirror and pursuing Dao Enlightenment. She was acutely aware that the entire mountain, and even the Azure Clouds Dominion, watched her every move. Facing Heavenly Sword Peak today meant defending Mystic Sword Peak. And if she became Sect Master, her responsibility would extend to the entire sect and beyond, to the other Immortal Sects.
For Ji You, however, she was simply a friend he had met personally, making her different in his eyes.
“And what about the Dao Seeking Sect’s direct disciple? Why do they always fixate on her?” Ji You inquired.
Zhuo Wan Qiu answered promptly, “The Dao Seeking Sect’s direct disciple is Shang Xi Yao. He’s ranked just beneath the Appraiser and Chu Xian among the direct disciples, and he’s admired by many women.”
Ji You squinted. “Is he as handsome as I am?”
“Naturally, he’s a bit less impressive than you, Young Master, but only slightly,” Zhuo Wan Qiu replied tactfully.
“That’s still quite something. To think such a remarkable man exists in this world…” Ji You smirked.
Zhuo Wan Qiu held her breath, thinking, [Indeed, they look like a couple. My Appraiser shares the same confidence.]
Ji You then asked, “So, how does this relate to Spirit Sword Mountain?”
Zhuo Wan Qiu elaborated, “The Dao Seeking Sect isn’t far from Spirit Sword Mountain. They aim to strengthen their sect by allying with Spirit Sword Mountain. The young Appraiser vehemently opposes such a union, but her parents reportedly support it. Even Senior Sister Ding Yao has formed close ties with the Dao Seeking Sect because of this.”
She added, “This marks the first time Spirit Sword Mountain’s Appraiser and Sect Master are not the same individual. It’s a precarious situation for the sect, as the Appraiser grows increasingly assertive. Disciples are unsure whom to obey.”
Ji You looked up. “If these two factions break entirely, will Heavenly Sword Peak retaliate like a cornered dog?”
“Indeed,” Zhuo Wan Qiu agreed. “While the Appraiser stands alone, Heavenly Sword Peak’s foundation is formidable. Only by Mystic Sword Peak forging a union with the Dao Seeking Sect can this be resolved.”
Ji You sighed. “Even within an Immortal Sect, it’s this complicated.”
Zhuo Wan Qiu glanced at Ji You. She wanted to say that the growing closeness between him and the Appraiser was extremely risky for her. However, she refrained. The Appraiser hadn’t mentioned marrying him, so discussing it now felt inappropriate.
From a young age, the Appraiser had been caught between choices—what to choose and what to relinquish. Perhaps she had once wished to abandon everything. During her stay at the Leisure Courtyard, her words often oscillated between warmth and indifference, likely reflecting this internal conflict.
“Oh, Young Master,” Zhuo Wan Qiu added, “Fairy Zheng Xin visited earlier, asking you to come down for a meal.”
“Then let us go,” Ji You replied.
The two walked to the dining hall, one after the other. Wen Zheng Xin was already seated, accompanied by Ban Yang Shu and Bai Ru Long, chatting casually with the Yuan siblings seated opposite them. Initially, the conversation revolved around cultivation at the Heavenly Script Academy, but it soon turned to Ji You. Cultivation could be monotonous, yet Ji You seemed to have plenty of stories to share.
“Why isn’t Immortal Emperor Ru Long eating? Do you dislike the food?” someone asked.
“Earlier, I encountered fierce bandits…” Bai Ru Long began, trailing off.
Wen Zheng Xin set down her chopsticks and looked at him. “You were robbed? How do you still have money?”
Bai Ru Long hesitated for a long time before responding, “I wrote them an IOU.”
Ban Yang Shu grinned, thinking, [Even your sword must be embarrassed to follow you.]
At that moment, Ji You entered with Zhuo Wan Qiu. The Heavenly Script Academy disciples looked up, startled to see the pair walking in together. Although Spirit Sword Mountain disciples had boarded the ship under the pretense of protecting the Yuan siblings, it didn’t seem to be their true purpose. Zhuo Wan Qiu rarely stayed near the siblings and often dispatched disciples to guard them while she accompanied Ji You. Whenever Ji You was alone, the Spirit Sword Mountain disciples were on high alert, suggesting that protecting him was their real priority.
During their earlier conversation, it had come to light that Ji You wasn’t staying alone with the siblings; the young Appraiser of Spirit Sword Mountain was also present. Was this repayment for Ji You’s kindness in sparing her sect members during a previous conflict?
Ji You casually adjusted his robes and sat at the table. “Where is Senior Sister Pei?”
Wen Zheng Xin replied, “She’s still in her room and hasn’t come out. I’ve already sent someone to call her.”
Ji You nodded and then turned to Bai Ru Long. “Why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your liking?”