Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Hall.

Dao Xuan Zhenren sat high at the head of the table, his brows slightly furrowed. Below him, Tian Buyi, Shuiyue, Zeng Shuchang, and Qi Hao stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.

"Remnants of the Demonic Cult have been frequently active in the Liubo Mountain area of ​​the East Sea recently, seemingly plotting something."

Dao Xuan's voice was deep and slow, "The Hall of Longevity, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, and the Joyful Union Sect have all made unusual moves, which may be detrimental to the common people. I intend to send elite disciples from Dazhu Peak, Xiaozhu Peak, Fenghui Peak, and Longshou Peak to investigate and act accordingly to thwart their conspiracy."

Tian Buyi clasped his hands in a fist salute: "What Senior Brother Sect Leader says is quite right..."

Before the words were finished, a clear, cold female voice came from outside the hall: "Disciple Lu Xueqi requests an audience with the Sect Leader."

Everyone looked over.

Lu Xueqi, dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, entered the hall with a calm expression and bowed to everyone.

"Xueqi, you've come at the right time," Daoxuan said. "Regarding the matter at Liubo Mountain, you..."

"This disciple wishes to go alone," Lu Xueqi interrupted, her voice soft but clear.

Dao Xuan was slightly taken aback: "You're alone?"

"Yes."

"Nonsense!" Tian Buyi blew his beard and glared. "Liubo Mountain is now a den of dragons and tigers, and you're just a little girl..."

"One disciple is enough." Lu Xueqi looked at Dao Xuan with clear and firm eyes. "Please grant my permission, Sect Leader Uncle."

Dao Xuan pondered for a moment, his sharp gaze scrutinizing her: "Xueqi, although your cultivation has progressed rapidly, the demonic sect members are unpredictable and extraordinary. You…"

Lu Xueqi didn't speak, but slowly raised her right hand. Spiritual energy emanated from her palm.

A sword slowly condensed and emerged from her palm.

That sword...

It was plain and unremarkable, even somewhat ugly, with a dull gray color all over, like a long stone picked up casually from the roadside. It was rough, simple, without any luster, and you couldn't feel any sharpness at all.

But at the very moment this "stone sword" appeared—

"Buzz—!"

Tian Buyi, Zeng Shuchang, and Qi Hao's expressions changed drastically as they stared in horror at the dusty stone sword in Lu Xueqi's palm.

Dao Xuan Zhenren jumped up from his seat, his pupils contracted, and the calm composure he had cultivated for hundreds of years shattered instantly, leaving only disbelief and horror on his face!

His lips trembled, and his finger pointed shakily at the stone sword: "This...this is...the Immortal Slayer Sword? The real...the Immortal Slayer Ancient Sword? How could you...be able to wield it without reaching the Taiqing Realm! You..."

He couldn't continue speaking.

He would never mistake the seemingly ordinary stone sword before him for the desolate, ancient, and boundless sword intent flowing from it, which seemed capable of splitting the heavens and earth.

This is the treasure of the Qingyun Sect, the Zhuxian Ancient Sword, which cannot be controlled or driven by anyone below the Taiqing Realm!

But how could it be... in the hands of an eighteen-year-old girl? And so... docile?

Lu Xueqi clenched her fist, and the stone sword vanished. The invisible pressure within the Jade Purity Palace also disappeared.

She looked at Dao Xuan, her tone still calm: "This disciple has her own destiny. Please entrust the matter of Liubo Mountain to this disciple, Master Uncle. Going alone will not easily alert the enemy."

Dao Xuan stared intently at her, his chest heaving, as if he were seeing his junior disciple for the first time.

After a long while, as if all his strength had been drained, he slowly sat back in his chair, his voice hoarse: "You...you have such...opportunity, so be it. Liubo Mountain is yours to go. But remember, the Immortal Slayer is no small matter, its malevolent energy is astonishing, you must...use it wisely."

"Disciple understands." Lu Xueqi bowed.

"Go." Dao Xuan waved his hand, closed his eyes, as if he needed time to digest everything that was enough to overturn his understanding.

Lu Xueqi bowed and took her leave, her moon-white figure gracefully exiting the hall.

The hall was deathly silent. Tian Buyi and the others exchanged bewildered glances, each seeing a storm raging in the other's eyes.

The Immortal Execution Sword... has recognized a master? And a little girl at that? What's wrong with this world?

After leaving Yuqing Palace, Lu Xueqi did not return to Xiaozhu Peak, but went straight to Dazhu Peak. She found Jiang Xiaochuan practicing his sword against the waterfall on the back mountain.

"Xueqi?" Jiang Xiaochuan sheathed his sword and looked at her with some surprise.

Since that night, there has always been an inexplicable awkwardness and distance between the two.

It's rare for her to take the initiative to find him.

Lu Xueqi walked up to him, her gaze falling on the Xuechuan sword in his hand: "Lend me your sword."

"Borrow a sword?" Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback. "Don't you have Tianya?"

"Tianya needs to be nurtured. This time, I'll use your sword when I go down the mountain," Lu Xueqi said naturally.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at Xuechuan Sword.

The ice-blue and silver-white blade gleamed with a cool luster under the sunlight.

She had forged this sword for him, putting in countless hours of effort.

He hesitated for a moment, then handed over the sword: "Can you use it? Will it... be difficult to handle?"

Lu Xueqi took Xuechuan from the sword, her fingertips brushing against its cool spine. A subtle, blood-connected tremor ran through her.

She infused a wisp of spiritual power, and the Snow River Sword hummed with a clear sound, emitting a bright blue light that was even more dazzling and agile than when it was in Jiang Xiaochuan's hands, as if it had met its true master.

"Yes," Lu Xueqi said, looking up at him. "This sword and I are destined to be together."

Jiang Xiaochuan watched as she skillfully twirled the sword, and Xuechuan seemed to come alive in her hands, which intensified the strange feeling in his heart.

This sword... seems to prefer her?

He dismissed the thought and asked, "You're going down the mountain? Where to? What for?"

"Liubo Mountain. To handle some miscellaneous matters." Lu Xueqi spoke concisely, sheathing Xuechuan and hanging it at her waist, alongside Tianya. One icy blue, the other azure, they surprisingly harmonized. "I'll be back in half a month to a month at most."

"Oh," Jiang Xiaochuan replied, feeling inexplicably empty inside.

Is she leaving?

Although we may not see each other every day, knowing that she is in Xiaozhufeng or nearby gives me a sense of security.

Now she's leaving Qingyun Mountain to go to such a faraway place...

"Be careful," he muttered.

Lu Xueqi looked at him, and something seemed to flash across her cold eyes.

She suddenly stepped forward, raised her hand, and gently straightened his slightly disheveled collar.

"Mm." She responded, turned around, and rode the Tianya sword, transforming into a streak of azure sword light that pierced through the air and quickly disappeared into the horizon.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood there, touching the collar where she had touched him; the cool touch of her fingertips seemed to linger there. The emptiness in his heart became even more pronounced.

Lu Xueqi left. Dazhu Peak seemed to quiet down considerably.

But the others weren't idle.

Biyao came even more frequently.

Today I'll bring him a bag of roasted chestnuts, tomorrow I'll "on the way" point out the flaws in his sword moves (even though she herself uses a staff), and the day after tomorrow I'll drag him to the back mountain to "discuss" the merits and demerits of the righteous and demonic martial arts (although the main purpose is to boast about how mysterious the Ghost King Sect's martial arts are).

She no longer possessed the intense aggression she once had; instead, she seemed more like... a friend?

Or rather, a hunter who is determined to succeed but knows how to take a roundabout approach.

"Hey, Jiang Xiaochuan, look at this move 'Ghostly Howl,' isn't it much more powerful than your weak 'Ice Soul Thunder Sound'?" Biyao waved her Soul Devourer, creating afterimages, and raised her eyebrows triumphantly.

"Awesome my foot, it's just weird and crooked." Jiang Xiaochuan curled his lip, but unconsciously mimicked the power exertion technique she had just used with his wooden sword.

"Even unorthodox methods can hurt you!" Biyao sneered, but her eyes were filled with laughter.

She liked seeing him like this—protesting verbally but secretly learning from her.

This made her feel that the distance between them was gradually closing.

Little White remained as lazy as ever. She spent most of her time nestled beside him as a fox, occasionally transforming into human form to tease him in various ways.

She would either "accidentally" spill tea on him and insist on wiping it off herself (but things would get weird as she wiped it off, hmm), or she would "get tired from practicing" and insist on being carried back (while blowing on his ear), or she would deliberately wake him up at night with her cold hands and feet and then innocently say, "It's so cold, can I warm it up?"

Jiang Xiaochuan went from feeling ashamed and indignant to becoming numb. Now he can pull her off him without batting an eye, or stuff her cold hands and feet back into her own bed, and then go back to sleep.

Xiao Bai wasn't annoyed at all; instead, he laughed even harder, as if teasing him was the greatest joy in life.

……

In Heyang City, there is a small restaurant called "Returning Home".

Linglong sat by the window, gazing at the alley entrance.

The setting sun stretched her shadow long.

Long Nianchuan squatted behind the counter, carefully wiping each bowl until it shone, and then arranging them neatly.

"Mother, will Father come today?" Long Nianchuan finished wiping the last bowl, looked up, and his glassy eyes were full of anticipation.

Linglong withdrew her gaze and gently shook her head: "I don't know. Maybe... no way."

"Why?" Long Nianchuan asked, puzzled. "Dad clearly likes Mom's cooking. He says it's delicious."

Linglong smiled, a somewhat ethereal smile: "Because he has his own things to do, his own... ties. We can't always expect him to come."

"But I miss Dad." Long Nianchuan lowered his head, his voice muffled.

Linglong walked over and ruffled his soft black hair: "Nian'er, be good. What's meant to come will come. We'll just wait."

She gazed in the direction of Qingyun Mountain, her starry eyes deep. She sensed that Lu Xueqi had left Qingyun, carrying with her a sharp aura that made even her heart tremble slightly, heading east.

Is it for his sake? To keep him out of danger?

He has a decisive personality.

"That's fine," Linglong thought.

With one less powerful figure lurking in the shadows, perhaps... she can make more plans.

In this life, she no longer wanted to just watch from afar.

……

Behind Xiaozhufeng Mountain, there is the Ancestral Hall.

Shuiyue carried a food box and gently pushed open the door of the ancestral hall.

Wan Jianyi was sweeping the courtyard when he heard the sound, looked up, and smiled at her. His smile was serene, carrying the tranquility that comes with experience.

"Here it is." He put down the broom and took the food box.

"Mm," Shuiyue responded, and naturally walked to the corridor and sat down on the bench she usually sat on.

There was no need for many words between them.

Wan Jianyi opened the food box, which contained several light side dishes and rice.

He ate slowly, with Shuiyue quietly keeping him company.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the ancient pine trees, casting a warm glow.

The years are quiet, but so.

From the direction of the quiet room in the side hall came a low, rhythmic sound. The old pine tree was still there, repenting day after day.

Shuiyue and Wan Jianyi seemed not to hear anything, simply enjoying this rare, undisturbed moment of tranquility.

Some mistakes require a lifetime to atone for.

Some feelings, once missed, cannot be missed a second time.

They are very clear.

……

East China Sea, Liubo Mountain.

Fog hung in the air, the rocks were jagged, and the waves crashed against the shore with a thunderous roar.

Inside a secluded sea cave, Youji stood quietly in the shadows, seemingly becoming one with the rocks.

Jin Ping'er slipped silently into the cave and knelt on one knee.

"Aunt You. It's been confirmed. Seven disciples of Yu Yangzi from the Changsheng Hall, five disciples of the Poison God from the Wandu Sect, and three disciples personally taught by Madam Sanmiao from the Hehuan Sect have arrived at 'Black Crow Reef' on the northern slope of Liubo Mountain. They seem to be setting up some kind of formation, but the specific purpose is unknown. Also, there are traces of Kui Niu appearing in the nearby waters, but their nests have not yet been found."

A cold glint flashed in You Ji's eyes behind her mask: "Keep watching. The formation... the Kui Niu... it seems their ambitions are far from small. What news do we have from our side?"

"The sect leader has sent a message: the Longevity Hall and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect have recently expressed their dissatisfaction with resource allocation, and the Joyful Union Sect's attitude is ambiguous. They want us to act as we see fit, and if necessary... to eliminate any potential threats." Jin Ping'er's voice was icy.

Youji nodded slightly: "Understood. Go ahead, be careful, and don't expose yourself. The situation here is murky; let those factions fight it out first."

"Yes." Jin Ping'er's figure flashed, disappearing into the thick fog outside the cave like a ghost.

Yu Ji gazed at the churning sea mist outside the cave, her eyes deep and unfathomable beneath the black veil. Liubo Mountain... seems to be getting more and more lively.