Chapter 181 Mingmou is a friend!
Having experienced two near-death experiences, even though the demonic energy had been cleansed, Tang Huairou was still somewhat unsteady.
She breathed weakly, her face as pale as a sheet of paper soaked with water. She clutched her sleeve, searching for something solid, the veins on the back of her hand bulging. A cultivator nearby, seeing her unsteady, quickly stepped forward and reached out his hand. Before he could even touch her, a force pushed her back two steps. The young man's steps swayed slightly, but were resolute, as he slowly walked towards Qiao Yanshen.
The Wuji Sword Sect Master, who had just fallen silent, frowned upon seeing her like this. "Rest well... Or is there something else about her that you'd like to add?"
Tang Huairou looked up and said, word by word, "I do not believe that she has any connection with the demon race."
The voice, amplified by spiritual energy, echoed throughout the area. These words silenced the whispering disciples and the suspicious cultivators for a moment, utterly incredulous. Tang Huairou, as Ruan Luoying's disciple raised from childhood, enjoyed an excellent reputation wherever he went; moreover, his gentle and kind nature always made his words trustworthy.
Having witnessed the entire process, and even nearly losing their lives as a result, they still defended this fallen demon, as if the overwhelming demonic energy just now was everyone's illusion.
It's really quite strange.
"Could it be that your sect has long been colluding with the demon race?" Upon hearing this, the woman who had just asked the question smirked. "Could it be that you actually plan to take advantage of the competition to kill everyone at once? Don't tell me I'll see Sword Lord Liuhua tonight, haha."
Upon hearing the last title, Yi Xiaohan's hand trembled as he pressed it against the hilt of his sword.
The woman in the long, light red robe next to him held her forehead and kicked the idiot Sword Sect Master hard.
It's not funny.
Tang Huairou shook his head, struggled to stand up straight, and said seriously, "This is no joke. I believe that Junior Sister Qiao has always been upright and honest, with an unblemished Dao heart, and cares deeply for the world. This matter must be a frame-up. Rather than imprisoning her, we should ask a physician to take care of Junior Sister and confirm that her condition is not bad!"
Just now, so much demonic energy surged past.
In that instant, she truly felt she was going to die. The icy demonic energy wasn't just drawing away her spiritual power, but something deeper, as if it wanted to split her in two, the pain seeping into her very bones.
What about Junior Sister Qiao? Is she also experiencing this kind of pain?
Seeing the hesitation of the crowd, Tang Huairou grew anxious and was about to kneel down and swear an oath to Heaven—that if she uttered a single falsehood, may Heavenly Tribulation descend upon her and she be spared from reincarnation. The words were on her lips when she was stopped.
"Senior sister, you don't need to worry about me." Qiao Yanshen smiled at her. "I do have some ties with the demons, but the demonic energy has been cleansed, so you won't be corrupted."
"It's not that I intended to harm you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she was surrounded by sword tips pointing at her, their cold light flashing, resembling a bright moon from afar.
"That's enough." Yan Xueya put her hand on Qiao Yanshen's shoulder. "The competition is suspended and will resume in two days. All results are currently reserved."
Having said that, ignoring the sword she raised, the two of them flashed and disappeared from the spot in the blink of an eye.
Under the supervision of others, she certainly wouldn't take Qiao Yanshen anywhere else; she would only go to Xuanxu Peak. Seeing this, the other cultivators followed, leaving only a few to manage their disciples and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
The immense pressure dissipated only moments before the students began to murmur amongst themselves. Qiao Yanshen's reputation had recently soared, leaving a deep impression on many. Her rise and fall had brought her to the forefront, and now she was associated with the deepest fear and hatred of her entire race, causing quite a stir. Emperor Taihui possessed a demon-detecting array, yet it had failed to work on her.
First, the demon-detecting array is faulty; second, there is cover-up or deception. Neither of these is a trivial matter.
Someone muttered a complaint: "I never expected it to be this kind of place. Not only are there so many unexpected things, but there are also demonic cultivators mixed in..."
"Who knew that person, seemingly so upright and honest, was actually harboring malicious intentions?" someone else shrugged. Few of the remaining cultivators spoke, clearly indicating they didn't intend to get involved in anything other than obvious conflicts, and they didn't care how public opinion would develop.
The cultivators belonging to the Taihui Sect remained silent as well. Yi Xiaohan was extremely annoyed, but Chi Yueying tugged at his sleeve, and in the end, he could only shake his head in annoyance and let out a cold snort.
Just then, a boy walked quickly down from the audience.
Excuse me.
Not long after she finished speaking, someone exclaimed, "Where is the fire? My clothes are on fire!"
Shen Lixia hurriedly walked to Yi Xiaohan's side, her face filled with anxiety: "Master Aunt... what will happen to my senior sister next?"
She believed that her senior sisters were discerning and would not allow her senior sister to be wronged. Sure enough, although they remained silent on the surface, the voices of Yi Xiaohan and Chi Yueying could be heard in her mind.
"With Yan Xueya in charge, those people dare not act rashly. But I'm afraid her spiritual power will be locked and she will be imprisoned on Xuanxu Peak."
“Although she is Xueya’s apprentice…we will certainly protect her, but being associated with the demons, even if the truth is eventually cleared, she is very likely to have all her cultivation destroyed, be exiled, or be confined to Xuanxu Peak for the rest of her life, never to leave. The enmity between humans and demons is far too long and far too deep.”
Chi Yueying sighed.
"Xueya can let go, but they... Many of them witnessed the deaths of their close friends and relatives during the war, and they probably can't let go of the pain, and it's inevitable that they will take their anger out on others."
Shen Lixia frowned, momentarily losing control of her tone, and exclaimed excitedly, "Then why don't they go and besiege that Liu Hua Sword Lord, instead of sending only Aunt Changyi? What's with all the showing off!"
Chi Yueying remained silent for a moment, her expression gradually becoming complex. Shen Lixia belatedly realized that she was blinded by resentment, and the words stuck between her lips and teeth, turning several times, but she couldn't utter a single one.
Fortunately, they only communicated through their consciousness. Chi Yueying raised her hand and gently touched the top of the boy's head.
“People have been going all along, but apart from the sect leader, no one has ever come back alive.” She lowered her eyes, her voice still gentle, but with a hint of sternness.
"Remember, no one has the right to forgive on behalf of others. Their suspicions are not without reason, and we will do our best to protect Yan Shen. You should all rest well these next few days."
Those people are just so annoying...
Especially the sect leader of the Wuji Sword Sect, how could such a good person as Senior Sister Yue encounter such a sarcastic elder?
She had once felt close to Xihe Palace because of Senior Sister Yun, but today she felt somewhat sad. Many other immortals also raised their swords, pointing them at Qiao Yanshen.
Shen Lixia knew it was her own selfishness—being too biased—that made her feel like the whole world was full of enemies at that moment. In the end, she didn't know what to do when Qiao Yanshen decided to take action.
She understands her senior sister.
If it were her, seeing a friend on the verge of death, and knowing she could save them, she would definitely help without hesitation. She would make the same choice as Qiao Yanshen.
However, Shen Lixia was also saddened by this. Because her senior sister still resolutely chose to bear all of this, perhaps her final concern was that it would hurt her feelings, rather than fearing being condemned by everyone. She liked Qiao Yanshen very much for this, yet she also found it extremely annoying... It was precisely because of this that her senior sister was such a gentle yet resilient person.
But what about herself?
Qiao Yanshen always placed himself in an insignificant position.
They clearly made promises to each other!
Thinking about it, her frustration gradually turned into a feeling akin to anger, but then stopped at a sense of grievance. After everyone was dismissed, Shen Lixia paced around the spot twice before finally making up her mind.
She knew where Xuanxu Peak was. Each of the four True Lords had a secondary peak corresponding to one of the four seasons. One of these peaks was reserved for the celebrations of the corresponding season, while the remaining peaks were used for teaching and resource needs. Xuanxu Peak was the place that Yan Xueya had chosen to punish and imprison disciples who had committed offenses within the sect, and it fell under her jurisdiction.
Although she would certainly not leave the decision to one person now, she had a token given to her by her master, so sneaking in wouldn't be difficult.
But there's one more thing...
After leaving the Four Spirits Peak, Shen Lixia found a secluded spot and took out paper and pen.
With the teachings of her master and senior sister, her handwriting has improved considerably. At least it's no longer the case that she could draw talismans with a flick of her wrist. It seems that the pile of paper drafts, half a person's height, in the room has not been in vain.
Respectfully yours,
After putting pen to paper, she remained silent for a long time, unable to continue. This time, it wasn't due to a lack of literary skill, but rather that she had so much to say, yet couldn't find the words to express it. This journey was one of certainty; failure was not an option. Afterwards, she would leave Emperor Taihui, perhaps never to see Yan Xueya again.
At that moment, it felt as if a thousand waves were crashing down, and the high mountain that had been blocking her from the perilous and unknown fate ahead suddenly disappeared, so she could clearly feel the chill rising on her neck.
The time they spent together wasn't actually that long. Cultivators have long lifespans; a few years or even a decade is just the tip of the iceberg. But for Shen Lixia, she had only lived for a little over twenty years when she arrived, so even a few years was a significant amount of time.
Moreover, she didn't want to leave Yan Xueya. Yan Xueya treated her very well, and the place in her heart that belonged to her as a mother had always been empty, but it gradually filled after she became her apprentice. In Shen Lixia's eyes, Yan Xueya was both a teacher and a mother.
Forget it, with Master being so powerful, who can do anything to her?
If you cultivate diligently in the future, you will be able to return one day, or at least send a letter. I am deeply grateful for my master's kindness, and I would like to repay him without causing any trouble.
"Fortunately, I met you; after a lifetime of wandering, I have finally found my home. The journey ahead is uncertain..."
The rustling sound of writing was suddenly interrupted by a smiling question.
What should we write?
Then, there was another rustling sound, and another familiar voice called out, "Found it! I told you the spiritual energy here felt familiar, didn't I?"
Shen Lixia came to her senses. She had been so absorbed in her own thoughts that she seemed to have missed the incoming fluctuation of spiritual energy, assuming it was just some apprentice on patrol. Several figures moved through the shadows of the trees and surrounded her.
Simmons smiled and lowered her head to look closely: "Hmm? The kindness of Master is as heavy as a mountain, as fine as a drizzle..." Before she could finish reading, her mouth was covered, and then Shen Lixia's ears burned. She awkwardly put away the document that was spread out on her lap.
She hesitated for a while before Shen Lixia finally lowered her hand. Seeing her expression, Xi Mengsi suddenly realized, "Oh, I see, fellow Daoist, you've reached that stage..."
A fluffy head peeked over and blinked, "What period is it? What is Senior Sister Shen writing?"
"Alright, alright." Shen Lixia was still a little guilty, but this commotion made her feel better.
What are you doing here?
It refers to Simmons and Lu Changqing standing beside him, as well as Wu Zhuyue and Lin Yuxian who followed behind.
Even Tang Huairou, who had just suffered, came. She seemed to have taken the medicine and was much better, though her lips were still slightly pale. Noticing Shen Lixia's gaze, she slightly curved her lips into her usual reassuring smile.
They were like a few saplings, surrounding Shen Lixia and casting soft shadows.
Wu Zhuyue said, "I'm not too worried about Senior Sister Shen."
Lu Changqing added, "After all, it was Senior Sister Qiao who was in danger. Senior Sister Shen would never stand idly by."
“Let me guess…” Simmons stroked her chin, “You’re planning to go to that Xuanxu Peak, right?”
The purpose of her visit was self-evident; she understood perfectly.
Shen Lixia raised her eyes, slowly scanning the room, and finally sighed resignedly, "Yes." She couldn't hide anything from anyone in front of her—they knew each other too well, and could even guess each other's intentions.
She continued, "The nuns said they would protect Senior Sister, but the best outcome would be the loss of her cultivation, since we've already seen her demonic energy absorbed. The worst, I'm afraid, is..."
She couldn't go on like this. If she was to see things turn out this way, she'd rather sever all ties with everyone right now. If anyone tried to stop her, she'd fight them...
Although the chances of winning were slim, escape was still an option. Just as she was thinking this, a sentence interrupted her thoughts.
"We can help you."
After speaking, Lin Yuxian turned to the others, "No objections, right?"
Wu Zhuyue pursed her lips, "I hope we don't all get expelled together..." Despite saying that, she didn't raise any objections.
We can't expect our senior female students to shoulder everything.
Shen Lixia rubbed her temples—she knew they weren't taking this lightly, but wasn't this dragging others down with them? Just as Wu Zhuyue said, once they were discovered, the punishment wouldn't just fall on her; her friends would all suffer.
She said, "Aren't you afraid we'll all be banished to the Demon Realm to be skinned alive?"
Tang Huairou laughed: "Then let's go, maybe it's not that scary." The others echoed her, seemingly not caring much about how the consequences would unfold.
“Senior Sister Qiao has given me a lot of guidance. She is a very good person and doesn’t deserve this outcome.” Lu Changqing nodded vigorously.
"Just now I almost fell into demonic possession, and it was she who cleansed the demonic energy from me."
Wu Zhuyue thought for a moment and said softly, "Senior Sister is a really good person."
It made her realize that fear could be overcome, and that as long as she became strong, those vicious people could be dealt with with a single sword strike. At that time, it was Qiao Yanshen who first noticed her and offered his help.
“If she hadn’t reminded you to break the formation, even if I had won, I probably wouldn’t have taken your words to heart. Besides…” Lin Yuxian placed her hand on Shen Lixia’s shoulder.
"We are friends."
Actually, two other people haven't arrived yet, but they said they could help hold off the other immortals.
"...Thank you."
Shen Lixia's eyes welled up, and the tears she had been holding back finally spilled out, falling with her words. She rubbed her eyes again, no longer trying to dissuade them, and loosened her tightly clenched lips as she stood up. As if after a rainstorm, the somber atmosphere dissipated, and her gaze sharpened once more.
Shen Lixia looked up at the distant mountain peaks hidden in the clouds and mist.
"We'll begin once the other students have rested."
That way, no one will notice.
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Author's Note: (A procrastination/dragging)
Because it's from the main character's perspective, I didn't write too much about the senior sister's side. The senior sister also has a good relationship with the other members of the main character group. I'll see if I can add some short clips on Weibo later.
She would give guidance to Xiao Lu, since they were both cultivators primarily with water-based spiritual roots; she would exchange ideas with Senior Sister Tang about tea ceremony, chess, or medicine, as mentioned earlier they both enjoyed tea; she would play chess with Xiao Lin, and her understanding of swordsmanship was also a good source of inspiration for upgrading her sword formation; her relationship with Xiao Wu was somewhat complicated, but she had already forgiven him after their previous conflict. It's quite subtle, because she knew that Xia's completely unconcerned attitude would make Xiao Wu uneasy, which is why she said those things back then.
And just like that, everyone's relationship secretly improved (?).
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