Chapter 60: Phoenix Perched on the Wutong Tree (End) I only hope she can treat me as...
Finally, there was no wind, no sound, and the world seemed to stand still. A moment that seemed as long as an eternity.
Lian Qiang tried to loosen her fingertips, but her knuckles, stiff from clenching them tightly, reacted slowly, and she wondered: Did she... take it?
She breathed a sigh of relief, the sharp rise and fall of her chest indicating she was still alive and well. Lian Qiang looked up and saw the clan leader leisurely gathering his robes and sword before returning to his high seat.
"You're one of the few who can face my sword with open eyes," the high-seated clan leader said teasingly.
Lian Qiang didn't know how to respond. Thinking the most difficult moment was over, she bravely responded to the teasing, "Closing my eyes won't necessarily make the pain any less severe."
After she said this, she felt as if her internal organs had been dislocated, and the pain that she had not felt before came all over her. Lian Qiang immediately vomited a mouthful of dirty blood, fell to the ground, and the Tongbei Sword also fell to the ground.
"What's going on?" Chi Xingji, who was only allowed to watch from the sidelines, finally couldn't contain himself anymore and ran over with an anxious look on his face.
Lian Qiang calmed her breathing and tried to wipe the blood from the corner of her lips, but her arm was numb from the excessive tension, and her raised hand was shaking. Seeing this, Chi Xingji injected spiritual energy into her to heal her.
Spiritual energy trickled into her body, nourishing her shaken soul and body. Her internal organs finally felt better. Lian Qiang evened out her breathing and waved to Chi Xingji, "...I'm fine."
Her face was extremely pale, and her words were totally unconvincing. Chi Xingji was relentless and continued to pester her. Lian Qiang couldn't persuade him, so she simply emptied her mind and closed her eyes to rest.
Recalling the clan leader's three sword strikes, besides the overwhelming might, Lian Qiang also sensed some of the sword's meaning in this life-or-death situation. She didn't want to let it go, wanting to keep it for her own use. After all, this opportunity to confront a powerful being was a rare one.
Seeing that she had a hint of enlightenment, the clan leader smiled sincerely and praised her, "Your understanding is commendable."
Lian Qiang opened her eyes and smiled wryly, unsure whether to accept this precious yet weighty assessment. Thinking back to the past, her nominal master, Xi Wenji, had always told her she was stupid, that being admitted to the inner sect was a golden opportunity, and that she must be diligent. He had never once praised her so much.
Furthermore, if it weren't for Chi Xingji's sympathy and help, it would have been a blessing for her to be seriously injured by the three swords, otherwise she would have probably died on the spot.
Thinking of this, she gently broke free from Chi Xingji's support, picked up the sword on the ground, and gently stroked the sword, expressing her silent gratitude and responding with sympathy and trembling.
Lian Qiang stood up and handed Tongbei back to Chi Xingji, then turned around and bowed to the woman on the high seat: "Junior thanks you for your guidance!"
The patriarch had left some strength in this competition, and the three of them understood it tacitly.
The woman on the high seat raised her chin proudly in response. Chi Xingji spoke up at the right moment: "Then can you fulfill your promise, Senior?"
"Of course, I wouldn't bother to go back on my word," the clan leader tapped the armrest with his fingertips and cast his gaze on Lian Qiang again. "I can naturally give you the Phoenix Fire now, but I feel..."
"I wonder if senior has any further advice?" Seeing that she was hesitant to speak, Lian Qiang asked patiently. Since the clan leader had agreed, she also trusted his character and was not in a hurry.
The clan leader rubbed his forehead and spoke slowly, "It's said that there's a treasure on Mount Chonghua called the Yingxin Mirror. With just one look, one can peer into one's true heart and sharpen one's resolve. Those with the strongest resolve can even glimpse past and present lives. It will be very useful in sharpening your mind."
"Zhonghua Mountain... I seem to have some impression of this treasure," Lian Qiang said thoughtfully. "I remember that the Yingxin Mirror wasn't ownerless. Its owner was Lingjun Sword Lord?"
"good."
This conversation caused Chi Xingji to frown. He often retreated into seclusion and was unfamiliar with worldly affairs. Lian Qiang, seeing his confusion, tilted her head and smiled, "I'll tell you more later."
"Okay." This sentence was just right to comfort him, and Chi Xingji was no longer troubled.
The clan leader's gaze darted between the two of them. Seeing that Chi Xingji was so anxious that he hadn't even sheathed his sword, he found it amusing and coughed softly, "If you can get Yue Lingjun's help, your plan might be more successful. Then, it won't be too late to come find me."
Lian Qiang hurriedly bowed again: "Thank you for the advice, senior!"
The clan leader waved his hand, and Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji took their leave. When they reached their residence and helped Lian Qiang sit down, Chi Xingji immediately asked, "Who is this Lingjun Sword Lord you're talking about?"
His curiosity was evident, unlike before. Lian Qiang thought to himself, both of them were sword cultivators, and both were called Sword Kings by the world. Could it be that sword cultivators were particularly sensitive to their fellow cultivators?
She didn't keep the secret any longer and just told the story directly.
This Lingjun Sword Master, whose real name is Yue Lingjun, has risen to prominence in recent years. Not only is she highly likely to ascend, but she's also a mere casual cultivator, without the support of a sect or aristocratic family. Her single-handed efforts to reach her current position speak volumes about her talent and diligence.
Rumor has it that she entered the Tao with her heart and once challenged nine sword cultivators of the same realm to a duel. She fought all nine of them alone without being at a disadvantage. Thus, Yue Lingjun became famous in one battle.
But apart from these outstanding achievements, what people talk about most is her tortuous story that is like a storybook.
Yue Lingjun has a childhood sweetheart named Qiu Ruozhao. They are in love with each other, but unfortunately they cannot grow old together.
Her husband Qiu Ruozhao did not have any outstanding talent in the way of cultivation. Yue Lingjun never expressed any dissatisfaction with this. She mobilized all her strength to search for rare treasures in an attempt to make his lifespan the same as hers so that he could accompany her longer and longer.
However, Yue Lingjun's wish was not fulfilled. After all, it is difficult for mortals to fight against fate. Although she extended Qiu Ruozhao's lifespan for a long time, it also delayed many opportunities for cultivation. Even her cultivation seemed to stagnate and regress.
——Speaking of this, Lian Qiang glanced at Chi Xingji calmly. He lowered his eyes, listening very seriously, and did not notice her little action.
To be fair, Lian Qiang is not someone who cares too much about rumors from the outside world. The reason why she has such a detailed understanding of Yue Lingjun is... it is because she puts herself in the situation.
"If that were all, it would be considered normal," Lian Qiang's smile gradually turned bitter. "Later, Yue Lingjun obtained the Yingxin Mirror. This should have been a great help to her, as she was cultivating the Dao through her heart."
What happened next adds an indelible and heroic touch to this story. Qiu Ruozhao accidentally touched the Yingxin Mirror. No one knows what he saw in the mirror, but it is known that his personality changed drastically. One day, after leaving a suicide note, he resolutely committed suicide.
Every word in that suicide note was from his heart. He said that he did not want to drag down his beloved wife any longer and only hoped that she could regard him as a stepping stone on the road to ascension. She didn't need to look or think, but just keep moving forward.
Throughout history, there have been many examples of people becoming strangers to their closest relatives because of practicing Taoism, and even killing others in pursuit of the Tao. However, Qiu Ruozhao was a rare example of someone who was so decisive as to do such a tragic act, which was tantamount to sacrifice, for the sake of the other person's future.
The death of her husband dealt a heavy blow to Yue Lingjun, and she was devastated, but the gossip and speculation from others did not stop.
Some say Qiu Ruozhao was heartbroken after seeing his wife grow old together in the mirror. Others say Qiu Ruozhao must have anticipated that he would not have a happy ending, and rather than growing tired of each other, he decided to let Yue Lingjun remember him forever by appreciating the good things he had left.
As for the real truth, I'm afraid only Yue Lingjun himself knows.
After finishing this long story, Lian Qiang drank a whole cup of warm tea in one breath, feeling extremely melancholy.
Ask yourself, if she were Qiu Ruozhao, she would at most break up with her wife. Perhaps, she doesn't even have the courage to propose a separation... Does Qiu Ruozhao really love Yue Lingjun so deeply that he is willing to selflessly sacrifice his life?
Or... her feelings for Chi Xingji are unattainable?
"What are you thinking about?" Chi Xingji suddenly spoke, interrupting her thoughts.
Lian Qiang squeezed the teacup tightly, then loosened it again, carefully choosing her words: "I'm thinking, Qiu Ruozhao is really deeply in love..."
"Are you deeply in love?" Chi Xingji picked up the teapot without any expression and poured a cup of hot tea into Lian Qiang's empty cup.
His tone was clearly a little doubtful, and Lian Qiang asked back, "Isn't it?"
"It's not a good thing to talk about people behind their backs. Besides, the dead are the greatest." Chi Xingji pushed the teacup towards her.
He did not express his opinion clearly, but this noncommittal attitude said a lot.
Lian Qiang had no intention of arguing with him and carefully picked up the hot tea and sipped it.
Chi Xingji guessed that he had the same idea as her, so he simply mentioned the schedule: "Then let's set off for Chonghua Mountain in five days."
After drinking half a cup, Lian Qiang's mouth was no longer dry and she had enough energy to speak: "Why don't we leave as soon as possible? I'm always afraid... the longer the night, the more trouble I'll have."
For some reason, she inexplicably felt that this journey might not be smooth.
When she said this, Chi Xingji's eyes turned a little serious: "Leave as soon as possible, can your body handle it?"
Lian Qiang was speechless. She had been holding on all night, and if she continued on her journey directly, the exhaustion would be too great.
Seeing her calm expression, Chi Xingji unconsciously slowed down his tone: "Don't worry. No matter what, your health is the top priority. Everything else can be put on hold."
In the candlelight, light and shadows played across his features. Combined with his gentle tone, Lian Qiang was a little hesitant to look directly at him, and replied softly, "I understand."
It was getting late, and Chi Xingji only left after watching Lian Qiang lying down obediently with her eyes closed.
Lian Qiang listened to the footsteps disappear in front of the door. She couldn't help but open her eyes and asked, "What happened? Did something fall?"
After a moment, Chi Xingji replied, "...Nothing."
After that, the footsteps sounded again, and as the door closed, they gradually faded away.
Lian Qiang slowly fell asleep.
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