Storm
At night, Lin Yun tossed and turned in bed, the aroma of wine from the banquet still lingering in her nostrils.
Perhaps it was because of her "long-awaited reunion" with her brother today, or perhaps it was because the night was too lively and her nerves were agitated, that she was unable to fall asleep for a long time, so she simply chatted with the system in her mind.
"The Jingyin Sect is very different from what I imagined." But when asked to explain exactly how it was different, she couldn't give a specific answer, because it was roughly similar to the sect she had imagined.
"You don't like a lively atmosphere?"
Today was indeed a bit too lively, but she thought it was nice to have it like this once in a while.
“It has nothing to do with tonight.” She tried her best to find the right words to express what she was thinking. “The Jingyin Sect is too much like the human world.”
It wasn't the detached, otherworldly atmosphere one would expect from a sacred mountain, but rather a vibrant, mundane world steeped in the everyday realities of life. Greed, anger, ignorance, and delusion intertwined and flourished here, along with the desire to save the world and its people. Everywhere in the human world, there was a place like the Jingyin Sect.
"I heard that the task they completed was very difficult, requiring them to stay on high alert at all times. Tonight should be a good opportunity for them to relax."
Lin Yun had never heard of this news before, and she didn't know how the system knew about it. She suddenly opened her eyes and said, "System, it's been a long time since we've talked like this."
"Didn't I chat with you the whole time you went up the mountain?"
“No,” Lin Yun retorted, “we didn’t talk during the time between when I left the sect and when I returned.”
The system was unusually speechless for a moment before replying, "Only three days, that's not long."
Can a system composed solely of data and programs, which is infinitely close to human thought, also fail to understand the unspoken meaning of human words? Or is it deliberately avoiding the topic?
His meaning was fully revealed by his previous silence.
Lin Yun didn't want to make things difficult for anyone, and the system was clearly considered a "person" in her eyes.
She stopped asking questions and remained silent. She closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep, but her mind raced with her conversation with Shen Fengcong that day, her thoughts desperately trying to extract some useful information. Just as she was struggling with this, a letter, its back to the moonlight, appeared prominently in front of her window.
The moon shone brightly, its light penetrating her closed eyes and reaching her sea of consciousness.
He was startled.
But Lin Yunwang reacted very quickly, getting up swiftly to catch the floating letter. The envelope had several large characters written on it: "To my disciple Yunwang." Upon seeing these words, she felt relieved.
The letter in her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, automatically emerged from the envelope and unfolded.
My disciple Yunwang, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person.
Today's affairs in the human realm are nearing completion, and I will be able to return to the Jingyin Sect soon. I will make sure to return before your first trial at the Thousand Towers. I wonder if you have been experiencing any hidden pain in your spiritual platform lately, or if the cracks have widened. The spiritual pearl I gave you will be of great benefit in repairing your spiritual platform, so please be sure to carry it with you at all times.
I wonder if you have ever been to Jiangnan. It is so beautiful and colorful that I'm sure you would love it. I'll take you and Sang Zhao to see the misty rain of Jiangnan someday.
Everything is going well, don't worry.
Lin Yun carefully put the letter away, his attention then shifting to the letter from his master.
She had never been to Jiangnan; she had only seen it in paintings and books. Thinking this, she relaxed and gradually became sleepy.
With a long, steady breath, the system's tense mind finally relaxed, only to hear her murmur in her dream: "...hope for... honesty."
His emotions, which had finally calmed down, were stirred up again. He thought: It wouldn't hurt to be completely honest. But then he remembered his past promises and rejected the idea. He would wait, until the right time, until she had grown a little more, and then he would tell her all the secrets.
Most of the members of Jingyin Sect came from the cultivation world, with the furthest being no more than an hour's journey from the sect. The remaining few, though from the mortal realm, were quite wealthy and could afford flying boats that could travel a thousand miles a day. There were also a few who both lived in the cultivation world and could afford the expenses of flying artifacts, such as Xie Tingshui, who was sitting at this sandalwood table.
The very few remaining individuals who were born into the mortal world and relied solely on flying on swords were Lin Yunwang, who was holding chopsticks at this table.
Lin Yunwang and Xie Tingshui were having lunch in the dining hall at noon, discussing their return date from the previous day.
"You set off so early, why are you so late?"
"There was a little mishap on the way, which delayed me a bit," she replied without changing her expression, while subtly glancing around to confirm her guess—there were more people silently watching her today.
After carefully recalling what had happened since last night, Lin Yun realized nothing was amiss, which only added to her confusion. What was going on today? Lin Yun confided her questions to Xie Tingshui, who subtly glanced around and, sensing something was amiss, leaned close to her friend's ear and said, "I'll go ask around."
Yun made a gesture, indicating that they should split up and act separately.
She walked forward, the gazes following her relentlessly, making her somewhat uncomfortable. She suddenly turned around, and the person who had been staring at her hurriedly tried to do something else, their attempt to cover up the situation only making things more amusing.
Lin Yunwang got along well with his classmates and made many friends through sword sparring. After some investigation, he pieced together the whole story.
Around noon, news of the drunken disciple's punishment the previous night spread throughout the Jingyin Sect, along with information about Lin Yunwang's background. Those long-buried past events and family circumstances were revealed to everyone in the sect like a stage with its curtains lifted.
Previously, the disciples of the Jingyin Sect all knew each other's family backgrounds, though to varying degrees. Lin Yunwang, however, seemed to be an anomaly among them. No one knew where she came from, nor could they discern her future path. Logically, she should have been lost in the crowd, yet she possessed an extraordinary and eye-catching talent.
"It's like a nameless, unclaimed sword, coveted and feared by many." Upon hearing this, Xie Tingshui felt Lin Yun gently pat her forehead. "Where is it nameless or unclaimed?"
Before Yun could retract her fingertips, Xie Tingshui pretended to be in pain and covered her head. "It's just an analogy, you understand? Besides, that's how they see you..." Her voice trailed off.
There were two classmates nearby who had a fairly good relationship with Lin Yunwang. Upon hearing the news today, they came to her residence to visit her and asked with concern, "If there's anything you can help with, please don't hesitate to ask."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yun, who had been frowning, broke into a smile, a rare sight for her; most of the time, she only had a faint, almost imperceptible smile. The other three present were immediately puzzled. Had she been amused by this revelation?
Seeing the astonished looks on everyone's faces, she suppressed her smile.
"Ye Qing, Liang Shiyan, Xie Tingshui," her gaze swept over the three people in front of her as she called out the three names, "Thank you for your concern."
This solemn look made Ye Qing, who was the most shy among them, blush. "Not at all. You've helped me a lot with my studies. Now that you're in trouble, I should help you out."
The girl smiled gently, "I should still thank you."
She smiled and gently pushed the three of them to the door. "Manager Han only granted me half a day off. If you don't go to the Sword Debate soon, you'll have to keep your senior brothers and sisters company after they got drunk last night."
"We're not afraid of being punished, as long as we can help you!" Xie Tingshui turned around abruptly but was stopped by having her shoulder pressed down.
"Nothing really, just taking the opportunity to slack off. I traveled day and night yesterday, my bones are about to fall apart," Lin Yun said jokingly, then added solemnly, "Trust me."
fraud.
Xie Tingshui wanted to say something, but since there were other people present, she could only keep quiet and followed the two of them to the Sword Debate Peak.
"Xie Tingshui, your sword is much sharper today than usual," Manager Han praised.
"Solve it with a sword?"
After Lin Yun's classmate left, the system, which had been slowly wiping the sword, asked a question.
“It’s just routine maintenance.” She put down the sword and picked up the scabbard beside her. “This will be enough to handle it.”
Lin Yun had not lied. This matter would not have a significant impact on her. She was just worried that her family would be disturbed. However, she had already spoken to the sect and Senior Sister Bai about this matter, and they had all promised to protect her family.
"Actually, I've been thinking about that person's motives all day."
This person's methods were too naive; a little investigation would have revealed who was behind it all. Upon careful consideration of their interactions, it turned out to be nothing more than a single argument.
Perhaps they wanted to present her to everyone as if she were naked and completely exposed?
The person behind the scenes failed to achieve their goal; this move had virtually no effect on her.
Lin Yunwang never felt that his ordinary background, tragic experiences, or impoverished life were anything to be criticized about. The vast majority of the Jingyin Sect members were also normal people, and even if there were strange looks, they were mostly gentle gazes filled with pity. Although he felt slightly uncomfortable, he willingly accepted this kindness.
"My good days have long since arrived."
Lin Yun continued wiping the sword, her clear eyes reflected in the mirror.
Waiting patiently for tonight.
The next day was another new day.
Xie Tingshui stared at Lin Yun's retreating figure as she practiced her sword, feeling quite puzzled. She seemed unaffected by the turmoil. Her frantic training a few days ago had improved considerably, and after returning home for the Qingming Festival, she was as energetic as if she'd been injected with adrenaline again.
The path to immortality is long and arduous.
This is a fact that every cultivator who formally enters the world of cultivation is fully aware of. Most cultivators face endless training and tempering, and then await death one day.
No one knows what the end of cultivating immortality is. Even Qiming, who is now recognized as the number one cultivator in the world, cannot answer this question.
So why work so hard? For an outcome that may never be known? Xie Tingshui was lost in thought and didn't notice that Lin Yun had already arrived beside her.
As if possessed, he asked, "Why do you strive so hard to cultivate?"
Lin Yunwang was drinking water at the time. Hearing this, he swallowed the water in his mouth and asked back, "Why not try harder?"
Xie Tingshui racked her brains, "Not so tiring?"
After hearing this, she thought about it seriously. After a while, Xie Tingshui was about to give up on continuing the question when Lin Yun gave her an answer.
"If the hardship I'm going through now is for a stable future, I'd be happy to do it. As the saying goes, 'no pain, no gain,' and many things can't be solved by closing your eyes." She joked and went back to practicing her sword.
As the sun set, the girl wiped the sweat from her brow, looked around, and realized that spring, unique to the Jingyin Sect, had arrived.
Even if it arrives a little later than elsewhere, it will eventually come.
A row of willow trees was planted next to the arena. The willow leaves had not yet fully grown, only small buds had sprouted. From a distance, they looked like a green veil.
Lin Yunwang stood under this tree, watching the tender buds turn into green leaves, the willows rustling, and the cicadas chirping in the summer.
In a dimly lit room, only the candle on the table cast a faint glow. She seemed to be deep in thought, with most of her face hidden in darkness.
When will the change come?
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