IVYSCP - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Ling Qingyue lay sprawled on the bed, using her spiritual energy to steer a small wooden sword in front of her eyes. The little sword traced a set of sword techniques through the air with fluid grace.
Then, deciding that only a sword was somewhat dull, she condensed a tiny figure out of spiritual energy and directed the little person to practice swordplay.
Pei Si entered to see her thoroughly entertaining herself, a light trace of amusement rippling in the depths of her eyes.
"What did Lu Yao come here for so late?" Ling Qingyue asked without turning her head, still focused on directing her little figure to practice.
"Delivering medicine."
The little figure sheathed its sword with impressive formality, then bowed toward Ling Qingyue and dispersed.
Ling Qingyue sat up and settled cross-legged, looking over with puzzlement. "Delivering medicine? For Lin Zhao and Xue Zizai?"
"No. Yours." Pei Si approached holding a medicine bottle. "The wounds on your back need treatment too."
"Oh."
Pei Si reached the bedside. Ling Qingyue lifted her head to look at her.
Pei Si indicated her inner robe with a glance.
Take it off and apply the medicine.
Ling Qingyue slowly turned around and reached up to loosen the sash. The inner robe slid along her shoulders and caught at the crook of her arms, piling loosely around her waist.
The small braid tied at her back was swept forward over her shoulder. Ling Qingyue felt a familiar presence draw near.
Cool ointment smeared across her wounds, and Ling Qingyue barely stifled a muffled groan.
"What is it? Did I hurt you?" Pei Si's voice held a trace of tension.
Ling Qingyue pursed her lips and shook her head. Pei Si's touch was very light, but that was precisely the problem. The elusive, hovering contact brought an itching sensation that left everything from behind her ears down to her lower back feeling numb.
Once the medicine was applied, Ling Qingyue hastily pulled her clothes back into place. She even removed her hair ribbon, letting her hair tumble loose.
"Sleep."
With that, she promptly sprawled back down, turning her face toward the inner side of the bed.
Pei Si raised a hand and extinguished the lamp. Just as her hand settled on her own sash, a faint ripple of spiritual energy stirred from behind, so slight it was almost imperceptible.
A cleansing technique.
Right after applying medicine, why would she…
Pei Si's eyelashes trembled. A realization dawned on her, and the corners of her lips curled into a smile.
Lying down beside Ling Qingyue, Pei Si propped herself up on an elbow and reached out to touch a hidden ear. It was scorching hot.
Ling Qingyue gave a start, her tone tinged with embarrassment and irritation. "What are you doing?"
A little fierce, as if she might bite at any moment.
Pei Si released her hand and considerately brushed back her hair, hiding her shyness even more thoroughly.
Ling Qingyue knew she was not the most well-behaved sleeper, but she never imagined she could end up sleeping on top of Pei Si. She had started the night lying face-down on the bed, but upon waking up, she found herself half-sprawled across Pei Si.
Four eyes met. Ling Qingyue struck first like a guilty accuser. "Why are you holding me?"
Pei Si's eyes flickered with a momentary flash of surprise.
She actually knew? Last night she had indeed been the one to pull Ling Qingyue over to sleep like this.
Ling Qingyue caught her expression but interpreted it differently. She felt Pei Si was saying: we are married now, isn't it natural to hold each other while sleeping?
Yes, they were married. So what if she was lying on top of Pei Si? She could even pin her down while sleeping if she wanted to.
Ling Qingyue tried to imagine that and felt it would probably be nice.
After all, she had slept quite well last night, not troubled in the slightest by the wounds on her back.
Some sounds came from outside. It was probably Lu Yao arriving.
The two of them tidied up and went out. Having spiritual energy was indeed far more convenient than in Linshui Town. A cleansing technique with a wave of the hand, and one emerged cool and ethereally detached, the other warm and elegantly handsome.
Opening the door, they discovered it was not only Lu Yao but also Nie Wenxiao.
Lu Yao was decocting medicine off to the side. Nie Wenxiao sat at the stone table, her expression solemn as she leafed through the documents in her hand. Runic script flickered and shifted across the documents, occasionally popping up with the insignias of various immortal sects.
Ling Qingyue saw, from a distance, the insignias of Shangtianqiong and Lingxu Immortal Palace.
It seemed another assembly was about to be convened. She had seen plenty of notification documents like this before.
Nie Wenxiao lifted her gaze, saw the two of them approaching, and gave a slight nod.
Pei Si nodded back in return. Ling Qingyue, however, raised her hands in a proper formal salute.
Nie Wenxiao was a sect leader. Ling Qingyue was no great senior, so the proper courtesies were not to be omitted.
Nie Wenxiao's gaze paused briefly on her, then she drew out a diagram and placed it on the table. "This contains all the peaks, valleys, and grotto-heavens of Piaomiao Sect, along with the relevant information of the elders of each peak."
Pei Si glanced at it. "The formation will be laid in three days. Beyond the spiritual vein resources of the peaks, valleys, and grotto-heavens, if Sect Leader Nie is willing, it would be best to produce two of the sect's hidden treasures to anchor the formation."
Nie Wenxiao considered for a moment, then said gravely, "The Treasure Pavilion does indeed have several dharma artifacts. If the sect's grand formation requires them, you are free to go and select whatever is needed."
Pei Si nodded, her expression indifferent.
Off to the side, Ling Qingyue was astonished. A place like a sect's Treasure Pavilion, and anyone could just walk in and pick what they wanted? Sect Leader Nie, you truly are generous.
But then she reconsidered. The sect's hidden treasures were being used for the sect's grand formation. Using one's own things for one's own purposes, being a little generous was only proper.
Just then, Nie Wenxiao received a transmission message. Her expression turning grim, she departed Water Cloud Dwelling.
Watching her hurried silhouette, Ling Qingyue sighed, "Being a sect leader is truly not easy. Good thing my master set her eye on my senior sister back then."
She would never be able to handle such a position.
Pei Si glanced at her, an unreadable look in her eyes. "How do you know you might not do better than her?"
Ling Qingyue laughed when she heard this and shook her head firmly. "Senior Sister takes everything into account and is thorough in all aspects. As a sect leader I would certainly be no match for Senior Sister. But if we were comparing swordsmanship, I'm not necessarily sure to lose. Do you believe that?"
Pei Si nodded without hesitation. "I believe it."
Ling Qingyue's eyes widened a little, bright and clear. "You believe that? Why? My senior sister is currently the Sword Venerable, you know."
Pei Si said flatly, "So what? You were once called the Little Sword Venerable too. If not for… your swordsmanship would not be beneath hers."
Ling Qingyue laughed until her eyes curved, leaning over to whisper, "So you really used to pay attention to me? You know this too?"
Pei Si pursed her lips, a flicker of frustration rising in her heart.
She had always paid attention and cared. It was just a pity that Ling Qingyue could never see it.
Raising her hand, she vented her frustration by pinching someone's cheek, her tone helpless. "Yes."
Ling Qingyue laughed and leaned against her.
"Lu Yao!" Ling Qingyue called out to Lu Yao, who was busy decocting medicine.
Lu Yao looked up in surprise and delight. "Senior!"
Ling Qingyue wrapped her arms around Pei Si's neck while waving at Lu Yao. "Today I want to spar swords with you."
Pei Si supported her waist, a bit worried. "How about in a couple of days? Wait until your injury heals a bit."
"I'll be gentle. Won't use any strength." Ling Qingyue swayed her shoulders, causing Pei Si's body to gently sway along with her. "I want to spar today."
Pei Si could tell she was very happy and did not try to dissuade her further.
After drinking the medicine, Ling Qingyue found two wooden swords and tossed one to Lu Yao.
"Lu Yao, today you attack and I defend. No using spiritual energy, only sword moves and forms. If there's a single move I fail to defend against, I'll pass on a set of sword arts to you. How about that?" Ling Qingyue considered for a moment, feeling she could not bully a junior too badly, and drew a circle under her own feet. "Or if you can force me to step outside this circle, that also counts."
Lu Yao was anxious to prove herself. "Senior, don't underestimate me!"
The circle was so small that the slightest movement would step outside it. And Senior even had one hand behind her back, clearly planning to fight with only one hand.
Ling Qingyue raised an eyebrow. "Then give it a try."
Lu Yao recalled their previous sparring session at the back mountain of Linshui Town. Although she had lost every exchange of moves then, Senior had not set those conditions at the time. Lu Yao felt she could do it now.
Piaomiao Sect was not like Shangtianqiong, which specialized solely in swordsmanship. Its disciples cultivated swords, sabers, and various other implements. Piaomiao Sect's sword arts, however, were light and swift, winning through speed, a point Ling Qingyue had already experienced during her earlier sparring with Lu Yao.
A shadow of sword light flickered before her eyes. Ling Qingyue closed her eyes.
Lu Yao's heart lurched, her sword form nearly collapsing in shock.
A muffled thud rang out as the two wooden swords collided.
Ling Qingyue tilted her head. "Again."
Lu Yao gripped her sword hilt tightly and steadied her mind, recalling the sword arts she had previously learned. Move after move, she arced her blade forward.
Nearby, Pei Si was looking over the diagram sent by Nie Wenxiao, while the sound of one muffled thud after another reached her ears.
The longer they fought, the more silent it became.
Lu Yao stared at the person before her who held her sword in a single hand, eyes calmly shut, and a tempest surged through her heart.
Earlier, Lu Yao had thought Senior's swordsmanship was probably on par with her own master's. Her master was already the most skilled in swordsmanship in Piaomiao Sect. But only now did she realize with a jolt that Senior's swordsmanship far surpassed even her master's. Saying such a thing sounded somewhat treasonous, yet it was the truth.
She had also sparred with her master before, but never once had she felt that her own sword was dead while her opponent's sword was alive.
Senior's sword was alive. Despite being only a wooden sword, she had achieved the realm where person and sword were one.
After a long pause with no next strike, Ling Qingyue opened her eyes and saw Lu Yao frozen in place, looking dazed.
Ling Qingyue casually twirled a flourish with her sword and laughed. "What's wrong? Giving up already?"
Lu Yao lowered her eyes, somewhat dejected. "Senior is too strong."
Ling Qingyue nodded and accepted it. "I know."
From the other side, Pei Si let out a soft laugh.
Lu Yao shot her a mournful glance.
Not even a bit of consolation?
Ling Qingyue stepped out of the circle and patted her shoulder. "Come on, don't be discouraged. I've practiced sword arts for how many years? You've only been at it ten or twenty years. If I weren't a bit more formidable, wouldn't that be a waste of all my cultivation?"
Lu Yao sounded a little doubtful. "Really?"
She still suspected the person before her was an unparalleled genius of sword arts.
"Of course." Ling Qingyue thought for a moment, then reached out and ruffled Lu Yao's hair in a manner befitting a senior's care for a junior.
Pei Si watched her hand, her fingertip tapping lightly on the tabletop.
Lu Yao took a deep breath. "I will keep working hard!"
Ling Qingyue nodded with gratification.
After midday, Ling Qingyue dragged Lu Yao back into sparring. This time, she attacked while Lu Yao defended. Lu Yao could not block a single move and nearly crumbled into tears.
Ling Qingyue coaxed her with a few words, afraid she might scare her partner off and leave herself with no one else to play with.
Fortunately, Lu Yao had a temperament that grew more determined with each setback. After wilting momentarily, she quickly grabbed her sword and came back for more.
In the evening, Lin Zhao woke up. Her emotions were a bit better than the day before. She talked with Ling Qingyue and the others about some of the things she had witnessed.
Trapped in the small courtyard, all she had seen were the flames that filled the sky and Xue Zizai being thrown inside.
Ling Qingyue and Pei Si exchanged a look. They understood that the crux of the Linshui Town incident rested with Xue Zizai.
But before Xue Zizai could wake, people from the Immortal Alliance came knocking on Piaomiao Sect's door.
Thousands of cultivators arrived riding the air, with Cui Heng at their head. Holding the Immortal Alliance Decree, they invoked the charge that Piaomiao Sect had harbored an evil spirit in secret and intended to search the sect.
Across the sect grand formation, Nie Wenxiao's face was as dark as water. "Piaomiao Sect has withdrawn from the Immortal Alliance. The Alliance no longer has the right to meddle in Piaomiao Sect's affairs!"
A mocking, disdainful smile hung at the corner of Cui Heng's lips. "This visit is not a consultation. Harboring an evil spirit is an offense the hundred sects cannot tolerate. Even though Piaomiao Sect has withdrawn from the Immortal Alliance, for the stability of the immortal realm, Piaomiao Sect is still obliged to cooperate with the investigation."
Nie Wenxiao raised her hand, revealing her long blade. Word by word, she enunciated, "I. Will. Not. Cooperate."
Cui Heng sneered coldly and signaled with a wave.
Several cultivators suspended a massive crossbow in midair. The crossbow's body was wholly dark red, ringed by enveloping flames. Even the bolt seated upon it was crafted from the spine of a golden-winged bird, capable of piercing anything.
"Sun-Chasing Crossbow!" Ling Qingyue stared at the crossbow hovering in the air in disbelief.
If today's matter were merely Cui Heng's personal vindictiveness, that would be one thing, but the Sun-Chasing Crossbow was a hidden treasure of Shangtianqiong, impossible to take out without the sect leader's approval.
The only time Ling Qingyue had ever seen the Sun-Chasing Crossbow was during the Immortal-Demon War when it was used against the Formless Demon Lord. But now it was being brought here, aimed at Piaomiao Sect.
A surge of resentment and anger welled up in Ling Qingyue's heart, not directed solely at Cui Heng.
But also at her senior sister, Lou Wudu.
Comments
Post a Comment