She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 85

"The desire to win or lose can cut deeper than any sword's edge."

After exchanging some lighthearted banter, Jiang Tingbai led the group of female cultivators from the Hehun Sect inside.

The beautiful cultivator surnamed Yu at the forefront giggled. "Sword Venerable Jiang, you're too kind. Over the years, I've grown quite familiar with the paths of the Guiyuan Sect."

As one of the top sects in the cultivation world, the Guiyuan Sect frequently hosted grand events.

The logic behind this was similar to how prestigious universities held weekly lectures and activities.

Thus, aside from the Sword Dao Grand Assembly, there were countless other gatherings—such as the Artifact Forging Grand Assembly, Pill Refining Grand Assembly, and Talisman and Formation Grand Assembly—all held within the Guiyuan Sect.

The Hehun Sect rarely missed any of these events, as long as they had a legitimate reason to attend.

As for their true motives...

Well, the cultivators of the Hehun Sect insisted they were there for the activities.

But years of undeniable evidence proved they were actually there for a grand "shopping spree."

For instance, moments after entering, the Hehun cultivators couldn't resist admiring the Guiyuan Sect's outer disciples.

"Truly befitting a great sect like Guiyuan—even the ordinary outer disciples rival the quality of inner disciples elsewhere."

"Indeed." A delicate-looking cultivator covered her mouth with her hand as she exchanged glances with her companions, tittering. "Look at that disciple—so robust and spirited, full of vigor... Ah, he's a body cultivator."

"Body cultivators are fine, but they take too long. Too much of them can grow tiresome. I prefer plant cultivators—more variety..."

Yan Luoyue trailed behind Jiang Tingbai, catching these murmurs carried by the breeze.

Blinking, she kept her expression neutral, though inwardly, she was stunned: Wait, is this a ride her little turtle self is allowed to board?

Glancing at the innocent little snake beside her—Wu Manshuang remained composed, his steps steady, clearly oblivious to the subtext of the Hehun cultivators' conversation.

The contrast between their states of mind was striking.

Feeling a bit too worldly, Yan Luoyue took a moment to reflect.

Yet, despite Wu Manshuang's low presence, the topic somehow circled back to him.

One of the cultivators suddenly took notice of Jiang Tingbai's junior siblings.

A teasing voice chimed in: "In another ten or twenty years, this little junior brother will surely be quite the catch."

"He's a demonic cultivator, so shouldn't we say 'snake catch'?"

"Exactly—snakes are even better. I hear all male serpent clans have two..."

Yan Luoyue didn't catch the rest.

Because Jiang Tingbai's hands descended from above, firmly covering her ears.

With only two hands to spare, Wu Manshuang was left defenseless against the verbal assault.

In Yan Luoyue's abruptly silenced world, she saw the little snake stiffen as if struck by a paralysis spell.

The next moment, though he struggled to maintain his composure, his steps quickened.

Eventually, the usually polite Wu Manshuang outright overtook Jiang Tingbai, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Hehun cultivators.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

No, she wanted to hear! She could handle it!

Senior Brother, you’re covering the wrong person!

Go save the little snake and let her on this ride!

Jiang Tingbai's hands paused, as if he had exchanged a few words with the Hehun cultivators.

A moment later, Yan Luoyue regained her hearing—and the Hehun cultivators' conversation had toned down considerably.

Glancing up at Jiang Tingbai's serene, unflappable expression, Yan Luoyue finally understood why the sect had entrusted him with hosting the Hehun Sect.

—Such formidable communication skills, paired with an unshakable demeanor no matter what he heard, truly made Jiang Tingbai the only man for the job.

Jiang Tingbai gestured politely.

"The Hehun Sect's accommodations have been arranged at the Eastern Splendor Pavilion. Please follow me."

The female cultivator surnamed Yu let out a coquettish laugh.

"Oh, I was just thinking of heading toward the Western Courtyard. Now that Sword Venerable Jiang mentions it, I feel too embarrassed to ask."

Jiang Tingbai smiled faintly. "Between the Eastern Splendor Pavilion and the Western Courtyard, we've set up a dense forest formation precisely to prevent anyone from wandering through and disturbing our esteemed Hehun guests."

Yan Luoyue pondered this and suspected Jiang Tingbai's words carried a double meaning.

"Who said they'd disturb us?"

The female cultivator surnamed Yu deliberately teased Jiang Tingbai, even referencing his earlier joke.

"We're just going to pick our dishes."

The group burst into laughter.

Jiang Tingbai waved a hand. "Fellow Cultivator Yu remains as forthright as ever."

She smiled leisurely. "It's been twenty years since Sword Venerable Jiang departed for Yunning Marsh. Who would have thought your cultivation would reach new heights while your gentle temperament remains unchanged?"

Jiang Tingbai replied evenly, "You flatter me, Fellow Cultivator Yu. Your grace, too, is as it ever was."

"Really?" The female cultivator surnamed Yu teased, "But ever since we met, Sword Venerable Jiang hasn't even spared me a proper glance."

Jiang Tingbai didn’t rise to her provocation, merely shaking his head with a faint smile. "You jest, Fellow Cultivator Yu."

From the ranks of the Hehun Sect, a few girls burst into giggles.

"Alright, Senior Sister Yu, this is your eleventh failed attempt at pursuing Sword Venerable Jiang. Why not give me a chance?"

"Get lost—you’ve already been rejected eight times! It’s my turn—I’ve only been turned down six times!"

"I’m even worse off—only four rejections for me…"

Listening to the Hehun Sect female cultivators tally their rejections from Jiang Tingbai like a menu, even Yan Luoyue, who was merely his junior sister, felt a cold sweat trickle down her temple.

Once they finally managed to send the Hehun Sect cultivators on their way, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang both let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.

"Whew—!"

Jiang Tingbai turned and saw his junior siblings’ theatrical reactions, shaking his head with an amused smile.

He patted each of them reassuringly on the shoulder and whispered conspiratorially,

"To be honest, even I feel relieved."

Yan Luoyue grinned mischievously. "Why so tense, Senior Brother? Being liked by so many beautiful ladies should be a good thing, right?"

Jiang Tingbai couldn’t help but laugh.

"That’s not how it works. A person’s worth lies in knowing themselves."

He ruffled Yan Luoyue’s hair—a rare gesture—and spoke earnestly, as if imparting wisdom to prevent his little sister from being fooled by Hehun Sect cultivators in the future:

"Take their so-called ‘pursuit,’ for example—they don’t actually like me. They’re just cultivation fanatics."

Hearing this, Yan Luoyue gave Jiang Tingbai a surprised look.

Most cultivators who encountered Hehun Sect disciples either acted like righteous gentlemen, sneering at them, or couldn’t resist itching to see if they could take advantage.

She hadn’t expected her senior brother to interpret the sect’s methods this way.

No wonder the Hehun Sect disciples spoke of "pursuit" so casually, yet their attitude toward Jiang Tingbai was more familiar and respectful—even allowing for harmless teasing.

"Mm, I understand, Senior Brother."

Seeing that his junior sister had grasped his meaning, Jiang Tingbai gave her an approving nod.

Straightening up, he retrieved a jade slip from his sleeve and skimmed its contents, a gentle smile soon gracing his features.

"Our next guests are from the Hanson Sect of the Snowy Peaks… Hm, there’s someone among them you two know quite well."

……

Yan Luoyue had initially assumed Jiang Tingbai’s "familiar face" referred to Master Song of the Hanson Sect—the frail yet brilliant artifact forging master who, like Ji Qinghong, had participated in the Thousand Refinements Assembly.

But she never expected the Hanson Sect to bring along Ling Shuanghun!

Yan Luoyue: "!!!"

Wu Manshuang: "!!!"

Wow, this was an unexpectedly delightful surprise.

After nearly a year apart, the trio—Turtle, Snake, and Crane—were finally reunited.

Understanding their excitement, Jiang Tingbai immediately granted his junior siblings a short break.

With a triumphant "Woohoo!", Yan Luoyue grabbed Ling Shuanghun’s hand and flew straight toward Four Pits Peak.

"This is amazing, Xiao Ling! You came to visit so soon! Manshuang and I have missed you terribly!"

Wu Manshuang nodded emphatically in agreement.

"We even wrote you a new letter—it’s sitting on our desk right now. We were planning to send it tonight."

Touched by their affection, Ling Shuanghun responded emotionally—while flapping his wings frantically.

"Yan Luoyue, Wu Manshuang, I appreciate the sentiment," Ling Shuanghun said gravely.

"But could you please get off my back first? Is this how you show you missed me?!"

High in the sky, a white crane soared gracefully—with a turtle and a snake perched precariously on its back.

Yan Luoyue burst into laughter. "Left—left! Now turn southwest a bit… Hahaha! We really did miss you! It’s just been so long, we couldn’t resist sticking close the moment we saw you!"

Wu Manshuang: "Mhm, mhm! Really!"

"I’ll believe that when pigs fly~~~~!"

In response to their excuses, Ling Shuanghun immediately broke into an operatic falsetto, his voice soaring dramatically.

After some extremely reckless flying, the crane finally wobbled to a landing on Four Pits Peak.

The turtle and snake tumbled off the crane’s back in a heap.

Once all three had resumed human form, they sprawled freely on the soft, fragrant grass, breathing in the sweet, fresh scent of the meadow.

"I brought gifts," Ling Shuanghun said mysteriously. "Guess who I met by the Bi Luo River? I managed to get a little something from them—it’s practically priceless outside!"

Had he not mentioned the Bi Luo River, Yan Luoyue might not have guessed.

But with that key clue, plus descriptors like "practically priceless"…

Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang turned their heads simultaneously, exchanging a knowing smile.

"Let me guess," Yan Luoyue said with mock seriousness. "Was it the 108 ways you got dragged underwater by your ankles?"

"Hmm, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‍I’ll take a guess too," Wu Manshuang chimed in. "Could it be the feathers plucked off you by the mermaids?"

Ling Shuanghun: "…"

Ling Shuanghun abruptly sat up, staring at them in surprise. "So you already knew about my experiences in the Bihuo River!"

He opened his palm, revealing two shimmering pearls—teardrops of a mermaid.

Yan Luoyue stuck out her tongue at him. "Ling, you’re behind the times. Nowadays, we grind mermaid pearls into powder to plant trees!"

Ling Shuanghun: "?"

Knowing Yan Luoyue’s penchant for mischief, Ling Shuanghun turned an incredulous gaze toward Wu Manshuang.

Wu Manshuang nodded solemnly. "Yes, Luoyue used them to plant trees."

Ling Shuanghun: "…"

What? Such a sacrilegious way to use mermaid pearls?

Good grief, might as well chop up a jade cabbage and serve it on a platter while you’re at it!

Faced with his wide-eyed disbelief, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang burst into laughter.

The mischievous little turtle and little snake each grabbed an arm, pulling Ling Shuanghun back onto the grass.

Then, taking turns, they filled in the second half of the story for the white crane historian.

"…Long story short, to plant the Mirror Trees, we visited the mermaid tribe and solved the mystery of the mermaid’s whistle."

Yan Luoyue rummaged through the pouch at her waist and pulled out a piece of mermaid silk covered in crimson writing.

Despite having been submerged underwater for at least half a year, the characters remained as vivid as if freshly inscribed.

Ling Shuanghun murmured, "I’m not well-versed in demonic script…"

The recording of history among the demon races only began three thousand years ago.

Before that, they barely had any sense of preserving their own history—how could anyone expect them to understand demonic script?

Still, the white crane eagerly accepted the silk.

After scrutinizing the cryptic symbols for nearly a quarter of an hour, Ling Shuanghun finally ventured his first theory.

"I think this isn’t continuous text… It looks more like a list of some kind."

Yan Luoyue tilted her head. "Why do you say that?"

Ling Shuanghun traced his finger over the pristine silk.

"Simple. If it were continuous text, certain common connecting words would repeat—like ‘of,’ ‘is,’ ‘a’…"

Yan Luoyue mentally added: Or prepositions like "to," "on," "at," "about"…

Any language would have such transitional or linking words.

Ling Shuanghun flicked the crimson characters lightly with his finger.

"But look at these symbols—hardly any repeated shapes. And the strokes seem like they were written by many hands at once."

"So, my guess is… this is a name list."

As for the red pigment used to write on the silk, Ling Shuanghun answered without hesitation.

"According to legend, the blood of a Mirage Maiden can do this."

Among the crane clan’s songs, there’s a love ballad that specifically mentions this.

Ling Shuanghun hummed softly, "Mermaids weep pearly tears, Mirage Maidens’ blood stains deep. Vows etched in silk so fine, promises of love divine…"

As the white crane’s melodious voice trailed off, Yan Luoyue blinked thoughtfully.

Coincidentally, the term "Mirage Maiden" didn’t sound unfamiliar to her either.

—Yes, indeed. This race, known for dwelling within giant clamshells, was also classified among the demon races in Ten Thousand Realms Unite.

"Ling, do you know where we could find a Mirage Maiden?"

Ling Shuanghun shook his head, idly shaking the silk covered in cryptic script.

"Honestly, seeing this silk is the first time I’ve realized Mirage Maidens aren’t just a legend… But in the crane clan’s records from the last three millennia, I’ve found no trace of them."

Similarly, Wu Manshuang’s inherited memories held no knowledge of Mirage Maidens either.

Yan Luoyue nodded, filing the information away for later.

The trio lay back down, and the conversation drifted to other topics.

Ling Shuanghun and Yan Luoyue took turns summarizing their recent adventures.

Ling Shuanghun admitted that after leaving Bihuo River, he’d traveled to the Snow Domain.

Not long ago, he’d been attacked by a demonic beast there and was fortuitously rescued by Master Song, recuperating at Hanson Sect for a few days.

Upon learning that the Sword Dao Grand Assembly—hosted this year by Guiyuan Sect—was about to begin, Ling Shuanghun hitched a ride with Master Song’s group to visit his friends.

Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang shared their own journey to Four Pits Peak.

For instance, how the peak had recently been called Radish Peak.

Or how one of its residents, Second Master Brush, might just share a peculiar kinship with Ling Shuanghun…

Before the two could continue reminiscing about their past exploits as disciples who once swept through the other three peaks, a clear cough sounded from the shade of a nearby tree.

"Little junior brother, little junior sister, were you calling for me?"

The person had concealed their presence so well earlier, blending into the environment like a casually discarded brush on a tree, completely unnoticed by the three of them. It wasn’t until they made their presence known that the trio finally noticed them.

In an instant, Ling Shuanghun let out a startled scream and jumped to his feet.

"Uh… Brother Brush?" Ling Shuanghun tentatively asked, "Are you alright?"

A perfectly good living person—no, a perfectly good living brush—why was it hanging upside down from a tree?!

The jade-like beauty dangled straight upside down, long black hair cascading like a waterfall. In such a tortured posture, the red-robed beauty’s face seemed even paler, enough to evoke pity from most people in the world.

Of course, Ling Shuanghun’s thoughts were much simpler—if it weren’t broad daylight, he’d have thought he was seeing a ghost.

Second Senior Brother Mi Jichen folded his body, untied the red rope suspending him from the tree, and leisurely flipped down to the ground.

He explained, "The weather was nice today, so I made a hammock to nap under the shade. I just woke up and happened to hear my little junior brother and sister mention my name…"

Judging by Ling Shuanghun’s still-shaken expression, his mind was filled with nothing but confusion.

Yan Luoyue: "…"

No, Second Senior Brother, you don’t understand. The hammock in most people’s minds isn’t meant to hang someone upside down.

And certainly not oneself!

Mi Jichen took a careful look at the patch of grass where the trio had been roughhousing, rolling around, and even sprawling out like starfish.

"…"

With a hint of pity in his eyes, he gently shook his head.

"Little junior brother, little junior sister… why are you playing here?"

"What’s wrong?"

Under Second Senior Brother’s gaze, Yan Luoyue immediately sensed something amiss.

She peeked around the grassy area, confirming there were no penalty signs or the like nearby.

Mi Jichen sighed leisurely. "This is Shizun’s favorite patch of grass."

Yan Luoyue was stunned. "Huh?"

Mi Jichen kindly explained, "Shizun usually loves to eat the fresh grass plucked from this very spot…"

"What?" Yan Luoyue hadn’t quite processed it. "Eaten straight after being plucked? Raw?"

Second Senior Brother looked utterly shocked. "Of course. Do rabbits cook their grass before eating it?"

Yan Luoyue: "…"

Well… that made sense.

After Mi Jichen’s reminder, Wu Manshuang’s gaze at the grass visibly grew tense.

Under his intense scrutiny, the previously just messy and slightly wilted grass now looked on the verge of withering entirely!

Yan Luoyue: "!!!"

Right—the little snake was still a plant killer!

Mi Jichen sighed and helpfully suggested, "Shizun will be back today, and he’ll notice the state of this grass at a glance… Why don’t you run for now?"

After all, during the Sword Dao Grand Assembly, Ji Qinghong would find all sorts of excuses to slip away and avoid being roped into duties.

The junior siblings just needed to hide on another peak for a night or two and return once Shizun had left again.

By the time the Sword Dao Grand Assembly ended, the grass would have regrown. Wouldn’t everything be peaceful and resolved by then?

—Such was the thought process of a mature Second Senior Brother.

Mi Jichen’s plan was sound, but he overlooked two things.

First, he didn’t know the extent of Wu Manshuang’s destructive power.

He didn’t realize that after Wu Manshuang’s intense staring, the grass was probably beyond saving.

Second, he severely underestimated just how much trouble these three could cause!

So, after making his suggestion, Mi Jichen watched as the three little heads huddled together, whispering conspiratorially.

Soon, they arrived at a brilliantly devious solution—

They would definitely run, but before that, they needed to find a scapegoat!

No sooner said than done.

Yan Luoyue and the others rolled up their sleeves and immediately went to the back mountain to dig up a nest of baby rabbits.

Then, in a truly shameless move, they dumped the little rabbits onto Shizun’s favorite snack-grass.

They held the bunnies down, forcing them to eat until their tiny bellies were round and full.

Mi Jichen: "…"

Yan Luoyue said with heartfelt sincerity, "In short, the damage to the grass has nothing to do with us. It was all an innocent accident caused by these little bunnies."

Mi Jichen: "…"

When Shizun returns, do you really think he’ll believe that?

At this moment, Second Senior Brother’s soul was deeply shaken by the sheer audacity of these demons.

He silently thought to himself: While the ones eating the grass were, quite literally, a nest of baby rabbits…

—These three in front of him were, without a doubt, three little troublemakers in spirit!

The three little rascals pinned the blame on the rabbits, letting them munch away happily with their split lips while they decisively grabbed their buckets and fled.

Going to Sword Peak might mean being charged for lodging, while their relationship with Talisman Peak wasn’t particularly strong either. After some deliberation, the trio temporarily decided to seek refuge with Senior Sister Chang Lili of Alchemy Peak.

After all, Senior Sister was beautiful and kind-hearted, with no flaws except for her persistent desire to "cultivate" people into existence.

Moreover, they had only recently left Alchemy Peak, so there was a chance their rooms were still reserved for them!

...

With her inclusive scientific spirit, Chang Lili took them in.

Then, that very night, according to reliable sources, Ji Qinghong hastily renamed the peak to "Little Rascals Peak."

Yan Luoyue: "..."

...

During their stay at Alchemy Peak, Ling Shuanghun wanted to borrow the recorded jade slips of Jiang Tingbai’s Sword Dao Grand Assembly under Yan Luoyue’s name.

"Sure, I’ll go to the library tomorrow to borrow them," Yan Luoyue agreed readily. "But what do you need them for, Xiao Ling? To supplement the historical records of the Sword Dao Grand Assembly?"

"No," Ling Shuanghun shook his head solemnly. "When we were attacked by demonic beasts, it was Master Song who saved us."

"He’s a renowned artifact forging master of our time. Though I’m deeply grateful, I have nothing to offer in return—yet I still wish to find a way to repay him."

After much thought, Ling Shuanghun turned his attention to the Sword Dao Grand Assembly.

To this day, everyone only remembers Chu Tiankuo, the champion of that year’s Sword Dao Grand Assembly, as a deranged madman who succumbed to qi deviation, slaughtering his junior disciples and half the innocent townsfolk of Camellia Town.

Yet very few know that Chu Tiankuo’s junior brother was named Song Qingchi—the biological son of Master Song of the Hanson Sect.

Ling Shuanghun sighed. "Back then, Master Song regarded Chu Tiankuo as his own son. When the Snow Pine Sect participated in the Sword Dao Grand Assembly, it was Chu Tiankuo who led the delegation down the mountain. Who could have imagined that in the end, Master Song’s eldest disciple would commit such atrocities?"

Yan Luoyue advised, "I can borrow the jade slip recordings for you. But what is Master Song’s stance on this matter?"

Wu Manshuang added, "If he merely wishes to avoid the subject, only to have the painful memory dredged up again, wouldn’t that just add to his grief?"

Ling Shuanghun frowned slightly.

"You know I’m a historian—I often have access to information others don’t."

"After being rescued by Master Song, I recalled an old rumor—some say Song Qingchi never died. There were sightings of him near Camellia Town..."

"Camellia Town?" Yan Luoyue shuddered. "The same Camellia Town where half the townspeople were massacred?"

Ling Shuanghun nodded gravely. "Exactly."

...

The next day, Yan Luoyue borrowed the jade slip recordings from the library.

With the Sword Dao Grand Assembly currently underway, the sect was buzzing with excitement, and recordings from past assemblies were in high demand among the disciples.

By the time Yan Luoyue arrived at the library, some sessions were already completely checked out.

Using up all their borrowing quotas, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang managed to secure twenty jade slips in total.

Among these twenty, only two contained footage of Chu Tiankuo.

One was a recording of his eleventh match in the tournament.

The other was the awards ceremony at the end of the assembly.

The match itself was unremarkable—no wonder the jade slip had been left behind.

According to the recording, Chu Tiankuo’s opponent that round was not particularly strong.

The man had simply been lucky with his bracket, allowing him to breeze through to the eleventh match without much difficulty.

In contrast, Chu Tiankuo walked onto the stage with a trace of exhaustion on his face, his silver sword robe torn perilously across the chest, revealing glimpses of his lean, well-defined torso beneath.

Clearly, he had just endured a grueling battle in his tenth match.

The sword in his hand was deeply notched at the midpoint, its blade riddled with fine cracks.

With every clash of steel, the fractures in Chu Tiankuo’s blade grew more pronounced.

Suddenly, his opponent’s sword qi shot perilously close—a streak of light grazing Chu Tiankuo’s cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood.

At the same time, Chu Tiankuo sheathed his sword.

The battered blade, unable to hold on any longer, shattered into pieces inside the scabbard.

With his other hand, Chu Tiankuo executed an unarmed disarmament technique.

In the blink of an eye, he seized his opponent’s sword and pressed its edge against the man’s own throat.

"Brother Wei, I yield to you."

The referee immediately declared Chu Tiankuo the winner.

The silver-robed youth bowed slightly, then flipped the sword hilt and returned it to his opponent, presenting the blade flat on his palm.

However, perhaps due to his earlier smooth streak, Brother Wei—now abruptly defeated—snapped in a fit of rage.

The man actually gripped the hilt of his sword, exerting no restraint, and with the blade already pointed at Chu Tiankuo's chest, thrust straight toward his heart!

The strike was swift and ruthless, as sudden as a hare's leap or a falcon's dive.

For a moment, even the presiding adjudicator failed to react in time to intervene.

Yet Chu Tiankuo's reflexes proved even quicker, even sharper!

With a flick of his palm, he deflected the opponent's blade with a single tap of his fingers.

Simultaneously, his retreat was as smooth as flowing oil.

In less than the blink of an eye, he had spun like a top around his adversary, reappearing behind him.

At the same time, a clear, resonant voice rang out above them.

A scholarly-looking youth in a blue robe stood atop the pavilion railing, leaning forward to toss a sheathed sword down to Chu Tiankuo.

"Senior Brother, catch!"

Chu Tiankuo laughed brightly, leaping into the air to snatch the sword mid-flight.

Before his feet even touched the ground, he had already drawn the blade.

Then, in a mirror of his earlier gesture, he reversed the scabbard, gripping the blade itself and delivering a fierce strike to his opponent's back with the dragon-carved hilt!

It was as if this motion carried a silent mockery—or perhaps the supreme disdain of a true swordsman.

—Even if the blade faces me and the hilt faces you, the outcome of this match remains unchanged.

Without so much as a glance at his fallen opponent, who now lay face-first in the dirt, Chu Tiankuo stepped over him with steady strides.

"The desire to win cuts deeper than any blade."

With those words, the silver-clad youth gracefully descended from the platform.

Waiting for him, just half a step away, stood a young woman with a radiant smile.

"Senior Brother, your cloak!"

Before the words had fully left her lips, she had already draped a black greatcoat over Chu Tiankuo's shoulders.

With one hand, he fastened the silver wolf clasp, covering the exposed expanse of his chest.

Affectionately, he ruffled the girl's hair and slung an arm around the shoulders of the blue-robed youth, who had somehow made his way down from the pavilion.

Side by side, the three of them carved a path through the crowd, their figures gradually fading into the distance.

"..."

Yan Luoyue, Wu Manshuang, and Ling Shuanghun took turns reviewing the jade slip's contents.

Only after Wu Manshuang finished watching the recording did the three exchange glances, remaining silent for a long while.

Finally, Wu Manshuang spoke hesitantly, his voice tinged with confusion. "The three of them... seemed so close."

The youth who had thrown the sword, the girl who had draped the cloak, and the swordsman returning victorious from battle—

They were in the prime of their youth, brimming with vigor, like the dazzling blossoms of spring.

Who could have imagined back then—that the most dashing and trusted senior brother among them would one day drive his blade through the chests of the other two?

Yan Luoyue sighed and turned to Ling Shuanghun. "That blue-robed youth... must be Song Qingchi, right?"

Ling Shuanghun nodded, still silent.

His thoughts were clearly still lingering on the scene they had just witnessed.

From this jade slip alone, no one could have guessed that discord would one day fracture the bond between these three.

Yan Luoyue's gaze shifted to the second jade slip. "Shall we watch this one?"

Wu Manshuang and Ling Shuanghun both nodded in unison.

The award ceremony footage was lengthy and rather dull.

Fortunately, the cultivation world didn't save the champion's trophy for last, so they only needed to watch the first segment.

In the recording, Chu Tiankuo ascended the stage, his silver robes gleaming like fresh snow.

A disciple from the Guiyuan Sect presented a tray laden with dazzling prizes.

Yet the silver-clad youth paid them no heed, instead turning to pull two junior siblings onto the stage!

Amidst the audience's gasps and startled exclamations, Chu Tiankuo flashed them all a bold, carefree grin.

"We three—senior brother, junior brother, and junior sister—have journeyed east from the Snowy Peaks," he declared, "to accomplish great deeds together and make our names known across the land!"

The Law Enforcement Elder scowled. "No unrelated persons are permitted on the award platform!"

Hand in hand, the blue-robed youth and the pink-clad girl exchanged mischievous giggles before nimbly hopping down, as light as peach blossoms and their leaves.

Chu Tiankuo, meanwhile, feigned solemnity.

"Really? I wasn't aware. It won't happen again..."

Yet the playful glint in his spirited eyes betrayed his true amusement.

The Law Enforcement Elder huffed in exasperation. "The Sword Dao Grand Assembly is held only once every twenty years, for swordsmen under thirty! Where do you think you'll get a 'next time'?"

The crowd burst into laughter. "Hahahaha!"

Amid the joyous uproar, Chu Tiankuo claimed his laurel.

As Yan Luoyue stopped the playback, she sighed again. "They really did seem so close."

The echoes of those bygone days only made the eventual tragedy all the more poignant.

Wu Manshuang suddenly spoke, his voice firm. "Luoyue, Xiao Ling, let's uncover the truth behind this."

Behind his white veil, his gaze met Yan Luoyue's with quiet resolve.

The trio in the recording reminded him of himself, Yan Luoyue, and Ling Shuanghun.

Perhaps their personalities differed, or their paths of cultivation diverged...

Yet the most sincere bonds of affection, even after decades or centuries, can still pierce through images and transcend space, striking straight to the heart of the beholder.

Perhaps due to the stubbornness ingrained in her nature, Wu Manshuang refused to believe that a friend's heart could change so easily.

"Alright." Yan Luoyue neatly arranged the jade slips and nodded without hesitation. "I was just thinking of looking into it too!"

...

Originally, the trio's initial plan was to wait until the Sword Dao Grand Assembly concluded before investigating the mysteries of Camellia Town.

Unexpectedly, even before the Sword Dao Grand Assembly began, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang had already reached their limit and decided to make a swift escape.

To be fair, their hasty departure wasn't entirely their fault.

Ji Qinghong bore undeniable responsibility for this.

After realizing that his stash of grass snacks had been collectively ravaged by a bunch of little troublemakers, Ji Qinghong must have said something to the sect.

From then on, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang were constantly drafted into service.

The sect assigned them to greet visitors and entertain guests—most of whom happened to have old grudges against Ji Qinghong!

The more magnanimous guests didn't hold it against the juniors and even handed out red envelopes or treasures as gifts on the spot.

The pettier ones, however, would interrogate Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang with forced smiles.

They demanded to know: Why had Ji Qinghong taken these two little runts as disciples?

What made them so special? Could they demonstrate their skills for everyone?

The awkwardness of these moments was akin to being asked by relatives to perform a talent show during the New Year festivities.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Wu Manshuang: "..."

By the third day of this ordeal, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang put their heads together and decided enough was enough.

Before leaving, they each left a note for Ji Qinghong and Jiang Tingbai, then grabbed Ling Shuanghun and bolted under cover of night.

First stop—Camellia Town!

After speeding dozens of miles away in their little flying saucer, Yan Luoyue suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, Manshuang, what reason did you give Master in your note for going on this trip?"

Wu Manshuang answered matter-of-factly, "I told him the truth."

After a brief pause, he seemed to realize something. "Wait... did you...?"

Yan Luoyue hesitated. "Well, I told Master... that I was going to find him some fresh grass snacks and even more voracious little troublemakers!"

Wu Manshuang: "..."

He patted Yan Luoyue's forehead reassuringly. "Don't worry. If we get beaten for this when we return, I'll take the hits with you."

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Yan Luoyue: "..."

Three days later, a paper crane caught up with Yan Luoyue's flying saucer.

The message was from their senior brother, Jiang Tingbai.

He wrote: "Master has renamed our peak 'The Peak of Homeless Turtles.' Do you have any idea why, little junior sister?"