Chapter 13: The Villain's Heart, a Needle Beneath the Sea

Qi Yan smiled faintly, one hand gripping the Bloodthirster sword, the other resting on Yun Zhao’s shoulder.

“Where did you hear that, hmm?”

If he could be reborn, others could as well.

Recalling Yun Zhao’s unusual behavior in this life, Qi Yan grew more convinced that something was amiss with her.

The night wind was strong, causing the Spirit Sword to waver. Bloodthirster emitted a low hum and took over the sword’s duties. The two stood steadily atop its blade.

Yun Zhao forced down her racing heart, caught the trembling Spirit Sword now relieved of its task, and looked Qi Yan straight in the eyes. “You told me.”

Qi Yan blinked in confusion.

“Isn’t that right?”

Yun Zhao said, puzzled, “I asked you just now, and you told me.”

Seeing Qi Yan’s darkened expression, she grew worried. “Qi Yan, did you hurt yourself just now? How could you forget what you just said?”

She urged anxiously, “Let’s hurry to Mu Peak. Master Lu probably hasn’t rested yet.”

As she spoke, Yun Zhao tried to steer Bloodthirster, but Qi Yan stopped her.

“I’m fine,” he said, loosening his grip on her shoulder. “I thought there might be swords with the same name. If it shares a name with someone else’s sword, I can just rename it.”

Yun Zhao was speechless.

So that was it. The mind of a villain—better not guess. It’s like trying to find a needle in the sea; no matter how you guess, you won’t figure it out.

The two stood facing each other for a full five minutes. Yun Zhao felt awkward and cleared her throat. “Well, I’ll head back first.”

As she moved, Bloodthirster suddenly trembled beneath her feet. She instinctively clung to Qi Yan.

“You scared me to death!”

His waist suddenly wrapped around, warmth seeping through clothing to skin. Qi Yan felt as if he had been scorched and nearly threw her off.

Fortunately, he steadied himself, rigid as a wooden post, allowing Yun Zhao to hold on to him like a handrail.

She didn’t realize she had just brushed death’s door. Her voice trembling, she said, “Qi Yan, what happened just now? Maybe switch back? I think my Spirit Sword is safer.”

Oh, that fragile little heart!

Qi Yan communicated with Bloodthirster through his spiritual sense. The sword indignantly protested—it refused to be renamed. Instead, it would just fuse, refine, and break any sword with the same name!

“Ah? So that’s how it is,” Yun Zhao laughed and cried. “Bloodthirster’s reaction is a bit slow—it’s only now catching on.”

Qi Yan pondered. Indeed, in his past life, when wielding Bloodthirster in battle, it charged fiercely forward, but after the fight, it rolled about wildly.

He had thought the sword was ecstatic over victory, but it was actually feeling the pain from battle, which it only sensed afterward.

After communicating with Bloodthirster, it quieted down, swift and steady. Yun Zhao felt as though she could even roll around on it without falling.

She crouched and patted the blade. “You’re so cute and full of character.”

Bloodthirster buzzed twice: Compliments make me so happy!

---

At the summit of Qingyun Peak, the courtyard lights were still on. As they arrived, the young attendant came out.

“Senior Sister Zhao Zhao, why are you back so late?”

Yun Zhao explained, “We passed by the Sword Pool on the way. Ah Yan went to pick a Spirit Sword, so it took some time.”

The attendant gasped, worried. “I just heard from other peak sisters that demons have been appearing near the Sword Pool. Are you alright?”

“We’re fine,” Yun Zhao smiled. “Just a misunderstanding.”

“Xiaotong, put these spirit herbs in the jade box for storage. I’ll need them tomorrow.”

The attendant nodded, taking the storage pouch and heading off to organize.

Yun Zhao yawned. “I was planning to lift your cultivation seal today, but this mess—blame Song Zhiyuan.”

“Ah Yan, you should rest first. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Cultivators didn’t need much sleep, but Yun Zhao had her own internal clock, and she felt sleepy at this hour.

Suppressing her drowsiness, she touched Bloodthirster. “Good night, Bloodthirster. See you tomorrow.”

“I remember there’s a city near the sect. I’ll go with Ah Yan another day to buy you a sword sheath.”

She turned and left, leaving Qi Yan standing there. It took him a while before he angrily returned to his room.

Ignoring Bloodthirster’s howling in his spiritual sea, Qi Yan severed the connection and threw the quilt over his head.

[Affection +5, Current affection 20]

---

Startled awake from a nap, Yun Zhao twisted on her bed like a tangled thread.

So the big villain likes others to treat his sword well? That means she couldn't fall asleep... though she was still quite sleepy.

Before dozing off, she vaguely felt she had forgotten something.

Hmm, what was it?

“...”

Right, the Fuguang Sword!

Yun Zhao opened her eyes again. The illuminating spirit artifact lit up. She hurriedly dressed, rummaged through boxes, and after a long search, finally found the Fuguang Sword at the bottom of one chest.

“Cough, cough, cough! So dirty.”

She lifted the Fuguang Sword onto the table with one hand, first breaking the original owner’s seal, then wiping it with a cloth.

By dawn, Yun Zhao gave up.

She poked the sword. “Are you really this dirty?”

It shouldn’t be.

It wasn’t because of the seal either; she had already broken that.

---

“Forget it,” Yun Zhao set the Fuguang Sword down. “I’ll study it when I have time.”

With daybreak, she didn’t plan to sleep and stepped outside.

After the door closed, the Fuguang Sword on the table trembled slightly.

The herbal bath needed to soak for six full hours. Yun Zhao saw Qi Yan outside preparing ingredients.

She glanced at him. “When did you get up? Is everything ready?”

Qi Yan glanced back. “My ears can’t stand much noise.”

Yun Zhao smiled awkwardly and changed the subject. “Since everything’s prepared, let’s start.”

They entered Qi Yan’s room. Yun Zhao took out a large bath barrel and filled it with hot water.

Following Lu Mingdao’s instructions, she added the spirit herbs in order.

The barrel was insulated to maintain a constant temperature. As the herbs dissolved, the water turned a deep green.

Yun Zhao blinked. “You go in first. I’ll watch the temperature… I mean, monitor the heat. If it cools down, I’ll add more.”

Qi Yan hesitated. “Do you have fire-refining stones? I can handle it myself.”

Fire-refining stones were essential for non-fire-root cultivators for pill refining and artifact forging, whether at home or traveling.

Yun Zhao teased, “Are you shy? Don’t be shy, I…”

The next moment, Qi Yan grabbed her and dragged her outside the door, fuming, “No entry!”

Yun Zhao: “Oh…”

So stingy.

Before the door shut, Yun Zhao quickly tossed a few fire-refining stones inside.

She took out a reclining chair and leisurely lay down, guarding the door for Qi Yan.

Hmm, she remembered that when she first met Qi Yan in the dungeon, his figure was decent, just a bit thin.

She wondered if these days of feeding had helped him gain some flesh.

Water sounds occasionally came from inside. Qi Yan gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as his sealed cultivation was being forcibly restored.

Outside, Yun Zhao slept soundly, hearing no disturbance.

Until a tremendous noise erupted from inside, jolting her awake.

“Qi Yan, what’s wrong?”

She hurried to push the door but it wouldn’t open.