Chapter 20: A Living Transformation
The spirit vessel was much faster than sword flight; in just five days, they arrived at the location of the sect’s grand competition.
When the Qingyun Sect arrived, the other three great sects renowned across the cultivation world—Heavenly Sword Sect, Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and Spirit Talisman Sect—were already there, each having settled in their own camp.
The sect leaders of the three sects came out to exchange pleasantries with Master Guiyuan, while the other disciples, under the elders' direction, began pitching tents within the Qingyun Sect’s territory.
Qi Yan was exceptionally capable in combat, while Yun Zhao was too lazy to move and simply directed him, “A Yan, I’m on your left.”
Lately, his mood had been quite good, and he was willing to follow orders.
Mu Qianqian glanced around decisively and said, “Zhao Zhao, I’m on your left.”
Two disciples from Cold Moon Peak followed closely behind; the five of them made up a small group, while the other peak disciples gathered around Song Zhiyuan to set up tents.
“Junior Sister Yun,” a male disciple approached, looking somewhat reserved, “may I join you?”
Yun Zhao looked at him hesitantly, “You are...?”
The young man gave a shy smile, “I’m Lin Shu.”
Lin Shu…
Did she know him?
“You’re Lin Shu?!”
Mu Qianqian, busy nearby, was astonished. She circled Lin Shu several times before recognizing familiar traces.
She exclaimed, “Little Lin, what happened to you over the years? How did you lose half your body like this?”
If she remembered correctly, ten years ago Lin Shu had been an enormous fat boy weighing over four hundred jin, struggling even to walk.
He hadn’t gained that weight by overeating; rather, he was poisoned in the womb, and the weight was impossible to shed.
Later, he joined the Qingyun Sect and took Lu Mingdao, the master of Wood Peak, as his teacher. Lin Shu had only appeared twice publicly within the sect before Lu Mingdao took him away to seclude himself and detoxify.
Now, if Lin Shu didn’t reveal his identity, even Mu Qianqian would not have recognized him.
A true transformation!
Lin Shu smiled bashfully, “Senior Sister Mu, Master helped me detoxify.”
“I see,” Mu Qianqian nodded, addressing Yun Zhao, “Zhao Zhao, do you remember him? He’s the one we rescued heroically ten years ago.”
Lin Shu pointed to himself, confused, “Hero? Me?”
Mu Qianqian waved her hand, “Don’t mind the details.”
Yun Zhao was puzzled. The original owner didn’t have this memory, but Mu Qianqian sounded so certain that she replied, “I have a faint impression, but it’s not very clear.”
Mu Qianqian was carefree, “We only met twice; it’s normal not to remember clearly.”
“At that time, little Lin was bullied by some kids, and we happened to pass by and stepped in to save him.”
Mu Qianqian recalled everything vividly, even the techniques they had used.
Yun Zhao played along earnestly, nodding occasionally as if she remembered.
After finishing, Mu Qianqian was reluctant to end the conversation, “By the way, why didn’t I see you on the spirit vessel these past few days?”
Most of Wood Peak’s disciples were alchemists, uninterested in fighting. She had thought none of them were participating in this sect competition.
“I was in my room refining pills,” Lin Shu pulled out five bottles, “These are temporary hemostatic pills I concocted over the past five days, one bottle per person.”
Mu Qianqian opened one to find ten second-grade hemostatic pills inside. Though low-grade, for Lin Shu to have refined fifty pills in five days showed remarkable talent.
Mu Qianqian accepted without hesitation, smiling warmly, “Thank you! I’ll give you this mysterious-grade spiritual artifact.”
Lin Shu declined repeatedly, but Mu Qianqian insisted, shoving it into his hand.
Patting his shoulder, she said generously, “Little Lin, stick with us from now on; I guarantee you’ll dominate in the secret realm!”
Lin Shu: “...”
But that wasn’t necessary.
Mu Qianqian went to help Lin Shu set up his tent, while Yun Zhao went to find Qi Yan.
He was tidying his tent, disliking the crowd outside.
“A Yan,” Yun Zhao poked her head into the tent, “can I come in?”
“Not going to discuss your heroic deeds again?”
Qi Yan took out tea utensils and poured two cups.
Yun Zhao grabbed one and drank, “How did you know I was thirsty?”
She ignored his slightly sarcastic remark without losing favor.
Qi Yan only showed a sour attitude when she spoke to Song Zhiyuan, which caused his affection to plummet.
It was unclear whether he was truly in love with her or just competing with Song Zhiyuan.
Yun Zhao suspected the latter.
After drinking a pot of tea in one go, Yun Zhao brought out food and summoned Fuguang, while Qi Yan called out Yin Xue. The two sword spirits ate alongside their masters.
Of course, they consumed spirit stones.
Yun Zhao felt a pang of pain—it was genuine spirit stones. They were still small and ate one bowl a day, with consumption set to multiply later.
No wonder sword cultivators were always poor; feeding bowl after bowl of spirit stones was unsustainable!
They say distant fragrance is faint, but near stench is strong. Yun Zhao used to miss Fuguang when not seeing him, but now, after seeing him every day, she began to find him annoying.
He always seemed ravenous at meals, as if a second’s delay meant starvation.
In contrast, Yin Xue nibbled elegantly, though not slowly.
When Yin Xue was about to eat the last spirit stone, an orange figure suddenly bumped into him, and the stone vanished.
He hurried to snatch it back, but Fuguang refused to release it.
Yin Xue looked at Yun Zhao pitifully, “Awooo~”
“Sis, look at him~”
Yun Zhao immediately felt sorry, snatched the stone from Fuguang’s mouth, and fed it to Yin Xue.
“No stealing others’ food,” she scolded seriously. “You have enough already; don’t eat too much or you’ll get bloated.”
Fuguang’s face was written all over with resentment. He wanted to fight Yin Xue, but Yin Xue ignored him, curling up in Yun Zhao’s arms.
Fuguang angrily retreated into his sword.
Yun Zhao was amused and petted Yin Xue’s soft fur, “You’re still the good one.”
Yin Xue howled softly: I don’t want to make Sis feel bad~
Fuguang, openly vying for his master, was so angry he performed a set of “meow meow” fists inside his sword!
Qi Yan watched their playful fight, thinking Yin Xue must have picked up such antics somewhere.
Perhaps it was innate—after all, in his previous life, the Blood-drinking Sword had intelligence but had not developed a sword spirit.
“Zhao Zhao, it’s getting dark. When will you be back?”
Mu Qianqian’s voice came from outside the tent.
“Dark already?”
Yun Zhao put down Yin Xue. “A Yan, I’ll head back first.”
Qi Yan lifted his tea cup, “Leaving so soon? It’s still early.”
He didn’t want her to leave, but the place felt too quiet.
He didn’t say a word, and Yin Xue didn’t like talking to him either. Though used to solitude, with Yun Zhao chattering during the day, he seemed to...
Not dislike the night anymore.
“It’s not early,” Yun Zhao took his cup, “We enter the secret realm tomorrow morning, so get some rest. Stop drinking tea, or you’ll have trouble sleeping.”
Qi Yan lowered his gaze, “Oh.”
Suddenly, a sweet fruity scent brushed his nose. Qi Yan looked up and met a pair of brilliant eyes.
“Don’t want me to leave, do you?”