Chapter 24

The nights in the Nineteen Continents were deep and long.

The quiet of the mountains, the warm yellow glow of the lanterns—everything reminded Jian Chou of the past.

Yet now, all she had left were these memories.

“This will be Eldest Senior Sister’s residence from now on.”

Shen Jiu pointed ahead, his tone relaxed.

They had climbed up from below, summoned the Yashan Cloud Ladder, and soon arrived at a higher part of the mountain.

And so, Jian Chou saw the scene before her.

At night, the drifting mist was thin and indistinct.

A gnarled old tree clung stubbornly to the rocky cliff, its roots digging deep into the crevices.

Beside it, the hard mountain wall had been carved into a massive recess, and within that recess—three feet deep—were two intricately carved wooden doors.

On the stone wall next to the doors hung a brand-new wooden plaque with two characters: “Jian Chou.”

This plaque was like the nameplates on mortal homes, letting others know this was her dwelling.

Qu Zhengfeng stood with his hands behind his back beside the doors, smiling at Jian Chou.

“While Fourth Junior Brother was showing you around earlier, I took the liberty of tidying up your residence. However, none of us have much experience with female cultivators, so I’m not sure if it’ll meet your expectations. Please take a look.”

With that, he took half a step back, gesturing for her to enter.

Jian Chou walked forward slowly.

The distance was short—just two steps.

She reached out, pressed her hand against the door, and heard a soft “creak” as it opened, revealing the interior.

It was an exceedingly simple room, except that it was carved into the mountain itself.

The walls were lined with wooden panels, covering all the gray stone beneath.

The scent of fresh wood lingered in the air.

Against one wall stood four plain chairs and a table.

On the table was a single lamp—a small jade bowl with no oil, no wick, yet a warm yellow flame burned steadily from within.

Behind it was a simple wooden screen, and beyond that, an unadorned bed.

As she stepped inside, she noticed arrays carved into the floorboards.

Shen Jiu and Qu Zhengfeng didn’t follow her in, standing instead at the doorway.

Qu Zhengfeng stood straight and proper, while Shen Jiu leaned lazily against the doorframe like a boneless slouch.

“There are three arrays on the floor—Spirit Gathering, Demon Warning, and Clarity of Mind,” Shen Jiu explained, noticing her gaze.

“Though Yashan is rich in spiritual energy, the Spirit Gathering Array concentrates it further, making cultivation more efficient. The Demon Warning Array alerts you to any malevolent entities, and the Clarity of Mind Array keeps your thoughts clear—perfect for fighting off drowsiness!”

Three arrays, each with its purpose.

Jian Chou nodded, stepping over them to approach the table.

She ran her fingers along the wood, noting the fine grain and occasional shimmer—likely a special material.

After a slow glance around, she turned back to the two with a smile.

“Thank you both for your efforts. I like this place very much.”

Shen Jiu grinned.

“As long as Eldest Senior Sister doesn’t find it too crude. We Yashan men are a rough bunch, not really sure what female cultivators prefer. If there’s anything you’d like changed, just ask Second Senior Brother here. He’s the most helpful person on the whole mountain!”

He clapped Qu Zhengfeng on the shoulder.

“Right, Second Senior Brother?”

Qu Zhengfeng shot him a cool glance.

“Fourth Junior Brother, in front of Eldest Senior Sister, could you at least pretend to be decent? Must you ruin Yashan’s reputation and embarrass our master?”

That phrasing sounded familiar.

Jian Chou silently glanced at Qu Zhengfeng’s overly serious expression and chose not to comment.

Shen Jiu pressed a hand to his temple, clearly unwilling to listen.

He made a “stop” gesture.

“It’s too late for this today. Eldest Senior Sister, you should rest. We’ll come bother you again tomorrow.”

With that, he clasped his hands in salute.

Qu Zhengfeng didn’t argue, and the two bid her farewell.

“Eldest Senior Sister, we take our leave.”

“Take care, Junior Brothers.”

She watched them go.

Qu Zhengfeng even thoughtfully closed the door for her on his way out.

Jian Chou turned back, studying the lamp that burned without oil or wick.

It was fascinating, but after a long while, she still couldn’t figure it out.

Well, Yashan is full of wonders.

There’ll be time to understand later.

She withdrew her gaze and headed behind the screen.

Lying down on the wooden bed, still fully dressed, she felt no chill at all.

She had expected to struggle with sleep in a new place, but the moment she closed her eyes, her entire body relaxed.

Soon, she was deep in slumber.

That night, she dreamed of nothing.

Outside the room.

Shen Jiu and Qu Zhengfeng, who had just left, both glanced back at the closed door.

Shen Jiu frowned.

“Your decorating skills are terrible.”

“Are they?” Qu Zhengfeng mused.

“Yes.”

Shen Jiu insisted, then narrowed his eyes.

“But that lamp in Eldest Senior Sister’s room… it looks familiar.”

“Oh, that?”

Qu Zhengfeng’s eyelids drooped lazily.

“You didn’t recognize it?”

“Recognize it?”

For some reason, seeing Second Senior Brother’s calm expression sent a bad premonition through Shen Jiu.

Qu Zhengfeng patted his shoulder.

“You’ve been hoarding that Skyfire Lamp for ages, hiding it from the rest of us. I figured Eldest Senior Sister’s room needed some proper lighting, so I put it there. Works great—her place looks nice and bright now.”

“Skyfire Lamp?!”

His Skyfire Lamp?!

Shen Jiu felt like lightning had struck his skull.

“Y-Y-Y-You what?!”

That lamp was his Skyfire Lamp?!

“Junior Brother, relax. I praised your maturity earlier—don’t prove me wrong now. It’s not like you were using it. Might as well let Eldest Senior Sister benefit.”

“Bullshit!”

Shen Jiu nearly leaped into the air, his heart bleeding.

“You bastard, you have no idea how much that hurts!”

Qu Zhengfeng waved a hand dismissively.

“It’s already in Eldest Senior Sister’s room. Nothing to do with me now. If you want it back, ask her, not me.”

He stretched.

“Ah, it’s late. Time for bed.”

A gust of wind blew.

Shen Jiu lunged forward—”Don’t you dare run!”—but his fingers closed on empty air.

Qu Zhengfeng’s figure dissipated like mist in the wind.

“He fled!”

Shen Jiu stood frozen for a moment before howling in outrage.

“SECOND SENIOR BROTHER, YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR!!!”

His furious roar echoed across the entire mountain.

The next morning.

Jian Chou woke early, feeling refreshed.

The flame in the jade bowl still burned quietly.

She stretched, stepped over the arrays, and pushed open the door—only to startle at the figure standing outside.

“Shen… Junior Brother?”

Morning light flooded the area.

At this altitude, all she could see were endless clouds, the sun’s rays slanting through them, illuminating the swirling mist.

The wind carried a slight chill.

The gnarled old tree beside her door bore sparse leaves, each dotted with dew.

Similarly, Shen Jiu—standing before her—was also slightly damp.

Like… he had been here all night?

Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

Jian Chou was baffled.

Where did he come from? Why is he at my door?

Shen Jiu was torn between agony and awkwardness.

He hadn’t stood there all night—just arrived very early.

For a Nascent Soul cultivator, going without food, drink, or sleep was trivial, so he still seemed energetic.

But the strange tension and discomfort on his face made him look odd.

He rubbed his hands nervously, gathering his courage.

“Eldest Senior Sister, this is kind of embarrassing, but there’s something I wanted to ask—”

“Eldest Senior Sister, you’re awake.”

A clear voice interrupted.

Shen Jiu’s carefully prepared speech was cut off.

“SECOND SENIOR BROTHER, SHUT UP!”

He didn’t even need to look to know who it was.

Qu Zhengfeng approached through the mist, thoroughly enjoying Shen Jiu’s misery but ignoring him entirely.

“Zhengfeng greets Eldest Senior Sister. Master and the Sect Leader are discussing matters in the Moon Embracing Hall. I’ve been sent to escort you. Please come with me.”

“Hey! At least let me finish!”

Shen Jiu was livid.

“Are you sabotaging me because I’m better-looking?!”

Qu Zhengfeng finally turned to him, expressionless.

“Are you drawing your sword on me?”

“I—”

Shen Jiu’s bravado vanished instantly, his face twisting as if he’d swallowed a fly.

In Yashan, he had never lost a duel—but that was because he had excellent judgment.

Namely, Shen Jiu never drew his sword against someone he couldn’t beat!

That shameless!

But right now…

Shen Jiu could only weep internally.

Because Qu Zhengfeng was one of those people he couldn’t beat.

Seeing Shen Jiu silenced, Qu Zhengfeng nodded in satisfaction and turned back to Jian Chou.

She had no idea what was going on between them or why Shen Jiu had come so early.

“If Master has summoned me, I should go at once. But Junior Brother Shen’s matter will have to wait until I return. Is that alright?”

“I… I…”

Shen Jiu desperately wanted to ask for the Skyfire Lamp back, but Qu Zhengfeng’s disdainful “how dare you demand gifts from our newly arrived Eldest Senior Sister” stare made it impossible.

After a long struggle, he finally spat out, “Fine. We’ll talk later.”

Qu Zhengfeng smirked in triumph.

With a wave, he summoned a dark blue sword.

“Eldest Senior Sister, please step on. I’ll take you to the Moon Embracing Hall.”

Another flying sword.

Jian Chou eyed the narrow blade before calmly stepping onto the hilt.

When will I be able to fly on my own sword?

“Ready.”

Qu Zhengfeng gave a slight nod, then glanced at Shen Jiu—smirking faintly—before forming a hand seal.

The sword rose.

Jian Chou had ridden Wujian and Nie Xiaowan’s Mingxin Bracelet before, but this sword felt different.

The dark blue blade, despite its cold appearance, radiated warmth beneath her feet.

She was quietly amazed.

Qu Zhengfeng explained, “This sword is named ‘Haiguang,’ forged from millennium sea jade mined a thousand zhang beneath the Western Sea. Though buried in the depths, it carries warmth within—unlike its outward appearance.”

So that was it.

Cold to the eye, but warm in use.

Jian Chou nodded slowly, then asked, “Why does Master wish to see me?”

“Likely to introduce you to the Sect Leader. Or perhaps something else.”

Qu Zhengfeng also seemed puzzled.

“But Master has never been one for formalities. It’s odd that he’s in the Moon Embracing Hall at all.”

Maybe it really was just an introduction.

After all, Jian Chou was Fudao Shanren’s disciple.

Getting no clear answer, she didn’t dwell on it.

The sword cut through the mountain mist, ascending along the cliff face until even the vast Lingzhao Peak below grew small.

The cliffs were now bare rock, not even weeds clinging to the jagged stone.

A lone stone pavilion hung precariously from the mountainside, as if it might plummet at any moment.

Qu Zhengfeng brought them to a stop there. Jian Chou looked inward and saw a wide path carved into the mountain, leading toward the front peak.

“This leads to the Moon Embracing Hall.”

Qu Zhengfeng gestured for her to proceed.

She walked inside.

The broad passage bore no resemblance to a tunnel.

Intricate carvings adorned the ceiling, and closed stone doors lined the walls—their purpose unknown.

Light glowed at the far end.

Jian Chou followed it, moving from the back mountain to the front, where the Moon Embracing Hall awaited.

At its center stood a raised platform, empty but for bronze crane lamps at each corner.

Eight massive braziers burned with undying flames.

Currently, two men sat casually on the polished floor.

One was Fudao Shanren, as unkempt as ever, happily gnawing a chicken leg.

The other was a plump, fair-skinned man—Yashan’s Sect Leader, Zheng Yao.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his round face belying sharp intelligence.

“Uncle-Master Fudao, don’t you think this is strange? The dispute over the Law Enforcer position just happens to coincide with your weakened state. The timing is too convenient.”

“That old fox Hengxu mentioned ‘important matters’ in his last message. Probably this.”

Fu Dao Shanren remained calm.

“That position was forced on Yashan in the first place. Now that they’ve fought over it enough, they want it back. Whether the timing’s coincidental… well, that’s a question of intent.”

He spoke cryptically between bites, his tone laced with rare sarcasm.

Zheng Yao sighed.

Fudao Shanren was the last surviving elder of the 35th generation, the highest-ranking figure in Yashan.

Even Zheng Yao had to address him respectfully.

And in all these years, he’d never seen the man stop eating.

He eyed the greasy chicken leg.

“Yashan doesn’t need the Law Enforcer position. But I worry someone is targeting us.”

“Of course they are!” Fudao Shanren spat out a chicken bone.

“Whoosh!”

The projectile shot through the air like a blade.

Zheng Yao’s scalp prickled.

He barely dodged in time.

“Uncle-Master! Stop spitting bones everywhere!”

“Thunk!”

A crisp sound echoed behind him.

Zheng Yao turned.

Unnoticed, Fudao Shanren’s first and second disciples had arrived.

The chicken bone was now clamped between two fingers—but a drop of saliva clung to them.

Qu Zhengfeng’s face was thunderous.

The bone had missed Jian Chou’s face by a hair.

Had they not been alert, it would have struck her.

Jian Chou blinked, stunned by this near-miss.

Fudao Shanren glanced up, utterly unrepentant.

“Ah, Jian Chou’s here. Come in. Your Sect Leader Junior Brother wants to pay his respects.”

“…”

Sect Leader… Junior Brother?

Jian Chou knew her status was high, but this was…

No matter where she went in Yashan, she felt like she was walking on clouds.

Seeing her speechless, Qu Zhengfeng—expression still dark—tossed the bone aside and gave her a meaningful look before retreating.

That look seemed to say: “You’re on your own.”

“So this must be Senior Sister Jian Chou?”

A refined voice spoke.

Jian Chou turned to see the Sect Leader—the man Fudao Shanren called “that bastard Zheng Yao.”

His round, fair face was smooth as a baby’s, his small eyes bright and shrewd.

When he smiled, he radiated goodwill.

Kind.

Too kind.

Jian Chou hadn’t expected Yashan’s Sect Leader to look like… this.

As if reading her mind, Zheng Yao chuckled.

“Everyone’s first thought upon meeting me is: ‘He doesn’t look like Yashan’s Sect Leader.’”

“You flatter me, Sect Leader.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond.

Zheng Yao remained seated, utterly at ease.

“How was your first night at Yashan?”

“Thank you for your concern. Everything is fine. My junior brothers have been very kind.”

So this was just a courtesy visit?

Jian Chou began to relax.

“Good, good.”

Zheng Yao beamed.

“Now Yashan can finally call itself a sect with female disciples.”

Again with this.

Jian Chou felt like some rare specimen, with everyone marveling at her presence.

But beneath this odd treatment, she sensed something deeper.

Why did Yashan have no female cultivators?

Just because of high talent requirements?

No.

It was as if no woman could endure… something about Yashan.

What that was, she didn’t yet know.

But she was already on this pirate ship—no jumping off now.

She bowed slightly.

“Master saved my life. Now that I’m here, I will cultivate diligently and honor his teachings.”

“…”

For a moment, Zheng Yao’s expression turned strange.

He glanced at the solemn Jian Chou, then at the disheveled Fudao Shanren.

After a long pause, he rubbed his chubby chin and muttered,

“How… how did Uncle-Master end up with such a proper disciple?”

Jian Chou had thought he’d gone silent over some grave matter—only to hear that.

She couldn’t help but look at Fudao Shanren.

Just how unreliable is this master of mine?!

But Fudao Shanren showed no shame.

If anything, he looked smug.

“Why not? What’s wrong with me? A transcendent, righteous cultivator like me is a rarity in the Nineteen Continents! Of course I’d get a good disciple! Enough chatter—hand over the welcome gift!”

Zheng Yao sighed.

He turned to Jian Chou.

“As a new disciple, it’s tradition for the Sect Leader to present a gift. But your arrival was sudden, and we weren’t prepared—especially not for a female cultivator. This ‘Inner-Outer Mirror’ will serve as protection.”

He produced an ancient bronze mirror.

So this was why she’d been summoned.

Hesitant, Jian Chou looked to Fudao Shanren.

The old man eyed the mirror disdainfully.

“After all these years, you’ve gotten stingy. Jian Chou, take it. It’s worthless anyway.”

Zheng Yao whipped his head around, eyes burning.

Fudao Shanren continued chewing, unbothered.

“Then I thank the Sect Leader.”

With her master’s approval, Jian Chou accepted the mirror with both hands.

Zheng Yao also gave her a jade slip.

“This contains instructions for the mirror. At full power, it can block a full-force strike from a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. Also, last night, messages arrived from the Fengmo Sword Sect and the Wuwang Pavilion. After you leave, ask Zhengfeng for details.”

Fengmo Sword Sect? Wuwang Pavilion?

Joy surged in Jian Chou’s heart, eclipsing even the gift.

She immediately thought of Zhang Sui and Nie Xiaowan.

Fudao Shanren had said they’d contact Yashan once they returned—she hadn’t expected it so soon.

A smile tugged at her lips.

“Thank you, Sect Leader. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“No need for formalities, Senior Sister.”

Zheng Yao smiled warmly—though a flicker of something odd passed through his eyes as they lingered on the mirror.

For a moment, Jian Chou almost thought… Does the Sect Leader regret giving this to me?

But her master had called it worthless.

She dismissed the thought.

After bowing once more, she left.

The moment she was gone, Zheng Yao clutched his chest.

“My Inner-Outer Mirror!”

“It’s just a mirror. Why the dramatics? I wouldn’t even want it! Forcing gifts on my disciple—shouldn’t I be the one complaining?”

Fudao Shanren stood, rolling up his sleeves.

Zheng Yao groaned.

“Uncle-Master, do you know why I never wanted to be Sect Leader? Because of people like you, bleeding my treasury dry! Do you know how hard it is to hoard treasures? You take a disciple—I give a gift! Someone else takes a disciple—another gift! It’s outrageous!”

“Well…” Fu Dao Shanren grinned.

“Blame our ancestors for making such rules. Yashan’s decline is clearly due to its Sect Leaders growing poorer.”

This old fox!

Zheng Yao nearly choked.

After a long silence, he sighed.

“If not for your weakened state, Uncle-Master, I’d draw my sword right now.”

“Draw your sword?”

Fudao Shanren scoffed, then flicked his wrist.

A cracked wooden sword—Wujian—clattered to the ground.

Zheng Yao’s eyes locked onto the massive fissure running through it.

His face paled.

“Uncle-Master?!”

All levity vanished from Fu Dao Shanren’s expression.

“Six hundred years with me, only to break at Qingfeng temple’s Secret Realm.”

His voice turned grave.

“That sudden Dao Seed has stirred the old monsters of the Nineteen Continents. I’ve been to that realm before—yet it seems there were secrets I missed. Something major is coming. Should Yashan yield the Central Region’s Law Enforcer position… or not?”

“…”

Zheng Yao’s jovial demeanor faded.

“You suspect something, Uncle-Master?”

Fudao Shanren smiled faintly.

“Not yet. We’ll see.”