Second Senior Sister Has A Highly Dangerous Profession - Chapter 53
Chapter 53
The sword boat hovered high, its momentum immense.
Before leaving the mountain, Yu Xizhi had once seen the sword boat of the Xiya Tower, but this was her first time witnessing the sword boat of Kunwu Mountain Sect.
Such a vessel required an immense amount of spirit stones to power and was not used lightly.
Peak Master Han had come to fetch them using the sword boat this time—whether it was by his insistence or because the sect felt some guilt for not sending reinforcements was unclear.
The five sects and three paths had all returned to their own territories; staying any longer would have seemed like they were lingering to watch Kunwu’s internal affairs.
While everyone had their own opinions about Kunwu Mountain Sect’s actions, Kunwu remained the dominant sword sect—its power on display, with even more elders in seclusion, and of course, the presence of the Little Junior Uncle on Qianya Peak.
People could joke about it all they wanted, but internal conflicts were Kunwu’s own business. Externally, Kunwu remained that unreasonable sword sect that could cleave the world with a single blade.
Moreover, Kunwu Mountain Sect possessed many sword boats.
These sword boats were not merely transportation or a display of grandeur; otherwise, they would simply be called “boats.”
The addition of the word “sword” was because these boats were equipped with sword formations on all sides.
As long as the mechanisms inside were activated, layer upon layer of sword arrays could be unleashed.
As long as the spirit stones remained plentiful and the boat itself was intact, the sword arrays could run almost indefinitely.
During the war between the cultivation world and the demon realm, such sword boats often soared through the skies, engaging in battles with large winged demons.
Naturally, a great cultivator would oversee each sword boat, but if they were to fall, even an ordinary Qi refining disciple could continue to operate the boat and maintain the attack, as long as they knew how.
Of course, these Qi refining disciples had to be trained in Kunwu’s mental and sword techniques, as the operation of the sword boat was directly linked to those teachings.
The same was true for sword boats of other sects.
Kunwu, being a sword sect, naturally made its sword boats in the shape of sharp blades, capable of cutting through anything. There wasn’t enough open space in the entire Tianjiu Town for the sword boat to land.
Peak Master Han had no intention of stopping, so after the Kunwu disciples bid farewell to Xuanyuan Heng, Tan Mingtang, and the others, they ascended to the sword boat.
Yu Xizhi, however, remained where she was and asked Cheng Luocen, “Are you bringing her back to the sect?”
Cheng Luocen, who had been troubled earlier, had now made up his mind.
“She insists on following me, but that’s her decision, and it has nothing to do with me. But since the matter began with me, I told her my name and the name of my sect. Whether she enters the sect or goes to Xianyun County, that’s her choice. If she wants to go, she’ll go on her own. Whether she gets into the sect will depend on her own luck and abilities.”
His words were somewhat heartless, but reasonable and without fault.
He had saved her as an act of conscience, not because he wanted anything in return.
As far as Cheng Luocen was concerned, this matter was now settled.
What became of Yun Zhuo afterwards had nothing to do with him.
Since Cheng Luocen had made his position clear, Yu Xizhi naturally didn’t interfere.
Besides, this was none of her business.
In the original story, Cheng Luocen had said something similar to Yun Zhuo and parted ways with her.
Yun Zhuo had chased after him multiple times, growing stronger in the process until she finally became someone who could stand beside him.
With that in mind, there was nothing more to say.
Yu Xizhi flew into the air and was about to ask Cheng Luocen something when she noticed he had taken out a sword and thrown it into the air, landing it beneath his feet.
Upon closer inspection, it was no longer the sword he had bought for three inferior-grade spirit stones.
“Bought with demon cores?” Yu Xizhi raised her chin slightly.
“Not a bad sword.”
The usually expressionless Cheng Luocen finally smiled a little.
“Traded three demon cores for it. I think it was worth it.”
With that, the conversation ended, and the two flew onto the sword boat.
The sword boat turned, and its shadow shifted from horizontal to vertical.
Among the commoners kneeling on the ground, some brave souls dared to look up quietly, their hearts filled with awe.
So this was what it meant to be a cultivator.
No wonder so many people were willing to fight tooth and nail to become one.
Flying on swords, traveling on boats—it only took an instant to cover a thousand miles. Before anyone had the chance to fully understand the layered sword arrays or the spirit stones powering the boat, the snowy peaks of Kunwu were already in sight.
The sword boat headed straight for Taiqing Peak.
In front of the main hall, the area was empty.
The sword boat descended, the main doors opened, and Peak Master Han leaped down from the boat, brimming with energy.
The personal disciples and teachers from each peak poured out of the main hall, eager to see why Peak Master Han had insisted on using the sword boat.
Was someone gravely injured, or had they truly gained such a significant victory?
While still on the sword boat, Shen Ye had given Peak Master Han a brief account of the situation in the Kongti Desert.
Peak Master Han listened, his brow furrowed deeply.
He had been incredibly worried, but he trusted that, with Yu Si on the scene, things would be under control.
However, the situation had turned out far more chaotic than expected, even involving a forced incursion into a secret realm before the matter was resolved.
It was something he couldn’t dwell on, yet he couldn’t help but think about it.
If Yu Xizhi hadn’t insisted on going, no one else would have had the determination, courage, and ingenuity to enter the secret realm and use poison to defeat the enemy.
Without that, the Kunwu disciples would have been stuck defending Tianjiu Town, facing a grueling battle with the snake demons.
Even if they won, it would have been a pyrrhic victory.
And he wouldn’t be standing here now, looking at so many disciples who were almost entirely intact.
For the first time, Peak Master Han had reservations about how sect master Huaiyun had handled things.
He cared deeply for his personal disciples, but he also had Kunwu Mountain’s future in mind.
The sect’s future wasn’t in his hands or in sect master Huaiyun’s.
It lay with Yu Si, Yu Xizhi, Shen Ye, Yi Zui, and this new generation of disciples that had grown up after the Battle of the Sun Eclips.
Disciples needed to be trained, but not in such a haphazard way!
Peak Master Han had plenty to say, but he wouldn’t voice his concerns in front of all these Kunwu disciples.
Seeing so many of them, he merely laughed heartily and said, “In the Kongti Desert, thousands of snake demons have been slaughtered by our Kunwu disciples! Though some are gravely injured, their lives are not in danger. After facing life and death and being stained with blood, our Kunwu disciples have a promising future!”
As he spoke, Gao Xiude and several others carefully carried the injured Ning Shuangsi and Zheng Chengxu down from the sword boat.
Some had bandages wrapped around their heads, stained with blood, while others’ arms hung limply, bones bent unnaturally.
Despite their disheveled and even battered appearances, their eyes were bright and sharp.
When they had initially volunteered to accompany Yu Si, these young men and women were already brimming with battle spirit.
Now, that fierce determination was laced with bloodlust and the aura of killing.
Many Kunwu disciples had been on missions and slain demons before; they weren’t sheltered in ivory towers.
But the palpable murderous intent that now emanated from them came from truly fighting on the battlefield.
“Well, quite the crowd here to welcome us, huh?”
Yi Zui leapt down from the edge of the sword boat, landing steadily, and flashed a sly smile.
“What is it? Here to see how badly we’re wounded, or to check just how sharp our blood-soaked swords have become?”
His words were as sharp and arrogant as ever, causing some of the Kunwu disciples who hadn’t volunteered for the battle to feel a twinge of guilt.
As cultivators, it was unbecoming to retreat in the face of battle.
Yet some secretly thought Yi Zui’s words were overly cutting and unpleasant.
Had killing a few demons really given him the right to act so smug?
Sect Master Huaiyun, delayed by other matters, had only just arrived.
The moment he landed, he overheard Yizui’s remarks and shot him a disapproving look.
“Yi Zui, though your position is unique, you must remember that you are a disciple of Kunwu. You should uphold the camaraderie between fellow disciples. Why harbor such thoughts about others?”
Yi Zui didn’t argue, only responding cheerfully, “The Sect Master is absolutely right! Although Kunwu has five peaks, we are united by one heart—a heart of the sword, but also one of solidarity. When one is in trouble, all should come to their aid.”
Sect Master Huaiyun’s expression softened slightly.
“It’s rare to see you show such character.”
However, Yi Zui immediately shifted his tone, continuing, “When Senior Brother Shen Ye was in trouble, twenty-three of us Kunwu disciples rallied to help. My Second Senior Sister even crossed swords with Peak Master Han for the sake of our fellow disciples. Yet despite the thousand-strong horde of snake demons we faced, where we dulled our swords, drained our spiritual energy, and exhausted all our messaging talismans, no reinforcements ever came. My Second Senior Sister had to open the secret realm, enter a perilous formation, facing life and death, and still, no one came to our aid.”
Though his tone wasn’t accusatory and even seemed lighthearted, each word dripped with blood, each syllable a cold sneer.
Just as he was about to continue, another figure lightly landed from the sword boat—Yu Xizhi.
She gave him a disapproving glance.
“Yi Zui, stop speaking nonsense.”
Yi Zui thought to himself, “How am I speaking nonsense?”
He wanted to retort, but unwilling to argue with Yu Xizhi in front of everyone, he simply let out a huff.
Then he heard Yu Xizhi’s cheerful voice, “Didn’t Senior Sister Tan and Senior Brother Heng come to help us?”
At this, Yi Zui thought, “Well, I guess I had no reason to huff.”
Yu Xizhi’s voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Who was the Senior Sister Tan she mentioned?
Who was Senior Brother Heng?
Naturally, they were the Senior Sister of the Xiya Tower and the Senior Brother of Baiyu Pavillion.
And who were Yu Xizhi and Yi Zui? Kunwu Mountain Sect disciples.
Kunwu had called for reinforcements from their own sect but received none, forcing them to seek help from other factions.
Though Yu Xizhi was a disciple of three masters, she had first apprenticed under Sect Master Huaiyun, making her a Kunwu disciple.
This battle against the demons took place in Yuebei City, which fell under Kunwu Mountain’s jurisdiction, and the demons slain would count toward Kunwu’s merit.
Yet no reinforcements from Kunwu had arrived, while help from other sects had actually come.
Could anything be more humiliating than this?
Yi Zui looked around at the increasingly complex expressions on the faces of those gathered and couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
He cupped his hands and said, “I’ve been properly taught by Senior Sister.”
Yu Xizhi smiled brightly and said, “The cultivation world is one family, after all. Killing demons isn’t solely Kunwu’s responsibility—every cultivator shares the burden.”
She blinked mischievously as she added, “I’m sure the Sect Master shares this view and won’t blame Xiya Tower or Baiyu Pavillion for stepping in, right, Master?”
On the surface, her words seemed to offer Sect Master Huaiyun a graceful way out of an awkward situation, but in truth, she was laying a trap for him.
In the world of cultivation, sects often appeared to be respectful toward one another, but the lines drawn between them were sharp.
The division of territories had been formally agreed upon by the five sects and three Paths, and a contract had even been signed.
Strictly speaking, unless they happened to be passing by and lives were at stake, members of the other sects weren’t allowed to kill demons within Kunwu’s territory.
Doing so would violate the contract and steal Kunwu’s merit.
If this matter were settled privately, Sect master Huaiyun would have sternly scolded Yu Xizhi for such a brazen remark.
But given the current circumstances—before such a crowd, with these words and from this person—how could he dare utter a single “no”?
