Chapter 31: Chapter 31

We find a clearing and Lan Xiaohui stares into the distant sunset. I can not see it myself, but I do not need to see far to know what Lan Xiaohui sees. In her eyes, I see the refraction of resentful and painful memories.

It is to be expected. The Blood Lily needs more nourishment before she can cut herself off from these mortal things. Once her heart is empty, will she ever look towards another sunset?

I do not know. I do not share the same mental specifications as this collection of thinking carbon molecules and organic chemistry. Even as a voyager of deep space, I now see nothing down here, on the ground, that could ignite my imagination — if I had one to begin with.

The closest I can get to her state of mind is a slight annoyance; if I cannot see the moon, then I cannot calculate the current season. It is a minor thing, but still an annoyance.

Lan Xiaohui has decided on this clearing to stay for the night, and now stands over the corpse of one of the wolves — the weaker one. I do not even need to ask to know what she plans to do, but her method surprises me.

Rather than use my incredibly sharp edge and thrusting point, she focuses sword Qi into the palm of her hand. It forms a tiny, scalpel-like blade, with which she cuts into the wolf’s fur. It is not a sharp blade, and the collection of sword Qi is far too unstable and flexible but Lan Xiaohui seems to have no desire to give up.

This is training too, I suppose.

A sword cultivator does not need a sword to slaughter hundreds. Even a blade of grass will do. Even unarmed, they are not entirely defenseless.

What surprises me the most is that her sword Qi scalpel contains an amount of sword energy as well, and I am not quite certain how she accomplishes this feat. Visualization — and I suppose imagination — helps, I am sure. Like the Yin-Yang Grass earlier manifested sword Qi, she can also see herself a sword and go through the process of manifesting the energy of her martial art.

I am a sword, so for me this is a natural thing.

“If one day we reach a city, we can also sell some of these materials for spirit stones or silver,” Lan Xiaohui explains as she slowly begins processing the corpse of the wolf. “We could also turn them in at a sect for contributions.”

I am partly glad that Lan Xiaohui sometimes treats me like an unintelligent sword — after all, she sees me as a Heavenly Treasure that awakened its consciousness. I don’t know anything about these things like spirit stones, silver or contributions. But I am always eager to learn more.

Information is power.

“I was thinking again about returning to the sect under a different name and with a disguise,” she tells me. “If I can obtain more manuals, my chances will greatly improve to attempt to enter the Galaxy Sword Sect.”

By now, I am certain that she does not care about the Galaxy Sword Sect. Sure, it may have profound manuals and it may be one of the top-ranked sects on the continent, but her determined expression tells me she is only interested in getting revenge.

“The Galaxy Sword Sect holds a martial meeting every five years for gifted Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators. Its affiliates — like my Seven Killing Swords sect — only sends its Core Disciples who have already reached the Golden Core realm, or are about to. Meanwhile, the Foundation Establishment cultivators go through a lengthy tournament to earn their place in the Galaxy Sword Sect. It is uncommon, but rare, for Foundation Establishment cultivators to fight the Core Disciples of affiliates.”

I understand what Lan Xiaohui is trying to tell me. Yu Shun — the Black Tiger — will likely be in the Golden Core realm by the time the next martial meeting begins. If she does not break through to the Golden Core realm by then, the chances of meeting him will be unlikely.

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I also understand why she places so much importance on this martial meeting. It is the only way she can legally kill the Black Tiger with the least repercussions.

“The martial meeting will take place on the second month of the next year,” she says, allowing her sword Qi knife to disperse, so she can rest for a moment.

I also understand why she brought this up, and why she is thinking of returning to her sect. She is now in the Early stage of Qi Refining. After this is the Foundation Establishment realm, followed by Golden Core Formation, followed by Nascent Soul Ascension.

The prospect of breaking through two realms in a year is downright absurd. With sufficient medicine, such as that provided to her by her wealthy family, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment in a year, for a talented genius, would not be unheard of.

But to go from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core in a year, with the same means, would be heaven-defying potential.

It is far too unreasonable. We also do not have medicine, except for the one and only Foundation Pill in my internal storage.

“It is possible for a Foundation Establishment expert to challenge or be challenged by one of the Core Disciples sent by the other sects, especially if they do not place well in their own tournament — they have to defend their spot, so to speak,” she explains. “Yu Shun only cultivates his Qi, and rarely his martial arts. His understanding of the Dao is weak and shallow. If there is a conflict, his thugs will resolve it. There are many martial experts at his side.”

Lan Xiaohui forms the knife again out of sword Qi, and continues processing the corpse, removing its refined skin and tendons. Little by little, her little knife becomes stronger by just a slight bit.

“But as I am now, even if I challenge him after breaking into the Foundation Establishment, as a Golden Core cultivator, I will not survive even ten moves. Not only does he have the advantage of a deep cultivation base, but he also has treasures and armor, and he knows martial techniques that even if he does not practice them, can still kill me instantly.”

I slowly begin browsing the point exchange in order to find out how much profound martial techniques would cost me.

“Back before everything changed, he became obsessed with a sword that came into the possession of a young outer disciple. He stressed over it day after day, and plotted to gain possession of it. One day he did, and I do not know how, but his brother, Yu Yan also wanted it for himself. Their two peaks fought for months, and there was much bloodshed. The Grand Elder had to come out of seclusion and resolve the situation.”

Lan Xiaohui’s explanation stirs a distant memory in my mind. I vaguely remember that my existence was the cause of much discord and strife in the civilized world. Could it be…?

“Yu Shun changed back then. He became different and began practicing martial arts. He threw me out and canceled our engagement. He hurt me,” Lan Xiaohui said and then sighed. “I no longer know who Yu Shun is, or who I will meet, but I would regret meeting him and not being able to kill him.”

It takes me only a split second to come up with an answer. “All you need, this place and I will provide. If the day comes you need to return to your sect, we will go there if we must. But that day is still distant.”

Lan Xiaohui nodded, and then quietly continued processing the corpse.

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