Chapter 3: Past Events (Part 2)

Wen Qiwu woke up feeling a thread of warm power seep into her divine soul, easing her weary spirit somewhat.

She opened her eyes. The room’s furnishings were very familiar—it was her old room on Cloud Mist Mountain. Fire crystal stones surrounded the space, making the room toasty warm. The bedding on the bed felt freshly sun-dried, soft and cozy, leaving her bones lazy.

On the low cabinet beside her bed sat a pot of pale blue flowers, their stamens emitting faint spiritual light. The power that had just permeated her soul came from this flower.

Wen Qiwu tugged the blanket up over most of her face, leaving only her eyes, tinged with a hint of annoyance.

She had wanted to stay by her Senior Sister’s side a little longer, but her unreliable body had fallen asleep again.

“Little Que’er? Little Que’er! Are you in here?” Hearing the voice from outside, Wen Qiwu hurriedly sat up.

“Elder Lu, I’m in the room.”

“Then I’m coming in!” The door pushed open, and a female cultivator in a water-blue dress entered carrying medicine. Worry tinged her bright brows and eyes.

“Good that you’re awake. Drink the medicine quickly. I added an extra spiritual herb today—hopefully, it’ll work even better.”

This was Lu Qiaoyi, master of Myriad Medicine Mountain in Ask God Sect and a close friend of their shizun. The nickname “Little Que’er” came from Wen Qiwu’s childhood name, A Que.

Wen Qiwu had been an abandoned infant adopted by her shizun. She had been discarded in the icy snow, but fortunately, her shizun had passed by and picked her up. Discovering the rare top-grade fire spirit root in this infant, the shizun brought her back to Cloud Mist Mountain.

With no note in her swaddling clothes revealing her background, the shizun gave her own surname and named the little disciple Qiwu.

The milk name A Que had been given by Senior Sister Yun Heng. Wen Qiwu had been frail and sickly since childhood, so she hoped her little Junior Sister could be as tenacious as the stone sparrows on Cloud Mist Mountain.

Wen Qiwu took the medicine bowl and thanked her. The brew was warm, just right for drinking, but the bitter taste hit her immediately.

“Oh right, drink it later. Your Senior Sister is making chestnut cakes in the kitchen—they should be ready soon.” As Lu Qiaoyi spoke, Yun Heng came in carrying a plate of pastries.

“Aiya, only Little Que’er could get the sect master to cook personally.” Lu Qiaoyi swiftly snatched a piece and popped it into her mouth. It was indeed soft, glutinous, and sweet—no one else could match Yun Heng’s skill.

Back when Yun Heng had first entered the kitchen, she had nearly blown the place up. What she served was pitch-black and inedible. It was hard to imagine those charred lumps coming from the same hands that now produced these delicacies. She had put in real effort just to coax her Junior Sister into taking her medicine.

The pastries were small. Lu Qiaoyi had one and craved more flavor, reaching for another—only to feel a chilling gaze land on her.

She didn’t need to look to know it was Yun Heng. The stare grew icier. She was the elder here! Was she only worth one chestnut cake? Not even one more?!

Yun Heng said nothing, but her meaning was clear.

No.

Her Junior Sister feared bitterness and relied on these cakes for a touch of sweetness while taking medicine.

Lu Qiaoyi huffed inwardly. Fine, no more then. There were plenty of cakes anyway—they wouldn’t finish them all quickly. Little Que’er was soft-hearted; once this ice block left, she’d just ask her directly!

Wen Qiwu had grown accustomed to bitter medicine since childhood, but today’s dose was different—more bitter and numbing, pushing the limits of her taste buds!

She downed it in one go, then hurriedly stuffed a chestnut cake into her mouth. The improved medicine was numbingly bitter; it took a while before she gradually tasted the sweetness.

“Senior Sister, the medicine is even more bitter.” Wen Qiwu looked like a wilted little bird after falling in water, her gaze pleading for her Senior Sister’s comforting touch.

At such times, a cool hand would always gently rub her head.

“Ahem, no choice. Drinking spirit flowers are bitter. I’ve already tried to remove some of the bitterness.” Lu Qiaoyi coughed lightly. The one who brewed your medicine was right here—staring at your Senior Sister wouldn’t make it any less bitter.

“Come, let me check the effects.” Lu Qiaoyi infused her power into Wen Qiwu’s body for an examination. Then, delighted, she exclaimed, “The drinking spirit flower really works!”

Yun Heng’s eternally impassive expression brightened noticeably.

“The drinking spirit flower works, but its effects are limited. That supreme treasure in the Cang Hai Domain Illusory Spirit Secret Realm has the same effect, but dozens of times stronger. It might be the key to curing this illness!” Lu Qiaoyi said excitedly.

“I’ll retrieve it when the secret realm opens.” Unfortunately, the next opening was in a year. Yun Heng’s right fingertip tapped lightly on her sword hilt, a trace of anxiety in her appearance. Waiting was undoubtedly the most tormenting part.

Wen Qiwu had been disappointed too many times, but this news still made her heart race several beats. Did her illness really have a chance of being cured?

If she truly had a chance to live a long life, then did she qualify to…

Wen Qiwu glanced at her Senior Sister, then lowered her head, hiding the affection and bitterness in her eyes.

But what stood between her and her Senior Sister wasn’t just lifespan.

“I’ll go consult with the Medical Immortal in Medical Immortal Valley about new treatments. Take your medicine on time while I’m gone!”

“I’m not a child anymore!” Wen Qiwu mumbled as Elder Lu pinched her cheek.

“Thank you for the trouble, Elder.” Yun Heng’s words were polite, but her gaze fixed on Lu Qiaoyi’s hand.

“No need to be so formal. With your shizun gone, it’s only natural for me to look after you both. Little Que’er, once you’re better, remember to come back and live here.” Lu Qiaoyi withdrew her hand, now chilled.

“Elder, I…” Wen Qiwu gripped her blanket tightly. She didn’t want to go back.

She had once lived on Cloud Mist Mountain, but later Elder Lu said the ice spirit vein’s qi wasn’t good for a fire spirit root cultivator’s condition, so her Senior Sister had her move to Myriad Medicine Mountain.

After moving, she saw her Senior Sister far less often.

A hazy mist seemed to veil Lu Qiaoyi’s eyes for a moment, her expression oddly peculiar—but in the next instant, Elder Lu smiled again. “I know our Little Que’er sticks to the sect master the most. Once you’re better, you can cling to your Senior Sister and sleep together every day for all I care!”

Wen Qiwu flushed hot as her secret thoughts were poked. She subconsciously glanced at her Senior Sister.

H-Hugging and sleeping?! How could Elder Lu say such things?!

Lu Qiaoyi laughed as she excused herself to prepare more medicine and vanished. Even after leaving, she secretly sent a voice transmission to Wen Qiwu, asking her to save two cakes.

Wen Qiwu sighed inwardly. Fine, just two—no more. She didn’t have enough for herself.

As she pondered, she suddenly felt cool fingers touch the spot Elder Lu had pinched. Lifting her eyes, she found her Senior Sister very close, intently staring at her face. A faint cold fragrance enveloped her unnoticed.

“Elder is hundreds of years old and still so rough. Does it hurt?” Her Junior Sister’s skin was delicate; even a pinch left it pink. Yun Heng gently rubbed her cheek.

She paid no mind to the other words.

“It doesn’t hurt.” Wen Qiwu found her Senior Sister’s cool hand soothing against her heated face.

Tap tap… Just then, a light knocking came from the window.

Yun Heng raised her hand, opening a slit in the window with her power. A paper crane slipped in.

The crane flew before them and dissolved into motes of spiritual light. A voice emerged from it.

“Sect Master, representatives from the other nine sects have all arrived at the Assembly Hall…”

“Is today some important day? Why are people from the other sects here?” Wen Qiwu asked her Senior Sister curiously.

“The Eclipse Secret Realm is about to open. They’re here to discuss it.”

Wen Qiwu came to a realization; she had nearly forgotten.

Yun Heng prepared to head to the Assembly Hall. She instructed Wen Qiwu to wear the outer robe from last night when going out—don’t catch a chill.

“Got it.” Her Senior Sister always treated her like a child. After Yun Heng left, the smile on Wen Qiwu’s face gradually faded.

She dressed and pushed open the door. Not far off was the spiritual field planted with exotic flowers and herbs. Walking among them, she saw no trace of withering in the spiritual plants or ordinary flowers—everything brimmed with vitality.

Wen Qiwu assumed her Senior Sister was just good at tending plants. She never imagined her usually steady Senior Sister would impulsively clear all the wilted leaves and flowers here because their falling on her signified bad omens.

Cloud Mist Mountain was exceptionally quiet. Wen Qiwu tightened her robe slightly. Without her Senior Sister, it really felt desolate.

Wen Qiwu knew of the Eclipse Secret Realm—a true immortal realm powerhouse’s tomb that opened once every century. The major sects always quarreled endlessly over various issues. She might not see her Senior Sister return today.

If she didn’t go back by evening, Elder Lu would nag. But she could wander near the Assembly Hall; if it ended, she’d know right away.

Wen Qiwu returned to her room, storing the remaining chestnut cakes—plate and all—into her mustard seed space. Then, using the Divine Movement Technique, she headed to Hearing Dao Mountain, where the main hall was.

Hearing Dao Mountain bustled today. Immortal boats and spiritual beasts streaked across the sky toward the Assembly Hall.

Wen Qiwu wandered aimlessly nearby. The sect’s school was also on Hearing Dao Mountain, so she occasionally saw children in the back mountains. Wen Qiwu was known in the sect for her gentle, kind temperament. The children boldly approached this elder for guidance.

Once the children left, most of the day had passed. As Wen Qiwu prepared to leave, she keenly sensed a gaze watching her from the shadows.

“Who’s there!” A ball of fire coalesced at Wen Qiwu’s fingertip and shot toward the nearby bamboo grove.

A water curtain rose in the bamboo grove, blocking the fire. A woman emerged from behind it, smiling charmingly. Her fox-like brows and eyes held a touch of allure. “No ill intent. I just got lost by accident and didn’t want to disturb you teaching those children.”

Recognizing the face, Wen Qiwu identified her—Jade Xi Sect Saintess Zuo Lan.

Rumors abounded about this saintess: exceptional talent, already a Dao Harmony cultivator at a young age. Amid the praise were whispers that she favored women and had accrued many romantic debts in Cangwang Realm.

The bell at her waist chimed crisply. Hearing it, Wen Qiwu dazed for an instant but quickly realized the sound was off and snapped out of it. By then, the saintess had drawn close.

“Are you unwell, fellow Daoist? Need me to support you?” Her tone sounded concerned, but cunning lurked in her eyes.