Thanks to Ji Xuyun’s long preamble, Lu Mingyi wasn’t surprised by the final revelation. She even followed up smoothly: “And then?”
Ji Xuyun fell silent for a moment, clearly not expecting Lu Mingyi to be so calm.
She blinked, her eyes glistening with moisture, looking utterly heartbroken: “So now, many people probably think you’re the Child of Prophecy, Senior Sister Lu—that you’ll collude with the Demon Sect and bring disaster to the world.”
Lu Mingyi barely held back from showing too exaggerated an expression in front of this junior sister.
It wasn’t anger or resentment. It was just sheer absurdity.
If I had the power of that so-called “Child of Prophecy,” would I be in this state right now?
The disciples of the Taiqing Sect had all undergone rigorous selection—how could they be so quick to follow the crowd blindly, without a shred of independent judgment?
It was heartbreakingly frustrating!
After holding it in again and again, Lu Mingyi finally laughed in exasperation: “Even if I died, I would never have anything to do with the Demon Sect!”
“Of course. The others in the sect don’t know about the irreconcilable blood feud between you and the Demon Sect, Senior Sister Lu—that’s why they’re making such narrow-minded assumptions.” Ji Xuyun smiled, then lowered her eyes to gaze at their clasped hands.
Lu Mingyi liked many things but hated few. The only thing she truly despised was the Demon Sect.
Because her mothers had died at the hands of the Demon Sect.
She had a touch of romanticism in her nature, but she’d never slacked on cultivation. Beyond gratitude for the Shen Family and her master, her drive was to one day eradicate the Demon Sect and avenge her parents.
That was why, sixty years ago, when she was merely at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, she’d joined the battle against the infamous Demon Sect Saintess.
Even if I really wanted to destroy the world, Lu Mingyi thought mockingly, the Demon Sect would be the first to go.
She took a sip of the now-tepid Jiangxia Cloud Mist to soothe her throat, then composed herself and said to Ji Xuyun, “Thank you for telling me all this, Junior Sister Ji. Now I understand the strange looks from our fellow disciples along the way.”
“Senior Sister Lu, please don’t take it to heart…” Ji Xuyun leaned forward, drawing closer to Lu Mingyi, as if afraid she might do something rash.
“How could I!”
Lu Mingyi chuckled. Over the three years her cultivation had plummeted, she’d endured countless sneers and cold stares—what did one more “Child of Prophecy” label change?
Then, she grew serious as she looked at Ji Xuyun. “But Junior Sister, I have one more thing to ask you, though you might not know.”
“Ask away, Senior Sister Lu. Even if I don’t know, I’ll find a way to get the answer for you.” Ji Xuyun’s eyes still shone brightly.
Lu Mingyi spoke slowly: “You said this came from the Sect Leader’s Divination, but she’s been gravely ill for some time now. How did the information spread?”
Before entering Contemplation Cliff, Ming Xuan had already told her about the Sect Leader’s illness, and Jiang Liuzhao had confirmed it was backlash from peering into the heavens. If she, Lu Mingyi, was truly the one from the Sect Leader’s Divination, shouldn’t she have known long ago?
Moreover, this involved the Demon Sect and rumors of the Five-Colored Stone. Neither the Sect Leader nor her master would spread it widely. For the news to circulate so broadly, someone must have deliberately leaked it.
“Ah, this…” Ji Xuyun’s voice softened, trailing off in a gentle lilt. She looked troubled, though Lu Mingyi noticed her lips curving upward slightly. “I’m sorry, Senior Sister Lu, I really don’t know about that.”
“But I’ll try my best to find out.”
“No need to force it.” Lu Mingyi shook her head.
Compared to the Divination prophecy itself, the person spreading it deserved closer scrutiny.
Those who knew of the Sect Leader’s Divination would be high-ranking and influential in the Taiqing Sect.
Among the Five Peaks’ peak lords, Jiang Liuzhao and Ming Xuan wouldn’t do it. The Medicine Peak Lord had been in seclusion without emerging. The Beast Peak Lord was obsessed with beast-taming and ignored worldly affairs. And before Lu Mingyi entered Contemplation Cliff, the Talisman Peak Lord had left the sect on business.
Most importantly—what was the point of leaking the Sect Leader’s Divination?
“Senior Sister Lu, are you wondering right now why that person spread the news?”
Ji Xuyun’s soft voice interrupted Lu Mingyi’s thoughts.
“Exactly.” Lu Mingyi nodded. “It’s just one Divination reading—does anyone really think I can stir up some storm?”
“You’re mistaken there, Senior Sister Lu. The Sect Leader’s title is Azure Moon Sword Venerable, but her Divination skills outshine even her swordsmanship.” Ji Xuyun explained patiently. “I heard that a hundred years ago, the Shen Family Head asked her for a Divination, which foretold great peril. The Shen Family Head secluded herself for the entire year. And sure enough, that year the Demon Sect unleashed chaos across the world, abducting several Shen Family disciples. If the Shen Family Head hadn’t secluded herself in advance, she might have clashed directly with the Demon Sect.”
Lu Mingyi frowned slightly upon hearing this.
First, it was Shen Family business, yet she’d grown up by Shen Mingzheng’s side and never heard of it. Second, the Shen Family had always been a target of the Demon Sect—why only one year of peril?
In short, Lu Mingyi didn’t believe in Divination or fortune-telling at all, so she naturally picked out the “flaws,” even if it came from the world-renowned Azure Moon Sword Venerable.
“Ah, Senior Sister Lu, I know you don’t believe in fate or destiny.” Ji Xuyun seemed to read her mind, placing her other hand over Lu Mingyi’s as well. “But think about it—not even the Demon Sect escapes her sight, and she Divined you as the ‘Child of Prophecy.’ Doesn’t that sound impressive?”
“Senior Sister Lu, don’t you want to make your name resound through the world?”
Lu Mingyi’s expression turned peculiar. She looked at Ji Xuyun and said earnestly, “Junior Sister Ji, if we’re talking prophecy, the ‘Child of Prophecy’ can’t be separated from the Demon Sect.”
“What I mean is…”
“Besides, what does making a name for yourself have to do with prophecy? If a Divination said you’d remain obscure, would you just accept it and stop cultivating or striving?”
With that, Lu Mingyi chuckled softly to reassure her: “I know you’re concerned and trying to cheer me up, but I have zero interest in this ‘Child of Prophecy’ nonsense. Let the others speculate if they want.”
“…As long as you don’t mind those rumors, Senior Sister Lu.”
Ji Xuyun nodded, her hand—which had been overlapping Lu Mingyi’s—somehow withdrawn.
What Lu Mingyi didn’t say was that in her younger days, she had dreamed of shaking the world.
For her mothers, for the Shen Family, for her master—she’d been ambitious, talented, capable. It was only natural.
But now, it was all smoke on the wind.
In that brief moment of distraction, an eerie voice whispered in Lu Mingyi’s ear:
【Lu Mingyi, you’re remarkably composed. Looks like the fire I’ve lit for you isn’t burning hot enough yet.】
Though the tone differed vastly, Lu Mingyi quickly recognized it as Ji Xuyun’s voice.
She even recalled hearing it before entering Contemplation Cliff, during their farewell: 【My dear senior sister, when you come out, you’ll find I’ve prepared a big gift for you.】
Putting the two together, the conclusion was obvious: Ji Xuyun was the one spreading the rumor, and she’d planned it long ago.
Lu Mingyi’s expression darkened. She looked at the smiling girl across from her, suspicion rising in her heart—then suppressed it.
Just now at Contemplation Cliff, she’d warned herself not to be paranoid or darkly speculate about those around her.
Originally, she’d wanted to discuss the leaker’s motives with Ji Xuyun, but now she had no interest. She’d figure it out herself.
So she stood to bid farewell: “Thank you for telling me this, Junior Sister Ji. I’m still weak, so I’ll head back to rest. Come visit me at Jin Ji Pavilion another day.”
“Why so formal with me, Senior Sister Lu!” Ji Xuyun rose quickly too, seeing her all the way to the door. “If you need anything, just tell me—whatever I have or don’t have, I’ll find a way to get it to you!”
Seeing her like this, Lu Mingyi couldn’t help but smile again. “No need, I probably just need some sleep.” Meanwhile, in her heart, she silently rebuked that inexplicable voice for always trying to make her suspect others.
“Heehee, okay.” Ji Xuyun laughed too. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she asked cautiously, “Then… this August, will you still go back to Jiangxia to pay respects to your mothers?”
Lu Mingyi’s mothers had passed in August, and she always returned to Jiangxia to honor them when she could. Ji Xuyun was from Jiangxia too, so they sometimes went together.
With the strange voice, the Sect Leader’s prophecy, and even the Demon Sect stirring, Lu Mingyi felt it wasn’t a good time to leave the Taiqing Sect.
After a moment’s thought, she shook her head: “Too much going on this year—I won’t go. I paid respects last year anyway.”
After leaving Ji Xuyun’s residence and walking a ways, the Identity Token at Lu Mingyi’s waist vibrated. Only then did she realize Shen Mingzheng had sent her a bunch of messages.
She grinned at first, thinking, When will this stubborn temper of Shen Mingzheng’s ever change? She gets inexplicably angry, ignoring all my gentle coaxing. But as soon as I’m busy with something else, she starts reaching out proactively.
Then she inwardly grumbled about the sect’s Identity Tokens—the notifications were always so unreliable. Couldn’t the sect improve the messaging tech?
But when she opened Shen Mingzheng’s messages, the easy smile faded from her face:
【Lu Mingyi, where are you? I waited forever at Contemplation Cliff and didn’t see you!】
【Why aren’t you replying!】
【Forget it—come straight to Jin Que Pavilion when you see this. My mothers are here.】
