The moment Lu Mingyi heard that Jiang Liuzhao was taking on a new direct disciple, discomfort stirred in her heart.
It felt just like when she was little, with Shen Mingzheng as her only playmate, only to hear that the other girl had befriended children from other families.
But Lu Mingyi had always been one to see things clearly. Even at just a few years old, she’d understood that she and Shen Mingzheng were different.
Shen Mingzheng was the eldest daughter of the Shen Family—she would have countless companions in the future. Why cling so tightly to this one new one?
Now, Lu Mingyi understood even better that Jiang Liuzhao taking a new disciple was inevitable.
Sword Peak’s direct disciples numbered only three to this day.
The eldest senior sister, Xiao Yuxie, was the young mistress of the Xiao Family and would inevitably return to family affairs someday. The second senior sister was wild at heart and disliked staying in one place; Lu Mingyi had been in the sect for nearly a century and had barely crossed paths with her a handful of times.
As for Lu Mingyi, ranked third, she had ties to a worldly clan but wasn’t fully immersed in it. Talented and of upright character, she was the perfect candidate to inherit the Sword Peak Lord’s position.
Of course, that was assuming her cultivation didn’t come crashing down like it had.
These days, Lu Mingyi didn’t know when her cultivation might fully dissipate, turning her into a mere mortal. The other four peaks were thriving with talent—better to act early than scramble for someone later.
At this moment, Lu Mingyi felt a touch of gratitude toward that mysterious voice of unknown origin.
After all, it was that voice that had first warned her her master was taking a new disciple. With this much time to come to terms with it, she could let it go more quickly now.
Still, there was a bit of surprise and disappointment. Just a month ago, she’d discussed taking disciples with her master, and today she learned Jiang Liuzhao was already holding the apprenticeship ceremony.
This was much faster than she’d expected.
As her thoughts swirled, Lu Mingyi lifted her gaze again, the complex emotions already tucked away.
But facing Shen Mingzheng’s unclear expression, irritation bubbled up in her heart. She simply said, “Junior Sister truly didn’t mention it to me. She must have forgotten. In that case, I should head to Lingxiao Pavilion later to congratulate Master.”
“You…” Shen Mingzheng’s eyes widened a fraction, the murky fire in her chest burning hotter.
“Little Yi is right. Proper etiquette must be observed,” Shen Pianchen interjected smoothly, nodding approvingly at Lu Mingyi. “But as we discussed earlier, the Long Rainbow Sword Venerable is likely stretched thin right now. So, your Aunt Xia and I have decided to have Shu Yi guard you discreetly.”
“Shu Yi?” Lu Mingyi blinked in surprise.
Pill Cultivators’ combat prowess paled compared to other paths, so the Shen Family trained many sword cultivators, law cultivators, and artifact cultivators. They’d even cultivated a loyal guard squad.
Shu Yi was one of the few Lu Mingyi knew of. This guard had reached the Soul Transformation Stage, second only to those shadowing Shen Pianchen in the squad—same level as Shen Mingzheng’s own protector.
Amid the gratitude, Lu Mingyi sensed the situation was graver than she’d imagined.
Shen Pianchen said nothing, merely inclining her head slightly.
With matters settled, it was time for Shen Mingzheng to be alone with her parents.
Lu Mingyi was still curious about the Five-Colored Stone, but she knew what to ask and what to leave unsaid.
Throughout the discussion, Shen Pianchen had tacitly acknowledged its existence—that said enough.
So, Lu Mingyi dipped her head slightly, bowing farewell to Shen Pianchen and Xia Huan.
Finally, she glanced at Shen Mingzheng. Gone was the warm smile from earlier; now, she offered only a cold, stern profile, too stingy to spare even a look.
In the past, Lu Mingyi would have bantered and joked to coax that lovely face back to radiance.
But with one thing after another piling up lately, even she felt out of breath.
Besides, she had her own temper.
She tolerated Shen Mingzheng endlessly most of the time, but when her anger flared, she wouldn’t swallow it down.
Thus, Lu Mingyi left Shen Mingzheng with a cold view of her own back and strode out of Jin Que Pavilion.
Only after putting some distance between herself and Jin Que Pavilion did she let out a soft sigh.
Lu Mingyi didn’t like sighing.
In her hazy memories, her mother had told her, “Sighing chases away good fortune.” She didn’t fuss over such vague notions of “fortune,” but the phrase conveyed that sighing was hardly a positive act.
Yet right now, she desperately wanted to vent the pent-up frustration weighing on her chest.
The Demon Sect, Child of Prophecy, Five-Colored Stone, and that ghostly voice…
All these crashing down at once—even Lu Mingyi missed the simpler days when her only worry was her plummeting cultivation.
Back then, she fretted over just that one thing. Not this avalanche.
Yet she knew full well a major reason for her foul mood was Shen Mingzheng’s reaction just now.
She shouldn’t suspect, but Shen Mingzheng’s words matched those echoing voices too perfectly.
But why would Shen Mingzheng think I’m hypocritical? I really don’t believe in fortune-tellers or care about some Child of Prophecy title—she knows that!
And if those voices truly came from others’ hearts… that would upend Lu Mingyi’s world.
Shen Mingzheng denying her character from the heart, her master deeming her useless, her junior sisters…
If the voices were real, Ji Xuyun posed the biggest problem.
From those snippets she’d overheard at Ji Xuyun’s, it was clear Ji Xuyun was the Demon Sect mole spreading word of the Sect Leader’s divination.
But how could that be?
Ji Xuyun was the inner sect’s top disciple, meeting countless sect elders. Even the inner sect chiefs of each peak were appointed personally by the Sect Leader. A Demon Sect spy would have been exposed long ago.
Moreover, Ji Xuyun had been in Taiqing Sect for decades. Which Demon Sect infiltrator could lurk that long?
Lu Mingyi shook her head, banishing the idea that the voices were true heart’s voices.
She couldn’t let herself think that way—it would deny the integrity of everyone around her.
But the seed of doubt had taken root. Even with her steadfast heart, Lu Mingyi couldn’t fully shake the clinging shadow.
On her solemn trek back to Sword Peak, she passed many fellow disciples, their gazes brimming with blatant fear and disgust.
If I really am that Child of Prophecy, forget world-shattering for now, Lu Mingyi thought. Taiqing Sect definitely needs a mandatory course for disciples: How to Improve Your Judgment!
Finally dragging herself back to Jin Ji Pavilion, Lu Mingyi remembered she still had to climb to the peak-top Lingxiao Pavilion to deliver congratulatory gifts to Jiang Liuzhao and the new junior sister.
At merely Foundation Establishment Third Layer, she couldn’t fly on a sword. Trekking up Sword Peak’s summit on foot would take at least three days!
And Sword Peak was notoriously steep and treacherous— one misstep, and she’d plummet off a cliff.
Though Shen Pianchen had assigned the Soul Transformation Stage cultivator Shu Yi as her guard, Lu Mingyi couldn’t possibly bother her for this.
Maybe skip the gift. She’d just roll back to Contemplation Cliff.
The Sect Leader was ill, her master bedside day and night. She’d lain injured and comatose for three days—no visit. A month on Contemplation Cliff with her frail cultivation, and her master seemed to have forgotten her entirely. Visiting Lingxiao Pavilion was now next to impossible without flight.
Lu Mingyi pressed her forehead to the wall and bang-bang knocked it twice more.
She thought she’d accepted her master taking a new disciple, but resentment bubbled up again.
“Little Yi? What are you doing here?”
Suddenly, a gentle voice wafted over, laced with faint orchid fragrance.
Lu Mingyi turned toward the sound. Xiao Yuxie must have just returned from outside; she wasn’t in Taiqing Sect robes but a silver-white garment shimmering like moonlight, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Xiao Yuxie stepped closer. Lu Mingyi assumed she’d ask about the wall-banging, but instead, she produced a handkerchief and gently wiped Lu Mingyi’s forehead. With a softly upturned tone, she said, “You’ve got some dust on your forehead. Even fooling around, you should be careful.”
Lu Mingyi looked up into Xiao Yuxie’s serene, gentle eyes, which enveloped her in perfect comfort.
There were more efficient ways, like the Clear Dust Art, but in this moment, that soft handkerchief felt like it swept across her heart too, brushing away all her earlier frustrations.
