Chapter 53 Part 2

“Why?”

But facing that question, Xiao Yuxie only felt more tears welling up.

This sobbing rainstorm overlapped with the scene from 180 years ago.

As the Xiao Family head, Xiao Yuxie bore the weight of her entire clan. She had to remain strong and resolute at all times—showing weakness with tears was unbecoming.

She’d always believed that, and from childhood, she’d cried only a handful of times.

So when she first heard of Lu Mingyi’s death, she hadn’t even wiped the smile from her face.

“Family Head, this news… it’s absolutely true.” Ayun knelt before Xiao Yuxie, watching her expression closely. “Miss Lu’s Soul Lamp has gone out—confirmed by the Heavenly Talisman True Person herself. That young master from the Shen Family… was just causing a scene in Pure Clarity Hall.”

Xiao Yuxie slowly set her teacup on the table and asked softly, “What happened? Didn’t you say yesterday that my master took Little Yi out of the Seclusion Chamber?”

“Th-that’s true too, subordinate saw it with her own eyes…” Ayun hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to continue.

Visitations to the Seclusion Chamber were strictly limited, so Xiao Yuxie had posted the Xiao Family’s most trusted retainer at the door.

She’d thought: With Lu Mingyi’s cultivation scattered and reduced to a mortal, she could no longer stay in the Cultivation World. So the moment her confinement ended, Xiao Yuxie planned to have Ayun whisk her straight back to the Xiao Family.

The Cultivation World forbade mortals, but the Xiao Family could accommodate Lu Mingyi.

Xiao Yuxie knew Shen Mingzheng likely harbored the same intentions, so she’d been on guard everywhere.

Yet yesterday, Ayun had suddenly reported that Jiang Liuzhao had hurriedly taken Lu Mingyi from the Seclusion Chamber.

Xiao Yuxie had felt a flicker of doubt and tension. After a century together, she knew her master doted on Lu Mingyi, but the Long Rainbow Sword Venerable’s renowned justice reassured her. After a moment’s thought, she’d set aside her worries.

She never imagined that the very next day, she’d hear from Ayun that “Miss Lu’s Soul Lamp had extinguished.”

Every formal Taiqing Sect disciple had a Soul Lamp: lit while alive, extinguished upon death.

Linked to the soul, it could not err.

Xiao Yuxie blinked in her chair, as if Ayun’s words were incomprehensible.

Little Yi was taken away by Master—how could she have died?

“Family Head…”

Ayun called softly, observing Xiao Yuxie cautiously, worry on her face.

Xiao Yuxie didn’t know what expression she wore, but she assumed it was composed. Rising, she said, “Ayun, I’m going to Pure Clarity Hall. Keep gathering news on Little Yi.”

“Ah—Family Head…”

Ayun’s lips moved; she wanted to say her face was too pale, but Xiao Yuxie was already striding away, vanishing before she could speak.

From Youlan Pavilion to Pure Clarity Hall, sword flight normally took less than a quarter-hour. Yet Xiao Yuxie arrived in a mere dozen breaths.

Pure Clarity Hall, once abuzz for Lu Mingyi’s trial, was packed again today.

Xiao Yuxie frowned, unsure what drew the crowd.

She pushed through; some recognized her, stepping back with bows and cries of “Senior Sister Xiao.” But the usually gracious Xiao Yuxie didn’t even glance their way.

She vaguely overheard chatter:

“Have you heard? Lu Mingyi… she’s dead!”

“Really? Sigh… It’s such a pity. She was so spirited before, but then her cultivation plummeted, she was wrongly accused of colluding with Demonic Cultivators, and now she’s suddenly dead?”

“I heard the Shen Young Mistress grew up with Lu Mingyi? It’s normal for her to not accept it when someone dies so abruptly.”

“Tch, if you ask me, since Lu Mingyi is that unstable Child of Prophecy, it’s better that she’s dead!”

The moment this person blurted out her true thoughts, she suddenly felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head. It startled her into breaking out in cold sweat, but when she looked around, she couldn’t spot who had sent her this warning.

Xiao Yuxie held a high status, so outer and inner sect disciples could only watch from outside. But as the head of the Xiao Family and the chief senior sister of Sword Peak, she could enter Pure Clarity Hall directly.

Yet the moment she stepped inside, a surge of turbulent spiritual energy forced her back a few steps.

“Where the hell is Jiang Liuzhao?! Tell her to hand over Lu Mingyi!”

The originally clear female voice was now hoarse and ragged, sounding utterly grating.

But what was even more unbearable than the voice was the usually glamorous Shen Mingzheng.

She was still wearing the white robes of Taiqing Sect’s Pill Peak, but the front of those robes was now stained with a large swath of fresh red blood.

What drew Xiao Yuxie’s gaze, however, wasn’t the blood on Shen Mingzheng’s clothes, but the brilliantly glowing golden immortal sword in her hand.

That was Lu Mingyi’s sword—Gu Li.

Why was Gu Li in Shen Mingzheng’s hands? And why was it shining with sword light?

Xiao Yuxie felt her mind grind to a halt.

The Heavenly Talisman True Person also looked utterly exhausted. She raised her hand, trying to soothe Shen Mingzheng. “Nephew Shen, I’ve already told you—Nephew Lu has fallen. We summoned you here to collect some of her belongings…”

The word “belongings” hit Xiao Yuxie’s ears, and she felt her vision suddenly blur.

Was she the one trembling? Or had Shen Mingzheng’s intense reaction made her eyes play tricks?

“This is impossible!” Shen Mingzheng’s voice cracked like it was being torn apart, laced with ragged gasps and choked sobs. “Yesterday—yesterday she was perfectly fine! How could she just— just… meet with disaster today!”

“Where’s Jiang Liuzhao? She took her away! What did she do?! Tell her to give her back!”

As Shen Mingzheng’s near-breakdown emotions roiled, Gu Li in her hand responded to its wielder’s state of mind, its sword light flaring brilliantly. But at that moment, Shen Mingzheng suddenly coughed up several mouthfuls of blood and collapsed to the ground, the crimson liquid dripping from her jaw to the floor.

Ah, so that’s how it is.

Xiao Yuxie heard the voice echoing in her heart.

Gu Li was glowing in Shen Mingzheng’s hands because she had forcibly altered her own spiritual energy circulation, mimicking Lu Mingyi.

One had a Metal Spiritual Root, the other a Fire Spiritual Root. Shen Mingzheng had to suppress her innate spiritual power to do it, which was why she was coughing up blood.

But why would Shen Mingzheng alter her spiritual energy circulation?

Had her hatred and jealousy toward Lu Mingyi driven her to steal her cherished sword?

Xiao Yuxie’s mind churned as it always did. She’d long noticed the envy and jealousy mixed into the looks Shen Mingzheng gave Lu Mingyi. Only Lu Mingyi, with her endless tolerance for Shen Mingzheng’s volatile temper, had failed to see it.

But as a Sword Cultivator, Lu Mingyi treasured her sword above all. How could she let Gu Li be wielded so easily by someone else?

Xiao Yuxie couldn’t figure it out, so she stepped forward, intending to ask directly.

The Heavenly Talisman True Person was wracking her brains over how to send Shen Mingzheng away when she spotted Xiao Yuxie. She slapped her forehead. “Ah, Nephew Xiao, perfect timing. Nephew Lu’s Jin Ji Pavilion should still have some things… Could you take Nephew Shen there to pack them up first? Some of it counts as belongings too…”

“Acting Sect Leader, may I ask where Little Yi’s Soul Lamp is?” Xiao Yuxie bowed at the waist, not picking up on the Heavenly Talisman True Person’s words.

“Huh?”

The Heavenly Talisman True Person blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected this steadiest disciple in the sect to miss the point right now either. But then she remembered Lu Mingyi and Xiao Yuxie had been fellow disciples for a century—they probably couldn’t accept the news so quickly.

With a sigh, she turned and produced a lamp. Its wick had long since gone dark.

“This can’t be Lu Mingyi’s!” Shen Mingzheng had seen this lamp when she arrived, and now as the Heavenly Talisman True Person brought it out again, she repeated the same denial.

Understanding Shen Mingzheng’s breakdown, the Heavenly Talisman True Person patiently explained, “It is undoubtedly hers. Nephew Shen, you’ve accepted this truth yourself, haven’t you? Gu Li‘s sword spirit was on the verge of dissipating, yet you’re deceiving it now.”

Then, to Xiao Yuxie: “Nephew Xiao, I know you and Nephew Lu shared a century of friendship. Please, restrain your grief.”

Xiao Yuxie’s long lashes trembled as she lowered her gaze to Gu Li in Shen Mingzheng’s hand.

That sword, which had clashed countless times with her Flying Light, still radiated brilliant golden sword light.

But the one gripping it was no longer that person.

“Nephew Xiao?” The Heavenly Talisman True Person watched the woman before her and suddenly widened her eyes, calling out tensely.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Acting Sect Leader?” Xiao Yuxie curved her lips as always, trying to form a gentle smile.

But to the Heavenly Talisman True Person, it made her heart skip beats.

Just now, she’d seen it clearly—a single tear had slipped from Xiao Yuxie’s soft eyes, so fleeting, yet impossible to ignore.