Chapter 22

There really were just a handful of disciples on Xiaoyao Peak, which helped explain why life here was as easy as the name promised.
The steep blue-green mountains were mostly empty, broken only by a few small courtyards tucked among the trees.
Inside, there were heated tables with thick quilts for cozy evenings, and cabinets crammed with every kind of delicious snack imaginable.
The courtyard gardens were wild and uncontrolled, trees and bushes growing wherever they pleased, blanket of leaves crunching underfoot. Mu Xue would dash across, her footsteps crackling amidst the brittle carpet. Spring always lingered late up here; a few peach blossoms and pure white magnolias peeked out, dotting the winding trails with color, nature thriving without audience.
With most senior brothers out traveling, the whole mountain was nearly deserted. Forget the side peaks, even the main peak felt empty.
It didn’t take Mu Xue long to make herself completely at home.
Senior Sister Miao was the absolute queen of foodies, her energy seemed entirely consumed by working some new culinary magic. Every time she came back from outside, she was loaded up with strange and wonderful snack foods.
“Xiao Xue, come here. Zhang’s famous stinky tofu, sharing some with you!”
“Ah, no, please no!” Mu Xue flapped her hands in protest.
“Xiao Xue! Come help out. Bagged a demon vulture today, dinner’s on me.”
“Coming, coming!” Mu Xue hurried to catch up, then stopped, puzzled: “But sis, can people really eat that thing?”
Senior Brother Ye Hangzhou was the ultimate social butterfly, he had friends on every main peak. His flying artifact was a single green leaf, and ever since Mu Xue arrived, he’d more or less adopted her as his personal responsibility. He loved giving her rides on his leaf, drifting with her through the mountains, just for fun.
“See that? That’s my junior sister. Finally, I’m not the youngest kid on the block anymore!”
“All right, all right, we get it, you’re not the baby of your peak now.”
“Senior Brother Yang! Since your bro has a junior sister now, aren’t you gonna give me a little congratulatory gift?”
“Go away! Why should I? You’re the one with a junior sister, not me.”
Honestly, the only person on Xiaoyao Peak who was remotely cold to Mu Xue was the aloof Senior Brother Fu Yun. Sometimes, Mu Xue got the feeling he looked at her with a strange distance, a hint of guardedness. She didn’t mind in the least.
Not everyone would like her, she’d survived far worse than indifference. What was a little chill next to true malice?
Master Su Xingtin looked every bit the gentle, poised gentleman: calm, refined, and dignified. But in reality? He was cheerful, easygoing, absolutely no stickler for formality. The disciples adored him, and things never got too stiff. Only Fu Yun kept strictly to righteous rules, every morning, without fail, he’d show up in the study for ritual greeting and instruction, as proper as a textbook.
One day after becoming her master's disciple, Mu Xue was summoned by Su Xingtin. “I heard from Hangzhou that during those days you were forming your foundation, you suddenly heard a bell ring in your ears?”
Mu Xue only then remembered she’d once asked Ye Hangzhou about this very thing.
At the time, she had no idea it was Xiao Shan’s doing.
The Immortal and Demon Spirit Realms are worlds apart, utterly unconnected. Just how much effort did Xiao Shan spend to summon someone’s living soul from the far-distant Immortal Spirit Realm all the way to the Demon Spirit Realm?
Xiao Shan probably had no clue that Mu Xue, so weak in cultivation now, had risked her primordial spirit wandering so far from her body, a reckless, dangerous thing to do.
Mu Xue parted her lips, ready to ask her master for a technique or artifact that could block out external sounds and anchor her soul.
Now that she’d been reborn, what she should do was quiet her heart, settle down in this peaceful Immortal Spirit Realm, and thoroughly put the past behind her.
After all, Xiao Shan was grown up now. He could be just fine on his own.
The words reached her throat, tumbled back and forth... but in the end, she couldn’t spit them out.
All she could think of was that goofy, smiling face always hovering in front of her.
That night, she saw him propping himself up in the doorway, staring stubbornly at her. Even silhouetted against the light, his eyes shone with joy.
But if Master took action, that’d really be the end, she’d never see Xiao Shan again.
Again and again, the words nearly escaped…but in the end, she swallowed them back each time.
“Yeah, I heard a few chimes. Haven’t heard anything since.” Mu Xue said lightly.
Su Xingtin frowned just slightly. “I checked your spiritual meridians, your cultivation is perfectly normal. I can’t tell where the sound came from. Something like this could be nothing, or it could be momentous. If you accidentally awakened the Buddhist power of clairaudience, maybe it’s your fate. But if it’s karmic trouble…then it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Mu Xue shook her head. “No, Master, I haven’t felt any discomfort at all.”
“You still don’t know what true disaster really means. It’s not always lightning or some sudden calamity. Sometimes trouble comes disguised as those you care for; sometimes it’s nothing more than the desires you carry in your own heart. There are heavenly tribulations, of course, but there are also human tribulations…and love tribulations.”
Mu Xue thought wryly, Master, you’re overthinking this. No dramatic human or love tribulation here. It’s just, my little disciple stirring up a little mess by accident, that’s all.
Not wanting her master to worry, she fawned and fussed, pouring tea, setting out snacks, doing everything she could to make Master happy.
“Don’t worry, Master, it’s probably nothing, I swear.”
The two of them sat together in the Xiaoyao Peak’s tearoom, the open door looking out onto a wild, vivid garden. Wisteria hung thick beneath the eaves, purple blooms tumbling in clouds whenever the wind passed through.
Su Xingtin idly spun her teacup, gaze drifting toward the petals scattered over the courtyard. “Xiao Xue. Do you know what the ‘Xingtin’ in my name means, really?”
This had literally just come up in the last big exam, Mu Xue answered promptly: “‘The Book of Changes’ says: ‘When one holds still his back so he cannot feel his body, and when he walks in his courtyard, he does not see his people, then he is without blame.’”
Su Xingtin inclined her head: “Cultivators like us, if we can still our hearts and guard our minds, even when striding through the noisiest, liveliest places, it’s like wandering through our own empty courtyard, at ease. If you can truly reach that realm, nothing, no disaster, can shake you.”
“You’ve got solid roots and extraordinary talent, Xiao Xue. Only, your soul always seems a little restless. Today, I’ll teach you the Xingtin Heart Method. Practice it to anchor your spirit, no harm, no calamity. Remember, never stray from your true heart.”
Mu Xue bowed her head in thanks.
From that day, when she meditated, she started by turning her gaze inward, settling into her own spiritual sea, the Spirit Chamber. There, her consciousness hovered in that hazy space, like the world at first dawn.
She guided spiritual energy inside as Master taught her, letting it swirl and spin as if sun and moon tumbled through the seasons. Silently, she recited the formula: “White Tiger hides in the East, Azure Dragon sinks in the West.” With each phrase, the sun and moon of her little world spun round and round, growing from small to large until they’d circled thirty-six times.
Then, she reversed it: “Azure Dragon sinks in the West, White Tiger hides in the East.” The sun and moon spun back, from outside inward, slowly growing smaller, circling thirty-six times again.
At first, she had to focus deliberately. But with time, it all moved on its own, stars and planets wheeling like a universe inside her mind’s Spirit Chamber, endless, vast, self-contained.
Now when her soul seated itself there, it felt steady and real, full of substance and presence.
Mu Xue opened her eyes. Glancing toward a peach tree in the courtyard, she moved her mind, and her consciousness stretched out, like an invisible hand. The tree began to sway, peach blossoms raining down like pink snow.
The human soul is locked deep within, asleep and blind its whole life. Only with a Golden Core can you see your soul, truly awake at last.
But somehow, maybe thanks to her rebirth, Mu Xue’s primordial spirit had always been clear and bright. Before, she’d had too little spiritual energy to do anything with it, even as a soul, she couldn’t budge the slightest thing, no more than a wandering ghost.
Now, with her spiritual sea unlocked and the Xingtin Heart Method in hand, her soul sat firmly at the center, absorbing the sun and moon’s essence. Bit by bit, it was becoming real, able to reach and move real things in the world.
This gave her a real advantage. Her progress sped up, every trace of spiritual power beginning to fuse with her primordial soul. Now, whenever she wanted to cast a spell, she needed only a thought to send her power outward and target something, no more elaborate mental prep, no need for long buildup. Everything just flowed, quick and smooth.
Finishing her practice, Mu Xue poked her head out, watching the blossom storm in the courtyard, her thoughts drifting to the old yard where snow always fell back home.
Ever since that hasty goodbye, she’d never heard that bell-like chime in her ear again.
What was Xiao Shan doing now, she wondered?
In the ruins of old Fuwang City, a young woman ran barefoot through an empty, broken street. Her limbs were slender, her waist supple, a little deer fleeing some invisible beast. Fragile, defenseless, prey anyone could hunt.
A few men caught up with her, seizing their beautiful quarry, pinning her down in the deserted wreckage.
A woman's delicate, trembling scream echoed down the deserted street. Her pale skin writhed and struggled in the mud, the scene only fueling the men's excitement.
"In a place like this, you can scream your lungs out, nobody's coming. Be good, will you? Spare yourself some pain." The man was panting, but he didn't rush in. It was like he was waiting for something.
Suddenly, a shadow dropped from the sky, black cloak swirling. Iron fists struck like lightning, one punch for each scumbag, smashing their heads right into the rubble. Blood fanned out across the empty ground. In the blink of an eye, what had been a sleazy, sordid tableau was swept away by a flood of crimson, replaced by a chilling massacre.
The woman, freed from her captors, clutched her torn shirt and sat in shock on the ground, unable to process what had just happened.
The man who’d saved her had already wiped all emotion from his face and was preparing to leave.
"P-please, wait!" The woman scrambled to him, kneeling at his feet. "You saved my life. I don't even know how to thank you!"
She lifted her trembling neck, eyes shining with grateful longing, looking up at him as if he were her hero.
Her smile was heartbreakingly beautiful, soft, pitiful, touching. Curves and skin, pale as milk, peeked from beneath tattered cloth.
So delicate, so inviting, vulnerable in a way only a woman can be.
Hardly any man could resist such an invitation.
The man in black gazed down at her. "You’re not afraid?"
She froze a moment, then answered instantly, "Of course not. You saved me; how could I be afraid of you?"
"You want to repay me?"
Her face went bright red. She clutched her collar tighter. "Of course. Whatever it takes, I have to repay you."
"That’s wonderful," said a voice, stiff and oddly mechanical.
Out of nowhere, a puppet, the size of a teacup, appeared. It rummaged through its storage pouch and dumped a trolly, a shovel, and a broom at the woman’s feet.
"Since you’re not scared, and you want to do us a favor, why don’t you clean up these bodies yourself? Save us the hassle. And don’t forget, not a single drop of blood left behind!"
As it spoke, the caped man was already striding away. The little puppet raced after him, scrambled up his back, and perched on his shoulder.
"She really should clean thoroughly. If she comes back and finds the place a mess, she’ll be furious," the puppet muttered on his shoulder.
The man gave a faint nod and walked on without a backwards glance.
Leaving behind only the pitiful, beautiful woman, sitting stunned in a pool of blood and ruins.
"Hahaha!" Laughter rang through the Yan family home as Yan Ling clapped her hands. "That dumbass Lei Liang’s behind this, isn’t he? Trying to seduce Cen Qianshan with a woman, seriously, is he stupid?"
Her handsome husband-servant grinned, "If ‘Mr. Romance Mountain’ hadn’t spent the past century pining after Master Mu, he wouldn’t have ended up the leading man in half the silly romance novels out there."
Yan Ling lounged back on her chair, hands behind her head, and sighed. "You’re not wrong. Around here, you won’t find anyone more loyal than he is."
She rolled over lazily. "Don’t you think our favorite demon king’s been a little different lately?"
"Different? How so?"
"Hard to say," Yan Ling mused, tapping her chin. "He’s always been strong, but he used to have this dead-inside vibe, like he’d throw his life away at any second. Now, though, he feels… alive. Did you see how carefully he planned everything this time? Not a bit like his old self."
"Isn’t that a good thing?" her husband said. "If he takes us seriously, maybe our family affairs will finally get sorted."
"True enough. We’re heading for the Dongyue Temple tomorrow; let’s just hope this bigshot my mother paid so dearly for doesn’t let us down."
In a snow-dusted courtyard, Cen Qianshan sat on the threshold, carefully polishing a long, slender blade. Its edge gleamed, a touch of crimson running along the steely length; silver snow patterns coiled about the hilt, a weapon of rare quality, by any measure.
The puppet Qianji swung out from inside. "All packed, master! Medicine, weapons, armor, spear… and your custom-made mechanical puppets, too."
Cen Qianshan nodded and sheathed his blade.
"That’s ‘Frostbite,’ right? Haven’t seen it in ages, thank goodness you didn’t lose it." The puppet eyed the sword. "But really, you’re still relying on regular weapons? Isn’t that way too risky?"
Cen Qianshan took the bundle the puppet handed over and checked his gear. "It’s fine. Even if my spiritual power’s mostly sealed, true high-level cultivators have skills and experience mortals can’t imagine. As long as I’m prepared, there’s nothing to fear."
"Master, are you really not taking me along?" Qianji circled his legs, trying its best to act cute and win a spot. "I’ve never left your side. I really, really want to go!"
Cen Qianshan tapped its metal head with the sheath and nudged it off the step. "Nope, you’d be frozen the moment you went in, and your storage pouch wouldn’t work. I’d wind up carrying you."
The little puppet theatrically clutched its head and scrambled back up, its master so rarely played with it like this that it almost liked it.
"Master, you seem kind of different lately."
"Hm?"
"You talk more. You’re more patient before heading out, actually remember to bring medicine, it makes me feel a lot better," the puppet declared, one spindly arm pressing its chest, even though it technically had no heart inside.
Cen Qianshan checked his supplies in silence, finally tightening the leather straps on his pack.
"I’m not the useless kid I used to be. I’m a man now. From now on, I’ll be the one protecting Master." He slung the backpack over his shoulder and strode outside. "If I can’t even take care of myself, how could I possibly protect her?"
Recently, the hottest topic in Guiyuan Sect has been a mission officially announced by the sect itself.
Every disciple in the sect, as long as they're willing to sign up, can form teams to explore the Dongyue Temple.
The moment this news broke, the entire sect was in an uproar. Everywhere you went, people were buzzing about this newly opened ancient site where the Divine Path had just been revealed.
Ye Hangzhou, always the eager one, had already played trailblazer, going in and out of the ruins a few times.
On this particular day, Mu Xue lounged lazily in the wooden corridor, reclining by a little wooden table, reading ‘The Record of Zhong and Lu’s Teachings’ in one hand and popping fruit from a dish into her mouth with the other.
Ye Hangzhou, windblown and road-weary, suddenly leapt up onto the corridor, settled cross-legged across from her, and with a grand flourish, scattered a handful of brilliant, five-colored gems across the table.
“Picked these up on the Divine Path. Here, little junior sister, take these, use 'em to knock down birds or whatever.”
“Back at last, senior brother? Must’ve been rough.” Mu Xue hopped up and scurried inside, her short legs pattering as she returned with a steaming cup of tea. She offered it up with both hands. “Drink some water first, senior brother.”
“Ah, this is why having a little junior sister is the best.”
Ye Hangzhou took the cup and gulped it down, letting out a long, satisfied sigh.
Mu Xue perched by the little table, reaching for the gems. They sparkled crystal-clear, flawless all over. If you brought these down to the mortal world, they’d be worth a fortune. Pity, there wasn’t much spiritual energy inside them.
“They’re gorgeous, thanks, senior brother.” Mu Xue said.
“Don’t mention it. These things aren’t good for much, just toys for you, really.” Ye Hangzhou grinned. “Back when I stayed at the sect gate, I thought I was hot stuff. Turns out, there’s always someone stronger. I’ve been in and out of the Divine Path more times than I can count, and I’m still circling the outermost edge, yet others waltz right past me, barely breaking a sweat.”
Mu Xue held the stones up toward the sunlight, glimpsing a fantastical world of color.
“So what's actually on the Divine Path?” she asked absently.
“Everything… You name it. I even ran into demonic cultivators.” Ye Hangzhou lay back, arms crossed behind his head, watching the drifting clouds. He sounded as if he was talking more to himself. “You know, they’re really not like the legends make them out to be. Kinda like us, honestly. Some are rough, but others are surprisingly interesting.”
“You ran into demonic cultivators? Didn’t the sect put out a million warnings? Always travel in groups, never act alone, and especially never, ever make contact with demonic cultivators?”
Ye Hangzhou sat up straight and raised a finger, “Shhh, not so loud. Out there, things get… complicated. Besides, you’re way too uptight for your age.”
Miao Hong’er just happened to emerge from the kitchen, carrying a steaming bowl of beef tendon,
“Xiao Xue, here, open up!” She expertly fed Mu Xue a piece of the rich, tender tendon. “You’re still growing, eat more of this.”
She set the bowl down on the table, rolling up her sleeves,
“So, Hangzhou’s back? I heard you couldn’t even beat a single demonic cultivator. Come on, let this senior sister give you some real practice, time to level up.”
“No, no, senior sister! There’s no way I can take you on!” Ye Hangzhou wailed as Miao Hong’er dragged him down into the courtyard.
Mu Xue stayed at the edge of the veranda, feet dangling, munching on beef tendon while enjoying the one-sided beatdown that followed.
What exactly was Dongyue Temple like? she wondered.