Chapter 6

When I woke again, sunlight streamed through spotless windows, and the room was as warm as spring. Everything was so lovely I nearly thought I had ascended to Heaven’s southern gate.

Then I turned my head, saw Shen Du seated nearby drinking tea, and wanted to gouge out my own eyes and pretend I had never seen him.

“You’re awake,” Shen Du said without turning, utterly certain. “I have questions for you.”

I shifted and discovered that all my damaged meridians had healed.

Sitting up, I asked, “What questions?”

Shen Du pointed at the rust-covered Big Sword beside him and came straight to the point. “This is a wicked sword capable of devouring the spiritual energy in other artifacts. It contains forty-nine seals. Thanks to you, one of them has already broken.”

My eyes widened in heartbroken disbelief.

Big Sword, I never knew you were like this! I treated you as my brother, and you treated me as an incubator!

Then I turned a wary gaze on Shen Du. “Why are you telling me this? I don’t know anything.”

I had not forgotten the scene in the Celestial Secrets Mirror where everyone called me a demoness and tried to burn me.

Shen Du paused, then said helplessly, “I know you did not act intentionally. I brought you back because I feared the sword’s wicked energy might taint you. But for it to appear in the Changheng Sect, someone must be plotting in the shadows. Stay here for now. Once I uncover the truth, I will send you out.”

He sounded so sternly righteous, as if he were the very picture of selfless virtue.

As if he were not the man who would frame me as a demoness and carve out my inner core to give Ah Yuan immortal bones in the vision I had seen.

Shen Du turned to leave as soon as he finished. I gave a cold laugh. “You’re leaving just like that, Immortal Shen Du?”

His step faltered. He glanced back at me with an indescribable expression.

His face seemed to say, You dare speak to me like that?

“You showed favoritism toward your disciple and nearly killed a fellow member of your sect. Your virtue is clearly lacking. Don’t you owe me compensation?”

“There were circumstances. It was because of the wicked sword that I…”

“I don’t care. You injured me. What if I develop an inner demon and my cultivation suffers?”

“…”

Shen Du remained silent for a long time before slowly asking, “What do you want?”

I shook my storage pouch and sighed. “You took my sword, injured me, detained me by force, and made me miss the Immortal Examination. A thousand—no, ten thousand high-grade spirit stones is the least that could make this right.”

Expressionless, Shen Du tossed me a storage pouch.

“There are fifty thousand inside.”

I accepted it with a delighted smile, then continued, “Forgecraft Peak may be remote, but I’m Immortal Li Yuan’s only disciple, so Master gives me the finest food, clothing, and necessities. Naturally, while I stay here, I must have the finest of everything as well.”

Shen Du eyed me suspiciously.

I immediately said, “You don’t believe me? Send my master a message and ask him yourself.”

Shen Du: “…”

Whatever thought crossed his mind made a vein throb at his temple. At last, he silently agreed.

“You will lack for neither food nor clothing. As for your lodging…”

His face remained blank. “The best residence on Canglan Peak is this Listening Bamboo Pavilion. If you have no objection, I will have someone prepare a room for you.”

The instant he finished, he vanished as though terrified I might make another unreasonable demand.

In truth, I had no desire to live so near Shen Du.

But when I saw Ah Yuan’s livid face, as if she wanted to tear me apart, my mood abruptly improved.

I called loudly to the immortal attendants preparing my room, “Hurry now! Don’t keep Immortal Shen Du waiting!”