Chapter 2

Every morning, Shen Tang told me about Xie Lang.

He said Xie Lang had reached Foundation Establishment at thirteen, formed his Golden Core at twenty-five, and mastered the Sword of Supreme Detachment at twenty-seven.

“The year he mastered it, he left the mountain to travel at his master’s command.”

Shen Tang looked at me, his eyes as still as a cold pool. “It was out there that he met you.”

“How did we meet?” I was rather curious.

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Then where did we meet?”

“I don’t know.”

“…What do you know, then?”

Shen Tang lowered his eyes. “When Xie Lang was twenty-nine, the spirit clans invaded the human realm. The Spirit Sovereign held you captive before the opposing armies and threatened your life to force Xie Lang to kill himself.”

“Xie Lang raised his sword to his own throat. The elders stopped him.”

“And my master killed you before the armies.”

“Your master must have struck very hard when he killed me.” I pressed a hand over my heart and murmured, “Otherwise, why would it still hurt after all this time?”

“Do you remember anything?”

Shen Tang’s long lashes trembled. He held two fingers together above my wrist.

A gentle thread of true qi seeped slowly into my body, soothing my agitated thoughts.

I shook my head.

“Then we’ll stop here for today.” He drew back his hand and held my gaze. “Don’t be afraid.”

Once I recovered, I felt like teasing him again. “Then hurry up and cultivate. Surpass Xie Lang as soon as you can. If he decides I’m not the person he’s looking for, you can take me and run.”

“All right.”

I had only been joking, but he agreed in all seriousness. “Miss Luoluo, so long as I live, I will not let you come to the slightest harm.”

I froze.

Another voice, clear and bright, flashed through my mind: Luoluo, while I’m here, no one will ever hurt you.

“Miss Luoluo.”

“Hm?”

He looked at me quietly. “You’re crying.”

Only then did I lift my hand to my face, and find it wet with tears.

“I… suppose I’m touched.”

Staring blankly at the tears on my fingertips, I said without thinking, “Hurry up and go practice. Don’t let me be touched for nothing.”

I sent Shen Tang to the cliff’s edge, then remained where I was, hugging my knees as I watched him practice.

The First Sword Sect’s swordsmanship was fierce, and the Sword of Supreme Detachment surpassed all its other sword arts.

The young man lifted his blade, thrust, and turned, his sword intent sharp and cold.

I became absorbed in watching him.

Xie Lang practiced the Sword of Supreme Detachment too.

Was this what he looked like when he wielded his sword?

“In my lifetime, I have had two disciples of astonishing brilliance.”

Xie Biliu had appeared behind me without my noticing. In just a few days, his broad, straight back had become stooped. “One was Xie Lang. The other is Shen Tang.”

I rested my chin on my hand without looking around. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll ruin both your disciples?”

“Of course I am.” He watched Shen Tang moving through his sword forms. “But Shen Tang and Xie Lang are so alike. I hoped spending time with him would help you remember Xie Lang sooner.”

I turned, unable to keep the contempt from my face. “You’re being rather cruel to Shen Tang.”

“I have wronged Shen Tang. I have wronged Xie Lang. And I have wronged you.”

Something like tears glimmered in Xie Biliu’s clouded eyes.

Since destroying his spiritual core, he had aged rapidly. He now looked like a man in his eighties or nineties.

It left me feeling a little guilty, as though I were bullying an old man, and I said no more.

“Master.” Shen Tang noticed him, sheathed his sword, and came over. “Why have you come? Getting about is difficult for you now. If you need anything, you have only to send me a voice transmission.”

“I’m quite all right. I merely came to see you and Miss Luoluo.”

Xie Biliu smiled. “The mountain gates are open today. Why not take Miss Luoluo down for a stroll? A young girl must grow bored spending all her time up here.”

Shen Tang nodded and looked at me. “Would you like to go down the mountain?”

“Sure.” I brushed the dust from my skirt without much enthusiasm.

All the way down the mountain path, I kept looking at Shen Tang with pity.

He was a prodigy in his own right, yet his own master was using him as someone else’s substitute.

“Miss Luoluo.” He stopped me abruptly, his eyes slightly lowered. “I… have always been rather slow to understand people. My junior brothers and sisters often complain about me. If I’ve done something wrong and offended you, please tell me directly.”

“Hm?” I was puzzled. “Am I not direct enough already?”

“Then why do you keep looking at me like that?” He pressed his lips together.

Understanding dawned. “You’ve misunderstood. This is a look of pity.”

He looked more confused. “Pity?”

“Shen Tang, you’re a good person. But you mustn’t let everyone walk all over you.” I patted his shoulder. “Someone once told me that you have to accept the short end of the stick to get along with people. Well, I’m telling you that’s a load of crap.”

“You’re Shen Tang first. Only after that are you the First Sword Sect’s chief disciple and everyone’s senior brother.”

“Miss…” The wind stirred the loose hair at his temples, and something rippled in his eyes. “I…”

“You witch! Stop pestering Senior Brother Shen!”