Volume 2, Chapter 53 – Clarifying the Heart (Two-in-One)

When Bai Xiang stepped into the courtyard, she realized she was pretty much the last to arrive.

Second Uncle Bai Lianzhou was taking the lead; Xu Shu, Bai Zhuqing, Ma Yue and the others were all present, each of them looking toward the center of the yard with eyes full of anticipation.

Only Bai Shengju stood in the middle, and his appearance was completely different from before.

Two months ago, Bai Shengju had been skin and bones, hunched over with a crooked back, eyes turbid, coughing violently from time to time. His favorite thing to do was sit in the courtyard staring up at the clouds, occasionally glancing back toward the inner hall, or taking out a photo album to flip through it.

Two months later, nearly half the wrinkles on his face were gone. His back was straight, his eyes clear and bright. He looked at least twenty years younger than before, standing in the courtyard with an austere steel sword in hand, while the purple demonic aura around him had yet to dissipate.

At first Bai Xiang didn’t think much of it, but when she saw the color of that aura, she froze for a moment. She stepped out from the crowd to meet Bai Shengju, cupped her fists, and nodded. “Congratulations, Dao Lord.”

Only then did the others react, hurrying to send their uneven chorus of congratulations: “Congratulations, Dao Lord (on your divine arts perfected)!”

“What divine arts perfected! I’m not some demon cult leader out of a storybook!”

Bai Shengju had still been smiling when he heard Bai Xiang’s congratulations, but as soon as he caught that phrase mixed in there, he flew into a rage.

“It’s all your fault!” Chen Shi immediately shrank his neck, jabbing Ma Yue in the waist with his elbow. “Calling him Young Master is one thing, but where did you learn that cliché from?”

Ma Yue’s expression remained utterly blank, as if he hadn’t been the one who’d taken the lead shouting about “divine arts perfected.”

Bai Lianzhou happened to look back and catch this scene. He immediately reached out and pointed at Chen Shi.

“Chen Shi.”

“Ah↗?”

“Come outside with me in a bit.”

“Ah↘↗?”

Chen Shi stared and pointed at himself, looking utterly incredulous.

Come on, Second Granddad, seriously—how is any of this my fault?

He was just about to report the Senior Brother next to him when he heard Ma Yue murmur softly, “I’ll treat you to ‘Wenkelai.’”

Chen Shi’s face went stern on the spot. “Then it’s gotta be five meals.”

“Go rob someone.”

“If not five, then four.”

“At most two.”

“Two plus Senior Sister’s autograph on a sword manual.”

“In your dreams. Three meals, take it or leave it.”

“Deal.”

Their little under-the-table deal had only just been struck when Bai Lianzhou’s big hand reached in, pinched Chen Shi by the ear, and dragged him out of the crowd like a pig being hauled off.

Bai Xiang was talking with Bai Shengju. Ma Yue had been staring straight ahead at that side, eyes not shifting in the slightest, when he suddenly felt several gazes fixed on him, not moving away. Only then was he forced to explain, “It’s just some brotherly fooling around.”

“Pfft!” Chen Jing was the first to lose it, clapping a hand over her mouth as she burst into laughter.

She’d been staying at the dojo for some time now. She’d thought she already understood what kind of person Senior Brother Ma was, yet she hadn’t expected him to still be able to give people this kind of surprise.

The disciples over there were laughing themselves silly. Even the shy Xu Shu and Lian Feng, who was in the habit of cosplaying Ma Yue, couldn’t help laughing. The atmosphere was truly lively and joyful.

In the midst of his conversation, Bai Shengju caught sight of this scene. Then he looked at Bai Xiang and Bai Zhuqing standing in front of him, and couldn’t help feeling a rush of emotion as he said to Bai Xiang, “For Grandpa to see this day, for the dojo to see this day, Xiang’er, that’s almost all due to you fighting for it single-handedly.”

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They hadn’t been talking about anything else just now, but precisely about the opportunity that let Bai Shengju break through. It had come from a phone call from Huang Qian.

He hadn’t called for any other reason, just to inform the dojo’s nominal owner that the land in the southern forest had finished its survey and registration. From the moment Bai Shengju took that call, the Shenming Sword Dao’s ancestral ground would once more be returned to their hands.

Bai Shengju had already been just one step away from breaking through. Upon hearing such good news, he could no longer suppress his qi and directly broke through the realm, condensing an illusory Startling-Spirit Cicada Aspect. He himself, along with that illusory Aspect, threw back his head and let out a long howl.

His cultivation rose continuously in the process, leaping from the initial stage of Condensing the Aspect straight to deep crimson demonic aura, then to purplish-red demonic aura, and finally to a rich, pure purple demonic aura before it finally began to slow, fully settling back down and stabilizing.

Bai Shengju understood that it was because he’d been stuck at Six Harmonies Perfection for too many years that he could make such a leap once his accumulation burst forth. The main credit lay with himself.

But without Bai Xiang—

If Bai Xiang hadn’t used her own excellence at the start to help him win back that shred of pride—

If Bai Xiang hadn’t risked her life, driven back the Demon-Immortal Dao, and seized the Bai clan’s ancestral method from Chai Jingyuan and Chai Xuan—

If Bai Xiang hadn’t saved Fang Xiaochun’s daughter, thereby obtaining a priceless cultivation medicine for Nurturing the Spirit—

If Bai Xiang hadn’t won that duel, cutting off the karma with Chengfeng Sword Dao, and further raised the dojo’s name in the surrounding area—

…how would he ever have had the chance to “rely on himself”?

Thinking back, remembering what sort of days he’d been living all these years, muddle-headed every day, staring up at the sky to drown his sorrows—Bai Shengju only felt more and more that the kindness Bai Xiang had repaid him with was too great.

So great that as he stood here, feeling the surging flow of his heart, the tingling in his bones and tendons, the cathartic release…he actually felt as if he were in a dream, suspecting that everything he’d experienced over these last few months was nothing but a hallucination conjured in his old age.

His gaze began to go unfocused, his expression turning hesitant, and the aura about him was gradually shrinking and falling.

“Smack!”

At that moment, Bai Xiang reached out and grabbed his wrist. A fierce vibrating force shot in along his pulse, making Bai Shengju jolt like he’d been electrocuted.

When he opened his eyes again, he stared blankly at Bai Xiang, hearing her say to him, “This is nothing more than what Grandpa deserves.”

“Don’t be anxious, Grandpa.”

“Shenming Sword Dao has not yet returned to the place it belongs.”

“Good, good…”

Bai Shengju patted the back of her hand, looking at Bai Xiang standing in front of him and nodding again and again.

The look in his eyes was very dazed; two lines of tears even slipped down his face, his expression stiff and almost wooden.

This scene left a deep shock in Bai Zhuqing, who was watching from the side.

She finally realized that Grandpa’s “double standard” all this time had actually made sense: Bai Xiang had protected and defended everything about the dojo. Whether it was Bai Shengju’s Condensing the Aspect, or Bai Guanshan’s recent booming business, or Bai Lianzhou’s fulfilling life—even Bai Maoxu’s new cellphone he played with every day—almost all of it hinged on Bai Xiang alone, on the sword in her hand.

Sister Xiang’er might seem unsociable and rarely took part in instructing disciples, but in truth everyone in the dojo depended on her. She had already become the core and soul of Shenming Sword Dao.

And then, in comparison, there was herself—

Clinging to Sister Xiang’er every day.

Sure, she was doing serious work too, seeking her guidance—but compared to the burden Bai Xiang had to shoulder, the sweat she’d shed was practically child’s play.

It was an incredibly hard feeling to describe, roughly like suddenly realizing that the person walking beside you had long since left you far behind. That dimness, that shame, that hollow, lost feeling…all of it poured down on Bai Zhuqing until she could hardly breathe.

She wanted to catch up to Bai Xiang’s footsteps, to help her—but she didn’t know what she was supposed to do.

They were both seventeen, yet she was nothing like the monster of talent that Bai Xiang was. At this stage, it felt like the only thing she could do was obediently train her sword.

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But with her aptitude, how far did she have to train to truly step through that door, to be able to say she was actually helping Bai Xiang?

Sister Xiang’er’s steps would not stop. In her eyes were the entirety of Great Yu, and even the vast world beyond Great Yu.

But Bai Zhuqing was afraid she would walk too fast.

That if she wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t even be able to step on her elongated shadow.

That night, the Shenming Dojo rarely held a banquet to celebrate.

Bai Shengju clung to Bai Lianzhou as the two of them drank themselves senseless, while Bai Zhuqing watched Bai Xiang’s movements the whole time, noticing that whenever Bai Xiang had even a sliver of free time, she would close her eyes to adjust her breathing—truly seizing every moment to cultivate.

After things broke up, Bai Zhuqing tailed Bai Xiang as usual.

But this time, she didn’t dare get too close.

Bai Xiang noticed her little sister’s strangeness.

After a moment’s thought, she understood that she’d simply put too much pressure on people, leaving them at a loss as to how to follow.

It was painfully obvious—she’d just boasted about surpassing Bai Xiang, and then reality had smacked her down. Bai Zhuqing was in a classic shut-down state; even the courage in her heart had drained away.

That kind of mindset was no good for practicing the sword.

Bai Xiang frowned, stopping just before stepping through the gate of the courtyard.

She stopped, and Bai Zhuqing also stopped behind her.

Bai Xiang turned to look at her, watching the movement in her muscles and posture. Her first instinct upon seeing it was actually to turn around and back away.

Because Bai Zhuqing really was a little scared now.

She might have been calling her “Auntie” out loud all this time, but in her heart she still called Bai Xiang “Sister Xiang’er.” She had never truly regarded her as a mother-like figure.

But now she’d suddenly realized that Bai Xiang was, in substance, already the head of the family.

As for all those oversteps she’d made beforehand—she no longer dared repeat them.

She didn’t dare.

So she wanted to pull away from Bai Xiang.

Yet she was unwilling to.

So she kept following Bai Xiang.

She didn’t even know what exactly she was now. The more she thought about how things had somehow turned into this, the more bleak and miserable she felt, standing by the wall with her head bowed.

A pair of cloth shoes appeared in front of her.

Her chin was abruptly pinched, forcing her to lift her head.

“Answer me.” A low, restrained voice sounded by her ear.

“Do you practice the sword for my sake?”

This…

Bai Zhuqing’s eyes widened, yet she felt as if Bai Xiang’s face were fully hidden in the night, her expression entirely unreadable.

“If you’re only practicing the sword for petty feelings, for a little fun between the sheets, then I can satisfy you right now.”

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“How about it?”

“As long as you say ‘yes’ right now, you can come back with me. I’ll hold you and let you rub up against me all you like.”

What!

Bai Zhuqing’s eyes opened a fraction wider.

What is Sister Xiang’er even saying!

“Don’t you want me?” Bai Xiang’s tone grew even colder. “Not only tonight—I can give myself to you tomorrow night as well. Whenever you want.”

“Wouldn’t that mean you’ve gotten exactly what you wished for?”

“And wouldn’t that mean there’s no need for you to keep practicing the sword?”

Boom!

Her tone might have been calm and cold, but when it fell into the lake of a young girl’s heart, it was like a clap of thunder.

She finally woke up.

Utterly jolted awake by Bai Xiang’s insane words.

That’s right!

I’m always clinging to Sister Xiang’er, asking her to teach me swordsmanship—not just to spend time with her.

There’s another reason I’ve never been conscious of, and that’s that I do understand! I know that only by delving deeply into this path can I truly grasp my own fate!

In Great Yu’s society, propriety is strict; separation between men and women is still enforced.

If it were just girls playing around, that would be one thing. But if Bai Zhuqing openly laid her cards on the table about her thoughts and wishes, who knew how much criticism and opposition she would face?

If she wanted to break free of those shackles, words alone, arguing with her mouth, were useless.

In the daytime, the respect Bai Xiang received before Grandpa, and the real deeds and feats she accomplished, had already fully shown her—only by binding strength into your grip and condensing your courage into the sword edge can you cleave open this murky world with a single stroke and freely unleash your desires!

“I…!”

Having finally understood Bai Xiang’s intent, Bai Zhuqing was moved to the core. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

“No need.”

Bai Xiang shifted her thumb, pressing it against Bai Zhuqing’s lips.

“You don’t need to give me any promises. I don’t believe in that sort of thing.”

“What I want to tell you is that in this world, aside from yourself, nothing is unchanging, and there is no one you can lean on forever.”

“It’s very good that you’ve realized this.”

“But that doesn’t mean I need you to repay me with anything.”

“Not for my sake.”

“And even less for the empty name of ‘Shenming Sword Dao.’”

Having awakened Bai Zhuqing, Bai Xiang turned and walked away.

“…Auntie!”

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Bai Zhuqing called after her, but Bai Xiang didn’t stop. She stepped directly inside and shut the courtyard gate, leaving her little sister standing there, gazing at the hazy silhouette, eyes shining with brilliant light.

Sister Xiang’er really is something else…

Bai Zhuqing couldn’t hide her excitement.

From this conversation with Bai Xiang tonight, she had gained a great deal.

Not only had she seen a different side of Bai Xiang.

Not only had she awakened herself and completely shed a “childish mindset.”

Most importantly, she faintly felt that Bai Xiang cared about her too!

Even if you only understood it as an elder sister’s concern for her little sister, that was still concern! Still caring!

Even though she’d already done so many things to Bai Xiang…which, in hindsight, were pretty excessive, Bai Xiang still chose to maintain this concern for her!

What could be more encouraging than that?

Bai Zhuqing didn’t think anything could be.

She thoroughly cast off that sense of loss and the sense of crisis she’d only just become aware of.

Because now she was one hundred percent certain—her most special Sister Xiang’er, the Sister Xiang’er who could say those things to her, was also the most faithful practitioner of her own creed.

A person like that could not possibly be swayed in the slightest by anyone’s promise.

Except for me…

Even if I’ve only gotten this far, it seems that, in Sister Xiang’er’s eyes, I’m already the most special of all…

Elsewhere, Bai Xiang quietly closed the door to her side room, slipped off her sword scabbard and set it on the table, then sat down beside it, a bit dazed.

Memories surged up in her mind—there was the frustration of being bedridden in her previous life, and the unrestrained exhilaration of this one.

“To do as one pleases…huh.”

She frowned, remembering the note her little sister had left for her here last time, then realizing that the girl might be in danger. In that instant, a panic and anger had surged up from the depths of her heart.

I’ve just gotten used to having a little tagalong at my back…

She shifted her sitting posture.

Yes.

She nodded again.

I’ve never planned to believe in human love. Compared to the path to immortality and world-shaking power, that sort of thing is far too shallow and pale.

But if I succeed—

A hundred years from now.

A thousand years from now.

Maybe…I just don’t want to be too bored.

Closing her golden eyes, Bai Xiang’s qi flow went chaotic for a brief moment.

Thinking of how she’d be going with Xiang Xian to Qizhou University tomorrow to attend the ceremony, she simply went to take a cold shower. When she came out, she picked up Feixiang Heaven and entered Sword Contemplation.