Volume 3, Chapter 418 – Her Swordsmanship

“But… Chi Xiyan, I know you’re different from them.”

In the dusk light, the nine year old girl tilted her head up. Her clear eyes, at this moment, carried an overwhelming pressure.

“The fire at the Chi family nine years ago… you and I both lost our own blood relatives that day.”

“You’ve been cast aside. Everything you’ve suffered today has been because of what others did to you…”

“Chi Xiyan, will you join me…”

The instant the bronze bell at the corner of the corridor was struck by a passing breeze, Chi Xiyan saw clearly the flame flickering in Chi Muxue’s eyes.

The nine year old girl in front of her extended her hand toward Chi Xiyan.

“Join me, and together we’ll root out the poison hidden within the Chi family, and avenge our blood relatives…”

Chi Xiyan’s pupils contracted slightly.

The scene before her seemed frozen in this instant.

The sound of the wind, the bell, and the surrounding noise all faded away.

The only thing echoing in her ears was the girl’s soft yet resolute voice.

“…” Chi Xiyan’s fist clenched slightly.

These words felt so familiar. Once, she had used a similar reason to invite Chi Muxue to join her.

At this moment, two entirely different worlds seemed to overlap without reason.

Chi Xiyan bit down lightly and murmured to herself. “What is this…”

“What is this Illusory Heart Formation even trying to do…”

This was an illusion generated by the formation based on the inner heart of whoever was undergoing the trial.

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Before, Chi Xiyan had assumed the thing this illusion feared most was having her life stolen away by Chi Muxue.

But now, she realized this illusion was nothing like what she had imagined.

After reclaiming her own life, Chi Muxue had not turned hostile toward her the way everyone else had.

Not only had she extended goodwill toward her, she had even tried to pull her out of the mire.

She had even invited her to seek the truth behind the Chi family fire from years ago, to find the enemy responsible for killing their blood relatives.

This illusion was becoming far too absurd.

The legitimate daughter, who should have been spoiled and domineering, was instead extending her hand toward her with boundless gentleness.

Rather than magnifying her fears, this illusion had turned the affection she had once longed for into something sweet as honey.

“This doesn’t make sense. This isn’t like a Illusory Heart Formation at all…”

“Or could it be… that this illusion isn’t what I think it is at all?”

Chi Xiyan’s expression grew focused as she considered another possibility.

“The Heart Mirage Realm questions the true heart… and it doesn’t just question fear… it also questions desire…”

Because she had been bullied from the very start, Chi Xiyan had never considered the direction of desire.

But now, with this familiar yet unfamiliar girl extending her hand toward her with such sincerity, Chi Xiyan had no choice but to consider this possibility.

“Desire…”

Chi Xiyan let out a self mocking laugh.

“So… does this scene in front of me represent my desire?”

“Muxue… is my desire?”

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“To break through, I must question my true heart, and face my desires head on…”

Chi Xiyan lowered her eyes slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she raised her hand and slowly placed it into Chi Muxue’s palm.

In reality, she had avoided her own desires and hidden the unbearable side of herself.

This had been for Muxue’s sake, and also for her own.

But now, in this illusion known only to herself, indulging just a little seemed like it wouldn’t hurt.

A warmth was slowly rising up from within Chi Xiyan’s chest.

That’s right, this was just an illusion, and the girl in front of her was merely a fantasy conjured by it.

If she didn’t face it head on, how could she ever break through this illusion.

“Muxue…”

“I agree.”

As Chi Xiyan’s words fell, the paused flow of time began to move again, and everything around them slowly returned to normal.

The sound of the wind and the birds returned all at once.

Hearing Chi Xiyan’s answer, Chi Muxue’s small hand gripped hers back.

She squeezed it firmly, as if confirming something.

Then, she smiled brightly at Chi Xiyan.

“It’s really nice… having you here.”

…

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After accepting Chi Muxue’s invitation, Chi Xiyan still felt somewhat dazed.

Back then, when they had first met, it had been Chi Xiyan who extended the invitation first.

But now, within this illusion, the roles had been completely reversed.

Chi Xiyan had no real interest in uncovering the truth behind who was responsible nine years ago.

She had spent over a decade investigating in reality without any results, so how could she possibly uncover anything within an illusion.

What she wanted to know was where this illusion would ultimately lead her, once she went along with it.

…

In the afternoon, Chi Xiyan followed Chi Muxue back to the courtyard.

Chi Muxue came to a stop. She held onto Chi Xiyan’s hand and tilted her small head, glancing around in both directions.

Once she confirmed no one was around, she finally spoke. “Xiyan, do you want to learn pill refining and swordsmanship?”

“Pill refining and swordsmanship?” Chi Xiyan was stunned for a moment before immediately understanding what Chi Muxue meant. “Don’t tell me you want to…”

“Yes, exactly what you’re thinking, Little Xiyan.” Chi Muxue set her small face into a serious expression. “Xiyan… to accomplish our goal, we’re going to run into a lot of difficulties. A small position like Study Hall Monitor is only the beginning.”

“Relying only on what’s taught at the academy simply won’t be enough.”

Chi Xiyan frowned and said, “The cultivation techniques and secret manuals kept in the Chi family’s archives cannot be passed down to outsiders without the family head’s permission, even as the family’s legitimate daughter.”

“Would the family head… really agree to something like that?”

In Chi Xiyan’s impression, Jingwen was not someone easily persuaded.

“There’s no need for that.” Chi Muxue said. “I won’t be teaching you any of the techniques from the Chi family’s secret archives.”

Hearing this, Chi Xiyan understood at once.

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In reality, she herself had no authority to privately pass down the Chi family’s texts either.

This illusion wasn’t so absurd after all. Chi Muxue’s authority as the legitimate daughter here still hadn’t exceeded Chi Xiyan’s own standing.

Of course, Chi Xiyan had already mastered most of the swordsmanship secrets kept in the Chi family’s archives, so there was no need for her to learn them again from Chi Muxue anyway.

“Most of the techniques in the Chi family’s texts are rather low grade.” Chi Muxue said. “They’re good enough for the branch family disciples to practice.”

“What I want to teach you is my own swordsmanship.”

Chi Xiyan’s eyes widened in shock. “What?? Your swordsmanship?”

Could the Illusory Heart Formation even do something like this?

In Chi Xiyan’s impression, Chi Muxue had only ever learned some swordsmanship techniques that the Chi family had acquired from elsewhere.

Could this illusion actually generate original swordsmanship on its own?

Seeing the shock in Chi Xiyan’s eyes, Chi Muxue laughed softly. “Actually… it’s not really my own swordsmanship, to be precise…”

“My constitution is special. After my awakening, I received an inheritance from a certain Sword Venerable…”

Chi Muxue pressed her lips together. “Strictly speaking, I could be considered to share the same lineage as Sword Venerable Qingzhi of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.”

“So… once I reached the Fourth Realm, I naturally awakened part of that swordsmanship inheritance.”

Chi Xiyan suddenly recalled having once heard such rumors, that every generation’s Sword Venerable had come from among the disciples of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Had this formation woven even the rumors she’d once heard into the illusion as well?

It was truly absurd.

Back when Chi Xiyan had once tried teaching Chi Muxue swordsmanship, she had discovered that the girl had no foundation in swordsmanship whatsoever.