Chapter 39 - 14: No Longer Needed

Chang Le’an froze for a moment, then a joyful smile spread across his face. "Second Brother, you’re awake?"

When Shen Yue suffered a qi deviation the other day, Master Lingxu paid a great price to hire a Steward at the Divinity Transformation Stage to help, which was how his Heart Fire was finally quelled.

He had been in a coma and had only just awakened.

Shen Yue nodded and couldn’t help but ask, "The Langya Secret Realm is about to open. Are you saying... Senior Sister signed up for the qualifying trials?"

"Second Brother, you’re still calling her Senior Sister!" Chang Le’an gritted his teeth. "You were in a coma, so you don’t know what happened. That woman stopped seeing us as sect siblings long ago. She’s completely vicious now! If it weren’t for her, our junior sister wouldn’t have suffered like that, and Lingxu Peak wouldn’t be in such chaos."

Shen Yue pressed his lips together, his voice a little hoarse. "I already heard from Senior Brother."

"Second Brother, are you alright?" Ye Zhaozhao asked, her face full of concern.

Shen Yue managed to force a smile onto his wan face. "Junior Sister, you shouldn’t have done that for my sake."

Ye Zhaozhao lowered her head. "I was just so worried when I saw you spit up blood and pass out."

Shen Yue sighed.

’Zhaozhao has always been so pure and kind. If she hadn’t been so desperate to stand up for me, she wouldn’t have made such a foolish move, much less ended up being punished by the sect.’

"Second Brother, I won’t do it again," Ye Zhaozhao said, looking pitiful.

Seeing her like this, Shen Yue’s gaze softened. "If anyone’s to blame, it’s me."

Shen Yue fell silent for a moment.

His qi deviation this time was like having a very long dream.

In the dream, the guidance from his senior sister, which he had once scorned, resurfaced with incredible clarity. Every word, every sentence, struck right at the heart of his weaknesses.

’If only I had listened to even a little of it...’

’I was the one who didn’t know any better, who wasted my senior sister’s kindness.’

’Regarding this whole affair, Senior Sister wasn’t wrong, and Zhaozhao wasn’t wrong either. The one at fault... was me.’

’Senior Brother also said that five years ago, when I suffered a qi deviation... it was Senior Sister who saved me.’

’Even the Steward at the Divinity Transformation Stage had to enter seclusion for several months to recover after dispelling my Heart Fire.’

’So what about Senior Sister?’

’What kind of suffering did she have to endure five years ago to be able to reappear looking so completely unfazed?’

A sorrowful look crossed Shen Yue’s face. Chang Le’an couldn’t help but say, "Second Brother, you’ve only just recovered, you can’t wield a sword yet! I know you want to get revenge on Li Shuang yourself, but this time, let me teach her a lesson for you! My only fear is that with her pathetic level of strength now, she won’t even make it far enough to face me."

"Third Brother, there’s no need," Shen Yue said.

Chang Le’an frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Ye Zhaozhao tugged on his sleeve and said softly, "Senior Sister Li is still our senior sister, after all. If we really do meet in the arena, I will be measured."

Shen Yue nodded. ’Zhaozhao has such a gentle and kind nature. I was worrying for nothing.’

Ye Zhaozhao pulled Chang Le’an away, using sword practice as an excuse.

Shen Yue lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with a conflicted expression.

’Five years ago, I was the reason Senior Sister was misunderstood. Now, because of me again, my junior sister has stumbled and been punished by the sect. I can slowly repay my junior sister in the future. But what about Senior Sister? Would she even be willing to see me?’

After two restless days, Shen Yue finally mustered his courage and made a trip to Heartless Peak.

’No matter what, I should thank Senior Sister for what happened five years ago.’

The sky was clear and bright.

「Heartless Peak, Sword Practice Platform.」

Li Shuang and a few others were practicing their swordsmanship.

Two days prior, Li Shuang had signed up for the trials first and reported back later, only then revealing that she wanted to go to the Langya Secret Realm.

Li Shuang’s cultivation was currently insufficient, which made Lin Qingling slightly worried. But she knew this was Li Shuang’s own path to walk, and as her master, she had no right to interfere.

Among the disciples of Heartless Peak, Luo Mingyue was just over fifty and thus ineligible for this trip to the Langya Secret Realm. She was incredibly frustrated, but there was nothing to be done.

Jiang Yi hadn’t left Heartless Peak once since she’d arrived on the mountain, and, as was her custom, she didn’t sign up this time either.

The third disciple was still away on a mission and wouldn’t be back in time, so he would likely miss the Secret Realm’s opening.

So from Heartless Peak, only Li Shuang and Liu Juncheng were participating.

On the Sword Practice Platform, Luo Mingyue and Jiang Yi were watching as Li Shuang and Liu Juncheng sparred.

When Shen Yue arrived at the Sword Practice Platform, the first thing he saw was Li Shuang and Liu Juncheng sparring.

He had intended to call out to Li Shuang, but upon seeing this scene, he found he couldn’t get the words out.

Liu Juncheng’s Swordsmanship was exceptional. Possessing a Water Spirit Root, his techniques flowed like a vast ocean, relentless and unending, wave upon wave.

’He was the one who knocked me off the stage last time.’

Yet as Li Shuang crossed swords with Liu Juncheng, she seemed completely at ease. She deconstructed his sword moves at will, and even had enough energy to spare to offer a few words of guidance.

As Shen Yue watched, he fell into a bit of a trance.

When he had first arrived at Lingxu Peak, his senior sister had also guided his moves just like this, patiently pointing out his shortcomings.

But now, the person across from his senior sister had become Liu Juncheng.

Shen Yue’s hands clenched slightly.

On the Sword Practice Platform, Li Shuang suddenly stopped. A flash of apology crossed her eyes, and she even seemed a little flustered. "Sorry... Second Brother, your Swordsmanship is actually very refined already. What I said might not be correct, so you don’t have to take it to heart."

Li Shuang suddenly remembered the mistake she had made with Shen Yue. ’Not everyone wants to be corrected.’

’Have I been subconsciously overeager?’

Liu Juncheng retracted his sword and looked at Li Shuang in surprise. "Junior Sister, why would you think that? I’ve benefited immensely from this spar. I’m only afraid that I’m wasting your time."

"Little Frost, what are you thinking about? His Swordsmanship is miles behind yours! He should be counting his lucky stars that you’re even willing to thrash him," Luo Mingyue declared loudly.

Li Shuang was taken aback again.

’With Luo Mingyue talking like that, won’t Liu Juncheng be upset?’

Liu Juncheng shot Luo Mingyue a helpless look and couldn’t resist retorting, "Senior Sister, you can mock me, sure. But what about you? Do you dare to test your Swordsmanship against our junior sister?"

"Is there anything strange about not being able to beat our junior sister?" Luo Mingyue said with righteous confidence. "When it comes to pure Swordsmanship, even Brother Jiang couldn’t win against her! All I need is to be able to crush a little rookie like you."

Liu Juncheng, fuming but not daring to talk back, could only turn to Li Shuang and say, "Junior Sister, next time you thrash Senior Sister, you have to let me watch."

"You’ll never get the chance!" Luo Mingyue said, making a face.

Jiang Yi didn’t join the conversation. She just listened with a constant smile, occasionally nodding or shaking her head, looking utterly adorable.

Watching them, Li Shuang couldn’t help but smile.

’This time... it’s finally different. Isn’t it?’

Li Shuang and Liu Juncheng resumed their spar. Shen Yue watched silently for a while longer. His lips parted and closed several times, but in the end, he didn’t say a word.

He turned and left, looking utterly dejected.

’Senior Sister probably doesn’t need my thanks anymore,’ he thought.