Chapter 13: I'm Coming

Hua Xiangwan slept soundly. The next day, before dawn, she felt someone calling her, "Hua Xiangwan."

Hua Xiangwan opened her eyes and turned around drowsily. She saw Xie Wushuang already prepared in the morning light. He had changed back into white robes. His injuries seemed to have healed. He stood in the morning light with sword in hand and told her, "Get in the carriage and sleep. Get ready to depart."

Hearing this, Hua Xiangwan paused momentarily, then drowsily rose, placed her quilt into her Qiankun bag, and yawned as she made her way to the carriage.

Shen Xiuwen was still resting in the carriage. Hearing Hua Xiangwan enter, he quickly attempted to rise. Hua Xiangwan pressed Shen Xiuwen down gently and shook her head. "Go to sleep. I've rested well."

"No need," Shen Xiuwen blushed and struggled to rise, "I'm fine..."

"Xiuwen," Xie Wushuang's voice rang out from outside, "Let's depart."

Shen Xiuwen looked at Hua Xiangwan with an embarrassed expression. Hua Xiangwan shook her head, turned, and said, "Xie Daojun, Shen Daojun is still injured. Let him rest here."

"Yes," Jiang Yiran approached the door with a food box, glanced at the carriage, then at Xie Wushuang. "Senior Brother Xie, Senior Brother Shen's injury hasn't healed yet. Must we observe such formalities?"

Everyone else was persuading Xie Wushuang as well. Xie Wushuang remained silent for a prolonged moment before finally nodding. "Mm."

After that, he turned and departed. Jiang Yiran stood before the carriage with the food box. "Young Master, I bought breakfast for you this morning."

Hua Xiangwan was somewhat surprised. She glanced at Shen Xiuwen, assumed he'd asked Jiang Yiran to go, and nodded at Shen Xiuwen with a smile. "Thank you for the trouble."

Shen Xiuwen hesitated momentarily, wanting to speak, but Hua Xiangwan had already rolled up the curtain and stepped out, taking the food box herself.

She opened it and found it filled entirely with sweets. Puzzled, she looked up at Shen Xiuwen. "All sweet?"

"Yes," Shen Xiuwen explained, "Brother Xie examined the lunch boxes yesterday and said you prefer sweet foods and dislike cilantro."

"Why was he looking at that?"

Hua Xiangwan was quite puzzled. Shen Xiuwen froze, turned his head, and explained softly, "When Yiran brought out the lunch box, she happened to be discussing preferences with me. Brother Xie overheard and reminded both Yiran and me."

This explanation wasn't particularly surprising. Hua Xiangwan contemplated it and felt that Xie Wushuang was perhaps a bit too perceptive.

She and Lingnan had nearly finished their shared meal yesterday, yet he could accurately deduce her preferences?

Hua Xiangwan couldn't comprehend it. Seeing Hua Xiangwan frown, Shen Xiuwen proactively changed the subject. "Young Master suffered last night. Xiuwen feels much improved today. I'll rest a while longer so there's no need to trouble Young Master further."

"Are you feeling guilty?"

Hua Xiangwan teased after hearing Shen Xiuwen's words. "You slept in my bed and ate my food. If you feel guilty, why not pledge yourself to me?"

Shen Xiuwen lowered his eyes slightly upon hearing this. Hua Xiangwan saw he'd taken it seriously and was about to clarify when she heard Shen Xiuwen say, "If Young Master is willing, I will report this matter to Master when we return to Tianjian Sect."

Hua Xiangwan hadn't expected to hear this and hesitated. "You... are you serious?"

"Marriage is a significant matter. Of course I take it seriously."

Shen Xiuwen nodded. Hua Xiangwan was somewhat incredulous and said cautiously, "Shen Daojun, it's not that I don't believe you, but... why?"

As she spoke, Hua Xiangwan elaborated, "We've only known each other a few days, yet you've made such a momentous decision..."

"Young Master should understand my situation within the Heavenly Sword Sect. I was raised by the Sect Master, and my status within the sect... could be considered competitive for leadership. Over the years, I've been trusted by the Sect Master and handled many of the sect's miscellaneous matters," Shen Xiuwen said with a wry smile. "But I still have a senior brother, and now I'm redundant. Young Master has saved me repeatedly. If I can help you with your predicament by returning to the Western Territory with you, then why not?"

Shen Xiuwen spoke earnestly, and Hua Xiangwan understood. In truth, she had considered from the beginning that Shen Xiuwen's status made him most suitable to accompany her back to the Western Territory, but she hadn't anticipated that he'd already reached this conclusion himself.

Hua Xiangwan lowered her head in contemplation. Seeing her silence, Shen Xiuwen pondered momentarily, then spoke gently, "It's been a tedious journey. Young Master, if you're amenable, how about I read you a storybook?"

"You're the patient," Hua Xiangwan said, retrieving the storybook from a drawer. "I'll read it to you."

As she spoke, she opened the storybook, and the moment she did, she experienced an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Suddenly, she realized—it was like that back then... Shen Yichen was just like that. Whenever she was bored, he'd sit beside her and read to her.

She froze momentarily, and Shen Xiuwen turned to regard her. "Young Master?"

Hua Xiangwan turned to look at Shen Xiuwen, who gazed at her questioningly. Seeing his eyes, far clearer and simpler than Shen Yichen's, Hua Xiangwan finally regained her composure and smiled. "Nothing."

Shen Xiuwen spent two days recuperating in her carriage. On the third day, when his injuries had largely healed, Xie Wushuang summoned him to depart.

The group arrived at a mountain. Lingbei approached Hua Xiangwan's carriage and respectfully said, "Young Master, Xie Daojun has decreed he wants to enter the mountains. A carriage is inconvenient for travel. Please dismount and ride your spirit beast into the forest."

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiangwan rolled up the carriage curtain and saw everyone awaiting her before the woods.

Without protest, she dismantled the carriage, packed it into her Qiankun bag, then leaped onto the spirit beast that had been pulling it.

This had been her mount—a majestic white tiger. Seeing her atop it, Xie Wushuang, standing ahead, averted his gaze and said calmly, "Into the mountains."

Everyone followed Xie Wushuang into the forest, which was incredibly dense, branches blanketing the sky. Lingnan, following beside her, couldn't help but frown. "Young Master, this forest is saturated with sinister energy. Could the Heavenly Sword Sect be nearby?"

According to the original plan, reaching the Heavenly Sword Sect would only require six days. With five days already elapsed, they should be close.

Hua Xiangwan, knowing Lingnan wasn't one to consult maps, gave her a half-smile. "Perhaps the Heavenly Sword Sect has different preferences?"

Hearing this, Lingbei turned to regard them both, then fixed his gaze on Hua Xiangwan, hinting, "Young Master, will you intervene?"

While uncertain what would transpire, Lingbei recognized that the Heavenly Sword Sect had altered its direction and that numerous assassins had arrived from the Western Territory.

Hua Xiangwan nodded. "If we can, that's ideal. If not, retreat."

It would be far preferable for the Ghost Spirit to fall into the Heavenly Sword Sect's hands rather than the Western Territory's.

But the Hehuan Palace was no longer what it once was. Self-preservation was clearly more important than upholding justice.

Lingbei understood Hua Xiangwan's meaning and replied, "I understand."

The group traveled for most of the night, penetrating deep into the forest.

Hua Xiangwan glanced at the sky. The morning star hung high, indicating the transition from yin to yang.

During this transition, ghosts and spirits abounded, and secret realms emerged. She was contemplating this when she suddenly heard the soft ringing of a bell nearby.

The ringing was so distant and delicate that almost no one noticed. Hua Xiangwan suddenly pulled the reins, and everyone instinctively looked over.

Hua Xiangwan opened her mouth, but before she could articulate a word, the ground suddenly shook as if a colossal dragon were traversing beneath!

"Young Master!"

Lingnan cried out, and he along with the others from Hehuan Palace surged toward Hua Xiangwan. The white tiger leaped aside, evading the suddenly rising ground, then rushed forward seeking safer terrain.

In an instant, the earth trembled, birds took flight, and wild beasts fled through the forest in panic. Xie Wushuang glanced around and ordered Shen Xiuwen, "Go protect Young Master Hua. The remaining disciples, follow me."

With that, all members of the Tianjian Sect leaped from the dense forest like streams of light, flying on swords and rushing into the distance.

Shen Xiuwen flew his sword to Hua Xiangwan's side and said urgently, "Young Master, I will escort you to safety!"

Hearing this, Hua Xiangwan grasped the Tianjian Sect's intention.

They were wary of Hehuan Palace, necessitating constant surveillance. Now that they'd entered West Peak Forest, the ideal scenario for the Tianjian Sect was maintaining surveillance while preventing them from approaching the Lingxu Secret Realm. If Hehuan Palace attempted anything improper, Xie Wushuang would be within striking distance.

Hua Xiangwan naturally wouldn't deliberately challenge the Tianjian Sect's decision to allow them departure, but recalling the bell's ringing, she remained concerned.

If she wasn't mistaken, that ringing must have originated from Qingle Palace, which specialized in mental manipulation through music. While others might not pose problems for someone as formidable as Xie Wushuang, Qingle Palace's music practitioners were an absolute nemesis. Without someone to restrain Qingle Palace, the Ghost Spirit would truly fall into the Western Realm's hands.

So she ignored Shen Xiuwen, feigning inability to control the White Tiger, and charged forward with a scream.

Shen Xiuwen paused, then called out, "Young Master!"

Lingnan and Lingbei exchanged glances and hurriedly led the others to follow.

Hua Xiangwan expanded her spiritual sense and detected abnormalities in the surrounding spiritual energy, as if something were absorbing it, forming a massive vortex.

She rushed toward the vortex's center, and upon nearly arriving, she heard sounds of combat.

Disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect had already engaged, mingling with everyone. Their numbers significantly exceeded previous encounters, suggesting many had been concealed in the shadows.

As for those opposing the Heavenly Sword Sect...

Hua Xiangwan surveyed the battlefield. Many cultivators from Yunlai had also arrived, though she couldn't identify them all. However, she recognized most cultivators from the Western Territory.

"Mingluan, Qingle, Yin-Yang Sect, Hundred Poison Sect, Sword Sect, Qi Sect, Puppet Sect..."

Lingbei approached behind Hua Xiangwan and enumerated them, his tone grave. "Besides troops from the two palaces, more than half of the nine sects have also arrived."

"Young Master, what brings them here?"

Hua Xiangwan remained silent, observing the situation meticulously.

She sensed spiritual energy accumulating increasingly thick nearby, and the ground shaking more violently. At night's darkest point, yin and yang intertwined, and sun and moon shone simultaneously.

At the precise moment sunlight and moonlight converged, a resounding explosion echoed throughout the vicinity. The shadow of a colossal dragon burst forth from the earth, coiling around it. A multicolored cavern of light materialized on the ground, brilliant light shooting skyward from the entrance. A cultivator exclaimed, "The Lingxu Secret Realm has opened!"

The instant those words fell, dozens of brilliant light beams shot forth from the periphery, charging toward Xie Wushuang. Rune-shaped poisonous insect puppets swarmed out, howling like ghosts and wolves, and heaven and earth changed color.

Xie Wushuang, eyes covered by white silk, stood elevated above. As the magic approached, his longsword leaped into his hand. He raised it and swept around, shattering all malevolent spirits surrounding him. Then he swooped in one direction and slashed with his sword. A young man in an elaborate hat and lavish robes, controlling a puppet, was instantly sent flying from the brush!

"Yan Feinan of the Puppet Sect is at least Nascent Soul Great Perfection," Lingnan exclaimed in shock. "How could he not survive even a single strike?"

With his words, Xie Wushuang spun sideways and attacked another direction. Another woman in crimson, with a white python coiled around one arm, was forced back dozens of feet by Xie Wushuang. She knelt on one knee, the white python lunging at Xie Wushuang. Xie Wushuang drew his sword and advanced. Then, the sound of twelve musical instruments emanated from the surrounding area.

Hearing this sound, Hua Xiangwan frowned.

"The Twelve Immortals of Qingle Palace's Heart-Confusing Formation," Lingbei frowned. "What a grandiose deployment."

The music was melancholy and melodious, sounding perfectly ordinary, yet Hua Xiangwan could distinctly sense that Xie Wushuang's sword was decelerating.

His breathing became irregular, and nearby Tianjian Sect disciples also began appearing dazed.

Those surrounding him clearly noticed Xie Wushuang's vulnerability, and those lying in ambush attacked simultaneously.

He swept his sword across the vicinity, protecting his disciples. Panting, he stood centrally, sword in hand, and looked up at Hua Xiangwan. "Hua Xiangwan."

Xie Wushuang spoke at this moment—a plea for assistance.

Even Xie Wushuang would find resisting Qingle Palace's Twelve Immortal Formation difficult. Since Hehuan Palace wasn't aiding the Western Territory, they were allies, not adversaries. Xie Wushuang's only recourse now was her, possessing the Qingxin Bell.

Only by breaking Qingle Palace's Twelve Immortal Formation could Xie Wushuang have any chance of victory.

Hua Xiangwan comprehended Xie Wushuang's intentions. She retrieved the Qingxin Bell from her sleeve, gently shook it, and smiled. "Does Xie Daojun still wish to negotiate terms?"

"Yes."

"Has the Tianjian Sect agreed to the marriage?"

"Agreed."

Xie Wushuang's words were sufficient to convince her that this trip had proven worthwhile.

"Lingnan."

Hua Xiangwan spoke. Lingnan swiftly channeled spiritual energy from behind into her. Hua Xiangwan raised her hand and summoned the Qingxin Bell. The bell rang, and surrounding music intensified. Hua Xiangwan simply retrieved a jade guqin from her Qiankun bag. With a sweep, sound waves instantly emanated from the forest, and all music immediately quieted.

"Hua Xiangwan!" A moment later, an elderly man in the forest shouted furiously, "How dare you use my young master's magical instrument to harm someone from my palace!"

With that, music suddenly erupted. Hua Xiangwan's expression turned cold, and the zither's sound intensified.

"Left Protector is mistaken," Hua Xiangwan said with a smile. "I crafted this zither myself. He didn't gift it to me. Since he returned it to me, it's mine."

As she spoke, the two sound waves intertwined. Without musical interference, Xie Wushuang suddenly felt his mind clear. He leaped before the Lingxu Secret Realm's entrance, pointing his longsword at the surroundings, blocking all who wished to enter.

Xie Wushuang's skills were unmatched. Momentarily, everyone was halted, unable to advance.

The sun gradually rose, and the entrance diminished progressively.

As the Lingxu Secret Realm was about to seal, a woman sighed softly, "Young Master Hua, this item is profoundly important to my Young Master. He remains waiting for you in the Western Territory. Please, Young Master Hua, for our past friendship's sake, let it pass."

With these words, Hua Xiangwan sensed something amiss, and her zither's sound trembled.

Xie Wushuang instinctively turned and saw a woman piercing through the protective layers surrounding Hua Xiangwan, sword in hand, charging toward her!

Xie Wushuang instantly abandoned the Lingxu Secret Realm and rushed toward Hua Xiangwan.

However, the opponent was faster. Hua Xiangwan felt sword wind nearby, and the blade was already before her. Almost instinctively, she raised her hand to grasp the longsword and retreated rapidly. Then she stepped into emptiness and plummeted straight into the void!

The opponent leaped in after her. Hua Xiangwan saw streams of light flashing into the entrance and gritted her teeth, "Qin Yunshang!"

Qin Yunshang smiled and suddenly wrenched the sword from her palm, kicking her forcefully.

Hua Xiangwan couldn't evade and fell straight down. She immediately comprehended Qin Yunshang's intention.

The Ghost Spirit must be concealed in the Lingxu Secret Realm's core—the source of the realm's power.

The Lingxu Secret Realm was divided into several trial illusions. Each illusion led to the realm's core, but difficulty varied. The deeper one went, the more lethal the path. Qin Yunshang was attempting to cast her into the most difficult trial illusion!

She instinctively reached upward, wanting to call for help, but didn't know whom to summon.

In her panic, a cold hand reached out from the darkness and grasped hers.

Hua Xiangwan looked up and saw the young man in white robes who had followed her into the endless darkness.

Behind him was pitch black, and his entire form shimmered, white robes and white silk floating around him. He held her hand with one and gripped his sword with the other.

"Don't be afraid," he said, his voice as steady as always, "I'm coming."

Previous/Next