“Where did you obtain this scimitar?”
Her fingers stroked the hilt before sliding along the blade. Her expression was hard to read, bearing a gentle nostalgia beneath which a faint thread of killing intent flickered.
Shi Yu felt a sudden jolt of surprise. As that subtle killing intent surfaced, Fairy Nongyun’s concealed aura suddenly flared. It was unmistakably the aura of a Golden Core Realm expert! Yet this aura fluctuated wildly and lacked clarity, as if... her cultivation level no longer matched the presence she radiated.
A quick thought crossed Shi Yu's mind, and she deduced the likely reason: Fairy Nongyun was originally a Golden Core Realm expert, but she must have suffered a setback—perhaps her Golden Core fractured, causing her realm to drop...
Uncertain whether the fairy's enigmatic expression boded well or ill, Shi Yu hesitated, unsure whether to answer truthfully or withhold details.
Fairy Nongyun lifted her long eyelashes, as if discerning her hesitation. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips. “Well?”
An overwhelming pressure descended. On the small stove before them, the teapot lid clattered against rising steam. White mist billowed forth, blurring the fairy’s cool, deep features.
A chill ran down Shi Yu's spine. Even the warm teacup in her hand suddenly felt ice-cold. She opened her mouth and spoke: “...My Second Senior Brother gave it to me.”
Back then, because of Eldest Senior Sister Yan Xiao, her spiritual meridians had been severed and her life force cut short. Her Second Senior Brother had brought her back to the mortal world, leaving her this scimitar for self-defense when he departed.
“Second Senior Brother...” Hearing this, most of the pressure surrounding Shi Yu dissipated. The fairy's features softened slightly, and she gestured for Shi Yu to elaborate.
Shi Yu paused for a brief moment before saying, “I was once a disciple under Xuanqing Immortal Venerable of the Wenxin Sect in the Central Continent. My Second Senior Brother and I were martial siblings under the same lineage.”
Fairy Nongyun scoffed softly. “Heh, the Wenxin Sect... a gathering place of hypocrites.”
Shi Yu could not agree more, instantly feeling much closer to this cold, aloof fairy. After a brief pause, she continued, “Later, I was expelled from the sect. I was severely injured and on the brink of death, so my Second Senior Brother took me far away to a safe place. Before he left, he gave me this scimitar.”
Fairy Nongyun listened intently. Hearing such a past, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes. “Oh? And why were you expelled from the sect?”
Shi Yu opened her mouth, but only a bitter smile escaped her lips.
Bound to Silence. She could not describe it, depict it, or explain it.
Because of the restriction placed by Eldest Senior Sister Yan Xiao using her own blood as a medium, Shi Yu was completely unable to speak the truth. The restriction was sinister and complex, seemingly passed down from antiquity. Shi Yu had thought that after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, the restriction might loosen slightly, but even now, it showed no sign of weakening. Breaking it would be no easy feat.
Fairy Nongyun mistook her silence for reluctance to speak and did not press further. Changing the subject, she remarked, “Speaking of your Second Senior Brother—that kid Yanran should address me as Aunt.”
Her Second Senior Brother's name was Chi Yanran, though upon joining the sect, he had been given the courtesy name Wuguan. Most sect disciples called him Senior Brother Wuguan. Hearing his true name so suddenly felt almost surreal.
Wait—Aunt?
Shi Yu's eyes widened. She stared at Fairy Nongyun's smiling eyes, her mouth opening in shock.
What a coincidence that Fairy Nongyun was actually her Second Senior Brother's aunt... It was entirely unexpected. After all, her Second Senior Brother was far away in the Central Continent. Since Fairy Nongyun was related to him, she should have been there as well. Yet here she was in Tianyuan Prefecture on the East Continent. The journey across such immense distances must have been long and arduous.
“Since you are his junior sister, you may call me Aunt as well.”
It had been years since she last saw or heard anything related to the people and events of her past. Hearing Fairy Nongyun's words brought a sense of warmth to Shi Yu's heart, yet...
“I was expelled from the sect,” Shi Yu said quietly. “My Second Senior Brother and I no longer share the bond of martial siblings.”
Fairy Nongyun gazed at her, letting out a faint scoff. “Expelled from the sect... Heh, do you have any idea what Yanran...”
Shi Yu looked up in confusion, only to meet Fairy Nongyun's eyes, which were filled with a chilly sorrow. Heart skipping a beat, she hurriedly asked, “What happened to Second Senior Brother?”
Fairy Nongyun did not answer. She merely waved her feather fan gently to stoke the stove's fire. “Forget it. Telling you will accomplish nothing except adding to your troubles.”
“If you can reach the Central Continent one day, you will learn everything.”
“Did Aunt come from the Central Continent?”
“Yes.”
Shi Yu fell silent for a moment. Seeing that Fairy Nongyun had no intention of elaborating and looked somewhat weary, she refrained from asking further.
For a time, only the crackling of the stove fire filled the room.
After a long pause, Fairy Nongyun looked closely at her and offered a rare, gentle smile. “You need only remember this: since Yanran gave you this scimitar, no matter the reason, he recognizes you as his junior sister.”
Shi Yu pressed her lips together and nodded slightly.
Her fingers lightly traced the blade. The crescent-shaped scimitar seemed plain and unpretentious at first glance, but a closer look revealed a chilling gleam flickering across its surface. It was no ordinary weapon.
She had once tempered this scimitar with Slaughter Spring water, and after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm, she had refined it anew. Now, the weapon was honed to a razor edge. Because its icy intent was so intense, the surrounding vapor condensed onto the blade, forming a thin layer of mist.
With a flick of her wrist, the mist coalesced into droplets that slid off the blade in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
“I understand. Thank you for telling me this, Aunt.”
“As for the Central Continent, I will go there one day—to demand the answers I deserve and take the revenge I am owed. And Second Senior Brother... we will surely meet again.”
Deep in her memories, her Second Senior Brother was a man of few words. Most of his time was spent cultivating inside his cave dwelling or hunting demon beasts outside. During the three months Shi Yu spent cultivating under Xuanqing Immortal Venerable in the Wenxin Sect, she rarely saw him. Even when they ran into each other, they exchanged barely a few words, remaining mere acquaintances who knew each other's names.
Yet... when Senior Sister Yan Xiao framed her and sealed her ability to clear her name with the Bound to Silence restriction, the entire sect turned on her in disdain and disgust, eager to pass judgment. Or perhaps they had never liked this exceptionally talented Junior Sister from the mortal realm in the first place—despising her humble origins while eyeing her supreme-grade spiritual meridian with jealousy and suspicion.
...It was only her Second Senior Brother who shielded and saved her, bringing her back to the mortal world to preserve her life.
How could she ever fail to repay such kindness?
Through the curling steam of the tea and her veil, Fairy Nongyun's features remained blurred, save for her cool, quiet eyes fixed on Shi Yu.
After a moment, she set down her teacup and said softly, “I am somewhat tired.”
“I have trespassed on your time for too long, Aunt.” Shi Yu sensibly offered her cup and bowed respectfully as a junior. “Please rest well, Aunt. Ah Yu will take her leave.”
Fairy Nongyun nodded slightly. Then, as if remembering something, she pulled out a jade slip and handed it to her. “I see you also use a flute, so you likely know some sound cultivation spells.”
“This technique manual is of no use to me anymore, so I shall give it to you.”
Shi Yu did not refuse. She accepted it graciously, bowed once more, and departed.
Rate on N.U.
