Chapter Three: The Sword Spirit Betrays Its Master

"Yu Wanqiao, what do you think you are doing?"

Yu Wanqiao’s mouth was filled with blood. Ignoring Venerable Qingfeng entirely, she continued to speak as she coughed up more blood, staining the Venerable’s pristine white robes with crimson spots.

"I... I am merely seeking atonement for our Junior Sister..."

With those words, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

Xie Wenyun’s pupils contracted sharply. He instinctively moved to step forward, but he clenched his fists and restrained himself.

Jiang Xuanyan, however, picked up Yu Wanqiao’s broken sword and began to wail. "I’m sorry, Senior Sister! I didn’t mean to stab you. I thought—I thought you would dodge!"

He had believed that his strike had left Yu Wanqiao feeling so hopeless that she had decided to destroy her own soul-bound sword.

Bai Chuwei stood by, clutching an egg, looking restless and uneasy. Pale-faced, she also began to sob softly. Everyone present knew the consequences of destroying one’s own soul-bound sword. Many sword cultivators spent their entire lives unable to find a sword that resonated with their soul. To have already forged a sword spirit while only in her teens, as Yu Wanqiao had, meant she was essentially one with her blade. By destroying it now, she had lost the anchor for her spiritual power, causing her cultivation to plummet and likely dropping her realm entirely. Not to mention, this act was tantamount to losing half her life. For a sword cultivator, losing one’s soul-bound sword made the path of immortality infinitely harder.

When Yu Wanqiao awoke, her eyes fell upon the familiar chambers she had occupied ever since she first ascended the mountain to the Xuantian Sect. Back when she had gone into seclusion, Venerable Qingfeng had felt it was only right to let Bai Chuwei move in, claiming the location was filled with spiritual energy and better suited for her cultivation. When Yu Wanqiao had later asked to move back, they had accused her of being inconsiderate to her fellow disciples. In her foolishness back then, she had actually agreed. Now that she had returned to these rooms, the irony was laughable.

Her vow and the destruction of her sword were merely moves made because she had been backed into a corner. She had wanted to gamble one last time to see if Venerable Qingfeng still cared for her as his disciple. Fortunately, she had won the bet.

Yu Wanqiao sat up and probed her cultivation. As expected, she had fallen to the Qi Refining stage. Though she felt a flicker of disappointment, she did not regret her decision. For when she had stood before Venerable Qingfeng, those subtitles had appeared again. They explained that her sword had gone out of control that day simply because the sword spirit had gained consciousness and refused to be pointed at Bai Chuwei. Because Yu Wanqiao had kept trying to force it, the spirit had thrown a tantrum. It had intended to teach Yu Wanqiao a lesson, never expecting that the backlash of sword energy would knock Bai Chuwei unconscious.

So, Bai Chuwei’s injury this time was entirely the fault of the sword spirit. Yu Wanqiao had never imagined that the sword she lived and breathed with would betray her. The subtitles claimed it was because she often let the sword spirit out, which allowed it to have contact with Bai Chuwei, leading it to believe—just like everyone else—that Yu Wanqiao was bullying her. Ultimately, it was this very sword that had caused Yu Wanqiao to lose ground time and again, eventually leading to her capture.

Since she knew the truth, she would naturally not keep that sword. Cultivation could always be regained, but one only had one life. This place was rich in spiritual energy, which did indeed make her feel much better. Just as she was about to gather her Qi, she noticed the broken sword left at her bedside.

Yu Wanqiao: ... If she found out who put it there, she would definitely make them pay.

"I only looked away for a second, how did this supporting female lead suddenly destroy her soul-bound sword? Someone tell me what’s going on."

"Is the Third Junior Brother an idiot? The supporting female lead destroyed her sword because she clearly doesn’t want to see it again, and he has the nerve to leave it by her bedside. Look at the look on her face—she’s furious."

"The supporting female lead is finally awake. The Second Junior Brother and the female lead have been waiting outside."

Before Yu Wanqiao could vent her anger at Jiang Xuanyan, she noticed the voices from outside upon hearing that sentence. She focused her senses to listen to the commotion.

"Second Senior Brother, when will she wake up? Senior Sister’s condition is all my fault. I want to apologize to her. I shouldn’t have gone back on my word about wanting to trade spirit beasts with her, and I shouldn’t have stood on the arena stage with her, causing Master to misunderstand Senior Sister." As she spoke, she wiped away tears.

Xie Wenyun had already been feeling irritable, but seeing Bai Chuwei cry, he softened and patted her head. "Don’t worry. I know Yu Wanqiao better than anyone. This current performance is just to put on a show for Master. Now that her scheme has succeeded and Master has softened his heart to let her off, she’ll be fine."

Bai Chuwei nodded, finally stopping her tears. The two waited outside for a while longer before Xie Wenyun, losing his patience, prepared to push the door open.

Bai Chuwei held him back. "Senior Brother, wouldn’t that be inappropriate?"

Xie Wenyun gave a cold snort. "What of it? After what she did to me..." He swallowed the words. Meeting Bai Chuwei’s inquisitive gaze, he gritted his teeth and shoved the door open. Ever since Yu Wanqiao had the gu-poison removed, he had refused to call her "Senior Sister."

He saw Yu Wanqiao sitting in meditation. His face darkened instantly. "Can’t you hear that the Junior Sister and I are out here?"

"I heard."

He grew even angrier. "Then why didn’t you respond?"

Yu Wanqiao opened one eye with great difficulty. "I responded with my consciousness." She lowered her head, looking annoyed. "Second Junior Brother, I am truly sorry. I forgot that in my current state, I am no longer capable of responding with my consciousness."

Xie Wenyun froze, finally sensing the faint, meager spiritual power radiating from her. He reached out to check her pulse. Yu Wanqiao wanted to refuse, but she was currently suppressed and unable to move. When Xie Wenyun finished checking her pulse, he pulled his hand back, his expression turning ugly.

Meeting Xie Wenyun’s probing gaze, Yu Wanqiao remained utterly fearless. "Second Junior Brother, you seem quite dissatisfied with me."

Xie Wenyun had not expected her cultivation to have dropped all the way to the Qi Refining stage. Now, even an outer-sect disciple of the Xuantian Sect could defeat her. He had not anticipated things turning out this way. In the past, Yu Wanqiao had been the most competitive, basking in the glory of being a genius. Seeing her reduced to this state, a mix of complex emotions stirred within him. Xie Wenyun’s throat tightened; he could not say a word.

"Second Senior Brother, what’s wrong? What about the medicine Master told us to bring her? Give it to her quickly." Seeing his strange expression, Bai Chuwei tugged on his sleeve. But Xie Wenyun ignored her, shaking her hand off. He didn’t bother with Bai Chuwei, his eyes fixed intently on Yu Wanqiao.

"What is it? Seeing me in this state, does it not bring you great satisfaction?" Yu Wanqiao looked at him with mockery. He certainly looked the part of a decent man, but it was all a farce.

It was as if her words had jolted him awake, and he reverted to his usual demeanor. "Indeed. Seeing you like this is satisfying beyond measure."

With that, he tossed the medicine onto Yu Wanqiao and stormed off with Bai Chuwei. Bai Chuwei looked at Yu Wanqiao as if she wanted to say something, but after glancing at Xie Wenyun, she decided to follow him. "Senior Sister, I will try to talk to Second Senior Brother for you."

Yu Wanqiao had no interest in watching the two of them dally before her. She picked up the medicine and tucked it into her Qiankun bag. If it was free, she would take it.