In the room, Lu Zhiyi was weeping piteously, her face full of regret and helplessness.
She hadn’t expected her Senior Sister to sneak away, and she was even more afraid that she would never see her again.
“It’s okay, it’s fine. Master will go find her for you.”
Su Xuan hurriedly picked up Lu Zhiyi, who was slumped on the ground. His tone was anxious as he comforted her.
Though his eldest disciple hadn’t been driven away by his abuse this time, she had still left in a fit of pique.
‘What if she blackens and starts harboring a grudge against me again?’
Furthermore, Lin Chengyun was eyeing her greedily within the Marketplace, and there was also a ruthless character like Shangguan Yu around. Anything could happen.
No, for safety’s sake, he had to bring her back.
“You know her better than I do. Do you know where she might have gone?”
Having made up his mind, Su Xuan asked Lu Zhiyi softly.
“Senior Sister said she was looking for some Blood Bone Flower this time. She also mentioned something about a guardian beast.”
Lu Zhiyi choked out, recalling the few words they had exchanged yesterday.
“Blood Bone Flower? Guardian beast?”
Su Xuan racked his brains and remembered a location.
The game timeline was much later, and that place was already a ruin.
But thanks to the countless playthroughs he had completed, he could still find information about what used to be there from fragmentary clues.
“I’ll go look for your Senior Sister. Don’t be afraid. Master will definitely help you two resolve this misunderstanding.”
He decided to go take a look and spoke to Lu Zhiyi.
“Thank you, Master. When Senior Sister returns, I will definitely apologize properly. I must…”
Lu Zhiyi grabbed his hand and spoke mournfully, her heart full of regret.
Su Xuan nodded. He didn’t even bother to dress up properly, simply grabbing his Storage Bag and heading toward the location in his memory.
*
To the west of the Marketplace, deep within Funiu Mountain.
Two tall, slender silhouettes were moving through the forest.
“Zhiwei, what’s wrong? Weren’t you fine yesterday?”
Lin Chengyun looked at Lin Zhiwei, whose eyes were still swollen and who remained silent, her heart full of worry.
She had been happily buying pastries yesterday, so why did she look like this today?
“It’s nothing.”
Lin Zhiwei shook her head, her eyes dim and devoid of spirit.
“By the way, Sister Lin, is the Luoshui Sword Sect still recruiting disciples? I’ve practiced the sword; do I still have a chance?”
She turned and asked.
“Others might not, but you definitely do!”
Lin Chengyun’s eyes lit up, and she spoke hurriedly.
She hadn’t expected Lin Zhiwei, who had flatly refused before, to have suddenly changed her mind.
If she could bring this genius back, she would definitely take the top spot in this assessment.
When that time came, there would certainly be a place for her in the sect!
However…
“Zhiwei, are you just acting on impulse? Have you really thought this through?”
Lin Chengyun struggled for a moment before asking. She didn’t want to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state.
As Sword Cultivators, the Luoshui Sword Sect did not only practice the Way of the Sword; they also cultivated the state of mind.
Even the realms of the sword sect were linked to one’s state of mind.
From “Observe Sword and Clarify Heart” to “Sharpen Sword and Wash Heart,” there were a total of nine realms.
Each corresponded to the nine major realms of ordinary Cultivators, from Qi Refinement to Dao Integration.
Currently, both her and Lin Zhiwei’s sword cultivation were at the “Observe Sword and Clarify Heart” stage.
This stage emphasized having a clear conscience. Deceiving others would actually hinder their cultivation.
“I…”
Lin Zhiwei originally wanted to say she had thought it through, but the words died in her throat.
She remained silent and shook her head, her heart still reluctant to let go.
Unlike her cold and decisive exterior, it was difficult for her to find the resolve to truly cut off these feelings.
“It’s fine. Whenever you’ve made up your mind, come find me. Let’s get the items this time first.”
Lin Chengyun shook her head regretfully. It was better to regret now than after entering the sword sect.
“Mhm. Did you bring the bait?”
At the mention of this, Lin Zhiwei finally regained some spirit. She shook herself out of it and asked.
“Of course. We’ll definitely get our hands on the Blood Bone Flower today!”
As Lin Chengyun spoke, she held up a chunk of meat radiating dense Spiritual Qi, her face full of pride.
In the past two days, the Marketplace’s demand for Demon Beasts and Heavenly Treasures had suddenly surged.
It was said that the Market Master was making some sort of preparations.
The price for materials with dense blood energy, in particular, had increased several times over.
Although the Blood Bone Flower was a plant, it had to grow in places with dense Sha Energy.
It grew by absorbing a large amount of blood energy, containing even more blood and Sha Energy than most sources.
They had accidentally discovered the aura of a Blood Bone Flower while searching for the Leopard Demon last time.
They hadn’t had time to take it then because of other tasks.
Yesterday, they had planned to go pick it, but they discovered the flower was growing in a cave.
A Blood-red Python at the late stage of Qi Refinement was guarding it like a Guardian Spirit Beast.
If they hadn’t been cautious enough following their previous experience, they would have been ambushed by the python.
Ordinarily, with their strength, dealing with a late-stage Qi Refinement Demon Beast wouldn’t be a problem.
However, that cave was not only easy to defend but hard to attack; it also seemed to have some strange restriction.
The power of their Way of the Sword was weakened significantly inside.
That was why they planned to return today, luring the snake out of its hole to kill it before entering to harvest the flower.
“Zhiwei, you go set it up while I lie in ambush.”
After walking for a long while, they approached the cave. Lin Chengyun handed over the item in her hand.
Since her cultivation was technically higher, there was no issue with this division of labor.
Lin Zhiwei took the bait and cautiously walked toward a spot near the cave.
She dug a small hole, buried it inside, and covered it with leaves to make it look like leftover meat.
Then, she quickly turned and returned to Lin Chengyun’s side.
The two exchanged a silent look and slowly drew their swords, ready to strike the moment the python emerged.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Thirty minutes passed.
It was already noon, and the sun was high in the sky, but there was still no movement at the cave entrance.
“What’s going on? Did the python leave, or is the bait useless?”
The two women looked at each other, their confusion evident.
Would they end up coming all this way for nothing?
hiss hiss
Just as they were looking at each other, unsure what to do, a rustling sound suddenly echoed from the cave.
It’s coming!
The eyes of both women lit up, and they tightened their grips on their swords.
A python with a body as red as blood appeared, twisting its massive frame.
Its triangular eyes stared at the location of the bait as its tongue flicked in and out.
It didn’t rush out immediately, instead slithering warily around the entrance.
It poked its head around quite human-like, scouting for danger.
After a long while, seeing nothing unusual, it couldn’t resist the temptation of the bait and began to crawl slowly toward it.
Ten steps…
Nine steps…
The python drew closer and closer to the bait.
“Do it!”
Seeing that it had reached the spot, Lin Chengyun let out a loud shout and leaped into the air.
Her sword shone with a brilliant light as she thrust it straight at the python.
Lin Zhiwei followed her lead and moved forward as well.
Cold light gleamed from the two blades. A single strike would be enough to chop the python into several pieces.
Suddenly, the Blood-red Python looked up at the direction where the two women were attacking.
A human-like look of mockery appeared in its triangular eyes.
It seemed prepared. It stopped its body abruptly and slammed its massive head against the ground!
The solid ground broke open, revealing a large hole.
The area had been hollowed out long ago and filled with sludge.
If they fell in, they would immediately become its next meal!
hiss hiss
The snake swayed its head and dodged to the side, its massive body full of pride.
It waited for the two of them to throw themselves into the trap.
‘Sorry, but you’re the prey!’