Seeing the situation turn bad, Su Zhan quickly pulled her sword back and assumed a defensive stance.
At the same time, she lightly tapped the wooden stake with her toes and flew backward to dodge.
But in the next instant, that heavy pressure surged toward her once again.
Su Zhan’s movements stalled as she was forcibly stopped in mid-air.
It felt as if her feet had sunk into a quagmire, dragging her down and holding her in place.
Just as she tried to pour more spiritual energy into her feet to break free, a fierce gale tore at her robes and long hair.
The sand and soil on the ground outside the circle centered on her were lifted violently, forming an impenetrable high wall.
There was nowhere to escape and no path to retreat.
A bone-chilling cold brushed against her skin like the slash of a knife.
“Junior Sister Su, be careful~” Li Xingyue’s voice came from behind Su Zhan.
Su Zhan turned her head, only to curse inwardly in her mother tongue.
Li Xingyue had her right hand raised in a lifting gesture.
Above her head, countless sand and stones that had just been lifted gathered into a massive pile, forming an enormous net that blotted out the sky.
Su Zhan couldn’t see what was happening beyond the wind wall, but she could imagine that everywhere except the small patch of ground beneath her feet was probably already riddled with craters.
If this attack landed, even if she didn’t die, she would lose a layer of skin.
She pressed her lips tightly together, no longer wasting spiritual energy on resistance.
Instead, she gathered every last bit of her spiritual energy onto her natal spiritual sword, preparing to make one final gamble.
However, Li Xingyue didn’t give her the chance.
With a gentle wave of her hand, a storm-like barrage of attacks flew toward her at high speed.
The sound of air being torn apart made one’s scalp tingle, roaring like an unstoppable freight train.
Su Zhan raised her natal spiritual sword and swung it rapidly.
She no longer had time to think about her movements—everything was pure instinct.
Her sword swings grew faster and faster, the veins on her arm bulging.
One second.
Two seconds… She didn’t know how long she lasted.
In what felt like years of torment, Su Zhan glimpsed a ray of sunlight.
Despite the soreness in her wrists, she forcefully carved out a semicircular arc around herself with her swings.
When the dust finally settled, countless sword marks torn open by spiritual energy covered the surroundings.
Su Zhan staggered and dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
The dust still lingering in the air made her extremely uncomfortable.
Not only were her ears ringing and her vision blurry, but her lungs burned painfully.
Clap, clap, clap…
Someone applauded. Steady, unhurried footsteps approached from behind Su Zhan.
Su Zhan’s body trembled involuntarily.
She realized now was not the time to relax and tried to stand up and dodge, but the moment she rose, the girl’s slender fingers had already lightly touched the side of her face.
“Junior Sister Su, I accept your concession,” Li Xingyue said with a soft laugh.
Su Zhan no longer had any strength left to fight. Even if they continued, the outcome would not change.
“I’ve lost. I’ll honor the bet. I won’t ask about this matter anymore.”
Su Zhan wasn’t someone who couldn’t accept defeat.
Once she clearly saw the gap between their strengths, she stopped persisting.
The tension in her muscles instantly relaxed.
After catching her breath a little, she sat down on the ground and took out several medicinal pills from her storage ring, popping them into her mouth.
Even though she had done her best to defend herself earlier, she had still sustained some injuries.
Li Xingyue sat cross-legged across from her, resting her cheek on one hand as she quietly watched Su Zhan circulate her energy to heal.
Her lips parted and closed several times, as if she wanted to say something.
The gaze was too obvious to ignore. Su Zhan couldn’t help but ask.
“What is it, Senior Sister? Why do you keep staring at me?”
“I was counting your eyelashes to pass the time. I was silently counting them just now,” Li Xingyue said with a smile.
“Every time Yan’er sparred with me, she would get sulky afterward and sit in place to heal her injuries. I didn’t know how to comfort people back then, so I would just sit there dryly with her like this until she was willing to talk to me again.”
“I am not Su Beiyan, Senior Sister,” Su Zhan said softly.
She didn’t like being treated as someone else.
“I know. But I can’t help it,” Li Xingyue nodded and sighed lightly.
“I thought I had already forgotten, but seeing you brings back those memories piece by piece—memories I thought had grown blurry.”
“So this is my fault. I made you recall painful memories. I’m sorry.”
“Once I finish healing, I will leave this place and stop disturbing you.”
Su Zhan remained silent for a moment before once again speaking in the blunt manner typical of the Ruthless Dao, completely shattering the tender atmosphere.
She didn’t do it on purpose. She genuinely felt that every time Li Xingyue saw her, it caused her pain. After all, Li Xingyue had not left the mountain for many years just to avoid being reminded of the past.
“Junior Sister Su, when you speak like this… it really makes it difficult for people to respond.”
Li Xingyue shook her head helplessly.
“Before you leave, let me find you one of Yan’er’s outfits. Change into it before you go.”
“That would be inappropriate.”
Su Zhan frowned.
She had already said she wasn’t a substitute—why did Li Xingyue still want her to wear Su Beiyan’s clothes? Was she treating her like Pin Ru?
“Does Junior Sister truly plan to descend the mountain looking like this? That would be the real problem.”
Li Xingyue smiled ambiguously and pointed at Su Zhan’s chest.
Su Zhan looked confused.
Following Li Xingyue’s finger, she looked down, and her face instantly flushed with embarrassment.
The short inner garment beneath her robe—and even her dudou—had been torn open in several places by the stones and fierce winds earlier.
The spring scenery underneath kept slipping out through the fabric, trembling lightly with every breath.
If she went down the mountain looking like this, it would be far too revealing.
Although she still retained some of her previous male straightforwardness, she wasn’t some shameless exhibitionist either.
As a poor sword cultivator, the clothes she wore were standard issue from the sect.
Inside her storage ring, she only carried medicinal pills, spirit stones, and some undergarments like socks and underwear.
“Then I’ll listen to Senior Sister.”
Su Zhan nodded very obediently.
“Come with me.”
Li Xingyue narrowed her eyes with a light smile, unsurprised by the answer.
She helped Su Zhan up and led the way forward.
Actually, no guidance was really needed—it was simply the way back.
Su Beiyan and Li Xingyue had lived close to each other.
One was in the left corner of the courtyard, and the other was right next door to her room.
Li Xingyue pushed open the door.
The room was clean and bright, clearly cleaned regularly.
The furnishings were warm and cozy, with many small, delicate items and cosmetics arranged on the dressing table.
Compared to Li Xingyue’s minimalist style, it looked much more like a young girl’s room.
“Yan’er’s clothes are in the wardrobe. I’ll wait outside. It should be more comfortable for Junior Sister that way.”
Li Xingyue pointed out the wardrobe’s direction for Su Zhan, then turned to leave.
Just as she was about to pull the door open, Li Xingyue suddenly paused.
Her voice carried no particular tone.
“By the way, Junior Sister, could that third move of yours from earlier go any faster?”
“Yes. If I push it to the limit, it could be two or three times faster. Why do you ask?”
Su Zhan answered honestly, though she was confused.
“I see. Then that’s enough.”
Li Xingyue sighed with a smile.
“Junior Sister, if you ever want to kill me, you must thrust that flying sword toward my heart at twice the speed it had earlier, then destroy my four limbs’ meridians. Do not hold back.”
“Why would I want to kill you?” Su Zhan asked, puzzled.
Li Xingyue did not answer.
She gently stepped out of the doorway.
Before closing the door, she looked at Su Zhan with a serious expression and reminded her.
“Junior Sister, remember this well.”