After Faking Her Death and Escaping, the Junior Sister Fell to the Demonic Path - Chapter 23

A tragic past, orphaned and alone, but with a slight talent.

This was the impression the entire Sword Sect now held of Zhou Xuezang.

It was also the image that Qin Qingyi and Venerable Wen Qing, after discussion, decided to present to the outside world.

“Only this way can she grow up safely.”

When only the two of them were present, Venerable Wen Qing’s brows would furrow whenever Zhou Xuezang was mentioned.

She was always worried about this child.

Because she couldn’t predict Zhou Xuezang’s future.

The child was surrounded by thick fog, blocking all eyes attempting to peer into the heavenly secrets.

“Master, don’t worry so much, Little Junior Sister is adapting well to the Sword Sect now.”

Under the peach trees of Cangxue Peak, Qin Qingyi and Venerable Wen Qing sat opposite each other, leisurely sipping tea.

Not far away, the two siblings were practicing swordplay.

Zhou Xuezang held a wooden sword and was sparring with Hu Yu.

But as she was still new to the Dao of the Sword, her sword was knocked away by Hu Yu after only a few moves.

After repeating this a few times, the little girl became dejected and tearfully came to find Qin Qingyi.

“Senior Sister, Senior Brother is bullying me.”

The little girl pouted and hid in Qin Qingyi’s arms.

She was a soft, cuddly ball, like a little rabbit.

Qin Qingyi hugged her, letting her nestle and complain, and gently coaxed, “Yes, yes, he bullied you, I’ll make things right for you.”

Seeing Zhou Xuezang twist the facts like this, claiming the spar was simply him bullying her, and her Senior Sister actually siding with her, Hu Yu immediately got anxious. He quickly ran over to defend himself:

“Senior Sister, you were watching this time. We were just sparring, and Little Junior Sister insisted on fighting me. You can’t say I’m bullying her now.”

After spending some time together, Hu Yu had suffered several minor setbacks from Zhou Xuezang and gradually realized the truth—

His Little Junior Sister was no innocent white rabbit; she was clearly a black-hearted schemer with many tricks up her sleeve.

He had initially tried to play a few tricks on her, but each time he ended up being the one in trouble, and he was scolded by both Master and Senior Sister.

He was smarter now. The previous times, Master and Senior Sister weren’t around, allowing this little girl to take advantage and lodge complaints against him. Now, they were right under Master’s nose, and he was genuinely sparring with his Little Junior Sister. Surely, they couldn’t continue to favor the Little Junior Sister, right?

He looked expectantly at Venerable Wen Qing, hoping for some justice.

But clearly, he was being overly optimistic.

Venerable Wen Qing gracefully set down her teacup: “Master didn’t see your spar. Ask your Senior Sister.”

Children’s matters should be left to the children to resolve.

Hearing Master say this, Hu Yu felt his world collapse.

If Senior Sister was the one to decide, could anything good come of it for him?

Sure enough, before he could even turn around, Qin Qingyi started spouting nonsense: “As a Senior Brother, you bully your Junior Sister. Hu Yu, didn’t I teach you to care for your Little Junior Sister?”

“You’ve bullied Little Junior Sister repeatedly, you’re so mischievous and incorrigible. Therefore, your spirit stones for this month will be deducted.”

Qin Qingyi’s thin lips parted, uttering words that were utterly unfair.

Hu Yu turned around, his face ashen, and lamented with a frown: “Senior Sister, you’re so biased.”

Qin Qingyi pinched Zhou Xuezang’s cheek and casually placated Hu Yu: “What’s this about bias? I am the Senior Sister to both of you, I would never favor one over the other.”

“Are you really not?” Hu Yu huffed with anger.

In his opinion, she was clearly favoring Zhou Xuezang and neglecting him, Hu Yu, and Second Senior Brother Xie Su.

But he dared not say it.

Because saying it wouldn’t help. Senior Sister was blatantly and obviously biased—biased toward Little Junior Sister.

He felt like the adopted child, unloved by his parents.

However, he thought, he actually was adopted.

Hu Yu rested his chin in his hand, feeling silently depressed under the tree.

Zhou Xuezang, nestled in Qin Qingyi’s arms, gave a sweet smile: “Senior Sister, you’re so kind.”

Qin Qingyi sighed and poked her cheek: “You, you shouldn’t always bully your Senior Brother. I think he’s about to cry.”

Zhou Xuezang had been at Cangxue Peak for some time now and had attended classes with her for a week, so she was familiar with the personalities of the few of them.

Thus, the little girl had become a bit unrestrained, especially skilled and enthusiastic about teasing Hu Yu.

However, Qin Qingyi found this highly amusing. After all, Hu Yu… Tsk, how to put it? He was a half-grown boy, annoying like a cat or dog, often causing trouble outside that she had to clean up. Now that someone could manage him, Qin Qingyi was happy to relax.

Moreover, a little roughhousing between children wouldn’t lead to any major disaster.

Therefore, she had always turned a blind eye to it.

Zhou Xuezang blinked her eyes: “What are you talking about, Senior Sister? How could I possibly bully Senior Brother?”

Qin Qingyi clearly didn’t believe her.

Seeing her expression, Zhou Xuezang’s eyes darted around. She happened to see Xie Su walking towards them. Immediately, as if she had found a lifeline, she pointed at Xie Su and said to Qin Qingyi:

“Senior Sister, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Senior Brother Xie. Has Junior Sister ever bullied Senior Brother Hu?”

Xie Su paused slightly. Though he had just arrived and didn’t know what had happened moments before, observing Hu Yu’s resentful expression and recalling a few things that had happened recently, he instantly guessed what had occurred.

Xie Su couldn’t help but curve his lips. He then bowed to Venerable Wen Qing and Qin Qingyi: “Junior Sister certainly hasn’t bullied Third Junior Brother.”

This made Hu Yu cry out in exasperation behind him.

Xie Su pretended not to hear.

He cupped his hands to Venerable Wen Qing: “Master, the sword skills class will begin in half an hour.”

Venerable Wen Qing nodded slightly and said, “Then let us depart. Don’t be late for class.”

Everyone agreed and stood up.

Venerable Wen Qing also rose, summoned her long sword, and the group rode their swords together, flying down the mountain.

As for why Venerable Wen Qing was included, the story had to start a few days ago.

A few days earlier, Venerable Wen Qing’s comments during the sword class about Elder Wei failing to find a suitable disciple had severely impacted the earnest Elder, whose heart was solely dedicated to the Dao of the Sword.

Elder Wei returned to his mountain peak, shut his doors, and announced he was entering secluded cultivation again and would temporarily stop teaching.

This left the sword skills class without a teacher. Seeing this, the Sect Master had no choice but to instruct the “culprit,” Venerable Wen Qing, to clean up the mess and take over the heavy responsibility of teaching the class.

Venerable Wen Qing, who lived a life of unrestrained freedom, couldn’t tolerate this injustice. She grabbed her sword and went to find Elder Wei to vent her frustration, but after turning over every inch of the peak’s soil, she couldn’t find Elder Wei himself.

When she returned, huffing and puffing with her sword, she learned from Shangguan Yu, who had been respectfully waiting at Cangxue Peak, that Elder Wei, having heard she was coming, had already left the mountain one step ahead.

He was probably thousands of miles outside the Sword Sect by now.

There was absolutely nothing she could do.

Even if Venerable Wen Qing was extremely unwilling, she had to grit her teeth and accept it.

Traveling quickly, Zhou Xuezang had adapted to the feeling of flying on a sword. The silk brocade wrapped around her wrist. Upon gracefully landing, the item slid onto her wrist, transforming into a ribbon that encircled it, swaying as she moved her arm.

The group took their seats. The area was already filled with disciples who had come to attend the class.

Most of them were there for Venerable Wen Qing. After all, the “Carefree Sword” was the thirty-third ranked divine weapon in the Xuantian Realm, and its owner was one of the Sword Sect’s most mysterious Elders. Even if they couldn’t learn anything, it was worth coming to watch the spectacle.

Before the class began, Venerable Wen Qing first demonstrated a smooth and flowing set of Carefree Sword techniques.

This drew starry eyes from all the watching disciples. Venerable Wen Qing was quite pleased with this.

She gracefully sheathed her sword, lightly cleared her throat, adopted the posture of a detached master, and then stepped onto the lecturing platform.

“Today, we will speak about—Sword Intent.”

Venerable Wen Qing summoned her innate sword and presented it to the surrounding disciples.

“The so-called Sword Intent is the very foundation of a sword cultivator’s existence. It is like the soul of a person; Sword Intent is the soul of the sword.”

“Without Sword Intent, the sword of a cultivator is merely a piece of unremarkable scrap metal.”

She lectured clearly and meticulously, and the disciples below listened with rapt attention. The class was easy and harmonious.

At the end of the class, Venerable Wen Qing asked the surrounding disciples to take out their innate swords, feel their Sword Intent, and try to communicate with the sword in their hearts.

Qin Qingyi and Xie Su, along with the others, all took out their swords, closed their eyes, and began to commune with their swords.

Only Zhou Xuezang—she had only been at Cangxue Peak for a short time, and being young, she did not have her own sword.

She looked nervously at Venerable Wen Qing: “Master…”

Her voice was as tiny as a kitten’s meow, but thankfully, Venerable Wen Qing heard it.

“Disciples without an innate sword need not worry. Though you hold no sword in your hand, you have one in your heart. You can still question your Dantian, and ask your heart what kind of path you truly wish to walk.”

Venerable Wen Qing softened her gaze and reassured her youngest disciple.

Hearing her words, Zhou Xuezang also calmed down. She obediently closed her eyes and awkwardly began to circulate her spiritual energy to question her Dantian.

Her words were gentle. All the disciples present lightly closed their eyes and obediently felt for the sword in their hearts.

Only one person stared intently at Zhou Xuezang, who had received special favor from Venerable Wen Qing. Their gaze was stubborn, faintly revealing a hint of grievance.

“I felt it!”

A disciple’s voice cried out in surprise first, followed by scattered exclamations. These disciples had sensed their Sword Intent.

Even Zhou Xuezang, the little one without an innate sword, seemed to have touched the threshold of Sword Intent.

While everyone was sensing their Sword Intent, Venerable Wen Qing approached, gently tapping Qin Qingyi’s hand with her ruler: “You look unhappy. Did something bother you?”

As a Master, she was quite attentive to her disciples.

Her eldest disciple had been a little distracted since the classes started, something that had never happened before.

Seeing her inquire, Qin Qingyi immediately put on a wronged expression, rested her chin in her hand, and let out a long sigh.

“It’s just those grandmothers back home. They keep rushing me, saying there’s an important matter that needs me to return. I don’t even need to guess; it’s definitely a pile of things they don’t want to deal with that they’re dumping on me.”

Qin Qingyi used a spiritual communication, her tone full of complaint, yet her eyes held a trace of softness.

Venerable Wen Qing knew she was referring to the Fox Clan elders. She had dealt with them. When they entrusted Qingyi to her care, those people had cautioned her repeatedly, afraid their little fox would not be well.

So, she replied with a smile: “They must miss you. It has been a long time since you last returned. Since you have nothing urgent these days, find a day and go back to see them.”

Qin Qingyi agreed, beginning to ponder the best day to go back.

When the class ended, the Cangxue Peak group was about to leave on their swords, but Zhou Xuezang kept glancing behind her. This motion drew Qin Qingyi’s concern: “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Xuezang shook her head, her voice confused: “Senior Sister, I’m fine, it’s just…”

It was as if she was deliberating whether or not to tell the truth. Zhou Xuezang frowned in distress, thought it over, and finally looked up at Qin Qingyi:

“It’s just that, I don’t know why, but I keep feeling like someone is watching me from afar. But when I turn to look, I don’t see anyone.”

After speaking, she turned her head again to look at the empty area behind her, somewhat puzzled as to why she had this feeling of being watched, a sensation like thorns in her back.

Qin Qingyi rubbed her head and reassured her, telling her to relax: “Perhaps they haven’t seen you before. Everyone is curious about a stranger. After some time, when they are familiar with you, they naturally won’t stare at you anymore.”

Zhou Xuezang thought about it; that did make sense. So, she dismissed the matter from her mind.

However, after that day, some unpleasant rumors began to spread throughout the Sword Sect.

The rumors, which started from an unknown source, claimed that the new disciple taken in by the Peak Master of Cangxue Peak, Zhou Xuezang, had gotten in through connections and back channels, had not passed the Sword Sect’s disciple assessment, and was merely placed in the Sword Sect to gain prestige.

Initially, it was just gossip people talked about over meals, treated as a joke. But eventually, it intensified, reaching a fever pitch and causing a huge stir.

Suddenly, wherever Zhou Xuezang went, there were only scornful looks and contempt.

These disciples initially only dared to insult her from a distance, but this extended to Xie Su and Hu Yu as well. They were treated as being cut from the same cloth and suffered numerous obstacles set up by these people.

Finally, during another incident, Hu Yu could no longer tolerate the strange looks and veiled insults. He went forward and got into an argument with someone.

“This is simply too much bullying!”

Hu Yu was furious, his eyes red, his chest heaving irregularly.

He lifted his sleeve, which had been torn, and was heartbroken.

It had been ripped by the other party during the argument moments ago. He was not as strong as his opponent. If Xie Su hadn’t quickly pulled him back, it would have been more than just his sleeve that was ripped.

“The truth is not what they’re saying at all!”

“Calm down!” Xie Su slapped his back.

“Master and Senior Sister are not at Cangxue Peak these days. Don’t cause trouble. Whatever grievances you have, wait until they return.”

Xie Su looked at Zhou Xuezang beside him. Her situation was worse than Hu Yu’s. A large patch of crimson blood was seeping from the wound on her shoulder. The person’s sword had been aimed at Little Junior Sister. If Hu Yu hadn’t intercepted the blow, that single sword strike could have taken Little Junior Sister’s life.

“Senior Brother, did I do something wrong?”

Zhou Xuezang lifted her pale face, her expression bewildered. The pain from the wound made her involuntarily furrow her brow, and even her breathing became ragged and shallow due to the injury.

She thought it was her fault.

She thought she had done something wrong that provoked those unfamiliar Senior Brothers to attack her.

Xie Su clenched his fists, biting his lip: “This is not your fault.”

How could this be her fault?

She clearly hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she had to endure such unfair treatment!

He was aware of the rumors spreading in the Sword Sect these past few days, but they were ultimately just baseless talk. Rumors are harmful, but they weren’t something he could handle.

Master and Senior Sister were away from the Sword Sect on business. Cangxue Peak was without its main pillar, so the three of them had to act discreetly and stick together for mutual support.

These past few days, they had been leaving early and returning late for class, sitting quietly like transparent figures in the classroom. They had already been low-key enough, yet some people still couldn’t stand them.

A moment ago, as soon as class ended, the three siblings were surrounded by several people. These individuals wore Outer Sect disciple robes, looked older than them, and were naturally stronger.

They immediately pointed their swords at Zhou Xuezang, telling her to be sensible, leave Cangxue Peak, and give up her Inner Sect disciple status.

Their attitude was so condescending that Hu Yu, infuriated, stepped forward to argue, only to be deflected by the opponent’s sword.

Xie Su felt his blood boil. He also wanted to step up and argue with those people, but his mind was still somewhat calm. Hu Yu had gone, but what did he get in return?

He got those people drawing their swords against him!

He and Hu Yu were weaker than their opponents. If they fought, they would be defeated and would only be subjected to even worse humiliation.

In the Sword Sect, power speaks; the sword in one’s hand is the true principle.

He lowered his gaze, contemplating how to break free from the situation.

But before he could formulate a countermeasure, the few individuals chased after them again.

They were aggressive and clearly not intending to be amicable.

“Run!” Xie Su growled, summoned his sword, and pulled Zhou Xuezang and Hu Yu onto it.

In the nick of time, the tip of the opponent’s sword grazed Xie Su’s collar, leaving a streak of blood.

“Hahahaha, so what if you’re a core disciple of Cangxue Peak? Aren’t you still being chased by me?”

The leader, seeing he had struck a blow, couldn’t help but boast proudly to the person beside him.

Taking advantage of his moment of self-satisfaction, Xie Su quickly activated his sword, accelerating away from the location. Only after briefly shaking off the few people behind them did he look for a chance to stop. The three of them landed on a hillside.

He reached out to check Zhou Xuezang’s forehead, but the scorching heat startled him into withdrawing his hand.

“Junior Sister has a high fever. We must find a medical cultivator for treatment immediately.”

He made a quick decision, injecting spiritual energy into the sword beneath his feet: “You take Little Junior Sister to find Martial Uncle Sect Master. My sword will carry you!”

He spoke the instructions rapidly, pulled out a bottle of pills from his spatial bag, and swallowed them like they were worthless.

As the pills went down his throat, the spiritual energy around him surged, and the aura of his initial Golden Core stage abruptly heightened, subtly reaching the spiritual pressure of the middle stage.

Hu Yu clearly recognized what the pills were. His eyes widened in horror, and he tried to stop Xie Su, but it was already too late.

“Senior Brother, are you crazy?!” Hu Yu cried out.

Xie Su, however, was extremely calm: “I’m not crazy.”

He knew what he was doing.

Although he didn’t know why the opponents were relentlessly pursuing them like mad dogs, the Sword Sect does forbid fighting among disciples. But if they kept retreating like this, it would be a huge disgrace to Cangxue Peak!

“I’ve always wanted to test the efficacy of these pills!” Xie Su looked at the now-empty bottle in his hand, feeling the surging spiritual energy within him. He turned his head and said to Hu Yu:

“I’ll block them. You take Little Junior Sister and leave first.”

After Xie Su finished speaking, without waiting for Hu Yu to say anything more, he directly manipulated his sword to fly toward the Sword Wielding Peak.

“Senior Brother!!”

Hu Yu’s voice was carried away by the sword. Xie Su turned around and stood in front of the few people who had already caught up.

“I don’t know what you are trying to achieve, but if you want to hurt someone from my Cangxue Peak, you’ll have to step over my corpse first.”

He was without his sword, yet his voice was chilling.

The Outer Sect disciples stopped. The leader narrowed his eyes, scrutinized him, and couldn’t help but sneer: “A Golden Core initial stage, relying only on pills, thinks he can stop a few of us Golden Core middle stages? Have you lost your mind?”

Xie Su remained silent. His hands flipped into a seal, and when they separated, a sword entirely condensed from spiritual energy appeared in his grasp.

His peripheral vision noted that his sword had carried Hu Yu and Little Junior Sister far away. Even if these people wanted to chase, it would take some time. Only then did Xie Su regain his focus. Without waiting for the few people to react, he raised his sword and attacked.

He was incredibly fast, and he caught the opponent off guard. With one strike, he wounded the man’s wrist.

“Good boy! You want to fight? Then I’ll kill you right here today!” The man looked at his wrist, wiped away the trace of blood, and then looked at Xie Su with a sinister gaze.

With that, he also summoned his sword and began wrestling with Xie Su.

“Don’t worry about me! Go after the other two!”

The man shouted loudly. Seeing the others genuinely intending to leave, Xie Su’s heart tightened. Disregarding the sword lunging at him, he endured the blow, turned, and blocked the remaining few.

He gasped twice, reached out to cover his continuously bleeding wound, and forced a sentence through his clenched teeth:

“I told you, if you want to hurt someone from my Cangxue Peak, you must first step over my corpse.”

The leader, seeing his resolve, laughed in furious rage: “Fine, then I’ll kill you first, and then go kill your Junior Brother and Junior Sister.”

“Go! Finish him! Take advantage of the fact that the two major deterrents of Cangxue Peak aren’t here. Hurry up! If they return, both you and I are dead!”

His eyes were fierce. He lunged with killing intent, every move targeting Xie Su’s vitals. Seeing this, the others also planned to join the attack.

In an instant, Xie Su was overwhelmed. Repeated attacks left him unable to evade, and soon, his body had several more wounds.

Xie Su’s heart sank. Especially when he felt the strength he had forcefully raised with the pill was gradually receding, and his spiritual energy was quickly being depleted.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before these few people cut him down.

Xie Su couldn’t help but feel despair.

“Publicly humiliating my Cangxue Peak disciple? Do you think I’m dead?”

Just as Xie Su thought he was about to perish here, a faint female voice, coming from far away but drawing near, reached everyone’s ears.

The voice was laced with spiritual energy fluctuations and was remarkably familiar. The few individuals about to strike instantly froze, stunned on the spot.

Meanwhile, Xie Su’s eyes erupted with wild joy.

It was Senior Sister!

Senior Sister had arrived!