On the lofty mountaintop sat three men. Two were old, while the third was young. The moon hung high above, casting its soft glow on them.
They sat in lotus positions, breathing heavily. The young man, dressed in a simple blue robe, appeared to be around twelve or thirteen. His black hair reached his waist, fluttering in the wind like dark silk. His green eyes, cold and filled with vigilance, scanned his surroundings with intensity. This young man was none other than Xi Shen.
Xi Shen's POV
I could barely keep my eyes open, as exhaustion filled them, 'I feel exhausted, we've been flying for the past few days without stopping.' Even the talisman's concealment wore off, but luckily we haven't encountered any cultivators.
A few demonic beasts did block our way, but again by a stroke of luck, they were only in Qi Gathering or Qi Refinement. So Yingshu and Ning dealt with them.
Looking at Zhu Yingshu and Zhen Ning, slight pity appeared in my heart, 'I can only imagine what Yingshu and Ning have been through, they had to carry me because only Foundation Establishment and above can fly and they had to kill all of the beasts. I hate being a burden, especially when I'm healthy now.'
Clenching my fists deep desire awakened in me, a desire for strength, 'In both of my lifetimes I'm helpless…'
A mocking smile emerged, but the quiet "No" Left my mouth, 'I'm not willing to be a burden again, especially when I am healthy.'
Old Yingshu's voice floated over, waking me from my thoughts, "Young Master, we should be heading now, we'll be arriving at the borders of the Harmony Blossom Sect in a day or two. Then you can activate the jade the Lord has given you, an outer elder will probably appear." He seemed less energized, even hunching his back a little.
Zhen Ning stood up and awaited my order, "We will depart immediately" Was everything I could say, looking at their tired faces, filled with wither and exhaustion, I fell silent, "I'm sorry"
Guilt in my heart grew, and so did the anger. Anger at myself for being weak, for causing such a commotion, and at the Huang and Sheng Clans, 'Why does it have to be a dog-eat-dog world? What's the point of even living, if the strong pry on the weak.'
Anger wasn't unknown to me, but this kind was new, I was angry at others in the past. Now, however, I'm angry at myself, for being weak and useless.
As these words fell, they stopped in their tracks, looked at each other, and laughed, Zhu Yingshu said in the midst of laughing "Young Master sure reminds these old men of Miss Xi, always apologizing but no one could match her in her fierce temper"
Curiosity filled me that I forgot the fatigue and suppressed the anger, as my mother, Xi Fenfeng, wasn't mentioned by lots of people. She died when Shen was a baby at the hands of Ming Shu, though the vague memories lie in my mind. But her face is blurry, distant, and unreachable.
Looking at them eagerly, I finally acted like a child my age, "Please tell me more about her." Though quickly a look of hesitation appeared in their eyes.
Zhen Ning stepped forward, and clasped his hands, "Young Master, we should depart, I don't think it's time for an idle chat." A small frown appeared on my face, but knowing he was right I guess I could let it go for now.
Zhu Yingshu threw his wooden sword in the air, it expanded, and both he and I stood on it. I had to use every bit of my cultivation to hold myself on the sword, because of high-speed flight.
As we flew at a high altitude an idea struck me, why don't I just ask while we are flying, it's not like it's gonna slow us down.
Knowing that Zhu Yingshu had a soft spot for me, a mischievous grin appeared, "Yingshu, you were also my mother's Dao Protector, you should know more about her, right?"
Cold sweat appeared on his forehead, as he mumbled under his breath, "...he sure is your son…" In a clearer voice, he responded with a simple "Yes. I was her Dao Protector" Guilt flashed his eyes, "Until the day she died."
He fell silent, as the sole purpose of Dao Protectors was to protect the person even if you had to die. 'He probably feels guilty, especially since she was his great-niece.'
Ignoring his discomfort, 'I needed answers about her, if feels like this is important to me', as these thoughts flashed I asked, "What was she like?"
Anticipation filled me, as my mother was a mystery to me. Only some small memories about her linger in the back of my mind. And if left alone, I would probably forget her in a decade or two.
He looked at me deeply, "Your mother, Xi Fenfeng or Zhu Fenfeng, was one of the fiercer women I've seen in my long life." A sigh escaped and he continued, "She would fight with a lot of people for things that were important to her, especially your father's hand" When he spoke a small smile spread across his old face.
"Ever since she was a child, I've known she was destined for great things" Clenching his fist, he gashed his teeth and at the end let out a sorrowful sigh, "She was a prodigy, in Sword Dao no one was her match, even your grandfather, Xi Liang, wasn't her match in the profoundness of Sword Dao"
Astonishment filled my eyes as they glittered, "Even grandfather Liang wasn't her match?", 'Just how impressive was she?'
A proud smile appeared as he straightened his back, "I know what you're thinking, and the answer is yes. She, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had a more profound Sword Dao than a Golden Core cultivator who was in 8th level."
Suddenly the question arose in my mind, "Then if she was so powerful, how did she die? I heard that demon was half-step Nascent Soul." As that question fell, Yingshu was silent looking like he was unsure what to answer.
Zhen Ning glanced at us, his voice heavy with regret, "Miss Xi's talent in Sword Dao was unmatched, yet her cultivation hadn't reached its peak. If she had time and reached Golden Core, then maybe she could've stood a chance. But what could a mare Foundation Establishment cultivator do in front of half-step Nascent Soul."
I looked at him, and clenching my fists responded, "Nothing…" I knew from Qin Qiqiang's legacy that even for him, it's impossible to run from a cultivator two stages above your own cultivation.
However, instead of stopping he continued "Nothing indeed, but your mother succeeded, she injured Ming Shu." That revelation shocked me to the core, it was practically impossible to achieve that feat.
But before I could ask, he exclaimed, "With this" Taking out a box with, a single character on it, 剑 (Sword), it gave off a flower fragrance. The box was pink in color, and made entirely of jade, giving a simple yet sharp aura and making it mysterious.
Unbeknownst to us, someone from below saw us and started approaching, the person flew pretty slow, cautious of us.
Yingshu stopped his sword and I almost fell. With wide eyes, he looked at the jade box, "Zhen Ning, you should be careful. The Lord said to give it to the Young Master when he reaches the late stages of Qi Refinement. He's not ready!"
He calmly looked at Yingshu, "I know what the Lord has said, but he needs to know the whole truth, why was Xi Clan destroyed." Although an aged look appeared on his face, it was followed by seriousness, "Miss Xi, was a prodigy, not just any prodigy but one of the Chosen. Her understanding of Sword Dao far exceeded that of her peers, even some old monsters found it difficult to match her in that aspect."
'One of the Chosen, that sounds impressive, then why didn't she join a sect? It's not like they could reject someone with that talent.' Looking at his serious expression and the guilt I felt toward them I hesitated. But through some miracle, he answered it without me asking.
Melancholy appeared in his voice as he spoke, "A Sect did indeed offer her a position in the Inner Sect, but Miss turned them down. For she had already fallen in love, with your father. She abandoned the Inner Sect position of Harmony Blossom Sect for him."
Looking shocked I mumbled, "Then this jade…"
Zhen Ning nodded, "That jade is hers as well, although they were rejected, the Harmony Blossom Sect, still sent out a recommendation letter so anyone with it could take the examination and be accepted, either as an Outer Sect's disciple or a servant."
Awe was the word that could describe my current feelings, "So, after rejecting the Harmony Blossom Sect, she immersed herself in creating a manual for her newborn son. The techniques of the manual carried her Sword Dao experiences for over 100 years. They are as profound as Sect's Secret Arts and as desirable as Heavenly treasures"
His voice carried admiration and respect, he clenched his hands in excitement, it showed how much he cared for her, "Many coveted them. Xi Clan indeed fell because of that Spirit Vein, but the secret objective was inside this jade box. That day I will never forget"
Pain flashed in his eyes, his voice more sober, as he shuddered, "Lightning and fire shot from the sky, and Xi Clan's cultivators fell one after the other, under that demon's hand even our patriarch, Xi Liang at the 8th level of Golden Core, finally fell. The demon went mad, killing innocents someone had to stop him. But who would dare?"
I felt a tingling sensation in my heart, as I imagined the scene. 'Zhao Ning sure knows how to tell stories. He would be a good storyteller back on Earth.'
After a sigh full of complex emotion he continued, "She dared, stood amidst dead clansmen, and roared the name of her ultimate technique. It was still vivid in my mind, 'Spirit's Sword - Flower's Dance', and her last words were, 'Withering Dance - Last Struggle'."
Suspense filled the air as Zhen Ning paused, clearly knowing how to keep an audience on edge. "Then what happened?" I asked, my voice thick with impatience. I could feel my heart pounding, each beat a drum demanding answers.
Storking his beard he continued with a slow tone, "With her last sentence, she turned into a white ark and flew into the sky. Against the odds she got the upper hand and severed Ming Shu's hand, he got so scared he fled the scene."
As he clenched his hands he proceeded to explain, "We went to congratulate her, but all we found was a body of old her lying dead."
Shock and disbelief filled me as he said that, even the sadness I hadn't felt for a long time came back, 'Why am I feeling sad for a woman that I haven't even met?' But who could give me the answers? No one.
Withholding tears Yingshu looked downwards, as Ning continued with difficulty, "A great sadness filled us, as she must've used the secret technique that uses your longevity."
He added with a heavy heart, "As the word spread, many coveted that secret art that allowed a Foundation Establishment to fight half-step Nascent Soul. Even Nascent Soul cultivators came, but your mother was clever, she hid this very box in the secret chambers of the Zhu Family."
Yingshu's soft smile broke his depression, but Ning frowned, "And after finding nothing they killed the patriarch's heavily injured brother, Xi Hua, and Xi Clan officially fell. With no power to protect the Spirit Vein, it fell into the hungry Huang Clan's hands."
Gnashing his teeth, he closed his eyes as if remembering something really difficult, "And as years passed, the glory the Clan once had, had dissipated, but the hope has risen again, you. Young Master, you are the hope Xi Clan has waited for, the last hope your mother has given us."
As he said that he threw the box toward me when I reached out Yingshu caught it, "Young Master, this box isn't simple. You need to spend your longevity to open it, but since you're only Qi Gathering the lifespan you would need to spend would exceed your limits"
He coldly looked at Zhen Ning, "What are you doing? Do you want him to drain all his lifespan just to open the box?"
With a serious tone, Zhen Ning responded, "I know, but we don't have time. You should know whose aura was that. He doesn't need to open it, just keep it until he's ready. You are overthinking things as always."
Yingshu looked shocked at the accusation, "Zhen Ning, don't let me even get started on how you were about the Lord. You watch out for his every step, and even took them for him."
Seeing them bickering, I felt the tense situation light up a little. 'I don't see this side of them very often, It's interesting.'
We continued to fly and the view was incredible as we flew across the mountains. Occasionally, I would see bird beasts fly high above high mountain peaks that reach the sky. After about an hour of their back and forth they suddenly stopped, looking in the same direction.
Vigilance filled my mind "What is it? Beast? Cultivator?", they looked at each other and nodded.
"A cultivator.", replied Yingshu, "Stronger than us by a small margin, if we were alone we probably stood no chance, but together…" He slapped his bag of holding and another sword appeared.
This one was made of steel, without a handle. Both sides were sharp, it was a meter in length and looked sharp as it could cut stone like it was paper. It gave off a faint scent of winter, cold and strong.
The cultivator they mentioned flew straight toward us, she was in her forties, dressed in a cyan robe with a few wrinkles on her face. Her hair was held by a hairpin, made from jade.
As she drew closer she restricted her aura, "Greetings Fellow Daoists, what might such formidable cultivators, such as yourself, look for at the borders of Qingshan Town (青山镇)?"
Looking at my memories of Qingshan, I don't know much about the town. Only some details like, they have a really good spring there, they are famous for producing quality silk, and it is just a small town surrounded by mountains.
Suddenly Zhen Ning took out a small talisman and immediately attacked, "You evil creature, you followed us from Silent Vally!" He angrily laughed, as he saw this was probably the best way to release the frustration he felt. The talisman transformed into lightning, which shot toward the 'woman'.
I watched with relish, 'I've seen him using talismans to fight, guess I will try that, especially since I have some interesting talismans in my memory. Qin Qiqiang sure had a lot of time, he collected vast knowledge and arts. That brings up a question, how did he die?'
Waking me from my thoughts was the woman's laugh, I felt every cell in my body shudder, "So you realized, haha." The voice changed from woman's to man's to something in-between, "Then there's no point in pretending."
Ning flew towards the creature, "Yingshu help me deal with this hag, it's most definitely Yaojing." As soon as that word fell I looked at the creature and marveled at the appearance of such a rare creature.