The climate at the Heaven-Quelling Sect gradually grew colder. The pine trees that were usually lush and green were now coated in a layer of rime.
For the first few days after the temperature dropped, some disciples would still stay behind to train after the official session ended. But as the cold deepened, almost no one remained on the training grounds once practice was over.
“Are you going to stay and practice a little longer?” one disciple asked hesitantly.
Today’s sword techniques were rather difficult, and he still hadn’t mastered them.
Gu Wuyou hunched his shoulders and stared at him in disbelief. “Are you insane? In weather this cold?”
If morning training hadn’t been mandatory, he wouldn’t have come at all. He felt as if his face had been frozen stiff.
Not only did Gu Wuyou have no intention of training, he also dragged away several disciples who were wavering over whether to stay.
Why bother training? Wasn’t it much more comfortable to stay in their own courtyards?
The group huddled together as they walked, their eyes unconsciously drifting toward the two people practicing their swordsmanship in the distance.
“The senior disciple and junior sister are still training,” someone murmured gloomily.
Gu Wuyou’s teeth chattered from the cold. “Why do you care? Do you really think they’re training?”
Those two clearly weren’t practicing properly at all!
Wen Shubai was still wearing his moon-white robes, while Ji Zhaoxi had dressed somewhat more warmly.
“Junior Sister, your sword movements must be steady, and your mind must be composed.”
Wen Shubai’s voice was gentle and warm. Standing behind her, he naturally placed his hand over the one gripping her sword and guided her through each swing step by step.
Ji Zhaoxi practiced earnestly, Wen Shubai’s voice constantly sounding beside her ear. When she noticed the snow gathered along the blade, her eyes suddenly lit up.
As the tip of the sword rose, her wrist gave the slightest tremble.
Smack—
A small clump of snow suddenly struck Wen Shubai in the face. A few flakes even caught on his eyelashes before sliding into his gentle eyes.
Ji Zhaoxi pretended not to notice. Her eyes curved with amusement as she lowered her head and suppressed a laugh.
“Oh, no! Senior Brother, I’m sorry. I accidentally got snow on your face.”
Wen Shubai did not brush the snow away. Looking at her secretly amused expression, his eyes were filled with indulgence.
He let out a soft laugh, then lowered his head slightly. Before Ji Zhaoxi could react, he gently cupped her face and pressed his own snow-covered cheek against her warm, flushed one.
“Hiss—”
The chill made Ji Zhaoxi draw her neck in, but he held her firmly in his arms.
The melting snow spread across both their skin.
Holding her close, Wen Shubai said with a laugh, “Junior Sister, now we’re even.”
Neither Wen Shubai nor Ji Zhaoxi had any intention of hiding their relationship, so it naturally reached the sect master’s ears.
Night fell. The floating immortal island of the Heaven-Quelling Sect was reduced to a mere outline in the darkness.
Wen Shubai had just emerged from the Marrow-Washing Pool when a disciple, looking hesitant, approached and waited outside.
“Senior Brother, the sect master wants to see you.”
Wen Shubai paused, then followed the disciple to the immortal island.
The island was surrounded by thunderclouds, and an aerial bridge made of profound ice connected it to the rest of the sect.
He was familiar with this route, though it had been a long time since he had walked it.
The moment he stepped inside the pavilion, he felt an all-encompassing aura of the Dao, accompanied by a faint pressure.
“Sect Master. Second Elder.”
Wen Shubai bowed solemnly.
The Second Elder kept signaling desperately at him, but unfortunately, no one knew what his twitching eye was supposed to mean except himself.
Wen Shubai stared silently at the Second Elder. He was grateful for the elder’s concern, but he truly couldn’t understand him.
He suddenly thought of Ji Zhaoxi. Perhaps his junior sister would have understood.
The bitter smoke from the incense coiled through the main hall. The sect master idly toyed with a cup of tea that had long since gone cold.
Wen Shubai knelt on the profound-ice bricks, his back perfectly straight.
“Shubai, you are the Sword Chief of the Heaven-Quelling Sect, and the one most likely to ascend. Yet your heartless Dao golden core is now filled with romantic attachment.”
The sect master’s tone grew colder and colder. “Do you have an explanation for me?”
Wen Shubai’s voice was clear and gentle, his words unhurried.
“Master, the Dao may be heartless, but people are born with roots. If my future does not include Junior Sister, then immortality would be nothing but torture to me.”
“I’m afraid… I am not suited to the heartless Dao.”
He lowered himself until his forehead touched the ground with a soft knock.
“This disciple is willing to accept any punishment.”
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
The Second Elder was frantic. Wen Shubai really was an idiot—did he know nothing of tact?
He could have simply made up an excuse to placate the sect master…
If Wen Shubai were expelled from the Heaven-Quelling Sect, there was a good chance his valuable client, Ji Zhaoxi, would leave as well. After all, her parents asked him every day how to withdraw her from the sect.
What would happen to his gold then?!
The Second Elder felt utterly despondent.
After a long while, the sect master finally let out a disappointed sigh.
“Love has clouded your judgment!”
The Second Elder began pacing anxiously. He cleared his throat and tentatively suggested, “Shubai has indeed gone too far this time. Sect Master, why not punish him by sending him to the forbidden snow mountain to plant immortal herbs?”
The sect master’s expression was extremely grim. Before he could say anything, the Second Elder hurriedly began ushering Wen Shubai out.
“Wen Shubai, hurry up and go plant those immortal herbs! Go on, go on, go on!”
Wen Shubai lowered his eyes and bowed. “This disciple takes his leave.”
As soon as Wen Shubai left the immortal island, several disciples followed at his side.
Moonlight spilled over the snow, giving it a faint blue sheen. The surroundings were utterly quiet, with only the sound of footsteps crunching across the snow.
Wen Shubai stopped outside Ji Zhaoxi’s courtyard. From within, he could faintly hear Ji Zhaoxi and Liuli talking.
His fingers curled slightly as he knocked softly on the wooden door.
The voices inside fell silent at once. The disciples standing nearby exchanged silent glances.
Footsteps soon approached from within. With a creak, the door opened, and Ji Zhaoxi emerged in a thick cloak.
“Senior Brother!”
Her eyes immediately lit up. She knew it had to be him knocking.
Seeing her expression, a smile flickered through Wen Shubai’s eyes. He gently touched her cheek and asked warmly, “Are you cold?”
Ji Zhaoxi shook her head, then looked at the disciples beside him in confusion. The disciples calmly stared up at the sky, avoiding her gaze.
They had no desire to become the villains who broke up a loving couple.
Wen Shubai took out a storage pouch and placed it in Ji Zhaoxi’s hands. Lowering his voice, he said, “Junior Sister, these are Spirit-Gathering Pills. Take one each day.”
“I’ve annotated that copy of the Clear-Sky Sword Scripture. If you’re bored, just read the sections I’ve marked in red.”
The pouch was heavy in her hands and filled with a rich spiritual aura.
Ji Zhaoxi still hadn’t quite processed what was happening. She stared at him with wide, anxious eyes. “Senior Brother, are you going on an adventure? I want to go too. I’m very strong now.”
She didn’t want to be separated from her senior brother.
Wen Shubai felt a dull ache in his heart. He gently stroked her hair and said, “Junior Sister, this is a mission the sect master assigned to me alone. No one else can come along. I’ll come find you after I finish, all right?”
Ji Zhaoxi stared at him without saying a word.
The disciples standing nearby silently turned around.
“When will you be back? What if I miss you?”
Wen Shubai’s heart tightened. He softened his voice. “Little Junior Sister, I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can. I’ll write to you often. If you miss me, go play in my courtyard.”
Seeing that Ji Zhaoxi still bit her lip without letting go, Wen Shubai sighed. He gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the lips.
“Wait for me to come back, all right?”
Buried in his embrace, Ji Zhaoxi nodded gloomily.
Was it because her cultivation was still insufficient that the Sect Master wouldn’t let her accompany Senior Brother on his journey?
At that moment, Liuli was still chewing her food as she solemnly recorded everything.
[At this point, Immortal Ji did not yet know that this would be the last time she and Senior Brother ever met—and that this event would have a profound impact on her path to godhood.]
