#11: Discord

Bian Qingxuan’s right hand was bleeding profusely, but she didn’t stop the bleeding immediately. When she noticed Bian Lingyu’s gaze fall on the bowl of noodles on the table, her heart tightened.

She quickly masked her hateful expression and smiled brightly. “Big Brother, do you really think that little fool cares about you? You probably don’t know—Master Changyuan returned to the sect a few days ago, and because of her pretending to be sick, they had a huge argument.”

Bian Lingyu remained expressionless. With a mocking smile, Bian Qingxuan continued, “To defend my reputation, Master Changyuan must have scolded her. Feeling upset, she came to pick on you again. Have you forgotten the lesson from months ago? She only comes to you after being scolded by me.”

Bian Lingyu glanced at her. “Are you done?”

Bian Qingxuan frowned.

“If you’re done, leave.”

Seeing his calm demeanor, she couldn’t tell if he had been affected by her words. Unsure whether he truly didn’t care or was just pretending, and with her hand throbbing in pain as he coldly stared at her, she had no choice but to clutch her wound and retreat to tend to it.

Bian Lingyu sat down at the table.

The window was half-open, offering a faint view of the festive lanterns outside. The night breeze brushed against his feverish body, bringing a touch of coolness.

He stared at the bowl of noodles for a long time, then picked up his chopsticks and silently ate the now soggy noodles.

The first rooster crow of the day sounded, and though the sky was still dim, Han Shu prepared to lead the group onward.

Shi Luoyi had spent the entire night cultivating. Before leaving, she glanced at the sky—it was just before dawn, not yet five in the morning. She wondered how Bian Lingyu, who had been so ill the previous night, could possibly continue traveling with them today.

To her surprise, when she arrived at the main hall, she found Bian Lingyu already seated by the window, drinking tea. A few other disciples were scattered around the hall.

Among the group, Bian Lingyu stood out with his unique presence. As an ordinary human, he clearly struggled to blend in with the cultivators.

Shi Luoyi overheard a male disciple whisper, “What’s a frail mortal doing here? What use could he possibly have?”

Another disciple replied, “Well, he is Junior Sister’s brother. If she asked him to come, there must be a reason. I heard her mention to Elder Han Shu earlier that he might have seen this kind of demon when he was a child. Perhaps he knows a way to deal with it.”

The second disciple seemed skeptical, but just then, Bian Qingxuan descended the stairs. The two disciples’ eyes lit up, and they immediately surrounded her.

Their conversation revolved around trivial matters for the upcoming journey. Bian Qingxuan listened patiently and even gifted them a few bottles of medicine she had personally concocted.

Bian Qingxuan said, “My brother isn’t in the best health, and I apologize for any trouble he may cause. Please take good care of him.”

The two disciples refused her gifts, insisting, “Sister, there’s no need to be so formal. Since he’s your brother, he’s also part of our Hengwu Sect. If he needs anything, we’ll gladly assist.”

Despite their refusal, Bian Qingxuan persisted and eventually convinced them to accept the medicine.

Shi Luoyi, carrying her Divine Meteor Blade, tilted her head slightly. She wasn’t naturally adept at pleasing others and lacked Bian Qingxuan’s tactfulness. It was no wonder she wasn’t as popular.

Unlike Bian Qingxuan, Shi Luoyi stood tall in the morning breeze, like a resilient bamboo shoot or a proud poplar tree.

Princess Wanxun had passed away early, and Shi Luoyi’s father was a genius blade cultivator who doted on his daughter. Both father and daughter shared the same straightforward and proud nature, characteristic of blade cultivators.

After pacifying the discontented disciples, Wei Changyuan and Elder Han Shu arrived in the main hall.

Bian Qingxuan lifted her skirt and greeted them with a bright smile.

“Master,” she bowed to Han Shu, then said, “Senior Brother Changyuan.”

Elder Han Shu counted the group and, seeing everyone had arrived on time, announced, “Let’s depart.”

They maintained their previous pace and arrived at Cangshan Village at noon on the fifth day.

Cangshan Village was adjacent to Qingshui Village. From their names alone, one could tell that one village nestled against the mountains while the other bordered water, both brimming with natural beauty.

At this moment, the village chief of Cangshan Village, along with a large crowd, eagerly awaited their arrival. Upon seeing Han Shu and the others, they hurriedly knelt, shouting, “Immortal masters, save us…”

Han Shu raised a hand, and an invisible force gently lifted their knees, preventing them from kneeling.

“There’s no need for such formalities. We’ve come to Qingshui Village to eliminate the evil presence. Tell us what has happened in detail.”

The elderly village chief wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face grave as he recounted the events of the past few days.

It turned out that after strange occurrences began in Qingshui Village, the people of neighboring Cangshan Village dared not go near it anymore.

The two villages were adjacent, with a boundary marked by a stone monument. Previously, a thin mist had enveloped the border of Qingshui Village. Though the mist appeared faint, anything thrown into it would vanish without a trace.

A few days ago, the mist began to spread continuously toward Cangshan Village. Villagers living on the outskirts of the village, frightened, moved away from there.

The mist was like a greedy mouth, swallowing not only Qingshui Village but now spreading toward the neighboring Cangshan Village.

Many villagers had already fled in terror with their families.

The village chief’s white beard trembled, his face filled with despair and fear: “The remaining villagers all dare only to huddle in places far from the mist. We have lived in Cangshan Village for generations; this is our root. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, no one would want to be forced to leave here, sigh…”

Moreover, if Qingshui Village and Cangshan Village were just the beginning, then what was inside the mist as it continued to spread? No one knew, and how terrifying must that be?

Han Shu hadn’t expected such a drastic change to occur during their short journey of just a few days.

Originally, the group intended to enter Qingshui Village directly, but now they had no choice but to temporarily stay in Cangshan Village to investigate the strange mist that “devoured” villages.

“Village Chief, could you take us to see the mist?”

“Of course, of course, Immortal Master, please follow me.”

The village chief led the group to the boundary where the mist met the village: “Immortal Master, please look, it’s right here.”

Indeed, as the village chief had said, the mist looked white and hazy but wasn’t opaque, and faint outlines of several houses belonging to the villagers of Cangshan Village could even be seen beneath it.

Wei Changyuan pondered deeply and formed a True Fire spell with his fingers: “Go!”

As a sword cultivator with an innate Sword Bone, his spiritual energy was abundant and pure. The True Fire should have immediately dispersed the mist upon contact.

However, astonishingly, the mist didn’t dissipate. Even the True Fire that was supposed to burn it disappeared.

It was like a drop of water merging into a pond, silently submerging without a sound. Not only did the mist fail to disperse, but it also continued to expand silently.

At this point, all the disciples’ faces turned grim. A mist that couldn’t be dispersed by True Fire—was this still mist?

Everyone instinctively took a step back.

Shi Luoyi had anticipated this outcome long ago. In their past life, they had been blocked by similar mist when trying to enter Qingshui Village.

Back then, the group had been trapped in Cangshan Village for several days before coming up with a way to enter. By that time, the situation in Qingshui Village had worsened considerably.

Shi Luoyi said, “The mist first appeared in Qingshui Village. Although it later spread, it did so very slowly. It seems it doesn’t act indiscriminately but requires certain conditions to spread. If we can find what it depends on to survive, perhaps we can disperse it.”

Han Shu asked, “What are your thoughts?”

Everyone turned to look at her. Shi Luoyi replied, “Water. The biggest difference between Qingshui Village and Cangshan Village is that Qingshui Village is built on water, surrounded by paddy fields. On the other hand, Cangshan Village is far less humid, which is why the spread has been obstructed and slow.”

Seeing no one objected, she continued, “If this reasoning holds, then the principle of the Five Elements’ mutual overcoming explains why Senior Brother Changyuan’s True Fire had no effect on the mist.”

Han Shu thought for a moment and said, “Your speculation isn’t without merit. There’s no water around Cangshan Village, only rocks and trees. It seems the mist might be drawing moisture from the trees.”

Thus, to prevent the mist from further encroaching on Cangshan Village, they needed to find a way to dry out the water within the mist. According to the principle of the Five Elements’ mutual overcoming—Metal overcomes Wood, Wood overcomes Earth, Earth overcomes Water, Water overcomes Fire, and Fire overcomes Metal.

Seeing no other options, Han Shu decided to give it a try. She led the disciples in setting up a Drought Earth Formation around the mist.

This formation could draw water from within dozens of miles into the array.

Whether it would work or not would be revealed by morning, depending on whether the mist receded.

While everyone was setting up the formation, Bian Lingyu stood aside. His black eyes were icy cold, fixed on the distant mist, as if trying to peer into Qingshui Village itself.

Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, Bian Qingxuan approached him and whispered, “How is it?”

“Dragon Vein,” he replied succinctly.

Bian Qingxuan was somewhat surprised. Could this desolate place called Qingshui Village actually harbor a Dragon Vein? She crouched down, placing her palm on the ground, and indeed faintly sensed a powerful surge of spiritual energy.

Bian Qingxuan’s heart sank, and she muttered a curse under her breath: “So it really isn’t some ghostly thing like Buhua Toad. It sure knows how to pick a spot, finding a Dragon Vein in such a barren little village.”

She asked Bian Lingyu, “How confident are you in dealing with them now?”

Bian Lingyu paused briefly. Beneath his wide sleeves, the icy, sharp silver-white bone spikes were slightly protruding, agitated by the mist and difficult to control: “Thirty percent.”

Bian Qingxuan’s heart sank further. Her gaze drifted toward Shi Luoyi, and she opened her mouth, wanting to suggest taking some of Shi Luoyi’s blood if things became desperate. However, seeing her brother’s cold and silent demeanor, she ultimately said nothing.

Thirty percent was definitely not enough.

Since he was unwilling to take action, she would seize the opportunity herself when it arose!

The Drought Earth Formation’s process of drawing water required several days. The villagers of Cangshan Village were anxious, fearing the Immortals would abandon them and leave. They hurriedly invited the cultivators to stay in their homes.

The village chief quickly added, “There are still a few households in the village where people can stay. They can provide temporary rest for the Immortal Masters.”

Even if the cultivators chose to rest anywhere casually, it wouldn’t matter. However, Han Shu glanced over the weary and uneasy faces and sighed inwardly: “Alright.”

It seemed everyone was afraid of being swallowed by the mist in their sleep. For days, they hadn’t rested well. Those who remained in the village now often had nowhere else to go.

The villagers breathed a sigh of relief and began inviting the Immortal Masters to stay in their homes.

By now, there were very few habitable houses left. Han Shu said, “Let the village chief arrange it.”

The village chief nodded repeatedly and quickly assigned accommodations.

Most of the group consisted of men, including Han Shu, with only four women.

The four women were Han Shu, Shi Luoyi, Bian Qingxuan, and Li Feilan, the deputy master of the Sword Pavilion.

Seeing only two young girls, the village chief assumed they were close and arranged for Shi Luoyi and Bian Qingxuan to stay together. Shi Luoyi pursed her lips, clearly unwilling.

Bian Qingxuan’s smile deepened as she cheerfully said, “Alright, I’ll keep Sister Luoyi company.”

However, Wei Changyuan and another cold voice simultaneously objected: “No.”

Wei Changyuan knew the two didn’t get along and feared something might happen at this critical moment. He said, “Luoyi, go stay with Elder Han Shu. Little Junior Sister, can you stay with Elder Li?”

At this, everyone fell silent.

Bian Qingxuan glanced at Bian Lingyu, seeing him coldly staring at her, and reluctantly said to Wei Changyuan, “I’ll follow Senior Brother Changyuan’s arrangement.”

“What about Luoyi?”

“Fine, I have no objections.” As long as she didn’t have to stay with Bian Qingxuan day and night, she hated her and feared losing control of her old grudge, possibly killing her with a blade in the middle of the night.