Chapter 27: Testing the Spirit

On the way back, both master and servant were unusually silent.

Shi Luoyi feared she wouldn’t be able to pass this trial and would once again be forced onto the path of fleeing the sect. Despite many changes in her current life, Zhang Xiangyang’s death had plunged her into the worst possible situation.

Her current cultivation level wouldn’t allow her to evade detection by the sect’s spirit-testing orb, leaving her mind in turmoil.

This was clearly a setup targeting her—did someone know about her inner demons? Or was it merely a coincidence?

Xianghui’s silence stemmed from a different train of thought.

She recalled how Bian Lingyu had been watching them as they left—not at her, but specifically at Miss Luoyi.

With a complicated expression, Xianghui asked: “Miss, have you ever suspected that Bian Lingyu might be an accomplice of Bian Qingxuan?”

Shi Luoyi was taken aback: “What?”

Xianghui explained: “Last night, you should have returned to the disciples’ quarters. Perhaps there would have been witnesses to vouch for you. But instead, you were with Bian Lingyu. Could it be that he deliberately kept you there while Bian Qingxuan killed Zhang Xiangyang, intending to frame you?”

Xianghui wasn’t actually suspicious of Bian Lingyu. Her question stemmed from two reasons: First, the siblings’ involvement in this matter was highly suspicious. Second, based on her understanding of Shi Luoyi, it was normal for her mistress to vent anger on Bian Lingyu, regardless of his involvement. Yet this time, Miss Luoyi hadn’t rushed to confront or berate him.

Seeing Xianghui’s complex gaze, Shi Luoyi realized she hadn’t even considered this possibility.

In her past life, she had been betrayed by Bian Qingxuan countless times, and whenever something happened, she immediately suspected her. Several times, she even harbored resentment toward Bian Lingyu as well.

This time, however, despite the strong likelihood, she hadn’t suspected Bian Lingyu of being an accomplice. He was indeed shrouded in mystery, much like Bian Qingxuan. Moreover, he had witnessed her inner demon episode—if he truly sought revenge, this would have been the perfect opportunity.

Yet strangely, upon hearing Xianghui’s words, what came to mind was the image of him carving small bamboo swords under a tree one night.

That had been the first time she set aside her prejudice against him, realizing he was different from Bian Qingxuan—no, he was different from everyone else.

He was like a heavy, solitary snowfall that, even when melted by spring, retained its unique hue.

Could such a person really be manipulated by Bian Qingxuan?

If it were her past life, Shi Luoyi could have listed ten thousand reasons why he might harm her. Now, however, she shook her head and said: “I don’t think so.”

As for why, she couldn’t quite explain.

Xianghui’s expression grew even more complicated as she murmured: “Miss no longer considers him an enemy…”

Her words struck Shi Luoyi as odd: “Xianghui, it seems you’ve never disliked him. Why is that?”

Xianghui replied: “Doesn’t Miss remember the Bamboo Grove Sword Duel from two years ago?”

Even amidst this dire situation, the mention of the Bamboo Grove Sword Duel made Shi Luoyi feel a flicker of shame. She fell silent, sulking.

Xianghui couldn’t help but suppress a smile.

But seeing no unusual reaction from Shi Luoyi, Xianghui realized for the first time that her mistress was unaware of what happened after the duel.

The first time Xianghui saw Bian Lingyu was then.

It was perhaps one of Miss Luoyi’s most humiliating memories. Under Bian Qingxuan’s subtle oppression, the young blade cultivator had switched to practicing the sword, training diligently for an entire year before deciding to challenge Bian Qingxuan and reclaim her honor.

Since childhood, Shi Luoyi had possessed exceptional talent, learning quickly. Her swordsmanship soon became proficient. At the time, she had just come of age—young, arrogant, and confident. Determined to prove herself against a dual-cultivator of alchemy and swordsmanship, she wanted to silence those who whispered that her father had failed to properly teach her.

In her mind, since both of them were latecomers to the sword, and she wasn’t using her blade, it was a fair fight.

Xianghui had tried to stop her but failed.

Young blade and sword cultivators were born battle-hungry. Unexpectedly, when Shi Luoyi challenged Bian Qingxuan, the latter agreed. They met in the secluded bamboo grove behind the mountain, the perfect place for a sword duel.

By the time Xianghui heard about it, the duel was already over. The little spirits hurriedly informed her: “Sister Xianghui, hurry and see! Miss Luoyi was defeated by Bian Qingxuan in just three moves!”

They babbled on: “Miss Luoyi seems to be injured.”

“Yes, her eyes were hurt by sword qi.”

“Miss Luoyi even cried—it was a huge blow. Sister Xianghui, hurry and bring her home.”

For their proud miss to cry… What kind of devastating blow must it have been?

Hearing this, Xianghui panicked and rushed to the bamboo grove. Sure enough, she found her disheartened mistress exactly as the spirits had described. Shi Luoyi sat on the ground, her eyes injured by Bian Qingxuan’s sword qi, tears streaming down her face, yet stubbornly gripping her sword, filled with confusion.

In truth, Shi Luoyi hadn’t cried—the tears were uncontrollable due to the injury to her eyes. She was dazed, realizing for the first time the vast gap between herself and Bian Qingxuan. Being defeated in three moves by a disciple skilled in both alchemy and swordsmanship was nothing short of a catastrophic humiliation for her.

But to Xianghui’s surprise, there was someone else standing nearby.

It was the first time Xianghui saw Bian Lingyu. He stood three steps away from Shi Luoyi, surrounded by several bamboo puppets silently forming a protective array around her, treating her injured eyes.

Xianghui stared in astonishment at the unfamiliar face.

The youth had pale skin, narrow eyes exuding a cold aura, and an indifferent expression, as if the bamboo puppets and the array had nothing to do with him—he was merely passing by.

Wary, Xianghui asked: “Who are you?”

Finally tearing his gaze away from Shi Luoyi, the youth glanced at Xianghui but said nothing, turning and walking away.

His gait was strange—limping, as if his bones were disjointed, his body frail. Xianghui was so stunned she forgot to stop him.

Moments later, the puppets vanished into the ground without a trace.

Later, Xianghui encountered Bian Lingyu many times, his condition improving each time. But whenever her mistress saw him, she always treated him coldly, growing angry at the mere mention of the siblings.

Several times, she outright cursed them as being cut from the same cloth. Looking at the boy’s icy eyes and pale complexion, Xianghui couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him.

Xianghui knew he could have avoided Miss Luoyi altogether, yet he chose not to leave. Even when he approached, all he received were cold glares and misplaced anger.

Gradually, a peculiar thought formed in Xianghui’s mind.

She felt that the cold, aloof Bian Lingyu harbored unusual feelings for her mistress. However, she never voiced this suspicion—it was difficult to articulate. After all, Bian Lingyu appeared utterly detached, sometimes looking at Miss Luoyi with the same indifference as he would a tree or a blade of grass. And with the engagement to Wei Changyuan still in place, Xianghui didn’t see this as a good thing.

Now that Miss Luoyi had broken off the engagement with Wei Changyuan, Xianghui still believed there was no future between them. One was the heir of a perilous immortal lineage, constantly walking on the edge of a blade, while the other was a declining mortal with a frail body.

It was a good thing that Miss Luoyi didn’t understand, and Xianghui would never say anything. Just as Bian Lingyu himself wouldn’t speak of it—he knew they could never be together.

Xianghui surmised that Bian Lingyu wouldn’t harm Shi Luoyi. To resolve the current crisis, she suggested: “When the elders from the Enforcement Hall send someone over, should Miss mention that she was with Bian Lingyu last night?”

Shi Luoyi had naturally considered using this defense.

But the thought was quickly dismissed. Bian Lingyu might not be willing to vouch for her. Cultivators were different from mortals—they didn’t place as much importance on reputation. Thus, there were always some handsome outer disciples who sold their charms to curry favor with inner disciples. Such disciples were often the most despised, relegated to the lowest rung of the outer disciples and subjected to ostracism.

Shi Luoyi knew well that life wasn’t easy for outer disciples. Unlike Bian Qingxuan, who had unparalleled talent, Bian Lingyu had been bullied by people like Xue An in the past. If he were branded as the “plaything of the Unyielding Fairy,” then should she fail in her struggle against the sect leader and something happen to her, he would surely face countless humiliations, both openly and in secret.

There were already several invisible hands lurking in the shadows, intent on destroying her. Why drag another person—Bian Lingyu—into this mess? She couldn’t protect him, and he relied on Bian Qingxuan to live a better life.

After a long silence, Shi Luoyi said: “I won’t mention him, Xianghui. I’ll do my best to protect myself. If anything happens to me, find a secluded mountain to cultivate in peace. No matter what happens, never come looking for me.”

Xianghui didn’t know that Shi Luoyi truly harbored inner demons. Seeing her so solemn and after repeated requests, she reluctantly nodded.

Sure enough, that afternoon, Shi Luoyi received a summons from the Punishment Hall.

She had already prepared for a desperate battle. Unless absolutely necessary, she would never allow them to test her spiritual energy or search her soul.

Her status gave her the confidence to resist such measures.

The ones who came were Wei Changyuan and a few other junior brothers.

This was their first meeting since the annulment of their engagement.

She had assumed that now that Wei Changyuan had gotten what he wanted, he would be inseparable from his junior sister, basking in happiness and satisfaction. But that wasn’t the case. Wei Changyuan looked much thinner.

His eyes, once clear and bright like stars, were now dull and clouded. She used to love resting her chin on her hand and staring into his eyes until his ears turned red and he covered her eyes. Now, those eyes seemed to carry a layer of ash.

Yet his emotions remained calm. He treated her as if she were a stranger.

Looking at her, he spoke softly: “Luoyi, the Punishment Hall has summoned you. Come with us.”

“Alright,” Shi Luoyi replied, following them.

The group walked at a distance, neither too close nor too far. Wei Changyuan turned to the other disciples: “Could you allow me a few words alone with Junior Sister?”

The disciples exchanged glances, hesitating for a moment before nodding.

They naturally knew the relationship between Shi Luoyi and Wei Changyuan. In theory, to investigate Zhang Xiangyang’s death, they shouldn’t have allowed Wei Changyuan to speak with her privately.

However, Wei Changyuan had always been upright and principled. In the past, when Shi Luoyi made mistakes, as the chief disciple of the Enforcement Hall, he never showed leniency, even making her cry more than once. Everyone in the sect knew this.

Wei Changyuan commanded great respect among the disciples—they trusted that he wouldn’t do anything inappropriate.

The two moved to the side.

Wei Changyuan gazed at the barren trees covering the mountainside and suddenly said: “I returned home a few days ago and told my parents about our annulment.”

Shi Luoyi looked at him, nodding gently: “Mm, what did Uncle and Aunt say?”

Wei Changyuan continued to stare at the barren trees, his voice hoarse: “They said… that you are good, and it is I who lack the fortune. They also said it was I who broke faith first and instructed me to give you the compensation due from the Wei family.”

Shi Luoyi shook her head: “There was no breach of faith. We simply grew up and made different choices. I hope you don’t blame me for my youthful ignorance and the burdens I caused you.”

Her gaze fell on the familiar qiankun pouch he took out from his robes, and for a moment, she froze.

That wasn’t compensation from the Wei family—it was clearly Wei Changyuan’s personal belongings. She had seen this pouch even after she fell into demonic cultivation.

In her past life, it took her sixty years to grasp the nuances of human relationships that she had once failed to understand. After her father fell into slumber, this marital tie had always been a burden to Wei Changyuan.

If his parents learned that she willingly dissolved the engagement, they would only rejoice—not send Wei Changyuan to atone. These things were all gifts he personally wished to give her.

He understood his own precarious situation.

This time, Shi Luoyi didn’t accept the pouch, but her heart felt lighter. After all, he had been like an older brother to her since childhood. Calmly, she said: “Since we no longer love each other, dissolving the engagement was a choice made by both of us. It isn’t a mistake, and there shouldn’t be any compensation. Elder Brother Changyuan, keep it.”

Wei Changyuan didn’t say anything further, merely nodding.

The two returned to the group and continued onward to the Punishment Hall. From start to finish, they never mentioned Zhang Xiangyang.

Shi Luoyi didn’t expect Wei Changyuan to bend the rules for her. Since childhood, he had been impeccably groomed by his noble family—not only the pride of the Wei household, but also of Mingyou Mountain and the future hope of the immortal sects.

The world needed cultivators like Wei Changyuan—upright and principled. When she made mistakes as a child, Wei Changyuan never shielded her; instead, he chose to endure punishment on her behalf afterward.

Shi Luoyi had never blamed Wei Changyuan. Compared to what kind of partner she personally desired, those who were raised with proper discipline understood more clearly what kind of future the three realms required.

It wasn’t about romantic attachments—it was about righteousness and conviction.

Spring arrived later in the immortal mountains than in the mortal realm, perhaps reflecting the saying: “At great heights, one cannot escape the cold.”

Wei Changyuan walked ahead of all the disciples, carrying the light sword Qinghong , a symbol of universal justice. His expression was unreadable, but beneath his sleeves, his fists clenched tightly, crushing a strand of Qianxiang Silk unique to Buye Mountain.

It had been retrieved from Zhang Xiangyang’s body as evidence.

This was the last thing he could do for Shi Luoyi. After this, he would no longer be able to look out for her.

A trial involving three halls—this would have been Shi Luoyi’s greatest fear in the past. She always dreaded being discovered for her inner demons. In her previous life, after realizing she had killed someone, she couldn’t accept it and fled Mingyou Mountain in denial.

Now, facing an investigation into her inner demons, she felt remarkably calm. Even if towering waves awaited her, she had already found the courage to confront them.

For the first time, she realized that her sixty years of exile hadn’t left her entirely empty-handed.

Before the hall lay Zhang Xiangyang’s corpse.

His face was suffused with an unusual black aura, the result of demonic energy piercing through his body. Shi Luoyi frowned as she examined him, finding his manner of death eerily familiar.

It bore a striking resemblance to the disciples she had “killed” during her third demonic episode.

Amid her astonishment, doubts began to arise. She hadn’t killed Zhang Xiangyang—since her reincarnation, her inner demons hadn’t manifested. So, could it be possible that those deaths in her past life weren’t committed by her either?

During the periods when she lost consciousness, had someone else killed those people and framed her?

“Elder, disciple Shi Luoyi has arrived,” Wei Changyuan said with a respectful bow.

The elder presiding over the Punishment Hall nodded, his voice cold: “Shi Luoyi, last night, disciple Zhang Xiangyang was killed in the rear mountain. Recently, you were the only one who had conflicts with him. To prove your innocence, are you willing to undergo testing with the Spirit Orb?”

He gestured toward the Spirit Orb before the hall.

It was an artifact used to test whether a disciple had fallen into demonic cultivation. Elders infused their spiritual energy into it, which would then enter the subject’s body through the orb. However, this method inevitably caused some harm to the subject, though it was far less invasive than soul-searching.

Outside, many disciples had gathered to witness the investigation into Zhang Xiangyang’s death, their faces filled with trepidation. The death of a single disciple wasn’t particularly rare, but in the immortal sect, being killed by a demonic cultivator or even a demon meant that evil forces were growing bolder, putting everyone at risk.

“I refuse,” Shi Luoyi said firmly. “I admit I had conflicts with Zhang Xiangyang, but the teachings of Buye Mountain forbid harming fellow disciples or mortals. I did not kill Zhang Xiangyang. Based solely on your suspicions, why should I endure the humiliation of a spirit test?”

The elder fell silent, refraining from immediately countering her statement.

Standing nearby, Jiang Qi, sent by the sect leader to investigate the source of the demonic energy, smiled faintly and spoke up in Shi Luoyi’s defense: “Junior Sister is correct. If we’re talking about suspicion, anyone who visited the rear mountain that day could be considered a suspect. It’s premature to resort to spirit testing. Elder, perhaps you could hear Junior Sister’s account of where she was last night and whether she has witnesses. If there are witnesses, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

All eyes turned to Shi Luoyi. After a moment of silence, she resolved to stand her ground.

Test me? Prove my alibi? Fine—if I refuse, will you dare force me to undergo the spirit test just to preserve your reputation of not bullying orphans? At worst, my reputation will be ruined—but it’s not like it hasn’t already taken a hit.

She remained silent. A disciple from the Punishment Hall smirked triumphantly: “It seems you have no witnesses. Then…”

A cold voice abruptly cut him off.

“She was with me last night.”