Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. A breeze blew, causing the light spots to flicker and dazzle the eyes.

Lu Xueqi and Jiang Xiaochuan sat side by side by the pool. The water was clear, and they could see the stones and small fish at the bottom. The water gurgled and splashed, like a humming song.

Lu Xueqi's hand was still holding Jiang Xiaochuan's hand.

I've been holding it for a long time, and my palms are sweaty and sticky.

Jiang Xiaochuan tried to pull away, but Lu Xueqi was too strong, so he simply let her have her way.

"Senior Brother Jiang," Lu Xueqi suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"Hmm?" Jiang Xiaochuan turned to look at her.

"Have you decided what kind of magic weapon you want to refine?" Lu Xueqi asked, her eyes fixed on the pool, not looking at him.

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback. A magic weapon? He hadn't even considered it. He was at the third level of the Jade Purity Realm, still a little short of the fourth. Although Lu Xueqi said that with her help, he could reach it in a year at most, refining a magic weapon... was too far off.

"I haven't decided yet," he said honestly.

Lu Xueqi turned her head and looked at him.

Sunlight shone on her profile, highlighting her long eyelashes that cast soft shadows beneath her eyes. Her eyes were bright, as if stars were twinkling within them.

"Well..." she paused, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"How about we forge a sword?"

"A sword?" Jiang Xiaochuan blinked.

"Hmm." Lu Xueqi nodded, her eyes brightening even more. "The sword is the king of all weapons—light, swift, and ever-changing. Look at those masters, flying through the air on their swords, the sword light like a rainbow, so..." She paused, seemingly searching for the right words.

"How cool, how handsome, how... arrogant."

When she said the word "cool," her tone was a little strange, as if she wasn't used to using the word. But Jiang Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat when he heard it.

Indeed, in novels and movies, those masters all wield swords. Clad in flowing white robes, a sword flashes from the west, like a celestial being descending from the heavens. They are undeniably handsome, undeniably cool, and undeniably arrogant.

And… he glanced at Lu Xueqi out of the corner of his eye. The Tianya sword on Lu Xueqi's back. Its sky-blue scabbard, with its ancient patterns, gleamed faintly in the sunlight. It was beautiful, very… fitting for her.

"Look," Lu Xueqi continued when she saw that he didn't speak, her voice carrying a hint of urgency that she herself didn't realize.

"If you forge a sword, I can teach you swordsmanship later. While I wouldn't dare say my swordsmanship is invincible, it's more than enough to teach you."

She paused, looked at him earnestly, and said, "If you learn from me, you'll definitely be the second best in the world."

Jiang Xiaochuan was amused by her serious expression. "Why is it second best in the world?"

"Because," Lu Xueqi blinked, a faint smile curving her lips.

"I am the best in the world."

She said this in a very natural tone, as if she were saying that the weather was nice today.

There was no boasting, no arrogance, just a statement of fact.

But as Jiang Xiaochuan listened, the smile in his heart slowly turned into... something else.

He looked at Lu Xueqi. Lu Xueqi looked back at him, her eyes crinkling, filled with light, laughter, and something else... something he couldn't understand. Bright and warm, like the sun.

This Lu Xueqi is really different from the cold and aloof Lu Xueqi described in the book.

She would laugh, joke, hold his hand, and... say childish things like "I'm the best in the world."

But he didn't dislike it. On the contrary, he thought...it was quite nice.

"You smiled," Lu Xueqi said, her voice softening.

"Hmm." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded. "You were... kind of cute just now."

Lu Xueqi's face turned red at a visible speed. The redness spread from her cheeks all the way to the roots of her ears.

She turned her head away, staring at the pool, and remained silent. But she still held Jiang Xiaochuan's hand, gripping it even tighter.

As Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her profile and her bright red ears, something else in his heart slowly melted away, turning into something soft and warm.

Like snowmelt in spring, it seeps into the ground, nourishing something.

"How is it?" Lu Xueqi suddenly asked again, her voice a little low, with a hint of expectation.

"What, how is it?"

"Sword." Lu Xueqi turned her head and looked at him, her eyes serious.

"Should we forge a sword?"

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her for a long time. Then he nodded.

"Okay," he said, "but... I'll have to trouble you to teach me again."

Lu Xueqi's eyes lit up instantly, as if fireworks had exploded within them. She smiled, a very happy smile, her eyes curving into crescents, the corners of her lips turning up, her whole face coming to life.

"No trouble at all," she said, her voice soft but clear. "It's nothing."

She turned to look at the pool again, but her hand was still holding Jiang Xiaochuan's hand tightly, as if afraid he would run away.

Sunlight, bamboo grove, the sound of water. Two people sit side by side, hand in hand. Their shadows are cast on the ground, overlapping and inseparable.

Six months later.

Dazhu Peak, Shoujing Hall.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood below the hall, looking at Tian Buyi and Su Ru sitting at the head of the table. Tian Buyi was drinking tea, and Su Ru was embroidering. The hall was very quiet, with only the soft sound of tea lids touching the rim of cups and the delicate sound of needle and thread cutting through fabric.

"Master, Mistress," Jiang Xiaochuan said, his voice a little tense.

Tian Buyi put down his teacup and looked up at him. "Hmm?"

"Disciple... wishes to descend the mountain," Jiang Xiaochuan said, taking a deep breath, "to search for rare and precious materials to forge magical treasures."

A moment of silence fell over the room. Su Ru put down her needlework and looked at him. Tian Buyi also looked at him, his eyes narrowing.

"Is it the fourth level of Jade Purity?" Tian Buyi asked.

"Almost there," Jiang Xiaochuan said honestly, "but... almost there. Junior Sister Lu said that I'll be able to break through in at most another month."

Tian Buyi and Su Ru exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. They knew about Jiang Xiaochuan's talent.

Reaching the third floor was already a testament to Lu Xueqi's excellent teaching. I never imagined we'd be on the fourth floor so soon.

"That girl Lu Xueqi..." Tian Buyi murmured, tapping his fingers on the table, "She's really putting in the effort."

Su Ru smiled, her gaze softening considerably as she looked at Jiang Xiaochuan: "Xiao Qi has become quite promising. Now that you're almost at the fourth level, it's only right that you go down the mountain to gather materials."

Tian Buyi nodded: "According to the old rules of Qingyun, disciples at the fourth level of Yuqing need to go down the mountain to find spiritual materials and refine their natal magic treasures in order to solidify their foundation and clarify their Dao heart." He paused and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan.

"Now that you've made up your mind, find a day to prepare to descend the mountain."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt relieved and quickly said, "This disciple... will descend the mountain tomorrow."

"So fast?" Su Ru was taken aback.

"Yes." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded.

"The necessary items have been prepared by your disciple."

Tian Buyi looked at him for a while, then waved his hand: "Alright. Be careful after you go down the mountain. Finding materials depends on chance, not on forcing it. If you encounter danger, prioritize survival, then magical treasures. Got it?"

"I understand." Jiang Xiaochuan bowed. "Thank you, Master and Mistress."

"Go ahead." Tian Buyi picked up his teacup and continued drinking tea.

Jiang Xiaochuan left Shoujing Hall and walked into the courtyard. The sunlight was lovely, warming him. He took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement, nervousness, and...anticipation.

Forging a sword. A sword that belongs to you alone. Flying through the skies on your sword, wielding it as a chivalrous hero. Just thinking about it... is so cool.

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard a rustling sound from the corner of the wall. He turned his head and saw Tian Ling'er peeking out from the corner, her eyes shining as she looked at him.

"Senior sister?" Jiang Xiaochuan walked over.

Tian Ling'er emerged from the corner, carrying a small, bulging bundle. She looked at him, bit her lip, and then said, "I'll go with you."

"Huh?" Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned.

"I'll go down the mountain with you," Tian Ling'er repeated, her tone firm. "I'm worried about leaving you alone."

"But..." Jiang Xiaochuan scratched his head. "Master and Mistress didn't say you were going."

"I don't care." Tian Ling'er tossed her bundle behind her back. "I'm going. If you don't take me, I'll... I'll tell Mom and Dad that you peeked at me while I was bathing!"

Jiang Xiaochuan: "...When did I peek at you taking a shower?!"

"I don't care!" Tian Ling'er glared at him. "I'm going anyway. You figure it out."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her, at her stubborn face, at her bright eyes, at her fingers tightly gripping the bundle. He sighed.

"Alright," he said. "But don't blame me if Master and Mistress find out."

"No, it won't happen." Tian Ling'er smiled, a very happy smile.

"I'll do it secretly, so they won't know."

She paused, leaned closer, and lowered her voice: "I've even prepared dry rations. Enough to last us for half a month."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her, feeling a warmth in his heart, but also a touch of helplessness. He nodded and said nothing more.

Tian Ling'er was even happier to see him agree. She turned around and skipped away, saying as she ran, "See you at the mountain gate tomorrow morning! Don't be late!"

Jiang Xiaochuan watched her retreating figure, shook his head, and smiled.

Xiaozhu Peak, quiet room.

Lu Xueqi stood before Master Shuiyue, her back ramrod straight. Her Tianya amulet adorned her back, and her moon-white Daoist robe was spotless. She looked at Shuiyue, her voice calm.

"Master, your disciple will descend the mountain tomorrow."

Shuiyue was meditating when she heard this, so she opened her eyes and glanced at her.

"What brings you down the mountain?"

"Find materials and forge the sword," Lu Xueqi said.

"By the way... I'll give Senior Brother Jiang some pointers on his cultivation."

Shuiyue stared at her for a long time. She had witnessed Lu Xueqi's changes over the past six months.

His cultivation progressed rapidly, and his swordsmanship became increasingly fierce, but... his mind also became increasingly... Especially towards that kid from Dazhu Peak, he became excessively concerned.

But she didn't say anything. Lu Xueqi is a genius, the future leader of Xiaozhu Peak, and even the future pillar of Qingyun.

She has her own path to walk and her own choices to make. As her mentor, all she can do is watch over her and protect her.

"Go ahead," Shuiyue waved her hand. "Be careful."

"Yes." Lu Xueqi bowed and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Shuiyue suddenly called out to her.

Lu Xueqi stopped and turned around.

Shuiyue looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "You... are getting too close to Jiang Xiaochuan."

Lu Xueqi didn't speak, she just looked at her.

"I know you're good to him, and he's good to you too," Shuiyue sighed. "But you must remember, you are a disciple of Xiaozhu Peak, and the future head disciple. There are some things, some boundaries, that you must be clear about."

Lu Xueqi remained silent. But her eyes were calm and resolute, as if to say: I know, but I won't change.

Looking into her eyes, Shuiyue suddenly felt very tired. She waved her hand.

"Fine. Go."

Lu Xueqi bowed again and left the meditation room. As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned back.

"Master," she said softly.

"Um?"

"Last time I went to Tongtian Peak, I happened to pass by the Ancestral Temple," Lu Xueqi said calmly, as if she were talking about something insignificant.

"I saw an old man with one arm sweeping the floor in the ancestral hall. His figure... looked somewhat familiar."

Shuiyue's body stiffened abruptly. She looked up and stared intently at Lu Xueqi.

"What did you say?"

"I said," Lu Xueqi looked at her, her eyes calm.

"That old man's build is somewhat similar to what the senior sisters have mentioned... Uncle Wan."

Shuiyue's face turned pale instantly. She stood up abruptly, knocking over her chair with a thud. She stared at Lu Xueqi, her lips trembling.

"Are you...are you serious?"

"I'm not sure," Lu Xueqi shook her head.

"I just think it looks similar. After all... I've never actually seen Uncle Wan's face."

Shuiyue fell silent. She stood there, her body trembling, her hands trembling, even her breathing trembling.

She stared at Lu Xueqi for a long time, then suddenly turned around and rushed towards the door.

"Master?" Lu Xueqi called out to her.

Shuiyue didn't turn around or respond. She rushed out the door, mounted her sword, and transformed into a streak of white light, speeding towards Tongtian Peak. Her speed was astonishing, as if she were chasing something, or perhaps fleeing from something.

Lu Xueqi stood at the door, watching the white light disappear into the horizon.

She stood there for a long time, then turned around, walked down Xiaozhu Peak, and headed towards Dazhu Peak.

The wind ruffled her clothes and stirred her hair. She walked steadily and slowly, as if taking a stroll. But her eyes were bright and determined, as if she had already seen tomorrow, seen the future.

Tomorrow, she will go down the mountain with him.

As for her master and Uncle Wan's affairs... that's their business. She has no say in it, nor does she want to.

She only wanted to manage her own affairs. Manage her sword, manage her path, manage... her people.