Hearing his answer, the girl was slightly stunned. Then her brows and eyes curved up as she laughed happily.
It took her a good while to stop laughing. “But I heard that the Sword Venerable seems utterly devoted to his senior sister.”
As soon as she said this, the smile on the face of the Sword Venerable himself vanished abruptly beneath the mask.
After a long pause, he responded with a grunt.
“Mm.”
He had no way to deny his feelings for his senior sister, nor could he deny his feelings for her.
He couldn’t utter words of denial.
In a place the girl couldn’t see, his lips moved slightly.
Yes, I am devoted to my senior sister.
Senior sister is you.
There were many heavenly treasures and earthly rarities here, including no small number of items that could help a reincarnated person recall memories from their previous life.
Yun Jian’s hand caressed the sword hilt. Spiritual pills and wondrous medicines might need to be sought from the Pill Assembly or Medical Poison Valley. As for other methods, Brahma Sound Temple, Spirit Void Sect, and Azure Profound Sect all seemed to have ways to trace back past lives.
Sword Venerable Yun Jian didn’t know what he was thinking, but Li Yin casually turned her face away, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from quirking up.
He would.
He was willing.
Posing as a disciple of Joyous Union Sect was indeed full of fun.
Her little junior brother had a hard mouth back in the day, but now he seemed very soft.
As she was thinking this, some disruptive demonic cultivators appeared ahead, demonic qi spilling everywhere. Before Li Yin could move, the kind-hearted senior beside her took action first.
He didn’t even need to draw his sword. With just a thought from his sword intent, he could send out an avatar to save people.
But Yun Jian’s movements paused for a moment. His palm pressed on the sword hilt, and as he drew it slightly, the sword light condensed into a silver-white little sword. Only on closer inspection could one see the golden gleam, distinguishing it from the earlier golden little sword that had collided with the girl.
The sword intent shot out swiftly, cleanly piercing through the dantians of those demonic cultivators and silently shattering their meridians from the shadows.
His strike was ruthless, but the scene didn’t look very bloody—at least not like decapitation, which would be gory. He was probably afraid of scaring the girl beside him.
The common folk, seeing the immortal master’s methods, immediately realized they were saved. They hurriedly gathered the scattered items from the ground, offered thanks, and then looked eagerly at the two immortal masters, seemingly wanting to request something.
With the Sword Venerable at their side, they wouldn’t face danger again. Even if they encountered the Demon Lord, there was no need to fear.
Li Yin wasn’t in a hurry to head back. She suggested, “Senior, why don’t we take these people to the city ahead? It’s on the way, and it’ll be safer there.”
Seeing her voice what they wanted to say, the crowd nodded repeatedly and looked eagerly at the other immortal master’s opinion.
The youth in black robes wore a mask and had a calm demeanor, not seeming easy to approach. Hearing his companion’s suggestion, he nodded, released a flying magic artifact, and simply said, “Get on.”
The crowd expressed their gratitude and boarded the Immortal Boat step by step. They saw the girl and the black-robed youth also sit at the bow, and the Immortal Boat set off straight for the distant city.
After sitting quietly for a while, the now-safe crowd finally snapped out of their daze and began to marvel at the immortal methods.
A quick-witted person glanced around and decided the girl was easier to talk to than the black-robed youth. He leaned slightly toward her, intending to say something.
Before he could speak, there was a “Shing!” The sword at the youth’s waist rang out, its chilling gleam nearly blinding. The sword hummed repeatedly as it flew out on its own.
This sudden display silenced the rising murmurs around them.
Moments later, the flying immortal sword returned, stained with some fresh red blood. The sentient sword shook itself, flinging the blood clean.
After this show of intimidation, no one dared entertain any ideas.
Li Yin looked at the once-again pristine sword and asked in confusion, “Senior, what happened?”
“There were some restless demon beasts below. It’s nothing; I’ve dealt with them,” the youth said warmly, unhurriedly sheathing the sword.
“Good.” The girl harbored no doubts. She gazed at the approaching city in the distance, then suddenly noticed that the mortals on the Immortal Boat seemed frightened—which explained the silence.
She took the initiative to reassure them. “We’re almost there. Everyone, don’t be afraid. The sword has a spirit; it won’t harm the innocent.”
She had a kind face, bolstered by max-level charm. As soon as she spoke, most people on the boat believed her and sat steadily. Moments later, some young men and women grew curious.
“We wonder, which sect do the two immortal masters hail from?”
“I often see fellow immortal masters wearing matching clothes—green, black, even white or yellow. Are the two immortal masters from the same place?”
Li Yin was still draped in the youth’s black robe. She glanced at the person beside her. Sword Venerable Yun Jian seemed uninterested in speaking.
After thinking for a moment, she replied, “We’re friends training together, but actually not from the same place. I came from the southeast to travel the world.”
Joyous Union Sect was in the southeast of the Dao Sect lands.
Friends training together.
Beside her, Yun Jian’s hand on the sword hilt twitched. He caressed it, and the sword tassel swayed lightly.
Training together with senior sister.
He had looked forward to this day for a very long time.
The only pity was that he should have been wearing matching clothes with senior sister. They were both originally disciples of Sword Sect.
Yun Jian’s thoughts shifted again as he looked at the mortals around them.
Fortunately, they were just common folk from the secular world. He wasn’t afraid of them recognizing the Sword Venerable of Hidden Sword Mountain.
Someone among them asked, “Immortal master, why are you wearing a mask?”
The girl turned to look at him. The kind-hearted senior still said nothing, so she turned back and answered truthfully, “I don’t know.”
She chuckled lightly. “Maybe to maintain the mysterious aura of an expert.”
The young men and women nodded seriously, thinking it made sense.
The kind-hearted senior didn’t speak or explain—indeed mysterious.
Soon, they arrived at the city.
The crowd disembarked. After verifying identities and confirming no demonic cultivators had slipped in, the guarding cultivators allowed them through.
The black-robed youth suddenly spoke. “Little friend, rest here for a bit and change your clothes. I have some personal matters to handle and will return shortly.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m heading north too. I can escort you to Hidden Sword Mountain. It’ll be safer traveling together.”
Li Yin nodded, accepting his offer to travel together. The youth softly arranged to meet at the city gate in moments, then set off together.
She was a bit curious about his “personal matters,” but Li Yin didn’t pry. He was the Sword Venerable of Hidden Sword Mountain; it was normal for him to have business.
Besides, though this senior was fated to meet her, there was no need to dig too deep.
They were parting ways, if only temporarily.
The girl walked off briskly to handle her own affairs, unaware that as the youth raised his hand, a golden little sword concealed its aura and quietly followed her.
After arranging this, Yun Jian turned away. He first replied to his sect’s spirit message, handling some affairs, then sought out the city lord guarding this place to help reinforce the formation.
Even though this city wasn’t within Hidden Sword Mountain’s territory, he had to live up to the name of Sword Venerable.
As for not bringing senior sister along, it was because the city guards were mostly cultivators with some cultivation and insight who could directly recognize his identity.
The city was a mixed bag of fish and dragons. Only by sending a strand of sword intent to protect senior sister could he feel at ease.
Li Yin changed into clean clothes. The black robe the sword cultivator had lent her was folded neatly and stored away.
Unable to leave for the time being, she first handled her master’s reply.
【The demonic cultivators have temporarily retreated. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.】
【Master, I’m currently very safe. No need to worry. Wait until I’m near the sect before picking me up.】
Li Yin pondered as she messaged back. She planned to travel with Sword Venerable Yun Jian while looking for a chance to supplement from him. Once near Myriad Beasts Sect, she could ask her master for help and find an excuse to slip away.
Her master replied with a single “Good.” The girl put away the messaging mirror. With nothing to do, she noticed a tea stall nearby and decided to sit and wait, conveniently gathering some information.
The tea stall was crowded with both cultivators and mortals, all chattering animatedly.
“…I saw it in the city earlier—a waterfall pouring down from the sky in the east, so high. Was it cultivators fighting and tearing a hole in the sky?”
“What tearing a hole in the sky? That was a mighty expert’s technique. Mighty cultivators have all sorts of bizarre methods; a suspended waterfall isn’t strange. Don’t overthink it.”
“What we should worry about is if it reaches us here. If it’s mighty cultivators versus mighty demonic cultivators, one city like ours isn’t enough for the demonic cultivators to slaughter.”
“Such evil. Demonic cultivators are all no good. I heard this year’s Pill Assembly was thrown into chaos by demonic cultivators too. I wonder if they’ve caught the culprits.”
Naturally, they hadn’t.
The actual culprit among the demonic cultivators pricked up her ears to listen. She thanked the waiter for the tea, then pinched a pastry to eat.
With so many people here, whether she knew them or not, they were squeezed at the same table. Her golden finger acted up too. After sitting quietly for a bit, someone came over and struck up a conversation.
“Fellow Daoist.” The female cultivator greeted her and sat down with a sigh. “I don’t know how things are outside. It’s truly worrying.”
Li Yin said, “I just entered the city and encountered demonic cultivators several times along the way.”
The female cultivator was startled and asked which direction she’d come from. After chatting a few sentences, Li Yin suddenly sensed a gaze. She turned and scanned, spotting the black-robed youth standing not far away.
He had sheathed his sword and removed his mask. His jade-like face was handsome, with a faint shadow cast by the sunlight. Noticing her looking at him, the youth curved his lips into a bright smile.
At the tea table, the girl was stunned for a moment, then hesitated. “Senior?”
She truly seemed to have no memories from her previous life. Even after he removed the mask, she showed no sign of recognition.
“It’s me.” Yun Jian stepped forward and handed over a package. “I brought some pastries.”