The light flickered. Taixu Sect members rushed in from around the corner, but the teleportation formation’s light gave one last flash and vanished.
“Junior Sister Xie?”
Leading them was Zhang Yan from the Law Enforcement Team. He frowned at her disheveled state, and his gaze darkened.
“What are you doing here?”
Xie Bing tightened her grip on her Frost Spirit Sword and declared with righteous conviction: “Senior Brother, I also wanted to contribute to the sect, to capture the Devil Venerable!”
Zhang Yan let out a scoff.
Xie Bing? An Object Cultivator. Holding a sword didn’t make her a Sword Cultivator.
Claiming to serve the sect? She just wanted to gain favor in front of her Shifu, Gu Monian.
What use was it?
She wasn’t like Xuan Yao—a Five Spirit Rooted Sword Cultivator.
“Forget it. Just don’t get in the way.” Zhang Yan and his group clearly didn’t take Xie Bing seriously.
Xie Bing let out a breath of relief, watching them continue their search into the distance.
…
The meticulously fortified Emerald Valley Market had drawn in the newly ascended Devil Venerable. A pity they hadn’t managed to keep him there.
According to Gu Monian’s plan, even if they couldn’t capture Nangong Wumei, injuring him severely should have been guaranteed. Now, the entire cultivation world was in an uproar over this debacle. They had achieved nothing, and on top of that, lost two top-tier magical artifacts at the auction.
Gu Monian’s face was black as he dealt with the aftermath in a frenzy.
Amidst the chaos roiling the entire Taixu Sect, Xie Bing returned to her room.
The Taixu Sect had nine peaks, each with different functions. Xie Bing had initially lived with several other martial brothers, but later, due to the inconvenience of mixed-gender living, moved alone to a separate, shorter peak—Stone Forest Peak.
Outside her window was a rushing river. When she couldn’t sleep in the past, she would often sit by the bank and watch its surging waters.
For years she’d drifted around like a wraith, and hadn’t been back to her room in ages. Stone Forest Peak was a remote sub-peak, usually devoid of visitors. Beyond it lay overlapping ridges, lush and verdant. Nestled among the mountain forests was a simple, classic courtyard.
As soon as she stepped into her courtyard, a system prompt sounded in her ear:
[Host’s territory, Stone Forest Peak Courtyard, identified. Territory marking available. Within marked territory, spiritual energy cultivation bonus +20%]
Xie Bing: ???
She hadn’t expected this function.
A virtual map appeared before her eyes, a very simplified map showing the places she frequented lately. Here at Stone Forest Peak, it was marked as “Territory 1.” On the left was a grid, with only two squares unlocked.
What was this?
Perhaps she could try marking another territory.
Xie Bing’s courtyard was extremely simple, containing only the barest necessities. She hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment before, so she rarely left. Her life was frugal. She planted some vegetables in the courtyard and the surrounding area, and some fruit trees outside, enough for her daily needs.
After sweeping and tidying the courtyard, Xie Bing decided to go mark the Scripture Library as another frequently used territory. She’d been spending so much time there lately; an additional cultivation speed bonus would be even better.
With this thought, she abandoned the idea of going to Taixu Peak to pay respects to her Shifu.
By custom, even if Xie Bing was immersed in cultivation, she was supposed to pay respects to her Shifu once a week. She thought it over. Not going wouldn’t make Gu Monian do anything to her. So she skipped it.
She went straight to the Scripture Library and marked it as a frequently used territory.
[System: Two frequently used territories marked. Within territory boundaries: Spiritual energy cultivation bonus +20%, planting bonus +30%, recovery effect bonus +50%. Unlimited teleportation between frequently used territories. Restriction: Usable once every three days.]
Xie Bing: !!!
Excellent. This was a great effect. She immediately experimented with planting spirit herbs and indeed found the results better than before.
What Xie Bing found most useful was the unlimited teleportation!
When rescuing Nangong Wumei, she had already discovered that rewards from the Immortal Cultivation Training System often transcended standard arts. This thing was pure treasure.
Busy all day, Xie Bing planted quite a few spirit plants around Stone Forest Peak. In this flurry of activity, the entire day passed.
When night fell deep and all was quiet, Xie Bing prepared to stealthily infiltrate Little Rest Pavilion.
Drawing on years of experience in midnight wandering, Xie Bing expertly evaded the Taixu Sect patrols and landed lightly on the large tree outside the courtyard gate of Little Rest Pavilion.
She wore a green robe, crouching on the tree branch. Before her, Little Rest Pavilion was pitch black, without a single lamp lit.
Excellent. Utter silence and total darkness, perfect for illicit activities.
Xie Bing dropped nimbly to the ground. A faint light flickered in her hand—the expensive Formation-Breaking Treasure she’d bought, “Cloud-Piercing Treasure Fire,” said to silently and imperceptibly break any defensive formation.
She lit it delicately. A tiny flame burned steadily. Soon, the empty air before her rippled slightly, revealing a disturbance.
Xie Bing drew a sharp breath. It truly could break formations!
The ripples grew clearer, larger, quickly burning out a hole just big enough for one person to pass through.
Xie Bing slipped right in.
Once inside, she put away the Cloud-Piercing Treasure Fire. The ripples shimmered faintly, slowly closed, and finally faded away completely, as if nothing had ever happened.
Inside Little Rest Pavilion, the decor suited Eldest Senior Brother’s taste—exceedingly luxurious.
As the Head Disciple, Yin Juanzhi’s resources were at the absolute top tier of the Taixu Sect. He could use whatever he wanted.
Carved railings and jade inlays, classic fragrances, lanterns under the eaves crafted from specific magical artifacts, casting a gentle yet bright glow. The hazy light mingled with the moonlight, weaving through the dancing tree shadows.
With a soft creak, Xie Bing gently pushed open the side hall door.
She had already searched several rooms and hadn’t seen a single bookshelf. She had no idea where Eldest Senior Brother kept his books.
Finally, she found the study. In a corner stood several bookshelves. Xie Bing held her breath, focusing, and searched as quickly as she could.
Book by book, she flipped through them. Most were common books of the cultivation world, unrelated to the kind of “Demeanor” she was looking for.
Finishing the entire shelf, she carefully put the books back in their original places and hesitated.
The system’s keywords wouldn’t be wrong. A book related to “Demeanor” had to be in Little Rest Pavilion. But she’d searched every normal room and found nothing.
She must be overlooking something.
Carefully exiting the room, Xie Bing stood in a corner of the courtyard, watching the moonlight pour down. Faintly, she heard the sound of running water.
…Water?
She looked toward the back of the residence in a daze. She’d checked the layout earlier. Behind Little Rest Pavilion was a hot spring, which Yin Juanzhi had converted into a bathing chamber. Perhaps it was there?
Who would normally keep books in a bathhouse? But then, recalling that this person was a madman beyond ordinary understanding, it didn’t seem so strange.
A breeze blew past, and Xie Bing had already vanished from the spot.
…
The hot spring water flowed gently, sending up warm, hazy steam. Xie Bing leaped over the water and stood in a corner of the Hot Spring Chamber.
This was like the hot spring chambers found in the courtyards of wealthy cultivators. Depending on the cultivator’s means, the decor varied. Yin Juanzhi’s hot spring chamber was clearly top-tier.
The chamber was filled with all sorts of things. Xie Bing’s eyes lit up—she spotted a low bookshelf.
Her gut told her what she was looking for was here.
She crouched down and began flipping through the books one by one.
Forbidden Scripture of the Scorching Sun Celestial Realm, Forbidden Art of the Purgatory Dragon Palace, Forbidden Decree of Holy Light and Celestial Sorrow…
Forbidden, forbidden, forbidden.
Xie Bing was dumbstruck. Why were there so many forbidden books?!
As expected of the Devil Venerable who changes identities and infiltrates deep behind enemy lines, his book collection was truly unique!
Her fingers stopped. They touched another book.
At the same moment, the system announced:
[Key book found: Conversations on the Demeanor of the Wei-Jin Elite. Comprehend the “Wei-Jin Demeanor,” appreciate the profound heart, deep insight, unrestrained freedom, and forthright sincerity of personality beauty. Obtain the Spiritual Sense Refinement of “Demeanor.”]
Xie Bing: !!!
This “Demeanor” was not that “Demeanor.”
Xie Bing finally understood what “Demeanor” truly meant.
The Wei-Jin Demeanor, exemplified by the famous scholars of that era, was renowned throughout the literary history of Huaxia. They often engaged in bizarre behaviors.
Take the “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove,” for instance.
Among them was a man named Liu Ling. When drunk, he would strip off his clothes and run around naked—a scholar publicly exposing himself! What shocking news!
When someone mocked him, the naked Liu Ling proudly declared: “I take heaven and earth as my house, and this room as my clothes. What are you doing, entering my pants?”
Xie Bing: ???
In everyone’s eyes, she was already a paragon of idiocy. If she refined her spiritual sense according to the Wei-Jin Demeanor…
wouldn’t she become a top-tier, ultimate idiot?
However, opening to the very first page—the only page where words were revealed—Xie Bing suddenly understood:
All those bizarre acts weren’t idiocy. They were because what the Wei-Jin scholars pursued was a highly charismatic and influential aesthetic of personality. Its formative conditions were profound heart, deep insight, exquisite appreciation, and deep feeling. Its essence was the pursuit of an artistic, forthright, unrestrained, and self-appreciative life.[^1]
They were unconventional because they held firm principles. Dissatisfied with a life of constraints, they declared, “What have the rites of Confucius and Mencius to do with me?” They revered nature and opposed restrictive rites.
The so-called “Demeanor” was openness, liveliness, loveliness, unbridled freedom, and embracing one’s true self.
In that instant, Xie Bing felt sudden clarity.
What she had been seeking all along was nothing more than adhering to her original heart, maintaining her true self.
What she sought was to be unrestrained and at ease.
What she sought was a clear conscience.
This Dao… aligned perfectly with her own Dao.
Her Spiritual Sea of Consciousness quaked. Within her divine consciousness, a light shimmered from transparent to silver. She understood—her spiritual sense was being refined.
The assessment was in just two days. She needed to seize the time to raise her proficiency!
A faint understanding flickered in her heart. Suddenly, her now much-strengthened divine consciousness jolted.
Something was wrong. There was a sound!
She had been so absorbed that she hadn’t sensed someone approaching.
Damn! Too late to escape!
…
Xie Bing hid inside the pool.
Crouching in a corner of the hot spring pool, after Foundation Establishment, she could stay underwater for a long time.
After a moment, a slow, drawling voice came from above the water’s surface.
Eldest Senior Brother: “Sneaking into my hot spring in the middle of the night. Xie Bing… are you quite finished with your games?”
Water splashed loudly.
Xie Bing broke the surface, her hair plastered wetly against her face.
She seemed to want to look up at Yin Juanzhi, but wore an expression of utter terror, just lowering her head and saying nothing.
White boots stepped to the edge of the pool. Xie Bing kept her eyes downcast, seeing only the cloud patterns on them, representing the Taixu Peak of the Taixu Sect.
Silence.
After a long pause, a smile utterly devoid of warmth.
“Junior Sister… could you explain why you broke into my Little Rest Pavilion at night and hid in my bath pool? Hmm?”
The final, trailing syllable was hoarse and captivating.
Xie Bing seemed to finally summon her courage, lifting her head to look at Yin Juanzhi.
As her vision cleared, she could finally see him clearly:
Yin Juanzhi wore a white robe of the Taixu Sect, faint cloud patterns shimmering. Despite the righteous aura, Xie Bing’s heart jolted in alarm.
Those deep-colored eyes were completely unreadable.
Xie Bing nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Barging into a martial brother’s dwelling wasn’t, strictly speaking, a major offense. She’d broken into others’ places before. But this man was overly cautious, a cold-blooded killer. How did she keep running into this devil incarnate?
Unexpectedly, while the entire Taixu Sect was scouring to capture him, Yin Juanzhi had done the exact opposite and returned to the Taixu Sect.
“You know, there’s a term called ‘sasaeng fan.’ It means treating someone as your idol and then relentlessly intruding into every aspect of their life.”
Yin Juanzhi’s expression cracked. An unbelievable look came over his face as he stared at Xie Bing, seemingly realizing what she was about to say.
Shutting her eyes tightly, Xie Bing threw all caution to the wind: “That’s right, Eldest Senior Brother, I am your sasaeng fan! I want to bathe in the bath you’ve bathed in, sleep in the bed you’ve slept in!”
“Zheng—” A spirit sword left its sheath.
Xie Bing only saw a flash of biting sword light!
The sharp blade came to rest across her fragile throat.
Yin Juanzhi’s peach blossom eyes were filled with cold laughter. “Xie Bing, don’t try to deceive me. The one you love most… is and always has been Shifu. How could it be anyone else?”
Xie Bing recalled her passionate declarations—professing her overwhelming love for Shifu in front of him, and then confessing her love for the Devil Venerable’s face in front of the Devil Venerable. Tears of self-inflicted humiliation fell.
But what could she do?
No matter how hard life gets, you have to keep living.
Eyes brimming with tears, Xie Bing struggled to make her expression fierce: “I admit it, I do love Shifu the most. But I have countless biases!”
“Ever since I arrived in the cultivation world, every single one is a talent, they speak so nicely, and they’re all so handsome. I just love hanging around them. Cultivation? Impossible to cultivate. Only by living as a Face Connoisseur can I maintain my way of life…”
With a sob, she declared with heartfelt emotion: “I heard the Devil Realm’s Devil Venerable is very handsome, so I thought marrying the Devil Venerable would be nice. And then tonight, I suddenly thought of you, Eldest Senior Brother, and immediately climbed over the wall.”
Xie Bing hung her head in profound grief:
“Actually, what I like more… is your face, Eldest Senior Brother.”
Eldest Senior Brother Yin Juanzhi’s hand—the hand of a renowned Sword Cultivator, a hand meant for wielding a sword…
Trembled.
And trembled again.
Xie Bing: “!!”
After a long pause, Yin Juanzhi let out a cold laugh: “Shallow.”
“Shallow it is! Who isn’t a Face Connoisseur?”
Xie Bing had gone all out. Even the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove ran around naked. And the entire Taixu Sect already knew she was shameless about looks. What did she have to fear?
“Actually, I only have one thought—”
Before Xie Bing could finish, disgust clouded Yin Juanzhi’s handsome features.
This time, Eldest Senior Brother understood perfectly without being told.
This time, Eldest Senior Brother had learned to preempt her.
He said, slowly,
“You are simply coveting my body.”
Xie Bing: …
[^1]: This passage is a direct reference to historical/cultural concepts of the Wei-Jin period’s elite and their aesthetic philosophy.