Dreams Come in Twos, Chapter 7
The long street in town was usually quiet, but after just one night, it was crowded to overflowing with the stewards of Yujing Sect, who had set up tents to recruit disciples. People marveled at how approachable the sect had become this year, but it brought them no harm, so the entire street, beneath all the various tents, was packed with cultivators who had passed the trials set by Yujing Sect.
According to the sect’s earlier announcement, anyone who passed these trials would be eligible for the inner sect assessment.
In the bustling flow of people, a young girl walked by, causing those around her to pause their noisy chatter and quietly steal glances at her. She wore white robes, her beauty clear and pure—like spring poured into a tranquil pool, as if an ancient mirror reflected the spirit. Yet this was not the only reason she drew every eye; it was because—
Her eyes were covered by a long, snow-white ribbon.
She walked in this manner, passing before the crowd, until she stopped before a tent where a steward stood, dumbfounded. She handed over her jade token, which recorded her completed trials. The steward finally regained his senses and looked down to note her name—
“Nanyuan.”
He sent his spiritual sense into the token and immediately drew a deep breath: the ten spirit beasts in the northern maze had always proven difficult for disciples in past selections, but this year, they all lay in deep sleep...
How had she managed it?
Perhaps the steward’s silence lasted too long, for the blindfolded girl named Nanyuan spoke, “Is there a problem?”
Her voice was like frost and mist, ethereal and cold.
The steward faltered before responding, “No problem—miss, is it your eyesight?”
Nanyuan replied, “I am practicing a technique.”
The steward nodded inwardly: the rogue cultivators this year were truly extraordinary. Yesterday, someone was rumored to have killed Suanyu; today, here was a girl who managed to pass the trials without using her eyes.
He handed the token back to her. “Your trials are all in order. However, we cannot directly register you for the inner sect. The rules have changed this year—Yujing Sect’s competition now includes disciples from the other three major sects as well. Their chiefs or head disciples may arrive within these days. Please bear this in mind.”
He assumed the girl, having come to seek Yujing Sect, would express admiration for them, and dismiss the other sects. All the disciples he’d seen that morning had done just that.
But Nanyuan said simply, “I’ll consider it.”
The steward was at a loss: you came to the foot of Yujing Sect’s mountain to register—don’t you prefer us? Could you possibly like all the great sects at once?
He felt disappointed and was about to probe her intentions when, suddenly, an explosion sounded from the tent next door—
Someone had started a fight.
The steward was startled. “Is it Senior Sister Hua?”
Nanyuan stood like a slender reed, her ribbon and snow-white robes fluttering. She paid no mind to others’ affairs. But the steward said, “That little girl seems to have killed Wuzhi Hui.”
Nanyuan paused, turned her face, and joined the steward in “looking” toward the commotion.
—
The disturbance on the street was happening where Ti Ying stood.
At the time, Ti Ying was tugging Jiang Xuehe along, gleefully presenting her jade token for inspection.
Under this tent stood two stewards. One examined the token, while the other chattered on about the changes in this year’s recruitment rules: the other sects’ stewards would arrive, and disciples would choose which to join.
Ti Ying was focused: “I only like Yujing Sect!”
Her eyes shone with anticipation as she watched the steward examine her token. She was determined to enter Yujing Sect—whatever other sects arrived was of no concern. What mattered was the steward, who surely would see she—and her senior brother—had killed Suanyu!
She was the most formidable disciple this year.
...Except for her annoying senior brother.
As expected, the steward examining the jade token showed surprise. “So you’re the one who killed Suanyu?”
Hua Shi passed by. “Suanyu?”
The steward looked up, saw the eldest daughter of the Hua family, and hesitated. He didn't let Hua Shi see the token directly, but explained a few words, pointing to Ti Ying.
The surrounding cultivators, who knew how formidable Wuzhi Hui was, were astonished and turned to look at Ti Ying—
“Someone killed Wuzhi Hui? The one who can command the foul ghosts?”
“Foul ghosts are troublesome—there’s an infestation every year, and only the ‘Temple of the Witch God’ can defend against them. But even the temple can’t eradicate them or control Wuzhi Hui, and this little girl killed him?”
Ti Ying was exceedingly proud.
She patted her chest and bragged, “Yes, I’m just that amazing... and my senior brother too.”
She really didn’t want to include him, but he did deserve some credit.
—
So she boasted mostly about herself, only briefly mentioning her senior brother... With this secret thought, Ti Ying glanced back at Jiang Xuehe.
Her hooded senior brother was indeed a silent beauty; no matter how much she bragged, he behaved like a dignified lady, never exposing her exaggerations.
Hua Shi frowned, suspicious, and approached.
She saw the hooded youth.
She stiffened, recalling the person she’d encountered that night in the Five Venoms Forest.
Hua Shi stepped before the triumphant Ti Ying and emphasized, “You killed Suanyu?”
But her gaze was on Jiang Xuehe.
Compared to a girl who seemed to be making mischief, she believed the youth was more capable. If he disliked the girl taking credit, he would surely correct her.
Jiang Xuehe shifted.
He adjusted the corner of his wind hood blown open by the breeze, and continued to watch Ti Ying’s antics.
Hua Shi: “...”
Ti Ying was shameless: “It was me!”
—Though Suanyu was disheartened and stretched out his neck for her to kill, she had indeed killed him.
Hua Shi still doubted.
Perhaps she simply disliked Ti Ying’s spoiled, careless manner.
As Hua Shi and Ti Ying argued, a figure squeezed through the crowd, quietly tugged at Jiang Xuehe’s wind hood.
A hesitant voice: “Immortal Jiang... may I trouble you for a moment?”
Jiang Xuehe’s attention shifted, and he saw a youth who had squeezed into the crowd and hidden behind him—Chen Da.
Chen Da glanced fearfully at Hua Shi, who was quarreling with Ti Ying.
Hua Shi didn’t know that so close to her, a “former acquaintance” was watching her with fearful and resentful eyes.
Like a snake.
Hua Shi looked around sharply, and Chen Da quickly lowered his head.
Jiang Xuehe was calm. “What is it?”
He managed both conversations at once, speaking to Chen Da while keeping an eye on Ti Ying.
Chen Da always felt that, though the tone was gentle, it seemed slightly perfunctory.
Chen Da spoke humbly, “Immortal Jiang, I’ve thought it over for a long time. I want to follow you and Ti Ying, to seek immortality and the Way together... I think I might have a bit of spiritual root. What do you think?”
Because he’d known Suanyu since childhood and impersonated him for several years, only recently returning to his own identity, Chen Da felt some changes within himself.
He suspected these were what cultivators called spiritual roots.
Could he cultivate as well?
Jiang Xuehe was surprised.
His gaze, hidden beneath the wind hood, finally fell on Chen Da.
Chen Da thought Jiang Xuehe was surely kinder than Ti Ying. In fact, he was; as Chen Da hesitated about his spiritual root, a gentle green light, like an invisible tendril, reached toward Chen Da.
Jiang Xuehe said calmly, “Let me check.”
Since Chen Da couldn’t open his sea of consciousness, it would take patience to find his spiritual root. But Jiang Xuehe never lacked patience.
On one side, the crowd surged noisily; on the other, Jiang Xuehe quietly examined Chen Da’s body.
He found a vague glow within—it was indeed a spiritual root...
Jiang Xuehe pondered: Did Suanyu help Chen Da develop a spiritual root?
Hua Shi was sharp, “You’re so young—how could you possibly have killed Suanyu? I don’t believe it!”
Ti Ying, swept up by her own boasting, declared proudly, “I’m a genius!”
Jiang Xuehe, watching under his wind hood, raised his eyes to her. His gaze was as icy as snow, suddenly tinged with light.
Hua Shi was flustered, and the steward was awkward. “Miss, the jade token already records it...”
He hurriedly returned the token to Ti Ying, hoping she’d leave quickly and not provoke Hua Shi.
Ti Ying, face upturned, was indeed beautiful—and indeed infuriating. “You question me for no reason; I’ll take it as jealousy.”
Such provocation...
Jiang Xuehe frowned.
Behind him, Hua Shi’s eyes flashed with sharp sword intent; the stewards hastily called, “Miss!”
—
A cold sword, wrapped in the power of several talismans, flew from Hua Shi’s sea of consciousness and slashed toward Ti Ying.
Ti Ying stumbled back two steps.
But she was prepared; her body twisted clumsily, dodging the attack.
She spat a suitable mouthful of blood, then tossed the talismans in her arms. They stacked midair, circling her, forming a “golden bell shield” that blocked the sword intent.
Ti Ying’s face was pale, and she stomped her foot. “Strange senior sister, you attacked me?”
Hua Shi’s retort was sharp: “I did!”
The two began to argue like children, drawing murmurs from the crowd.
Hua Shi brandished her sword. “Let me test you!”
Ti Ying whimpered, feigning weakness. “Senior sister, you don’t believe I killed Suanyu—just assume I couldn’t. If you attack me in the street, I have to fight back. Forgive me, senior sister.”
Her last words were tinged with barely contained glee.
This made Jiang Xuehe, who’d meant to step forward to protect his junior sister, pause.
Hua Shi channeled sword energy, striking at Ti Ying.
Ti Ying spun, hurriedly arranging her formation to counter this unfamiliar senior sister.
Ti Ying was thrilled: A slap in the face! This was the legendary slap in the face!
The storybooks did not lie!
Little Ying’s path to immortality begins with slapping faces!
—
Jiang Xuehe withdrew his spiritual sense from Chen Da. “Yes, it’s a spiritual root.”
Chen Da was mixed with emotions: Did you really see it? I feel like you’re just busy worrying about your junior sister...
He turned to see Ti Ying being chased and battered by Hua Shi, jaw dropping in shock. “She’s really courting death...”
Jiang Xuehe glanced at him—through the wind hood, the look was gentle as spring wind over water, but it seemed to silence Chen Da.
After a moment, Chen Da asked cautiously, “Immortal, aren’t you going to help her?”
Jiang Xuehe lowered his eyes, gaze falling on the corner of his sleeve where the girl’s ribbon peeked out.
He was puzzled: Why did Ti Ying provoke Hua Shi? She was mischievous, but never a troublemaker. What was her purpose? Why not tell him, or seek his help?
Did she dislike having him as a halfway senior brother?
This made Jiang Xuehe fall silent, his aura growing a little colder.
Lost in thought, he heard Chen Da worry, “If she loses and cries in disgrace...”
After all, Hua Shi had outwitted Suanyu, and Ti Ying was spoiled and headstrong.
Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
Jiang Xuehe said, “She won’t.”
Chen Da was puzzled, but Jiang Xuehe offered no explanation.
—
High above, Shen Xingchuan and Shen Yushu stood together, watching the young people’s contest below.
Shen Yushu spoke gently, “Brother, the youths this year are all interesting. The eldest Miss Hua’s sword intent is sharp yet without edge. Do you wish to take her as a disciple?”
Shen Xingchuan opened his eyes.
His gaze swept over Hua Shi, Ti Ying, Nanyuan, and finally settled on Jiang Xuehe.
That icy, aloof cultivator now showed a trace of confusion.
But he said nothing.
Shen Yushu, after a long while, hesitated, “The little girl fighting Hua Shi... has many unorthodox tricks, yet none formidable. Brother, do you believe she truly killed Suanyu?”
Shen Xingchuan calmly closed his eyes. “Geniuses exist—but not among those below.”
Shen Yushu paused, reminded of something.
He was surprised. “Brother, are you still thinking of that genius youth who slaughtered all in the valley and fled—the one from the Path of Severance, Ye Sha?”