Inside his cave residence, Perfected Qiu He was bending over to tend his flowers and plants. Sensing someone enter, he looked up and immediately smiled. “Yun’er, Ziqing, what brings you here today?”
For cultivators, a mere dozen or so days apart was nothing. Since his disciples had come again so soon, they presumably had something to discuss.
Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing both said, “Greetings, Master.”
Qiu He straightened. Now that his disciples had arrived, he had little interest left in fussing over his plants. He beckoned them indoors and invited them to sit.
He first looked Yun Lie up and down and nodded with satisfaction. When he turned to Xu Ziqing, however, he was rather surprised. “Ziqing, you were only at early Foundation Establishment a few days ago. You’ve already broken through?”
At the mention of this, the embarrassment Xu Ziqing had only just suppressed resurfaced. He coughed lightly and said in a low voice, “This disciple merely had a fortunate accident.”
Seeing his reaction, Qiu He did not press him. Instead, he looked at his other disciple. “Yun’er, did you fail to look after your junior martial brother?”
Yun Lie nodded. “This disciple did not supervise him properly.”
Xu Ziqing hurriedly protested, “It wasn’t Senior Martial Brother’s fault. I was too careless and provoked a tree on the Peak of Discipline. Its resentment invaded me afterward, and in order to resist it… that was how I broke through.”
The two martial brothers protecting each other was a fine thing, but when Qiu He heard Xu Ziqing’s explanation, concern took precedence. “The resentment on the Buddha-Heart Tree is exceptionally strong. Yun’er should have warned you.”
Xu Ziqing’s cheeks reddened. “Senior Martial Brother told me not to wander about, and as for this…” His voice dropped. “I imagine even he never expected me to be so reckless…”
Qiu He smiled and sighed. He was not a harsh master. In his view, Yun Lie was at fault for failing to give his junior martial brother sufficiently clear guidance, while Xu Ziqing had also erred by letting down his guard. But Xu Ziqing was unharmed now and had even turned misfortune into an opportunity to reach middle Foundation Establishment. There was no need to pursue the matter further.
After a moment’s thought, he shook his head and spoke earnestly. “Every step on the path of immortal cultivation is fraught with danger. You must do more than hear those words. You must take them to heart. You will encounter far greater perils in the future. When you can face a danger head-on and find a way to survive, you must not lose the courage to advance. But when a danger is beyond your ability to withstand, you must also know when to press forward and when to retreat.”
These were their master’s hard-won experiences and a sincere warning. Both disciples listened attentively and replied, “We will follow Master’s teachings.”
Only then did that conversation come to an end.
Qiu He continued, “Yun’er, Ziqing, if you’ve come here on business, tell me what it is.”
Xu Ziqing looked at Yun Lie. He had merely accompanied his senior martial brother and had no idea what business they might have.
Yun Lie said, “I wish to take Junior Martial Brother into the Sword Cave. I came to request Master’s permission.”
Qiu He understood. “Ziqing has only just broken through to middle Foundation Establishment. Are you confident about taking him inside?”
Yun Lie replied, “We need only enter the first level.”
Qiu He considered it briefly, then smiled. “Very well. In any case, you understand Ziqing better than I do. Since he is in your care, make sure you teach him properly.”
“Yes,” Yun Lie answered.
Xu Ziqing had listened to their exchange in confusion. When they finished, he asked, “Senior Martial Brother, you want to take me to the Sword Cave? What sort of place is it?”
He searched his memory carefully. The place sounded familiar.
Qiu He answered with a smile, “Your senior martial brother once spent years in seclusion there, practicing his swordsmanship. Now that he wishes to take you, you mustn’t let his painstaking efforts go to waste.” Seeing Yun Lie show his junior martial brother such consideration truly filled their master with satisfaction.
Xu Ziqing remembered, too. When he first became Qiu He’s disciple, his master had spoken of Yun Lie’s arduous cultivation, including the twenty or thirty years he had spent in the Sword Cave. A place capable of producing someone like his senior martial brother could hardly be ordinary.
His heart filled with delight. “This disciple will certainly work hard.”
The three of them talked at length. For the most part, Xu Ziqing recounted his recent cultivation experiences while Qiu He stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly. Master and disciples were thoroughly at ease with one another.
They had arrived late to begin with, and their lively conversation lasted the entire night. At daybreak, Qiu He insisted they stay for a meal, and only afterward did he reluctantly see them off.
A long while later, Qiu He finally returned to his cave residence with his hands clasped behind his back and sighed softly.
He still could not help regretting it… Such fine talent, such respect for his master and the Dao. Yet their elemental attributes were incompatible, and he could not personally instruct the boy…
* * *
Little Slaughter Peak.
Following behind Yun Lie, Xu Ziqing asked, “Senior Martial Brother Yun, when are we going to the Sword Cave?”
Yun Lie replied, “Once we’ve made a few preparations.”
Xu Ziqing nodded in understanding. “Yes, Senior Martial Brother Yun.”
He had little to prepare himself. All his possessions were stored in the ring on his finger. But he supposed his senior martial brother might have things to bring, so he returned to his cave residence, summoned Yan Shuang and Chonghua, and gave them a few instructions before waiting to be called.
Less than eight minutes later, Yun Lie appeared outside the cave entrance. Xu Ziqing promptly emerged and went over to him.
The two set off. Xu Ziqing asked no further questions and simply followed.
Before long, Yun Lie arrived at an extremely tall cliff. Several caves of different sizes had been carved into its face, arranged in multiple tiers along a winding mountain path.
At the cliff’s summit was an enormous character: “Sword.” It seemed to contain inexhaustible sword intent, captivating all who looked upon it and filling them with awe.
Xu Ziqing raised his head. All at once, he seemed to see limitless threads of spring rain drifting toward him. For an instant, he felt he had entered an illusion, with vigorous life force washing over his face.
But within that vitality lurked killing intent. What seemed soft also concealed an edge, impossibly keen and difficult to withstand.
As Xu Ziqing stared in a daze, someone suddenly tapped his shoulder. He woke with a start and turned his head. Sure enough, it was Yun Lie.
“Senior Martial Brother Yun, just now I…” he began hesitantly.
Yun Lie said, “You’ve practiced the sword for too short a time. The sword intent overwhelmed you.”
Xu Ziqing nodded. Looking again at the character “Sword,” he still felt lingering fear. “It’s incredibly powerful!”
Had his senior martial brother not roused him in time, a strand of sword intent might have forced its way into his sea of consciousness. Even if he escaped injury, he would certainly have suffered pain.
Yun Lie nodded slightly. “Everyone who comes here seeks to refine their sword Dao. They must therefore endure tempering.”
Xu Ziqing drew a deep breath. “I understand.”
In other words, the trials awaiting them began the moment they reached Sword Cliff, even before they entered a Sword Cave.
Mentally raising his estimate of the hardships ahead, Xu Ziqing followed Yun Lie down to the foot of the cliff.
Like everyone else who came to the Sword Cave, they started at the very first step of the winding mountain path, climbing slowly, one firm step at a time.
Xu Ziqing saw many people carrying long swords on their backs. Their expressions were resolute, and each approached the earthen steps with reverence, without the slightest trace of carelessness.
Surely this was a place every sword practitioner longed to visit.
Observing their bearing, Xu Ziqing gradually felt his own mind grow clear and empty. All his emotions settled deep within, and his heart seemed washed by sword intent, becoming exceptionally tranquil and steadfast.
With every step his state of mind changed. He grew calmer and calmer, until he was completely absorbed in the peculiar sensation. He did not wake from it until he reached the final step.
Yun Lie lowered his gaze toward him. “The Heart-Cleansing Terrace.”
Though these steps appeared to be nothing more than a rough heap of dirty earth, they had actually been formed long ago beneath the feet of countless sword cultivators of the Wuling Immortal Sect. Those cultivators had been sincere of heart, following their thoughts and inclinations as they walked. Gradually, a long path of ninety-nine steps took shape.
For later disciples, the first ascent cleansed worldly dust from their hearts most effectively, making their sword hearts clear and strengthening their resolve before entering a Sword Cave. Even those who walked the path again could recover the unblemished heart they had possessed when they first learned the sword, tempering their will and refining their state of mind.
Xu Ziqing listened with wholehearted admiration.
At the end of the earthen steps stood a row of relatively small Sword Caves. Each could accommodate perhaps three to five people, and there were only seven or eight in the row.
Blue-robed cultivators stood guard before the caves.
Long swords hung on their backs as well. Each sat cross-legged at a cave entrance with a solemn expression.
Yun Lie explained, “Sword Cave guardians.”
All those who guarded the cave entrances were sword cultivators. They maintained order outside the Sword Caves, but they also used the Five Elements astral winds blowing from within to temper their bodies.
After explaining these matters, Yun Lie added, “The sect competition is approaching. Ultimate Bliss Peak won’t let this matter rest. You must refine the Four Seasons Sword Art to initial mastery before you’ll have a chance of fighting back.”
Xu Ziqing’s heart jolted. “Those four people… Have they been sentenced?”
Yun Lie nodded slightly. “Until the competition, all four will have their true essence sealed and be confined in the water prison to reflect on their actions.”
Xu Ziqing caught his breath. “Then… how long until the sect competition?”
“Five months. You must emerge from the Sword Cave by then.”
Xu Ziqing fell silent. That was not much time at all… Then he steeled himself and nodded. “I certainly won’t disappoint you, Senior Martial Brother.”
With the matter settled, neither martial brother wasted words. They walked toward one of the Sword Caves.
At the entrance, the cross-legged guardian raised his eyelids. “Which peak do you belong to?”
Yun Lie said nothing. Xu Ziqing answered, “Xu Ziqing of Little Bamboo Peak.”
The sword cultivator held two fingers together and made several strokes in a register. “Go in.”
“Thank you,” Xu Ziqing said. Then he turned. “Senior Martial Brother Yun, I’ll be going in now.”
Yun Lie nodded and turned toward a higher tier.
Given the difference in their cultivation, the two would not enter the same Sword Cave.
Xu Ziqing took a deep breath and stepped into the cave.
Come to think of it, this was the first time they had been completely separated since becoming acquainted.
And on the many trials awaiting him within the Sword Cave, this time he would have to walk the road alone…