Chapter 43:Return to the peak
The wind roared past as three streaks of light sliced through the clouds, Canglan Sword Sect’s peaks looming on the horizon. Cheng Mo, clad in her simple yet elegant law robe, gripped her flying sword, her Golden Core aura no longer suppressed but carefully restrained, a quiet storm beneath her calm exterior. Lin Xiaoxi clung to her sleeve, her refining qi fifth layer aura buzzing with excitement and nerves, her eyes wide at the vast mountains below. Elder Yuheng flew ahead, his azure robes fluttering, his occasional glance back at Cheng Mo laced with amusement and expectation. Two years of hiding, and now I’m walking back into the lion’s den. Her heart thudded, Qing Wan’s cold “Disciple takes her leave” echoing in her mind.
What will I find? Has Qing Wan become the “Ice Fiend” Yuheng described? The thought of her disciple’s transformation—hardened, solitary, wounded—stabbed deeper than any blade. And Wan Qing… her pursuit never stopped. Cheng Mo’s fingers tightened on her sword. Then there’s Liu Qingxu, scheming to tear down Jinghong Peak. The novel’s tragic ending loomed, but she wasn’t the same panicked transmigrator who fled. I’ve changed. I’ll face them—whatever it takes.
At Jinghong Peak, Qing Wan stood in her courtyard, her sword slicing through the air, each strike of her Silent Annihilation Sword Intent sharper than the last, teetering on the cusp of Foundation Building Late Stage. Her aura was a frozen tempest, her face pale but resolute. I’m strong enough now. The council’s warnings, Liu Qingxu’s sabotage, and the sect’s whispers had forged her into a blade, but the cracks in her dao heart pulsed with Shu Yue’s absence. You left me. But I’ll prove I don’t need you. The jade pendant and Ten Thousand Year Stalactite Milk sat untouched in a corner, their presence a silent taunt.
Chu Yi knocked on her courtyard gate, his voice heavy. “Sunny Sister, the council’s called another meeting. Liu Qingxu’s pushing for a peak audit—says Master abandoned us.” Qing Wan’s sword paused, her eyes flashing. “Let them audit. I’ll show them Jinghong Peak’s strength.” She stepped out, her aura chilling the air, but Chu Yi caught her sleeve. “There’s news—Elder Yuheng’s returning with… someone.” Qing Wan froze, her heart lurching. Her?
In a secluded grove, Liu Qingxu met her cloaked contact, her smile venomous. “Yuheng’s back, and rumors say he’s found Luyue. Perfect. Her return will expose her failures.” She handed over a jade slip, its contents laced with falsified records of Shu Yue’s negligence. “Ensure the council sees this. Qing Wan’s instability will seal their downfall.” Her contact nodded, vanishing into the shadows. Liu Qingxu’s eyes gleamed. Jinghong Peak is mine.
Wan Qing, having tracked Shu Yue to White Stone Town only to find her gone, redirected her path to Canglan. Her zither hummed softly in its case, her lotus-pink robes blending with the mist. Yuheng’s involvement complicated her plans, but her resolve was unshaken. Elder Luyue, you can’t escape me now. Her heart thrummed with anticipation—not just to confront Shu Yue, but to unravel the bond that drove her to flee. Qing Wan’s grown stronger, but I’ll deal with her if she interferes.
As the trio neared Canglan’s grand array, Yuheng slowed, his voice carrying over the wind. “Shu Yue, the sect’s changed since you left. Qing Wan’s a force, but she’s walking a dangerous path. Your peak’s on the brink. Ready to face it?” Cheng Mo’s jaw tightened, her voice steady. “I ran once, Master Uncle. I won’t again.” Lin Xiaoxi looked up, her trust unwavering. “Yue Aunt—Elder Luyue—you’ll fix everything, right?” Cheng Mo’s heart softened, but her resolve hardened. “I’ll try, Xiaoxi.”
They descended onto Jinghong Peak’s main plaza, disciples gasping as they recognized Shu Yue’s aura. Whispers spread like wildfire: Elder Luyue’s back! Qing Wan, summoned by the commotion, emerged from her courtyard, her sword sheathed but her aura icy. Her eyes locked onto Cheng Mo, a storm of rage, pain, and buried longing swirling within. “Master,” she said, her voice cutting, “you dare return?” The word “Master” dripped with scorn, but her trembling hand betrayed her.
Cheng Mo met her gaze, guilt and determination warring within. “Qing Wan, I owe you an explanation.” Before she could continue, Wan Qing’s zither note echoed across the peak, her figure appearing at the plaza’s edge. “Elder Luyue, we meet again.” Her smile was soft but sharp, her eyes pinning Cheng Mo. Yuheng raised an eyebrow, stepping back. “Well, this should be interesting.”
Lin Xiaoxi clung to Cheng Mo’s side, intimidated by the tension. Qing Wan’s aura flared, her sword intent crackling. “You both,” she spat, glancing between Shu Yue and Wan Qing, “think you can waltz back and toy with me?” Liu Qingxu’s voice cut through, her arrival timed perfectly. “Elder Luyue, your absence has cost Jinghong Peak dearly. The council demands answers.” Her smile was triumphant, her trap springing shut.
Cheng Mo stood firm, her Golden Core aura steady, Lin Xiaoxi’s trust anchoring her. No more running. The novel’s plot loomed, but she was ready to fight—for Qing Wan, for Jinghong Peak, for her ow
n survival.