Chapter 59:Xiaoxi’s Thoughts
The dawn broke over Jinghong Peak, painting the trial grounds in hues of amber and rose as Shu Yue led her team into the sect’s solo duel phase. Her Golden Core aura flickered, the third curse’s dark pulse intensifying, unnoticed, within her spiritual veins. Lin Xiaoxi’s anshen tea and innocent devotion lingered in her mind, grounding her against the haze. Xiaoxi sees me clearly. Qing Wan’s tentative trust from the previous day’s array victory bolstered her resolve, but Wan Qing’s probing gaze and Liu Qingxu’s schemes loomed. We must hold together. The crowd’s murmurs grew, fueled by whispers of Shu Yue’s instability.
Qing Wan stood ready for her duel, her Silent Annihilation Sword Intent sharp, her Foundation Building Late Stage aura steady but tinged with doubt. Lin Xiaoxi’s words from the night before echoed in her mind: Teacher’s gentle with you. Her jealousy of Xiaoxi’s bond with Shu Yue clashed with the memory of their shared defense. She’s trying. She faced her opponent, a Yaochi Peak disciple, her strikes precise but heavy with unspoken conflict. Shu Yue watched, her heart tight. She’s fighting for us. The third curse pulsed, blurring her vision, but she gripped Frost Silence, masking her pain.
Lin Xiaoxi, clutching her wooden sword, cheered from the sidelines, her voice bright. “Second Sister, you’re amazing!” Chu Yi stood beside her, his Foundation Building aura calm but vigilant. “Xiaoxi, watch Master. She’s… off.” Lin Xiaoxi’s eyes widened, her spiritual intuition catching the faint discord in Shu Yue’s qi. “Teacher’s hurting,” she whispered, gripping Chu Yi’s sleeve. Their loyalty anchored Shu Yue, but the crowd’s murmurs grew louder, orchestrated by Wan Qing’s subtle zither notes. Luyue’s faltering, she signaled to Liu Qingxu.
Liu Qingxu, among the elders, clutched the third jade slip, its glow intensifying the curse’s grip on Shu Yue. Her collapse will ruin Jinghong Peak. She leaned to an allied elder, whispering, “Luyue’s neglecting her disciples. Look at Qing Wan’s instability.” Elder Yuheng, nearby, narrowed her eyes, her counter-talisman pulsing faintly. Liu Qingxu’s too bold. Her disciple returned, reporting traces of forbidden curse arrays in Liu Qingxu’s quarters. Yuheng’s resolve hardened—she’d confront her after the duels.
In her duel, Qing Wan dispatched her opponent with a final, devastating strike, her sword intent resonating with newfound clarity. The crowd cheered, but her eyes sought Shu Yue, who nodded faintly, pride breaking through her pain. Qing Wan approached, her voice low. “You’re not okay. Tell me what’s wrong.” Shu Yue hesitated, the curse’s haze clouding her thoughts. “It’s… nothing. Your duel was flawless.” Qing Wan’s jaw tightened, but her hand brushed Shu Yue’s sleeve, a silent promise. I’m here.
Lin Xiaoxi’s turn came, her novice qi unsteady but spirited. Facing a weaker opponent, she wielded her wooden sword with surprising finesse, her “Flowing Fire Form” earning scattered applause. Shu Yue’s lips curved slightly, but the curse surged, a sharp pain lancing through her. She staggered, catching Qing Wan’s alarmed gaze. Lin Xiaoxi, mid-duel, sensed it, faltering briefly but recovering to win. She rushed to Shu Yue, eyes wide. “Teacher, you’re sick!” Shu Yue forced a calm tone. “I’m fine, Xiaoxi. You did well.”
Wan Qing’s zither notes sharpened, amplifying the crowd’s doubts. She’s breaking. She signaled Liu Qingxu: “Push harder.” Liu Qingxu stood, addressing the elders. “Elder Luyue’s unfit to lead. Her weakness endangers her disciples.” Yuheng countered, presenting the counter-talisman. “Investigate Qingxu’s actions. I sense a curse.” The sect master’s gaze sharpened, pausing the duels. Shu Yue, struggling against the curse, met Qing Wan’s eyes. “Together,” she whispered. Qing Wan nodded, gripping her sword. As the elders deliberated, Jinghong Peak’s unity faced Liu Qingxu’s fina
l trap.