Chapter 6: Sect Competition

Since that day, Liu Qingxu didn’t leave the Canglan Sword Sect.
Instead, under the pretext of discussing matters, she frequently wandered the peaks, “coincidentally” encountering Shuyue multiple times.

Each meeting, she was overly warm, calling out “Sister Misty Moon” to close the distance.

She often mentioned Wanqing casually, her words laced with belittlement or doubt about her role and ability as a sword attendant.

She hinted at how many outstanding disciples from the Yaochi Immortal Sect longed for the Misty Moon Fairy’s guidance.

Shuyue, exasperated, dismissed her each time with the coldest tone and swiftest words.

Wanqing, quietly trailing behind Shuyue, saw it all.

She watched how Liu Qingxu fawned over Senior Sister, how her critical gaze fell on her, how she repeatedly implied Wanqing was unworthy of staying on Startled Swan Peak…

An unprecedented sense of crisis and sourness coiled around Wanqing’s heart.

She knew her status was lowly, her talents ordinary, with nothing but effort to her name.

Compared to the noble, radiant, and seemingly gifted Liu Qingxu, she was as insignificant as dust.

But… Senior Sister.

It was Senior Sister who kept her after the selection ceremony, who granted her sword intent, who shielded her when she was scolded…
That cold, fragrant embrace was a warmth she’d never dared dream of.

She didn’t want to leave Startled Swan Peak, didn’t want to leave Senior Sister.

Even more, she didn’t want to see Liu Qingxu approach Senior Sister so intimately!
Each time she saw it, her heart felt heavy, uncomfortable.

These emotions fermented within her.

Until the sect announced an upcoming internal competition to select outstanding disciples, offering rich rewards and spots for the secret realm exploration.

All inner and outer sect disciples could register.

When the news reached Startled Swan Peak, Wanqing was maintaining a sword.

Hearing the deacon disciple read the announcement, she instinctively felt it had nothing to do with her.

She was just a lowly sword attendant, not even an outer sect disciple.

But that evening, she overheard two outer sect disciples talking:

“Have you heard? That Liu Fairy from the Yaochi Sect wants to observe our competition!”

“Observe? I heard she plans to spar as a guest, saying she wants to experience the Canglan Sword Sect’s young disciples’ prowess.”

“Tch, her intentions aren’t so pure, are they? She’s been hovering around Startled Swan Peak lately…”

“Shh! Keep it down! But honestly, if Elder Misty Moon had a formal disciple, they could represent Startled Swan Peak in the competition, so we wouldn’t… be looked down on by outsiders…”

Wanqing didn’t catch the rest.

“Looked down on by outsiders…”

Those words struck her heart like a hammer.

She thought of Liu Qingxu’s disdainful eyes, her hovering around Senior Sister.

A surge of unprecedented impulse and determination welled up.

She didn’t want to just hide behind Senior Sister, a negligible sword attendant needing protection!

She wanted to grow stronger, to stand proudly for Startled Swan Peak, to… make Senior Sister see her, not be constantly bothered by someone like that!

That night, instead of returning to her small lodging after work, Wanqing went to Shuyue’s cave.

Kneeling on the cold stone, her voice soft but resolute, piercing through the stone door: “Elder! Disciple Wanqing humbly requests to join the sect competition!”

Inside, Shuyue, grappling with how to shake off Liu Qingxu, froze.

‘Competition? What competition? The sect competition? Wanqing? How did I not know? What’s gotten into her?’

Wanqing’s bold request to join the sect competition caught Shuyue completely off guard.

Through the stone door, she could sense the girl’s newfound determination, starkly different from her usual timidity.

‘What’s going on? What triggered this? Was it Liu Qingxu’s words today? No, that doesn’t add up—her personality shouldn’t react like this.’

‘Why is she suddenly so eager to compete?’

‘The plot’s veering so far off course I can’t make sense of it anymore!’

Shuyue pondered for a moment.

“Let Wanqing compete?”
With her sword attendant status and mid-Qi Refining cultivation, wouldn’t she just be a punching bag?
What if she got hurt…

The thought of injury brought an unbidden image of Wanqing’s panicked, flushed face as she fell into her arms, her slender, fragile waist.

‘Stop! Shuyue, get a grip! She’s the heroine! Her halo will keep her safe!
Besides, competing might awaken her potential.
In the original story, she rose to prominence in events like this, gaining opportunities…’

‘Though that was supposed to be much later, with Chu Yi by her side…’

Her thoughts tangled, but Shuyue decided it might be good for Wanqing to gain experience.
A bit of hardship could teach her the difficulties of cultivation and… maybe keep her slightly further from the story’s center?
Though that hope felt slim.

Her cool voice echoed from the cave: “The sect competition is no game.
Participants are elite inner and outer sect disciples, at least early Foundation Establishment.
Are you certain?”

Outside, Wanqing clenched her small fists, her voice trembling but resolute: “This disciple is certain! Please grant my request, Elder!”

“…Very well, go.”

Shuyue sighed: “Register as a nominal disciple of Startled Swan Peak.”

She gave Wanqing a slightly formal title to spare her the embarrassment of competing as a mere sword attendant.

“Thank you, Elder!”
Wanqing’s voice brimmed with joy, and she kowtowed heavily before leaving.

Shuyue rubbed her forehead, feeling the plot racing toward the unknown.

The sect competition’s announcement rippled through the Canglan Sword Sect like a stone tossed into a lake.

Disciples from each peak eagerly prepared to shine in the arena.

Liu Qingxu, as expected, didn’t leave.
Using her status as the Yaochi Immortal Sect leader’s daughter, she secured a “special guest observer” role, openly appearing at the preparation grounds and various peaks under the guise of “exchange and learning.”

She continued to “coincidentally” meet Shuyue, her attitude growing more intimate, as if their earlier clash on Startled Swan Peak never happened.

“Sister Misty Moon, your sect’s competition is so lively!
Not like our Yaochi, with its boring flower-viewing and tea-tasting.”

Liu Qingxu smiled brightly, trying to sidle closer: “I heard your little sword attendant is competing?
Such courage.
But mid-Qi Refining… Sister, your kindness in giving her a chance to see the world is admirable, lest she embarrass Startled Swan Peak later.”

Her words seemed considerate but were laced with barbs, praising while subtly disparaging.

The air around Shuyue grew colder, her spiritual mist chilling further: “My Startled Swan Peak’s people are not your concern.”

Liu Qingxu, rebuffed again, kept her smile but a shadow flickered in her eyes.

She grew increasingly irritated by that sword attendant named Wanqing.

Why?
A mediocre, lowly servant girl, yet the Misty Moon Fairy protected her so fiercely?
Even allowing her to compete under Startled Swan Peak’s name?

She’d investigated Wanqing—her background was as blank as paper, utterly unremarkable.
The more ordinary she seemed, the more Liu Qingxu felt puzzled and unwilling.

Meanwhile, Chu Yi learned of Wanqing’s decision to compete, his brows knitting tightly.
He sought her out, finding her diligently practicing her sword in a corner of the sword plaza.