Chapter 61:Fainting
The warm spring’s steam swirled around Shu Yue’s crumpled form, her Frost Silence blade clattering to the stone as her consciousness plunged into darkness. The third curse, pulsing fiercely through her spiritual veins, had seized the chaos of the moment—Liu Qingxu’s taunts, Wan Qing’s subtle manipulations, Qing Wan’s anguished departure, and Lin Xiaoxi’s desperate cries—overwhelming her Golden Core stability. The air crackled with shock as four voices rang out, each tinged with a different shade of panic.
Lin Xiaoxi was the first to move, her small frame darting to Shu Yue’s side, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. “Teacher!” she sobbed, clutching Shu Yue’s hand, her novice qi flaring in distress. Qing Wan froze mid-step, her icy resolve shattering as she turned back, her Silent Annihilation Sword Intent faltering. “Master!” she gasped, rushing to kneel beside Shu Yue, her trembling hands hovering over her pale face. Liu Qingxu’s pout vanished, her eyes widening with genuine alarm, the jade slip in her sleeve pulsing erratically. This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. Wan Qing’s flute stilled, her smile fading as she stepped forward, her voice soft but urgent. “Elder Luyue!”
Qing Wan’s gaze snapped to Liu Qingxu, her sword intent surging with fury. “What did you do?” she demanded, her voice low and dangerous. Liu Qingxu flinched, her bravado crumbling. “I—nothing!” she stammered, but Qing Wan’s eyes narrowed, sensing the malevolent qi from the jade slip. Lin Xiaoxi, still clinging to Shu Yue, glared at Liu Qingxu, her voice fierce despite her tears. “You hurt Teacher! I felt it!” Wan Qing interjected, her tone calming but calculated. “Let’s not accuse rashly. Elder Luyue needs aid.” Her eyes, however, flicked to Liu Qingxu, a silent warning: Don’t expose us.
Elder Yuheng’s arrival cut through the chaos, her Foundation Building aura commanding silence. “Enough!” she barked, her counter-talisman glowing brightly as she knelt beside Shu Yue. Her divine sense swept over Shu Yue, detecting the third curse’s dark threads. “A curse,” she muttered, her gaze piercing Liu Qingxu. “Sect Master Liu’s daughter, explain your presence here.” Liu Qingxu paled, clutching her sleeve, but her defiance held. “I was just visiting Moon Sister!” Yuheng’s eyes narrowed, her counter-talisman flaring as it began neutralizing the curse’s effects.
Qing Wan’s hand steadied Shu Yue’s shoulder, her voice breaking. “Master, wake up.” Her earlier resentment dissolved, replaced by raw fear. Lin Xiaoxi’s sobs quieted, her small hands channeling faint qi to stabilize Shu Yue’s meridians, her intuition guiding her. Wan Qing observed, her mind racing. Luyue’s collapse could shift everything. She signaled Liu Qingxu to retreat, but Yuheng’s disciple appeared, presenting evidence of forbidden arrays from Liu Qingxu’s quarters. “Sect Master must be informed,” Yuheng declared, her voice steel.
Shu Yue stirred, her consciousness flickering back, the counter-talisman easing the curse’s grip. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting Qing Wan’s worried gaze and Lin Xiaoxi’s tearful relief. “I’m… fine,” she whispered, her voice weak but resolute. Qing Wan’s grip tightened, her voice fierce. “No more hiding. We face this together.” Lin Xiaoxi nodded, her loyalty unwavering. “Teacher, I’ll protect you!” Liu Qingxu, cornered, slipped away, her jade slip dimming, while Wan Qing retreated, her plans shifting. The trials will decide it.
As Yuheng helped Shu Yue stand, the sect trials loomed hours away, Jinghong Peak’s unity tested by betrayal and loyalty. Shu Yue’s gaze lingered on Qing Wan and Lin Xiaoxi, a spark of resolve igniting. I can’t fall yet. The third curse lingered, but their bond held firm, a fragile shield against the coming
storm.