Chapter 113: Strolling with Ye Shijie

Long ago, Ye Shijie wasn't as cold and distant as she is now—she talked a lot, but usually pretended to be aloof, so she typically wore light-colored clothing.

Later, when she truly stopped talking much, she never wore dark clothing again.

"Which do you think is better—this version now, or the one before?" Bie Xuening asked.

"Both are fine, each has its own merits."

Ye Shijie herself is an exceptionally graceful and striking beauty; any outfit is merely an accent.

Bie Xuening nodded slightly, about to say something, when her brows suddenly furrowed.

She extended her hand, and with a flash of light, a long sword appeared in her palm—Yue Ling.

Yue Ling immediately transformed into a streak of light that descended to the ground, reverting into the form of a little girl, looking up at Bie Xuening.

"I want to go play too!" Fearing her master would refuse, she quickly added, "I've been locked up for so many years—I want to walk around more outside!"

Today, she would be a free sword! Xu Xing smiled: "Ye Shijie, let her go."

Given her restless nature, being confined for so long, wanting to move about more outside is only natural.

"Don't cause trouble."

"Don't worry, Master!" Yue Ling then looked gratefully at Xu Xing: "Thank you, Xiang Jianzong my lord!"

"Heh, go on."

Yue Ling bowed to both of them, then turned and ran off.

After watching her disappear into the distance, Xu Xing and Bie Xuening continued walking forward.

In recent years, more and more tourists have come to the Xiang Jianzong for travel, so the sect has built several distinctive attractions.

Not long after, the two arrived at an ancient-style little town.

Its overall style was much like the more prosperous mortal towns Xu Xing had known before his seclusion.

At the town's center lay a vast lake; the entire town was built around it, with lotus leaves stretching across the water, and delicate lotus flowers hidden among them, exuding profound charm.

In the lake's center floated a large gray stone, inscribed with a single character: "Sword." Its dull surface bore numerous shallow and deep sword marks.

This was the Trial Sword Stone! It was also one of the Xiang Jianzong's signature tourist attractions, replaced annually; visitors would discuss the current generation of Xiang Jianzong Foundation Establishment cultivators based on the depth of the sword marks on the stone.

Once, the Trial Sword Stone was nearly severed in half, sparking heated debate and eventually trending on the Spirit Net.

Walking along the lakeshore on a path paved with blue stone, the classical, elegant buildings on either side gave Xu Xing the feeling of returning to the time before his seclusion.

But seeing tourists taking photos with their phones, Xu Xing realized everything had truly changed.

Of course, this change was undoubtedly good.

Bie Xuening followed behind Xu Xing, watching his back, her gaze subtly shifting.

'This time after his seclusion, Brother seems happier than ever before.'

'Still, things really are much better now—both that rebellious disciple and Little Yellow Duck.'

'So… did Brother always want the world to become like this?'

She still remembered when their master first took in Brother—his performance wasn't outstanding at all, not even comparable to ordinary geniuses, let alone to herself.

Back then, he was especially restless and carefree, and got along well with her at the time.

But at some point, he began advancing faster and faster, eventually surging far ahead of everyone else.

As she recalled these memories, Xu Xing ahead suddenly stopped.

"Ye Shijie, would you like to try this one?"

Hm? Bie Xuening paused, following his gaze.

It was a snack stall, where several Foundation Establishment disciples of the Xiang Jianzong were busy.

From the steaming cauldron beside it, a faint aroma of wine drifted.

It was wine-glutinous-rice-balls—she recognized it at a glance.

That rebellious disciple once brought her some after returning from a mission; the taste was excellent.

"Alright."

Upon her agreement, the two found an empty seat and sat down.

Since the food was prepared in advance, shortly after ordering, two bowls of wine-glutinous-rice-balls and a plate of fried lotus petals were served.

"Enjoy yourselves, you two!"

"Aren't you Xiang Jianzong disciples? Do Xiang Jianzong disciples really need to run stalls?" Xu Xing asked curiously.

"Just to earn some extra cash," the Xiang Jianzong disciple replied offhandedly. Though the sect's benefits were excellent, buying pills, acquiring magical tools—everything cost money.

During peak tourist season, setting up a small stall sometimes earned more than completing a sect mission! It was all for cultivation.

While Xu Xing chatted with the Xiang Jianzong disciple, Bie Xuening had already scooped up two rice balls and put them in her mouth.

The glutinous rice balls were soft and chewy, the wine sweet and delicate.

Delicious.

Xu Xing turned his head, reached over, and took disposable chopsticks and a spoon; he placed the spoon on the bowl's rim, then picked up a golden-brown fried lotus petal.

Crisp!

The crunchy petal paired perfectly with the soft red bean paste inside, and after a bite, a sip of the wine-glutinous-rice-balls perfectly cut the richness.

"So, is that Yuan someone like you?" Bie Xuening suddenly asked.

In the Tai Xuan Realm, there had once been rumors that the Xiang Jianzong was not from this world.

But the rumor later faded away, eventually dismissed as gossip.

Yet Bie Xuening knew clearly—it was no rumor.

Xu Xing paused, then did not deny: "Yes, I can confirm he's like me, but I'm not sure if he's from the same place as I am."

With his current realm, whether he concealed it or not was irrelevant—besides, Ye Shijie was his closest person.

Bie Xuening's heart stirred slightly.

Sure enough, that Yuanye is just like his junior brother.

No wonder he's so interested.

"But he really did make it very well, just like this." Xu Xing lifted the bowl of sweet fermented rice balls in his hand and said.

Sweet fermented rice balls were created by the Holy Sovereign Yuanye three hundred years ago.

Legend has it, it was to apologize to the disciple of Ling Yin Fang who had always followed him.

"Ye Shijie, how do you feel things compare to before?"

How did things compare to before?

She already had the answer to this question in her heart.

"Compared to before, naturally it's much better."

Just then, a voice came.

"Master!"

A figure was seen running over from afar, short in stature, with features so delicate she looked like a porcelain doll.

It was Yue Ling.

Very quickly she ran up to the two of them.

"Why did you come back?" Bie Xuening looked at her.

"Give me some spirit coins!"

She stretched out her hand and said, utterly matter-of-factly.

Just now, after she had run out, she had taken a fancy to a very exquisite sword tassel, and felt it suited her perfectly.

However, she ran into an extremely serious problem — no money.

Because arbitrarily forging spirit coins was illegal, and she was afraid of being locked up again, she could only run back and choose to ask her master for some.

A sword cultivator nurturing her sword — wasn't that perfectly normal!

"…"

A rebellious disciple asking her for money was one thing, now even her sword was asking her for money.

Bie Xuening took out a storage ring, and at the same time warned her.

"Don't stir up trouble, or else you know the consequences."

Yue Ling snatched the storage ring and nodded like a pestle pounding garlic: "Don't worry, don't worry!"

Then she turned around and ran off into the distance again.

Third watch, a bit late, begging for subscriptions! (End of chapter)