Chapter 261: Sword Trial

Morning, the cold sun rose in the east.

Li Li Piaoqing rose very early; she had only rested half-dressed on the bed the previous night, closing her eyes briefly at cockcrow, then rolled over and slipped on her shoes.

At the mirror, she carefully tidied her attire, spotted the faint remnants of her feather makeup, picked up a small brush, paused, then set it down and simply filled a basin with water to wash it all off.

When she stepped outside, the sky was still a dim gray, a single orange glow just sprouting at the horizon. Yet disciples were already training in the courtyard—among this year's Autumn Competition's top sixteen, only Li Li Piaoqing and Shen Yao remained, a minor shame for Cuiyu, now steadily claiming the top spot at Bowang.

The endurance of those hard days had finally been released; every disciple now carried a surge of determination, united in spirit, vibrant and eager.

But this scene did not bring the girl her usual genuine smile. She greeted them as usual, drew her sword, and turned to walk away alone when a disciple handed her a slip of paper.

"It was passed along by Yang Lou Street on the Master's behalf."

Li Li Piaoqing paused, took it, and saw it was nothing major.

"Li Piaoqing, let me remind you once more: the Yi Jian Academy values insight above all. Insight splits into learning the sword and wielding it. When you perform on stage, minor deviations in form don't matter—just let your Qi flow outward. If you have questions about sword principles, don't be timid; rigidly following the text is worse than useless. Speak your own original thoughts freely."

She flipped it over—there was more.

"You seemed down last night. After I left, I thought about it and guessed what happened—yesterday at the Immortal Platform gathering, were you outside the academy?"

"You don't like telling me, so I don't know the details, but from my master's experience, such matters always require strategy. Pure, reckless passion only invites bad luck. I think you've had bad luck."

"Don't ask Shen Yao anymore. She's ten years older than you, but you never saw how clueless she was when she first fell in love—still isn't any better. Two foolish kids plus a so-called advisor like her—how could this not go wrong?"

"Don't truly break down. Set it aside for now. In a couple days, when things are quieter, I'll come myself to take a look."

Li Li Piaoqing gently clenched the paper's edge, lowered her eyelids—the last two lines read:

"Don't be nervous today during the sword trial. Even if you fail, I'll find another way for you."

"Bundle up—it's cold."

It was just a Suishouquyongdebianjian, a casual scrap. Though the old man kept telling her not to worry, he had clearly been preoccupied since leaving last night—Cuiyu producing a disciple for the Yi Jian Academy was not only a major event for the sect, but also the true source of his joy and pride.

Li Li Piaoqing folded the paper and tucked it away, still distracted—her emotions these past two days had surged and plummeted too violently, leaving her senses dulled.

But she knew the trial's importance. She took her sword and went to the private courtyard to refine "Yellow Jadeite."

The girl focused hard on her swordplay, yet her thoughts kept drifting to places they shouldn't—especially the wound she'd cut open last night, which kept hovering above it, as if seeking a way to heal, yet every touch made her heart constrict.

She trained almost entirely on instinct for over an hour, until daylight fully broke. She tidied her robes, then took her sword and stepped out.

—

Changdao Martial Hall, West Courtyard.

"Tap. Tap."

"."

"Tap. Tap."

"."

"Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap!"

"."

"Thud-thud-thud!!!"

". What?"

"It's nearly noon—are you growing mold in there?" Yang Yan frowned. "Get out and train!"

". I'm not training today."

"?"

"Just look for yourself."

"I—"

If I could see it myself, why would I need you?!

Yang Yan glared, genuinely wondering if Seeing Pei Ye had been possessed. After going out yesterday, he'd returned as if his spirit had been drained. But he couldn't tie the boy up and force the sword manual on him—he could only leave, exasperated.

Inside the room, sunlight streamed through the lattice, threads of light and dust drifting in the air.

The bed, tossed all night, was a mess. The boy lay like a corpse, blanket thrown off his head, staring blankly at the ceiling beams.

Only the silence of a whole night lingered. After a long while, he whispered softly: "Little Cat."

The black cat sat in meditation, eyes closed.

"Little Cat~" He rolled over, gripping the cat before him. The cat opened its calm, emerald eyes.

"Why am I still so miserable?"

"."

"I told you it wouldn't work," Seeing Pei Ye rolled over, complaining. "I said—we're good friends. If I reject her, she'll be heartbroken. We'll never be able to chat happily again."

The boy felt a deep pressure in his chest, his voice dropping: "You just said, 'If you don't like her, just reject her.'"

The black cat closed its eyes again, having lost interest in this childishness since speaking once the night before.

But the boy only needed someone to talk to himself to.

". But anyway, I've already rejected her." Seeing Pei Ye murmured dully. "No matter how bad it feels, I just have to get through it now… Li Piaoqing must be suffering far more than I am."

A sudden sharp pang seized his heart. Seeing Pei Ye curled up under the blanket, burying half his face in it.

The black cat finally spoke, its voice cold and dry as ever: "Seeing Pei Ye, can you stop acting like a maggot?"

Seeing Pei Ye didn't move. For the first time, he ignored it.

Then he heard a faint greeting outside the courtyard.

". Li Li Piaoqing, are you here to see Seeing Pei Ye?" Yang Yan's surprised voice.

A few days ago, this would have made him want to hide. Now his heart clenched hard—he couldn't even name the feeling, but he almost felt a spark of relief.

". No," the girl's voice was lower, weak, heartbreakingly so. "I came to practice swordplay."

". Oh, I'll call Seeing Pei Ye." In Yang Yan's mind, "practicing swordplay" was always tied to Seeing Pei Ye.

"No no! Don't! I'll just… practice alone."

". Oh." Yang Yan was baffled.

The voice faded. The familiar footsteps retreated. Another set of familiar footsteps—ones Seeing Pei Ye didn't care about—returned to the courtyard.

Only then did Seeing Pei Ye realize he had sat bolt upright without knowing when, one leg already dangling off the bed.

The room was silent. Amidst the ache and repression, his thoughts hung again, uncertain: ". Little Cat, why is she here at Changdao Martial Hall?"

"Not to see you," the cat said flatly.

"."

Seeing Pei Ye stared blankly for a moment, his heart slowly sinking back down.

Yes. Of course she wasn't here for him.

If she came to him, he'd avoid her. If she didn't come, he had no right to seek her out. He had no standing to ask about her now. He must cut it cleanly, completely.

But couldn't he just ask as a friend? Just see her, say something casual—wasn't that normal?

Seeing Pei Ye stared blankly.

No.

Self-deception. That's not real curiosity—it's just an excuse to keep talking to her.

Seeing Pei Ye, you were stupid enough yesterday. Today, act like a man.

He slowly leaned back and sank again onto the bed.

On the training ground, Li Li Piaoqing stood at the center, staring blankly at the ground.

Just passing the west courtyard, her heart had risen sharply—she recalled those earlier days, when they didn't know each other, when she lived in the courtyard and the boy passed by each morning.

The memory made her thoughts hazy. Now, as she passed, she dared not look toward it, yet secretly hoped to catch a glimpse of that familiar figure. Then… just a normal greeting.

It would make her happy all day.

But she saw nothing.

Instead, she met Yang Yan leaving—he asked her, and Seeing Pei Ye must have heard… Did he think she was coming to bother him again? When she refused him, did he sigh in relief?

Li Li Piaoqing stood lost in thought, when suddenly a voice, clear and soft, sounded in her ear: "What are you waiting for?"

Startled, she snapped back, raised her sword instinctively to salute, then remembered her master's advice last night—she pretended not to hear, drew her blade, and stood still for a moment.

"Don't be nervous. Begin." The voice came again.

This crucial moment arrived so casually. Li Li Piaoqing felt slightly dazed, raised her sword into a starting stance.

The Yi Jian Academy's formal selection process was far more complex, but now all standards rested on this person's judgment. She had thought long and hard in recent days—this performance's most vital point was to demonstrate sensitivity and insight toward the sword.

A technique, 【Stepping on Water, Plucking Scales】, suddenly flared from her blue robes.

Talent naturally reveals itself through learning and wielding the sword. All she needed to do now was "skillfully express what she had learned."

Only six forms total. She performed the first round—focus wasn't on perfect execution of each move, but on the flow between them. Li Li Piaoqing followed the sword manual's teachings, adding her own intuitive sense of the technique, deliberately avoiding the dazzling insights Seeing Pei Ye had shared.

When she finished, the voice in her ear said: "Good."

Li Li Piaoqing felt a slight easing in her chest.

Seeing Pei Ye felt a sharp tightening in his.

He had just casually passed by the training ground's entrance.

He was washing his face.

Holding a basin of icy well water, his hair messy, eyes half-lidded, he glanced inside without intent—yet that familiar, light figure instantly flashed into his vision.

He wouldn't stop. He only came for water—he disliked using the courtyard's well.

Passing by was unavoidable, and a casual glance meant nothing. But the instant he saw her swordplay, his body froze—he understood her purpose today.

He had attended the gathering yesterday. Sui Sui Zaihua had been lurking nearby, watching all strangers approaching. And her goal of entering the Yi Jian Academy had been discussed for a long time.

So… today was profoundly important to her.

What was happening now was profoundly important to her.

A height and fate that nearly shaped her entire life.

Seeing Pei Ye's heart clenched; he stood still for a moment, then rushed back to the courtyard, set down the water, grabbed any sword, stiffened his body, and slipped silently into the training ground, standing in the corner.

He hadn't considered how inappropriate this act was.

Watching the girl pause after her serious sword form, the boy frowned, his fingers tightening around the hilt.

——That routine had at least five flaws.

Two were understandable, two he had previously pointed out to her, though he knew they'd be hard to correct overnight; the remaining one, however, was an outright point-deduction error.

Li Li Piaoqing hadn't noticed anyone enter behind her—people coming and going in the training ground was normal.

Now she took a deep breath and resumed her sword form.

The second time was her own choreographed sequence; though these variations had little practical combat value, they clearly and solidly demonstrated her understanding and insight into the sword—perfect for this examination.

She hadn't yet had time to incorporate the newly mastered 【Washing Tree Bronze Shadow】; her current sequence was: 【Unmoving Perilous Wind】, 【Treading Water to Pluck Scales】, 【Cutting Leaf, Returning Waves】, 【Hiding Cloud, Catching Sparrow】, 【Sweeping Flame Through Waterfall】.

Stillness stirred the clear wind; the thin blade made no sound. In two rapid transitions between lightness and taut resonance, the girl revealed her complete command and intuitive grasp of the sword—and more importantly, this sequence displayed profound understanding and masterful application of sword principle.

When she finished, the arena fell silent.

Seeing Pei Ye's brows knitted, his gaze fixed; his heart slowly rose—this run had at least thirteen errors. But fortunately, the brilliance was equally striking; for the academy entrance test, this one was actually better than the first.

For errors can always be corrected, but the upper limit of talent is fixed and unyielding.

Yet it was also more dangerous.

Seeing Pei Ye knew the things revealed in this run must have impressed the elder, but he clearly saw the girl still struggled to fully control this sequence.

It wasn't a lack of talent—just insufficient time for deep cultivation and refinement.

So when the elder pressed her with deeper questions, whether she could answer them became a question hanging precariously in the air.

A moment of silence.

Seeing Pei Ye heard nothing, but the elder's voice had again reached the girl's ears: "Between your second and third moves, there was a leap."

The girl startled sharply.

"By the fourth move, it sank again," the elder continued calmly. "You smoothed over this sudden rise and fall well—that's good. But I want to see clearly how these three moves rose steeply and fell abruptly."

The girl's heart eased.

The elder's question probed deeply into this sword sequence, for "smoothness" could mask many flaws; he meant to lift the veil and see whether the underlying structure was solidly built or merely glossed over.

And she had, of course, built it clearly and precisely.

She performed the middle three moves again; this time, 【Cutting Leaf, Returning Waves】 stood out with startling clarity.

The girl slowly sheathed her sword, suppressing her heavy breath, her eyes faintly bright.

Seeing Pei Ye didn't know what questions she'd been asked, but this second performance he saw clearly—and he couldn't help clenching his fist in excitement.

It was truly precise and beautiful.

Then another silence; the elder's next words reached the girl's ears: "This sword move differs in essence from the other four. Can you answer me with your sword?"

(End of Chapter)