Chapter 132: Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Two

132. Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Two

Guan San is currently stroking the server, please complete the subscription to defeat him! Dabbing a bit of lip rouge on her lips, Atian stood up and warmed herself up. The moon-white gauze skirt Guo Huai had given her was soft and well-fitting, making her feel she could easily pull off a spinning kick.

Once she finished washing up, she could head out.

She tentatively pushed open the door, and then she knew where the rumbling that had woken her up had come from.

The Beihai Sword Sect had a total of one thousand three hundred and six people. Excluding the five Elders, including Sect Master Duan Xuan, there were one thousand three hundred and one disciples in total. Subtracting Bai Xinli, who was in permanent closed-door cultivation, and those out on training expeditions, there were still several hundred people living in this residential compound.

When Atian had returned last night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, so naturally she hadn't sensed anything. But once early morning arrived, the presence of these disciples became strikingly apparent.

One after another, moon-white figures leapt down from the small mountain-shaped residential compound. Amid the rising and falling footsteps, various greetings were interspersed—Senior Brother, Senior Sister, Junior Brother... honorifics and names rang out in a chorus, occasionally mixed with one or two calls of "Martial Uncle," since the first floor was Guo Huai's territory after all.

Atian couldn't manage the skilled leaps like they could, so she could only honestly walk down the steep staircase. This normal behavior stood out as particularly unconventional among the leaping crowd, and quickly drew the attention of those nearby.

"Who's that?"

"A new Junior Sister?"

"A new Junior Sister."

"A new Junior Sister?!"

This news instantly caused an uproar among the disciples. They all stopped what they were doing and turned their heads in unison to look at Atian, who was carefully walking down the stairs. The latter unhurriedly paused her steps, covered half her face with her sleeve, and smiled with curved brows and eyes, her gaze especially radiant.

"She... she, she doesn't eat people, right?"

The male disciples, already accustomed to being stepped on by their Senior Sisters and bullied, gasped in unison, instantly feeling as if facing a great enemy. Then they were kicked off the residential compound one by one.

"Morning class is about to start, don't waste time."

Amid the disciples' wails, a slender figure appeared in Atian's line of sight. The newcomer wore the same moon-white gauze skirt as her, with long black hair coiled at the back of her head and not a trace of powder on her face. Her looks weren't particularly outstanding, but she gave people an innate sense of comfort.

The woman walked up to Atian. Her appearance gave no clue to her age, but her bearing was very mature—at the very least, a little girl like Atian felt deeply inferior.

"This elder sister," she reached out and took the woman's hand, "I think I've seen you somewhere before."

"Of course you've seen me. A few years ago I paid a visit to your residence," facing the flirtation from someone of the same sex, the woman smiled calmly, "I am Su Ying. Senior Brother must have mentioned me to you."

The smile on Atian's face faded. Su Ying had used one sentence to take her back to late last night.

"See me?" Atian tilted her head, "See me for what?"

Bai Xinli paused, "I need your memory."

"Fifteen years ago, you and I, who had not yet entered Xiuxianmen, exchanged a glance..."

Atian interrupted him, "That was only for an instant."

"One instant... is enough," Bai Xinli said firmly, "Even if it was just one glance, that was still 'me.'"

After pondering for a moment, Atian rubbed her chin, "... Then, what do you want me to do?"

For her, this didn't constitute a multiple-choice question at all.

Regardless of their starting point, the Bai couple had earnestly raised her for fifteen years. Although this couple always stubbornly said their son had long been gone, deep down what they worried about most was Bai Xinli, who had left fifteen years ago. This was human nature, beyond reproach.

As for her, she had already severed her mortal ties and entered Xiuxianmen. If she wanted to repay the kindness of the Bai couple, repaying it on their biological son was not unacceptable.

And what about Bai Xinli? He said he would give her an Immortal Path, and he indeed did it. Without him sticking his nose in, she would have spent a drifting life in Guangkai Town, perhaps envied by everyone, but that was after all only the happiness of a "mortal."

Bai Tian did not need this kind of happiness.

Therefore she followed Zhao Kuo away, leaving behind her adoptive parents and her mediocre life, opening up new horizons. Even if what she saw and knew was merely the tip of the iceberg of the cultivation world, it was enough to be magnificent.

When she saw the Broken Sword piercing through the Floating Island, she knew she could not go back, nor did she want to.

And now, Bai Xinli was proposing a trade to her—trading an insignificant memory for everything she yearned for.

This was an open scheme through and through, so aboveboard it was almost endearing.

Atian could find no reason to refuse his proposal.

Why refuse?

Bai Tian's life had taken a turn at the age of three, and turned back at the age of eighteen. This might just be her fate with the Heavenly Dao.

Seeing her agree, Bai Xinli should have felt happy. However, the girl before him was wearing clothes soaked in cold sweat, her face deathly pale. His Adam's apple bobbed, and the words he finally spoke still took a detour.

"There's another person waiting outside the door. Go back to your room to rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, Junior Sister Su Ying will naturally come find you."

The person waiting outside was naturally Song Zhicheng. Atian gloatingly waited to see him make a fool of himself the next day.

Unexpectedly, before she could see Song Zhicheng make a fool of himself, the "Junior Sister Su Ying" Bai Xinli had mentioned came knocking first.

Although called "Junior Sister" by Bai Xinli, Su Ying was actually much older than him, her bearing more composed, quite different from the other young men and women.

Su Ying's own explanation for this was, "I'm ashamed to say I'm much older than Senior Brother. I once followed the master's orders to look after him for a period, but back then everyone still called him Junior Brother Bai."

Atian nodded in understanding. Bai Xinli was only five when he went up the mountain, just a child, and probably quite a handful. It would have been strange if no one looked after him.

By this time the two of them had returned to Bai Tian's room. Su Ying had somehow produced a complete tea set from somewhere, thoughtfully pouring a cup for Atian.

"Senior Brother entrusted this matter to me because this thing can only be done by me."

She said calmly, taking out an amber-colored short sword from her bosom and placing it on the table.

"This sword is called 'Bai Ju,' and it is my personal sword."

"Bai Ju? As in the 'white steed's fleeting shadow' Bai Ju?" Atian asked.

Su Ying nodded, "That's right. The Sword Heart I comprehend is time itself. The past between you and Senior Brother is actually hidden within the time you have experienced."

"I will capture that stretch of time and sever it from you," at this point her expression grew serious, "And you will only be left with a vague memory, unable to recall anything else. Have you thought it through?"

"To be honest, I can't remember it very clearly even now," Atian answered sincerely, "I make eye contact with countless people every day. How could I possibly remember them all?"

"What you said makes so much sense... no, wait!" Su Ying abruptly changed her tune halfway through. She slapped the table, "Since that's the case! Then starting today, you will properly cultivate! I will supervise you!"

"Huh?" The other party's image had changed too quickly, and Atian didn't react for a moment.

"You're just a mortal right now, Junior Sister Bai! If I make this cut, you'll be a fool!"

Su Ying stood up abruptly. Where in that fierce and imposing manner was the shadow of the gentle big sister from just now?

"Originally the sect had prepared itself mentally to throw spiritual medicines at you until we forced out a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The fact that you possess Sword Bone is a completely unexpected blessing, saving us a huge sum of money!"

The tone she used to say this was exactly the same as when Lady Bai discovered that a newly hired hand only cost one string of coins a month, instantly giving Atian a sense of familiarity.

"Although our Beihai Sword Sect isn't short on money, these big fellows spend recklessly every day—no matter how large the family fortune, it can't withstand such careless spending! In this regard, Junior Sister Bai, you're simply a snug little cotton-padded jacket!"

Atian's cheeks flushed at the praise, and she nodded with deep feeling. Master Bai's ability to earn money was impressive, but his talent for spending it was no less so; most of the time, she could only join forces with Lady Bai to plug the hole of his heart, forever restless on the front line of spending.

As the only person who resonated with her troubles, Bai Tian's shy little appearance delighted Su Ying all the more, giving her a strong sense of having found a kindred spirit.

"Here! This is your class schedule. You must attend every single class." She took a paper from her bosom and handed it to Atian.

"Class schedule?" The latter unfolded the paper in confusion. "Is this a Classroom?"

Su Ying's face fell at these words. "Junior Sister, you don't know—our Sect has very few members. The Sect Master plus the Elders only number five in total; there really aren't enough to go around."

"For this reason, our Sect abolished the one-on-one master-disciple system and specially established a Classroom, where the Elders and several senior Senior Brothers take turns giving lectures. All disciples may attend according to their own level."

"Listen to your Senior Sister's advice—grabbing a seat… is a hard battle."

Having dealt with the Beihai Sword Sect for fifteen years, Bai Fu was already very familiar with the patterns of these reclusive masters. They would not lightly interfere in the affairs of the mortal world, and would often leave once they confirmed a household was safe; this kind of leaving and then returning was truly a first.

As the saying goes, when things are out of the ordinary, there must be something strange about it—it's truly hard not to overthink.

But there was no time left for them to think it over. Not long after the servant announced the visitor, a youth of seventeen or eighteen strode in. He was dressed in a moon-white robe, with a long sword emblem embroidered in blue silk thread at the hem of his lapels. On his back he carried a heavy, thick Sword nearly as tall as a person, and his long hair, bound by a hair ribbon, swayed with his steps, the tips brushing against the sword hilt.

A standard Beihai Sword Sect disciple's attire.

The visitor was certainly not Bai Xinli. Although the person before her had thick brows and large eyes and could indeed be called a handsome youth, if Bai Xinli looked like this now, Atian could only conclude he had grown ugly.

Sure enough, the moment the youth opened his mouth, her guess was confirmed. "Which one is Bai Tian of the Bai?"

Atian did not move. Lady Bai stepped forward. "May I ask what business the Immortal Elder has with Atian?"

"You're Bai Tian?" The youth wore an expression of being struck by lightning, his feet involuntarily stepping back. "Far too old…"

Perhaps his reaction was too blunt; Master Bai couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing with a "puchi."

Lady Bai glared at him and replied peevishly, "I am Bai Tian's mother."

Whatever awe they had felt toward the Immortal Elder, whatever fear of the abnormal—all vanished like smoke with the youth's brainless display.

"Oh oh oh!" The newcomer patted his chest. "Good, good, you scared me to death."