Chapter 81: Yan

According to conventional standards, the comfortable distance is indeed the focal point of interaction.

But for Yan Shuyi and Ji You, this does not apply.

Because when the young Master of the Mirror first descended the mountain out of sudden whim, he met Ji You on the coldest winter day, and they huddled together around a brazier.

The warmth and glow of the brazier in that season became the range of comfort, drawing people closer—it was a habit ingrained in human nature since ancient times.

Since then, the two had no such thing as invading personal space.

Of course, whenever night fell, one particular person would suddenly attain clarity of heart and wish to make that distance negative.

“Master of the Mirror, may I call you sister?”

“?”

Yuan Caimei and Yan Shuyi blinked in surprise, glancing at Yuan Chen with strange expressions.

At this moment, this direct disciple of Yu Danzong’s mind was under immense strain, spinning wildly.

He had decided—he would not swap his brother-in-law; seeing his elder sister’s incompetence, he resolved to swap his elder sister instead.

After hearing this, Ji You set down his teacup and stared intently at Yuan Chen.

You brat, this brilliant, peerless, unmatched brother-in-law might just be the one you’ve stumbled upon…

As the sun slowly rose, after breakfast, Ding Yao hurried in from outside.

She had just received a message from Lingjian Mountain and came to deliver it to the Master of the Mirror.

Tianjian Peak had lost many disciples in the ruins and was planning to convene a sect assembly.

Yan Shuyi, as Lingjian Mountain’s Mirror-Bearer, naturally required her approval.

Moreover, for such a sect assembly, she needed to attend in person.

After hearing this, Yuan Caimei and Yuan Chen also said they would set out—they, like Ji You and the others, decided to return by Immortal Ship.

One advantage of riding the Immortal Ship was that there were many people aboard, and all passengers needed an Immortal Sect jade token for registration, so there was little need to worry about hidden threats.

The Tian Shuyuan had made this decision precisely because they feared Ji You’s breakthrough might attract danger.

After hearing this, Yan Shuyi paused briefly: “The ruins matter is complicated; this journey may still carry risks. After lunch, I’ll send a squad of disciples to escort you.”

“This… will surely trouble you, Sister Mirror-Bearer.”

“Sister Caimei, no need for formalities. In the future, if you have rare elixirs, just let me have first claim on them for Xuanjian Peak.”

After speaking, Yan Shuyi turned her head: “Wanqiu, you will lead this escort. Return and report to Xuanjian Peak.”

Zhuo Wanqiu immediately bowed and accepted the order, thinking to herself: My young Master really keeps a close eye on things.

If Sister Ding Yao were here, she’d surely be thinking the young Master seeks aid from Yu Danzong.

But only I know the Master’s true intentions.

She was right—but Yan Shuyi had other considerations besides this.

She glanced sideways at the man in white robes, his sword qi sharp and elegant, quietly sipping tea.

His cultivation base had risen too fast…

The world always said the Chu family had the greatest cultivation talent, yet this man seemed to be shattering every rule.

Though the lower three realms and upper five realms appeared merely different in name, they were vastly apart.

Many spent their entire lives stuck at the peak of the lower three realms, enduring only through lifespan to reach Tongxuan.

Yet he not only broke through—he leapt past Tongxuan’s initial stage and directly reached the middle stage. If this spread, it would cause a massive uproar.

Thus, Yan Shuyi was not entirely at ease with Ji You’s return to Tian Shuyuan.

“It shouldn’t be dangerous. The Immortal Ship is crowded—no one would dare strike openly. Besides, after the ruins incident, there’s so much to handle; no one will fixate on a mere Tongxuan cultivator like me.”

“As long as no one above Rongdao acts, no one can kill me.”

“And I’m traveling with many Tian Shuyuan disciples—Senior Sister Wen is Rongdao, and Senior Brother Ban broke through recently too.”

Ji You packed his belongings and sat at the round table in the hall, looking at Yan Shuyi, who had arrived earlier.

The inn had already delivered lunch, now spread across the table.

Yan Shuyi noticed he seemed to understand her worries: “Why are you as smart as I am?”

“You’re the hope of Xuanjian Peak; I’m the hope of Yuyang County—we both must be smart.”

“Then when you return, remember to wash my cup.”

Ji You knew she meant the cup from Bi Shui Lake’s elegant garden, and he raised his eyes: “You’re planning to sneak back to Tian Shuyuan again?”

Yan Shuyi picked up her chopsticks, plucked a lotus root slice, and put it in her mouth: “Not necessarily. Whenever I get bored, I’ll just descend and wander.”

“A wealthy girl has taken up the bad habit of secretly meeting stunning men…”

“What did you say?”

Ji You instantly backtracked: “I said it’s a good habit—keep it up.”

Yan Shuyi looked smug: “You know you can’t beat me?”

I’ll definitely train harder when I return, then make you face me with your cold little expression and say ‘ Ying ’.

Ji You swallowed a peanut, growling: “You’re right.”

Yan Shuyi swung her feet, then suddenly stopped, turning to Ji You with a strange expression: “How long have you been cultivating?”

“More than three years.”

Three years? This stranger I’ve only met twice, whose realm is far below mine, dares pinch my face—give him three more years, will he start pinching other places?

The young Master frowned sharply and kicked him hard.

Why reward me out of nowhere for saying something right? Ji You was baffled.

The Yuan siblings now arrived at the hall, joining them for lunch.

When raising cups to bid farewell, there was a touch of reluctance.

Hardship reveals true feelings, especially for disciples of Immortal Sects—making friends outside the sect is rare.

Thus, amid clinking cups and glasses, they formally parted in the quiet courtyard.

Yan Shuyi needed to return to the mountain via Void Travel, so she arranged for Ding Yao to lead the disciples back—except those escorting the Yuan siblings—and then glanced at Ji You before floating into the air.

Seeing the Master depart, Ding Yao grabbed Ji You’s arm and pulled him back into the courtyard, her expression distinctly hostile.

She had served the Master since childhood, but after this journey, the Master no longer wanted her attendance—instead choosing Zhuo Wanqiu. In her eyes, it was all because of Ji You.

So after the Master left, she had words for Ji You.

“There’s no future between you and the Master. I advise you to bury your feelings and abandon the fantasy of becoming a son-in-law of Lingjian Mountain.”

“Lingjian Mountain has been controlled by Tianjian Peak for three hundred years. Though Xuanjian Peak now holds the lineage, the Master remains isolated and needs someone to support her.”

“Do you think it was this lowly maid who arranged the alliance between Xuanjian Peak and Wenda Sect? No—I’m merely carrying out orders; the real decision-maker is the Master’s parents.”

“I know your swordplay is peerless, and I admit you’ve surpassed my expectations—but in Qingyun’s world, lineage is everything.”

“The Wenda Sect’s direct disciple is the current Patriarch’s own son—he will lead the Wenda Sect a century from now.”

“And you? Can you lead Tian Shuyuan?”

“I’ve already reported the events beneath the moon last night to the Master’s parents—I didn’t say who you were.”

“The Master has lived deep in the mountains and doesn’t yet understand what pinching her face means. I urge you to bury your feelings—deep, deep down—and never let them reach her.”

Ji You looked at her, his eyes calm: “I never intended to reveal my feelings.”

Ding Yao laughed—she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily.

This saved her effort, yet again confirmed the Master’s poor taste in men.

But then Ji You’s next words made her frown sharply.

“I never intended to reveal my feelings, because I always want her to say ‘ Ying ’ to me first.”

Ding Yao’s brow furrowed: “What?”

Ji You looked at Ding Yao, suddenly dropping his smile: “Tell them my name. If threats loom behind me, my sword will move faster.”

He wasn’t boasting—he truly thought this way.

Back in Yuyang County, he cultivated lazily until the Qiu family’s crisis forced him to break two realms in one day—few knew of this.

Meanwhile, in the far south of Lingzhou, at the shore of the Xuan Sea, Lingjian Mountain.

As the sect’s orders rang out, countless Lingjian Mountain disciples flew into Wangxian Valley, forming orderly ranks.

From the mountain peak, they looked like a dense sea, sword qi piercing the heavens.

The three Elders of Tianjian Peak arrived with the current Patriarch, seated upon the high cliff, faces solemn.

On the cliff, only the seat beside the Patriarch remained empty.

All within the sect turned their gaze to Lingjian Mountain’s highest peak—the palace hidden in the sea of clouds.

Inside the palace, Yan Jingsang wore a black cloud-patterned brocade robe, clutching Ding Yao’s message, his face grim, brows deeply furrowed.

Yan’s mother stood beside him, then gasped in shock: “She… with a man…?”

“Shuyi is too reckless. If this gets out, what will the Wenda Sect think?”

“Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding. Ding Yao has grown close to the Wenda Sect over the years—she may have exaggerated.”

Yan Jingsang clenched the letter in his palm: “Regardless of its truth, no smoke rises without fire.”

Yan’s mother suddenly recalled her daughter’s last departure and frowned slightly.

Her daughter had lived here for years—even when she descended to the city, it was never longer than half a day. But this time, she was gone for a full month—strange indeed.

At that moment, a sharp sword qi sliced through the air, golden light flashing—Yan Shuyi appeared before the palace and walked toward the sleeping quarters.

“Change my robes.”

“Yes, Master.”

Two maids inside the hall hurried forward, bringing the crimson Master’s Immortal robe and the lapis lazuli Immortal crown.

Yan Shuyi donned them fully—now she resembled a goddess descending from heaven, majestic yet subtly alluring.

But this was not because of her appearance—it was simply that red is inherently a dazzling color.

“When I left the mountain, did anyone give you trouble?”

“None at all, Master of the Mirror.”

Yan Shuyi nodded in satisfaction, stepped out of her sleeping chamber, and saw her parents approaching: “Father, Mother, I’m back.”

Yan Jingxiang didn’t mention the letter’s contents, but said instead: “The Wenda Sect came to congratulate you on your breakthrough last time, but you were absent—you should have sent them a letter.”

“No need.”

“The Tianjian Peak suffered such heavy losses this time; their resentment runs deep. It may hinder your future succession as Sect Leader.”

“Then my daughter will make them know—I am the sharpest sword of Lingjian Mountain.”

Yan Shuyi whispered softly, then raised her hand and summoned the Spirit Mirror within her. In an instant, Lingjian Mountain erupted in divine radiance.

The Sect Leader, Yan Zhong, seated atop the high cliff, furrowed his brow and looked up—he saw Yan Shuyi descending gracefully amid the divine light, her aura soaring heavenward.

Yan Zhong truly disliked this niece, for he had ascended to leadership only after the previous Mirror Master vanished; yet because of her existence, he became the only Sect Leader in Lingjian Mountain who had never wielded the Sacred Artifact.

And Yan Shuyi disliked him too, disliked such occasions, and refused to let others kneel before her—but every time such a moment came, she could not avoid coming.

For she represented the true lineage of Lingjian Mountain.

(Slight revision to the end of the previous chapter… Requesting monthly votes! or2)

(End of Chapter)