I had no intention of entering the martial world.

Chapter 32 Sword Echoes at Emei

He was used to being watched and talked about.

It's been like this since Qixia Town.

After walking for about an hour, we finally reached the top of the mountain.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

A vast plaza, paved with smooth bluestone slabs, stands in the center of which is a three-zhang-tall stone statue—a woman holding a sword, with a compassionate face, firm eyes, and flowing robes, as if she were about to ride the wind away.

"That was the founder of Emei, Fairy Lingbo," Chu Xueya explained softly. "She founded the Emei Sect a thousand years ago, using the sword to attain enlightenment and using the Tao to help the world."

As Lu Chenzhou looked at the stone statue, a strange feeling suddenly welled up in his heart.

It wasn't reverence, nor was it being moved.

Yes...familiar.

I feel like I've seen this somewhere before.

But he was certain that he had never been to Emei Mountain.

Just then, an aged voice came from the other end of the square:

"Xueya is back?"

An elderly Taoist nun emerged from the main hall. She was about seventy years old, with gray hair but a ruddy complexion and bright eyes. She wore a gray-blue Taoist robe and held a whisk in her hand.

She walked slowly, but each step followed a certain rhythm, as if she were stepping to an invisible beat.

"Master." Chu Xueya stepped forward quickly, bowed, and said, "Disciple has returned."

"It's good that you're back." The old Taoist nun helped her up, her gaze falling on Lu Chenzhou. "And who is this?"

"This is Young Master Lu Chenzhou," Chu Xueya introduced. "A friend I met on the road. He was injured and wants to stay in Emei for a few days."

The old Taoist nun looked at Lu Chenzhou, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Looked for a long time.

Then, she slowly said:

"Innate sword bone, Azure Nether Sword Qi, and... the mark of Ice Marrow Sword Bone. Young man, you possess quite a lot."

Lu Chenzhou was startled.

That old Taoist nun has such a sharp eye.

"Junior Lu Chenzhou greets senior." He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"No need for formalities." The old nun waved her hand. "I am Qingwei, the head of the Emei Sect. I am Xueya's master."

Qingwei Zhenren.

Lu Chenzhou had heard of this name. Rumor had it that the Emei Sect Leader, Master Qingwei, possessed unfathomable martial arts skills and divine medical expertise, but had an eccentric temperament and disliked receiving guests.

I never expected her to be such an ordinary-looking old Taoist nun.

"Xueya mentioned your situation in the letter." Master Qingwei turned around. "Come with me."

She walked towards the back of the main hall.

Chu Xueya gave Lu Chenzhou a wink and followed him.

Lu Chenzhou hesitated for a moment, then followed.

---

Behind the main hall was a quiet courtyard with several plum trees, which hadn't yet blossomed this season, leaving only bare branches. There was a quiet room in the courtyard, and Master Qingwei pushed open the door and went inside.

The interior was simply furnished—a bamboo couch, a futon, a low table with a tea set and several scrolls of scriptures on it.

"Sit down." Master Qingwei sat down on the futon.

Chu Xueya and Lu Chenzhou sat down opposite each other.

Master Qingwei poured three cups of tea, pushed them towards the two of them, and then looked at Lu Chenzhou, getting straight to the point:

"The Azure Sword Qi within you has already 'awakened,' hasn't it?"

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

"When did this happen?"

Five days ago, in Gangneung.

"How did you wake up?"

Lu Chenzhou hesitated for a moment, but still said, "I swallowed a jade pendant."

Master Qingwei frowned: "A jade pendant? What kind of jade pendant?"

Lu Chenzhou took out the two jade pendants that had been combined into one from his pocket—they were now fused together and could no longer be separated.

Master Qingwei took the jade pendant, examined it carefully, and his expression gradually became solemn.

"The Azure Jade Pendant... indeed. This is the key to awakening the sword spirit." She looked up at Lu Chenzhou. "Do you know what the awakening of the sword spirit means?"

"I know," Lu Chenzhou said. "The sword energy will erode my body, devour my mind, and eventually I will become a puppet of the sword."

"You knew that, yet you still swallowed it?" Master Qingwei's tone was stern.

"At that time... there was no choice."

Master Qingwei stared at him for a long time, and finally sighed:

"That's true. Some things aren't something you can choose just because you want to."

She returned the jade pendant to Lu Chenzhou and then asked:

"How are you feeling now?"

"I've lost my sense of taste, my sense of pain is fading, and my emotions... are getting weaker and weaker." Lu Chenzhou spoke calmly, as if he were talking about someone else's affairs. "Sometimes I suddenly get furious, or suddenly become numb, and I can't control myself."

Master Qingwei nodded: "This is a sign that the sword energy is eroding your mind. In three months, at most three months, you will completely lose yourself."

Just like what the monk Wangyou said.

"Master," Chu Xueya asked, "is there any way to save him?"

Master Qingwei remained silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Yes, but it's difficult."

"What method?"

"Two." Master Qingwei held up two fingers. "First, cripple his martial arts, dissipate his sword energy, and let him live as an ordinary person. But given his current condition, the moment his martial arts are crippled, the sword energy will backfire, and he will surely die."

"And what about second place?"

"Secondly," Master Qingwei looked at Chu Xueya, "Yin and Yang should be balanced. Use your Ice Marrow Sword Bone to counteract his Azure Nether Sword Qi."

Chu Xueya's face flushed slightly, but her eyes remained firm:

"This disciple is willing."

"I know you're willing," Master Qingwei sighed, "but the balance of Yin and Yang isn't as simple as you think. It requires mutual understanding and the fusion of inner strength; the slightest mistake can result in mutual destruction. Moreover..."

She paused, her voice growing heavier:

"Even if we succeed, it can only delay the inevitable, not cure it. The sword energy is still there, the erosion is still there, just slower. Three years, five years, ten years... one day, it will still erupt."

Chu Xueya's face paled.

Lu Chenzhou, however, did not react.

He already knew.

From the moment he swallowed the jade pendant, he knew it was a path of no return.

"Senior," he began, "what if I don't treat it?"

Master Qingwei looked at him: "Incurable? Just wait to die?"

"It's not about waiting to die," Lu Chenzhou said. "It's about doing what needs to be done before we die."

"What is it?"

"revenge."

Master Qingwei remained silent for a long time.

Then she asked:

"And then what?"

"And then?" Lu Chenzhou thought for a moment, "And then... if I'm still conscious, I'll end my own life. If I'm not, then please kill me, Miss Chu."

Chu Xueya was startled.

Master Qingwei stared at Lu Chenzhou with a complex expression.

There was pity, there was a sigh, and a hint of... appreciation?

"You've certainly thought things through." She picked up her teacup, took a sip, "But do you know that the Green Destiny Sword isn't just your sword? It concerns the fate of all living beings?"

"I know," Lu Chenzhou said. "Tianmen, the Three Swords, and Changsheng, I know them all."

"Then why..."

"What do I care about the fate of the world?" Lu Chenzhou interrupted her. "My parents are dead, my home is gone, and my enemies are still at large. If I can't even avenge them, what right do I have to care about the world?"

He spoke calmly, but beneath that calm lay an intense, suppressed hatred.

Master Qingwei stared at him for a very long time.

Finally, she put down her teacup and said slowly:

"Alright. Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you. But you have to promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"During your stay at Emei, do not use the Azure Nether Sword Qi," said Master Qingwei. "I will teach you a set of techniques to help suppress the sword qi and slow down its erosion. At least... so that when you seek revenge, you are still yourself."

Lu Chenzhou was taken aback.

He never expected that Master Qingwei would help him.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because you are a pitiful person," said Master Qingwei, "and also because... Xueya cares about you."

Chu Xueya's face turned red again, but she did not refute it.

Lu Chenzhou remained silent for a moment, then stood up and bowed deeply:

"Thank you, senior."

"No need to thank me." Master Qingwei waved his hand. "If you want to thank someone, thank Xueya. She begged me to save you."

Lu Chenzhou looked at Chu Xueya.

Chu Xueya turned her face away, but her ears turned red.

Master Qingwei smiled, took out a thin booklet from his robes, and handed it to Lu Chenzhou:

"This is the 'Ice Heart Manual,' the introductory chapter of the Emei Heart Sutra. Although simple, it is perfect for your current situation—a clear mind remains calm even when the sky falls. When practiced to a high level, it can temporarily suppress all negative emotions, including the corrosive effects of sword energy."

Lu Chenzhou took the booklet and opened it.

The handwriting was very delicate, like that of a woman. The content was indeed simple, only three pages long, explaining methods of breathing exercises and calming the mind.

"Three days," said Master Qingwei. "I'll give you three days to learn the 'Ice Heart Manual.' If you still can't grasp the basics after three days, I'll send you away."

"I will keep an eye on him," Chu Xueya said.

"Alright." Master Qingwei stood up. "You may go. Your lodgings have been arranged at 'Listening to the Waves Cottage' in the back mountain. It's quiet there and suitable for practicing martial arts."

Chu Xueya and Lu Chenzhou got up to say goodbye.

Stepping out of the quiet room, Chu Xueya whispered:

"My master... is rarely this kind to people."

Lu Chenzhou nodded: "I know. Please thank her for me."

"Thank him yourself," Chu Xueya said. "Let's go, I'll take you to Tingtao Xiaozhu."