Sword Pilgrimage

Choosing to receive her at the sect's residence instead of finding a place in the Hundred Flowers Garden was itself a sign of respect. The Hundred Flowers Garden was merely a place of pleasure, and Xue Qingqiu clearly thought a swordswoman like this deserved a more solemn reception.

It was a mark of appreciation for a younger generation, and a sign of respect between heroes.

Mu Jianli understood. Along the way, she paid no attention to the bamboo forest's formations, keeping her eyes forward as Meng Lan led her into a Bamboo Pavilion.

Xue Qingqiu sat high in the central seat, with Xue Mu on her left and Yin Ye on her right. The three people with the highest standing here—and even throughout the Star Moon Sect—were all seated there, waiting for her.

Mu Jianli paused in surprise. The reception was even grander than she'd imagined. She certainly didn't think she had the same standing as her own master.

In truth, Xue Mu had been curious about what a Sword Pilgrimage was and had stubbornly insisted on watching. Yin Ye had been staring with bright, sparkling eyes, eagerly waiting to see the swordswoman...

With these troublemakers around, Xue Qingqiu, as the one in charge, was caught in an awkward spot.

Mu Jianli's gaze fell on Xue Mu. This time, her sword heart didn't stir, but she was even more surprised. When they'd brushed past each other that morning, he'd had no cultivation at all. How had he reached great completion of the Qi Sea by evening?

Then she thought of Xue Qingqiu, whose power was unrivaled in the world. It would be no trouble for her to raise someone's cultivation—at worst, she'd be forcing growth before its time. Mu Jianli didn't dwell on it. What truly surprised her was that Xue Mu sat on the left.

Left before right—it was customary. Xue Mu's standing was actually higher than Yin Ye's...

Who was Yin Ye? Xue Qingqiu's only junior sister, the very soul of the Star Moon Sect's formations, and one of the world's renowned figures. Just last month, Xin Yi, a Daoist master of the Mysterious Heaven Sect, had pursued Feng Lieyang, a rising star of the Demon Sect. Yet Yin Ye, in the shape of a little girl, had blocked him. No one had understood what happened in their clash. They only knew that with a casual slap, the little girl had struck Xin Yi dead...

The Righteous Path of the Southern Region had poured out in full force to hunt the witch, yet hadn't even managed to pluck a hair from her head. Even Feng Lieyang, whom they'd been pursuing, had escaped. The Righteous Path could only vent its fury by destroying several brothels that had been exposed when they helped the Star Moon Sect smuggle Yin Ye and Feng Lieyang away. The prostitutes, led by a madam named Qin Li, then went all over the government offices, weeping, making a scene, and threatening to hang themselves. Some even rolled around at the Mysterious Heaven Sect's gates. The Righteous Path had been utterly humiliated.

Word of the incident had gradually spread, shaking the world. Yin Ye, previously unknown, had become famous overnight. They said the little girl's cultivation was bizarre and her realm impossible to discern, yet she could kill a Dao-Seeking expert in an instant. Perhaps she was already nearing the Void-Piercing Realm—or had even reached it.

A powerhouse on par with the Void-Piercing Realm was actually ranked below Xue Mu in the Star Moon Sect. And she seemed perfectly content, smiling away without the slightest objection... What did that mean?

Of course, outsiders didn't know the real reason was simply that Yin Ye was a troublemaker who would never compete with anyone for a position. Even if she did, it would only be because the position looked prettier. Anyway, outsiders would assume this man was defying the heavens...

Never mind. What business was it of hers how the Star Moon Sect handled its own affairs? Mu Jianli used her bow to gather her thoughts. "This junior, Mu Jianli, pays her respects to Sect Master Xue."

Xue Qingqiu watched her quietly for a while, her voice sounding distant. "Ten years ago, your master also came to me on a Sword Pilgrimage. I refused him."

"Yes. Master once told me about it, and he never forgot." Mu Jianli stood ramrod straight and answered calmly. "So I came for two reasons: to seek the Way for myself, and to make up for my master's regret."

Xue Qingqiu smiled faintly. "Aren't you afraid I'll simply kill you, and put an end to the Sword Inquiry Sect's future?"

Mu Jianli replied coolly, "The Sword Inquiry Sect has talent in abundance. Losing one Mu Jianli won't end its future. Besides, Sect Master Xue is a grandmaster of her generation, with the bearing to match. I doubt she would make things difficult for a junior."

Xue Qingqiu laughed, amusement in her smile. "You're of the Sword Inquiry Sect's forty-eighth generation, while I'm of the Star Moon Sect's fiftieth. By that reckoning, I ought to call you Granduncle-Master. So which of us is the junior?"

"..." Mu Jianli was taken aback. How could you count seniority across different sects? They'd all been founded at different times. The Blazing Sun Sect had only reached its third generation, and its founding patriarch was still alive. Did that mean he was everyone's ancestor?

But she wasn't one for sharp-tongued debate, so she fell silent.

Xue Qingqiu drawled lazily, "Do you know why I refused your master's Sword Pilgrimage back then?"

"This junior does not."

Xue Qingqiu lounged against the back of her chair. "He'd completed his Sword Pilgrimage several years earlier, then suddenly came to me asking for one... Truth be told, he wasn't trying to pay his respects to a sword. He was trying to court me. I only hinted to him that he was three generations above me, more than ten years older, and ugly to boot. Did he have no shame, chasing after a young woman? After that, he didn't even go through with the Sword Pilgrimage... I heard the whole affair delayed his Void-Piercing Realm breakthrough by five years. He nearly lost his position as sect master, too. I do feel bad. I truly didn't mean to obstruct his path of the sword."

Xue Mu burst out laughing. That explained everything. Back then, she had absolutely been luring him in, then leaving him utterly lovesick to unsettle his Daoist heart and eliminate a powerful enemy. There was no doubt about it.

Mu Jianli stood there woodenly, feeling her master's towering image crumble... The entire atmosphere of seeking the Way had shattered to pieces. What was the point of this Sword Pilgrimage now?

But just then, Xue Qingqiu offered her a sword. "Well, now a friend's disciple has come, sincerely seeking the Way. I won't be so stingy as to extinguish the world's desire to pursue it." As she spoke, she flicked her slender hand. A streak of starlight shot out from nowhere and came to a steady stop before Mu Jianli, revealing its true form.

It was a very strange sword. Its blade was wildly irregular, as if pieced together from all sorts of little stones. Strangely, though, it seemed like a seamless whole. A faint power emanated from every stone, weaving together and spreading beyond the blade like drifting clouds and mist, veiling the true shape of the starry sky.

The Star Soul Cloud Vague, one of the Star Moon Sect's three sacred treasures.

For the first time, Mu Jianli's always-composed, lovely face showed a hint of shock.

The Sword Inquiry Sect had traveled the world, paying respects to every famous sword. They sought to ask after each sword's heart, sense its intent, and compare it with their own path, hoping to gain insight. This required an exceedingly sincere, tranquil resonance of sword hearts. It wasn't something one could achieve just by looking and bowing. That was why they made the journey as a pilgrimage, with no distractions and their minds fixed on the sword.

But what Yue Xiaochan had said about paying respects to swords in a weapon shop was obviously a joke... The swords worthy of such reverence were famous blades steeped in blood, which had weathered centuries of battle and contained the lingering sword intent of their past wielders, even a hint of spirit. Only then could one hope to gain something by questioning them.

Ordinarily, the Righteous Path would give the Sword Inquiry Sect face and lend them their swords for contemplation. After all, they might not gain any real insight, and it was an easy favor to grant. But famous swords weren't found only in the hands of the Righteous Path. Most were in the hands of their enemies... So in practice, there was another kind of Sword Pilgrimage: not asking, but fighting. One challenged renowned sword masters across the world and experienced their different sword intents in actual combat. That was the true meaning of a Ten-Thousand-Li Sword Pilgrimage.

There were several kinds of combat, too. Fighting to the death was different from a friendly bout or receiving instruction. Mu Jianli had originally come to see Xue Qingqiu hoping she might teach her a move or two, letting her briefly experience the intent of the Star Soul Cloud Vague. That alone would have made the trip worthwhile. She'd assumed that a powerful and ambitious leader like Xue Qingqiu would have the grace to grant a junior such a small favor. The risk was great, and she might not make it back, but with a sword's courage and no fear of what lay ahead, she had come without hesitation.

She simply hadn't expected Xue Qingqiu's generosity to surpass even her imagination. Not only had she no intention of keeping Mu Jianli there, she'd actually handed over the sword and let her look to her heart's content. She'd only unsettled her sword heart with words first, setting her a small test.

Mu Jianli understood Xue Qingqiu's intentions. She had set an obstacle; whether Mu Jianli could overcome it was up to her. That gave Xue Qingqiu an explanation to offer her sect. No one could accuse her of aiding an enemy...

Such magnanimity truly befitted a grandmaster of her generation. Was this why she'd swept through the world while still so young?

Since that was the case, how could Mu Jianli disappoint a grandmaster's kindness?

Mu Jianli closed her eyes for ten breaths. When she opened them again, her eyes were filled with a stern sword intent, devoid of joy or sorrow. Her brief moment of distraction had already scattered on the wind, leaving no trace.

Under the curious gazes of the three Star Moon Sect members, Mu Jianli sincerely bowed to the Star Soul Cloud Vague before her. One hand rested on its hilt, while the other formed a sword sign and held it before her.

Xue Mu couldn't tell how she was communicating with the sword. In any case, after a while, the divine sword suddenly blazed with light. Its blade trembled faintly, and even Xue Mu could strangely sense the joy surging from it, as if it had found a kindred spirit.

The light faded.

Mu Jianli released the hilt, stepped back, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, senior, for granting me the sword."

There was unmistakable admiration in Xue Qingqiu's eyes. "The resonance of sword hearts is your own ability. You needn't thank me. But I'll make this clear: someone as gifted as you, from an enemy sect, is a great threat. If we meet again in the martial world, I won't hold back."

Mu Jianli replied solemnly, "Nor will this junior."

With that, she turned and left, her elegant figure straight as a sword. She didn't spare another glance at Xue Mu, who had briefly piqued her curiosity earlier.