The departed (2)

The sun had passed noon. The clamor outside Clear Parasol Hall had long since subsided as the disciples dispersed, yet a solemn air still lingered inside.

The elders sat silently, their gazes drifting now and then toward the side hall next door, where Shen Yuxi was recovering. Unlike during their usual deliberations, they had not raised a barrier to seal off the hall, allowing Shen Yuxi in the rear hall to hear their conversation clearly.

True Person Yu Qing held his teacup between his fingertips, his brows slightly furrowed, and broke the silence first. "Senior sister, junior brother, you have both seen the wooden sword that child Qing Hui carries, haven't you? Back on Black Wind Mountain, it easily kept the poisonous miasma at bay and even showed faint signs of suppressing demonic energy. Such spiritual potency is far beyond that of an ordinary magical artifact."

"We all know Qing Hui's background. He comes from an ordinary village family. There is no way he could possess a spirit sword like that. Ninth junior brother, what do you think?"

Yu Xiao True Person had been propping up his head, looking half asleep. At being addressed, he slowly lifted his eyelids, his voice carrying the slight rasp of someone just awakened. "His swordsmanship is decent. Passable. As for that sword... it is indeed a good sword."

He never spoke empty words. If even he gave it such praise, that only proved how extraordinary the spirit sword was.

In the adjoining side hall, Shen Yuxi lay slumped on a cushioned couch beneath a thin blanket. He had been badly injured a few days earlier. Though he was no longer in any serious danger, his face was still rather pale, and he felt so listless that all he wanted to do was lie there