Confession? (1)

As the Outer Sect Grand Competition drew to a perfect close, the disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect slowly awoke as if from a tense, thrilling dream, gradually stepping out of the atmosphere of fierce competition that had permeated the event.

Sect life was like a ship whose course had been corrected, once more returning to its former tranquility in an orderly fashion.

In the morning, when the first ray of dawn fell softly over the Profound Heaven Sect's grounds like a veil of gauze, the entire sect seemed like an illuminated painting, bursting with vibrant life.

The disciples each busied themselves. Some diligently focused on cultivation, spiritual power circulating around them with the rise and fall of their breaths; others hurried through every corner of the sect, wholly absorbed in studying all manner of techniques and arts, their expressions intent and engaged.

Everything was like the hands of a clock returning to their places, fitting seamlessly back into its original rhythm.

Yet within this seemingly uneventful, peaceful life, a different kind of "ripple" quietly stirred for Shen Yuxi.

Lin Mumu began appearing before him with the persistence of a shadow, breaking into his once placid daily routine.

Lin Mumu ranked sixth among this generation's personal disciples. She was the sole personal disciple under Seventh Elder Yulan True Person, with above-average talent. Lively and cheerful by nature, brimming with curiosity, she treated others sincerely and frankly, without an ounce of scheming. Her bright eyes seemed to hold a sky full of stars, and whenever she smiled, her curved brows and eyes made people feel as though they were basking in warm sunlight.

However, she was also a complete love-struck fool. Deep in her heart, she held a blazing yearning for romantic love, and her unyielding nature showed itself most vividly in this regard.

Her standards were quite high, and ordinary people found it difficult to enter her sight. But once she set her sights on a target, her ability to act was unmatched—she would not rest until she achieved her goal. Though she worked hard at cultivation too, it always felt as if her efforts were pointed in a somewhat skewed direction.

Ever since Shen Yuxi had inadvertently mentioned her "fated one" in his inner voice, her curiosity had been thoroughly hooked.

From then on, whenever she saw Shen Yuxi, Lin Mumu's already lively eyes immediately gleamed with an excitement bordering on fanaticism. She racked her brains, coming up with every clever excuse imaginable to approach him.

Sometimes, she would pretend to humbly seek advice about cultivation, though a trace of impatience hid in her gaze. At other times, she would animatedly share amusing incidents that had recently happened in the sect, trying to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Yet no matter how the conversation began, she would always subtly steer it toward the subject of the "fated one." Her curiosity practically overflowed from her words.

If the sect master had not repeatedly and explicitly forbidden anyone from revealing the matter of hearing inner voices, Lin Mumu would have been unable to suppress the urge in her heart. She would have dragged her junior brother aside and gotten to the bottom of things, refusing to stop until she had dug out every last detail about his "fated one."

Though Lin Mumu had repeatedly beaten around the bush, hoping to pry information about her "fated one" from Shen Yuxi, her conversational skills were lacking. Moreover, whenever she spoke, she could not help but fall into her own fantasies.

On top of that, Second Senior Brother's thoughts were simply too unpredictable. He never played by the usual rules.

The less Lin Mumu could get the information she wanted, the more anxious she became, appearing before Shen Yuxi with ever greater frequency.

Shen Yuxi was utterly baffled and had no idea what kind of madness had taken hold of her. But men and women should keep their distance, and a little avoidance could never be wrong.

Could it be that after all these years, she had finally turned her hand toward her fellow disciples, then took one look at me and fell in love at first sight? It couldn't really be that, could it? Taking his junior sister's love-struck nature into account, Shen Yuxi conducted what seemed like a reasonable analysis.

Lin Mumu: ...

This should have been a narcissistic thought that made people laugh, but Lin Mumu seriously considered it. Looking at Second Senior Brother's exceptional face, his profound cultivation, then taking stock of his character and bearing...

...It doesn't seem impossible?

"No! Absolutely not!" Little Junior Sister rebuked her righteously. "Sixth Senior Sister! Didn't Second Senior Brother say you already have your own good match? You have to be devoted to him first, so that you can demand that he be wholeheartedly devoted to you too, right?"

"Little Junior Sister speaks reasonably." Lin Mumu was convinced.

Besides, this could only be a joke. Lin Mumu had originally liked the cool and aloof senior brother type, but ever since she had started hearing Second Senior Brother's inner voice... Thanks, but the idol had fallen from his pedestal, everyone.

Such a goofy senior brother could only be family. He could not be a lover in the slightest.

Thus, Lin Mumu continued her investigation into the heaven-bestowed match, even changing where she practiced swordsmanship. She neither returned to Beast Spirit Peak nor ran off to Spirit Talisman Peak anymore. Instead, she went to the Sword Trial Platform every day, fighting a group of inner sect disciples for space.

In the early morning, dew still clung to the stone slabs of the Sword Trial Platform. Shen Yuxi, dressed in an elegant robe of pale green, stood quietly at the edge of the high platform above the eastern stone steps. His expression was focused, the tip of his sword hovering three inches above the ground as he prepared to begin his form, when he suddenly heard a light patter of running footsteps behind him.

"Good morning, Second Senior Brother!"

Along with that crisp, pleasant greeting, Lin Mumu bounced onto the steps like a lively little deer.

Today, she wore a gauzy blue-green dress, light and flowing, rippling like emerald waves with her movements. Her two fair, lotus-root-like arms were exposed, wrapped only with decorative ribbons that danced along with her movements, adding even more liveliness to her appearance. A freshly picked wildflower was tucked into her hair, releasing a faint fragrance.

At the sound of that greeting, Shen Yuxi's wrist, previously steady as a rock, could not help trembling slightly. His sword blade, which had been descending smoothly, scraped a shallow half-inch mark into the bluestone slab.

She's here again...

This was the seventh consecutive day he had "run into" Sixth Junior Sister at the Sword Trial Platform.

He sighed to himself and could not help muttering inwardly, Are the spirit beasts on Beast Spirit Peak no longer enough for you to walk? Or has Spirit Talisman Peak run out of talisman paper? Why are even you coming to the Sword Trial Platform?

If you have something to say to me, then open your mouth and say it! What are you trying to do, showing up day after day? Have you really taken a liking to me? Although I am indeed a handsome, dignified, outstanding, lively, and adorable model man of the new century, you keep staring at me like this, and it puts a lot of pressure on me too, okay?

I'd better watch out for you. I should add a few more locks to my door when I sleep at night?

Who would launch a midnight raid on you?! You're way too narcissistic, Second Senior Brother! Lin Mumu was speechless.

She wanted to say it outright too! But she could not. The sect master had explicitly forbidden them from letting Second Senior Brother know that his inner voice had leaked out. If she told him, who knew what strange punishment task he would assign her? The very thought was terrifying.

Previously, because she had been too playful and delayed her duties, the sect master had punished her by sending her to Spirit Medicine Peak to gather spiritual herbs. She was forbidden from using spells and could only pick them one by one by hand. Those spiritual herbs barely differed from the weeds carpeting the ground, and searching for them made her eyes ache. It took her seven whole days to finish, leaving lingering fear in her heart.

Shen Yuxi gave her a slight nod as acknowledgment, then ignored her. He adjusted himself once more and resumed practicing his swordsmanship.

Lin Mumu found it boring, but she did not get upset. She stepped back several paces, putting distance between herself and the others.

She raised a hand and traced a graceful arc through the air. A dark blue spiritual glow abruptly spread forth. Then, wherever her fingers passed, over a hundred willow-leaf-sized flying swords appeared, floating in the air. Under the morning sun, those flying swords shimmered like a school of silver fish leaping from the water.

Sharp intakes of breath immediately rose one after another around the edge of the Sword Trial Platform. Several disciples who had been focused on sword practice stopped their movements and silently retreated another three steps.

Personal disciples rarely set foot on the Sword Trial Platform, mostly because they did not wish to be disturbed while in peak condition. They did not want to come; Lin Mumu could not avoid coming.

Everyone in the Profound Heaven Sect knew that Sixth Senior Sister cultivated only one set of the Silver Bamboo Sword Formation. It was notorious for not distinguishing friend from foe. With the slightest carelessness, one could be swept into the sword formation and end up covered in wounds.

Lin Mumu had come this time to test Second Senior Brother's tone. Even if she failed to get what she wanted, she was already here—wherever she practiced her sword, it was still sword practice. Lifelong matters were important, but cultivation could not be neglected either.

Lin Mumu lightly pinched a sword formula between her jade-like fingers, and the ribbons around her wrists fluttered like butterflies.

Over a hundred willow-leaf flying swords suddenly scattered into a rain of stars across the sky, every blade gleaming with a frosty, snow-like chill.

The moment the sword formation unfolded, a piercing shriek tore through the air. Those tiny swords crisscrossed at speeds too fast for the naked eye to distinguish, sometimes forming a spinning silver wheel, sometimes transforming into a dense rain of arrows. Wherever they passed, countless fine cracks instantly appeared in the stone slabs.

Even more alarming was that under Lin Mumu's control, the flying swords continuously accelerated as they collided with one another, their trajectories becoming increasingly strange and unpredictable, like a swarm of frenzied hornets that had been disturbed, charging wildly in every direction.

Although Lin Mumu controlled those flying swords with remarkable precision and did not allow them to injure the people nearby, the residual waves of Sword Qi that inadvertently escaped from the formation's edges were difficult to fully restrain. Even if a disciple merely failed to pay attention for a moment and drew slightly closer to the formation, the hem of their robes would be shredded as though sliced apart by sharp blades.

The surrounding trees suffered even worse. Their branches were severed one after another by Sword Qi, and wood chips rained through the air.

By the time Shen Yuxi sheathed his sword and turned to return to Spirit Pool Peak, Lin Mumu swiftly ended her own practice as well. Humming a light, pleasant tune, she hurried after Shen Yuxi.

The inner sect disciples watched her departing figure with feelings that could only be described as half joy and half sorrow. Being able to observe a personal disciple's cultivation at such close range was originally a fortunate thing. After all, the cultivation methods and techniques of personal disciples held immense value for reference.

However, Sixth Senior Sister's sword formation covered far too wide an area. When it unfolded, the flying swords moved so quickly that even their afterimages were difficult to catch. They could not flee from them fast enough, and it caused enormous trouble for their daily sword practice.

"This is my last intact disciple robe..." A square-faced disciple pinched the uneven tear in his sleeve, his face mournful and his eyes filled with grievance.

"We can't let things continue like this. Sixth Senior Sister's sword formation covers too much ground; it's already severely interfering with our normal practice." Another disciple furrowed his brow tightly, his face full of worry.

Someone in the crowd gave a bitter laugh. "Be content. I heard from the senior sisters of Spirit Talisman Peak that when Sixth Senior Sister fully unleashes her sword formation, the entire Sword Trial Platform becomes a minefield. At this scale, it's probably not even thirty percent of its power."

"Even so, we can't take it!" The disciples chattered all at once. "We have to find a way to make Sixth Senior Sister practice somewhere else."

"But will Sixth Senior Sister listen to us?" A heavy sigh came from the corner. A disciple cautiously spoke, his tone filled with helplessness. "Last time, I kindly went to remind her. Sixth Senior Sister agreed readily enough and said she knew her limits, but afterward, I never saw her actually reduce the sword formation's range..."

When the others heard this, they were all stunned into silence.

Lin Mumu naturally had superb skill and boundless courage, confident that she would not hurt her junior brothers and sisters. But the disciples below did not dare gamble on Sixth Senior Sister's control. Whenever she practiced, they hid as far away as possible, tormented beyond endurance by the sword formation.

"How about... going to see Eldest Senior Brother?" someone suggested tentatively.

The crowd exchanged glances, each seeing helplessness and hope in the others' eyes.

Anyone with eyes could see that Second Senior Brother spoiled his junior brothers and sisters without restraint or bottom line, so they could not count on him;

Third Senior Brother had always stayed indoors and rarely stepped outside, so expecting him to waste cultivation time disciplining Junior Sister was unrealistic;

After considering it from every angle, in all of Spirit Sword Peak, perhaps only Eldest Senior Brother stepping in could make Sixth Senior Sister rein herself in.

They acted as soon as they decided. Several disciples, their hearts full of unease, headed toward Eldest Senior Brother's residence.

The square-faced disciple's fingers twisted wrinkles into his sleeve until a deep voice from within the courtyard said, "Enter." Only then did he push open the door as though granted a pardon.

"Eldest Senior Brother!" they called in unison, though their eyes were involuntarily drawn to the black sword shadow floating within the room—Chu Shihan was nurturing his bonded flying sword. Sword Qi curled around it, making even the air seem as though it would be sliced apart.

Chu Shihan slowly put away his spirit sword before asking unhurriedly, "What is it?"

The square-faced disciple braced himself and stepped forward, lifting his tattered sleeve cuff as he complained pitifully, "Eldest Senior Brother, please go persuade Sixth Senior Sister. She has been coming to the Sword Trial Platform to practice her sword every day lately, but her sword formation's range is simply too large. Every time she starts practicing, we can only hide far away. We have no way to practice normally at all."

Chu Shihan's long fingers brushed over the sword blade. At those words, his movement paused slightly, and he could not help frowning. Junior Sister was indeed making trouble.

He naturally knew how formidable Lin Mumu's Silver Bamboo Sword Formation was. Yet sect rules did not explicitly forbid personal disciples from using the Sword Trial Platform. If he rashly intervened, people might instead think he was bullying the young with his seniority, which would be unfair.

"Did she say why she went to the Sword Trial Platform?"

The group looked at one another, not knowing how to answer. In the end, the disciple who had spoken earlier muttered, "Probably... to wait for Second Senior Brother..."

Sixth Senior Sister desperately wanted to learn about her destined husband. It was harmless enough for everyone to occasionally chat about it in private, but saying that while lodging a complaint would make them truly idiotic.

Sixth Senior Sister was usually good-tempered, and they had rarely seen her angry, but that did not mean she truly had no temper. If Sixth Senior Sister found out they had privately discussed such matters, there would definitely be no good outcome.

As for directly persuading Second Senior Brother not to come to the Sword Trial Platform? That made even less sense. Second Senior Brother had done nothing wrong, and he had practiced at the Sword Trial Platform for a long time—not merely for a day or two. Even in terms of who had come first, some disciples had not been in the sect as long as Second Senior Brother had been practicing there!

For a moment, the room fell into brief silence.

"I understand. You may return first." After a long while, Chu Shihan let out a soft sigh.

The group departed anxiously. Chu Shihan, meanwhile, sank into thought. A moment later, he tightened his grip around the sword sheath.

Little Theater:

Shen Yuxi: She's trying every possible way to get close to me. She likes me.

Lin Mumu: ...I did like you quite a bit before. Second Senior Brother, I still prefer the version of you that doesn't open his mouth.