Severing the Past with a Sword

[During the first simulation, you were by her side. Your lives were peaceful and stable, and she could protect you. Of course she had no need to rack her brains to climb higher.]

[But in this simulation, you had a spirit root. You wanted to cultivate immortality.]

[Though she was a mortal, she still wanted to be someone you could rely on.]

[Being a matron in charge of the kitchen was not enough to support a Houtian Martial Artist. She could only stake her life on climbing higher.]

[Even after all these years, you still remembered the look in her eyes when she said she would send you out of the manor.]

[Suddenly, you felt somewhat disgusted with yourself.]

[The matron had done so much for you, yet you treasured this life so much that even taking revenge required calculating the timing and weighing the gains and losses. You kept calling her your godmother, but what you had done for her amounted to far less than one ten-thousandth of what she had done for you.]

[The young marquis was still saying something, but you could no longer take it in.]

[You stood up.]

[The young marquis froze, then hurriedly rose as well, tears still on his face. "Senior..."]

["Give me back the shoes," you said.]

[The young marquis cradled the shoes as though holding a rare treasure, reluctant to let go. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately handed them over in silence.]

[You wrapped the shoes up again and slung the bundle onto your back.]

["As for what happened back then," you said, "you have dealt with those who carried it out, and the mastermind is dead too. Revenge for the matron ends here."]

[The young marquis froze. He wanted to say something, only to see you turn and leave the main hall without looking back.]

[The guards were still keeping watch outside. At the sight of you emerging, every one of them braced as though facing a formidable enemy.]

[You ignored them. With a push of your toes, you leaped onto the roof.]

[The night wind blew toward you, carrying the chill of early autumn, yet it could not extinguish the fire in your heart.]

[You knew that the most fundamental responsibility lay with you. If you had not thought of taking a shortcut back then, had not gone to the Green Bamboo Sect to seek a master, or had come down the mountain sooner... had you made a different choice at any one of those steps, the matron would not have died.]

[Yet you had taken the wrong step every single time.]

[Wallowing in self-pity was not your style, but the grief and fury filling your chest kept shortening your lifespan.]

[You had only a few days left to live. Now you had just one wish: to storm back into the Green Bamboo Sect and take Qing Yun's and Qingfeng's lives! As for the sect leader, it was not that you did not want to kill her, but after so many years, she should have died long ago.]

[In just half an hour, the Green Bamboo Sect was before you.]

[The mountain gate remained unchanged, and the emerald bamboo looked freshly washed beneath the moonlight. The disciples guarding the gate saw a black shadow descend from the sky. Before they could draw their swords, a blast of force from your sleeve sent them sprawling.]

[**"Who goes there!"**]

[Before their voices had faded, you had already stepped through the mountain gate.]

[You had not returned for years. To think the Green Bamboo Sect had grown so much!]

[You headed upward. The disciples you encountered along the way scrambled aside. A few bold ones tried to stop you, only to be thrown more than ten feet away with a casual wave of your hand.]

[**"Qing Yun! Qingfeng!"**]

[Infused with spiritual energy, your voice echoed through the mountains, startling countless birds from their woodland roosts.]

[The doors of the main hall opened from within, spilling out lamplight. Dressed in blue-green robes and holding a longsword, Qingfeng walked slowly out.]

[At the sight of you, Qingfeng paused. Once he recognized you, he revealed that smile you knew all too well.]

["You've returned, junior sister?" His tone was gentle, as though greeting a relative returning home from a distant journey. "Why didn't you send word beforehand? I could have gone down the mountain to meet you."]

["Where is Qing Yun?" you asked.]

[Qingfeng's smile did not change, but something flickered in his eyes. "Didn't you kill him? On the day you fled, our eldest senior brother went down the mountain after you and never returned."]

[You paused for only a moment before realizing you had been made a scapegoat!]

[But further words were useless. You had come here to kill! Since Qing Yun was already dead, you would simply kill Qingfeng!]

[You said nothing more. Spiritual energy gathered in your palm, and you struck.]

[Qingfeng seemed to have been prepared. With a flicker of his body, he evaded your attack.]

[The smile on his face finally faded somewhat, replaced by an indescribable sort of pity.]

["What are you doing, junior sister?" he said as he retreated. "I have already investigated our eldest senior brother's death thoroughly. He did indeed die by your hand. Have you returned today to beg my forgiveness?"]

["Beg your forgiveness?" You sneered and struck with your palm again. "I came today to take your life!"]

[Qingfeng drew his sword to block, a layer of pale blue-green light shining along its blade.]

[The two forces of spiritual energy collided with a dull crash that made the lattice windows of the main hall buzz.]

[Your expression was calm, but Qingfeng's face changed. "Houtian Ninth Level? You clearly have a crippled spirit root. How could you have cultivated to the Houtian Ninth Level?"]

["None of your concern," you replied coldly. Drawing the Azure Frost Sword, you caught Qingfeng off guard and slashed!]

[Qingfeng held his sword across himself to block. The clash of metal exploded through the night, sparks flying. Qingfeng retreated three steps, the blue bricks beneath his feet shattering and a bloody gash splitting the web of his hand.]

["So the Azure Frost Sword was in your hands!"]

[You did not answer. Your sword turned with your body, and your second strike was already upon him.]

[Qingfeng barely managed to parry, retreating as he fought. At last, panic entered his voice. "Junior sister, calm down! I can explain what happened to our eldest senior brother. Besides! If you kill me, do you think you can stay alive?"]

[Your simulated self realized it too. With new grievances piled atop old hatred, the sword in your hand grew faster still.]

[**"Whether I survive or not, you die today!"**]

[Qingfeng was forced back again and again. Sword qi sliced several gashes through his blue-green robes, leaving him utterly bedraggled. His smile had long since vanished, replaced by terror and venomous resentment.]

[**"You're mad! Do you really think reaching the Houtian Ninth Level makes you so formidable? You actually dare come to my Green Bamboo Sect and cause-"**]

[Qingfeng's words cut off abruptly. A thin line of blood had appeared across his throat. His eyes bulged, his mouth hanging open as though he still wanted to say something, but only hoarse, breathy rasps emerged.]

[With a thud, Qingfeng fell to his knees. The sword slipped from his hand and struck the ground with a clear ring. His gaze lost focus, yet he still stared fixedly at you. His lips moved, calling out.]

[You heard it clearly. What he called was "Master"!]