Many people knew that on his very first day in the inner sect, Jing Jiu had said he would take Uncle-Master Mo's sword from Shiyue Peak.
At first, many had wondered whether he would surprise the world as he had in the outer sect at South Pine Pavilion. But as time passed, fewer and fewer people believed he could do it. Even Junior Sister Yushan and the disciple surnamed Yuan from Lelang Commandery, both of whom had come from South Pine Pavilion, had given up hope.
Half a year had passed, and never mind taking a sword-Jing Jiu had not even visited Sword Peak once.
This had long since become the most famous topic of conversation along Sword-Washing Creek. To those who disliked Jing Jiu, such as Xue Yongge and the outstanding disciples of Class One, it was naturally something to ridicule him over.
Today, however, Jing Jiu seemed to be going to take a sword.
"He's going to take a sword!"
"Jing Jiu's going to take a sword!"
Shouts rang out everywhere in the Sword-Washing Pavilion.
Dozens of inner-sect disciples ran outside.
Lin Wuzhi was somewhat surprised. Then he discovered that Uncle-Master Mei Li had ended Class Three early and flown away on her sword, also heading toward Sword Peak.
When Jing Jiu started up Sword Peak, he did not know that Mei Li and Lin Wuzhi had already arrived ahead of him. Nor did he know that as he climbed, many Sword Washing disciples, and even disciples from the other peaks, had come to watch after hearing the news. It had never occurred to him that people would mistake his ascent of Sword Peak for an attempt to take a sword.
Fortunately, he knew it was broad daylight. Rather than racing along as he had that night, he walked steadily.
He soon climbed onto the cliff, moving neither quickly nor with any sign of slowing down.
It was very quiet at the foot of Sword Peak.
The Stewards of Cloud-Traveling Peak shook their heads repeatedly, stunned speechless.
The disciples stood with their mouths open, unable to say a word for a long while.
At first, it had not been so quiet here. Jibes and sneers directed at Jing Jiu could be heard from time to time.
But when they saw him walking among the heights, all those sounds were replaced by sharp intakes of breath.
After an unknown length of time, the disciples finally recovered their senses and began discussing him incessantly.
"Isn't this his first time on Sword Peak? How can he be walking so steadily?"
"How is this possible? He's already passed Eagle Beak Rock. Doesn't that put him above six hundred zhang?"
"How much farther do you think he can go? Another hundred zhang?"
"Surely he can't reach the clouds on his first try!"
"He really is remarkable... He was hiding his depths all along. But I heard Uncle-Master Mo's sword is at the summit. It should be very hard to get."
"Look! He's about to enter the clouds!"
"He actually entered the clouds!"
Jing Jiu did not know that his ascent of Sword Peak had so many spectators.
Even if he had known, he would not have cared. He simply walked at his own pace.
Soon, he entered the clouds and vanished from sight, leaving a chorus of amazement at the foot of the peak, along with a few slightly dissatisfied remarks.
How dashing would it have been if he had stopped and waved before entering the clouds?
Lin Wuzhi turned to head back to Sword-Washing Creek, and his gaze met Uncle-Master Mei Li's.
"Uncle-Master Mo certainly has a good eye."
Looking at Uncle-Master Mei Li, he said, "Sorry, but it seems we'll definitely have to compete for this child."
A sudden chill deepened across Uncle-Master Mei Li's beautiful face. "I'll say it again. Just look at that child's face. Of course he belongs on our Qingrong Peak... Senior Brother Mo is so ugly. Would he have the nerve to take this child as his disciple?"
Reaching the heights of Sword Peak's eastern slopes, Jing Jiu found that cliff face and stopped.
It was daytime now, so he could see more clearly. The hollow was only three feet deep, just large enough for one person to sit cross-legged inside.
Zhao Layue sat inside, just as she had two days earlier.
Her bleeding had stopped, but her face was very pale, and her injuries looked severe.
Jing Jiu set down the large basket of wild fruit he was carrying. "Eat these."
Before leaving his cave abode, he had had the apes among the cliffs pick this fruit. It tasted somewhat sour and bitter, but was extremely good for replenishing blood and vitality.
Then he took a medicinal pill from his sleeve and set it before her.
Zhao Layue raised her head and looked at him. "Why was the body discovered?"
Jing Jiu was somewhat surprised.
How did she know what had happened below the peak? If she had a helper among the Nine Peaks, why had that person not helped treat her injuries?
Zhao Layue seemed to know what he was thinking. "I have my ways."
Jing Jiu did not press her, because he did not care about this matter.
But Zhao Layue stared into his eyes, wanting an answer.
"It's been a long time since I killed anyone. I'd rather forgotten what to do afterward."
Jing Jiu said, "Besides, disposing of a body is such a bother..."
"So you just dumped him by the creek?" Zhao Layue asked.
"What else?" Jing Jiu asked.
Zhao Layue thought this boy truly was a strange bloom, even stranger than she was.
"Who exactly are you?"
Of course she knew he was Jing Jiu, the incomparably beautiful Jing Jiu.
But who was Jing Jiu? Was he an undercover agent sent by the imperial court?
Jing Jiu looked at her and asked with a smile, "What about you? Who are you?"
Of course he knew she was Zhao Layue, the one and only Zhao Layue.
But who was Zhao Layue? Was she the reinforcement the monkey had summoned?
Jing Jiu was not worried that Zhao Layue would expose him.
If people discovered that she had killed an uncle-master from Jade Lake Peak, there would be trouble even if she was Zhao Layue.
If she said that uncle-master had wanted to kill her... how many people would believe her?
So this matter could only remain a secret.
Having confirmed that her injuries should pose no serious danger, Jing Jiu turned to go down the mountain.
Just then, something suddenly occurred to him. "I remember now. I never buried the people I killed before, either."
"Weren't you afraid people would find out?" Zhao Layue asked.
"Why should I be afraid?"
"Afraid someone would seek revenge. Afraid of... trouble?"
"Revenge? It happened a few times at first. Later, nobody dared anymore, so it wasn't much trouble."
With that, Jing Jiu left Sword Peak.
Back at the foot of the peak, he saw the somewhat disappointed looks in his fellow disciples' eyes and only then recalled that he seemed to have forgotten something.
Jing Jiu's trip up Sword Peak caused an enormous sensation on both banks of Sword-Washing Creek. Although he had failed to bring back Uncle-Master Mo's Immortal Sword, no mockery or insults could be heard in the Sword-Washing Pavilion, only sighs tinged with regret at most. Even the senior brothers who had spent years in Sword Washing and attained profound cultivation now spoke of Jing Jiu with due respect, because many people had seen with their own eyes that day how he had entered the clouds on his very first ascent of Sword Peak.
Shangde Peak was still urgently investigating the murder of that uncle-master from Jade Lake Peak, but few people mentioned it anymore along Sword-Washing Creek. None of them had ever met that uncle-master, so naturally there were no feelings to speak of, and the matter was simply far too removed from them.
No one would believe that a Sword Washing disciple could kill a Sword Immortal in the Wuzhang Realm.
Except that fool Liu S sui.
Jing Jiu thought with a smile.
Before you continue