Eight Years

The years drifted by, and the affairs of the mortal world passed like the wind.

Time slipped away, spring gave way to autumn, and eight fleeting years passed in the blink of an eye.

In a bamboo grove at the Eight Gods Pavilion, a young man and a woman were drinking together as bamboo leaves drifted slowly down on the breeze.

The young man was handsome, with ink-black hair, brows like flying swords, and eyes that seemed to hold the sun, moon, and stars. Clad in purple robes, who could see him without praising him as a fine, spirited young man?

The woman's skin was fairer than snow, and her eyes were like pools of clear water. When she glanced about, she carried an air of elegance and nobility that forbade any profane thoughts and warned strangers to keep their distance.

Eight years had passed, and the eighteen-year-old Qin Yi had broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. The woman was his senior sister, Lan Xuan. Three years ago, after she returned from her travels, Song Qi had sent her to the bamboo grove to guide Qin Yi in his cultivation.

"Senior sister, how about a few rounds with me?"

"Heh, you've got spirit. Getting beaten three times a day still isn't enough for you? Fine, this fourth time, I'll make sure you can't get out of bed tomorrow."

Qin Yi's right eyelid twitched wildly. After eight years of cultivation, he had long since broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, but against Lan Xuan, who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, he had no chance of winning.

Qin Yi tightened his grip on Cangyuan and shouted, "Senior sister, here I come!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Qin Yi charged at Lan Xuan, Cangyuan whirling through a beautiful flourish in his hands. But Lan Xuan held her sword across her body and used the force of the impact to put some distance between them.

"Junior brother, let your senior sister show you what it means for Sword Qi to sweep across eight thousand li, and a single sword's light to chill nineteen continents." With that, one icy stream of Sword Qi after another shot from Lan Xuan's sword.

"Whoa, senior sister, you're using that move again!"

"Junior brother, your practical combat experience needs work."

Qin Yi could only keep dodging. When they first started, it wasn't as though he had never taken a stream of Sword Qi from a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator head-on. That feeling-tsk, tsk-could only be understood, not put into words.

In the gap between two streams of Sword Qi from Lan Xuan, Qin Yi hurled Cangyuan at her. Arcs of electricity danced along it, and a dragon's roar rang through the bamboo grove.

"Senior sister, watch out!"

Lan Xuan had no choice but to dodge the attack, only for a bolt of blue lightning to strike from above the next instant, forcing her to change the direction of her retreat.

"Not bad, junior brother."

Before she had finished speaking, scorching flames erupted from where she stood. Lan Xuan flew into the air in a sorry state. "I was careless." Her icy eyes fixed coldly on Qin Yi.

"Junior brother, my turn."

"Mystic Ice Sword Rain!" Long swords formed of ice slowly appeared behind Lan Xuan. Their chill made Qin Yi feel as though even his soul would freeze.

"Senior sister, I... I was only joking with you just now..."

"Aah!"

A scream echoed throughout the bamboo grove.

"No more, no more." Half an hour later, Qin Yi lay on the ground in a sorry state. If Lan Xuan hadn't kept the sword rain's power suppressed, he would have been full of holes by now.

Like a fairy, Lan Xuan slowly descended from the sky, graceful in the extreme. Looking at Qin Yi's bedraggled state, her eyes were filled with amusement.

"Not bad. With your current strength, as long as you aren't careless, you can just about exchange a few moves with someone at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. You should be able to escape from someone at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but if you run into someone at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, you'll have to pray for your own luck."

Lan Xuan picked up the cup of wine on the stone table and took a small sip. "It's about time Master let you go down the mountain to gain some experience."

Qin Yi's ears perked up. "Really? It's been eight years. Can I finally go out and make my way in the world?"

Lan Xuan turned serious. "Things are different down the mountain. When you're out there, there's no need to hold back. Once you encounter an enemy, make sure you cut the weeds and tear out the roots."

"Try not to meddle in others' affairs, lest you become entangled in karma. Do you understand?" As she mentioned enemies, a trace of killing intent suddenly rose from Lan Xuan.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior sister. I've long since committed all of that to heart."

Just as Lan Xuan was about to say something more, a voice rang through the entire bamboo grove. "Xuan'er, Yi'er, come to the wooden cabin. I have something to tell you."

Qin Yi and Lan Xuan exchanged a glance. Qin Yi said, "Senior sister, let's see who gets there first."

"All right."

"Then listen while I count to three. We start on three."

"Okay."

"One, three!"

"..."

"Qin Yi, stop right there! Come back and let's have a few more rounds." Though Lan Xuan sounded angry, a faint smile played on her face. A life like this doesn't seem so bad.

Of course, Lan Xuan arrived first in the end. Qin Yi lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "Senior sister, I was wrong."

"Hmph. If Master weren't here, I'd have to give you a little more guidance."

Song Qi watched the two of them fool around in silence, a faint smile on his face. Only after they had both quieted down did he speak. "Yi'er, you turn eighteen this year. I permit you to go down the mountain and settle your ties to the mortal world."

Qin Yi also wanted to go back and see his father. Prince Qing would soon be fifty, and Qin Yi didn't know whether he would still be there the next time he returned. His eyes grew slightly moist as he said, "Thank you, Master."

"Mm. After you've visited your father, hurry to the Eight Gods Pavilion branch at Hui Mountain. Once you're there, you need only tell them you want three first-tier missions and one second-tier mission. Someone will give you the missions. Complete them within six months. Understand?"

"I understand, Master."

"Although this journey isn't very dangerous, you must still be careful. I don't want you dying before your time along the way," Song Qi told Qin Yi seriously.

"Then I'll make preparations and go down the mountain tomorrow."