Going down the mountain to gain experience
It was pure chance that Zhou Heng'an had discovered a box of water spirit crystals hidden in his father's storeroom. Something so precious should have been kept close at hand in the Storage Bag of his father, the master of Azure Mountain Peak.
But years ago, his father had fallen victim to someone's scheme and lost a Storage Bag. After that, he had no longer felt safe carrying valuables on his person, so he had stored some of his treasures separately on the peak. He had thought that, should anything happen to him one day, these things could be left to his son rather than fall into outsiders' hands.
But he could never have imagined that the things he had so carefully prepared for his son would still end up in an outsider's hands—and that his precious son would personally hand them over.
As Zhou Heng'an secretly took the box of spirit crystals from his family's storeroom and headed up the mountain, he happened to run into Sang Ying, who was on her way to bid the sect master farewell.
He snorted coldly at her and deliberately turned his head away, ignoring her.
Sang Ying naturally couldn't be bothered with him either, and the two passed each other by.
But for some reason, seeing Sang Ying treat him as though he were invisible left a sour taste in Zhou Heng'an's heart. He deliberately called out to her retreating figure, "Don't get smug. Senior Sister Fuyun may have lost the Ice Lotus, but I'll give her something else just as good. Even if your scheming succeeded this time, you still won't win Immortal Venerable Yanchen's favor!"
Sang Ying paused, but she had no intention of turning around to answer. Instead, she continued on her way at a brisk pace.
Left behind, Zhou Heng'an angrily kicked at the stones beneath his feet. It took him quite a while to calm his anger before he continued on to find Su Fuyun.
Zhou Heng'an had arrived just in time. Today was the day Su Fuyun had been ordered to enter the quiet chamber.
Naturally, she was unwilling to go. She had already gone to Gu Huaiwei to plead for leniency, hoping he could change the sect master's mind or have her punishment changed.
But this time, no matter how heartbrokenly Su Fuyun wept before Gu Huaiwei, he merely offered gentle words of comfort, showing no intention of helping her escape her punishment.
At the end of their conversation, Gu Huaiwei suddenly asked, "Fuyun, did you really not push your junior sister on purpose?"
The question made Su Fuyun's expression change drastically.
Fortunately, her head was lowered. She quickly composed her expression and managed to hide it. "Master, why would you ask that? Have you misunderstood your disciple too, just like Junior Sister? You are the most important person to me, Master. If even you misunderstand me, I would rather leave your tutelage of my own accord and never set foot on the immortal path again!"
She had thought that Gu Huaiwei would surely believe her after hearing this and coax her as he had before.
To her surprise, Gu Huaiwei was silent for a long time before he said softly, "Forget it. This matter ends here. Hurry to the quiet chamber. In half a year, when you come out, you'll still be my good disciple."
Su Fuyun's hands and feet went icy cold. She forced a smile at Gu Huaiwei and bowed in thanks. "Yes, thank you, Master. I'll go now."
Gu Huaiwei waved a hand and dismissed her.
Su Fuyun walked out of Gu Huaiwei's cave abode in a daze. Only when she met Zhou Heng'an did she come back to her senses.
After receiving the spirit crystals from Zhou Heng'an, Su Fuyun's heart, chilled by Gu Huaiwei's neglect, finally warmed a little.
She guessed that Gu Huaiwei had probably grown somewhat suspicious of her because of Sang Ying. Fortunately, he had still chosen her over Sang Ying, who was, after all, only a disciple he had been forced to take in.
After receiving the box of spirit crystals, Su Fuyun treated Zhou Heng'an far better than before. She also casually asked, "By the way, Junior Brother, did you run into Junior Sister Sang Ying on your way up the mountain?"
Zhou Heng'an's expression darkened. "I did, but she's the talk of the town now. She wouldn't even acknowledge me."
Sang Ying had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm at such a young age, making her a rare genius even in the Flowing Light Sword Sect. Everyone had also learned from the disciples who had gone to the Qishan Secret Realm that Sang Ying had held off the Ice Flood Dragon single-handedly and saved them.
For a time, all the unkind talk about Sang Ying vanished. The only words left for her were glowing praises like "heaven's chosen," "a heaven-blessed talent," and "kindhearted."
People practically regarded her as a second Mu Xuan, thinking she had the bearing of a leader among the new disciples.
Sang Ying knew nothing of this. She was absorbed in cultivation and paid such matters no mind. Zhou Heng'an, however, asked around every day, and when he heard people praising Sang Ying, he didn't know whether to be angry or pleased.
Although Su Fuyun had long expected Sang Ying's reputation to soar, she hadn't expected so many people to admire her this time. After all, Su Fuyun herself had carefully cultivated a good image before everyone for many years.
Yet Sang Ying had merely seized the spotlight once in the secret realm, and the situation had changed completely.
Sure enough, strength was what mattered in the cultivation world.
With that thought, Su Fuyun said gently to Zhou Heng'an, "Junior Sister Sang Ying is a little cold, but she's actually a good girl. She was just spoiled before, so don't hold it against her. I'm afraid it'll be hard for me to come out of the quiet chamber over the next six months. Remember to help me look after her, and if anything happens to her, come tell me at once, so I won't worry."
Though the quiet chamber was no pleasant place to stay, visitors were not forbidden; only the times and number of visits were restricted. Zhou Heng'an readily agreed, promising to tell Su Fuyun everything about Sang Ying, down to the smallest detail. Only then did she set her mind at ease.
The people from the Discipline Hall soon arrived. Dressed in black, with Discipline Hall badges hanging at their waists, they carried an air of authority. Even when faced with a delicate, pitiful female cultivator like Su Fuyun, they showed not the slightest softness.
Before long, they threw Su Fuyun into the quiet chamber, her face full of bitterness.
The moment the quiet chamber's door closed, the formation inside began to operate. Every trace of Spiritual Qi vanished from the room in an instant, and Su Fuyun, accustomed to an environment rich in Spiritual Qi, immediately felt uncomfortable.
Fortunately, she still had the box of spirit crystals.
Before she could take them out, an aged, hoarse male voice came from the jade pendant. "Wait!"
Su Fuyun paused. Though she obeyed, she still asked in a complaining tone, "My aptitude is poor to begin with. If I don't seize every moment to cultivate, I really won't be able to compare with Sang Ying!"
A cold laugh came from the jade pendant. "Foolish! You've only just entered the quiet chamber, and plenty of eyes are on you. If you take out the spirit crystals to cultivate now, Zhou Heng'an's father will surely find out soon enough. Do you think you'll still be able to keep that box of spirit crystals then?!"
The voice carried anger and a trace of disdain for Su Fuyun. She could naturally hear it, but because she still had to rely on him, she could only grit her teeth and bear it.
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Su Fuyun asked softly.
He replied, "With the Ice Lotus lost and you punished, the original plan has been thrown into complete disarray. Now, I'm afraid it'll be difficult for you to cultivate without dirtying your hands. Your only option is to practice the Cultivation Method I created myself. Only then can you make up for the shortcomings of your Spirit Root and soar to the heavens in a matter of months!"
Su Fuyun knew the Cultivation Method he was talking about. Powerful as it was, it also had enormous drawbacks. But now she had no choice but to accept it. Even if she had to bear unforeseeable consequences, Su Fuyun would practice it!
Once she mastered this Cultivation Method and left the quiet chamber, Sang Ying's good days would be over!
At that moment, Sang Ying had no idea what Su Fuyun was thinking. Even if she had known, she probably wouldn't have taken it to heart. She had already packed her belongings and was on her way down the mountain.
She looked back at the sword sect's towering mountain gate. The next time she returned, she would surely be a Golden Core True Person, coming to take back what belonged to her parents!