Epiphany

Sang Ying woke to the sound of birdsong, still somewhat unaccustomed to the soft bed beneath her.

When she pushed open the door, she found Nan Gurong coming to see her with a tray of food.

"Fellow Daoist Sang, you're awake so early. I thought you'd sleep a little longer." Sang Ying stepped aside and welcomed her in. Nan Gurong greeted her as she set the food on the table.

The Plain Robe Pavilion's food did taste excellent. Even Sang Ying, who cared little for the pleasures of the palate, found it mouthwatering.

"I'm used to getting up early to practice swordsmanship. If I hadn't been so exhausted yesterday, I probably would have been up even earlier," Sang Ying explained briefly.

Nan Gurong smiled. "I see. Then have breakfast before you go practice, Fellow Daoist Sang. The waystation does have a dedicated practice room."

She looked quite different from when Sang Ying had first met her. If Nan Gurong had once been a delicate beauty, she was now radiant and striking, so much so that Sang Ying couldn't help looking at her a few extra times.

Worried that Sang Ying wouldn't be able to find it, Nan Gurong made a point of telling her where the practice room was. They chatted a little longer before Nan Gurong took her leave.

Sang Ying was currently staying at the Plain Robe Pavilion's waystation in White Foothill City. Once the mortal girls had all been settled, they would set off for the Plain Robe Pavilion.

It had been a close call. The swordsmanship left behind by the Sword Master was extraordinary. Even though Sang Ying could only bring out seventy or eighty percent of its power, it had been enough to cut the masked figures to pieces. But the Demon Cultivator leading them had kept his guard up and pulled someone else in front of him to block her sword.

By the time Sang Ying had used up most of her spiritual power and even the tree branch had crumbled inch by inch into ash, none of them had been able to resist the Demon Cultivator any longer.

Fortunately, an elder from the Plain Robe Pavilion had arrived in time. She had not only saved them all but also captured the Demon Cultivator alive. Just like that, the crisis had been dispelled without a trace.

In recognition of Sang Ying's repeated help, Elder Chanyi of the Plain Robe Pavilion had offered to treat her injuries and brought her back to the pavilion's waystation as a guest.

Elder Chanyi had a very good impression of Sang Ying. On learning that her sword had shattered, she had even given Sang Ying a spirit sword she had obtained many years ago, giving the Sword Qi, Gu Shu, a new home.

Sang Ying had not wanted to accept it at first. After all, having an elder of the Plain Robe Pavilion personally treat her was already enough to repay what she had done. But Nan Gurong and the others had kept urging her, and being without a sword left her feeling somewhat insecure, so she had finally accepted it.

Still, it was such a generous gift that Sang Ying was determined to repay her if she found the chance.

Sang Ying practiced swordsmanship in the practice room for over two hours, but she could not recapture the feeling from yesterday. She had no choice but to suppress the feeling in her heart and practice the basic sword techniques, one move at a time.

Seeing this, Gu Shu couldn't help emerging to scold her. "Your body hasn't even recovered yet. Why are you in such a hurry to practice? Sword intent is something you can encounter but not seek. Gaining insight yesterday was already a heaven-sent fortuitous opportunity. Did you think something so good would fall into your lap every day?"

Sang Ying naturally understood all this. But on this journey of training, she had encountered so many formidable people. She felt more keenly than ever how weak she was. If she hadn't always had extraordinary encounters and good luck, she would probably have lost her life long ago.

She was truly afraid, and that fear drove her to press forward, not daring to stop for even a moment.

After hearing Sang Ying's explanation, Gu Shu immediately scoffed. "Look at yourself. How are you anything like a sword cultivator? You're plainly a coward who clings to life and fears death! The Sword Master's swordsmanship presses ever onward, cleaving mountains and moving seas. Unlike yours, its every move isn't tinged with fear. If you keep practicing like this, you can forget about ever mastering it in this lifetime!"

Gu Shu's words were like a clap of thunder, splitting open the confusion in Sang Ying's mind.

That was right. When she had faced her enemies before, her mind had held only the will to fight, not fear. That was why she had executed those sword moves so easily. Now her heart was full of fear, so naturally her practice was getting her nowhere.

Sang Ying remembered that her father had practiced the Carefree Sword. Whether he drew his sword or hurt someone had depended entirely on his heart, free and unrestrained. She had wanted to become a sword cultivator because she had hoped that one day she, too, could become such a carefree, unrestrained cultivator.

But looking back now, it seemed she had lost sight of that original wish as soon as she learned she was merely a supporting character.

That wouldn't do!

Sang Ying withdrew her sword and gently stroked the patterns on it. She wasn't living in this world to be imprisoned by that book and serve as someone else's puppet! She had only one life to live, and she would live it well for her parents' sake as well as her own!

All at once, the spiritual power in the eastern district, where the Plain Robe Pavilion's waystation stood, surged toward a small courtyard in the waystation. The surging Spiritual Qi formed a vortex and poured into the young woman inside the room.

Such a commotion drew the attention of everyone in the eastern district, Nan Gurong among them. When she ran out of her room in alarm and looked toward the place where the Spiritual Qi was gathering, Elder Chanyi also walked slowly out of her courtyard.

"Third Elder, what is that?" Nan Gurong was full of doubt and alarm. The Plain Robe Pavilion had always devoted itself solely to studying the art of healing and never took part in the disputes of the cultivation world.

If some extraordinary treasure had appeared at their waystation, the Plain Robe Pavilion would likely become fish on the chopping block!

Fortunately, Elder Chanyi soon explained with a smile, "Don't be afraid. Someone is experiencing an epiphany."

Although the commotion was rather great, someone was indeed experiencing an epiphany.

An epiphany was such a rare fortuitous opportunity that it was understandable for young cultivators like Nan Gurong not to recognize one.

Cultivators with higher cultivation could tell at a glance, though, so there was no need to worry that it would cause trouble.

Nan Gurong breathed a great sigh of relief. "I wonder who's in the practice room, to have encountered such a fortuitous opportunity?"

The youth beside her replied, "I remember it was Miss Sang Ying, who came back with us. She's been practicing swordsmanship in there for quite a while."

Only then did Nan Gurong remember that Sang Ying had mentioned going to practice when she had brought her food earlier.

She immediately said happily, "I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Sang Ying to have such good fortune. She truly is extraordinary!"

Ever since Sang Ying had escaped alive from the Cold Crow Devil Lord, Nan Gurong had known that this young female cultivator was blessed with great fortune. She simply hadn't expected Sang Ying to surprise her again so soon.

As they spoke, the surging Spiritual Qi gradually calmed, and Sang Ying slowly opened her eyes in the practice room. Though she didn't know what had just happened, she could clearly sense that the spiritual power within her was much richer than before.

Sang Ying flexed her hand, somewhat puzzled.

The Sword Qi, Gu Shu, knew what she was thinking from a glance at her expression. "You're a lucky child. I only said a few words, and you had an epiphany. Your cultivation even rose a good deal. Take a look and see what stage you've reached."

Sang Ying's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly checked her cultivation as it had told her to. What she found delighted her even more.

Originally, Sang Ying had only been at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, with a foundation somewhat more stable than others'. But after this epiphany, her cultivation had shot straight up to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!

Such speed would earn her the title of "genius" even in a great sect like the Flowing Light Sword Sect, where talented people emerged in droves.

Before she could digest this unexpected delight, Nan Gurong's voice came from outside the door. "Fellow Daoist Sang Ying, we should go outside. Someone is asking to see you at the waystation!"