Chapter Twelve: The Snow Kite Sword

“Both yes and no.”

Yu Wanqiao’s face was full of questions.

“Please, senior, explain it to me!” Yu Wanqiao said earnestly.

The woman sighed deeply.

She decided not to tease Yu Wanqiao any longer.

She had waited a long time, and now that she saw Yu Wanqiao, she wanted to have a conversation with her.

“What you see now is merely a lingering shadow from a hundred years ago. I have been in slumber for a long time, and only just now was awakened by the disturbance caused when Snow Swallow was pulled out.

A century ago, I was entrusted to leave behind a fragment of my soul here. The real me vanished completely a hundred years ago.”

Yu Wanqiao was stunned.

Before she could speak, the woman continued.

“I brought your consciousness here because I want you to truly understand Snow Swallow.”

After saying this, a book appeared in her hands.

“This is the sword technique of the Snow Swallow sword. Now, I entrust it to you, and I can rest assured.”

Yu Wanqiao did not reach out to take it.

The woman sighed again. “Let me show you a memory.”

With a wave of her hand, a scene appeared before them.

“Yanran, take good care of this sword for me, and wait for the next destined person.”

“No, no, I won’t allow it! I won’t allow it! If you leave, I would rather die than keep this sword for you. If you want the sword, then you keep it well!”

After saying this, Yanran began to channel spiritual energy to the woman who had just spoken.

The woman weakly pushed Yanran away.

“It’s useless, Yanran, useless. I exist because of his path. No matter how much spiritual energy you give me, I cannot survive anymore.”

The woman reached out and touched Yanran’s face.

“Yanran, promise me…”

Looking at the bloodied woman before her, Yanran nodded.

After obtaining Yanran’s affirmation, the woman forcibly smiled at her, then her hand slowly slid down, powerless.

Yanran embraced her and cried out loud.

...

With another wave, Yanran made the scene disappear.

“This is a voice-retaining stone, it never lies. The previous owner of Snow Swallow was that woman just now. She did not want Snow Swallow to be sullied, so she entrusted me.”

She smiled at Yu Wanqiao. “Now Snow Swallow has chosen you. I believe Snow Swallow does not choose based on the person.”

Yu Wanqiao felt a sudden, faint ache in her heart when she saw the subtitles just now.

The woman’s face had never been revealed.

“After you leave, if fate permits, you will leave. If not, then remain here to cultivate and restore your strength in peace. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”

Looking at the book Yanran handed her, Yu Wanqiao finally accepted it.

She dared not meet Yanran’s gaze.

She felt as if Yanran was seeing through her, or looking beyond her.

But in the end, Yu Wanqiao raised her eyes and was about to say something when she noticed Yanran’s body becoming increasingly transparent.

“Yanran?”

“Alas.”

In the next moment, Yu Wanqiao woke up on the ground.

Still in the same place.

She sat up in a daze, as if everything just now had been a dream.

But the book in her arms was telling her it was not a dream.

Yanran was real.

Thinking of Yanran’s last words, Yu Wanqiao unconsciously rubbed the sword in her hands.

“Don’t worry, I died long ago. On the day she died, I left with her. What you see now is just the me from a hundred years ago. I should return now…”

The tone no longer carried the earlier warmth, but instead a melancholic sadness as it looked at Yu Wanqiao, then slowly vanished.

Yu Wanqiao bit her lip, stood up, and walked out.

Why was she so moved by someone else’s story?

This was not who she should be now.

Without the resistance she had felt just moments ago.

Yu Wanqiao returned to the very spot where she had first fallen.

She looked up and saw only darkness.

There was no sunlight illuminating here, yet it was overwhelmingly blinding.

She recalled Yanran’s words and began to meditate.

Since she was here, she might as well find peace.

...

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Yu Wanqiao had stayed at the bottom of the cliff for two years.

Her cultivation had recovered to its previous level.

During these two years, she had flipped through the book countless times until she knew its contents by heart, able to recite it backwards and forwards.

Yu Wanqiao felt that the day she would leave was drawing near.

This must be the fate Yanran spoke of.

She went to the teleportation array she had discovered before as usual.

When she first found the teleportation array, she was ecstatic.

But after trying for several days with no response, she gave up.

However, as her cultivation steadily increased, she vaguely sensed a change in the teleportation array.

She came to a guess: one day, she would reach the cultivation level the array required.

Then her departure would not be far away.

Finally, that day came.

Following the guidance of the Snow Swallow sword, Yu Wanqiao arrived at a secluded corner at the bottom of the cliff.

An ancient teleportation array.

As usual, she exerted all her spiritual power.

Suddenly, the Snow Swallow sword emitted a dazzling light, merging with her spiritual energy and successfully activating the teleportation array.

It worked.

Her eyes lit up, and she immediately recited the runic incantation she had seen before.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back at Reflection Cliff.

The ancient teleportation array was beside the plaque at Reflection Cliff.

Here, stones were interwoven, forming the symbols of the teleportation array.

Two years had passed, and she had finally returned.

Yu Wanqiao had only taken two steps when a voice called out from behind.

“Senior sister? Is it really you? Is it really you?”

Yu Wanqiao turned around and saw Lu Xiao.

Lu Xiao recognized Yu Wanqiao at a glance.

Excitedly, he dropped what he was holding and hurried toward her.

But as he got closer, Yu Wanqiao drew her sword and pointed it at him.

“Stay away from me.”

Lu Xiao’s eyes were red.

“Senior sister, it was my fault back then. Now you can do whatever you want to me.”

He closed his eyes, ready to accept any punishment.

After two years, his appearance had changed greatly.

The careless demeanor he once had was gone.

Though hatred still gnawed at Yu Wanqiao’s heart, she did not strike.

After all, he was still a disciple of Master Qingfeng.

Giving in to temptation and acting rashly could lead her into another trap; it was not worth it.

Lu Xiao waited a long time but did not receive a sword through his heart.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was Yu Wanqiao’s retreating back.

He did not dare to follow her, only watching helplessly as she disappeared before he regained his senses.

Yu Wanqiao did not return to the Moon Embrace Pavilion but went back to her own cave.

She did not deliberately avoid anyone; after all, appearing meant she was not afraid of being discovered.

On the way, the surrounding disciples stared at her as if seeing a ghost.

Yu Wanqiao vaguely guessed the reason for their astonishment.

Moreover, she saw the incense and paper money in Lu Xiao’s hands.

Lu Xiao was offering incense for her.

Yu Wanqiao frowned.

How unlucky.

No wonder she had been sneezing so often at the bottom of the cliff.

It turned out that those at the top already believed she was dead.