Sword Viewing Forest.
In front of the sword stele enveloped in 'Yunluan Sword Qi'.
The young man sat on the ground, shirtless, skin torn, yet biting his teeth, letting blood and cold sweat drip down.
Three feet away from his surroundings.
Occasionally, outsiders pointed and whispered.
He had not yet stepped into the second stage of cultivation, was not someone who had attained the 'Great Innate', forged an Imperishable Body, nor had he worn the Martial Pass Third Realm's 'Water and Fire Immortal Robe', his skin was merely mortal flesh.
However, this sword net formed by Yunluan Sword Qi would vary in intensity based on the strength of the punished.
It wouldn't impose the heart-piercing pain of sword qi meant for a 'Great Innate' onto a Martial Artist only at the stage of Mercury Blood Silver Marrow.
But having only tempered bones and muscles, with flesh and skin not yet trained to the level of a 'Golden Bell Shield, Iron Cloth Shirt' equivalent to the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, enduring the sword qi...
It is impossible not to get hurt.
Song Brahman Mirror stood beside him.
In her eyes, a desire to speak held back, opening her mouth yet stopping, revealing unmasked sorrow.
She wasn't skilled with words.
Didn't know what to say.
After some thought, she spoke through a secret voice transmission into the young man's ear:
"Song Chai Xin."
"Do you think I help you purely for your sake?"
"Have you ever considered that maybe... I'm not as immaculate as you think."
"You think too highly of me."
Suddenly.
While enduring the trials of swords and blades, he even found the leisure to brag to the girl beside him about his recent exploits, about how he, with a pair of iron fists, turned the Yunluan Mountain upside down. The young man paused, dazed.
It seemed as if a voice slipped into his ear, yet the girl beside him sat properly, accepting the Sword Qi Punishment, without uttering a single word.
"When one day you reach 'Great Innate', if you wish to share secrets unknown to others, you too can speak through secret voice transmission like me." Song Brahman Mirror blinked.
"So, Senior Sister, does this mean... you consider me close enough to share these unknown secrets with me?" Song Chai Xin smiled.
The girl slightly raised her eyebrows:
"Are you sure... you dare to hear my secrets?"
"As the rightful Young Palace Master of Yunluan Mountain, destined to be the Swordsmanship Leader in Northwest Aquarius State within fifty years, her secrets are as vast as the sky."
"If you, a mere Half-Demon, heard them, perhaps not only Yunluan Mountain but the entire world would turn against you." Song Brahman Mirror spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously, her lashes fluttering.
Though both of them were being punished,
To Song Chai Xin, ever since he met the girl months ago, he had never seen Song Brahman Mirror so vibrantly alive.
Thinking this, he was momentarily distracted, only to be pierced to the bone by a sword qi, making him gasp with pain and shrink his neck:
"Then better not say them."
"With my trifling skills, I can barely bear this mere Sword Qi Punishment and have already provoked the enmity of a 'Great Innate' because of you."
"If your secret is too great and crushes me, what then?"
"In the end, the last person willing to stand by your side and support you might be gone."
Song Brahman Mirror was taken aback.
Then she looked around.
Indeed, in this vast Yunluan Mountain, for three whole months, no one had spoken a word to her or stood by her side.
It seemed like her whole life was like this.
People always showed more awe than affection towards her.
She felt a bit self-deprecating but also suddenly noticed Song Chai Xin, who was doing his utmost to resist the Sword Qi Punishment with unwavering focus.
As if recalling something.
For some reason, she suddenly smiled, her eyebrows gracefully curving, smiling confidently.
Then, she resolutely transmitted:
"If you can't withstand a Sword Qi Punishment, how would you risk your life for me?"
"Didn't you say, after walking out of Xuanqing Lake, that this life of yours belonged to me?"
"Not even daring to hear a little secret, what if one day I fall from grace, lose the title of Young Palace Master of Yunluan, and am condemned by thousands, would you then turn against me, fleeing far away?"
Song Chai Xin turned his head in shock.
He didn't expect the girl to have such an unreasonable side.
In that instant,
Song Chai Xin saw Song Brahman Mirror looking at him, smiling so childishly.
At this moment, she seemed not to be some naturally gifted sword core but rather a sprightly next-door girl, even younger than him.
"I never said that, though I don't read poetry, you shouldn't take things out of context either."
"What secret? Tell me." Song Chai Xin rolled his eyes and suddenly felt that the temperament of the person in front of him wasn't as icy as it appeared.
"I am but a troublesome fate, if I die then I die, at worst I'll die before you."
He thought, and as he did, the girl stretched leisurely, her pristine and unblemished white dress revealing her exquisite curves.
As he marveled at the peaks and mounts, the young man was momentarily dazed, catching the girl's attention.
Following his gaze, she slightly lowered her head.
Song Brahman Mirror's face suddenly turned red, as if peach blossoms bloomed amidst the spring breeze.
With a cough, her hand instinctively moved to the hilt of her sword.
But in the end, she only placed it there, stood up, and her face reverted to its immortal appearance:
"No wonder you are the child of a Flood Dragon, little lecher, growing up with such looks, who knows how many women you'll charm in the future."
Huh?
Isn't that something usually said about women?
As Song Chai Xin was still stunned, the girl secretly handed him a sword talisman:
"I've studied Yunluan Sword Qi for over ten years, this 'Yunluan Sword Talisman' is my personal belonging, and it's considered a precious family artifact, it can help you resist the 'Sword Qi Punishment'."
"For this month, bear with it for now, I'll find a way to end your punishment early."
"Additionally..."
The girl's eyebrows curved like spring mountains, even now with matters on her mind, her eyes still bloomed in a smile.
"Don't give people promises lightly."
"Remember,"
"Being able to live well yourself, no matter how many die, so be it."
"Do you think I hunted demons and evil for over ten years because I'm a true Fairy with compassion for the world, cleansing evil and defending the Dao?"
"You think too much."
"I'm merely... wanting to live well."
"If you're not in a position that commands attention, others can easily manipulate you at will."
"Remember, sometimes fame, identity, status..."
"Have their uses."
"At the very least, they make people weigh the pros and cons, or... act cautiously."
She extended her delicate jade fingers, brushing the young man's brow, like a sister taking care of her brother.
Then she stood up, retracting her smile like the melting snow and ice.
Once more, returning to her original expression, putting back on her 'mask' from before.
The three-month 'Sword Qi Punishment' thus ended.
Perhaps Song Chai Xin did not understand.
But she had already told him the biggest secret of her life while he remained oblivious.
With her back to Song Chai Xin.
The girl drew out a page as thin as cicada's wings, pale gold in color.
Seeing the flowing words on it, then the scene depicted three months ago, of the young man gazing at the towering Yunluan Mountain, wild with ambition, Song Brahman Mirror pursed her lips, gently smiling.
Turns out, even this One Page Celestial Book knew what she wanted most.
Having someone to share everything with, without reserve...
Sometimes, it's so important.