Chapter 19: Kindred

After waking from her nap, she sat before the dressing table as usual, with Vane standing behind her, draped in the cool morning chill. His own quarters also had a dressing table; the bronze mirror clearly reflected her drowsy state.

The youth's long fingers wove through her hair. Zora felt it wasn't the usual ox-horn buns this time; it was simpler, with a blue hair ribbon entwined with several strands of black hair on one side, braided into a thin plait that hung amidst her soft, cool tresses.

"Done."

Zora touched it and gave a small grunt of acknowledgment. Heading to the same destination, she picked a crane at random—both were very affectionate toward her—and mounted the nearest one. Vane brought the necessary books along, but he didn't have time to mention it, planning to explain midway if Zora suggested going back for them.

Then, she flew straight to the Bamboo Resonance Courtyard without a single pause, completely forgetting to bring the new books.

Vane: "..."

There seemed to be a few more people in the Bamboo Resonance Courtyard. Zora still sat in the back row, and the books on the table were neatly arranged, with not a single one missing. Vane placed the new book on her desk, lifted his hem slightly, and sat down.

It was still early for class, and the courtyard was noisy. Every new disciple carried some form of injury, so no one stood out. Zora was touching the pointed end of a brush when Yiling Ke entered the room and greeted her.

During this time, someone approached hesitantly to strike up a conversation, only to retreat dejectedly due to Zora’s flat, emotionless tone. Vane, on the other hand, dealt with everyone with a smile. His tactic was like Tai Chi—you might think you’d chatted with him for a long time, but he had revealed nothing, while actually fishing out some other information.

For example, someone whispered to him that the white-clad boy sitting toward the front-left had been punished and sent to listen to lectures because he made a mistake during a mission. He was a sword cultivator—but unlike most, he was a sword cultivator destined to walk the Path of Heartlessness.

Zora, forced to overhear the gossip, asked: "What is the Path of Heartlessness?"

Seeing Zora tilt her head to look at him—her face appearing fair and delicate in the morning light without a hint of sharpness, and her rounded eyes holding no malice—the disciple’s face flushed slightly. He whispered, "The Path of Heartlessness means that after entering the Dao, one will never again have strong, fluctuating emotions. Whether it's family, friends, or romantic love, all of it dissipates. They only act according to the Path formed by their own principles."

Vane lowered his long lashes, discreetly glancing at the person’s shy expression. It was normal; everyone sitting here was a youth or maiden at the stage where the first stirrings of love occur—a simple sentence could be the source of a heartbeat.

However...

Vane looked down at the new book. He felt that the phrase "stirrings of love" was completely at odds with her. At this thought, a strange feeling suddenly bubbled up in his heart, urging him to look up at Zora. She still wore that same expression, clearly having no interest in that disciple.

Vane let out a sigh of relief, attributing the sudden feeling to worry and even providing a self-explanation:

This is for the best. I don't want the master to have a troublesome lover, or it might break the current way we interact.

Zora nodded, gave a simple thanks, and went back to smoothing the brush bristles. The disciple looked like he desperately wanted to say more. He suppressed it for a bit, then forced a new topic: "In the entire December Sect, only Song Zhihuai and his master practice the Path of Heartlessness. I heard his master killed his own father and mother on the day he entered the Dao, just to ensure a smooth transition."

Killing one's kin to enter the Dao was terrifying to some, who avoided such people at all costs. Consequently, everyone intentionally or unintentionally distanced themselves from the disciple, Song Zhihuai—who knew if he would kill someone close to him when he entered the Dao?

Vane, who had also killed his father and mother, remained expressionless, not bothering to offer a polite agreement. Zora, who had also killed her father, was confused by the disciple's disgusted look and frowned slightly. She once again felt the difference between this world and her original one.

Though she wasn't much for deep thinking, the girl's intuition was exceptionally accurate, and she didn't open her mouth to say she was the same. Not wanting to deal with the overly enthusiastic disciple anymore, she used the end of her brush to poke the person beside her in the waist.

Vane, sitting between them, blinked. He looked up with a smile that was polite to a fault and dismissed the person in just a few words.

Zora: "If he comes again, you go talk to him."

Vane agreed faster than usual: "Yes."

After half the lecture was finished today, Xu Tan waved his sleeve, and everyone's wooden tables suddenly vanished.

"Today we will attempt to draw Qi into the body. This depends entirely on one's own comprehension. Those punished and sent to listen can close their eyes and practice on their own."

Everyone sat cross-legged. Xu Tan's voice, slowly reciting the words, seemed to drift from a distance. Closing her eyes, she saw only darkness. She didn't fully understand the archaic language he recited, only picking out the parts she could grasp.

...

Familiar spiritual energy began to flow through his meridians. Vane had practiced before, so entering the Dao again was naturally even more proficient. Unlike practicing in the Demon Realm, the spiritual energy in the December Sect was dense and pure. Furthermore, with countless high-level cultivators practicing and contemplating the Dao here day after day, the traces of spiritual power they left behind permeated every plant and tree of the sect. This place had long become an excellent location for cultivation.

The spiritual energy flowed more smoothly than ever before, washing through his meridians again and again. A portion of it remained, nourishing his spiritual roots. After several breaths, the youth slowly opened his eyes. His vision was clear and his mind bright, as if he had emerged from murky water; he felt comfortable all over.

He met Xu Tan's gratified gaze and paused for a moment, offering a slight smile in response. Then he looked at Zora. She was surrounded by spiritual energy.

When she opened her eyes, her amber eyes scanned the room, and she touched her ears, which were itching because her hearing had suddenly grown sharper. The thin braid entwined with the blue ribbon moved slightly in his vision. She turned her head and said with a sense of novelty, "So this is cultivation."

The youth suddenly felt waves of complex emotions welling up in his heart—because of those three days of practicing just to survive, and because he had nearly lost his life despite escaping the Demon Realm. Because now he had finally taken that step and established himself in the Immortal Cultivation Realm. Perhaps also because of the "whispers" she had said.

The corners of his lips couldn't help but curl. Unlike the smile he gave Xu Tan, this one was fainter, lighter, and held a hint of spirit.

"Yes. This is the cultivation that millions seek."

...

The disciple who had violated the rules yesterday didn't return; Zora sparred with someone else. Once the disciple used the basic sword techniques, she was surprised to find that every move and stance was extremely familiar to her. After countering the moves, she executed the same techniques fluently, with her own unique style.

"You..." He naturally knew about yesterday's events. Back then, her sword use was still clumsy and unrefined, which was why he was so astonished now.

Ding Wanren watched with clear eyes for a long while, his hands behind his back, then suddenly laughed: "Hahaha! Good! This child's path of the sword will surely be long and far-reaching!"

Zhang Mo, distracted for an instant, had his wooden sword knocked away. He apologized frantically, leaning over to pick it up. He only then remembered that she must have stayed behind to practice yesterday. High talent plus hard work—Zhang Mo, who currently only knew two or three moves, felt the gap between them widening.

...This was the difference between him and her.

When the rumors of the Dual-Element Roots spread through the inner and outer gates, Shu Liang felt a chill in his heart. He hadn't passed the trial for sword cultivators, nor the one for formation masters; in the end, he had become a medicine cultivator. His talent wasn't particularly high, and he had no master.

Those who had flattered him after climbing the stairway had scattered after being beaten by Vane and Zora, all of them serving as laborers in the outer gate; they were of no help at all.

A medicine disciple saw the new junior brother's pale face and glazed eyes and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"No... nothing..." He said this, yet he was breaking out in a cold sweat. He bid a hasty farewell and walked out of the medicine hall.

What to do? What to do! He was indeed a member of the family of the world-renowned Medicine Immortal, Lord Shu Ning. —If it hadn't been for Shu Ning severing ties with the family decades ago, he wouldn't be in this situation now!

Shu Ning had cut ties ruthlessly. If someone from the family fell ill or wanted to use a back door to enter the immortal path, if they went to her and tried to use family ties as leverage, she would smile and poison them. It wouldn't kill them, but they would suffer a fate worse than death until they couldn't take it and went to her crying and begging for mercy on their knees. For a first offense, she would pretend to hand over an antidote. For a second, she would close her doors and never see them again, until they lived out their wretched lives.

From then on, no one went to her. But Shu Liang’s father was a distant relative of Shu Ning; the blood tie wasn't deep. He had never truly met Shu Ning, nor did he know the truth of those events. He lacked fear of her. Living far away, he spent his days criticizing her for the crime of not recognizing her kin, acting as if he stood on the absolute moral high ground. This had caused Shu Liang to have a casual attitude toward Shu Ning as well.

Surely a cultivator would care about their reputation?

he thought.

Who would have thought that upon arriving at the Medicine Gate and making discreet inquiries, he would find out with a heavy heart that she truly didn't care! He didn't dare go to Lord Shu Ning anymore. Now that those two were actually Dual-Element Roots, it was even worse. When they rose higher, they would surely settle old scores! What was he supposed to do?

Only one month. Only one month where they wouldn't have a master and their cultivation could still be called low. He couldn't just sit and wait for death.

Shu Liang stared at the slow-acting poison he had specifically stolen; it could obstruct meridians and hinder cultivation. Of course, it only worked on those in the Qi Condensation stage or ordinary people; he couldn't steal anything better. But it was enough.

He grit his teeth, hatred spreading and jealousy festering. ...Besides, why should those two have high talent? Life is truly unfair! Instead of watching them rise step by step and living in constant fear, it was better to strike first. Staying where he was would result in their revenge, but if he acted on a day when no one was watching, he might not be discovered.

...

Several more days passed. Vane’s body was covered in more and more wounds, but since entering the gate, he could hold his own to some extent. It wouldn't be long before he could strike back.

On this day, Zora finished her practice and walked toward the white crane.

"Wait," Vane called out to her.

"What is it?"

He adjusted his uneven breathing for a few heartbeats and said, "Do you remember a person named Shu Liang?"

Zora: "Who?"

"The one who came in the middle of the night and was beaten before we entered the Voidwave Realm."

She vaguely remembered a shadow. "What about him?"

Vane touched a bruise at his temple. "He's been asking about our whereabouts."

"?"

Zora didn't head back; instead, Vane led her to a quiet path hidden in the woods. Shu Liang was talking to a disciple at the end of the path, asking casually, "Are those two Dual-Root disciples the same?" He even laughed and said, "I've heard about them. Their talent is really high."

The disciple suspected nothing. After all, anyone could find out about the Sword Gate disciples' curriculum if they asked. So, he joined in the admiration, but while the disciple was truly envious, Shu Liang’s heart was likely ready to vomit.

Zora: "What is he doing?" Vane: "Likely some kind of framing, but he lacks a brain; he's quite foolish." Zora: "How do you know?" Vane said offhandedly: "After we gave him a beating, I occasionally checked if he entered the sect, and that’s how I discovered this." Zora: "?"

Your time management is truly precise.

Zora: "When you provoke someone, do you always investigate them like this?" Vane glanced at her: "Naturally not. But people like Shu Liang are the most petty. These kinds of small people are the most troublesome; they pop up every now and then, and it's endlessly annoying." "Oh, true." Zora thought for a moment and agreed with him. She was used to overt malice in her original world; this kind of underhanded behavior was indeed very annoying.

Giving him another beating wouldn't work; he hadn't actually done the deed yet, and it wouldn't be good if they were punished. Zora wasn't good at such things. She said to Vane, "You figure out a way."

"...Yes."

...

Shu Liang took a detour through a sparsely populated area to return. On his way, he suddenly heard someone call his name. He turned around. On another path that ended in a small clearing by the Skysea, two people were sitting at a square stone table.

The one calling him was the boy—that familiar face made Shu Liang feel a sudden wave of guilt, fearing the boy had discovered the true purpose of his trip.

Unexpectedly, Vane didn't ask him that. Instead, he wore an arrogant smile and raised an eyebrow: "Shu Liang? I remember you haven't formally apologized to us yet. Do you look down on us?"

He played the part of an arrogant accuser perfectly. Zora took a sip of water and watched him perform.

This bastard...!

Shu Liang had never been accused with such a contemptuous tone before, and his eyes instantly turned red with rage. But he didn't dare truly resist. He looked at the teapot on the table; there was no one around. Suddenly, a plan formed. He immediately put on a fawning smile and took a step forward. "It was my fault. I won't do it again."

He acted timidly, even pouring tea for Vane with a face full of forced smiles. "And I truly am of the Shu family. Immortal Shu Ning is a member of our family. If you ever need me for anything, just ask. I am willing to go through fire and water for you."

Shu Liang took the opportunity to pour a cup for all three of them. In the instant his sleeve covered the view, he poured in the medicinal powder, which dissolved on contact. Since they had little cultivation now, it would work as long as he wasn't caught by the naked eye. He brought the cups of tea over one by one.

Vane took his cup with a smile but said nothing. Suddenly, a white crane shrieked in the distance. The already tense Shu Liang, thinking someone was coming, immediately looked over. It was just two white cranes. He turned his head and sighed in relief, raising his cup in an apologetic gesture. "I am truly sorry. I will definitely turn over a new leaf."

"I hope so." Vane drank the tea.

Zora looked at the white porcelain cup that Vane had just swapped for fresh water and drank it down without a care. Shu Liang finished his in one gulp, his heart filled with joy.

What Sword Gate disciples? Nothing more than this. Still wanted him to apologize and go through fire and water? Bah!

He tried to control his expression. "Then... I’ll take my leave."

Shu Liang hurried away. Vane finally withdrew his smile, not caring about Shu Liang, who had just drunk his own poison. His heart was calm. He looked at Zora; she was propping up her chin, staring blankly at the waves of the Skysea, who knew what she was thinking.

After watching the scenery in silence for a while, she said, "Are people who kill their kin viewed with contempt? Are such people rare?"

Vane paused, then said, "Likely so." He stopped for a few heartbeats and added, "But some people truly deserve to die. It's nothing."

Zora recalled that in the original story, his parents weren't really mentioned, so she asked, "Where are your parents?"

"In the ground." The ground of the Demon Realm.

"Oh." Vane asked in return, "What about yours?"

"My mother died of illness," Zora recalled. "My father was killed by me, and I don't know where the body went."

Back then, her mother was gravely ill. On the verge of death, she had smiled at her: "...I truly regret giving birth to you... But, I'll do one last thing for you..."

The next day, her opponent in the duel was her father. That man occasionally gave her food but usually wouldn't see her; her mother was the same, treating her like a pet they occasionally remembered to feed if there was extra grain. People here were lucky if they could even distinguish who their biological parents were.

The man had been happy that his opponent was a child, thinking he could pass the match safely. He said, "What a shame. I thought I could sell you to those aristocrats to live a good life. You truly have no luck." Then he charged at her with a contorted face.

Vane was slightly dazed, lowering his eyes to stare at the ripples in his tea. Zora finished her story and that was it; she didn't need any feedback. She was just gauging the values of this world. She stared at the sea in a daze, wondering what to do if she had to write with a brush again tomorrow.

Suddenly, his calm voice reached her ears.

"At first, my parents sold me to a butcher who liked to eat human flesh, in exchange for pork. So I took the opportunity to kill them all." Since famines occasionally occurred in human settlements as well, he wasn't afraid of being revealed as coming from the Demon Realm.

Vane: "Some people are meant to die, and some are meant to live." He never felt guilty or conflicted about these things, nor did he think he needed anyone to comfort or explain them to him.

In his peripheral vision, the girl stared at him for a long while, until he was about to voice his confusion. But she soon withdrew her gaze, and her silhouette drew closer.

It was a square table with long benches. They had originally been sitting opposite each other, but Zora suddenly sat down by his side, sharing the bench with him.

"..." Vane looked up. She was propping up her chin with both hands, looking as if she were in a very good mood, her eyes bright. He caught her bright gaze for an instant and uncontrollably looked away.

Zora: "Say that again."

"??" Vane faltered for a few heartbeats, looked at Zora several times, and then slowly spoke it again. Once he finished, Zora shifted her position and sat right against him. When their arms touched, Vane fell into a long silence. He didn't look at her, instead gripping his teacup tight.

Zora went back to watching the sea. Being so close—even though they had hugged before—it felt exceptionally different this time. The touch at his arm felt more intense than a blade's edge, yet far gentler. She shouldn't have any scent on her, yet he seemed to be able to smell it, a fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose—neither sweet nor foul, just her own unique scent. It brought a strange sensation, his heart drummed.

Vane didn't dare move his head, his entire body tensed. Zora asked him to pour another cup of water.

"..." Vane poured her a cup. He had the illusion that she was following her heart to draw close simply because she was happy to have found a kindred parricide.