Chapter 98: Peach Blossom Forest

Zora had no interest in cleaning up the aftermath of the corpses, so she left it to Turi Qi to collect the remains of her kinsman.

Turi Qi leaned down, her brows furrowed in concentration. The headless body lay limp on the ground, fresh blood gushing from the cross-section of the neck, staining the white jade stone path a shocking red.

Turi Qi said, "There are traces of many low-grade pills in his meridians, even seeping into the red flesh. A mortal's body cannot withstand much to begin with, but he consumed too much junk. His flesh and skin have become like medicinal herbs."

The disciple muttered to himself, "Medicinal herbs...?"

Zora asked, "What illness can they cure?"

Turi Qi shook her head. "It's just an exaggeration. However, many people are superstitious and believe this is a way of practicing and entering the Dao."

The disciple opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but didn't dare. This was the Tu family's business.

Zora, however, said whatever was on her mind without hesitation: "Your kinsman was not good at all."

Disciple: "..."

She just... she just said it out loud!!

Turi Qi froze. She stood up and looked down slightly at Zora. Since Zora had returned to the sect, Turi Qi had rarely looked at her so closely.

Junior Sister Zora seemed to have no changes. In her eyes, Zora was still that exceptionally naive girl—young, a bit tender, with round eyes and just the right amount of soft flesh on her face. It was clearly an adorable face, yet at times it could become extremely cold. Turi Qi had grown increasingly mature, while Zora seemed to remain frozen in the torrent of time, unchanged.

Zora looked away, glancing at the head not far away and then at the fallen sword of the dead man. She repeated, "Your family is still very weak."

Disciple: "..."

I should really stop chiming in. This is the domain of the powerhouses.

The disciple shrunk his neck, lowering his head even further, trying to hide himself like a quail to reduce his presence.

Turi Qi snapped out of it. "...After all, I am the only one in the Tu family who currently possesses spiritual roots."

Zora gave an "oh." Since she truly considered the matter settled, she said goodbye and prepared to leave. Turi Qi started to call out to her but stopped. Forget it; she would handle it herself. It was her family member who had made the mistake. Turi Qi settled her mind and sent a letter to the Tu family, with whom she hadn't been in contact for a long time.

The Tu family, upon receiving the letter, ignored the faults of Tu Ningzhi mentioned within and only saw the fact that "Turi Qi's friend" had killed a member of the Tu family.

How muddled! How could this Turi Qi have the face to stay on peaceful terms with the culprit who killed her own kinsman? In the mortal world, people would be stabbing her in the back with their words!

Tu Ningzhi’s death was no small matter for the Tu family. He was Tu Zhu’s only son—the others had either died in infancy or perished halfway. Everyone in the Tu residence knew in their hearts that the primary wife had quietly poisoned the children born to the concubines, resulting in Tu Ningzhi being the only legitimate eldest son for decades.

No matter how the concubines made a fuss, Tu Zhu was focused solely on seeking longevity. He didn't care to manage them, yet he wouldn't let them go; in his leisure time, he would pick a beautiful one for amusement. Tu Ningzhi was his son from late in life; he had married his current primary wife in his forties, relying entirely on the Tu family’s status and a face that didn't match his age. Only Tu Zhu himself knew the unstoppable aging within.

Now, those aging hands were trembling slightly. The letter was crumpled in his palm. Even at sixty, he could be called a man rather than an old man. Tu Zhu’s anger made his whole body shake. He clenched his teeth, his brows raised. A surge of fury and shame over being belittled and having his territory violated rushed to his skull. He tried to speak, but only a violent cough came out.

His wife immediately stepped forward, stroking his back to ease his breathing. "Master, Turi Qi is your elder sister and a member of our Tu family, yet she bolsters others' spirits and destroys our own prestige, taking the side of an outsider. To let our Ning'er..." She sobbed a few times to hide her grief. "To let our Ning'er die in such a cruel way! Master, you must get justice for Ning'er! This is a slap to your face as well. That elder sister of yours has cultivated, so she no longer takes us mortals seriously!"

"Yes, Master. As a Tu, Turi Qi has never secured any benefits for the family. She lives a carefree life, lording it over others in the December Sect. If it weren't for the Sword Sovereign’s kindness in taking her as a disciple, it wouldn't even be her turn..."

A mortal, while fearing the abilities of practitioners, also feels the need to pass judgment on those distant cultivators—it was quite a contradiction, yet perfectly normal.

"And her talent is thin. If it weren't for her possessing a Sword Bone..."

One person interrupted, "Her talent with a sword can't even compare to the top disciples of the Sword Gate. How can you be so sure she has a Sword Bone?"

"A Sword Bone is just a tool; she just doesn't use it well. Remember that there was once someone in the cultivation world with a Sword Bone who wasted their days, didn't even cross the Foundation Establishment stage, and passed away in a hurry?"

"True. That Turi Qi must be neglecting her practice all day for the sake of a position, which is why others have left her behind."

At some point, a rumor had spread like wildfire through the mortal world that the Sword Sovereign had only taken Turi Qi as a disciple because she possessed a "Sword Bone." At the very least, those mortal families with close ties to the cultivation world believed it firmly. Otherwise, why take her? Even with dual spiritual roots, the Sword Sovereign of back then was so high and mighty that some extra weight would have been needed to move him.

It was just like the rumor that practitioners of the Heartless Path needed to kill their wives, fathers, and mothers; no matter how Si Shaoyu clarified it, he couldn't stop the spread. One can't even ensure the complete disappearance of rumors between the royals and the commoners, let alone between the cultivation world and the mortal realm—there was naturally a layer of inexplicable separation between the two.

Some people wouldn't care how the Sword Sovereign’s son was still around; they only chose to believe what they wanted to believe. Everything that followed was a highly purposeful search for "evidence" to support them, rather than a search for the truth.

Hearing the words "Sword Bone," Tu Zhu’s lips twitched. His wife, Li Xin, seemed to sense something as well. She covered her crying face with her long sleeve, her eyes hidden as she stole a glance at her husband. The two shared a silent understanding. The others didn't notice, lost in their collective indignation.

In the original work, the Tu family only restrained themselves after being intimidated by the Sword Sovereign, Wanghua-jun. But in the end, it wasn't because of Turi Qi herself; they still spoke ill of her behind her back. No matter how the male lead of this master-disciple angst novel suffered or struggled emotionally, his status in the outside world remained supreme. After all, his strength was there, and it wouldn't change.

If Turi Qi hadn't stayed with the Sword Sovereign—and even become his Dao companion in the eyes of the public by the finale—the Tu family would likely have become even more arrogant. And Wanghua-jun never took mortal families seriously. In the original text, after warning the Tu family, he never told Turi Qi the reason. He felt it was unnecessary; he was confident that even if she were betrayed by her family, she wouldn't be hurt.

According to the original timeline, by this point, many people would have already known about the ambiguity between the Sword Sovereign and his disciple, though they didn't state it openly. Those people would pretend not to know, not daring to offend the Sovereign. As for what they did behind the scenes or in front of the female lead, that goes without saying.

However, in this current reality, no news of the Sword Sovereign and his disciple being entangled had spread through the cultivation world.

Turi Qi personally went to the Tu family the same day she sent the letter. she explained in detail that Zora had only killed Tu Ningzhi because he had overreached and tried to kill her first. Naturally, the rhetoric was polished. Provoking trouble and losing one's life as a result was perfectly normal in the cultivation world. The group agreed readily in front of her, and Turi Qi, busy with affairs, left once again.

"Zora must be made to apologize at Ning'er's grave!" Li Xin shouted after Turi Qi had departed.

"Can practitioners just slaughter the innocent? I don't believe her Master is unreasonable!"

Her Master was indeed "unreasonable." She didn't even look at the letter of complaint, saying, "Where did this stranger come from? Too many words, not reading," and burned the letter.

So the Tu family sent someone to wail before her. The person wailed for a long time, but seeing no reaction from the person in front of him, he looked up.

Zhou Shijin looked on with great interest. "To be honest, how did she kill him? Decapitation? This disciple of mine is good in every way, except her killing has no aesthetic sense—it's too direct. Now, that kid Vane, he puts on an act in front of Zora, but his killing is both fast and beautiful. A pity it's wasted on the blind."

She had zero empathy, not even regarding human life as important—completely different from the "benevolent" practitioners spoken of by the world. The messenger was so angry he nearly had a heart attack on the spot. He returned to the Tu family in a gray mood and reported the matter.

Tu Zhu’s eyes were gloomy as he said in a heavy voice, "Then ask the Sword Sovereign if he agrees with his disciple associating with someone who disregards human life." Since Zora’s Master was a no-go, they would take their complaint to Turi Qi’s Master.

For some reason, Wanghua-jun didn't say yes or no. He only appeared when Turi Qi returned. The man's face was still very cold. "Your kinsmen are very dissatisfied with that friend of yours."

Turi Qi gave an "mhm," not caring about the Tu family's opinion.

Wanghua-jun looked at this disciple of his, who bowed her head and wouldn't meet his eyes, appearing submissive on the surface. He said, "I never knew you and someone like Zora could be friends for so long."

He and Zora appeared on the surface to be sword cultivators who ignored worldly affairs, but their hearts were fundamentally different. He did not approve of her methods. If it were him, he would have shown mercy to the Tu family.

Turi Qi suddenly looked up, her face solemn. "Though I do not know what Master implies, Junior Sister Zora is recognized by the entire cultivation world as a person of absolute sincerity. She does not use schemes or trickery; she is direct. She never proactively seeks trouble, but she is never afraid of it. If someone tries to kill her, she kills them. If someone is good to her, she is good to them. It is as simple as that."

Wanghua-jun remained silent and spoke no more. Turi Qi had no intention of lingering further. The two parted on bad terms.

Zora knew nothing of these matters. When Zora returned to the sect that day and saw Vane, she didn't notice anything different. She returned to the Falling Rock Forest with a normal face, only realizing he was still following her once she went inside.

Zora asked very politely, "Is something the matter?"

Vane paused. The youth only pursed his lips when his emotions leaked. He looked elsewhere, then at the floor, simply refusing to look at her. After only a few heartbeats, Zora asked impatiently, "I'm going to sleep."

Among those who cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, she was likely the only one who still slept regularly.

The youth's eyelids were thin, but his lashes were long and dense—straight, lifting like small brushes to reveal the thick darkness in his pupils. Reflecting the moonlight, they looked like fragile, beautiful jade. His daytime irritability vanished. He said, "Then can I follow you tomorrow?"

Zora thought for a moment. "I guess."

He offered a smile, just the right amount of light—the spirit of a youth. Zora couldn't help but stare for a moment. She suddenly said, "Hong Yan is dead."

Vane had a very good memory—especially concerning memories of her. With a brief thought, he remembered who that was. He lowered his eyes, his gaze lingering on the girl's clear eyes, before saying calmly, "I know."

Zora repeated, "She's dead. She died of old age."

Vane: "Mhm." The youth was extremely adept at thinking according to her thoughts. He quickly guessed her attitude and smiled. "She passed away peacefully after a long life, having safely lived through the lifespan she was meant to have."

Zora deeply agreed. "Yes. It's a very good thing." She had a composure regarding death that was different from ordinary people, and Vane was even simpler. His eyes only held room for Zora and himself; he had zero interest in the life or death of others.

The next day, Vane did notice the movements of the Tu family. While the Tu kinsmen went to complain to Wanghua-jun, he followed Zora to a Peach Blossom Maze to find a spiritual object that would benefit her sword.

He said to Zora, "The Tu family seems to be throwing mud."

Zora answered slowly, "Mhm... what?"

"They say you killed the only son of their house."

Zora said honestly, "I did kill him."

Vane followed her lead and changed his wording: "They also say you slaughter the innocent."

Now that truly was throwing mud. Zora: "I only kill my enemies."

Vane said in a low voice, "Do you need me to deal with them?" He could kill them for their words.

"Not interested."

As they spoke, they reached the Peach Blossom Forest. It was a sight of pink peach blossoms everywhere. The ground was covered in layer after layer of pink flowers, making it exceptionally soft to step on. Petals danced and twirled in the air; a wisp of wind blew them up, and another carried them through the trees—a breathtaking sight.

Shortly after the two entered, they were separated by the maze. In the blink of an eye, she was out of sight. Vane's heart tightened abruptly. He stopped and breathed for several cycles before appearing steady on the surface. He scanned the surrounding peach trees.

Suddenly, a few steps away, the familiar girl appeared from behind a peach tree. She was looking around, a trace of confusion on her face. "Vane?" she was looking for him.

The youth, however, stood still. This was a trick of the Peach Blossom Maze. Zora wasn't a fake, but it was like a mirage; you thought she was right there, but upon walking closer, you’d find it was a hollow projection of her. It would disorient those within the array. But this was indeed the girl's current, real reaction.

Vane stood in place, his dark eyes staring fixedly. Zora didn't find him and stopped. She released her spiritual sense, but it was hindered by the countless peach trees—most annoying. So she continued walking.

Vane watched the girl leave. Her shoes stepped on the layers of pink flowers. A petal drifted onto the youth's robe, only to be swayed off by the slight movement of his clothes. He walked for a long time. Every time he saw Zora, he called out her name first. When she didn't answer, he would stand quietly and stare at the mirage, like a traveler in a desert looking at a phantom to quench his thirst.

He had thought of simply cutting down the peach trees, but they stood unmoving. These weren't ordinary trees; even spiritual power couldn't shake them. Since it was a maze, there had to be rules. The youth settled his mind, exploring the correct path as he walked. However, every time a mirage appeared, he would still stop.

Zora walked aimlessly. The greatest punishment of the maze was to trap someone here forever. After a few empty encounters, she stopped walking toward "Vane" when she saw him. The puppet threads were clearly working, yet he wasn't there.

The first time he saw a mirage, Vane had deduced the truth through many details. Zora, on the other hand, simply swung a wisp of sword Qi whenever she saw Vane; if he stood still, it was a phantom; if he dodged, it was the real person. One had a meticulous mind, the other a crude solution; thus, they didn't fall into the traps again or lose their direction.

Vane, however, felt a rare sense of urgency. He caught a glimpse behind a peach tree to the left; the girl was walking in the opposite direction, passing by without hesitation.

"..."

His dark eyes shifted, his brows tightly knit. A suppressed urgency colored his eyes, a dark hint of ferocity surfacing for an instant before sinking back down. It was clearly a mirage. Yet this appearance of crossing paths in opposite directions made him feel exceptionally irritable, even uneasy. His calm logic was disrupted for a moment, and his speed of thought was actually slowing down.

Where is it? Where is the correct path? ...And where is she? Where is Zora?

Even if they were apart, at least let him know where she was.

His heart beat faster and faster, the blood in his veins boiling as if flowing backward. The youth was like a reactive beast, every hair standing on end, his brow lowered. His face appeared solemn, yet his forehead was already covered in cold sweat, and an atmosphere of unease swirled around him. His pace grew faster and faster, the peach blossoms beneath his feet making faint, crushing sounds.

Suddenly, there was a movement nearby. A wisp of clear sword Qi swept through brutally, a terrifying ripple spreading rapidly. Since she couldn't cut down the trees, she would clear every single petal. The sword Qi was like a hurricane; wherever it went, all the peach blossoms were swept up, leaving only bare trunks and branches.

The petals weren't as sturdy as the trees. Though they were reinforced by the array, her cultivation level was there; through sheer strength, the array was forcibly broken open. Vane reached out to shield himself from the incoming wave of peach blossoms. The petals, carrying sword Qi, actually stung as they scraped against his skin. Several pink scratches soon appeared on the back of his hand and his face.

With the maze gone, Zora seemed to see him. As the power of the petal hurricane diminished, Vane lowered his hand. Amidst the wave of petals being swept about by the sword Qi, Zora appeared before him.

"It seems cultivation has a use for finding people as well," the girl said. There was no ripple in her round almond eyes. Even her tone of wonder was flat. The wind moved the ends of her hair and her hair ribbon.

The sword Qi suddenly solidified, and the wave of petals stopped in mid-air as if time had frozen. Then, in an instant, they lost their power, becoming ordinary peach blossoms and falling lightly. A pink rain of flowers drifted down gently over the sea of blossoms, landing on his shoulders and toes; some even rested for a moment on his eyelashes.

Zora said casually, "Finding you was quite easy."

I hope it’s this easy in the Demon Realm as well.

She didn't notice the youth's silence and said, "Hurry up and find the way out." Even without the maze, they still needed to walk out themselves. Zora had been wandering aimlessly and had long since lost her sense of direction.

Seeing that he didn't answer for a long time, Zora lifted her head and looked over curiously. Zora poked his chest. "..." He was motionless.

Zora wondered if the man was dying while standing up, but his breathing hadn't changed, and her spiritual scan showed he was healthy. she cautiously pressed her ear close. The heartbeat in her ear was very loud and rapid, quite lively.

Zora straightened up and frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry..."

"Hurry up."

Vane began to use his feverish brain to think. He was smarter than ordinary cultivators, but slower than his usual pace.

Zora: "What on earth are you doing?"

"Sorry," Vane paused. "I seem to have not recovered my composure yet."

"True, your heart is beating very fast."

There are many reasons for a fast heartbeat—fear, lingering dread, or being startled. Zora glanced at him. she had no intention of picking through so many reasons; she just wanted to solve the maze and find the treasure. However, she was very generous and stroked her chin as if thinking for a moment.

Then the girl stopped and stared at him, saying, "Mhm... then hurry up."

Vane stopped with her. The two stood still in the thinning rain of petals. Zora stared straight at him with her eyes wide.

"..." Vane avoided her gaze, looking at the trees nearby and pursing his lips. After a very short time, Zora asked, "Are you ready?"

The thumping in the youth's chest continued. He could only apologize. "Sorry, I still need a bit of time..."

Zora reached out. Vane looked over and silently handed her a fresh, sweet fruit from his storage bag. With nothing else to do, Zora began to seriously munch on the fruit bite by bite. Vane lowered his eyes to watch for a while, and his heart began to beat faster again. He knit his brows and forcefully stopped it with spiritual power.

This time he constricted his spiritual platform to cool the heat. It wouldn't truly damage anything, but it would cause him pain, and his heartbeat would slow down as a result. If his heart beat several degrees faster than usual, he would increase the pain by several degrees. Enduring the sharp pain of his spiritual platform being thrown into chaos, the sensation of pain gradually took the upper hand, at least covering the heat in his brain and allowing him to calm down.

Facing Zora, who had almost finished her fruit, the youth smiled with a normal expression. "I'm ready."

Zora’s last bite was still in her mouth. Hearing him, her chewing speed immediately accelerated, her bulging cheeks moving back and forth. After a moment, the bulge finally subsided. she swallowed quickly before lifting her head to look at him, answering with satisfaction: "That's good."

Vane blinked slowly. "..." The pain was increasing, and he no longer had the capacity to care.