Ji Xunzhi had returned mainly to gather reinforcements, so naturally he did not remain with Ling Wu for long.
Not long after he left, Ling Wu fell into a deep sleep.
She had that dream again.
Flames towered into the sky. Everywhere she looked, broken walls and ruins stretched into the distance.
Bodies lay mingled with bloody water across the ground. A terrible battle had just ended.
A figure in white hurried through the carnage. His immaculate robes formed a stark contrast with the blood beneath his feet.
It was clear that he had not taken part in the fighting.
Ling Wu could not see his face. Only the frantic pace of his steps revealed his panic.
Suddenly, he stopped before a tree.
A woman lay beneath it in a pool of blood. Her lovely face was stained crimson, and her robes blazed with the same terrible color.
The man ran toward her with all his strength.
“Little Nine, I'm here. Little Nine, forgive me. I came too late—”
At the familiar voice, the woman struggled to open her eyes. Blood loss had turned her face deathly pale.
“Why did you... cough... take so long? Everything hurts. Am I... going to die?”
She had no tears left to shed. Agony attacked every bone and vein until even lifting one hand was impossible.
The man gazed at her with unbearable pain, moisture gathering in his eyes.
“I'm sorry, Little Nine. I'm sorry.”
He repeated the words. His anguish was a hundred times greater than his fear.
“You won't die. Not while I am here. I will never leave you again—not even for half a step.”
Golden light poured from his fingers and streamed endlessly into her body.
It seemed to help. Her coughing eased, though her face remained bloodless.
“They said I stole a sacred artifact from the Celestial Realm. I... cough... I didn't...”
“I know. I know everything.”
“This is all my fault, Little Nine. Mine. I will take you back to Kunlun now. With me beside you, you will not die.”
The man lifted her into his arms.
He had taken only two steps when an old man blocked his path.
“Qingchen, cease this obsession.”
The dream ended abruptly.
Ling Wu jolted awake, clutching her chest and gasping. A thin layer of sweat covered her forehead.
Clearly, the dream had frightened her.
As a disciple, Ling Wu felt that the first time she dreamed of Master should have involved him teaching her—or perhaps congratulating her on ascending.
Ideally, he would say something like, “Ah-Wu is indeed the most brilliant disciple beneath my seat.” That would properly reflect their relationship.
She had not expected anything like this.
Master had seemed younger in the dream, though the difference lay mainly in his presence.
When he met the old man's eyes, Ling Wu had sensed killing intent erupt around him. His face turned terrifyingly cold, as if he would murder anyone who stood in his path.
He had been nothing like the gentle man she knew.
But who was the “Little Nine” in her dream? What was her relationship with Master?
“What did Ah-Wu dream about?”
A clear, mellow male voice came from nearby.
Only then did Ling Wu notice someone seated beneath the peach tree outside her room.
That tall figure, that refined grace in every movement—who else could it be but Master?
“Master!”
Her voice carried a joy even she did not notice.
Without taking time to tidy herself, Ling Wu hurried from the bed and bowed before Qingchen.
“When did Master arrive? Why didn't you wake me?”
“Xunzhi said Ah-Wu was cultivating diligently, so I came to see.”
Ling Wu's mouth twisted.
So this was an inspection.
Her expression must have been too obvious, because Qingchen laughed.
“Did Ah-Wu have a nightmare? I could hear you crying out from outside.”
Her cheeks warmed. “I dreamed of a ghost.”
The dream had been too strange to explain. Besides, the woman in it must have died, making her little different from a ghost. The answer was not entirely false.
Qingchen smiled and changed the subject.
“Ah-Wu will reach her coming of age next month. I have heard that mortal elders give a modest gift on that day, so I prepared this.”
White light flashed, and a brush appeared in his hand.
Ling Wu's face brightened instantly. Without asking a single question, she accepted it and began admiring her gift.
The shaft had been carved from flawless white jade. Ancient spirit beasts were engraved along its length, so lifelike beneath the moon that it was clearly an exceptional spiritual artifact.
“This is the Great Void Talisman Brush. I happened to acquire it. Xunzhi, Songhe, and the others cultivate sword arts or alchemy. Only Ah-Wu studies talismans, so no gift could suit you better.”
One part of that was untrue.
Qingchen had exhausted considerable effort to obtain the brush.
Ling Wu's pride swelled further with every word.
By Master's logic, none of her senior brothers had received this treatment. On all of Mount Kunlun, she alone had been given one of Master's spiritual artifacts.
She had always known she was his favorite disciple. Those gaudy wretches could not compare.
The more she thought, the happier she became. Tomorrow, she would rise early and parade the brush before her senior brothers as they left the mountain.
“Thank you, Master! When Master's birthday arrives, I will prepare a magnificent gift in return.”
What gift? That was a question for another day.
“I look forward to it.”
“With this brush, I will draw countless talismans and punish evil throughout the Three Realms. Rest assured, Master, my ascension is only a matter of time. Even after I ascend, I will never forget you. I will remain forever at your side...”
Ling Wu spoke without end about her grand ambitions.
A breeze scattered peach petals around them. The girl's brilliant smile seemed even brighter beneath the night sky.
Qingchen watched her with laughter in his eyes.
The next morning, Ling Wu hung the Great Void Talisman Brush from her waist and announced to everyone she met, “How did you know this was Master's coming-of-age gift to me?”
Her smugness was extraordinary.
Naturally, such pride inspired jealousy. Second Senior Brother Fengqi provided an excellent example.
“Master has spoiled you all the way to the heavens!” he said sourly.
“Say no more.” Ling Wu waved a small hand. “If Second Senior Brother wants one, simply ask Master. I am certain he would never be stingy.”
Only a fool would believe that.
Ling Wu was convinced Master would give them nothing. Not one person on the mountain was as lovable as she was.
Inside her mind, she planted her hands on her hips and laughed at the sky.
“Little Junior Sister should eat less when she has time,” Fengqi snapped. “You become more swollen to the eye by the day!”
“Second Senior Brother's horizons are simply too narrow.”
“Incurably stubborn!”
“No need for modesty. The feeling is mutual.”
Ling Wu remained perfectly relaxed, refusing to accept even a grain of pressure.
Fengqi, on the other hand, nearly lost his balance from rage.
“Do not celebrate too soon. Spiritual artifacts choose their masters. Someone with cultivation as poor as yours will probably be rejected within days. When the brush returns to Master, try not to cry!”
He finished with a long, winding huff and swept away.
“Don't worry, Second Senior Brother!” Ling Wu called after him. “Once I ascend, I'll spread the heroic deeds of every Kunlun disciple throughout the Eight Wastes—especially the story of that time a spiritual artifact slapped you across the face!”
Being struck by one's own artifact was a profound humiliation. Fengqi valued his dignity too highly to endure repeated reminders.
When his step faltered, Ling Wu nodded in satisfaction.
In venomous speech, she yielded to no one.
Years of struggle had taught her the true art of infuriating people.
After watching all six senior brothers leave, Ling Wu returned to her room and continued studying talisman arts.
Drawing talismans was not particularly difficult. Unfortunately, her memory was terrible. She forgot each lesson as soon as she learned it, which meant every circle brought her back to the beginning.
Truthfully, when she saw her senior brothers riding out with such heroic confidence to capture demons, Ling Wu envied them.
Her dream was to become the greatest talisman cultivator in all Six Realms—to command heaven and earth with a single slip of paper.
Perhaps then, she could stand a little closer to Master.
The moment she thought of him, her back stopped aching, her legs recovered, and her memory sharpened. She seized another sheet of talisman paper and began drawing with remarkable dedication.
Ling Wu did not leave her room for several days.
As a result, she had no idea when her senior brothers completed their mission and returned.
Ji Xunzhi had barely stepped onto her mountain peak when he heard wild laughter.
“I understand! At last, I understand! Ling Wu, you truly are the most brilliant woman on Mount Kunlun!”
Her voice overflowed with admiration for herself.
Ji Xunzhi's cheek twitched. Ling Wu looked outside and met his eyes.
Her crazed grin froze.
“Eldest Senior Brother? When did you return? Why didn't you warn your little junior sister?”
Ling Wu nearly died of embarrassment. That doomed man should have announced himself instead of ruining her demure image.
Still, with her beauty, her laugh could not have looked too terrible.
She comforted herself with the lie.
“It has been far too long since I saw Little Junior Sister, and I missed you terribly!” Ji Xunzhi declared. “Besides, I saw too many ugly creatures while suppressing evil and urgently needed a lovely face to cleanse my eyes. Naturally, I came straight here. In my excitement, I forgot to announce myself. Surely our many years of affection will not be damaged by something so small?”
He even winked at her.
A chill ran through Ling Wu. She retreated two steps and answered firmly.
“Eldest Senior Brother, I know my beauty is unrivaled and rare across the Six Realms. But how can a wild pheasant match a phoenix? Faces like yours are everywhere, and your strength is hardly supreme. Stop dreaming. You and I are impossible.”
Ji Xunzhi's cheek twitched harder.
In narcissism, Little Junior Sister truly ranked first across all Six Realms.
Unwilling to compete on that subject, he changed direction.
“I have good news and bad news. Which would Little Junior Sister like first?”
“The good news, obviously.”
“Master has permitted you to spend several days in the mortal realm.”
“And the bad news?”
“Only after we resolve a plague there.”
“A plague?” Ling Wu asked.
“Master said you have cultivated tirelessly since we left and must have reached a certain level. You are ready to descend and gain experience. More experience will help you ascend.”
“Truly?” Delight overwhelmed her. “Did Master witness all my effort? Of course he did. His divine calculations miss nothing. Did he say anything else?”
“Such as?” Now Ji Xunzhi was confused.
“Perhaps, ‘If the rest of you do not cultivate harder, Ah-Wu will soon surpass you.’ Or, ‘Among all my disciples, Ah-Wu works hardest, possesses the greatest talent, and shows the most dedication.’”
Ling Wu disappeared into another fantasy.
Some people worked hard once and immediately imagined themselves as peerless talisman geniuses, worshiped by clans throughout the realms while crowds fought to become their disciples.
Ji Xunzhi burst out laughing.
“Rest assured, Little Junior Sister. He said nothing of the kind.”
“...”
“Master is reserved. Perhaps he keeps such words in his heart.”
“Little Junior Sister's skin is truly extraordinary.”
“You flatter me.”
Ji Xunzhi fell silent.
No wonder Sixth Junior Brother preferred hunting demons to retrieving her from the mortal realm. Once she opened her mouth, no one could keep a smile.
He should learn the Silencing Spell too.
Ling Wu felt no fear about the coming mission.
It was only a plague. No demons, no ghosts—just curing illness and saving people. Success was practically guaranteed.
Before leaving, she wanted to bid Master farewell. Eldest Senior Brother said Qingchen was away in the Celestial Realm on business, so she abandoned the idea.
No one traveled toward the mortal realm more comfortably than Ling Wu.
One moment, she teased a passing auspicious cloud. The next, she harassed a spirit bird. Time slipped away unnoticed.
By the time she arrived, the city gates were locked.
She sighed, accepted her fate, and climbed the nearest old tree to rest.
Food could wait until she entered the city tomorrow.
Ling Wu yawned and closed her eyes.
She never noticed the pair of red eyes watching from the darkness, bright with excitement.