◎ Second Update – The Four Quadrants of Time ◎
—“Senior Brother, you dropped your treasure!”: Capture the thief, retrieve the lost item.
Lin Shuang quickly grasped the core of the assignment.
There were still real-world incidents embedded in the Zhenchuan Trials.
She quietly pondered this.
“Hm, I’ve heard at Rong Bao Pavilion that within Zhenchuan, some challenges are actually missions assigned by the sect—but they’re extremely rare,” Huangfu Yuan chuckled lightly. “Less than one percent.”
“They usually appear above the four-thousandth level. I didn’t expect we’d encounter one today.”
Meng Zi hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.
A real mission meant real danger.
Unlike typical Zhenchuan scenarios—like when Dao Dong was critically injured and immediately transmitted out for medical attention.
“Indeed, this test does not guarantee the safety of the three of you,” Xu Xiang said with a gentle smile.
“However, since all the theft victims are at or below the fifth level of Qi Condensation, this task was placed at the two-thousandth level.”
“If you manage to recover even a single lost item—or find any clue—it will be considered a partial pass.”
“The reward for this mission comes from all the victims themselves. So far, the accumulated bounty has reached twenty-four thousand spirit stones, plus an equal amount in sect contribution points.”
Twenty-four thousand…
Meng Zi’s eyes flashed wildly.
Just yesterday, flattering—ahem, negotiating with Old Li in Li Family Village, had only earned him barely two thousand.
He couldn’t keep his great saber still anymore. “When do we start, Senior Brother?”
“…”
Xu Xiang cleared his throat lightly and pulled out three sheets of paper from his sleeve.
“This is the list of disciples who reported thefts over the past six months, along with their registered details.”
Meng Zi accepted them solemnly, as if he were receiving twenty-four thousand spirit stones.
His arms sank immediately under the weight.
Lin Shuang’s lips twitched as she opened her earpiece.
Huangfu Yuan gazed serenely into the distance.
They did not know this embarrassment of a man.
“Remember—on any given level in Zhenchuan, you won’t be the only ones undergoing the trial. Act swiftly,” Xu Xiang instructed firmly.
“If you’re late and someone else finds the lost item or apprehends the thief first, your mission fails, and you’ll be knocked back three hundred levels.”
With that, he nodded and walked toward the Inner Sect Management Hall, stepping precisely along the seams between the blue bricks with his Seven-Star stride.
Exactly the same.
That manner, that way of speaking, those habits of dress, that composed gait—he was just like Senior Brother Xu Rui.
Lin Shuang was inwardly impressed.
Still, one liked odd numbers and the other liked even numbers. Surely they didn’t fight when they met?
No wonder… one was in the Inner Sect, and the other in the Outer Sect.
“What’s wrong with these thieves? They’ve stolen the strangest things!”
Meng Zi scanned the list of stolen items, growing more baffled by the second.
Lin Shuang immediately leaned in to look.
—A second-rank spirit sword from Qilianhe of the Inner Sect
—Three bottles of Returning Spring Pills from Cave Dwelling No. 1691, Yunshan
—One cultivation manual scroll from Cave Dwelling No. 2010
—One jade hoop earring lost by Liu Shanshan
…
Lin Shuang frowned as she read.
It was an unstructured mess—each entry penned by the disciple themselves, with no standardized format.
Some included names, some didn’t. Some listed cave dwelling numbers, others left them out entirely.
The quantity and quality of information varied wildly, as did the value of the lost items.
What a mess of disorganized data!
Lin Shuang failed to skim efficiently. Her obsessive tendencies were on the verge of erupting.
No wonder Senior Brother Xu Xiang handed this over to trial participants instead of managing it himself.
Even Senior Brother Xu Rui probably wouldn’t bother touching something this chaotic.
“…Sigh.”
Lin Shuang sighed helplessly and handed three sheets of blank xuan paper to Huangfu Yuan and Meng Zi.
“Senior Brother Huangfu, you’re knowledgeable and sharp. Please help estimate the spirit stone value of each item and rank them in descending order of worth.”
Prioritize what matters.
Start with the high-value items.
“If any item is missing its grade or value, place it at the end for now.”
Huangfu Yuan gave her a light smile, his phoenix eyes glancing at her pained expression. “All right.”
“Senior Brother Meng, you circle all entries with complete names and cave numbers. You’ve worked patrol duty before, right? You should be familiar with the layout. Please mark any disciples located in the same vicinity.”
Before they knew it, she was carrying the whole team.
He was supposed to be the senior brother…
Meng Zi opened his mouth but shut it again, pressing his fingers to his brow before picking up brush and paper.
She knew he’d served as a patrol disciple.
That day, when the Mountain and Sea Sect disciples came and were driven away—it was Xiao Qi, wasn’t it?
At first, he’d disliked her, thinking she’d ruined Little Bai.
But now, in just a few days, he seemed to have gotten used to working with her. Maybe she wasn’t as bad as Little Bai had claimed?
Aside from her messed-up brain, she was… okay?
“Ahem. Back then, I was just following rules on patrol duty.”
Meng Zi turned his head aside.
“If we meet again, and someone comes in without a sword, even if it’s a disciple, I’ll still shout at them!”
Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow. “Senior Brother, we’re not discussing that now…”
“Unless you give me ten spirit stones next time—no, twenty! Then I’ll let Xiao Qi in!”
“…”
“…”
Silence fell between them.
Especially Meng Zi, who awkwardly lowered his head. “I was just letting you know.”
An apology? Impossible.
“Thank you for the heads-up, Senior Brother. But if you could tell me next time during sword flight, instead of cutting into our Pomodoro cultivation cycle, that’d be better.”
“Please keep pace with my tempo, all right?”
“…”
She really is insane!
Meng Zi rolled his eyes.
Huangfu Yuan gave a small chuckle and stepped between them, handing over a half-filled sheet of paper. “Junior Sister, is this correct?”
Lin Shuang turned her head and saw crisp, elegant handwriting. She froze.
Damn, that’s satisfying to look at.
At the very top was the item worth one hundred thousand spirit stones, with lesser items descending in order. She nodded in satisfaction.
Perfect.
“Excellent work, Senior Brother. Then let’s begin this Pomodoro cultivation cycle.”
“…Hm?”
Huangfu Yuan still held his inked wolf-hair brush, phoenix eyes confused.
Meng Zi, biting on his brush and digging through his mustard seed pouch for the Inner Sect map, was equally puzzled. “Pomodoro what? Aren’t we already investigating?”
“No—don’t forget the original intent of this morning’s departure.”
As she spoke, Lin Shuang was already clad in wind-ruffled green robes, the red string at her sleeve fluttering as she floated midair, forming a hand seal.
“We came today to train our speed.”
“Don’t let these side tasks distract us from our purpose.”
She tossed out a wide sword, stepped on it firmly, and vanished into a blur, leaving only a shimmering afterimage in the air.
Huangfu Yuan: “?”
Meng Zi: “!?”
A voice echoed from afar.
“We’ll discuss the details of the lost items as we fly!”
“!”
“Fifty-mile speed! I’ll wait at the West Mountain Gate. Whoever’s late pays for lunch!”
“…!”
Huangfu Yuan didn’t even have time to respond before Meng Zi bolted past him.
“I’m not paying! You thief, Lin Shuang, get back here!”
Huangfu Yuan stood frozen, lips twitching.
Who had even said anything about speed training?
Half a beat later, he finally took off expressionlessly.
Why was he in this group again?
“Meng Zi and his group also took the ‘Senior Brother, you dropped your treasure!’ trial.”
“Hmm, should we follow them and see what they’re doing? We’ve been at it all day and still have no leads.”
“Word is that Outer Sect girl’s cultivation is weak, but she’s clever and sharp. What did she make Meng Zi write? Let’s pretend we’re just passing by and eavesdrop!”
“Mhm—”
Several disciples strolled “casually” past the entrance of the Inner Sect Management Hall.
They were hoping to eavesdrop on Lin Shuang’s group and figure out how they were solving the task—but they had barely said a single “Hmm” when a gust of cold wind shot at them like an arrow. A fluttering green robe slapped straight into their faces!
“?”
“Was that—?”
“That looked like Lin Shuang…”
“?!”
Their eyes widened.
Just as they recovered, another figure shot past the hall like an arrow loosed from a bow. Meng Zi’s trailing robe smacked them in the forehead.
Meng Zi himself bolted out like a soul racing toward reincarnation!
At the entrance, Huangfu Yuan smiled and gave them a polite nod. “Farewell.”
Then he too took off, sword flying with a chill wind that whipped at the hearts of those would-be eavesdroppers.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Shuang’s group had vanished.
【So? Old Li, did you hear what that girl told Meng Zi?】
【Did she already figure out the answer to the challenge?】
【Did she uncover some hidden clue again?】
Lin Shuang had left a deep impression on many Inner Sect disciples with her insight during the Wanjuan Bookhouse and the Li Family Village trials.
Though only higher-level disciples had watched those instances, word of Lin Shuang’s talents had trickled down to the lower-level Qi Condensation disciples—especially after last night.
【That Outer Sect girl and Meng Zi went toward the West Mountain Gate. Senior Brother Chen, it’s up to you to eavesdrop now.】
A message floated by.
In the vicinity of the West Mountain Gate, Senior Brother Chen Xingchuan looked confused—until he heard the sound of something ripping through the sky.
He looked up.
Lin Shuang’s trio were flying at full speed on their swords, with a desk somehow spread out across the wide sword plank. Huangfu Yuan was grinding ink; Meng Zi was writing.
“…!”
They flew so fast that, in the blink of an eye, only their shadows remained.
Eavesdropping? Not a chance.
【She truly lives up to her name! She spotted our attempt to copy her work right away!】
【They’ve been speeding full-tilt for nearly the time it takes one incense stick to burn.】
【Who would’ve thought—traveling while avoiding eavesdropping is even more effective than a sound-sealing technique.】
[Sigh… noted. Lesson learned.]
“……!”
Chen Xingchuan, still trying to eavesdrop, was utterly baffled.
How the hell did she know we were planning to copy her homework?!
Up in the sky, three weapons—two swords and a saber—were lashed together, flying in tandem.
Lin Shuang, Meng Zi, and Huangfu Yuan took turns. One incense-stick’s time per person at full speed, while the other two leaned over the desk to continue their records.
“Ding! Great job, Lin Shuang. You’ve completed one Pomodoro of speed training.”
“Now it’s tea-time break. The next Pomodoro session will start shortly.”
Upon hearing Xiao Ai’s cheerful reminder, Lin Shuang felt all the spiritual energy in her tenth dantian drain completely.
She collapsed like a dead dog, passing the task to Meng Zi.
Meng Zi didn’t want to take over this ridiculous relay—but if he didn’t form hand seals, the sword would fall.
He took a deep breath and glanced at the two freeloaders riding the sword with him—Lin Shuang and Huangfu Yuan.
Lin Shuang had already pulled out a storybook and begun her break, as per Xiao Ai’s instructions.
Huangfu Yuan, wrapped in snow-white fox fur, the tail draped over his legs, was calmly sorting through the list of thefts.
Meng Zi clenched his jaw. “So, do we go straight to investigate the highest-value stolen item next?”
He glanced to the side.
Lin Shuang was still reading, but just as he was about to snap, he caught a glimpse of the title—The Reborn Fairy Becomes a Constable.
“Huh? You read stuff like that?” Meng Zi hadn’t expected it.
Lin Shuang smiled and pulled out over a dozen more books from her mustard seed pouch.
The Wudang Fairy’s Detective Chronicles
The Reborn Youth Becomes a Coroner
Five Hundred Murder Cases in the Immortal Realm
Fairy Detective: There Is Only One Truth
…
Meng Zi gaped. Huangfu Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Lin Shuang enthusiastically stuffed a few books into their hands. “No need to be polite—take your pick.”
Meng Zi grabbed one seriously. “Detective stories… you think these help with catching thieves?”
Of course they did! She didn’t spend all those Pomodoros reading for nothing!
Lin Shuang puffed out her chest proudly.
Meng Zi flipped through two pages before the dense wall of text defeated him.
“So… how should we proceed? With so many thefts in the Inner Sect, where do we even begin?”
Lin Shuang, still holding her book, flopped back down with a smile.
“They’re useful.”
“But… you really think I bring my brain on entertainment days?”
“….”
“………….”
If you’re going to rest, then rest properly. That’s what makes it useful.
Soon, the Pomodoro timer beeped again.
Lin Shuang sat up and stretched. “That said, deduction is an essential part of mental development and spiritual awareness.”
“Let’s start by investigating the victims.”
She pointed at the first name on the list.
[1. Leng Qianqian – Lost a third-rank Silver Willow Blade (worth 100,000 spirit stones)]
Talk about bad luck.
Meng Zi winced in sympathy.
He quickly used the patrol disciples’ universal communication stone to send a message.
Lin Shuang and Huangfu Yuan held their breath.
Soon, a rapid and irritable female voice blared from the stone.
“Hey? Who is it—dumbass! Wipe them out, go go go!”
“Li Chong, left flank! Are you stupid? Top lane, now! Small path, heal, HEAL!”
“Are you brain-dead? Why are you so slow with the pill—”
Meng Zi’s jaw dropped.
“Who is this? I’m in Zhenchuan! If it’s not urgent, call me later!—Dammit, Li Chong, HEADSHOT!”
“Don’t message me until I’m out of Zhenchuan! Hanging up! Damn it, that cost me HP!”
“……”
The trio froze.
Lin Shuang just wanted to know which level of Zhenchuan this was—Was this sponsored by King of Glory or PUBG?!
“Who are you? I was just on the 4300th level.”
Half a cup of tea later, the communication stone buzzed again.
The once arrogant, aggressive voice had mellowed into something far more courteous. “Ah, Junior Brother Meng? I didn’t message the wrong person, did I… I’ve just exited the trial. Um, Junior Brother, we’re not really acquainted—what can I help you with?”
She sounded out of breath, clearly still recovering from an intense battle. A few clinks of falling blades and swords could also be heard—she must have collapsed completely.
Meng Zi quickly explained the situation.
“Senior Sister Leng, our test is to retrieve your stolen item.”
“Could you help us recall the circumstances of that day?”
Lin Shuang placed Xiao Ai, the talismanic lion-dog, onto the table.
She patted its head, signaling it to begin recording.
Huangfu Yuan’s gaze followed the lion-dog’s form with mild interest.
“Ah, so this counts as part of the trial? That’s great… That damned bastard—if I ever find out who stole my freshly acquired third-rank blade, I’ll twist off their head and crush it!”
Leng Qianqian was instantly back to full rage mode.
Lin Shuang squinted at the phrase Xiao Ai recorded: “freshly acquired.”
“Senior Sister, where did you get the blade? How long after acquiring it did it go missing? And where did it happen?”
“I bought the blade at Rong Bao Pavilion.”
Lin Shuang and Meng Zi both turned in unison to look at a certain someone—Rong Bao Pavilion’s own steward, Huangfu Yuan!
Huangfu Yuan gave a helpless smile and hurriedly withdrew the finger he’d been using to tease Xiao Ai’s tail.
“Rong Bao Pavilion has partnered with Clearwater Sect for many years. Disciples come and go daily.”
“Even most of Zhenchuan’s pills and treasures are supplied by us. We survive on reputation—we don’t steal from our own!”
But Lin Shuang and Meng Zi didn’t ease their skeptical stares.
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
At last, Leng Qianqian’s voice piped in, “It wasn’t stolen at Rong Bao Pavilion. I got the Silver Willow Blade on the third or maybe fourth day… and it disappeared shortly after.”
Lin Shuang glanced at Meng Zi, who always carried his saber on his back.
Blade cultivators typically never let their weapon out of sight.
Yet Leng Qianqian couldn’t even recall the day it vanished?
“Ah, I was about to break through, but my cave dwelling didn’t have enough spiritual energy. So I spent 200 spirit stones to rent a room on the Earth level at Jingsi Pavilion to go into seclusion.”
“I first paid for two days, planning to extend if needed.”
“But the moment I came out, the blade was gone—you probably know each room at the Earth level in Jingsi Pavilion holds six disciples.”
“If your breakthrough gets interrupted, your cultivation can easily regress.”
“Therefore, disciples entering must not practice sword or blade techniques that might affect others. All offensive magic treasures must be deposited at the entrance beforehand.”
Meng Zi nodded. “I didn’t know that, Senior Sister. I’ve never been to such a fancy place like Jingsi Pavilion.”
Leng Qianqian: “……”
Lin Shuang: “……”
Huangfu Yuan gave a polite cough. “As far as I know, the storage area at Jingsi Pavilion is protected by at least three defensive formations. Without the disciple’s own spiritual imprint, even a Spirit Refinement cultivator couldn’t force their way in.”
He glanced at Lin Shuang and Meng Zi and clarified sincerely, “Rong Bao Pavilion also uses the same kind of defensive array.”
Just then, gnashing teeth could be heard from the other end of the communication stone.
“Yeah, but that Silver Willow Blade from Rong Bao Pavilion cost me a hundred thousand spirit stones!”
“Just the day before, I’d paid a full year’s rent on my cave dwelling.”
“And at Jingsi Pavilion, storing a magic treasure for just four hours costs a hundred spirit stones… I thought leaving it in my cave would be fine. There were still two Junior Sisters around… Who would’ve thought—I came back, and it was gone!”
Lin Shuang patted Xiao Ai the lion-dog talisman on the head. It spat out a line of ink: “two Junior Sisters.”
“Senior Sister, could you give us their information?”
“You suspect them? It shouldn’t be—they’re close to me, and not lacking in spirit stones. But for the sake of the investigation, I’ll tell you.”
True to her blade cultivator nature, Leng Qianqian was forthright and decisive.
“I asked them several times back then. Both were caught up in errands those days and didn’t stay at the cave.”
“One got called away by her master, and the other went out on a sudden escort mission.”
“Each of them assumed the other was still inside, watching over my blade. But they both left one after the other.”
“Sigh. This just shows how important daily communication with your roommates really is,” Lin Shuang couldn’t help commenting.
She and her Junior Sister connected at set times each day to share both information and emotions.
“There’s no way we’d fall into this kind of misunderstanding.”
“…You’re right.”
Leng Qianqian fell silent, clearly reflecting on their previous lack of communication.
Too late for regrets now.
“Besides the two Junior Sisters, who else knew that you’d purchased a third-rank blade and were about to enter seclusion?” Huangfu Yuan interjected, steering them back on track.
This time, Leng Qianqian hesitated. “Well… given my personality, probably a lot of people.”
Huangfu Yuan’s eye twitched.
Understandable—after hearing that raging tirade earlier.
Lin Shuang immediately tapped her talisman lion-dog, which recorded: “besides the two Junior Sisters, many people were aware.”
“Thank you for your cooperation. We’ll contact you if there are any updates.”
Seeing that neither Meng Zi nor Huangfu Yuan had further questions, Lin Shuang formed a hand seal and activated Xiao Ai’s automated reply mode.
“You’re busy. Talk next time~”
“Alright, see you in Zhenchuan.” Leng Qianqian cut the line.
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan turned to Lin Shuang with expressions of disbelief.
“You used a talisman just to say goodbye? Are you seriously too lazy to even speak?!”
Meng Victim of Last Night Zi snapped.
Lin Shuang tucked both hands into her sleeves. “Ever since humans began walking upright, do you know what separates us from monkey demons, Senior Brother?”
Meng Zi frowned. Huangfu Yuan’s phoenix eyes sparkled at the word demon.
“It’s the invention and use of tools. Senior Brother, be a human being.”
“……”
“…………”
Lin Shuang glanced at Xiao Ai’s summary and moved on to the next victim.
Meng Zi held the list, but paused before initiating contact.
【2. Dao Xi – Cave Dwelling No. 1312, Dao Mountain.
Lost twelve Stabilizing Needles, each inscribed with attack array runes (approx. value: 50,000 spirit stones)】
Of all people—this unlucky guy, they actually knew!
Talk about enemies crossing paths.
Meng Zi pinched his nose and grabbed the communication stone.
“Dao Xi, this is Meng Zi. I’m investigating your missing Stabilizing Needl—”
Smack!
The call was instantly cut off.
Meng Zi: “!”
Huangfu Yuan: “……”
Lin Shuang: “…………”
That guy still held a grudge.
Lin Shuang shook her head and decided to try in Meng Zi’s place. She picked up the communication stone.
“Senior Brother Dao Xi, don’t you want to recover those fifty thousand spirit stones—”
Smack!
The call was cut even faster.
Lin Shuang: “……”
Meng Zi took a deep breath. “Back when I tangled with Dao Bei, what the hell did you two do to Dao Xi?”
Huangfu Yuan pressed a finger to his brow.
Lin Shuang lowered her head.
Nothing much. Just wielded a treasured weapon, stole his sword aura, poisoned him while he was weakened and furious, and then ganged up on him until he was “killed.”
Manipulated him, then beat him down.
Repairing this relationship… is that even possible?
“I knew it. Uncle Li wouldn’t have summoned you to the ancestral hall for no reason. Dao Xi must’ve filed a complaint with the Zhenchuan Elder Council, didn’t he!?”
Elder Council?
Lin Shuang: “…We have one of those?”
Huangfu Yuan closed his eyes.
Meng Zi: “…Let’s just try the next victim.”
But Lin Shuang stopped him before he could move on. “Fifty thousand spirit stones. Dao Xi’s loss ranks second in value.”
“Senior Brother Xu Xiang didn’t say how the final floor leader would be judged, but based on past Zhenchuan trials, the rewards are tied to how well we complete the mission.”
“If we retrieve more valuable items, we likely score higher in his assessment.”
Meng Zi frowned. But Dao Xi refused to speak.
“It’s alright. Let’s win him over with virtue.”
“Let’s reason with him properly.”
Lin Shuang firmly believed what her grandmother used to say: “Patience always brings reward.”
She dialed the communication stone again.
And patted Xiao Ai on the head. “Play the recording.”
Meng Zi: “……”
This was your idea of patience?
“Dao Xi, refusing to cooperate is highly inefficient. Don’t you want to recover your fifty thousand spirit stones—”
Smack!
Dao Xi hung up again.
Xiao Ai’s talisman immediately redialed and repeated the message:
“Dao Xi, refusing to cooperate is highly inefficient. Don’t you want to recover your fifty thousand spirit stones—”
Smack!
“Dao Xi, refusing to cooperate… don’t you want to recover—”
Smack!
“Dao Xi…”
“Dao Xi…”
“Dao Xi…”
Smack!
Smack!
Smack!
“Aaagh—Lin Shuang! Aren’t you done yet?! I don’t want to talk to you!”
“Dao Xi, this is an extremely inefficient decision on your part—”
“ARGH…!”
Dao Xi had lost it.
Flying beside them, Meng Zi’s eye twitched as he stared at Xiao Ai, the lion-dog talisman. So this… this was the great human-monkey distinction? The so-called invention and use of tools?
Huangfu Yuan closed his eyes, unable to watch any longer.
Lin Shuang smiled and patted Xiao Ai—her all-in-one travel companion talisman, which offered recording, timekeeping, voice logs, search logs, and automated replies.
She leaned down toward the communication stone and smiled sweetly.
“Senior Brother Dao Xi, Xiao Ai’s spiritual energy can last for two full days and nights.”
“And I still have three spirit-stone batteries in my mustard seed pouch.”
“!”
“We only want to help you. We’re not trying to interfere with your Zhenchuan trials.”
“You may not know this, but when someone’s focus is repeatedly interrupted by communication stones, they can never operate at full strength.”
“?”
“Over time, their consciousness adapts to working at half-strength, never regaining its full potential.”
“……”
“Did you know it only takes seven days to destroy someone’s mental focus and leave them perpetually fatigued? Seven days—and a new, weaker mental pattern forms.”
“……!”
The other side of the stone went silent… then a furious inhale.
“I’ll wait for you at Cave Dwelling No. 1312, Dao Mountain.”
“You’ve got one incense stick’s time—if you’re late, don’t ever message me again!”
Immediately, Meng Zi took off like a comet toward Dao Mountain!
Meanwhile, Huangfu Yuan, reading The Reborn Youth Becomes a Coroner, let his phoenix eyes drift now and then toward Lin Shuang’s bright profile.
“Junior Sister… the seven-day rule to destroy spiritual strength—what book did that come from?”
Naturally, it was her own extrapolation—from the modern idea that a good habit takes seven days to form, combined with… her own divine sense experimentation.
Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes. Ten years in the Outer Sect, she had divided her spiritual awareness into 108 strands.
Each one had undergone different trials and developments.
“For those with weak spiritual strength, it takes even less. Maybe just half an hour of interference.”
Huangfu Yuan nodded, intrigued. “I’ve learned something today.”
Meng Zi pushed his sword flying to the limit. In just under half an incense stick’s time, they reached Dao Mountain.
On the barren mountaintop—
“Tch. Ten years ago, Dao Mountain had nothing but wind from all directions.” Meng Zi muttered, shaking his head. During patrols, he’d often passed by and found the place completely desolate.
“Even this place charges 100,000 a year in rent—scam.”
Hearing that, Lin Shuang began crawling down from the tea mat, dismounted from the sword, and cleaned up the table she’d spread. She returned the lap blanket to Huangfu Yuan, who hesitated but didn’t stop her as she turned toward the winding mountain path.
The whole of Dao Mountain was eerily still—unlike other nearby peaks, which had signs of human life. There were no meditation mats, tea tables, incense burners, or even bonsai trees.
Only snow, undisturbed by footsteps or sword trails.
She had seen it clearly while flying: from top to bottom, all the few cave dwellings on Dao Mountain were sealed shut and blanketed in green moss.
It looked like no one had lived here in a very long time.
“That’s the place—Cave No. 1312,” Meng Zi said, guiding them past a rock pile and brushing aside thick snow-covered vines with a hand seal.
They finally saw a wooden cave door, completely buried in snow after last night’s storm.
“Dao Xi? Are you inside?” Meng Zi called out loudly and activated the alert stone at the entrance.
“…I’m not.”
A reluctant voice came from behind them.
There was a snapping sound of a branch breaking.
They turned to see Dao Xi, wrapped in a dark-colored Daoist robe, pale-faced, standing atop the mountain with sword in hand and no expression.
He looked first at Meng Zi, then at Lin Shuang.
“You want answers? I won’t give you any. Not unless you, Outer Sect girl, tell me how you secretly learned my Senior Brother’s formation technique.”
Meng Zi frowned. Huangfu Yuan looked at Lin Shuang.
Lin Shuang, however, gave Dao Xi a clear, sympathetic look.
“If it’s your cultivation secret,” Dao Xi’s eyes locked onto her, “then come into my cave and tell me privately. I swear I won’t tell a soul.”
Lin Shuang glanced at the ticking Pomodoro timer and frowned slightly.
“You don’t have to tell me, but you’re not getting a word from me either.”
“If you harass me again, I’ll destroy my communication stone.”
“Besides, the Stabilizing Needle was stolen two months ago. Its attack formations have likely been depleted—retrieving it now would be pointless.”
Dao Xi lowered his gaze.
“Three other Zhenchuan trial groups have already questioned me.”
“If others are already investigating, why should I help you?”
Lin Shuang winced.
Her time-efficiency OCD was flaring.
“Senior Brother Dao Xi, why didn’t you say all this earlier during our calls? Why make us come all the way here just to hear it?”
“?”
“Do you even know how long our ‘car ride’ took to get here?”
“??” Dao Xi was baffled.
‘Driver’ Meng Zi: “……” Could she be a little more polite?
Lin Shuang closed her eyes. “Each time we called, you picked up, said nothing, then hung up. I thought you were just having a minor tantrum.”
Dao Xi: “??”
“And now you pull this nonsense. I’m truly disappointed in you, Senior Brother Dao Xi.”
Dao Xi: “???”
Meng Zi: “……”
Huangfu Yuan: “……”
None of them knew how to respond!
Dao Xi stared at her beautiful yet fragile figure in disbelief. “What are you even disappointed about?!”
Get a grip, you’re an Outer Sect disciple!
“You know full well that the formation energy on the Stabilizing Needle fades with time. By now, it’s likely useless—even if recovered.”
Lin Shuang looked at him, full of bitter disappointment.
“That’s exactly why you should’ve realized—you’re racing against time.”
“The sooner you recover them, the greater the chance that some formation energy still remains.”
“And yet, you’re being stubborn, wasting time, and fighting me instead!”
“???” What’s wrong with fighting you?! Dao Xi was furious.
Lin Shuang shook her head. “You’re dwelling on yesterday and ignoring tomorrow.”
“Clearly, you don’t understand the Four Quadrants of Time Management. Let me teach you, just once—remember it well.”
Dao Xi: “???”
Meng Zi gripped his saber. Huangfu Yuan pulled out a poison pill.
They both thought Dao Xi was about to explode.
But Lin Shuang stepped forward, raised her index finger, and said:
“Hating me is neither important nor urgent.”
“I won’t threaten your life anytime soon, nor will I cause new losses. It doesn’t matter when you dislike me.”
“But the Stabilizing Needle is valuable, and its time is running out. That’s both important and urgent.”
“Senior Brother, important and urgent always outweighs unimportant and non-urgent.”
“Do you understand now?”
Lin Shuang was unhappy.
She had come all this way and still ended up wasting time on Dao Xi. So inefficient.
But Granny Dean always said—be a little patient with others.
Don’t break ties just because someone’s confused for a while.
She met his eyes with a pure, sincere gaze and did her best to offer a friendly smile.
“Senior Brother, I’ll give you one more chance to answer properly.”
“?”
“Now that I’ve explained, do you understand what you should do? Don’t rush—think it through.”
Dao Xi took a deep breath. Never had an Outer Sect disciple acted so insolent before him.
He snapped, “I don’t know! I can cooperate with other disciples just fine!”
At that, Lin Shuang’s eyes gleamed.
Dao Xi raised his sword, casting a technique that moved like a swimming water snake—it slashed toward her like a striking serpent.
“If you want answers, answer me first! How did you learn my Senior Brother’s—”
Lin Shuang clenched her right fist.
Ding! Xiao Ai reminds you: Your emotional fluctuations are too high. You’re not suited to start your next Pomodoro session.
Recommendation: Begin immediate emotional relief and venting.
Before the words finished sounding—
Meng Zi and Huangfu Yuan saw Lin Shuang’s green robe whip through the air as she charged straight at Dao Xi!
Midway through, the slender girl was engulfed by the serpent.
“Lin Shuang! Are you crazy?! Get back here!” Meng Zi yelled, unsheathing his blade and forgetting their earlier cold war.
“Dao Xi! You dare injure a fellow disciple?!”
Huangfu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
But then they saw Lin Shuang’s right hand stretch out—her broad sword flew into her grip.
In a flash, she mirrored Dao Xi’s sword stance—strike, technique, flourish, slash—the serpent head lunged…
Spirit Serpent Nine Swords!
Dao Xi’s serpent moved with agile grace—so did hers.
His sword ringed behind her—hers circled behind him.
They were identical.
“How is this possible—” Dao Xi froze. “How do you know the Spirit Serpent Nine Swords?! I exchanged for that in the Inner Sect!”
Lin Shuang gave no answer. Her left hand summoned another broad sword.
Two matching Spirit Serpent Nine Swords—left and right—unleashed simultaneously.
In an instant, two serpents of equal thickness and perfect synchronicity merged into one.
Twice the size.
They crashed into Dao Xi’s lone serpent sword.
Bang!
Dao Xi’s weapon flew from his hands.
He stumbled back five or six steps, staring in disbelief.
Under the daylight, Lin Shuang narrowed her radiant eyes.
In her gaze, spiritual energy roiled like stormy tides.
“Senior Brother—do you prioritize what’s important and urgent…”
“Or what’s unimportant and non-urgent?”
“……”
“Have you made up your mind now, hmm?”
Author’s Note:
Zhao Sect Leader’s Memo 31: Important things must be said three times. Senior Sister, please give Dao Xi a bit more time~
Dao Xi: …
Don’t skip chapters! Double updates always risk that…
Today’s chapter is longer because ending here felt morally correct. Muah, see you tomorrow!