Chapter 19: Exchanging Pouches
Elder Liu didn’t answer immediately; he just stared intently into Luo Jinxiao’s eyes, as if trying to read her entire life story.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Luo Jinxiao quickly lowered her head, avoiding eye contact. She couldn’t shake the feeling that his gaze, as deep as an ancient well, could see through her past and present lives.
Of course, this was just a feeling. Elder Liu finally replied, “Yes, Golden Core Second Stage.”
Golden Core Second Stage!
That was her cultivation level in her previous life! So, she hadn’t come back as a mere soul with no cultivation at all; her powers were just temporarily hidden.
“However, your spiritual roots are in chaos, and the spiritual energy within you seems to have different origins. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything so strange.” Elder Liu said slowly. “Could it be some kind of divine intervention?”
Luo Jinxiao was almost overwhelmed with joy but quickly calmed down after hearing Elder Liu’s words.
He was right. It wasn’t normal for a person who was once considered a waste to suddenly have such powerful spiritual roots and reach the second stage of the Golden Core. It was no wonder he advised her to keep it hidden.
Seeing her expression, Elder Liu knew she had secrets she couldn’t reveal. He suddenly turned around, his back facing her. “Forget it. I don’t care about all that. Just remember what I said. Though our sect may be small, it has its share of dangers. Cultivators are not all good people. Remember, be wary of others.”
Luo Jinxiao knew he was giving her heartfelt advice. She straightened her posture and bowed respectfully. “Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
“You are quite obedient.” Elder Liu seemed to be in a good mood. He suddenly raised his hand, and a blue light enveloped Luo Jinxiao before dissipating into the air.
“This is a secret technique. Others will no longer be able to see your true cultivation level.” After saying that, Elder Liu left with his hands clasped behind his back. The door closed silently behind him.
Luo Jinxiao looked at her hands again. At first, they trembled slightly, but then a smile spread across her face, and she burst into laughter.
It had been a long time since she had been this excited. The greatest joy in life is recovering what was once lost.
“Golden Core Second Stage,” she whispered to herself, watching the silver light gather in her palm, almost solidifying, continuously surging as if inexhaustible.
Cultivation was divided into several stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, and Tribulation Transcendence. Each stage was further divided into three sub-stages, each more difficult than the last.
The Tribulation Transcendence stage was the most dangerous. Many cultivators were stuck at this stage, or even perished trying to break through. Those who reached the realms beyond were rarely seen, and some had almost become immortals. Luo Jinxiao herself had only met a handful.
Her current level, Golden Core Second Stage, was a height unattainable by anyone her age.
The Demon Lord seemed to be at the Divine Transformation First Stage. Two more stages, and she would reach Tribulation Transcendence. She was already prone to succumbing to demonic cultivation. When the time came for her tribulation, wouldn’t she…?
Luo Jinxiao shook her head violently. What was she doing, thinking about the Demon Lord at a time like this?
She was so excited that she could barely contain herself. To prevent herself from getting carried away, she spent the next few days of lessons huddled in a corner by herself, even though she was attending the same class as Lu Fanzhi and the others. The teacher’s lectures were dull and mostly things she already knew by heart. So, in the eyes of others, the waste, Luo Jinxiao had not only given up on cultivation but was now even skipping the most basic lessons.
Thus began another round of rumors. Some said she had already given up, while others said that the Wuhui Sect was about to expel her. It got to the point where even when she was having breakfast, people would whisper behind her back, some with pity, others with gloating.
Luo Jinxiao saw it all but couldn’t be bothered to care.
One day, she was having a meal with Lu Fanzhi when she heard a group of people approaching noisily in the distance.
The dining area was small, resembling an ice chamber. It was surrounded by pale blue jade, with several large, lustrous stones arranged in the center, like natural formations rising from the ground, serving as tables.
It was said that the Sect Leader had personally built this place. Legend had it that it was built for his beloved, who wasn’t particularly skilled in cultivation but had an extraordinary love for food. The Sect Leader’s love for her ran deep, so he ventured to the distant and frigid Chang Mu region, where snow fell year-round, to mine jade brimming with spiritual energy. After several trips, he finally completed this ice chamber made of jade.
From then on, his beloved could cultivate while enjoying her meals.
The first time Luo Jinxiao heard this story, she laughed until she doubled over. But Lu Fanzhi, sitting beside her, rested her chin on her hand and sighed repeatedly. Between fits of laughter, Luo Jinxiao asked her why.
Lu Fanzhi then told her the ending of the story. In a great battle, the woman sacrificed herself to save the Sect Leader. Stricken with grief, he remained on the battlefield for three days, unmoving, before ascending the Southern Peak in solitude. From that day on, he never descended, vanishing into the mists of the mountain.
The world said that the Sect Leader of the Wuhui Sect, consumed by love, chose to die for love. From then on, the Southern Peak became a forbidden area of the Wuhui Sect, off-limits to everyone.
Luo Jinxiao’s laughter died down as she listened. She sat in a daze for a long while, murmuring, “There truly is no shortage of fools for love in this world.”
As she was eating, the crowd had already surrounded her. Leading them was Yan Ying, with the peacock perched on her left shoulder, its head held high, just as arrogant and domineering as its owner.
Over the past few days, Luo Jinxiao had been trying her best to avoid conflict, especially with Yan Ying. She immediately put down her chopsticks and tried to slip away, but someone blocked her path.
“Hey, waste. When are you finally getting out of the Wuhui Sect? Or are you planning to get knocked unconscious and carried out on the day of the competition?” Yan Ying’s words dripped with sarcasm, eliciting laughter from the onlookers.
Seeing this, Lu Fanzhi threw down her chopsticks, stood up, and retorted, “What are you trying to do? I’m warning you, private fights are forbidden in the Wuhui Sect! If you dare to cause trouble, you’ll be the one getting expelled!”
“She isn’t worth the effort,” Yan Ying said, stroking the peacock on her shoulder as she looked down at Luo Jinxiao with disdain.
“Then what do you want?” Luo Jinxiao turned around and asked coldly.
Just as Yan Ying was about to speak, a gust of wind suddenly swept past Luo Jinxiao, swirling around her. Then, a bright light flashed, pushing everyone back and sending them tumbling to the ground in a chaotic heap.
Luo Ning appeared behind them, her face flushed with anger. She strode forward, pulled Lu Fanzhi behind her, and stood protectively in front of Luo Jinxiao. She wore a light-yellow robe with sleeves tied with white ribbons, giving her a fresh and elegant appearance.
Her usually gentle face now bore a stern expression, but without any real malice.
Yan Ying’s eyes flashed briefly but quickly reverted to contempt. She looked down at them and sneered, “Oh, it’s you. What, are you going to protect your waste of a sister again?”
Luo Ning flicked her wrist, summoning a sword that pointed directly at Yan Ying’s throat. “If you have a problem with me, then come at me directly! What kind of coward bullies my sister?”
Watching the familiarity yet hostility between them, Luo Jinxiao finally understood the animosity between Yan Ying and herself.
Yan Ying opened her mouth, seemingly about to speak, but no words came out. Just as the tension reached its peak, someone intervened.
The voice was calm and indifferent, yet it made everyone feel as if a heavy weight had been placed on their hearts, compelling them to listen.
Luo Jinxiao turned around, her eyes meeting Qu Weiyin’s. But Qu Weiyin’s gaze swept over her only briefly before moving on.
A delicate fragrance brushed past her nose, and Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but hold her breath. By the time she recovered, Qu Weiyin was already standing between them, her gaze sweeping over each of them.
“Causing such a commotion, what a disgrace.”
Yan Ying immediately fell silent, and the others quickly lowered their heads, trying to look obedient. Only Luo Ning continued to glare at her defiantly.
“Junior Shishu Qu, she was bullying my sister,” Luo Ning said, putting away her sword and pointing at Yan Ying with an aggrieved expression.
“She’s lying! I didn’t do anything!” Yan Ying quickly defended herself. But under Qu Weiyin’s gaze, her voice trailed off. For some reason, despite her usual fearlessness, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt and fear when facing Qu Weiyin.
“Inciting trouble. Three days of confinement for you to reflect on your actions. As for the rest of you, anyone who repeats this will be excluded from the next few days of the competition.” Qu Weiyin said, giving Yan Ying a warning glance. “Now disperse.”
The crowd scattered like startled birds. Yan Ying glared at Luo Ning with resentment before storming off.
“Sister, don’t worry about her. Ever since she and I became enemies, she takes her anger out on you because she can’t beat me. It’s infuriating,” Luo Ning said, sticking her tongue out at Yan Ying and then turning to comfort Luo Jinxiao.
Luo Jinxiao shook her head and smiled at Luo Ning. She wouldn’t waste her energy on such trivial matters.
She was about to thank Qu Weiyin when she noticed her staring intently at her waist. Luo Jinxiao looked down and saw the pouch she used to carry the sword. She had found it rather Pure and hated to throw it away, so she had hung it on her belt as a decorative pouch.
“This is…” Qu Weiyin stared for a moment before speaking slowly.
“It’s the pouch Junior Shishu gave me with the sword. Thank you, Junior Shishu,” Luo Jinxiao said, patting the bulging pouch with a bright smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Qu Weiyin wasn’t sure if she was thanking her for the sword or the pouch. She nodded vaguely, her face expressionless, but her mind was in turmoil.
She hesitated for a moment, then suddenly blurted out, “That pouch, I… I bought it while I was down the mountain.”
Luo Jinxiao was taken aback, unsure why she would suddenly say that. She blinked in confusion.
“It’s very beautiful,” she said, “I like it a lot.”
“Mm.” Qu Weiyin nodded, her gaze still fixed on the bright red hibiscus flower embroidered on the pouch. It complemented the girl’s light blue dress surprisingly well.
She had wanted to say that it was just a random purchase, not something she had embroidered herself, and not worth keeping. But the words caught in her throat.
Then she thought, what if Luo Jinxiao was just wearing it casually and didn’t care if she had embroidered it or not?
She felt her cheeks flush, and the girl’s smile seemed to be shrouded in a hazy mist. She felt a surge of inexplicable annoyance, even she herself didn’t understand why.
She mocked herself inwardly. After living for thousands of years, I was getting upset over something so ridiculous.
“It’s nothing. I have a lesson to teach.” With that, she turned and left, leaving Luo Jinxiao standing there, scratching her head in confusion.
“Junior Shishu, wait!” Luo Jinxiao suddenly called out. She ran up to Qu Weiyin and stopped her. “Junior Shishu, this is for you.”
Luo Jinxiao pulled out another pouch from her pocket. This one was embroidered with a crookedly smiley face. She held it out to Qu Weiyin with both hands.
“I embroidered this myself two days ago. I didn’t have anything to thank you for the sword, so please accept this as a small token of my appreciation.” Luo Jinxiao was a little worried that Qu Weiyin wouldn’t want it.
Qu Weiyin stared at the pouch for a moment, then took it, saying in a disdainful tone, “It’s really ugly.”
But then she tucked it away safely in her robes and vanished in a blink of an eye.
