Chapter 21: Holding an Umbrella
While tensions ran high elsewhere, the second round of the competition was in full swing. Cheers and shouts of excitement filled the air. Lu Fanzhi had barely scraped through the first round, but luck was not on her side in the second. She was pitted against Yan Ying and lost miserably.
Her legs wobbled as she stepped off the platform and slumped against Luo Jinxiao’s shoulder, whining.
“Jinxiao, that Yan Ying is so hateful! She’s too strong, and her sword is amazing, so powerful. My hand hurts so much…” she whined.
Luo Jinxiao patted her back sympathetically. “It’s alright. We’ll go back and continue cultivating. We’ll be able to defeat her someday.”
“You want to defeat me? In your next life, maybe.” A voice rang out behind them. Luo Jinxiao turned around to see Yan Ying standing there, her head slightly raised, with a smirk on her face.
The sword in Yan Ying’s hand was still faintly glowing with heat, seeming to issue a threat.
Luo Jinxiao gently pushed Lu Fanzhi off her shoulder and turned to face Yan Ying, a smile playing on her lips. “I hope you remember what you just said.”
Yan Ying hated seeing Luo Jinxiao’s calm and composed demeanor. She grew angrier and said, “What, you think you can actually fight me? Don’t overestimate yourself.”
Luo Jinxiao simply turned away, ignoring her.
Soon, it was Luo Jinxiao’s turn again. This time, her opponent was Baili Qingzhou. After a few exchanges, Luo Jinxiao found an opening and effortlessly knocked him off the platform.
She had deliberately refrained from using too much spiritual energy to avoid drawing attention. However, even her restrained display sparked controversy. Many refused to believe she could win two matches in a row.
Luo Jinxiao, as always, paid no attention to the whispers and speculations.
By noon, the sun was high in the sky, baking the earth with its scorching heat. The crowd’s cheers had dwindled, and many disciples, unable to bear the heat any longer, had slipped away from the white jade platform to find shade nearby. The once-packed arena was now sparsely populated.
After several rounds, only a handful of contestants remained. As fate would have it, Luo Jinxiao was paired against Yan Ying. As they made their way onto the platform, Yan Ying shot Luo Jinxiao an arrogant glare.
“If you beg me now, I might go easy on you,” she said, her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.
Luo Jinxiao pretended not to hear, casually stretching her wrists instead. Yan Ying, though enraged, could do nothing and gritted her teeth.
As the drum signaled the start of the match, Yan Ying charged forward. The sword in her hand, enveloped in spiritual energy, transformed into a long, powerful whip, lashing out at Luo Jinxiao with blinding speed. Luo Jinxiao’s heart skipped a beat. She swiftly leaned back, narrowly avoiding the attack.
“All you do is dodge, you coward!” Yan Ying had expected her attack to land. Seeing Luo Jinxiao evade it so easily fueled her anger, making her attacks even more ferocious.
Her aim was precise, and her cultivation level was nothing to scoff at. Dodging alone wouldn’t be enough. Luo Jinxiao extended her right hand, and her silver sword materialized with a flash. The air shimmered as if filled with swirling snowflakes.
“That’s… How did you get such a powerful spiritual weapon?” Yan Ying exclaimed in astonishment.
“Thanks for your concern,” Luo Jinxiao said with a wink. She dashed forward. Yan Ying, who specialized in long-range attacks, hastily retreated.
Luo Jinxiao didn’t give her a chance. She whispered “Snowstorm Blizzard,” and the tip of her sword produced a bundle of ice needles that multiplied rapidly. In no time, the stage was filled with a chilling wind and countless ice needles, creating an inescapable trap. Caught off guard, Yan Ying narrowly avoided getting pierced.
She swiftly erected a barrier of spiritual energy, deflecting most of the ice needles. However, she wasn’t entirely protected. Her robes were torn, and her hair stood on end, frozen stiff, making her resemble a white porcupine.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Yan Ying trembled with rage. With a furious cry, she summoned her sword, soaring into the air. Her hands formed the shape of lotus blossoms, and glowing lotuses materialized in her palms, raining down on Luo Jinxiao.
This technique, known as “Lotus Steps,” sounded elegant, but it was a deadly and difficult technique to master. The crowd gasped, stunned that Yan Ying would resort to such a powerful move.
“Yan Ying is the most talented among the new disciples. That attack… Luo Jinxiao will be lucky to escape with her life,” one disciple whispered.
“So what if she knows a powerful technique? She’s just a novice! Her technique is full of flaws!” Luo Ning, overhearing their conversation, retorted angrily.
“Senior Sister Luo Ning…” the disciple who had spoken earlier stammered, bowing slightly in embarrassment.
Word of the current match had spread like wildfire, and soon a large crowd came surging back, filling the space around the platform. Some even rushed over with their bowls of rice in hand, afraid of missing out on the excitement.
“So that’s the girl from the Luo family, the one who got into the Wuhui Sect without a spiritual root? But she doesn’t seem to be losing at all,” someone remarked between mouthfuls of rice.
The disciple in front of him edged away in disgust. “The rumors must be wrong. Look at her, even though we can’t tell her cultivation level, she doesn’t seem like someone without a spiritual root at all.”
On the platform, Luo Jinxiao conjured a shield of ice above her head. The seemingly thin layer of ice blocked every single one of Yan Ying’s attacks.
From the Elders’ platform, Qu Weiyin, who had been unconsciously clutching her sleeve in worry, finally relaxed her grip.
“So that’s Yan Ying? As expected of Elder Mei’s disciple. To be able to use such a technique at such a young age, she is truly impressive,” Elder He commented, stroking his beard with interest.
Before Elder Mei could respond to the praise, Elder Liu let out a loud snort and crossed his arms.
“What do you mean by that, Elder Liu?” Elder Mei questioned, her voice laced with annoyance.
Elder Liu ignored her, his gaze fixed on the platform. The shower of glowing lotuses had vanished. Luo Jinxiao, who was standing on the ground just moments ago, was now airborne, her sword carrying her to a position level with Yan Ying.
Yan Ying lashed out with her spiritual whip. It moved so fast it was almost invisible to the naked eye. The crowd held their breath as the whip came dangerously close to striking Luo Jinxiao.
Qu Weiyin, unable to contain herself, took two steps forward, her face tense.
Just as the whip was about to strike Luo Jinxiao, someone let out a scream. At that moment, Luo Jinxiao, who had seemed frozen a moment ago, suddenly moved. She reached out and caught the spiritual whip in her bare hand.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
To everyone’s surprise, Luo Jinxiao showed no sign of pain. With a swift movement, she flipped in mid-air, yanking on the whip, pulling Yan Ying off balance and sending her tumbling off her whip.
No one saw what happened next. When the crowd looked down again, Luo Jinxiao was pinning Yan Ying to the ground, her hand pressing down on her opponent’s neck.
Yan Ying seemed stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. It took a moment for the pain to register, and she began to struggle wildly.
Gui Jiu hurriedly stepped in to stop the fight. Luo Jinxiao released her hold, resuming her usual smile, and playfully winked at the still-coughing Yan Ying on the ground.
The calmness she had displayed moments ago disappeared, replaced by youthful energy. Her smile was bright, and her eyes sparkled with excitement and joy.
Qu Weiyin lowered her eyes, lost in thought, and then suddenly vanished from the spot.
The day’s competition had been full of surprises. No one had expected Luo Jinxiao to emerge victorious. As the crowd dispersed, they continued to discuss the match enthusiastically.
On the elders’ platform, Elder Liu’s usually stern face was creased with a wide smile. He stood up, bowed to the disgruntled Elder Mei, and announced loudly, “The one who won just now, Luo Jinxiao, is my disciple!”
“The weather is great today. I’ll have an extra bowl of rice.” He chuckled heartily and strode away.
Elder Mei’s face turned nearly purple with anger.
Luo Jinxiao was still on the stage when she was almost knocked over by Luo Ning and Lu Fanzhi, who rushed up to hug her. They seemed even more excited than she was.
“Jinxiao, you won! You can go to the Upper Celestial Realm! Elder He said that all the new disciples could go and have a look around. They say the Upper Celestial Realm is the ruins of the Celestial Realm. I’ve always dreamed of going there!” Lu Fanzhi squealed excitedly.
Luo Ning grabbed Luo Jinxiao’s arm, her excitement tinged with worry. “Sister, I’m a little worried. Why don’t you take me with you? I can protect you.”
“Am I the older sister, or are you?” Luo Jinxiao laughed, shaking her head as she affectionately patted Luo Ning’s head. “It seems like our roles have been reversed.”
Her younger sister’s unwavering devotion warmed her heart.
Luo Jinxiao was happy about her victory, but she had always been confident in her abilities. It was the others who couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around it. The news spread throughout the Wuhui Sect like wildfire. Some attributed her win to sheer luck, while others whispered that she was a hidden prodigy. Whatever the speculation, Luo Jinxiao’s name was now known throughout the sect.
After the competition, the Wuhui Sect gave the new disciples a few days to rest and recover from their injuries before making arrangements for the trip to the Upper Celestial Realm. Luo Jinxiao didn’t have many belongings, so she didn’t need to prepare much. She simply spent the extra time cultivating.
On the morning of their departure, a light drizzle began to fall, gradually intensifying into a steady rain. It was still early. Too lazy to summon her sword, Luo Jinxiao grabbed a plain oil-paper umbrella belonging to Elder Liu, slung her pack over her shoulder, and started walking down the mountain path.
The rain fell in fine, dense lines, tapping against the umbrella with a dull, steady sound. splashing water soaked her skirt, making it hard to walk. Luo Jinxiao decided to tie up her skirt, revealing a small section of her fair, straight legs.
The rain shrouded the mountain in mist, making it look like a scene from a painting. As Luo Jinxiao walked, she saw a solitary figure in the distance, walking slowly and appearing lonely.
The figure was dressed in white robes, now clinging to their slender frame by the rain.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t bear to watch someone get drenched. Everyone in the Wuhui Sect is a cultivator. If you don’t have an umbrella, just use a Water Repelling spell. Why stand in the rain like that? It looks so pitiful.
Maybe they’re a new disciple who hasn’t learned the Water Repelling spell yet. Ever kind-hearted, Luo Jinxiao couldn’t bear to ignore it, so she ran a few steps to share her umbrella.
“Fellow disciple, did you forget your umbrella?” she asked. The figure turned around, and Luo Jinxiao froze, nearly tripping over her own feet.
It was Qu Weiyin.
She stared at Luo Jinxiao, her expression unreadable. “No need.”
Luo Jinxiao wasn’t sure if she meant she didn’t need an umbrella or didn’t need help holding it.
Qu Weiyin frowned slightly but said no more, continuing to walk forward.
Luo Jinxiao hadn’t expected to run into Qu Weiyin on this poetic, rainy morning. It seemed like fate. But she couldn’t just leave Qu Weiyin standing in the rain after offering her the umbrella.
With a sigh, she caught up to Qu Weiyin, holding the umbrella over both of them.
They walked in silence, the only sound the rhythmic patter of raindrops. Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but steal glances at Qu Weiyin. The Demon Lord usually dressed in black and red robes, looking every bit the intimidating, ruthless figure she was rumored to be. Today, however, dressed in white, she seemed almost ethereal, detached from the mundane world.
The way the rain plastered a strand of hair against her cheek made her look almost… vulnerable.
The silence stretched, becoming increasingly awkward. Luo Jinxiao decided to break the ice. “It’s raining so heavily, Junior Shishu. Why don’t you use a spell to avoid it?”
“Rain, snow, wind, and moon are all part of nature. Why avoid them?” Qu Weiyin replied, her expression unchanged.
Experiencing rain, snow, wet or cold is what makes you feel connected to this world. Qu Weiyin left the thought unspoken.
Luo Jinxiao felt a strange pang in her heart. She looked down at Qu Weiyin, noticing the rain trickling down her slender neck.
She quickly averted her eyes. There was something about Qu Weiyin in this moment that was almost frighteningly cold. Not her demeanor, but something deeper… her heart.
Luo Jinxiao cleared her throat. “Junior Shishu, the rain is cold.”
Qu Weiyin ignored her, muttering, “Annoying.”
You still haven’t denied that it’s cold. Luo Jinxiao held back a retort. She reached out and gently touched Qu Weiyin’s shoulder, silently casting the Water Repelling spell. Warmth enveloped Qu Weiyin as her clothes instantly dried. She paused, her eyes widening slightly.
“Being dry and warm is also part of nature,” Luo Jinxiao murmured.
