Chapter 18: My Master Is Exactly That

"No, it's not you." The Holy Light Ruin Python shook its head, causing the cave to tremble. "It's not you; something's wrong with you."

...

Wen Jingge quickly pulled Qiao Yu aside to avoid being struck by falling rocks. She caught the deeper meaning in its words. "What do you mean?"

"Centuries ago, she found me and said that the sword was meant for her future disciple. She told me her time was running out, so the sword was kept with me. When the time is right, the sword will find its true master."

...

Wen Jingge pondered. "Wen Jingge" is the disciple of the Diviner. The Diviner can cast lots and calculate fate—does that mean Wen Jingge can divine as well? What kind of person arranges all their affairs before their death? Both Wen Jingge and the Diviner were such people. Did they not fear that she, as an outsider, might disrupt their plans?

Or perhaps she was Wen Jingge all along, merely suffering from amnesia?

But then, where did all those memories of the modern metropolis come from?

The more Wen Jingge thought, the more muddled her mind became.

At this moment, Wen Jingge felt a little grateful. Fortunately, she had written mysteries before; with such complicated relationships, an ordinary person would hardly be able to make sense of it.

Since her awakening, the books at hand kept changing. Liang Si, attentive as she was, said all those books were ones Wen Jingge had read before, found through records in the library. Every time she flipped through these books, Wen Jingge felt inexplicable familiarity.

She was an orphan, and from as far back as she could remember, she'd lived in an orphanage. Even as a child, her strength surpassed that of adults, causing much damage in the orphanage. They all called her a monster.

Wen Jingge had never cared about these things, but Qiao Yu had said that every injury made her stronger.

Wen Jingge shook her head. "Do we need to retrieve the sword?"

"Yes, I must see if it suits." The Holy Light Ruin Python seemed to recall something. "Earlier, you said the sword might have been taken by the demon clan?"

"Just a guess, but if you say no, then it's not."

"No. Back then, the Diviner tricked me into this place and warned me—there's one place I must never go. We monsters devour each other, and the resentment we accumulate is only to deter that place."

"Where is it?" Wen Jingge asked urgently.

She desperately needed something to anchor her mind. After touching the Ruin Python's scales, 'Nonexistent' had fallen silent, no matter how she called for it.

...

For Wen Jingge, 'Nonexistent' was an unruly ticking bomb. As long as it remained, she had to stay vigilant every day, controlling all those wild guesses.

"I'll take you there. The rest of the journey, you'll have to walk alone."

"Alright." Wen Jingge pointed at Qiao Yu, speaking earnestly, "No matter how you judge people's identities, this person is truly Wen Jingge's second disciple. He will keep his promise and accompany you."

The Ruin Python paused for a long time, then transformed into human form: a white-haired old man, gaunt and frail, his serpentine pupils dull as he glanced at Wen Jingge, speaking with tacit understanding, "My end is near. Five years from now, I hope you'll return to lay my body to rest."

"Yes," Wen Jingge replied.

The old man rubbed his skin, shedding two different scales. The dark red one he handed to the still-dazed Qiao Yu, glancing at his head. "This one is for you; even outside, it will save your life if needed. On your body... forget it."

"The silver one is for you; you'll likely need it where you're going."

Wen Jingge seemed to understand. "During the day?"

"Yes." The old man looked at her with comfort. "Just come visit me in five years. I should rest now."

"Farewell."

"Eh? Brother, are we just leaving like this?" Qiao Yu placed the scale over his heart. His world was no longer black; he could see every blade of grass and tree outside. "Brother, I really thought we were going to die. Luckily, that old man knew our master and grandmaster."

Wen Jingge paused. "Old man?"

He was clearly a six-hundred-year-old ancestor.

Qiao Yu realized his slip and looked at the dark red scale beneath him. "Brother, why is he familiar with you but distant with me?"

Wen Jingge: ...

Why does this child talk so much?

"Do you know how to write the words 'keep quiet'?"

"No... My senior brother said he'd teach me to read once we got out. He also said to bother our master less, since she's ill and needs rest. If I have questions, I should ask him, and if he doesn't know, he'll take me to see our master."

Wen Jingge couldn't help but sigh; Liang Si truly was the most worry-free disciple she'd ever seen.

"Do you know why the man in the black robe left without waiting for your thanks?"

...

"Why..."

"Because you talk too much. Have you ever seen a swordsman chattering during a fight?"

"My master does!"

...

Wen Jingge.

"Although the recording stone had no sound, and I couldn't hear, I just... somehow knew what they were saying through mind transmission. At that moment, I wanted to listen, and my cultivation advanced by one grade."

Wen Jingge: ...

"Brother, in this black robe..." He frowned, eyes darting about. "Except for being much thinner, your aura really matches the black-robed man who saved me that night."

Wen Jingge rummaged through her storage ring, found a bag of spirit stones, then pulled out another storage ring, forcing Qiao Yu to wear it. "His name is Song Ren! I'm Song Qian! These spirit stones are just our good karma. If you talk less, I might live a few more days."

Qiao Yu scratched his head sheepishly. "I don't usually talk this much. No one at Wanzhang Peak spoke to me, and Senior Brother Song Qian wasn't unfriendly. I just... accidentally..."

"Stop!" Wen Jingge interrupted him. "You've attracted something."

The dark red scale the Ruin Python used to send them was gradually fading, becoming transparent. Wen Jingge took a deep breath, grabbed Qiao Yu, and jumped down. "If you were my disciple, I'd break your legs to keep you from being so noisy."

Every scene and object in the Boundless Illusion Realm resembled a primeval forest. With so many years of construction, the spiritual energy here was thicker than outside. Since entering, Wen Jingge's cultivation had been suppressed to the ninth grade by her magical treasure, but her strength was steadily recovering.

"So that's why..." Qiao Yu suddenly understood, his mood sinking, then suddenly excited. "Brother!"

Ahead, a huge pit appeared in the ground. Azure-violet demonic light spilled out but was blocked by a transparent glass dome. The swirling energy never dissipated, repeatedly striking the barrier.

Wen Jingge could see the air currents shaking. She knew this barrier wouldn't last much longer.

Her suspicions were correct—the later, righteous demon-slaying Qiao Yu was replaced at just this moment.

Wen Jingge shouted, "Run!"