An Unexpected Reunion and a Fateful Pursuit

Dark clouds obscured the moonlight, plunging the world into a darkness as thick as ink, where one could not see one’s hand in front of one’s face.

Lin Xingjian was shocked to find that there was someone next to Li Tianliang. Alarm bells rang in his heart and all the nerves in his body tensed up instantly.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting the assassin’s beside him.

The assassin, understanding implicitly, knew she was gravely wounded at that moment, rendering her movements cumbersome.

Remaining would only burden Lin Xingjian and risk exposing their location.

With a subtle nod, she silently withdrew, her form swiftly vanishing into the enveloping darkness.

Lin Xingjian drew his sword and surged towards the shadowed figure beside Li Tianliang, his steps remarkably light yet resolute, each stride planted with solid power.

The sword in his hand shimmered with a frigid, deadly light, akin to a meteor streaking across a winter sky, becoming an extension of his very being.

He fixed his gaze upon the shadowed figure, scrutinizing every minute movement the opponent made.

Startled, the shadowed figure likewise unsheathed their blade.

A sound like a dragon’s cry, piercingly shrill, echoed forth.

In the cloak of night, the two clashed, fists and feet meeting, sword-light flashing in a dizzying dance.

Lin Xingjian was astonished to discover that this individual was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator, their prowess matching his own without the slightest inferiority.

Each of the opponent’s attacks was fierce and rapid, their sword techniques shifting with bewildering unpredictability.

They were dazzling to behold and impossible to defend against.

The shadowed figure spun, their longsword arcing like a flood dragon surging from the sea, thrusting directly at Lin Xingjian’s throat.

Lin Xingjian swiftly sidestepped, simultaneously swinging his sword to parry the blow.

The two blades met with a resounding ‘clang,’ sending a shower of sparks scattering into the night.

Seizing the opportune moment, Lin Xingjian pressed his attack.

His sword, swaying as supplely as a willow branch, appeared deceptively soft and weak, yet concealed a deadly intent as it darted towards the shadowed figure’s chest.

The shadowed figure, unperturbed, lightly tapped their foot and retreated half a step.

Simultaneously, their sword technique shifted, adopting a ‘parting clouds to reveal the sun’ stance, effortlessly neutralizing Lin Xingjian’s assault.

Lin Xingjian silently groaned inwardly.

This had indeed become truly troublesome.

He had assumed dealing with Li Tianliang would be the end of it, never anticipating a ‘Cheng Yaojin’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to an unexpected obstacle or interloper.) would emerge midway.

As he cautiously parried the opponent’s attacks, he pondered in secret.

A single Foundation Establishment cultivator was typically sufficient for one lair; how could another suddenly appear?

Could this be an ambush Li Tianliang had set in advance?

Lin Xingjian fiercely battled the shadowed figure, his mind still racing.

The opponent wielded a three-foot-long sword, its blade slender and gleaming, as clear and cold as autumn waters.

As the opponent delivered a piercing thrust aimed at his momentary vulnerability, Lin Xingjian felt a shiver of dread creep up his spine, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

It wasn’t the sheer ferocity of the strike that unnerved him, but rather the familiar technique that allowed him to dimly surmise the shadowed figure’s true identity.

‘No, it couldn’t be!’

‘Why would it be this harbinger of misfortune?’

‘It was utterly impossible!’

‘Could it merely be a coincidence?’

His mind awash with a thousand thoughts, Lin Xingjian made a swift decision, immediately executing his movement technique and retreating.

He reined in his aura, allowing his entire form to merge seamlessly with the darkness, lurking concealed within the moon’s shadow.

“Wait, I beg you, halt your hand,” Lin Xingjian uttered, his voice exceedingly low, utterly devoid of the clear, crisp tone he usually possessed.

This deliberate alteration was entirely his doing.

He absolutely could not reveal his true voice before this individual, lest the repercussions prove unimaginable.

Upon hearing the voice, the shadowed figure also froze, their movements abruptly ceasing.

She happened to alight directly beneath the moonlight, her silver attire shimmering like snow, her white robes fluttering gently.

Her raven-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, gently swaying in the night breeze, while the sharp sword in her hand lay horizontally across her chest, its blade glinting with a frigid light that perfectly complemented her icy demeanor.

“Halt?”

“May I inquire why you attacked me?”

Bai Qingxue’s tone was utterly frigid, akin to the biting frost of deep winter.

To be met with drawn blades upon arrival.

The notion of merely halting because another commanded it displeased her greatly, and a hint of unconscious anger seeped into her voice.

“Forgive the misunderstanding, I am a member of the Shadow Sect, acting under the mandate of the Xuantian Dao Sect to eradicate a lurking faction of the Demonic Path.”

“I mistakenly believed you to be their accomplice just now, hence my offense; I humbly ask for your understanding.”

Lin Xingjian’s words were earnest, as he explained to Bai Qingxue in the most concise terms possible, ensuring his voice betrayed no hint of his true identity.

Bai Qingxue remained rooted to her spot, like a proud plum blossom defying the winter snow.

“I, too, through extensive investigation, uncovered the peculiarities of this very location.”

“Having come under the cloak of night to investigate, I never anticipated stumbling upon your struggle, nor this pervasive, dense scent of blood hanging in the air.”

“You claim to be of the Shadow Sect; what proof do you offer?”

“The Shadow Sect’s actions have never required explanation to outsiders.”

Such has always been the consistent modus operandi of the Shadow Sect; thus, they require no validation from anyone.

What is done, is done.

“Very well.”

“I believe you.”

Bai Qingxue withdrew her sharp, three-foot blade.

This action momentarily stunned Lin Xingjian; he had not expected to earn Bai Qingxue’s trust with such ease.

“I possess a slight understanding of the Shadow Sect, and their operational style indeed aligns with your description.”

Her voice remained cool and clear.

“Excellent!”

“Many thanks for your assistance, Immortal Maiden. As it happens, I have apprehended a Den Leader and am unsure how to dispose of him.”

“Perhaps you, Immortal Maiden, could do me the favor of delivering him to the nearest sect elder.”

“The credit for this deed would then be entirely yours, Immortal Maiden.”

Lin Xingjian’s words grew increasingly polite.

He truly had not anticipated encountering his old acquaintance, Bai Qingxue, in this place, secretly congratulating himself on his cunning disguise.

“I have heard that the Shadow Sect operates with decisive ruthlessness; observing this pervasive scent of blood, I presume you showed no quarter, eliminating them entirely.”

Bai Qingxue’s face remained utterly devoid of any trace of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, an unyielding iceberg that had stood for a thousand years.

“Precisely.”

Lin Xingjian’s reply was terse.

Such was inherently the Shadow Sect’s manner of operation.

“If you are willing to concede this merit to me, then I shall not be so impolite as to refuse.”

Lin Xingjian ceased his questioning and further remarks, but just as he prepared to depart, Bai Qingxue called out to him…

“By the way, esteemed Daoist friend of the Shadow Sect, are you not curious as to why I managed to find this place?”

Bai Qingxue’s sudden inquiry caused Lin Xingjian to momentarily falter…

There was no harm in asking.

“May I ask how you accomplished this, Immortal Maiden? Could it be… through careful inquiry?”

Lin Xingjian’s demeanor remained respectful.

“That was merely a jest; in truth, I simply followed a trail of clues, the precise reasons for which I cannot yet disclose.”

“I am not here to dismantle this lair; I am here in search of a particular individual.”

“An individual?”

Lin Xingjian’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

“Precisely. I am seeking a faithless and ungrateful individual.”

“He once swore an oath to accompany me for life, yet after securing my affirmation, he vanished without a trace, as if to exact revenge upon me and revel in my plight.”

A trace of resentment and grievance laced Bai Qingxue’s voice.

“Er…”

Upon hearing this, Lin Xingjian was instantly drenched in cold sweat; the so-called faithless man who had abandoned her, could it possibly be…

“You would agree, wouldn’t you, husband?”

Bai Qingxue murmured softly.

Abruptly, a chilling gleam flashed into existence—Bai Qingxue had drawn her sword in the instant Lin Xingjian was caught off guard!

Her movements were swift as lightning, the blade itself a flash of silver as it lunged towards Lin Xingjian.

Bai Qingx-ue’s assault resumed with renewed ferocity.

The woman advanced with long, swift strides, attacking Lin Xingjian with sword techniques even more ferocious than before…

She showed not the slightest hint of mercy.

She unleashed her sword art.

Her sword intent was as swift and relentless as a meteor pursuing the moon, each strike following the last in a dizzying succession, every blade-tip aimed directly at Lin Xingjian’s vital points.

Lin Xingjian swiftly executed the Roaming Dragon technique, his form as nimble as a celestial dragon, weaving and dodging amidst Bai Qingxue’s flashing sword-shadows, all while parrying her relentless attacks.

“Faithless wretch! Faithless wretch!”

“Why do you flee? Why are you unwilling to remain by my side?”

Bai Qingxue raged, her voice a furious cry as she wielded her sword; Lin Xingjian, silent, could only ceaselessly parry her assaults.

That Bai Qingxue, whom he had not seen in mere days, had already advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment! How could this revelation not utterly astound Lin Xingjian?

Could it be that this woman… had transformed her fury into a driving force?

Had she, in these past few days, done nothing but bombard him with spiritual messages and cultivate with frenzied intensity?

Lin Xingjian secretly mused upon this, yet his hands dared not betray the slightest slackness, fully committed to parrying Bai Qingxue’s relentless attacks.

“Immortal Maiden, I beg you, calm yourself. Please, be calm.”

“You must surely be mistaken; I am not the faithless wretch you speak of. I am merely an unknown cultivator of the Shadow Sect, nothing more, nothing less!”

Lin Xingjian ceaselessly parried Bai Qingxue’s attacks, desperately attempting to feign ignorance and conceal his identity.

Bai Qingxue scoffed at Lin Xingjian’s explanations, her fury mounting with each word.

“Still feigning? Still pretending, are you?”

“Did you truly believe I wouldn’t uncover the truth?”

“You aren’t named Wang at all! I have already located the man named Wang, and under my coercion, he divulged everything.”

“He commissioned someone from the Shadow Sect to spar with him, and that person, from beginning to end, was you!”

“Immortal Maiden, this is truly a misunderstanding!”

At this point, Lin Xingjian found himself utterly without recourse.

He continuously retreated, desperate to escape.

Bai Qingxue gave him no quarter, relentlessly pursuing him.

Her sword techniques were like a tempest, wave after wave, leaving Lin Xingjian struggling to cope.

“You cannot escape.”

“Since I have given my heart to you, you are mine in life, and mine in death.”

“The one Bai Qingxue acknowledges, I shall never change in this lifetime.”

Bai Qingxue’s voice was wild and tenacious, convinced that Lin Xingjian was her destiny, and she would never let him go.

‘She’s mad, this Bai Qingxue is truly mad!’

Lin Xingjian inwardly despaired; he had never imagined things would escalate to such a state.