Between Desire and the Dao

What was Yu Lian supposed to do?

Wasn’t it obvious?

Of course, she was to help bring her own master, the Prison Law True Master, into Li Wangyan’s Mystic Maiden Mirror.

In truth, the Mystic Maiden Mirror was not quite so lawless.

Nascent Soul True Masters were said to see through all things, wielding powers that were “laws” and “dao” itself.

To some extent, beings of this level really could resist certain forces of the Mystic Maiden Mirror—especially since Li Wangyan’s own cultivation realm was not particularly high.

He had been able to subdue the Dao Sword True Master only because she herself had been in a weakened state at the time.

But the Prison Law True Master was at his peak.

That would not be easy.

Yu Lian would need to become the traitor who made it possible.

Li Wangyan had no intention of telling Yu Lian just yet.

Although he felt that she would most likely figure it out later.

As for what she would guess, and what she would think afterward—that was another matter entirely.

* * * *

Qi Xiao actually knew a fair amount about what was happening outside.

If one had to name a reason, it was simply that Li Wangyan would come by every so often and casually tell her what had happened.

As for whether it was true or not—Qi Xiao felt it was mostly true.

After all, Li Wangyan had no real need to deceive her.

Moreover, Li Wangyan himself was quite well-mannered.

He came at fixed times every day and never disturbed Qi Xiao while she was refining the magical artifact needed for her breakthrough.

Come to think of it, Li Wangyan seemed extremely busy lately.

“Junior Brother Li, don’t worry,” Qi Xiao said.
“Once I successfully break through to the middle stage of the Golden Core, I’ll resume my position as peak master.
I know you’ve been very tired during this period.”

“Doing things for Senior Sister, how could I be tired?” Li Wangyan replied.
“But what I’m curious about is this: I’m already arrogant enough, yet no one has come to trouble me.
Logically speaking, whether it’s aimed at you, Senior Sister, or at Master, someone should have come to test matters related to ‘Ning Shuang’ and ‘Qi Huan.’
This kind of quiet feels unreasonable.”

Qi Xiao nodded.

“Perhaps it’s because of the previous attack.
You and Hong Lian are considered part of the Life-Extinguishing Sect’s forces.
Prison Law and Yu Lian count as another demonic sect’s forces.
If the ones who attacked Yu Lian are considered a third demonic faction…
then Prison Law and Yu Lian’s side probably can’t make sense of the situation either.
All they can do for now is endure, observe, and avoid acting rashly.”

“That’s a reasonable inference, Senior Sister,” Li Wangyan said.
“But we can’t assume that’s everything.
There’s also the possibility that some people, driven into a corner, might lash out.
They could already be plotting in the shadows, planning to crush Master and you in one decisive move.
That’s entirely possible as well.”

Qi Xiao did not deny it.

“You’re right, Junior Brother.
The Heavenly Dao Sect is vast, and within it there are all kinds of filth and darkness.
But Junior Brother—do you really have a way to help Yu Lian improve her strength?”

“I do,” Li Wangyan said.
“But there will be some side effects—”

“Can you… temporarily spare Senior Sister?”

“Senior Sister, I’ve already told you,” Li Wangyan replied calmly.
“I’m not harming Senior Sister.
I’m helping her—helping her step out of the shadows in her heart and truly face the past.
The process may be cruel, but if she can come through it, that will be the moment of her transformation.
By then, she will no longer be a cultivator of the Emotionless Sword Dao.”

Qi Xiao stared at Li Wangyan.

Something about his words felt subtle.

She felt that he was not lying.

“Are you… serious?”

“Why would I need to deceive you, Senior Sister?” Li Wangyan said.
“That would only lower my standing in your heart, which is something I absolutely do not wish for.
I know you want to ask what benefit this brings me.
What I want is simply to see Senior Sister in pain during this process.
That alone is enough to satisfy me.”

Qi Xiao found it difficult to describe how she felt.

Was this man a little too honest?

She found herself at a loss for words, because she could not possibly reveal her own true feelings to Li Wangyan.

In this world, no one had that right.

Li Wangyan exchanged a few more polite, caring words with her before finally leaving.

“Throughout my life I only sigh that my Dao is hard,
Floating clouds stretch across and smear the nine heavens.
I come to this world from beyond the skies,
Asking not of love, only of immortality.”

She silently turned back and continued refining her magical artifact.

Just a few more days would be enough.

* * * *

Li Wangyan must have done something excessive to his disciple.

The Dao Sword True Master kept turning this thought over in her mind.

From her conversation with Lin Wushuang that day, she had already learned of Lin Wushuang’s current situation.

That kind of evil bell tied to her body—Li Wangyan was outright forcing Lin Wushuang to *discipline herself!

It was far too vile.

Even though her eldest disciple cultivated the Emotionless Sword Dao, was such a method really something that could be used on a human being?

She did not know whether Lin Wushuang could endure it.

What was more, Lin Wushuang had such an alluring appearance.

Li Wangyan did not seem like the type who could restrain himself.

He would surely devour Lin Wushuang soon enough!

Perhaps he was already doing that sort of thing to her right now…

It was because of me…

Because I did not do that sort of thing with Li Wangyan, Lin Wushuang was subjected to such treatment.

And in the first place, it was because of me, her master, that Lin Wushuang suffered such an unwarranted calamity.

She found it deeply ironic.

Her original motive for taking in disciples had never been pure.

Yet now, at this moment, she was having such thoughts.

Was it only because she herself had suffered Li Wangyan’s retaliation that she now wanted to truly treat her disciples well?

She did not know.

But…

She sent a transmission to Lin Wushuang:

[Has your junior brother… done that kind of beastly thing to you?]

Lin Wushuang’s reply came quickly:

[Not yet.]

It was not a satisfying answer.

“Not yet” meant that even Lin Wushuang herself felt that sooner or later she would meet a grim fate—only that the day had not arrived.

Still, it allowed the Dao Sword True Master to breathe a sigh of relief.

At least it meant that Li Wangyan had not yet laid hands on Lin Wushuang.

But how long could he endure?

Or rather, to what extent did he intend to torment her, to train her, before he would be satisfied?

Li Wangyan’s thoughts were truly unfathomable.

The Dao Sword True Master thought that perhaps she should make some kind of change.

After all, she was about to enter the stage of the Forgetting-Self Sword Dao.

She would take it as… making her final contribution to her disciples.

---

Qi Xiao’s magical artifact was completed very quickly.

In truth, she had already made ample preparations; she simply had not put them into practice.

Entering the Mystic Maiden Mirror had given her more mature conditions, allowing her to complete the refinement.

After that, she went to Li Wangyan’s cave abode.

“Junior Brother,” she said,
“I’m leaving the sect to attempt a breakthrough in my realm.
For the next few days, matters within the peak will require more of your attention.”

“Senior Sister must go outside the sect to break through?”

“Yes.”

“Then please wait a moment, Senior Sister.
Allow me to treat you to a good show.”

Qi Xiao froze, looking at Li Wangyan in confusion.

Before long, Lin Wushuang also walked in.

The two young women looked at each other, faces full of bewilderment.

“Senior Sister.”

“Junior Sister Qi.”

Li Wangyan said to them both, “The two of you, hide under the bed first.”

Hide under the bed?

What was he planning to do?

Though they thought so, both of them obediently hid beneath the bed.

Not long after, the Dao Sword True Master entered.

Almost the instant she stepped into the cave abode, she wanted to turn around and leave.

After all, the auras of her two disciples were present here.

Even though they had concealed themselves, to a Nascent Soul True Master—especially one approaching the late Nascent Soul stage—such concealment was far too easy to see through.

Yet she found herself unable to move her feet.

She knew that if she did not do this…

Wait—had this man just been doing something to Lin Wushuang and Qi Xiao, and stopped only because she was coming?

“Master, what brings you here today?” Li Wangyan asked calmly.

Hearing his unperturbed question, the Dao Sword True Master bit her red lip.

She steeled herself and spoke:

“Y-You… you have not touched me for ten days.”

Under the bed, the two people almost simultaneously pricked up their ears.

Their eyes widened as they stared at each other, unable to believe what they had just heard.

“Master, you’re making things difficult for me,” Li Wangyan said.
“I already told you that day that the relationship between us would end there.
We would both pretend that nothing ever happened.
You would remain the lofty master, and I would remain your disciple.
I would continue to treat you with respect.
Didn’t you happily agree to that proposal as well?”

The crucial point was this—

Li Wangyan truly had not touched the Dao Sword True Master for ten days.

“But you… you don’t intend to keep a pure relationship with others,” she said.
“For example, Wushuang and Qi Xiao…”

“Master, you’ve misunderstood me,” Li Wangyan replied.
“You can ask Senior Sister and Senior Sister Qi yourselves, ask whether I’ve done anything to them.
My methods with Senior Sister may have been a bit harsh, but Master, you should understand my intentions.
I did it for Senior Sister’s own good.
Moreover, to this day I have maintained a pure relationship with Senior Sister.
Why does Master hold such prejudice against me?”

Lin Wushuang listened in utter disbelief.

You put that bell on me and said it was for my own good?

How did I not know that?

Prejudice?

Facts!

Do you think I don’t know what kind of person you are?

You just think it’s a pity to eat the dish before it’s fully cooked.

Don’t think I don’t understand what you’re implying.

But the Dao Sword True Master knew that he wanted to maintain his image in front of Qi Xiao and Lin Wushuang.

He would never admit his sordid thoughts.

And she herself…

“I… it’s me…”

She moved closer to Li Wangyan and then threw herself into his arms.

Her voice trembled slightly.

Her soft body stirred a wave of nostalgia in Li Wangyan, who had gone ten days without touching her.

“It’s me who can’t let you go.
It’s me.
I’m a wanton woman.
After you left, I felt empty, lonely, and desolate.
I…”

She held onto Li Wangyan, seeming both aggrieved and genuinely moved.

The mist of moisture in her eyes made it difficult even for Li Wangyan to discern her true thoughts.

He should have understood the Dao Sword True Master’s intentions.

“I want you to hold me like before,” she said.
“You can do anything… anything you want to me.
I don’t want you to touch them.
I don’t want to share you with them.”

She had completely abandoned all shame.

She would treat it as this unqualified master’s final act—

Before entering “forgetting the self,” she would do one last thing for her disciples.

“Can you… love only me?” she asked.
“I will do anything for you.”

She spoke words so cloying that she herself could hardly believe she was capable of saying them.