Senior Sister Mo Qing

Inside the hall, misty clouds tinged with a soft rosy glow danced in the air, while wisps of sandalwood incense ascended from the censer and filled the air—neither overwhelming nor harsh, but subtly captivating the mind. 

Mo Qing stood in silent repose, as pure and still as freshly fallen snow, seamlessly blending into the hall's tranquility. After Ye Ming departed, the hall doors closed with a heavy thud that seemed to cut off all external clamor. Instantly, a palpable heaviness settled over the interior.

"Wei Lingwei." When he pronounced my name, his tone was even yet marked by deliberate pauses as he watched my reaction. "Eighteen-tiered stone steps, in a thousand years..." He gently caressed his jade ring with his finger, continuing, "No one has ever reached this point. In ages past there were none, and in the future, hardly anyone will."

I nodded subtly, neither servile nor haughty, and replied, "I was simply lucky as a disciple."

Leaning in slightly, he stroked the small table with his fingertips, his tone turning warm and affable: "May I ask, from which master did you acquire such divine abilities? Were there any extraordinary encounters along the way?" Though his inquiry sounded caring, a flash of hawk-like sharpness gleamed in his eyes.

"No master, no extraordinary encounters." I answered calmly, "I have cultivated since childhood under my late father's guidance—merely laying a modest foundation."

"Oh?" A brief syllable escaped him as his gaze remained steady; only his intricately carved jade ring made a slow rotation in his hand as he began, "Your father is..."

"Wei Lan." I replied in an even tone, my eyes fixed intently on his reaction.

At the sound of that name, Ye Chuan's face remained as immovable as carved jade. For a fleeting moment, the thumb of his right hand—holding a tea cup—trembled imperceptibly before regaining its flawless composure. Had I not been watching so carefully, I would have missed that subtle detail.

"So, you are the daughter of Junior Brother Wei." His voice was gentle and imbued with a measured reminiscence—as if perfectly blended like a precise remedy. "No wonder..." he paused briefly, the lines at the corners of his eyes softening ever so slightly, "your innate talent is truly exceptional."

"Junior Brother?" Those two words struck my heart like a heavy hammer. For sixteen years, my father had been extraordinarily reticent about his past with the Tianyan Sect—I had assumed he was nothing more than an ordinary mountain hermit. Now, to learn that he once shared a brotherhood with the Sect Master—a past of uncommon distinction that I had never imagined—my mind was flooded with images of my father's silent figure, his drunken murmurs, and the evasive glances he once cast... Everything took on a new meaning.

"Father, just how much did you conceal? And why did you leave the Tianyan Sect? Was it due to hidden secrets within the sect or some unspeakable burden of your own? These questions surged over me like tidal waves, yet I found no answers."

"How is Junior Brother Wei these days?" Ye Chuan asked casually, though his gaze was fixed on my face as if searching for something. His knuckles tapped on the table in a slow, methodical rhythm, as though tallying a calculation.

I lowered my head slightly, concealing the turbulence in my eyes, and said, "My father has passed away."

A profound silence fell over the hall, and the atmosphere grew suddenly heavy. Ye Chuan's expression shifted briefly before settling into calm, "When did this occur?"

"Recently." My answer was brief and measured.

"Junior Brother Wei...has passed away." A glimmer of genuine contemplation flashed in his eyes before it was replaced by gentle compassion. "Life is unpredictable." His right ring finger bent slightly, leaving a faint trace on the table, as he continued, "I wonder how..." Though his words were soft, they carried the weight of a thousand pounds, "he met his end?"

I gripped the sword scabbard at my waist as thoughts raced through my mind. How much should I reveal? The warning of the man in black still echoed in my ears. Yet, if I did not seize this opportunity to probe, how could I ever uncover the truth?

After a brief silence, I lifted my eyes to meet Ye Chuan's, my voice as calm as still water: "I was assassinated."

The atmosphere in the hall froze. Lin Yushuang's beautiful eyes widened slightly, clearly unprepared for such an answer. Meanwhile, Mo Qing, standing aside, remained expressionless, though a subtle ripple seemed to pass through her deep, well-like eyes.

"Assassination?" Ye Chuan furrowed his brow slightly; a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes before it melted into deep sorrow. "This... is truly shocking. Junior Brother Wei's swordsmanship was peerless, his cultivation extraordinary—who could have harmed him so grievously?"

"It is still under investigation." I replied tersely, unwilling to say more.

Ye Chuan looked deeply into my eyes as if trying to peer into my soul. After a moment, he sighed softly, "Though Junior Brother Wei has not returned to the Tianyan Sect for many years, his vendetta is our vendetta. Once you have settled, I will send someone to help you uncover the truth."

"Thank you, Sect Master." I bowed slightly, though inwardly I remained guarded about his words. My father's death must harbor hidden secrets, and until the truth is revealed, I would trust no one's promise lightly.

Ye Chuan appeared lost in thought, his eyes briefly vacant as he murmured, "That was twenty years ago, wasn't it? He was exceptionally talented, destined for boundless potential, yet he suddenly vanished from the sect..."

Mo Qing stood silently by my side, her gaze fixed on me with an unyielding calm. There was an ineffable quality about her look, as though she could penetrate my façade and peer directly into the deepest secrets of my heart.

"You bear a striking resemblance to Junior Brother Wei—about seventy percent alike, especially those eyes..." Ye Chuan's gaze grew intense. "When he left all those years ago, his eyes held that same resolute look."

My heart stirred; my father had never explained why he left the Tianyan Sect, and I never imagined I would learn even a hint of it from the Sect Master's words.

"It is said that he had mastered all the known swordsmanship and, unsatisfied with the existing ways, began creating new sword techniques. I wonder if he ever passed any of them on to you?" Ye Chuan looked at me with a gaze full of meaning.

"My father did teach me some sword techniques, but he never mentioned that they were his own creation," I replied cautiously, unwilling to divulge too much about him.

Ye Chuan nodded imperceptibly, his expression unchanged though a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes: "What a pity, what a pity. Junior Brother Wei left too soon—had he imparted all his lifelong knowledge to you, your abilities today would undoubtedly be even more astonishing."

The hall fell into a momentary silence. It seemed he wanted to say more but abruptly stopped and instead asked, "How is your mother?"

That sudden question tightened my heart: "I have never known her." I answered briefly, unwilling to elaborate further.

"Oh?" Ye Chuan showed no surprise; instead, the corners of his eyes softened ever so slightly as if affirming something. "What a pity, what a pity..." His gaze casually swept over Mo Qing while his fingertip tapped his knee three times in a precise rhythm, laden with hidden meaning.

"Lingwei." Seated regally, Ye Chuan's eyes blazed like torches, "Since you are the daughter of Junior Brother Wei and possess such innate talent, I shall personally arrange a cultivation path for you." After a brief pause, he suddenly called out, "Mo Qing."

"Yes." Mo Qing responded in a tone as cool and measured as droplets in a frozen pool, uttering the three syllables without a trace of emotion.

"You and Lingwei are of similar age and both are women." In a calm tone, Ye Chuan continued, his eyes as deep as an abyss, "I will have her acquainted with the sect and arrange her lodging on my behalf. In the future, should you have any doubts in your cultivation, I will also provide guidance." For a fleeting moment, his gaze shifted between Mo Qing and me, and an inscrutable depth of meaning flickered in his eyes.

Mo Qing brushed her sleeve lightly, immaculate as ever, and said, "I shall obey, disciple at your command." Her voice remained as cold as ice, yet the word "obey" carried a subtle, softened nuance.

I looked at Mo Qing—she remained expressionless, as if carved from ice and jade. Yet, deep within her profound, well-like eyes, a slight ripple seemed to stir, though perhaps it was merely my imagination. An inexplicable sense of familiarity welled up from within, as elusive as a distant fragment of a dream.

"Thank you for your nurturing, Sect Master." I bowed respectfully, my outward courtesy belying the clarity with which I absorbed every nuance of Ye Chuan's expression and tone. What connection did this Sect Master share with my father? And what deeper purpose lay behind his arrangements?

"No need for excessive thanks." With a sweeping motion of his robe, his voice boomed like a great bell, "For three thousand years, the Tianyan Sect has never lacked a place to nurture talent. As long as your heart is sincere and your resolve unwavering, you will surely succeed."

Mo Qing turned gracefully, her white robes as brilliant as freshly fallen snow. She tilted her head slightly, her cool gaze flowing over my face like water, and softly uttered, "If you don't mind, Junior Sister, come with me."

Her voice remained as cold as ice, but in that fleeting moment of turning, I thought I saw a hint of an emotion in her eyes—brief and elusive, like a hidden current beneath springtime ice.

As we turned to leave, I felt Ye Chuan's gaze fixed on our retreating figures, imbued with a complexity of emotion that I could not decipher.

In that moment, an inexplicable thought arose within me: within the seemingly tranquil Tianyan Sect, hidden undercurrents were surely at work, and perhaps both Senior Sister Mo Qing and I were nothing more than pawns in a grand game—our fated encounter long predetermined by unseen forces.

After leaving Xuanyan Hall, we set off along a stone-paved path. Mo Qing led the way in her snow-white robes, her posture upright and every step as if treading on delicate clouds, her footsteps nearly silent. In the glow of the sunset, her figure was stretched into a cool, clear silhouette.

Leaving Xuanyan Hall once more, we walked along the stone path. Mo Qing, at the forefront in her snow-white attire and graceful bearing, moved as if treading on clouds. In the setting sun's light, her profile resembled a finely drawn ink painting—cool yet imbued with gentle beauty.

"As a newcomer to the Tianyan Sect, is there anything you wish to ask?" Mo Qing suddenly inquired, her voice as calm as ever, though now with a touch less detachment than when we were in the hall.

I watched her from behind—this senior sister possessed an otherworldly grace and an aloof manner that somehow made me feel inexplicably drawn to her. "What are the rules of the Tianyan Sect? Is there anything in particular I should be aware of?" I pondered before posing the most pragmatic question.

"The sect's regulations are strict yet not overly harsh." Mo Qing tilted her head slightly, her cool gaze briefly sweeping over my face, "Morning lessons must not be missed, assignments are to be completed on time, and without special permission, one must not leave the sect, engage in unauthorized duels, or form cliques for personal gain." She paused before adding, "A detailed copy of the rules will be delivered to your residence by an attendant."

We passed through a bamboo grove where the rustling leaves filled the air with a gentle, fresh fragrance. Mo Qing's pace was unhurried, and I followed behind, carefully noting the scenery and the path along the way.

"For a junior sister with only a Foundation Establishment, to have ascended the eighteenth-tier stone steps is indeed rare." Mo Qing suddenly spoke, her tone remaining calm, "but the path of cultivation is long—never become complacent."

"I shall heed your teachings, Senior Sister," I respectfully responded, though inwardly I contemplated the deeper meaning of her words. Was it merely advice, or did it imply something more?

Mo Qing paused briefly, her cool gaze fixed on me as she asked, "Has Junior Sister Lin arranged your lodging yet?"

"I am to share accommodations with Su Li—an inner sect disciple," I replied, "with Senior Sister Lin's approval."