Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

A two-week lockdown is neither a long nor a short time.

Jiang Xiaochuan stays indoors every day. He gets up in the morning, meditates, and circulates the Tai Chi Xuanqing Dao. His breath moves slowly through his meridians, like an ox pulling a cart, but it's still moving.

At noon, Tian Ling'er brought him lunch: two dishes and a soup, sometimes braised pork, sometimes vegetables and tofu. She put down the food box, sat down beside him, and watched him eat without saying a word.

Jiang Xiaochuan buried his head in his rice, not daring to look at her.

He knew Tian Ling'er's eyes were red, and he knew he had worried her.

After finishing her meal, Tian Ling'er cleared away the dishes, said "Cultivate well," and left.

Jiang Xiaochuan continued meditating or practicing his boxing. The room wasn't big, so he could only perform half a set of boxing moves, keeping his movements restrained to avoid knocking things over.

In the afternoon, Tian Ling'er came again, bringing some snacks or fruit. She put down the things, stood for a while, and then left.

Jiang Xiaochuan wanted to say something, but Tian Ling'er didn't give him the chance.

Little White stayed with him the whole time. It lay on the bed, on the table, or on his lap.

When he meditates, it closes its eyes and pretends to sleep.

He practices his boxing, and it tilts its head to watch.

When he eats, it squats beside him, waiting for him to feed it.

Jiang Xiaochuan would sometimes talk to it, talking about today's weather, yesterday's dream, and Lu Xueqi.

He said that when Lu Xueqi took him flying, the wind was strong and the clouds were very white. He said that Lu Xueqi bought him candied hawthorns, and the candy shells were very brittle.

The way Lu Xueqi looked at him was strange, but...

He couldn't continue, so he touched Xiaobai and sighed. Xiaobai nuzzled his hand, as if to comfort him.

Two weeks later, on the day his confinement ended, Jiang Xiaochuan stepped out of the house. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, so he squinted.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of bamboo leaves, the dampness of the earth, and the aroma of food wafting from the distant kitchen. He took a deep breath and felt how wonderful it was to be free.

Tian Ling'er waited at the door and looked him up and down when he came out.

"I've lost weight," she said.

"Really?" Jiang Xiaochuan touched his face.

"Yes." Tian Ling'er reached out and pinched his arm. "It's gotten stronger too."

Jiang Xiaochuan laughed. "Practicing every day, how could I not be strong?"

Tian Ling'er smiled too, but it was a faint smile. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan for a long time, then said, "Let's go eat. Mom made chicken soup to nourish you."

Another half month passed.

News came from Xiaozhu Peak that Lu Xueqi had been released. Her month-long confinement was over.

Another piece of news also spread: Master Shuiyue passed the Tianya Divine Sword to Lu Xueqi.

When the news reached Tian Buyi's ears, he was drinking tea and spat it out.

"Tianya? Shuiyue has gone mad?"

Su Ru was embroidering nearby, her needle hovering in mid-air. "Tianya is a divine weapon; it's been passed down, so what's the big deal?"

"That's the Heavenly Jade! A divine weapon from the Nine Heavens." Tian Buyi put down his teacup. "Passing it on to a nine-year-old child? How long has she been practicing? A year!"

"Xueqi is indeed a child with amazing talent," Su Ru said, continuing her embroidery. "At nine years old, she's at the fifth level of the Jade Purity Realm and can even comprehend the art of weapon control on her own. Senior Sister Shuiyue passed the Tianya Sword to her because she values ​​her."

Tian Buyi fell silent. He picked up his teacup, then put it down, tapping his fingers on the table. After a while, he suddenly asked, "How's Lao Qi doing lately?"

"It's alright," Su Ru said. "I've been practicing harder, and my Qi has become more stable. It's just..." She paused, "...that I've become less talkative."

Tian Buyi sighed. "That girl... Lu Xueqi, from now on, make sure Lao Qi has less contact with her."

"How can we stop them?" Su Ru glanced at him. "The children have legs. Besides, Xueqi, from what I can see... she genuinely cares for Xiaoqi."

"What's the use of being good?" Tian Buyi glared. "She's harming him! She's leading him astray, disregarding the sect rules, and even..."

"What else?" Su Ru raised an eyebrow.

Tian Buyi couldn't continue. He waved his hand. "Never mind, never mind. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

Xiaozhu Peak, quiet room.

Lu Xueqi knelt on the prayer mat, a sword placed before her. The scabbard was sky blue, and the hilt was engraved with ancient patterns. The sword was drawn three inches from its sheath, its cold light gleaming and illuminating the entire room.

Tianya.

Lu Xueqi looked at the sword with a calm expression. In her past life, she had used it for hundreds of years, and it was as familiar to her as her own arm. Now that it was back in her hands, it felt like a reunion with an old friend.

Master Shuiyue stood before her, his expression complex.

"Tianya is a divine weapon, it possesses a spirit," Shuiyue said. "Since it has been passed down to you, you must treat it well."

"Yes," Lu Xueqi said.

"And these too." Shuiyue handed over several bamboo scrolls. "These are some exquisite Daoist techniques from Xiaozhu Peak. Take them and study them. In the path of cultivation, one must avoid trying to do too much at once and not being able to digest it properly; one must proceed step by step."

Lu Xueqi took the bamboo slips and glanced at them. They were all techniques she had practiced in her previous life to a high level. She nodded without saying a word.

Looking at her calm face, Shuiyue felt that unease resurface. This child was too composed, too composed for a nine-year-old.

She wasn't surprised when given the Heavenly Jade. She wasn't excited when given Taoist magic. It was as if... as if these things were rightfully hers.

"Xueqi," Shuiyue spoke, her voice a little dry, "You...have you practiced these before?"

Lu Xueqi looked up at Shuiyue. "No."

"Then how come you..." Shuiyue paused, "I mean, your cultivation speed is too fast, your foundation..."

"I know what I'm doing," Lu Xueqi interrupted her, her voice soft but firm. "Rest assured, Master."

Shuiyue fell silent. She stared at Lu Xueqi for a long time, then turned and walked out of the quiet room. She stopped at the doorway.

"You...you're still thinking about him?"

Lu Xueqi didn't answer. She looked down at the Tianya Sword. Her fingers traced the blade, the icy touch traveling from her fingertips to her heart.

Shuiyue sighed and left.

The door closed. Only Lu Xueqi remained in the quiet room. She picked up Tianya and slowly drew it. The sword was fully unsheathed, its cold light reflecting off her face. She looked at the reflection in the sword, at those calm eyes.

A month. She waited a month. Now, she could go to him.

Back at Dazhufeng, life returned to its original course.

Jiang Xiaochuan spent his days chopping bamboo, practicing his martial arts, eating, and sleeping. Tian Ling'er stayed with him every day, sometimes nagging, sometimes laughing, and sometimes glaring at him. Xiao Bai clung to him every day, following him wherever he went.

His senior classmates sometimes tease him.

"Seventh Brother, I heard that genius from Little Bamboo Peak has even gotten his hands on the Heavenly Sword." Du Bishu winked. "That's a divine weapon! You're really lucky to have the Heavenly Sword Master carrying you around."

"What good fortune?" He Dazhi chimed in, "That's bad luck. If it weren't for Junior Sister Lu, would Seventh Brother have been locked up by Master for half a month?"

"That's true." Du Bishu patted Jiang Xiaochuan on the shoulder. "But Seventh Brother, tell me the truth, does Junior Sister Lu... have feelings for you?"

Jiang Xiaochuan blushed. "Senior brother, don't talk nonsense."

"I'm not making this up," Du Bishu said. "They came looking for you again and again, even took you down the mountain, and..." He lowered his voice, "and even held you while flying. If it weren't interesting, I'd twist my head off and let you kick it around like a ball."

Jiang Xiaochuan fell silent. He lowered his head and ate his rice, his ears turning red.

Tian Ling'er listened from the side, her face growing increasingly dark. She slammed down her chopsticks.

"Are you finished eating? Go practice your skills after you're done!"

Du Bishu and He Dazhi exchanged a glance, chuckled, and ran off.

Jiang Xiaochuan followed Tian Ling'er to the back mountain. Tian Ling'er walked quickly without saying a word. Jiang Xiaochuan followed behind her, not daring to speak.

Upon reaching the back mountain, Tian Ling'er began practicing with the Amber Crimson Silk. The silk seemed to come alive in her hands, its red shadows fluttering and whistling in the wind. She practiced fiercely and urgently, as if venting something.

Jiang Xiaochuan watched from the side, not daring to disturb her. He was afraid that if Tian Ling'er displeased him, the amber crimson silk would be lashed out at him.

After practicing for a while, Tian Ling'er stopped, panting. Sweat dripped from her forehead and fell to the ground. She wiped the sweat away and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan.

Do you like Lu Xueqi?

The sound was sudden and direct, like a stone hitting water. Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned for a moment.

"what?"

"I'm asking you, do you like Lu Xueqi?" Tian Ling'er stared at him, her eyes bright and sharp.

Jiang Xiaochuan thought for a moment and said, "I like it."

Tian Ling'er's expression changed instantly. Her lips tightened, and her fingers clenched into fists.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't see it and continued talking to himself: "She has high cultivation, is beautiful, and is good to me." He silently added in his heart: "She's just not quite the same as in the book."

Tian Ling'er's expression changed again. From white to red, from red to white. It was as if she were performing a magic trick.

She bit her lip, looked at Jiang Xiaochuan for a long time, and then whispered, "Do you like me?"

The sound was very soft, as soft as a mosquito's buzz. Jiang Xiaochuan couldn't hear it clearly.

"What?"

Tian Ling'er took a deep breath and raised her voice a little: "I said, do you like me?"

Jiang Xiaochuan smiled. "I like it," he said naturally.