Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

"Senior sister, you're talented, kind, and beautiful. Who wouldn't like you?"

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, without ever considering the meaning behind his words.

In his heart, liking is simply liking, like liking candied hawthorns, steamed buns, or Little White. It's not that kind of liking.

Tian Ling'er looked at him, at his still-chubby face, at his clear, unblemished eyes. The little bit of anticipation, the little bit of nervousness, the little bit of… what was it again? Suddenly, it all vanished. Vanished completely, leaving only a desolate, chilling emptiness.

She laughed, a bitter, astringent laugh.

"Fool," she said, turning back to continue practicing her swordplay.

Jiang Xiaochuan scratched his head, not understanding why she was scolding him. But he was used to it; Tian Ling'er often called him stupid.

He squatted down, stroked Little White, and watched Tian Ling'er practice her martial arts.

The amber crimson ribbon fluttered in the air like a red rainbow. It was beautiful. But Jiang Xiaochuan felt that Tian Ling'er's practice of the amber crimson ribbon today was a little... different. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was different.

…………

Lu Xueqi is here again.

This time she came openly and honestly. She landed on her sword in front of Shoujing Hall, carrying a food box in her hand.

A moon-white Taoist robe, a celestial sword on her back, her hair neatly combed. The nine-year-old girl stood there, like a bamboo stalk, or a sword.

Tian Buyi was drinking tea in the hall when he saw her and his brows furrowed.

"Uncle-Master Tian," Lu Xueqi bowed, "this disciple has come to visit Senior Brother Jiang."

Tian Buyi put down his teacup and looked her over. His gaze lingered on Tianya behind her for a moment, then moved away.

"He's in the back mountain."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle." Lu Xueqi turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Tian Buyi called out to her.

Lu Xueqi stopped and turned around.

"Xueqi," Tian Buyi spoke, his tone unusually gentle, "you have high talent and a bright future. Seventh Brother... his aptitude is average; he's not on your side. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lu Xueqi looked at him, her eyes calm. "This disciple understands. But this disciple believes that paths are made by walking them. Whether someone is on the same path or not, only by walking them can one know."

Tian Buyi was momentarily speechless. He looked at Lu Xueqi, at those calm eyes that didn't seem like those of a child, and suddenly felt that anything he said would be superfluous.

"Never mind," he waved his hand. "Go on."

Lu Xueqi bowed and walked towards the back mountain.

Su Ru came out of the inner room, looked at Lu Xueqi's back, and sighed.

"This child... is too stubborn."

"It's good to be stubborn," Tian Buyi said, picking up his teacup. "Like the moon reflected in water."

……

On the back hill, Jiang Xiaochuan was cutting bamboo. Xiaobai lay at his feet, basking in the sun with its eyes closed.

The sound of something cutting through the air reached him. He looked up and saw Lu Xueqi landing. The sky-blue scabbard gleamed in the sunlight, making him squint.

"Junior Sister Lu?" He put down his wood-chopping knife.

Lu Xueqi walked over and handed him the food box. "It's for you."

"What?"

"Open it and take a look."

Jiang Xiaochuan opened the food box. Inside were several kinds of pastries, exquisitely made, some shaped like flower petals, some like rabbits, and some like stars. The colors were also beautiful, pink, white, and green. A sweet aroma wafted out, like osmanthus or honey.

"You did this?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked in surprise.

"Mmm," Lu Xueqi said, "Try it."

Jiang Xiaochuan picked up a petal-shaped piece and took a bite. The outer layer was crispy, the filling was soft and chewy, sweet but not cloying, and had a faint milky aroma. He squinted his eyes.

"tasty."

Lu Xueqi smiled. It was a very faint smile, but her eyes curved upwards, as if stars had fallen into them.

"As long as it tastes good," she said. "I'll make it for you often in the future."

Jiang Xiaochuan was a little embarrassed. "That's too much trouble..."

"It's no trouble at all," Lu Xueqi said, watching him eat with a soft look in her eyes. "I'm glad you like it."

Jiang Xiaochuan ate a few more pieces; each one was delicious. He looked up at Lu Xueqi, who was also looking at him. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Jiang Xiaochuan looked away first. He felt that Lu Xueqi's gaze was a little...too intense.

"Um... you got the Heavenly Sword?" he asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Yes," Lu Xueqi said, "It was passed down by my master."

"Congratulations," Jiang Xiaochuan said sincerely. "Tianya is a divine weapon, very suitable for you."

Lu Xueqi looked at him for a long time, then said, "Do you want to give it a try?"

"What?"

"Tianya." Lu Xueqi untied the sword and handed it to him. "Take a look."

Jiang Xiaochuan quickly waved his hand. "No, no, divine weapons possess spirits; with my cultivation level, I can't lift them."

"I can lift it." Lu Xueqi placed the sword in his hand. "I'll make sure it doesn't resist."

Jiang Xiaochuan gripped the sword. The scabbard was cool to the touch, with a delicate feel. He wanted to draw it to examine it, but he didn't dare. He just held it there, as if holding a hot potato.

Lu Xueqi smiled at his cautious manner. "Don't be nervous. It doesn't bite."

Jiang Xiaochuan laughed, a little embarrassed. He returned the sword. "You keep it, I just want to look at it."

Lu Xueqi took it and memorized it again. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan for a long time, then said, "How's your cultivation going lately?"

"It's alright," Jiang Xiaochuan said. "My Qi sensation is stable, but the progress is slow."

"I'll teach you," Lu Xueqi said naturally. "I have some insights into the Tai Chi Xuanqing Dao."

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned. "You'll teach me?"

"Hmm," Lu Xueqi said, "Are you willing?"

Jiang Xiaochuan was of course willing.

Lu Xueqi is a genius, at the fifth level of the Jade Purity Realm, and possesses the Heavenly Sword. For her to be willing to teach is like a pie falling from the sky.

But he felt it was inappropriate.

Lu Xueqi is from Xiaozhu Peak, while he is from Dazhu Peak. It wouldn't sound good if word got out that a disciple from Xiaozhu Peak was teaching a disciple from Dazhu Peak.

"But……"

"No buts." Lu Xueqi interrupted him, her tone calm but firm. "From today onwards, every day at this time, I will teach you for one hour."

After she finished speaking, she began to talk. She talked about the operating method of Taiji Xuanqing Dao, how the breath moves in the meridians, how to absorb spiritual energy, and how to refine it into true essence.

She explained things in great detail and clarity, even more so than Su Ru. As Jiang Xiaochuan listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. Many things he hadn't understood before suddenly became clear.

Like a difficult math problem about functions and derivatives, it was overcome one by one under Lu Xueqi's careful guidance.

An hour passed quickly. Lu Xueqi stopped and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan.

"Did you remember?"

"I've got it." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded, saying sincerely, "Thank you, Junior Sister Lu."

Lu Xueqi looked at him, her eyes crinkling into a smile again. "No need to thank me. I'll come again at this time tomorrow."

She flew away on her sword. Jiang Xiaochuan stood there, looking at the sky. Her words were still echoing in his mind. He tried circulating his qi, and it was indeed much smoother.

"She's really amazing," he murmured.

Little White rubbed against his leg. Jiang Xiaochuan bent down and picked it up.

"Why do you think she's so good to me?"

Xiao Bai looked at him but didn't react.

Jiang Xiaochuan realized he had asked a stupid question. He shook his head, picked up Xiaobai, and walked back.

The doubts in my mind were gradually dispelled by what I had just learned.

who cares.

It's a good thing to have someone to teach you.

And so, the days passed one by one.

Lu Xueqi comes every day. Sometimes she brings snacks, sometimes she doesn't. She teaches Jiang Xiaochuan cultivation for an hour without fail. After teaching, she chats for a few minutes and then leaves.

Tian Ling'er sometimes watched from the side, without saying a word, just watching.

Watch Lu Xueqi teach Jiang Xiaochuan, watch Jiang Xiaochuan listen attentively, watch them stand very close together, and watch them speak in low voices.

She bit her lip, her fingers clenched, but she didn't say anything.

Jiang Xiaochuan's cultivation level is increasing. Although it's still slow, it's much faster than before.

He felt he was almost at the threshold of the second level of Yuqing. He was happy and practiced even harder.

Lu Xueqi was pleased to see his hard work and taught him even more diligently.

Tian Buyi and Su Ru watched without saying a word. Tian Buyi would sometimes sigh, and Su Ru would sometimes shake her head.

But neither of them tried to stop them. They couldn't, and there was no reason to. Lu Xueqi taught well, and Jiang Xiaochuan learned well—that's a good thing.

Only Tian Ling'er felt her unease growing heavier. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, at Lu Xueqi, at the unspoken understanding and closeness between them. She remembered her past life, those scenes, and how she could only stand at a distance and watch in the end.

No. This can't continue.

She wanted to do something, but didn't know what to do. All she could do was follow Jiang Xiaochuan closer, try harder to be good to him, and appear by his side more frequently. But it seemed... it was all in vain.

Jiang Xiaochuan is still the same Jiang Xiaochuan. Slow-witted, clueless, kind to everyone, and always smiling.

He ate the pastries made by Lu Xueqi and said they were delicious.

He listened to Lu Xueqi teach him cultivation and said thank you.

He ate the food she cooked, listened to her, and smiled at her.

But it's just... different. She couldn't quite put her finger on how.

All she could do was watch, wait, and hope.

She hoped that Jiang Xiaochuan would come to his senses, that he would see her good qualities, and that... he would turn around and look at her once.

But Jiang Xiaochuan's eyes always seemed to be looking elsewhere. Looking at the sky, looking at the clouds, looking at the bamboo, looking at Xiaobai. Looking at Lu Xueqi.

The glimmer of hope in her heart was like a candle flame in the wind, flickering and fading away, and she didn't know when it would be completely extinguished.