Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Its daybreak.

The birds in the woods started chirping, chattering noisily.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.

The dew hadn't dried yet; the grass blades were wet and soft to the touch.

Jiang Xiaochuan woke up.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up, covered with Lu Xueqi's coat, which had a faint fragrance.

He turned his head and saw Lu Xueqi standing under a tree not far away, with her back to him and looking up at the sky.

Tian Ling'er was packing her things, folding the oilcloth neatly and stuffing it into her bundle.

Little White turned back into a fox, squatting by the water to wash its face and licking its paws repeatedly.

"Awake?" Tian Ling'er saw him, walked over, and handed him the water pouch. "Have some water."

"Thank you, senior sister." Jiang Xiaochuan took the water and drank a few sips. The water was cool and slightly sweet.

Lu Xueqi also turned around and walked over.

She took the water pouch from Jiang Xiaochuan, took a sip naturally, and then handed it back to him. "Let's go."

Jiang Xiaochuan paused for a moment, looking at the water bag in his hand, then at Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi had already turned around to clean up the embers of the fire. He scratched his head and stuffed the water pouch back in place.

The three continued on their journey.

Tian Ling'er still carried Jiang Xiaochuan on the Amber Crimson Silk, while Lu Xueqi rode ahead on her sword.

Xiao Bai perched on Jiang Xiaochuan's shoulder, dozing off with its eyes half-closed.

After flying for a while, Lu Xueqi slowed down and flew alongside Zhu Ling. She turned her head to look at Jiang Xiaochuan.

"Senior Brother Jiang."

"Um?"

"Have you decided what kind of sword you want to forge?" Lu Xueqi asked, her voice carrying slightly in the wind.

"Attributes?" Jiang Xiaochuan thought for a moment. "I don't know. What do you think, Junior Sister Lu?"

"You'll listen to me if I tell you?" Lu Xueqi looked at him, her eyes bright.

"Of course," Jiang Xiaochuan nodded. "You know a lot."

Lu Xueqi's lips curved slightly, a very faint smile. "Ice attribute is good. Cold, swift, suitable for surprise attacks."

"Lightning attribute is cool too!" Tian Ling'er interjected, her voice a little loud, as if she didn't want to be ignored. "So powerful and majestic!"

Jiang Xiaochuan thought about it and realized that lightning attribute was indeed cool. Riding a sword with lightning crackling around would be incredibly stylish.

"Wind or wood attributes, they're fast," Lu Xueqi added. "Earth attributes are solid and defensive. Water attributes are continuous and versatile. Metal attributes are sharp and indestructible. Fire attributes..."

She paused, glanced at Tian Ling'er, and said, "Fiery and domineering, like Uncle Tian's crimson flames."

When Tian Ling'er heard "Uncle Tian's Crimson Flame," her eyes lit up, and she looked at Jiang Xiaochuan.

Jiang Xiaochuan listened, feeling utterly overwhelmed. They all sounded good, but which one should he choose?

He is a patient with severe decision-making difficulties.

"I...I don't know," he said honestly. "They're all fine. Or...Junior Sister Lu, could you help me choose?"

Lu Xueqi looked at him for a long time, then gently shook her head.

"The sword's attributes should ideally align with one's temperament. Your temperament..."

She paused, seemingly considering her words.

"Kind and gentle, yet resilient within. Calm and composed, but persistent in what he sets his mind to."

Jiang Xiaochuan was a little stunned. Honest and kind? Gentle and refined? Was that describing him?

He felt like a salted fish.

"Therefore, the purity of ice, the righteousness of thunder, the agility of wind, and the stability of earth may all find a certain harmony," Lu Xueqi continued.

"But most importantly, it has to suit you, be easy for you to use, and be able to unleash its full power."

"Then...which one should I choose?" Jiang Xiaochuan was even more confused.

Lu Xueqi was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's find spiritual materials first. Spiritual materials have spirit; sometimes, it is the spiritual materials that choose the people, not the other way around."

She paused, then her tone became serious: "However, if we're going to refine it, we should refine it well. At least... it should be comparable to Tianya."

Jiang Xiaochuan was startled and almost fell off the red silk.

"Tianya? A divine weapon from the heavens? Junior Sister Lu, are you kidding me? I don't need something that good!"

Tian Ling'er's eyes widened as well.

Tianya? That's a divine weapon from the heavens; there are only a handful in the entire Qingyun Sect. Xiao Chuan wants to forge a sword that's comparable to Tianya?

"I'm serious." Lu Xueqi looked at him earnestly. "If you're going to refine something, refine the best. I'll help you find the materials. I'll oversee the refining process. It won't be inferior to Tianya."

Jiang Xiaochuan waved his hands repeatedly: "No need, no need! It's too troublesome! Besides... if it's too powerful, I might not be able to control it. I think it would be good enough if it were similar to Senior Sister Ling'er's Amber Crimson Silk." As he spoke, he glanced at the red silk at Tian Ling'er's waist.

Upon hearing this, Tian Ling'er felt a surge of sweetness in her heart, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.

But then she immediately realized something was wrong. Lu Xueqi had said she wanted to refine something similar to Tianya. Although her own Zhuling was also a magic weapon, it was far inferior to Tianya.

The sweetness in her heart turned into sourness.

"I told you, I'm here." Lu Xueqi's tone left no room for argument. "You don't need to worry about not being able to master it; I'll teach you. We'll take it one step at a time."

She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan with a deep gaze, as if making a promise: "Your sword must be the best. Because..."

She didn't finish her sentence. But Jiang Xiaochuan inexplicably felt that what she said next was very important.

But after he waited a while, Lu Xueqi simply turned her head and looked ahead.

"Why?" he couldn't help but ask.

Lu Xueqi didn't turn around; her voice was soft, carried by the wind: "Because you deserve it."

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned.

you're worth it.

Three simple words, but they struck him with a heavy weight.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Tian Ling'er heard it too, and her grip on Zhu Ling's hand tightened, her knuckles turning white.

She watched Lu Xueqi's retreating figure, then glanced at Jiang Xiaochuan beside her, who looked somewhat bewildered. The sourness in her heart slowly turned into bitterness.

"You deserve it." Lu Xueqi said it so naturally, so confidently. It was as if in her heart, Jiang Xiaochuan deserved the best, and was worthy of the best.

And what about herself? She only thought that Xiaochuan was comfortable using it and that he was happy. She never thought about what he "deserved".

gap.

It's not just a difference in cultivation level, but also... a difference in mindset.

Tian Ling'er lowered her head, bit her lip, and remained silent.

Xiao Bai shifted on Jiang Xiaochuan's shoulder, changed position, and continued sleeping.

It's as if all of this has nothing to do with it.

It flew for three days and three nights.

They traveled during the day and rested at night. Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er took turns keeping watch, while Jiang Xiaochuan was responsible for gathering firewood and fetching water.

Lu Xueqi still knows how to grill meat, and it tastes great. Tian Ling'er also started learning to grill, but she always ends up with burnt meat or meat that has no flavor.

Jiang Xiaochuan always said it was delicious, and Tian Ling'er knew he was just trying to comfort her, but she was still happy inside.

Xiao Bai spends most of her time in fox form, but occasionally transforms back into human form in the dead of night, sitting by the fire and gazing at the leaping flames in a daze.

Tian Ling'er and Lu Xueqi were used to it and didn't ask any more questions. There was a strange balance between the three of them; they didn't speak or clash, but undercurrents were swirling.

On the evening of the fourth day, they arrived at the foot of a mountain.

The mountain is very high and steep, and its upper half is white, covered with snow and ice that never melts.

The lower half was black, with exposed rocks and no vegetation. The sky was leaden gray, with low-hanging clouds pressing down on the mountaintop. Occasionally, flashes of lightning would streak through the clouds, accompanied by muffled thunder.

The air was cold; even breathing left white vapor in the air. The wind felt like knives cutting into my face.

"Yisu Mountain." Lu Xueqi looked up at the mountaintop, her voice slightly muffled in the wind.

"The mountaintop is covered with millennia-old ice, and the mountain's belly contains thunderstones. Perhaps a suitable spiritual material can be found in this place where ice and thunder coexist."

"Going up the mountain?" Tian Ling'er frowned as she looked at the steep mountain walls and the snow-covered peaks. This mountain looked difficult to climb.

"Hmm." Lu Xueqi nodded, looking at Jiang Xiaochuan, "Ice or lightning are both excellent attributes. If we can find a spiritual material that contains both attributes, that would be even better."

Jiang Xiaochuan also looked up at the mountain. The mountain was very high and cold, and it looked frightening.

But he felt a strange excitement. This was cultivation, after all—visiting famous mountains and searching for rare and precious treasures. Although… it might be very dangerous.

"Let's go up the mountain," he said, his voice trembling slightly, but his eyes shining.

Lu Xueqi looked at him, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. She took the lead, flying towards the mountaintop on her sword. Tian Ling'er followed, controlling the crimson ribbon.

The higher you go, the colder it gets.

The wind was so strong that it was impossible to open one's eyes. Snowflakes fell, hit one's face, melted into water, and quickly froze into ice shards.

Jiang Xiaochuan, whose cultivation level was the lowest, shivered from the cold. Tian Ling'er moved closer to him, trying to shield him from the wind.

Lu Xueqi glanced back, slowed down, flew to Jiang Xiaochuan's side, and raised her hand to set up a simple wind-sheltered barrier. The wind subsided, and the snow lessened.

"Thank you," Jiang Xiaochuan said, his teeth chattering.

Lu Xueqi didn't speak, but moved closer, almost flying alongside him. Her breathing was steady, as if the cold had no effect on her.

After flying for about half an hour, we reached above the snow line.

As far as the eye can see, everything is white, with only black rocks occasionally peeking out from the snow.

The temperature was even lower, the air was thinner, and breathing was somewhat difficult.

Lu Xueqi landed on a protruding black rock, and Tian Ling'er and Jiang Xiaochuan followed suit.

Zhu Ling and Tian Ya withdrew their weapons, and the three of them stepped onto the thick snow, making a "crunching" sound.

"Search separately," Lu Xueqi said. "Use this rock as the center, within a ten-mile radius. Be careful, and if you encounter any danger, send a signal immediately."

She took out three jade talismans from her bosom and handed one to Tian Ling'er and one to Jiang Xiaochuan. "Crush them, I can sense them."

"Okay." Tian Ling'er took it and carefully put it away.

Jiang Xiaochuan also took the jade talisman and held it in his palm. The jade talisman was warm, carrying Lu Xueqi's body temperature.

"Be careful," Lu Xueqi said to Jiang Xiaochuan, adding another sentence.

"Mm." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded.

The three parted ways. Lu Xueqi went east, Tian Ling'er went west, and Jiang Xiaochuan... with Xiaobai, went north.