Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Su Xiyue still did not utter a word, and simply walked out of the cave mansion.

Clearly, in her heart, she had already placed Qin Yu in an especially important position.

Even so, she was still unwilling to speak the truth.

Watching Su Xiyue’s figure grow more and more distant, pain slowly surfaced on Leng Ruyu’s face. She bent down slowly, as though pulled by an invisible gravity, until she slumped powerlessly to the ground. Her body trembled slightly, like a kitten curled in a shadowed corner, shivering in fear.

The corners of her mouth traced out an indescribable bitterness.

"Sigh..."

In the night wind, only a long and desolate sigh lingered.

She had already made her choice.

All of this began with her, and thus it ought to end with her as well.

...

"This jade is truly wondrous."

Qin Yu lay upon the bed, fingertips lightly caressing the Illusion Spirit Jade the Sect Leader had bestowed, eyes alight with amazement.

Upon close examination, the mysteries contained within this jade pendant far exceeded his initial expectations.

Not only was it a secret treasure capable of concealing one’s fluctuations, even more astonishing, it could also nourish the meridians and calm the mind and heart.

Moreover, it had the function of gathering spiritual qi from heaven and earth.

This was extraordinary. One must know, only cultivators possessing Spirit Bone or above could influence the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, yet this jade somehow possessed such miraculous effect.

At first, Qin Yu had thought the Sect Leader was merely concerned his Root Bone would be exposed, and gave it to him to hide his presence.

Clearly, the value of this Illusion Spirit Jade was likely beyond his imagination.

Creak—

The door opened, and Su Xiyue walked inside.

In these two months, the two had already formed a tacit understanding, so there was no need for so much careful concealment.

"Martial Aunt, you’re here."

Qin Yu rose, casually setting the Illusion Spirit Jade to the side.

Su Xiyue’s gaze involuntarily fell upon the Illusion Spirit Jade, and a trace of surprise flickered in her clear eyes.

This Illusion Spirit Jade was not unfamiliar to her—it was her elder sister’s personal item, hardly ever away from her side.

But now, it was actually in Qin Yu’s hands.

Though Su Xiyue wondered inwardly why her sister would entrust such a precious thing to Qin Yu, she did not inquire further.

But it was enough to see just how much Qin Yu mattered in her sister’s heart.

Thinking upon it, given Qin Yu’s talent, it was only reasonable that her sister valued him so highly.

She did not dwell on it further.

"Xiyue, I recall you also have one."

At this, Qin Yu remembered he had seen it on her person as well.

It seemed to hang before her chest.

"Mm."

Su Xiyue nodded gently, then removed an identical piece of jade from before her chest, saying softly, "They were once one."

"One?"

Qin Yu was taken aback.

How could such an important treasure have been split in two?

Su Xiyue offered no explanation, but instead took Qin Yu’s piece and brought it together with hers, until the two fit seamlessly into one.

In an instant, the two jade pendants seemed to come alive, releasing a pure, moonlike radiance, now appearing as if truly an Immortal Jade.

"Only thus is it the true Illusion Spirit Jade."

Su Xiyue’s voice remained light, but then, as though making a decision, she handed the complete Illusion Spirit Jade to Qin Yu.

"Xiyue, this is..."

Qin Yu was stupefied.

"This was a gift from mother to us, but now, it’s no longer of use."

"So it was bestowed by your mother-in-law?"

Qin Yu’s voice could not hide his astonishment, his tone softly rising.

At these words, Su Xiyue’s face was tinged with crimson, as if a pebble had rippled the serenity of her heart’s lake.

At first, Qin Yu had always called her ’Fairy’, and the two had barely been more than strangers.

Now, when boating, he would sometimes address her as ’Martial Aunt’...

And now, so naturally, even as if by right, he called her mother ’mother-in-law’.

The two were husband and wife in all but name now.

This stirred a strange feeling within the always cool and restrained Su Xiyue, one she had never known before. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Were they already husband and wife?

She asked herself.

Perhaps, without noticing when, she herself had become incapable of ever leaving Qin Yu.

Not even her elder sister could stop this.

[Su Xiyue Romantic Point: 40 (Unyielding)]

The sudden surge of Romantic Point made Qin Yu pause, and a faint smile unconsciously curved his lips.

"Hehe, would this count as a token of love?"

One could say the meaning was twofold.

After all, the Sect Leader occupied half the meaning too.

He took it and hung it before his chest.

Truly, the things used by little fairy-wife and the Sect Leader were the best—just wearing it brought a sense of warmth, as if they were always by his side.

From now on, whether walking through fire or blades, he would never take it off.

Su Xiyue shot Qin Yu a sidelong glance, proud yet coquettish, and before he could speak, she pushed him down flat.

"Martial Aunt, this time, could I..."

"No!"

Ah, the immortal road is long and arduous, one must still strive onward.

...

The next day.

Upon arriving at the Sect Leader’s Cave Mansion, Qin Yu waited a full hour, but neither the Sect Leader nor Liu Zixiao appeared.

Could it be something has happened at the Immortal Sect?!

Just as Qin Yu finished concocting an elixir and was preparing to cultivate alone, Su Xihe returned at last, worry etched upon her face.

"Master, have you encountered some troubling matter?"

Qin Yu stepped forward, concern and puzzlement mingling in his tone.

In all these months, it was his first time seeing Su Xihe’s dai mei so tightly furrowed, her manner bearing such weight.

"It’s nothing. I will prepare a medicated bath for you."

Su Xihe gently shook her head, revealing nothing in her words.

Seeing this, Qin Yu, though full of questions, dared not pry. He simply stood quietly by, watching Su Xihe’s movements closely.

The Sect Leader was clearly preoccupied—even forgetting to send him away.

After some hesitation, Qin Yu could not help but ask, "Master, if there is something troubling you, might you share it with your disciple? Perhaps, even if my strength is meager, I could still lighten your load a little."

Sharing burdens at the right time can be a fine medicine for deepening the bond between master and disciple. If, by chance, he could truly lend her a hand, that friendship would surely grow ever deeper.

In the days to come, surely she cannot always refuse to let him see her, right?

"You?"

Su Xihe’s gaze settled softly on Qin Yu, an assessing look in her eyes.

Seeing this, Qin Yu swiftly added, fearing she misunderstand, "Master, your disciple knows my cultivation is shallow and cannot aid you in power, but I would offer my humble thoughts, to help you plan your course."

"Master, you have imparted the Way, granted me treasures; I only wish to fulfill filial duty and repay your nurturing grace."

At this, Su Xihe sighed, saying, "Very well. There is no harm in telling you."

Now, Qin Yu’s talents were gradually revealing themselves. As the Sect Leader’s direct disciple, though she was unwilling to involve him in Immortal Sect affairs just yet, sooner or later he would inevitably bear that responsibility.

And so, Su Xihe spoke of Leng Ruyu’s matter in full.