Chapter 21.2

Upon hearing this, Shui Weiwei joyfully replied, “What the Immortal Lady said is correct.”

After being a fox spirit for several years, she became an immortal lady simply by saying this.

Xu Qianyu turned her face away, too annoyed to bother with her.

When she turned back, Shui Weiwei had already entered the Mustard Seed Gold Pearl.

Shui Rushan remained silent for a moment and lightly patted the box on the table: “In that case, Qianyu, you should try this sword and see if it suits you.”

Xu Qianyu picked up the sword, her hand gently gliding over the blade. As a child, she had often insisted on taking down the sword, and now that it was truly in her hands, she felt only emptiness in her heart, like a wall.

This was a heavy solid wooden sword; the blade was not sharp and felt somewhat rough to the touch.

Holding the sword, she seemed to think of something and lifted her skirt as she walked out of the courtyard: “Wait for me.”

Beyond the flower hall was the back garden of the Shui family, lush and green, with the chorus of cicadas.

Xu Qianyu went around the artificial mountain, where a fox was holding a basket, climbing up and down, collecting various flower petals to throw against the mountain wall, creating a picture of a lady to please the young mistress.

Upon hearing her footsteps, the fox turned around with crescent eyes and said, “Happy birthday, Miss.”

The squinted eyes, however, kept glancing at the embroidered pouch hanging from her skirt.

Xu Qianyu held the sword in her right hand, resting it behind her sleeve, glanced at the artificial mountain, and said, “For your reward.”

As she spoke, she pulled a gold ingot from the pouch and tossed it forward. The fox was overjoyed, bowed, and turned to pick it up, its two bushy tails swaying behind.

In that instant, Xu Qianyu accidentally stepped on one of the fox’s tails, and in a swift motion, she struck down with the sword, severing the fox’s tail cleanly!

The sword was so fresh, so decisive, that the fox had yet to react. Its claws happily reached for the gold ingot, but when it grasped it, it suddenly felt a chill at the base of its tail, and then came the shock. The ingot fell, and the fox rolled on the ground in pain.

Fox demons take a hundred years to grow a tail, and with this sword stroke, the fox lost a hundred years of cultivation.

Xu Qianyu watched it cry and roll on the ground without a shred of pity, her eyes like some cold, pure pearl. She was born lacking a certain understanding, and besides her family, she felt little kinship or compassion for anything non-human.

The fox sobbed, “I have accompanied you for eight years; why have I ended up in such a situation…”

The wind brushed through Xu Qianyu’s hair, and the memories of those eight years flickered in her mind, but the vague sadness quickly dissipated with the wind. She lowered her long, thick eyelashes: “But you have harmed me.”

The fox was startled, realizing its deceit had been exposed.

Though it had flattered her before, it had harbored a certain disdain in its heart: the young mistress was indeed easy to fool. With its hundred years of experience, deceiving a little girl was like child’s play. Thus, in its eyes, Xu Qianyu was no different from a walking money bag. It thought nothing of making Xu Qianyu a tribute; it only regretted that it wouldn’t be so easy to acquire gold and silver from her anymore.

However, as it regained its composure and saw her still holding the sword with an expressionless face, pain shot through its tail, and fear began to arise for the first time. It was afraid Xu Qianyu would grow angrier and cut off its other tail, so it quickly sat up despite the pain, crying and apologizing, claiming it had acted in a moment of confusion, hoping for the young mistress’s mercy.

After bowing several times and seeing that Xu Qianyu showed no intent to pursue the matter, it hurriedly got up and limped away.

The fox tail on the ground, being a manifestation of its spirit, now flickered with white light, slowly shrinking down to the size of a palm, becoming a fluffy little tail.

Xu Qianyu picked it up, noticing that the sword was missing a tassel, so she tied it to the sword.

The artificial mountain could not hide the scene, and Shen Suwei witnessed the entire occurrence from the window, somewhat astonished.

He was not surprised by Qianyu’s shocking act, but rather that she had clearly not practiced swordplay; yet, the stroke she had just made bore his style of swordsmanship.

This was quite strange.

Xu Qianyu walked back against the wind, placing the sword and the tassel on the table.

“This sword is good, but I cannot keep it.”

“Why?” Shui Rushan hurriedly asked.

“If I take it away, how will the family defend against the great demons in the future?” Xu Qianyu said. “Don’t worry. Once I join the sect, I will find my destined sword.”

In her previous life, the defeated Snow had hurt her. Since they were not compatible, she decided not to look for it anymore. But surely there would be other swords.

However, Shui Rushan sighed and said, “You may take it. I must give you something in return. If you get married, I will prepare a dowry of a thousand gold pieces for you. If you go into business, I will give you a hundred shops. Now that you have gone to the Xianmen, gold and jewels will turn to dust. Let your grandfather give you a suitable sword. As for the family…”

“Leave it at home.”

Shen Suwei suddenly said, “As a junior, I would like to present this sword to the Shui family.”

After saying this, the sword’s shadow lay flat on the table.

The golden light on the sword dissipated, revealing its true form: a white jade hilt entwined with a golden snake, delicate and exquisite, it was an exceptionally beautiful and sharp treasure sword.

“This sword is very heavy and shines brilliantly. It is named ‘Shaking Light in the Sleeve.’ If hung indoors, demons and monsters within a ten-mile radius will not dare to act rashly.”

Shui Rushan glanced at the sword, somewhat astonished. “You are willing to give up your destined sword?”

A good sword is the supreme treasure for a cultivator. Even Xu Binglai from back then, feeling guilty, left all his magical tools behind but never gave away his own sword.

Yet Shen Suwei did not look at ‘Shaking Light in the Sleeve’ again, as if the sword had nothing to do with him. “The destined sword and the sword spirit are inextricably linked, never apart for a moment. Since I have the intention to gift it, it is no longer my destined sword.”

He had long felt that this sword was too ostentatious and of no benefit to him. Now seeing the Shui family adorned with intricate carvings and rich treasures, it seemed more fitting there.

To him, something overly glamorous and attention-grabbing was a kind of danger.

“Good.” Shui Rushan did not refuse, instructing the two to lift it and hang it on the wall.

He was not greedy for this precious sword but did not want Xu Qianyu to be taken away so easily.

He wanted the Penglai Xianmen to have a cultivator who would always remember that she was brought back by him giving a precious sword. From now on, he would pay a bit more attention to her. If she were to suffer grievances in the future, there would be someone to protect her, someone to cherish and value her.

Shen Suwei said, “Qianyu, accept your grandfather’s sword.”

Xu Qianyu took the wooden sword in her hand and turned to look at her senior brother, who had already turned his back and walked out to the courtyard, his robe billowing in the wind, leaving them to say their goodbyes.

Qianyu withdrew her gaze and quickly stepped towards Guan Niang.

Guan Niang suddenly changed her expression to joy and bowed to her, saying, “Congratulations, Miss, for entering the fairy gate.”

“What’s there to congratulate about?” Xu Qianyu wondered. Her expression had previously been unhappy, and when she turned around in surprise, she saw all the servants and maids in the flower hall had changed to excited smiles, applauding and congratulating her, as if today was a day of great joy.

“It’s the Xianmen!”

“The miss is amazing.”

“Our Shui family has someone who can go to the Xianmen; it’s a great blessing!”

The tense atmosphere from before suddenly transformed into a lively and joyful scene.

Xu Qianyu was taken aback but seemed genuinely happy for a moment. She suddenly felt that leaving home wasn’t such a bitter and vengeful thing after all.

However, when she saw the bright red riding outfit on the chair, she felt sad and threw herself into Guan Niang’s embrace. “Guan Niang.”

Guan Niang held her tightly, reaching out to caress her face.

Xu Qianyu looked up at her in a daze. Guan Niang had always treated her humbly; this was the first time she took on the role of a mother, sister, and elder, comforting her.

“Miss, you know that women must cover their faces with veils when they go out, cannot be alone with unfamiliar men, cannot ride horses in skirts, cannot fight or quarrel, and cannot defy their elders… You’re different, but you have no companion. Once we leave, you will be alone here, and it is inevitable that you will attract gossip.”

“The Xianmen is a different place. I have heard that there men and women can spar together, depending on their abilities; it is a broad world where one can come and go freely, unrestrained. This world cannot keep you; going there may not be a bad thing.”

Guan Niang said, “But please remember one thing.”

Qianyu asked, “What is it?”

“You must remember that what I say with your grandfather is the truth. If you meet many people in the future whose words differ from ours, you should consider it a game and play through it with your eyes closed.”

Xu Qianyu widened her eyes and nodded.

She listened and felt somewhat confused, but thought that Guan Niang might also be afraid she would become Shui Weiwei.

Guan Niang released her, and Xu Qianyu walked back to Shui Rushan.

When Shui Rushan saw her, he curled the corners of his mouth, his face still serious, but he seemed to exude some reassuring smile.

“That sword master just now was quite good. In the future, you can entrust him with your matters.”

“Why?” Xu Qianyu looked back; Shen Suwei had already walked far away.

“He could have forcefully taken you away but chose not to. Instead, he offered you a sword. A person in power who acts without arrogance is rare.”

Xu Qianyu was annoyed and did not want to listen. Frowning, she reminded her grandfather, “Words of advice.”

Shui Rushan was taken aback, then smiled, looking at her face from top to bottom, and said seriously, “Qianyu, I have no expectations of you. Being soft is easily broken, being rigid is easily bent. Just live as you wish, and try to live a long time. I have heard that after becoming immortal, one can reverse life and death and transcend time. If fate allows, we will meet again.”

Qianyu was stunned.

So, her grandfather’s first half of the sentence was like this…

The time in the Xianmen is harsh and cold, with countless sandstorms, and she had forgotten the first half completely.

Xu Qianyu lowered her head. “Thank you for the advice, Grandfather.”

This was the first time she called him “Grandfather.” Shui Rushan was taken aback, remaining silent for a long time, then simply nodded before turning around and sitting down at the table.

Guan Niang clapped her hands and said with a smile, “Everyone, come over and eat to celebrate the miss.”

She then leaned against the door and called out to Shen Suwei, “Xianjun, you come too.”

The second half of Xu Qianyu’s fourteenth birthday turned out to be unexpectedly lively.

Although Xiao Dong was not seriously injured, she had many abrasions on her body and was wrapped in a lot of bandages. She lay straight on the bed, groaning softly when she woke up.

When she opened her eyes and saw Xu Qianyu sitting by her bedside, she anxiously said, “Miss, you’re okay…”

Her voice was gentle because speaking loudly would aggravate her wounds.

“I’m fine,” Xu Qianyu reassured her, “You’re fine too. Just lie down properly.”

Xiao Dong relaxed and lay back down.

It seemed she had forgotten the memory of being swallowed by the demon and thought she had just slipped and fallen at the study door. This was a good thing for her.

Suddenly, Xu Qianyu said to her, “Xiao Dong, do you want to go to Penglai?”

Xiao Dong widened her eyes and shook her head vigorously. “What are you saying, Miss! I can’t go. I still need to take care of my mother… and you, Miss.”

Yes, and her mother.

Xu Qianyu didn’t respond but picked up a bowl of candied lotus seeds, scooping a spoonful somewhat clumsily and gently bringing it to Xiao Dong’s mouth.

Xiao Dong was extremely surprised and struggled, saying, “How can I let the Miss feed me?”

“Just eat it; stop talking so much,” Xu Qianyu frowned. Xiao Dong then tilted her head and awkwardly swallowed the porridge from the spoon.

Xu Qianyu patiently fed her most of the bowl and asked, “Is it sweet?”

Xiao Dong noticed the focused gaze Xu Qianyu had on her. Her eyes, already large and bright, had an innocent curiosity, as if this question was very important to her.

“It’s sweet,” Xiao Dong replied, smacking her lips.

Xu Qianyu smiled happily, her face shining brightly. She set the bowl down and said, “From now on, you can be the Miss for me, and you can have candied lotus seeds every day.”

After saying that, she gently stood up on her toes to lower the curtains for Xiao Dong.

“Miss…” Xiao Dong seemed to sense something and grabbed Xu Qianyu’s skirt, tears streaming down her face. “Miss…”

Xiao Dong called her name repeatedly from behind, her voice filled with emotion, making it hard to bear.

Shen Shu stood quietly by the door. When he saw Xu Qianyu walking straight out, her eyes sparkled, but she never looked back.

The girl walked up to him and lifted her chin. “Let’s go.”

He suddenly had a strange thought.

If one day they were to part ways, it would be like this—one day of separation, and then never to meet again. As long as Xu Qianyu walked away from him, she would not turn back.

As this thought emerged, a faint, lingering pain surged in his heart, almost imperceptible.

But when he tried to discern it further, it vanished without a trace.