Chapter 110: Demon Realm Soul Seizure (Part 3)

“Since you don’t seek a Taoist partner, what are you like, Xu Jiansu, ‘just having fun, looking for a companion’?”
Shen Suwei adjusted his collar and remained silent.
Xu Baopu, suppressing his anger, continued, “If you don’t seek a Taoist partner, fine. But you won’t interfere with my introducing a Taoist partner to Junior Sister, will you?”
Upon hearing this, Shen Suwei suddenly raised his eyes.

His eyes, originally graceful and beautiful in shape, now glinted with hostility, sharp and vigilant, resembling a wolf’s eyes when its territory is encroached upon.

This glance made their years of brotherly bond feel distant, leaving Xu Baopu feeling a sense of bitterness in his heart.
“I know that you have always been measured in your actions, and you dislike others interfering. If it were unnecessary, I wouldn’t want to meddle. But look at what you’ve done. If I don’t step in, you might make a wrong move.”

Xu Baopu recalled how, when Shen Suwei first joined the sect, the illusory realm in the high tower had almost troubled every young male cultivator. But for Shen Suwei, the enticements of worldly desire posed no threat whatsoever. He simply gazed indifferently at the illusions, his pupils holding an almost imperceptible hatred.

Seeing this, Xu Jiansu had shuddered and whispered, “At this age, no male cultivator can remain so unaffected. Senior Brother, don’t you think Shen Suwei is abnormal?” He had tried to swat him away with a slap.

Xu Jiansu’s words contained a sense of frustration: there were always those who had a calm demeanor and strong willpower, born to be sword immortals, but Shen Suwei was not one of them.

At the time, Xu Baopu had believed that Shen Suwei was this kind of person. Moreover, having trained in the sword in the icy mountains for years, Shen Suwei was known for his self-control and disinterest in women. Hence, Xu Baopu had always been at ease with this third junior brother and had never worried about such matters.

But what he saw today greatly surprised Xu Baopu. How could he have known that all these years, desires had been silently growing, wrapping around him and pulling him down into the abyss?

“If it were Xu Jiansu, I wouldn’t be worried. He is always straightforward, drinks when thirsty, eats when hungry, easily bonding with female cultivators, only to part ways just as easily. He doesn’t hold onto things, and it doesn’t hinder his Taoist. But you—what about you?”
Shen Suwei replied, “I have no intention of playing around.”

Xu Baopu’s expression softened slightly, and he tentatively asked, “Then, if Junior Sister has such intentions, are you planning to become Taoist partners?”
Shen Suwei remained silent.

“What do you mean by not speaking?” Xu Baopu pressed.
Shen Suwei countered with a question: “May I ask, Senior Brother, what does ‘Taoist partner’ mean?”
“A Taoist partner is someone who shares the same aspirations and cultivates together,” Xu Baopu explained. “A practitioner of immortality cuts off emotions and desires, maintaining inner peace in order to better observe the world and comprehend the Dao. If one ascends, all worldly matters become illusory, and each Taoist partner will have walked their own path, reaching the end of their relationship. If two people reach a mutual understanding early on, they are considered Taoist partners. Cultivating together allows them to help each other.”

“However, the path of immortality is lonely, and often people transform their Taoist partner into a mortal spouse. There is a saying among immortals, ‘karma hinders the Dao,’ and romantic attachments are also a form of karma. Everyday concerns—like firewood, rice, oil, and salt—accumulate as attachments, and those who are reluctant to let go will be hindered in their progress. A Taoist partner should help one another understand the Dao, but a mortal spouse only brings entanglements.”
Shen Suwei asked, “What about you and Sister-in-law?”
The question was too sharp, and Xu Baopu shot him a glare before replying, “Originally, it was the first kind, but with time, I must admit to my own ordinariness. For me, the best is what we have now.”
Shen Suwei’s heart shook. Senior Brother’s willingness to remain in the present meant he was also willing to accept that his cultivation might no longer progress.
Xu Baopu asked, “Suwei, you have always been focused on the Dao and reluctant to find a Taoist partner; is it because you fear that attachments might affect your heart for the Dao?”
The pursuit of the Dao had always been Shen Suwei’s obsession, and he had not yet come to terms with changing his goal.

Moreover, he vaguely felt that his feelings for Xu Qianyu were complex, different from Senior Brother’s earlier simple infatuation with his sister-in-law. Having entered the mortal world from his icy shell, he had learned to navigate human interactions, follow etiquette, and mimic Xu Baopu, but now he had lost his reference point.

This feeling was still buried deep inside, not yet brought to the surface or made public, which made it feel safer and more controllable.

Shen Suwei said, “If I were to ask her now, she would surely agree, but that’s because she doesn’t yet understand what a Taoist partner is, so I cannot do it.”

“Indeed, Junior Sister is innocent and naive. She entered late, and many things have gone unmentioned to her,” Xu Baopu said. “But you, as her senior brother, should take the initiative to guide her. You can’t just leave things like this.”

Shen Suwei’s expression remained calm: “Xu Qianyu is always asking for more in cultivation, lacking a soul partner, and yet, she happens to be someone favored by the Heavenly Dao. Since karma hinders the Tao, if I were to guide her into being a Taoist partner, how can I be sure it wouldn’t hinder her own path?”

Xu Baopu paused, surprised by how rational Shen Suwei was in this matter, which left him speechless.
“Moreover, I still have concerns.”

Such as the hairpin festival, the unfinished words of his mother in the nightmare, and that gray reflection he saw in the spirit stone mirror.
Shen Suwei said, “But Senior Brother, don’t worry. After the hairpin festival, I will ask Xu Qianyu once.”

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On the day of departure, Ruan Zhuqing went to bid farewell to Xu Qianyu and Yu Chu.
Ruan Zhuqing pointed to the top of his head and said, “Qianyu, look.”
Xu Qianyu glanced over, seeing the youth wearing an intricately designed hairpin. “The hairpin I gave you?”
Ruan Zhuqing smiled, showing a pair of dimples. “You remember?”
“By the way, I have a lot of talismans and magical tools here,” he said, pulling out a storage pouch to sell them. “Feel free to pick whatever you want.”

Xu Qianyu had already started talking to Lin Shuyue and Yun Chu, who had arrived.
Ruan Zhuqing asked again, “Xiao Chu?”
“No need,” Yu Chu quickly replied. “These precious items should be kept for you to use in the fall.”

After all, times had changed. Xu Qianyu could draw talismans, and she could craft magical tools, so these things were unnecessary to carry.

Xu Qianyu turned around and saw Ruan Zhuqing standing under the shade of a tree, his expression somewhat forced, as he looked at the group.
This expression was somewhat familiar.

It reminded her of her past life, when she stood with everyone but was ignored and left behind, as if living in a vacuum.
“Why be so polite with him?” Xu Qianyu walked over in a few strides, reached into Ruan Zhuqing’s storage pouch, and grabbed four or five magical tools. Then she spread her hands and said boldly, “Give us some spirit stones.”

The girl’s haughty and arrogant demeanor appeared before him, and Ruan Zhuqing hurriedly reached into his clothes, flustered. He didn’t have many spirit stones, but he pulled out a golden hook shaped like a fishhook.

“It’s alright, I have this,” Ruan Zhuqing said, holding up the hook. “Spirit Stone fishing needle. If you find a spirit stone mine, this needle can lead the way, break rocks, and you can mine as much as you need.”

Yu Chu’s eyes widened, and she carefully took it. “This is amazing!”
Ruan Zhuqing smiled proudly. “Not bad, right?”
Xu Qianyu said, “Let’s go.”
Ruan Zhuqing was slightly surprised. “Aren’t you going with Yun Chu and the others?”
“You’ve come this far; are you going to let us go by ourselves?” Xu Qianyu crossed her arms and said, “Naturally, you’ll send us with your giant kite.”

Ruan Zhuqing’s expression suddenly brightened. “Alright, let’s get on the giant kite!”
By the time they flew across mountains and seas and reached the warship of the Four Great Sects, the lingering sorrow on Ruan Zhuqing’s face had long disappeared.

In fact, Ruan Zhuqing was now somewhat troubled. Xu Qianyu had left all the unfinished lessons of Wuzhen to him.
In the vast sea mist, a colossal ship stood tall.

This was a warship, four stories high, resembling a flying boat. Its outer surface was made of thin, soft spiritual stone, fastened with rivets, and deliberately engraved with patterns. In the sunlight, it shimmered with a halo and could resist attacks from sea monsters. The sails fluttered high above, like drifting clouds.

The giant kite, originally able to carry four or five people, now looked like a tiny insect in the air as it landed on the fourth layer of the warship.

Xu Qianyu and Yu Chu jumped off and waved to Ruan Zhuqing. The giant kite spun around in the air and wobbled as it flew off.

The two descended into the warship. The interior was spacious, resembling a pavilion with wooden beams and columns. The ceiling had light blue murals, arranged in several panels, likely depicting stories of the founding goddess of Tianshan. The murals were illuminated by hanging white diamond-shaped lanterns, giving off an ancient and elegant atmosphere.

---

As the two of them got closer, a stone platform rose. Xu Qianyu noticed that what was written on it were their names, resembling a communication token, so she picked it up and matched it with the one she had, then lit the life lamp in the pool.

This was something that had to be done before embarking on such a dangerous spring journey. Each person had their own life lamp; if someone died, the lamp would extinguish, and the sect would decide whether to rescue the missing disciple based on this item.

Xu Qianyu didn’t see her senior brother’s token on the table, so she thought he must have arrived earlier.

Just as she was thinking this, she turned a corner and saw him in the space separated by the gauze curtains. Shen Suwei was standing next to Yun Chu, along with several other disciples from different sects, likely people she had met during previous spring outings, and they were talking. Shen Suwei glanced sideways at her and gave her a meaningful look.

Late again.
Xu Qianyu stood still and, without feeling embarrassed, raised the corner of her mouth.
Shen Suwei took an item from his realm and casually tossed it to her.

She reached out to catch it; it was a wooden box, releasing a faint, sweet fragrance.
“Ah, snowflake sticky rice dumplings from Junji yamashita mountain!” Lin Shuyue’s voice came from behind.

Xu Qianyu didn’t know how so many people had suddenly gathered behind her, but as soon as she opened the box, countless hands reached over.
“Thank you, my favorite.”
“Still haven’t eaten.”
“It smells so good.”
Xu Qianyu: “You guys…”

Xu Qianyu was always generous, and though she wasn’t happy about it, these were all old friends from past gatherings. She held the box, letting them take whatever they wanted.

At that moment, a large hand with prominent knuckles picked up a dumpling.
Xu Qianyu noticed the gold dragon cloud pattern on his sleeve, unfamiliar to her. She turned her head to look; the man was wearing black clothes, a sword hanging at his waist, clearly a disciple of the Hidden Dragon Immortal Sect.

He was nine feet tall, his silhouette resembling a mountain, with sea-monster-like blue hair that stood out strikingly, making his skin appear somewhat sickly pale.

Clearly, she didn’t know this person.
Xu Qianyu said, “I’m not handing out food. Who told you to eat it? Give it back to me!”
The blue-haired young man seemed slow to react, his dark eyes gazing at her in confusion. He had already placed the rice dumpling in his mouth and was chewing.