Early in the morning, Chen Yin went to his usual cultivation cave.
Xiang’er was still fast asleep, probably wouldn’t wake up until noon.
Last night, she had been unusually passionate and unrestrained, as if trying to please him.
Perhaps she thought he was angry with her.
But he wasn’t. He could never be angry with Xiang’er.
He cherished her too much.
The birds chirped merrily in the early morning air as Chen Yin sat cross-legged in the cave, a blade of grass in his hand.
…The Dao of Life and Death.
He had never focused on it before, his only interest being the Sword Dao. He had learned the Dao of Life and Death passively, through cultivating the “Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra.”
And now, it was the very thing holding him back.
He hadn’t put enough effort into it, and now he was struggling.
But he had no choice.
He had to reach the Grand Clarity Realm before the Triennial Day.
He watched as the blade of grass in his hand slowly withered, turning brown and lifeless.
Then, he channeled his blue spiritual energy into it, and the dead grass sprouted anew, regaining its vibrant green color.
He repeated this process, watching the cycle of life and death unfold in his palm, his eyes focused, his expression almost trance-like.
He lost track of time, the world outside fading away.
Only the grass, growing and dying, remained in his awareness.
He remembered the countless lives he had taken, the fear and hatred in their eyes.
He remembered the crazed cultivators on Ephemeral Mountain.
…Dao, what is Dao?
…A shoe is the Dao, a shoe is also the Dao, a shoe is the Dao!
…The Dao is mine! Give it to me!
Chen Yin’s eyes snapped open.
He looked down and saw the Eternal Light Sword in his hands, its tip embedded in his chest.
He frowned slightly.
“Ugh!”
He pulled out the sword, suppressing a groan of pain as the “Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra” quickly healed the wound.
He stared at the sword, his eyes narrowed, a cold glint in them.
…That was close.
He had almost lost himself in the depths of the Dao of Life and Death, his mind consumed by its vast and incomprehensible nature.
He had a feeling that if he hadn’t woken up then…
…he might never have woken up at all. Like those cultivators on Ephemeral Mountain.
“Master was right,” he murmured. “Comprehending two Daos is incredibly dangerous.”
He looked at the blade of grass in his hand.
…Should he continue?
He had been lucky this time, but what about next time?
What if he didn’t wake up?
He stared at the grass in silence, then finally said,
“…One more time.”
He closed his eyes and resumed his meditation.
Two hours later, Xiang’er woke up.
“Stinky Senior Brother…” she mumbled, rubbing her sore shoulders.
“So rough.”
She had tried her best to please him last night, using all her skills and techniques.
But in the end, she had been the one exhausted and drained.
She had woken up to an empty bed, a pang of loneliness in her heart.
…He’s still unhappy.
A paper crane, infused with spiritual energy, flew through the window. Xiang’er read the message, then got up and went outside.
Luo Luo and Qingying were waiting for her in the backyard.
And Shen Shuanglian, who had just arrived.
“You’re saying…”
Shen Shuanglian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Chen Yin is unhappy?”
“Yes,”
Xiang’er said, her voice filled with worry, “he’s been acting strange these past few days, like he has something on his mind. But he won’t tell me. I’m so worried.”
“Now that you mention it,” Luo Luo’s ears drooped slightly, “Young Master hasn’t been around much since we returned from the Wu Xuan Cave. Is he cultivating?”
Qingying was silent for a moment, then muttered to herself, Chen Yin is unhappy? Why didn’t I notice? I’ve been with him almost every day.
“Don’t you see?” the System said, its tone slightly mocking. “You’re too dense. You lack a woman’s intuition. Now do you understand the difference between you and your rivals?”
“They’re not my rivals! I’m not competing with them!” Qingying retorted angrily in her mind.
But then she lowered her head, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
…Maybe it’s true.
Why didn’t I notice?
Am I really that insensitive?
“I didn’t know what to do, so I called you here,”
Xiang’er said, looking at Shen Shuanglian with a hint of resentment. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t want you to disturb us.”
Shen Shuanglian didn’t seem offended. She just lowered her head and, after a moment of silence, asked, “Has he been cultivating all this time?”
“He leaves early in the morning and doesn’t want us to disturb him.” Xiang’er’s voice was filled with a growing frustration.
Luo Luo’s ears drooped sadly. “Is Young Master… really in trouble?”
“I’m not sure,” Shen Shuanglian hesitated, then said, “how about… I talk to him?”
Xiang’er immediately glared at her. “You’re not planning to take advantage of this, are you? We agreed that on Mount Yu, Senior Brother is mine!”
“N-no!”
Shen Shuanglian, her usual composure gone, lowered her head, her voice soft and hesitant.
“I just want to see if I can find out what’s wrong…”
And I miss him… she added silently in her mind.
Xiang’er looked at her suspiciously, then sighed. “Fine. Even if you can’t figure out what’s bothering him, if you can cheer him up, I’ll be grateful.”
Shen Shuanglian nodded silently.
“I’ll… try.”