Younger Martial Brother isn't dead, and Song Xiaohe is determined to save him.
Even if her master disagrees, she will go.
Song Xiaohe brought a storage jade bracelet, filled with food, clean clothes, and a few treasures she took from her master.
Though they were called "treasures," Liang Tan was quite poor and didn’t have anything truly powerful. Still, it was better than Song Xiaohe setting off with nothing.
She put on a snow-white inner robe, draped a black outer robe over it, and tied it with a belt, accentuating her slender waist.
Her hair was styled into two round buns, with four thin braids hanging down, each adorned with a copper coin. A jade gourd the size of a fingernail dangled from her hair.
She fastened a wooden sword at her waist, her youthful face filled with seriousness.
When she pushed the door open, the sky was still dark, the moon hanging in the night sky.
The wind was gentle. Song Xiaohe went to the cherry blossom tree and, just as Shen Xishan always did before leaving on missions, buried a talisman for safe travels under the tree, clasping her hands together to pray for a safe journey.
Finally, she stood in the wind, bowed three times in the direction of her master, and turned toward the outer mountains.
It happened to be the day Liang Tan went to Qianyang Peak to accompany his wife, so by the time he returned and discovered that his only foolish disciple had disappeared along with some of his treasures, seven days had already passed.
Song Xiaohe's first task upon arriving at the outer mountains was to find Shen Xishan.
Luckily, she found him easily, sleeping in a tree. She stood beneath it, hands on her hips, calling out to him.
Shen Xishan, who had been asleep, heard the annoying voice and thought he was having a nightmare. But when he opened his eyes, there she was, standing below, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"What now?" Shen Xishan asked, exasperated. "Are you haunting me or something?"
Shen Xishan, whose spiritual power was currently sealed, had changed his appearance and was now going by the name Shen Ce. He was no longer the celebrated figure of the Immortal Alliance, so he didn’t bother maintaining his usual polite demeanor.
He began to wonder if he wasn’t being intimidating enough. Why did this person keep showing up in front of him?
"You're in luck," Song Xiaohe said. "I know you want to sneak into the Immortal Alliance's team heading to the secret realm. After thinking it over, I’ve decided not to report your misdeeds to the elders. In exchange, you’ll take me with you."
Shen Xishan raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead and report me."
Song Xiaohe ignored him, continuing, "We’re fellow disciples, after all. Harmony brings prosperity."
She sat down cross-legged, pulling out a piece of paper from her storage ring and unfolding it. "I’m in the inner circle, so I have more information than you. This is their action map."
Shen Xishan, intrigued, jumped down and landed beside her, glancing at the paper. "You managed to get a map?"
"Of course! I have great connections in the inner circle!" Song Xiaohe said proudly.
In truth, she and her master often visited the Hall of Healing Immortals for minor ailments, so Song Xiaohe was on good terms with the people there. One of the sisters had a lover who was part of the mission team, a First-Rank Hunter, and Song Xiaohe had asked her to get a copy of the route to the secret realm.
The map itself wasn’t crucial, as the location of the Netherworld Ghost Domain was well-known.
What mattered was the paper the map was printed on.
Song Xiaohe showed the map to emphasize her connections within the team.
She pointed at herself, hinting, "I’ve got connections."
Shen Xishan sat cross-legged as well, propping his head on his hand. "If you’ve got connections, why do you need me to sneak you in?"
"My master said it’s too dangerous and won’t let me go," Song Xiaohe explained.
"Then why are you so determined to go?" Shen Xishan asked.
He thought she was simple-minded, with almost no spiritual power, clumsy and noisy.
Yet she seemed dead set on going to such a perilous place, which piqued his curiosity.
"I need to save my younger martial brother," Song Xiaohe said seriously.
Shen Xishan thought for a moment and realized she was referring to him.
Not only did Shen Xishan not acknowledge her as his senior, but there was also the more pressing issue: "Everyone in the Immortal Alliance knows that Shen Xishan is dead. What are you trying to save?"
"He’s not dead," Song Xiaohe said, lowering her head as she slowly rolled up the map and placed it back into her storage jade bracelet. When she looked up, her pretty face showed a stubborn, resolute expression. "Until I see his body, I won’t believe he’s dead."
Shen Xishan looked at her and laughed. "With your abilities, you’ll definitely die if you go there."
Song Xiaohe retorted, "I won’t die."
Arguing with her was pointless. Shen Xishan stood up to leave, and Song Xiaohe followed him. "They’re setting off tomorrow."
Shen Xishan stretched lazily. "So?"
Song Xiaohe said, "The Immortal Alliance has a mountain barrier. If we don’t go with them, we can’t leave. Their mission isn’t to save anyone, but to destroy the secret realm. If it’s destroyed, we’ll never be able to enter again."
Shen Xishan replied, "Then you’re lucky. You’ll get to live a few more years."
Song Xiaohe, annoyed, grabbed his arm. "Do you look down on me or something?"
Shen Xishan easily avoided her grip and admitted, "So what? Are you going to teach me a lesson?"
Provoked, Song Xiaohe had to prove she wasn’t a pushover!
She stepped onto a nearby rock, leveling her height with Shen Xishan, and glared fiercely.
Using the fist technique her master had taught her, she raised her left fist high.
"Watch this fist," she said. "See how it delivers a fatal blow."
Shen Xishan played along, looking up at her raised left fist.
Then Song Xiaohe swung her right fist. The essence of this technique was that when the opponent focused on the left fist, the right fist would strike with lightning speed, catching most people off guard.
As her master had said: "This punch never misses."
Song Xiaohe put all her strength into the punch aimed at Shen Xishan’s handsome face, letting out a shout to boost her confidence.
However, her master’s exact words had been: "This punch never misses... when used on a fool."
But Shen Xishan was no fool. Before the fist could connect, he caught it with his palm. "What kind of fist technique is this?"
"My master’s guaranteed winning move," Song Xiaohe answered.
"Is your master also from the Immortal Alliance?" Shen Xishan asked.
"Of course! I’m an inner disciple of the Immortal Alliance. Why would I have an outer mountain master?"
Shen Xishan wondered when the Immortal Alliance had acquired such incompetents.
"This move is useless. Let me teach you a new one," Shen Xishan said. "When you’re in a fight, just cover your head with your arms and protect your face."
"Is this a guaranteed defense move?" Song Xiaohe asked, taking it seriously.
"Not guaranteed, but it might prevent people from recognizing you as an Immortal Alliance disciple when you’re being beaten up. Saves the Alliance some face," Shen Xishan said.
Realizing she was being mocked, Song Xiaohe flared up. "With that annoying attitude of yours, who knows who’ll end up beaten up once we’re out there! You’d better cover your face when you’re causing trouble, so you don’t disgrace the Immortal Alliance."
Shen Xishan didn’t bother arguing. He lazily said, "You’re not fit for the secret realm, let alone life outside the mountain. I suggest you bring a cane and a bowl just in case. If you’re lucky, you might beg your way back to the Immortal Alliance."
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!" Song Xiaohe fumed, pointing at his face. "Fine! You go your way, and I’ll go mine. We’ll have nothing to do with each other. Who needs to follow you anyway!"
Song Xiaohe turned around angrily, her braids swinging, the copper coins clinking together as she stormed off.
Shen Xishan watched her go, then glanced at the sky. It was nearly noon.
He knew the group would leave at night, so there was still time before departure. Shen Xishan decided to get some more sleep.
But after taking a few steps, someone suddenly appeared in front of him.
It was a handsome young man, around seventeen or eighteen, walking slowly toward Shen Xishan with a strange expression.
He looked both excited and nervous, his hands fidgeting.
Shen Xishan looked at him. "Looking for a beating?"
The young man’s lips moved, and he uttered a syllable.
Shen Xishan heard it and asked, "Are you calling me deaf?"
"My name is Su Mulin, and I’m also an outer disciple," he said slowly. "I overheard your argument with that person about leaving the mountain."
"What, are you going to report me too?"
"No, no, no, I know a way down the mountain," Su Mulin quickly waved his hands and hurriedly said, "If you head south along the granary, there's a narrow, secluded path. The barrier there is weak and has a crack, allowing one to descend unnoticed."
In truth, Shen Xishan already knew about that path because he had used it to ascend the mountain and infiltrate the outer sect.
He studied Su Mulin. "What do you want?"
"Can I come with you?" Su Mulin cautiously made his request.
"No," Shen Xishan refused.
He started walking, and Su Mulin followed behind, saying, "I'm more useful than her. I won't be a burden. I know how to avoid the curse and enter the Ghost Realm."
That, at least, was genuinely useful. Shen Xishan stopped in his tracks. "Really?"
Before Su Mulin could answer, Song Xiaohe suddenly jumped out from the nearby bushes. "Who are you calling a burden?!"
Shen Xishan seemed unfazed, as if he was used to it, but Su Mulin was so startled that his legs nearly gave out, almost kowtowing to Song Xiaohe on the spot.
Song Xiaohe smirked at Shen Xishan. "Did you think I'd left? Hah, dream on! Do you really think I'm that dumb? Falling for your decoy trick? I knew you'd find a way down the mountain."
There were still two small green leaves stuck to her head, and her robe was smeared with dirt. It was unclear when she had snuck back and hidden in the bushes.
Shen Xishan hadn't noticed at all.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. After his spiritual power was sealed, his senses had deteriorated significantly. He might not even notice danger approaching.
But this journey was unavoidable. Shen Xishan didn't know who had set up the formation or how to break it. The only way was to return to the place where it all began, destroy the formation, and lift the seal on him.
Song Xiaohe also had her own reasons for going.
Since they weren't close, she didn't bother with farewells. Once she found out about the path down the mountain, she headed straight for the granary.
Shen Xishan watched her leave without stopping her. He didn't have the kindness to advise others against seeking their own doom. When danger came, she'd run back to the Immortal Alliance on her own.
Shen Xishan knew many people admired him, but this fool was the first to venture into the Ghost Realm for his sake.
He didn't know if this clumsy girl was too ignorant to understand the dangers of the Ghost Realm or if she loved him so deeply that she was willing to risk her life.
Either way, it didn't matter to him. Shen Xishan practiced the Path of Heartlessness. He didn't care who lived or died for him, nor would he ever fall in love with anyone.
He didn't even bother learning the name of this girl who was so determined to save him in the Ghost Realm.
Shen Xishan gave a slight smirk and said to Su Mulin, "We'll descend at midnight."
