Jade Shakes the Thousand Mountains - Chapter 25: The Most Heart-Pounding

Chapter 25: The Most Heart-Pounding

Hearing countless tales can never compare to seeing with one’s own eyes…

As soon as Yu Chanyi finished speaking, Duan Xiaofeng’s face displayed a spectacular array of expressions.

Two inches…

Duan Xiaofeng began learning the sword at age nine, opened his first inch of Spirit Vein at seventeen, was called a child prodigy in his hometown, and successfully joined one of the five great sects the Grand Micro Sect. In his rural area, he was once considered quite the remarkable figure.

But the Giant Sea Ten Provinces were full of talented individuals. Among those who could enter the five great sects, there were no mediocrities.

Though Duan Xiaofeng didn’t completely fade into obscurity among them, he understood the saying: beyond every person lies someone greater, beyond every mountain stands a higher peak.

Like his senior brother Li Xu an existence he could never hope to match.

But today he learned that beyond those higher peaks, there were still more mountains towering further away.

Yet this place was… Duan Xiaofeng looked around, gazing at these unimpressive buildings, sinking into bewilderment.

When he was dispatched to Flame Province to assist Senior Brother Li Xu, the Inexhaustible Sect had only three members: a master who loved wandering and had abdicated responsibility, a senior disciple obsessed with growing Spirit Flowers and Herbs for profit, and a second disciple afflicted by a Heart Demon who neglected worldly affairs who knew what he might do in the future and who was an expelled disciple of their Grand Micro Sect.

If you turned this sect inside out, you’d only find Wu Xi Lan as a proper cultivator.

If not for being sent to monitor Wei Shengming, Duan Xiaofeng wouldn’t even have known the Giant Sea Ten Provinces contained a sect called “Inexhaustible Sect” located in such a remote, secluded valley.

How could this be considered a prestigious major sect?

Yet today, he was defeated by a disciple from this insignificant minor sect.

No… that’s wrong he actually won.

But Duan Xiaofeng felt even worse than if he had lost.

When he had only opened two inches of Spirit Vein, he still couldn’t properly channel his Spiritual power through his sword.

Yet Yu Chanyi could exchange thirty moves back and forth with a cultivator who had opened forty-eight inches of Spirit Vein.

“Thank you for your courtesy,” Yu Chanyi said.

The girl’s clear voice reached his ears, and Duan Xiaofeng looked up in surprise.

“Thank you for your courtesy” that was something only the winner should say.

Then he saw Yu Chanyi blink and ask him, “Fellow Daoist Duan, dare I ask if you were holding back at the beginning, intentionally going easy on me?”

Duan Xiaofeng’s face flushed with embarrassment. Deciding to conceal his true strength was the worst decision he made today. What he never expected was that his little scheme hadn’t escaped Yu Chanyi’s notice.

If she could tell he was deliberately going easy on her earlier, she probably also saw how he was forced to use his full strength later, fighting in frantic disarray.

“Yes,” Duan Xiaofeng admitted sheepishly.

“Thank you for your consideration, Fellow Daoist Duan. But…” Yu Chanyi said, “Please don’t hold back next time.”

“If you respect me, don’t go easy on me,” Yu Chanyi said softly.

Her tone was gentle, without any reproach, even carrying a polite, pleading quality. But Duan Xiaofeng’s face burned as he stammered in response, “Okay.”

When he left the Inexhaustible Sect, Duan Xiaofeng’s retreating figure looked flustered, seemingly enveloped in layer upon layer of confusion.

Yu Chanyi held her sword, watching him depart.

Li Xu’s cultivation was too high she had only exchanged two moves with him before losing.

But she and Duan Xiaofeng had fought back and forth for a full thirty moves.

If Duan Xiaofeng hadn’t seemed preoccupied and unable to focus on sparring with her, she would have definitely pulled him aside for several more satisfying matches.

Recalling each move and stance from their earlier sparring session, Yu Chanyi lifted her sword, wiping the dust from its surface with her fingers. The cold blade reflected her unusually serene eyes, softened by satisfaction.

Wu Xi Lan stepped out of the Medicine Hut to find Yu Chanyi standing in the courtyard, her slender fingers channeling spiritual power as she polished her sword.

“Little Junior Sister, did Li Xu come to spar with you again?” Wu Xi Lan asked.

Seeing the expression on Yu Chanyi’s face, she guessed someone had crossed swords with her. After spending so much time with Yu Chanyi, Wu Xi Lan had come to understand her little junior sister was a true sword fanatic usually maintaining an icy demeanor, yet anything related to swords could bring a smile to her face.

When her radiant features lit up with a smile, the coldness melted away.

“Why didn’t you ask him to stay longer? I wanted to ask him about buying seeds,” Wu Xi Lan said as she walked into the courtyard and approached Yu Chanyi. Yu Chanyi replied, “It wasn’t Li Xu.”

“Not Li Xu?” Wu Xi Lan was taken aback. “Are there other Sword Cultivators nearby?”

“Mmm… Fellow Cultivator Li helped find him.”

Wu Xi Lan: “!!!”

“A disciple from the Sword Inheriting Sect?” Wu Xi Lan asked in astonishment. “Besides their disciples, I haven’t seen any other Sword Cultivators around here.”

“Probably… not a Sword Inheriting Sect disciple…” Yu Chanyi sounded uncertain.

Duan Xiaofeng had only used ordinary sword moves, making it impossible to identify his sect affiliation. All she knew was that he was someone who could spar and practice with her.

“Then he’s likely a rogue cultivator,” Wu Xi Lan concluded. “You Sword Cultivators who wander freely are you all this hard to identify as sword practitioners?”

Yu Chanyi didn’t know.

Wu Xi Lan remarked, “Those Sword Inheriting Sect disciples practically wear ‘Sword Cultivator of Sword Inheriting Sect’ on their foreheads. Wherever they go, they carry their swords with such imposing airs I thought all Sword Cultivators were like that.”

As she spoke, Wu Xi Lan remembered something and asked Yu Chanyi, “Little Junior Sister, did you take the elixirs I gave you yesterday?”

Yu Chanyi nodded.

Wu Xi Lan said, “I thought if you had taken them, you wouldn’t look so at ease… Wait, what? You took them?”

Yu Chanyi nodded again.

Wu Xi Lan grabbed Yu Chanyi’s wrist, her expression shifting to shock.

Normally, after taking both the Spirit Gathering Pill and Heart Gouging Pill together, one would quickly experience excruciating, unbearable pain.

Yet observing Yu Chanyi just now, she appeared completely calm not a trace of suffering or abnormal fluctuations detectable. Wu Xi Lan never would have guessed Yu Chanyi had already taken the pills.

Her diagnostic skills of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking had failed her with this little junior sister.

“You really took them…” Wu Xi Lan’s lips trembled as her fingers touched Yu Chanyi’s wrist, probing her spirit vein pulse.

The chaotic clash of spiritual currents within Yu Chanyi’s spirit veins confirmed the pills were taking effect. Wu Xi Lan clearly understood now that Yu Chanyi had indeed consumed them. Judging by the pulse, she must have taken both pills shortly after receiving them yesterday.

Frowning deeply, Wu Xi Lan asked, “Doesn’t it hurt?”

After a moment of silence, Yu Chanyi replied, “It’s merely physical pain.Wu Xi Lan’s frown deepened, nearly forming the character “river” between her eyebrows.

Having tested the medicine herself, she knew exactly how agonizing the Heart Gouging Pill could be.

Just one small Heart Gouging Pill would cause such excruciating pain that she couldn’t stand upright, writhing on the bed until completely exhausted.

If it weren’t for this, she wouldn’t have named this elixir the Heart Gouging Pill.

It truly felt like having one’s heart gouged out.

Yet listen to what Yu Chanyi said: “It’s merely physical pain…”

Most Ancient Remnants endured half a lifetime of hardships, drifting alone and helpless. The more lightly Yu Chanyi spoke those words, the more horrified Wu Xi Lan became.

What kind of suffering must she have endured to consider physical pain as merely “this much”?

Wu Xi Lan frowned while watching Yu Chanyi for a long time. Seeing her expression remain normal despite her weak breathing, silently enduring the pain, Wu Xi Lan opened her mouth several times wanting to say something but ultimately held back.

In the end, she swallowed both her questions about Yu Chanyi’s past and her urge to persuade her to rest in her room, replacing them with: “Little junior sister, you really want to win first place in the Sword Debate Tournament, don’t you?”

In her entire life, she had only seen two people who could endure pain so silently – why were both in the Inexhaustible Sect?

Yu Chanyi replied: “Senior sister, I never joke when I speak.”

Wu Xi Lan took a deep breath: “Alright.”

She ran back to the Medicine Hut, retrieved two green medicine bottles, and pressed them into Yu Chanyi’s hands: “There are ten Spirit Gathering Pills and ten Heart Gouging Pills left. Based on your Spirit Vein breakthrough speed, you can take them again seven days after each breakthrough at the earliest. The first three days after taking them are the hardest to endure, with the third night being particularly difficult. Prepare yourself – it will get better after dawn.”

As she spoke, Wu Xi Lan’s eyes reddened slightly. She strained to keep her voice steady, then exhaled heavily: “Alright, little junior sister, go rest in your room. I’m going to find Li Xu to buy new seeds. These Spirit Gathering Pills and Heart Gouging Pills require many herbs – I need to prepare in advance.”

“Thank you, senior sister.”

“Go rest now!” Wu Xi Lan pushed Yu Chanyi into her room, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of black cloth from the tree in the courtyard – her eccentric junior brother was perched there again.

Both she and Yu Chanyi had grown accustomed to this, pretending not to notice. After guiding Yu Chanyi back to her room, Wu Xi Lan said: “My Heart Gouging Pill is only slightly less potent than the Scarlet Flesh Pill. But that Scarlet Flesh Pill is used during interrogations – even cultivators with the deepest spiritual power would suffer immensely upon taking it, wishing they were dead. Little junior sister, you must truly prepare yourself mentally for that third night. If the pain becomes unbearable, don’t force yourself to endure silently – crying out will make it easier to bear.”

“Scarlet Flesh Pill?” Yu Chanyi looked up at her, curiosity hidden in her eyes.

“Yes, Scarlet Flesh Pill – an extremely vicious elixir. It won’t kill you, but will make you wish for death. Some sects use it to interrogate disciples who have committed grave errors.” Wu Xi Lan added: “Speaking of which, you and your senior brother are quite similar in some aspects – both extremely tolerant of pain. When our master brought him back, all seventy-two inches of his Spirit Veins were destroyed. He must have been in extreme pain, yet he never made a sound.”

Wu Xi Lan recalled how this junior brother of hers had asked for the Scarlet Flesh Pill after waking up.

But how could she just give him the Scarlet Flesh Pill upon request? She didn’t know who he intended to use it on.

“Rest now.” After settling Yu Chanyi, Wu Xi Lan went out to find Li Xu.

–

The third night.

The sky was growing dark, with twilight glow tinged pale pink casting mottled tree shadows on the white window paper.

Inside the room, Yu Chanyi sat cross-legged on the bed, large beads of sweat dripping from her forehead.

She used her spiritual power to guide the rapid internalization of the Spirit Gathering Pill within her body. Wherever the pill’s potency passed, she could feel strands of stagnant energy gradually being cleared and smoothed. But as the Spirit Gathering Pill broke through the blockages, the effects of the Heart Gouging Pill followed like sharp teeth of a saw, trailing closely behind.

The pain came more intensely and persistently than during the day.

As she used her spiritual power to accelerate the internalization of the Spirit Gathering Pill, the torturous punishment brought by the Heart Gouging Pill arrived sooner than Wu Xi Lan had predicted.

Night gradually fell, the cold moon beginning to rise.

Yu Chanyi gritted her teeth, controlling herself not to cry out in pain, mustering her last bit of strength to guide her spiritual power carrying the Spirit Gathering Pill’s potency toward the third inch of her Spirit Vein.

After completing one full cycle of spiritual energy circulation, amidst this torment of rampant spiritual power, Yu Chanyi half-fainted.

When she woke again, she was collapsed on the bed, her black clothes and hair completely soaked with sweat, clinging to her body as if she had just been pulled from water.

The pain of the rampaging spiritual power within her receded like a tide, like spring arriving in a dry crack, the parched riverbed moistened by gentle rain. Beyond the last remnants of pain came a prolonged sense of tranquility. Yu Chanyi curled up motionless, feeling the sluggishness in her body, wanting to try circulating her spiritual power. But then, suddenly, tiny sparkling points of light flew past her vision, making her halt her movement.

Yu Chanyi followed the sparkling lights with her gaze and saw that her window was somehow wide open, with fireflies dancing in from outside.

Beyond the window, a spring night, with gentle winds.

The melting courtyard, the delicate sounds of insects.

After midnight, the Beginning of Spring among the twenty-four solar terms would arrive.

Watching the fireflies flying in one by one, Yu Chanyi didn’t even blink, her expression dazed.

She remembered her first spring at the Sword Inheriting Sect. Unable to bear the mountain’s severe cold and the pointing, critical gossip around her, five-year-old her had run to Lu Wenshu and said the Sword Inheriting Sect was too cold, she wanted to go down the mountain, she missed the spring of the human world.

Hearing this, Lu Wenshu had cleared a spot for her on Azure Peak – the Listening Spring Pavilion. The Restriction he cast isolated the wind and snow outside, creating a unique spring scenery within the Listening Spring Pavilion. He told her that the scenery in the Listening Spring Pavilion was no different from spring outside, and there would be no other three seasons – summer, autumn, and winter. From then on, she could happily stay here, remaining forever in her favorite spring, a spring better than the one outside.

Yet, in that spring scenery Lu Wenshu personally created in the Listening Spring Pavilion, there had never been fireflies.

She hadn’t seen fireflies before turning five either, and during that muddled, drifting thousand years of lost consciousness, she had never opened her eyes to notice these small insects. This was Yu Chanyi’s first time seeing fireflies.

The flickering fireflies were like stars in the sky, trailing faintly luminous tails, gradually moving closer to her.

So this was what real spring fireflies looked like. So beautiful.

So, what was fake remained fake.

“Forever” was fake, spring was fake too.

The flowers and plants in the Listening Spring Pavilion indeed bloomed continuously, but that ultimately wasn’t true spring.

Somehow, Yu Chanyi straightened up and, following one flying firefly, walked barefoot into the courtyard.

Once standing in the yard, she suddenly realized – her Spirit Vein had broken through the third inch.

The more abundant spiritual power sharpened her five senses, transforming the world before her eyes.

Yu Chanyi could now hear insects chirping from farther away, see more distant mountain peaks, and perceive the tiny fireflies in the medicine field that were previously invisible to her. She could even see wisps of spiritual energy floating above the spirit veins. When she reached out her hand, they gently coiled around her fingertips, their touch like cool spring water kissing her skin.

Under the moonlight, the drifting spiritual energy resembled hazy lantern glow, intertwining with the scattered fluorescence of fireflies. Standing amidst it all felt like stepping into a beautiful dream.

So this was how it felt.

Yu Chanyi had once heard Lu Wenshu describe how the world appeared through the eyes of a cultivator with spiritual power.

She had imagined, yearned, and dreamed but no amount of secondhand description could compare to seeing it with her own eyes.

The vast mountains and rivers, the starry tapestry of the mortal world only firsthand witness could make one’s heart truly tremble with awe.

Using her spiritual power, Yu Chanyi brushed away the damp sweat from her body and cleansed herself. As her fingertips passed through the ethereal spiritual energy hovering over the medicine field, her gaze drifted toward the distant mountains where the Sword Inheriting Sect stood, now clearer and more vivid than ever before. Her vision reached farther than she had ever experienced.

Her heart began beating rapidly. From this day forward, she would never again be satisfied merely listening to others’ descriptions of the world.

She would see it for herself.

The world revealed after breaking through another layer of her spirit veins felt both unfamiliar and wondrous. Yu Chanyi couldn’t bear to blink even once, until her eyelids grew heavy and stiff.

Just then, a creaking sound came from the direction of the Medicine Hut. Yu Chanyi turned to see Wu Xi Lan emerging while yawning, carrying a lantern.

Holding the lantern, Wu Xi Lan tiptoed toward her window with steps so light they made no sound.

Upon reaching outside Yu Chanyi’s room, Wu Xi Lan pressed her ear against the wall, muttering habitually: “Why can’t I refine a Heart Gouging Pill that doesn’t cause pain? I hope she doesn’t die from the agony. If this little junior sister dies, I won’t have a little junior sister anymore.”

Yu Chanyi called out: “Senior Sister.”

“Shh Little junior sister can endure it. It’s already hard to hear her movements, don’t speak,” Wu Xi Lan waved her hand while speaking, then belatedly realized something, her drowsy eyes gradually clearing.

Wait, that voice sounded just like little junior sister?

She raised her lantern to illuminate the medicine field, and upon seeing Yu Chanyi, exclaimed in surprise: “Little junior sister?!”

Wu Xi Lan hurried over with the lantern. The moment her hand touched Yu Chanyi’s fair wrist, her eyes lit up with astonishment: “Little junior sister, you’ve broken through the third inch of your spirit veins?”

“How could it be so fast?” Wu Xi Lan glanced at the moon’s position in the sky, utterly perplexed. “It shouldn’t be. I couldn’t have miscalculated the timing.”

Suddenly understanding, Wu Xi Lan stared wide-eyed at Yu Chanyi in disbelief: “Did you use spiritual power to force the Spirit Gathering Pill to circulate faster in your body?”

Yu Chanyi didn’t respond, which served as silent confirmation.

Wu Xi Lan: “…”

Wu Xi Lan didn’t know what to say. She fell into silent contemplation for a long moment, once again finding herself in the familiar predicament of repeatedly wanting to speak but ultimately having no words.

Finally, Wu Xi Lan said to Yu Chanyi: “Since since you’re perfectly fine, I’ll go back to sleep now.”

Yu Chanyi nodded.

Most cultivators no longer consumed grains nor required sleep, but Wu Xi Lan was one who retained the habit of sleeping and indulged in culinary desires, living less like a cultivator and more like a mortal. Thinking of this, Yu Chanyi smiled at Wu Xi Lan and waved her hand to cast a soundproof Restriction around Wu Xi Lan’s Medicine Hut.

“Senior Sister, sweet dreams,” she said softly.

After this, she would likely spend the time before dawn practicing her sword all night.

Seeing the faint smile on Yu Chanyi’s face, Wu Xi Lan was momentarily taken aback.

Though it was a very subtle, almost imperceptible smile, it seemed to be the first time she had seen her junior sister smile outside of sword practice.

Her junior sister’s face, usually cold and striking when expressionless, softened noticeably when she smiled slightly, making one’s heart soften along with it. Wu Xi Lan couldn’t help but curve the corners of her eyes, responding with a sweet smile, “Then I shall dream of having my junior sister in it.”

Yu Chanyi watched her leave.

Once Wu Xi Lan returned to the Medicine Hut and entered the Restriction Yu Chanyi had set for her, Yu Chanyi eagerly began practicing her sword under the moonlight.

She attempted to channel all her Spiritual power into the sword. Having broken through the third inch of her Spirit Vein, Yu Chanyi’s movements became much more agile and fluid, and the power of her Sword moves was executed more thoroughly than before.

She practiced for several hours straight. When she paused and glanced at the Inexhaustible Sect under the moonlight, her heart felt an unprecedented sense of calm.

Ever since Lu Wenshu pushed her off the Sword Forging Cliff a thousand years ago, for a long time, Yu Chanyi had found it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood in everything.

Lu Wenshu’s care and protection had seemed so genuine his words and actions flawless, never once revealing a crack, as if he were utterly sincere. Yet hidden within that seamless sincerity was the world’s most vicious blade. In the end, everything had been false, false beyond doubt.

The trust Yu Chanyi had once placed in Lu Wenshu made her equally wary of trusting others later on. The world, in her eyes, was a mix of truth and falsehood, and she dared not easily believe anything was real. Everything seemed like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water especially human hearts.

But now, Yu Chanyi felt that at the very least, her senior sister’s compassion as a healer was genuine.

Though her senior brother could not draw his sword, his Sword Heart was pure and true.

Yu Chanyi practiced until daybreak. Amid the clear, crisp sounds of her sword, dew gradually formed on the grass blades, and the sky grew brighter with the approaching dawn.

Not long after daybreak, Yu Chanyi’s now-sharpened ears caught the sound of light, brisk footsteps approaching from a distance. As they neared the Inexhaustible Sect, the steps gradually slowed and became more measured.

Outside the Sect’s Restriction, a completely unfamiliar figure entered.

Yu Chanyi set down her sword and quietly observed the newcomer.

The newcomer’s attire was similar to Duan Xiaofeng’s from a few days prior. Upon seeing her standing in the courtyard, he eagerly cupped his hands in greeting. “Friend Yu.”

“I am Duan Xiaofeng’s junior brother,” he introduced himself halfway before impatiently adding, “Senior Brother Duan said that today, I am to spar with you.”

He had already heard about Yu Chanyi’s exploits from Duan Xiaofeng.

Senior Brother Duan had also mentioned that while he himself could withstand thirty moves, this junior brother might not. Having only broken through thirty-two inches of his Spirit Vein, he might very well lose to Yu Chanyi.

On his way here, he had thought to himself that since Senior Brother Duan had won with difficulty, he certainly wouldn’t have an easy time either.

Yet he refused to believe that he, having cultivated the Sword Way for a hundred years, would truly lose to a cultivator who had only broken through two inches of her Spirit Vein.

Yu Chanyi also cupped her hands toward the other party: “Before we cross swords, I must ask you to agree to one condition.”

“By all means, speak freely.”

“If you are defeated, you must remain at the Inexhaustible Sect for the next three days to practice swordplay with me.” After saying this, Yu Chanyi’s peripheral glance caught Wei Shengming’s courtyard, and recalling something, she added, “But you must not deliberately lose just to stay. I want you to give it your all.”

Give it your all, only to lose to her?

A faint smile touched the disciple’s face that outcome was far from certain.

“I promise you.” He drew his sword and said gracefully to Yu Chanyi, “Fellow Daoist Yu, please.”