VAP - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Flawless Cold Bone, The Peerless Sword Venerable (10)

Based on Yun Yijiu’s past experience, her divination was highly credible, with an accuracy rate comparable to that of the first master of the Ten Divinations Tower.

Since she said the turning point lay with Mu Xingluo, then it lay with Mu Xingluo.

As for how exactly it would manifest… that would require careful unraveling.

Coincidentally, wasn’t Situ Que sending a batch of disciples here to learn swordsmanship?

She might as well go with the flow and agree. Even if she couldn’t find a solution with Mu Xingluo for the time being, offering a little guidance to the juniors wouldn’t take up much time.

And so, a few days later.

Six carefully selected disciples of the Sword Sect, dressed in the sect’s uniform of white robes with cloud patterns on a black background, stood in a neat line before Wushuang Hall.

Situ Que probably hadn’t expected Yun Yijiu to actually agree to this. As he led the disciples over, the look in his eyes as he gazed at the Wushuang Sword Venerable was a mixture of hidden surprise and complexity.

“I entrust these disciples to you, Venerable One.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Yue Du, his gaze filled with regret.

This time, Situ Que’s attitude was noticeably more peaceful. It was unclear whether it was because he discovered that the Duyue Demon Venerable hadn’t caused any trouble, or because the Wuqiu Dao Venerable wasn’t by his side. In any case, he was no longer as grief-stricken as he had been during his last visit.

Yun Yijiu asked, “Where will they be staying?”

“This junior knew that the Venerable One dislikes noise, so I have arranged for the disciples to stay in the cave residences at the foot of the peak. They will certainly not disturb your peace,” Situ Que said respectfully.

Then there was no problem.

Yun Yijiu perfunctorily shooed the Sect Master away, and Situ Que was used to it.

Just as he stepped onto the wide hilt of his sword, preparing to fly away, he heard the Wushuang Sword Venerable’s leisurely voice from behind him: “Wait a moment.”

Situ Que paused. “Is there anything else, Venerable One?”

Yun Yijiu didn’t answer, but turned to Yue Du and said seriously, “I just remembered something. When shall we have our Dao Companion Ceremony?”

Yue Du: “…Dao Companion Ceremony?”

The Dao Companion Ceremony among cultivators was similar to marriage among mortals, signifying that two cultivators would henceforth become Dao Companions, united in heart and virtue, to comprehend the Great Dao together.

However.

These two cultivators usually referred to an immortal cultivator and an immortal cultivator, or a demon cultivator and a demon cultivator. Even if an immortal and a demon cultivator became Dao Companions, they wouldn’t make a big fuss about it. Most would just privately exchange vows, and that would be that.

After all, immortal and demon cultivators walked different paths. Merely spending time together could shake the foundation of each other’s “Dao,” let alone being lovers who spent every day and night together.

Hearing this, the Sect Master of Lingtian Sword Sect’s expression changed abruptly. “Venerable One, you—”

Yue Du reacted quickly and smiled happily. “Anytime is fine. Why don’t you divine an auspicious date? I’ll listen to you.”

Yun Yijiu deeply agreed. “That’s a good idea.”

As they spoke, the atmosphere between the two became rather subtle, as if even the cold and desolate Wushuang Peak was tinged with a faint sweetness.

Situ Que stared blankly, and the young disciples looked bewildered. They naturally had no way of knowing that this was the legendary “Single Dogs Begone” aura!

“Situ, you may leave. After this Venerable One has divined an auspicious date, I will summon you to discuss the details of the Dao Companion Ceremony.”

Situ Que opened his mouth, seeming to have much to say—about the different paths of immortals and demons, about family seniority, about the ethics of the Heavenly Dao.

But in the end, he only glanced at the young disciples before letting out a long sigh with a complicated expression, closing his eyes as if life had lost all meaning. “This junior understands. This junior will take his leave.”

The Sect Master departed on his sword, his figure a picture of desolation.

Only the six verdant youths—for cultivators with outstanding talent, those a hundred or two hundred years old were still considered verdant youths—were left behind, observing quietly with a mixture of reverence and curiosity.

Among them, Mu Xingluo and two other disciples had seen the Wushuang Sword Venerable and the Duyue Demon Venerable at the grand competition.

But at that time, they had only seen their figures and not heard their voices. At most, they saw the Duyue Demon Venerable returning with their sect’s ancestor. As for anything else, they knew nothing.

That being said…

The young people exchanged glances.

Now, they finally had a rough idea of what had happened back then.

Watching the two powerhouses exchange affectionate glances, the disciples from the Sword Sect stood there as quiet as chickens, engaging in what they thought was a covert exchange of looks.

—What do we do?

—Just stand here!

—But I feel so awkward…

—Who dares to go ask the Venerable One?

—Not me.

—Me neither.

And that was that.

As the Tribulation Transcendence Venerable who had guarded the sect for nine thousand years, Yun Yijiu was almost deified in the minds of these juniors. They revered her from the bottom of their hearts, and they also feared her from the bottom of their hearts.

In short… they were all cowards.

Finally, a truly brave warrior stepped forward!

The girl with apricot eyes took a step forward and respectfully performed the junior’s salute. “This junior, Mu Xingluo, pays her respects to the Wushuang Venerable and the Duyue Venerable.”

Her voice was crisp, pleasant, bright, and clear, almost identical to Yue Hao’s.

Yue Du was startled and immediately turned her head to look… as if she had been pulled back into the memories of the past.

But she was, after all, more rational. That momentary daze vanished in an instant, well-concealed and unnoticed by anyone.

Except for Yun Yijiu.

The Wushuang Sword Venerable stared thoughtfully at Yue Du’s profile for a moment before following her gaze to Mu Xingluo.

When that pair of unusually dark eyes looked over, Mu Xingluo instinctively shivered. It was the life spiritual energy within her body screaming a warning.

Terrifying. This person is terrifying.

Dangerous. Get away from the danger quickly—

“Mu Xingluo, the runner-up in this year’s grand competition,” Yun Yijiu said. “This Venerable One remembers you.”

She was the junior that Yue Du had paid special attention to.

Mu Xingluo said properly, “To receive the Venerable One’s favor is truly this junior’s fortune.”

Yun Yijiu said coldly, “Skip the pleasantries. If you have something to say, just say it.”

“This junior is unaware of the future training arrangements. I implore the Venerable One to enlighten me!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the other disciples also looked up, their faces filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Yun Yijiu: “…”

Then she silently looked at Yue Du.

Although she had agreed to guide the elite disciples, given her cold, arrogant, and inherently lazy nature, she hadn’t even thought about how to guide them, let alone formulate a training plan.

Yue Du received the plea for help, raised her chin slightly, and said, “You juniors, for today, you may cultivate on your own. Starting tomorrow, come to the front of the hall at the Chen hour every day. Wushuang and I will be here to guide your cultivation. You may return at the You hour. How does that sound?”

The disciples all replied, “This junior understands.”

Yun Yijiu: “Since there are no objections, it is settled. You may all leave on your own.”

Although Yun Yijiu told them to leave on their own, rules still had to be followed. The disciples once again said in unison, “We respectfully see off the two Venerable Ones.” They watched as the two turned and returned to the hall, their figures disappearing behind the majestic doors, before flying down the mountain on their swords in a group.

However, they might have underestimated the sensory range of a Tribulation Transcendence expert, as they began to gossip as soon as they were a little farther away.

It was mainly the three who had been to the grand competition enlightening the three who hadn’t, with Mu Xingluo being the most talkative among them.

Listening to that little mouth chatter on…

Yue Du covered her face, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Yun Yijiu suddenly stopped and looked at her darkly.

“You just said you would guide them at the Chen hour.”

Yue Du smiled brightly. “That’s right, the Chen hour.”

“But I wake up at the Si hour,” Yun Yijiu protested.

The Wushuang Venerable had inherited the consistent gene of laziness and once held a record of sleeping for a hundred years.

Those who didn’t know said that the Venerable One had been in seclusion for a century without emerging, a true role model for their generation. As for those who knew—unfortunately, no one knew except for Yue Du.

At this moment, the only person who knew was stating with a radiant face, “Waking up earlier is beneficial, not harmful.”

Yun Yijiu: “…” Sigh.

What could she do? This was the Dao Companion she wanted. She would have to dote on her even if it meant waking up more than an hour earlier.

At worst, she could just go to bed an hour earlier at night.

---

That day, Yun Yijiu performed a divination, asking which day would be best for their Dao Companion Ceremony.

When others performed divination, they might use tortoise shells, hold astrolabes, set up Yin-Yang Taiji formations, or calculate with their fingers without relying on external objects.

The methods were numerous, but they all ultimately followed the rules, complied with the Heavenly Dao, and peeked into heavenly secrets.

Yun Yijiu’s method of divination was rather arbitrary.

She only took the Wushuang Sword and drew a few profound sword marks on the surface of still water. Ripples spread across the water, and within them, faintly visible, was the result of the divination.

Simple and crude, but extremely effective.

Yue Du was also amazed, wondering what kind of mental breakdown the disciples of the Ten Divinations Tower back then would have had, watching this sword cultivator who was just auditing the class produce an accurate divination with a few casual flicks.

The hexagram on the water’s surface showed: The day of the union should be one year from now.

The diviner herself hadn’t expected such an answer. She stared silently at the ripples on the water for a while, until the water stilled and the image disappeared.

“This divination is wrong. I’ll do it again,” Yun Yijiu said decisively.

This time, her movements with the sword were solemn and dignified, the sword’s trajectory complex. However, the final result was still those four trembling, weak, pitiful, and helpless words: This day, next year.

“Heavenly. Dao,” she said expressionlessly.

After laughing enough inwardly, Yue Du put on a serious face. “Since the hexagram is so, there is likely a reason for it. Let’s wait until this day next year.”

Yun Yijiu was unwilling to accept this result and tried to salvage the situation. “Divination is just a means to an end.”

Yue Du: “A cultivator must be true to their word, Ah Jiu.”

Yun Yijiu: “I know.”

Knowing was one thing, but watching the Dao Companion Ceremony be postponed for a year, the Wushuang Sword Venerable’s entire aura grew heavy.

Yue Du found it somewhat amusing. It wasn’t that she didn’t have regrets, but seeing her host’s current state, her own regrets faded a little.

She even turned it around and asked, “Does Ah Jiu want it to be sooner? Are you that impatient?”

Yun Yijiu didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

Yue Du wanted to hear her say a few more words, but before she could speak, Yun Yijiu continued, “After the union, we will have the witness of heaven and earth—you and I will become one, carved into our Dao souls, unchanging for all eternity.”

In truth, a Dao Companion Ceremony didn’t mean their beings would be carved into each other’s Dao souls. A normal union was generally just a partnership; they could get a divorce whenever they wanted.

For Yun Yijiu to say this meant she had already tacitly agreed to swear by her Dao soul and Dao heart that from now on, she would have only this one person as her Dao Companion, never to be abandoned, and never to be left.

Yue Du’s heart suddenly softened.

“I want that too,” she said, lowering her head and placing a kiss on the ink-black hair at her host’s neck.

An imprint on the Dao soul, a vow from the Dao heart, never to part, to live and die together.

Yue Du was embraced by a pair of soft arms. She closed her eyes in contentment.

Just for this moment, she didn’t want to investigate why Yun Yijiu, in such a short time and with her memory fragments suppressed, had still developed such pure and intense feelings for her, feelings that seemed to run as deep as fate itself.

She just wanted to quietly embrace her lover, to feel the beating of their hearts in their chests in this tranquil moment.

Thump. Thump-thump.

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