303: Did We Miss the Ceremony?

Did We Miss the Ceremony?

Wen Shiyin went visibly stiff. Over Xie Lun's shoulders, I saw her staring blankly at me as if looking for an explanation to what just happened, but I could only return that stare with equal puzzlement. This certainly didn't seem like Xie Lun at all … What was going on?0

From a corner of the crowd, Qi Lian chuckled. "Senior Xie, I told you they must be safe. Visions like that don't reflect the real world!"

Visions? I remembered then that Bai Ye had once told me about the various obstacles one could encounter during a breakthrough. Visions were some of the most typical, usually involving scenes of danger threatening those who were close to the cultivator. The effect of those visions was similar to the sword spirit's memories, since they felt real enough to obscure the line between illusions and reality. Did Xie Lun see a vision of Wen Shiyin getting hurt on this errand? Or worse … not coming back at all?

Xie Lun seemed to have finally felt the curious stares intensifying behind his back. With a somewhat sheepish laugh, he let go, though still keeping his hands on Wen Shiyin's shoulders as if trying to make sure she really was there. "I'm beyond relieved," he said to her in a tone that I hadn't heard from him before. "There is so much I need to tell you about the retreat … and everything I've learned about myself during these days of meditation."

Wen Shiyin blinked. Then a tiny hint of blush crossed her cheeks before she nodded.

A few giggles rose from the crowd. I wished I could hear what they had to say to each other next—no doubt whoever just giggled wanted the same—but the Gatekeeper had already cleared his throat, ending that moment of blissful reunion.

"There will be time to congratulate Xie Lun on his ascension once we return," he said somewhat sternly. Then he turned in our direction. "For the moment, we have more pressing issues to discuss. Bai Ye, it has been brought to Mount Hua's attention that this—" he gestured to the sword spirit's symbol on the ground, "—was the work of the sword spirit of Twin Stars. Do you deny it?"

Bai Ye raised an eyebrow. "Why would I deny it? We wouldn't have told everyone about it if it wasn't true."

The Gatekeeper spared a sharp glance my way before turning back his gaze. "Then I hope you realize the danger of whatever you are doing. Do you not know how many innocent lives might have been lost if this symbol was summoned successfully? Do you not know how much a threat that sword spirit poses to this world?"

"I do, and that is why we were here. That is why Qing-er killed her."

The Gatekeeper was obviously taken aback by that statement. "What did you just say?"

"Gatekeeper Chu," the master from Vermilion Shrine interrupted their conversation. He had been examining the symbol on the ground while the Gatekeeper and Bai Ye spoke. "This symbol has become inactive," he rose from where he squatted and stated. "The ritual from it can no longer be summoned, which means that whoever set up this spell is already dead."

"Gatekeeper," Wen Shiyin said next. "I apologize for speaking out of turn, but I was there when it happened. Master Bai Ye and I were watching when Yun Qing-er fought the sword spirit and killed her. There is no more worry that the symbol here will cause anyone harm."

The Gatekeeper gaped at the symbol. Then he gaped at me. He couldn't look more lost, and that confusion on his face almost made me laugh. I couldn't blame him though. What he hoped for was probably to pressure Bai Ye into dealing with Twin Stars and me, and he certainly wouldn't have expected the confrontation to end before it even started. Maybe this had been Bai Ye's plan all along when he first told Vermilion Shrine the truth about my twin sister—it was a ruse. A good one to erase the Gatekeeper's suspicion of my true identity and get me off the watchful eyes from Mount Hua.

"In that case," the master from Vermilion Shrine looked at Bai Ye and me respectfully, "it appears that our matter here has been resolved. I hope you will accept my gratitude on behalf of our sect, daoist friends. It was partially our fault that the spirit was able to escape the weakened seal, and we are grateful that Mount Hua has helped us mend the mistake."

"It would be any cultivator's responsibility to do so," Bai Ye replied, "but you may save the thanks to Mount Hua for the Gatekeeper." He looped an arm around me. "My daoist companion and I are leaving the sect to travel the world of commoners. After seeing the threat of demonic power in their world, we have decided to dedicate the rest of our lives to helping them—" he met the Gatekeeper's stabbing look of warning with a smile, "—and I'm sure everyone here has witnessed enough the past few days to understand our decision. Is that right, Gatekeeper?"

It was my turn to gape then. "Bai Ye?" I whispered, "I thought … Haven't we reached an agreement with the masters about not spreading the news?"

He squeezed my shoulder. "I promised you before, Qing-er. Whenever you are ready, I would show the rest of the world who my soulmate truly is. It's been a long wait … but I think we are finally there."

Words suddenly froze in my throat. I was sure there were all kinds of mixed looks darting our way at that moment, but I couldn't care less. He was right—there was nothing we needed to hide, and he was only proud to declare to everyone what we truly meant to each other. So was I.

"That is such an admirable pursuit," the master at Vermilion Shrine exclaimed, oblivious to the shock descending on everyone from Mount Hua. "You have my best wishes and regards. If your future travels ever lead you to Vermilion Shrine again, we will always be honored by your presence."

The Gatekeeper's face changed colors quite a few times at the exchange of conversations. Just before he was about to say something, Teng Yuan spoke next. "Ah, now that reminds me of something the village elder told me earlier. They wanted to dedicate a pair of statues to the immortal and his daoist companion who helped them through this crisis. I've been wondering who they were referring to … Now everything is coming together." He turned to the Gatekeeper. "I thought those statues would work as a great motivational memorial for our disciples. Don't you agree, Gatekeeper?"

The Gatekeeper's expression couldn't be more sour now, and I wondered if it was more from the news that he didn't want to see breaking, or from the fact that Bai Ye had announced it in a way that challenged his authority over the others at Mount Hua. Unfortunately for him though, with the master from another sect present today, he was too vain to let any of that anger out.

So he only gave Bai Ye and me one last glare, and he waved his sleeve, summoning his flying sword. "What the villagers want to build is none of our concern," he said stiffly. "Since the issue here has been resolved, it is time for us to return."

The rest of the disciples looked at each other. Then they looked at Bai Ye and me somewhat hesitantly. I was wondering if any of them might make a comment when Qi Lian inched closer to us. "Yun Qing-er," he whispered in a tiny voice. "You kept a secret this big for so long! Did we miss the daoist companionship ceremony too? Or is there still one coming up?"

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