10 Intimate Friends

Chapter 10

The Seed of Swordsmanship, as the name implies, is the quintessence condensed from a swordsman’s lifelong mastery of the sword. It is called a “seed” because it can be passed down. The seventeen Sword Masters of Kunwu all inherited their legacies this way. Even after death for thousands of years, they can still confer the profound sword intent they grasped through the workings of heaven and earth and fateful encounters to their successors.

Only one such seed can be formed in a lifetime, so the Sword Masters of each peak are extremely cautious when selecting disciples to be bestowed with a sword seed, carefully assessing whether the chosen disciple is worthy of such a legacy.

Shen Yihan was different from the young disciples. He was no blank slate, having reached the late Nascent Soul stage and lived for a millennium, with his own Dao heart. Because of this, the impact on his sea of consciousness from the “Dao” brought by another person was a hundred times more intense than it would be for those originally blank youths.

Fortunately, this seemingly faint red glow of the small seed had no intention of fusing into Shen Yihan’s consciousness.

Only after Shen Yihan gradually calmed down did the seed fly out of his sea of consciousness and return to the cinnabar mark on Yun Ran’s forehead.

Shen Yihan gasped a couple of times, realizing he was drenched in fine sweat.

By now, how could he not understand his friend’s intent?

Mortals cultivating immortality always strive to break through laws and defy fate. Without that unwavering, forward-driving spirit to ascend the Dao, even the most gifted will hit walls. Shen Yihan himself was the best example.

Yun Ran was the opposite. Over these past centuries, he advanced rapidly. Through the sword seed, Shen Yihan sensed the mindset and insights Yun Ran had cultivated over a thousand years and naturally felt that crucial spark of ambition.

Calling it “a spark” was an understatement.

Shen Patriarch, who was content with whatever came and accepted fate with ease, had never before encountered such a pure and resolute heart toward the Dao, free from any distraction.

To put it bluntly, even a dog, having experienced this mindset, would long to become human, ascend, and become an immortal hound.

Unfortunately, Shen Patriarch had long lost interest in cultivation; it was not a matter of days. His spirit was indeed far beneath even that of a dog.

By nature playful and fond of mischief, he loved worldly amusements but despised the cold solitude of secluded cultivation. Early on, his talent and intelligence allowed him to advance with little effort. But upon reaching the Nascent Soul phase, it seemed the heavens took pity on the many who had endured hardships to form their nascent soul—only to find a slacker slipping through the cracks. Shen Yihan’s progress became increasingly difficult.

Rather than pushing through, he slipped backward.

Shen Patriarch faithfully embodied the motto “When faced with difficulty, take a long nap,” enjoying carefree centuries until the pressure mounted, and upon reckoning, he found his remaining lifespan was short. Only then was he forced into seclusion by his senior clan master.

For such a man, how could one expect that seeing others’ diligence would inspire him to become diligent himself?

Countless stories prove that forcing a stubborn mule to drink water is futile. Yun Ran’s earnest efforts were like playing music to a cow.

“How is it?” Yun Ran asked.

Shen Yihan knew he meant whether he had any insight on his mental state.

His friend likely wanted to hear his regrets for wasted time and shame for lack of progress.

Shen Yihan did not want to lie, but he also realized Yun Ran cared perhaps too much about whether he could break through to the Transformation Spirit stage.

He had been sending rare treasures to Qin’ou Island for a hundred years without pause, and now even risked revealing the sword seed to him.

In the past, Yun Ran had never said a word about Shen Yihan’s idleness.

Shen Yihan said, “Why would you just show me the sword seed? I’m not even from your Kunwu Sword Sect. Isn’t this against sect rules? Aren’t you afraid…”

Halfway through, he thought if he didn’t speak, no one would know. Besides, no one in Kunwu Sword Sect would dare to reprimand Yun Ran.

He changed his words: “…Aren’t you afraid I’ll swallow your seed and steal the legacy of the Dengyang Sword?”

As soon as he finished, he felt his friend’s gaze sweep lightly over his waist.

“To inherit the Dengyang Sword requires a primordial yang body.”

Shen Yihan: “…”

That seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

He almost blurted out, “How do you know I’m not a primordial yang body?”

Luckily, he stopped himself, recalling that in his youthful arrogance, he had indeed mocked his friend more than once, pitying him for being a lifelong bachelor, an eternal innocent for a thousand or two thousand years.

Back then, Shen Patriarch was confident he would not end like his friend who learned the “Lonely Sword”—he would find a peerless fairy to become his Dao companion, and the two would love and soar together.

Unexpectedly, things didn’t go as hoped. A thousand years later, he was no better off than Yun Ran, lacking the “Lonely Sword” legacy. Though once he had a few fleeting romances, all ended in disaster.

To admit now that he was still a lifelong virgin would be a huge loss of face.

Fortunately, Yun Ran had only spoken casually and did not press the matter, so Shen Yihan remained silent and the topic was dropped.

Yun Ran said, “When you return, carefully reflect on what you have experienced today. It will help your breakthrough.”

Shen Yihan did not want him to worry over him, and though he had no intention to push for a breakthrough yet, he agreed wholeheartedly.

Yun Ran, perhaps seeing through his thoughts, darkened his gaze.

Suddenly, he said, “…Shen Zhuo.”

Shen Yihan was startled. Shen Zhuo was his given name; Yihan his courtesy name. After a thousand years together, Yun Ran rarely called him by his full name.

“What is it?”

“You…” He paused a long while, so long Shen Yihan thought he would not speak. “Have you ever thought that if you transcend, I will have no friend left in this world?”

***

On the way back, Shen Yihan’s heart was heavy with complex emotions.

His friend never voiced what he pondered, and Shen Yihan had only guessed before. Today was the first time he heard it from Yun Ran’s own mouth.

Still the same words.

His heart ached, and he was truly touched.

This friend was worth having; coming all this way for a dream was not in vain.

Since that was so, he could not let what happened in that dream become reality.

Returning to the guest quarters, the disciples of Miaoyin Sect gathered around, chattering excitedly.

“Sect Leader, are we returning to the Southern Sea now?”

“Now that the Kunwu Grand Competition is over and you’ve been out enjoying yourselves, it’s time to go back,” Shen Yihan said. “I will write to Senior Brother Lu shortly and ask him to personally come and escort you home.”

“Senior Brother Lu?!” The disciples’ faces changed. “Is it really necessary to trouble him to come himself? Sect Leader, why not have Senior Uncle Chang escort us instead?”

Shen Yihan glanced around but did not see the smiling figure of Chang Ge. He thought, “These little rascals are so fond of playing. If Senior Brother Chang sent them back, he’d be even less reliable than these youngsters. They’d scatter along the way, slipping off to play here and there. By the time they reached Qin’ou Island, who knows how many would be left? How could I trust that?”

With that in mind, he sternly declared his authority as sect leader: “No, your Senior Brother must come himself to escort you back. No one leaves before he arrives.”

Yan Zixu asked, “What about you, Master? Aren’t you coming back?”

Shen Yihan replied, “I have some matters to attend to here first. I will return once everything is settled.”

Yan Zixu recalled following Master to Qingxiao Peak that day and hearing about the great calamity that befell the He family, resulting in their extermination. As the leader of Miaoyin Sect, her master would likely wait for all the sects to arrive at Kunwu Sword Sect to discuss the matter, so she did not inquire further.

In the following days, Shen Yihan went to Dengyang Peak daily, from dawn until dusk.

It was not that he was clinging to Yun Ran but because he dared not lower his guard.

Perhaps news had spread that Yun Zhenren was accepting disciples at Dengyang Peak. For two or three consecutive days, the Steward of the Respectful Affairs Hall came, each time bringing several disciples who had performed well in the Grand Competition, inviting Yun Zhenren to select promising candidates.

Shen Yihan could not be sure if besides Helan Ting, Xie Xiaofeng, and the third disciple surnamed Yan, Yun Ran had other apprentices in his dream. He could only rely on his intuition, which was the most elusive thing of all.

Looking around, Shen Patriarch saw only a motley crew—either oddballs or suspicious characters.

He was picky, but Yun Ran indulged him. In front of the Steward, whenever Shen Yihan pointed out someone’s shortcomings, Yun Ran would drop the matter without further questioning.

After several days of such scrutiny, not a single disciple worthy of teaching was selected.

The diligent Steward, upon seeing Shen Patriarch again, greeted him with a forced smile that hinted at barely concealed resentment.

Shen Patriarch, ever carefree, pretended not to notice.

Then Xie Xiaofeng arrived.

Clutching a sword manual, his face anxious and hesitant, he said, “Master went to enjoy the flowers today with Sword Lord Changchun, leaving me alone at Chuixiu Peak. I’m a foolish junior, and this sword manual has some parts I cannot understand, so I took the liberty to ask Senior Brother Yun for guidance.” Then he glanced at Shen Yihan, hesitating, “Sect Leader, this sword manual is a secret tradition of the master’s disciples. Could you please step aside for a moment?”

Shen Yihan knew exactly what he was up to.

A cold smile formed in his heart: “Ah, you little spider spirit, after days of holding back, you finally couldn’t resist coming, huh?”