With the Sword Immortal’s token in hand, Qin Zhou and his companions made their way unhindered to the side hall on the Sixth Peak of the Cangyun Sword Sect.

This was the Cangyun Sword Sect’s Scripture Hall.

Outside the Scripture Hall, on the open-air courtyard paved with blue stone bricks, the scene truly resembled a classroom: desks were neatly arranged, and many cultivators sat among them, flipping through and passing around books.

Meanwhile, disciples of the Cangyun Sword Sect came and went from the hall, carrying books for the numerous cultivators.

In front of the Scripture Hall, a man sat at the very front.

Some cultivators handed him spirit stones in exchange for a desk and a seat on this open-air terrace.

Qin Zhou understood the situation immediately.

This was a money-making scheme.

Wen Jue glanced at Lu Er, as if asking, “Is your Sword Sect really that poor?”

Lu Er showed no sign of guilt. “…We have to make a living, after all.”

Jiang Huan nodded in agreement, “It’s rare for such wealth to spill over to the Cangyun Sword Sect.”

Sword cultivators are poor.

Take alchemists, artifact cultivators, or talisman cultivators—even a few spirit stones slipping through their fingers amount to a hefty sum. Sword cultivators are different; they have no trade to rely on. If they don’t spend the spirit stones they carry, their fellow disciples will borrow them the very next day.

Not only do they borrow them, but there’s no telling when they’ll be returned.

“You needn’t pay any spirit stones. Since you are honored guests of the Cangyun Sword Sect’s Ancestral Sword Immortal, you may proceed directly to the upper gallery,” said the Cangyun Sword Sect disciple who had led them, his face flushing with embarrassment.

“The books available to the general public are all temporary reprints. The volumes upstairs are genuine ancient texts; you may browse them at your leisure, provided you do not damage the books.”

Having the token in hand really makes a difference.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the group walked straight into the Scripture Hall.

The Cangyun Sword Sect disciple escorted them only this far, then turned to head for the sect’s main hall to report that the Patriarch’s distinguished guests had arrived—he needed to notify the Sect Master.

“Village Chief, what are we doing here?” Smelling the dusty scent of the books, Lu Qi rubbed his nose uncomfortably.

“Just taking a look.”

It was like a library in the modern world.

Lu Er followed the group up to the second floor. “There’s nothing here about you. It’s just that those people think there is.”

The Village Chief was an enigma—a fact the villagers all witnessed firsthand. It was likely that not even Lu Yi dared to speak clearly about the Village Chief’s true background.

And certainly not in the ancient texts of the Cangyun Sword Sect.

“It doesn’t matter; I’m just browsing. After all, it will take some time for him to summon the Sect Master.” Qin Zhou said. Once the Sect Master had been summoned, he would then speak of the matter concerning the Qilin Pearl.

Wen Jue said cheerfully, “If there are no records of the Lord of the Heavens, surely there must be records of the life and deeds of the Cangyun Sword Immortal. I recall that the records of our sect’s disciples should be on the third floor.”

Qin Zhou was surprised. “You seem to know quite a lot.”

Wen Jue replied awkwardly, “I wasn’t studying swordsmanship back then, so naturally I was just wandering around.”

What he didn’t say was that, at the time, in order to investigate the village chief’s background, he had indeed spent quite a while holed up in the Cangyun Sword Sect’s library.

“You don’t need to follow me. Since we’re back at the sect, just take off your facial cleansing pills and go back to your quarters,” Qin Zhou said to the people behind him.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan was the first to act.

He hadn’t returned to the Cangyun Sword Sect in many years.

Since this was a rare occasion where he wasn’t here undercover, he should change back into his regular clothes and resume his role as the Cangyun Sword Sect’s junior master.

Jiang Huan and Lu Xiao were the first to leave.

Qin Zhou and Wen Jue then went up to the third floor.

Lu Er and Lu Qi remained where they were, unsure whether they should follow.

In the end, without any prior agreement, neither of them went upstairs. Lu Qi sat down on the stairs. The second floor was empty, but they could faintly hear the sounds of Sword Sect disciples printing “new books” coming from the first floor.

Seeing this, Lu Er sat down beside him.

For the first time, Lu Qi didn’t shy away.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

“You did this on purpose.” Once they reached the third floor, Wen Jue suddenly blurted out.

Qin Zhou walked toward the bookshelf, glancing at the books as he replied, “What do you mean?”

“You came to the Cangyun Sword Sect on purpose, forcing the two of them to face each other.” Wen Jue leaned against the bookshelf, arms crossed, and said.

“I don’t get it,” Qin Zhou said with a faint smile.

“You do get it,” Wen Jue snorted. “I heard that Old Five was refining Soul-Reviving Pills for Shisi—that was your doing too.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Qin Zhou pulled a book from the shelf and began flipping through it.

“…It’s good. At least Old Five’s emotional knot has been untangled, and Shisi’s life has been saved.”

Qin Zhou smiled. “Lu Er may be quiet, but he truly cares about you all.”

“And you just happen to know that.”

“The Cangyun Sword Sect is very close to the Boundary City.” Qin Zhou’s voice was steady, carrying an unprecedented sense of calm, as if it could effortlessly smooth out any emotional turbulence. “Every year, the Cangyun Sword Sect goes to the Secret Realm—not because they’re afraid of missing the battle against the Demon Sect, but because they’re afraid that if they arrive too late, they won’t be able to save you.”

“I don’t need him to save me.”

“Two hands can’t fight four.”

Qin Zhou’s words left Wen Jue speechless.

“Lu Er may be quiet, but he’s the one who cares about you the most.” Qin Zhou’s hands didn’t stop as he continued flipping through the book. “Do you remember how Lu Er came to the village?”

Wen Jue paused. “Back then, there were… quite a few children who were abandoned.”

Lu Er was an abandoned infant.

The other children had all arrived in the village when they were already several years old.

But Lu Er had truly grown up in the village.

However, he was precocious, while his older brother was a bit of a prankster, and the village chief was often away, so Lu Er’s personality became much more mature and reserved. As the number of children in the village grew, Lu Er naturally took on more responsibility.

“I can guess what happened between him and Lu Qi.” Qin Zhou thought it over and could only conclude it was a series of unfortunate coincidences.

He had originally sent Lu Yi to the Cangyun Sword Sect to temper his temperament, but Lu Yi ended up sending Lu Er there as well.

Sect Master Ye Yingsheng took both of them under his wing, yet taught Lu Er all the principles of righteousness and swordsmanship.

The path within Lu Er’s heart, inherited from Sect Master Ye Yingsheng, was a righteous spirit as straight and sharp as a sword—a righteous spirit that cut down evil spirits. A single sword drives away demons; the Great Dao is bright and upright.

That is why he was able to become a master of the Cangyun Sword Sect and earn the title of Sword Immortal.

Given Lu Er’s character, Qin Zhou did not believe he would stray from the path. Had he cultivated the Way of Emptiness, Lu Er’s ascension would likely have been only a fraction of a step behind Lu Yi’s.

Only a god devoid of emotion can achieve true fairness and justice.

Yet Lu Er had fallen in love with Lu Qi, with whom he had grown up with.

Xiao Qi was different from Lu Er.

Xiao Qi was born in the streets; he cared not for what was right or wrong, but only for what his heart desired. The Way within his heart was one of complete freedom. That is why Xiao Qi could found the Demon Sect and remain steadfast by Lu Yi’s side.

Yet that unrestrained, dazzling freedom was a sight the precocious Lu Er had never witnessed.

To Xiao Qi, Lu Er was likely the same.

Emerging from the mire, Xiao Qi encountered Lu Er—a man of few words, yet upright and kind-hearted. It is no wonder that Xiao Qi was drawn to Lu Er. Lu Er was like an ice flower on a high cliff, the very aspiration of the mud-covered Xiao Qi.

Whatever Xiao Qi wanted, he would go out and fight for it, or even seize it by force. He had been cunning and self-reliant since childhood; Lu Er would be no match for him.

It’s not hard to imagine them being drawn to each other and eventually finding a happy ending.

But those who follow different paths cannot walk together.

Lu Yi and Xiao Qi acted for the sake of the future of the Immortal Realm, yet the fact remains that they became demons and killed many people.

Lu Er has dedicated himself to punishing evil and promoting good, yet his closest loved ones have all ended up on the opposing side.

Will he choose his path, or his family?

This is an unsolvable dilemma.

“By establishing the Cangyun Sword Sect not far from Boundary City, Lu Er has already made his choice. Lu Yi and Xiao Qi have managed this secret realm in Boundary City for so many years without a single misstep, showing no signs of trouble… I fear Lu Er’s hand is in this as well.

To guard their secret, Lu Er’s hands have likely already been stained with blood he should never have touched.

And that blood will turn into nightmares, devouring his heart and gnawing at his bones when he enters meditation.

The damage to his sword heart is also evident; on the path he sought, the souls of the dead have long blocked his way. And his sword can no longer cut them down once more.

“Xiao Qi is closest to him; he would see through this matter more clearly than we do,” Qin Zhou said, lowering his gaze. “So the decision to separate them must have been made by Xiao Qi on Lu Er’s behalf.”

Wen Jue remained silent, offering no reply.

He always remembered how, when he spoke of founding the Demon Sect, Lu Qi had beamed with excitement—

“If someone must bear the heavy burden of saving the world, why shouldn’t it be me, Lu Qi?”

At the time, Wen Jue had been puzzled. “You’ve chosen the path of the Demon. That means abandoning Lu Er. Have you thought this through?”

“Hmph, him,” Lu Qi turned away. “He should go seek his own path. Aren’t we cultivators all striving for ascension? I won’t be a burden to him, and Lu Xiao won’t be one to me either. If I dared to love him back then, I dare to stop loving him now. What’s so hard about that?”

That voice sounded carefree, yet carried an endless sense of melancholy.

“No.” Wen Jue refuted Qin Zhou’s words.

“Their separation was a decision they made together.”

“Lu Qi and I are responsible for lightening the world’s burden. Lu Er is responsible for cultivating diligently. If Lu Er truly ascends and attains enlightenment, he might just find another way to save Zhutian Realm, where spiritual energy has stagnated.”

“We’re all striving for this world.”

“I was the one who broke the Cangyun Sword Sect’s protective formation,” Wen Jue said. “Taking advantage of the opportunity to rebuild the formation, Lu Qi used the Qilin Pearl to seal the memories of the Cangyun Sword Sect disciples. First, so he could live as a demon lord without being recognized; second, so no one would know that Lu Er of the Cangyun Sword Sect had any connection to the two demon lords.”

“As for relocating the Cangyun Sword Sect to the outskirts of Boundary City, that came later. Some people would rather abandon their sense of righteousness than fail to provide cover for those two demonic lords.” Wen Jue cast a glance at the two figures by the staircase. “Year after year of secluded cultivation, yet his sword heart grows more damaged with each passing year.”

“It’s frustrating to see someone fail to live up to their potential, yet one can’t help but pity the damage to his sword heart.”

“Some people possess the natural talent best suited for the Path of Emptiness, yet they insist on becoming the most compassionate sword cultivators in the world.”

“Some people curse nonstop with their mouths, yet their hearts ache with sorrow.”

“If you hadn’t returned, who knows how many more years this would have dragged on.” Wen Jue waved his hand dismissively. “I’m fed up with it anyway. It’s just as well the Qilin Pearl is gone. Let the world know that the Cangyun Sword Sect and the Demon Path are one and the same. Let the righteous factions fume all they want—they can’t defeat us anyway. It’s just the rage of the powerless.”

Wen Jue shot a sidelong glance at the two figures frozen at the top of the stairs. “What’s the matter? Don’t you have anything to say?”

Only then did the two slowly rise and walk over.

Facing Qin Zhou and Wen Jue, Lu Er bowed his head.

It wasn’t because he hadn’t made a name for himself that he felt ashamed before the village chief. What he felt guilty about was that he had let everyone down; he couldn’t save this world.

“Village Chief, I’ll take care of the matter with my damaged Sword Heart.”

Qin Zhou: “How will you handle it? I have a Pill of Emptiness—if you take it, you’ll completely forget Lu Qi. Will you take it? If you take it and switch to cultivating the Path of Emptiness, you might ascend to immortality very soon.”

Lu Er: “……”

Lu Qi’s eyes widened even further.

Even Wen Jue was momentarily taken aback.

Seeing that everyone had been startled, Qin Zhou finally said with a faint smile, “I was just joking.”

“Lu Er, you’re letting a single leaf blind you. There are countless paths to the Dao. You inherit the righteous spirit of Sect Master Ye, but your path is not the same as his.” Qin Zhou said solemnly.

“The Path of Emptiness may suit sword cultivators. But no one has ever said that sword cultivators cannot walk the Path of Compassion. To have compassion in one’s heart and the Dao in one’s heart—are these contradictory?”

“To use the sword in your heart to protect the one you cherish, while also safeguarding the peace of the world—this is the path you should walk.”

Wen Jue raised his hand. “But Lu Qi is a demon lord.”

Qin Zhou shot him a sidelong glance. “Is Lu Qi a demon lord?”

Wen Jue fell silent.

Those words seemed not to be asking about Lu Qi, but asking him: Are you? Are you a demon lord?

“I’ve killed many people too, and I bear the burden of karma…”

“But because of that, Zhutian Realm has existed for ten thousand years, sustaining countless lives and vitality,” Qin Zhou said solemnly.

【:) The Village Chief is right. The merit light hasn’t been distributed due to certain reasons that can’t be disclosed. Please, you two demonic lords, do not belittle yourselves. To Zhutian Realm, you are benefactors.】

This affirmation from the Heavenly Dao left Wen Jue and Lu Qi speechless.

【It looks like he’s about to break through.】

Xiao Lu suddenly reminded them.

All three turned their gaze toward Lu Er.

The spiritual energy all around them surged violently toward Lu Er. But strangely, as that violent energy swept past the three of them, it was repelled one by one by streaks of sword energy.

Is this what it means to protect the one in your heart with the sword within your heart?

Lu Er’s eyes were tightly closed; it seemed he had touched upon the threshold of the Dao.

His Dao… the Dao that belonged to him.

Seeing this, Wen Jue’s expression changed drastically. “He’s about to break through. We must have everyone in the Scripture Hall evacuate immediately.”

If Lu Er dared to trigger a breakthrough thunder tribulation above the Cangyun Sword Sect—a Great Perfection-stage tribulation—it could obliterate all twelve peaks of the Cangyun Sword Sect in an instant.

Lu Qi reacted the fastest. “I’ll go!”

“Lu Qi, you…”

Lu Qi tore off his mask, revealing his true face. “The Demon Lord is attacking. If they don’t run now, they’ll be killed!”

Wen Jue acted decisively. “I’ll set up a barrier. I’ll try my best to keep the surrounding area safe.”

Qin Zhou watched the scene unfold and smiled faintly.

So, how could they possibly be demonic fiends?

“Why aren’t you leaving yet?” Wen Jue’s hand, forming the seal, paused.

Qin Zhou: “I’m leaving right now.”

A Golden Core-stage junior cultivator should have the self-awareness befitting their status.

【Village Chief, you could have just asked me—postponing Lu Er’s tribulation by a few days wouldn’t be difficult】

Standing at a distance, Qin Zhou gazed at the Scripture Hall, now engulfed by a vortex of spiritual energy, and asked, “Why postpone it?”

“The fact that they aren’t demonic tyrants should be proclaimed to the world.”

“The villagers I’ve raised are all good kids.”

And it’s time for the paths of righteousness and darkness to unite.