And then—just as suddenly—she smiled.
A subtle, almost imperceptible smile. But to Li Xun, it was as if the sword at his throat had been eased slightly to the side.
It's her…?
It had to be Mingji. In the entire Mingxin Sword Sect, there were only three who cultivated the Lingxi Art: Lin Ge, himself, and… Mingji, the Flash Spirit Sword.
Among the second-generation disciples, Mingji was widely acknowledged as the most gifted of them all.
She had cultivated for centuries and made a name for herself across the Tongxuan Realm. She was known for her fondness for wandering, and her travels had taken her across nearly the entire land. Her circle of contacts was vast, her influence deep. Within the sect, her brilliance outshone even many elders.
How could Li Xun not recognize her?
Her voice was like ice water—cold and piercing, slicing through the air with surgical precision. Li Xun had to take several deep breaths just to steady himself enough to speak.
He struggled to his feet, forced a bitter smile, and bowed. "Disciple Li Xun, under—"
"You're Master Senior's disciple, aren't you?" she cut in sharply, her tone swift and exact—just like her presence: direct and unforgiving.
Li Xun had barely nodded when the suffocating pressure around him vanished in an instant. The needle-prick tension in the air dispersed, and his body finally felt like his own again.
"My apologies," Mingji said, and this time, her smile was no longer distant or unreadable. It was real.
She stepped forward in midair as if walking on solid ground, and in just a few strides, she was standing beside him.
Whether it was his imagination or some mysterious technique, Li Xun suddenly realized that the sharp, bladelike aura that had surrounded her had vanished completely. All he sensed now was a faint, pleasant fragrance drifting in the air.
"Did you get hurt?" she asked.
At this moment, Mingji truly had the demeanor of a senior—graceful, poised, and composed. Her voice had softened considerably, and that made its melodious quality all the more apparent.
She reached out her hand, as if to touch Li Xun's forehead, startling him into taking a step back. "This disciple was merely lucky!"
"Lucky? Or just shy?" Mingji laughed lightly at his reaction.
And now she seemed like a different person altogether. That faint smile softened the sharp lines of her face, and the intensity in her gaze relaxed into something gentler. She now radiated a completely different kind of presence—like a crisp breeze in spring or autumn, quietly brushing into one's heart.
Li Xun blushed and lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.
Even he wasn't sure anymore: how much of this reaction was real, and how much was feigned?
Being this close, he once again felt the full weight of Mingji's beauty. He caught a glimpse of her hand—it looked like it had been carved from the purest cold jade, translucent and unearthly.
That was why he regretted backing away. He couldn't help but wonder what it might've felt like to have that hand rest on his forehead. The very thought sent a jolt through his heart. Her eyes are sharp, he reminded himself nervously. I hope she didn't notice that!
His thoughts were spiraling. Embarrassed, he quickly lifted his head, hoping to compose himself, only to meet her gaze—those eyes, bright as morning stars.
Instantly, his cheeks flushed again.
What the hell is going on with me?!
By the time he finally managed to regain his composure, Mingji had already buried the dead fish by the shore.
Only then did Li Xun learn why he'd been so harshly reprimanded.
It turned out this secluded little spot by the pond—peaceful, remote, perfect for quiet meditation—was a favorite of Mingji's. She had discovered it long ago and often came here to rest during her time on the mountain. Over time, she'd grown fond of the place.
This time, returning from her travels, she had hoped to stop here for a quiet moment of rest. But the first thing she saw was a man by the water roasting fish over a fire—an utter disturbance to the serenity of the scene. Naturally, she struck out without hesitation.
Had she not sensed that he might be a fellow sect member, her very first strike would've left him flat on his face, with no chance to respond.
At the end of her explanation, Mingji added lightly, "When I first saw you, I almost thought I was looking at someone from the past. Perhaps I went a bit too hard on you."
"Someone from the past?" That wasn't the first time Li Xun had heard those words. Qingxu had said something similar. So had Qingyin. And now Mingji.
Once might be coincidence. Twice, perhaps still a coincidence. But a third time?
He thought back to that day, when Qingyin had used the Zuowang Stone to probe his past lives. The sense of confusion in his heart only deepened. Before he knew it, the question slipped out of his mouth:
"Who do I look like?"
Mingji hadn't expected such a strong reaction from him, and for a moment, she looked taken aback.
Realizing he may have overstepped, Li Xun hurriedly apologized, then quickly explained everything—what Qingxu and Qingyin had said, and the matter with the Zuowang Stone—ending with a baffled expression: "Three immortal masters have said I resemble someone. Could I be that person reincarnated?"
Mingji couldn't help but laugh. "There are plenty of people in the world who resemble each other. Even among cultivators, such things happen from time to time. You shouldn't jump to conclusions."
She paused. "Besides," she added pointedly. "The person in question is very much alive—and quite the powerful figure in this realm. What, do you plan to take his place?
Li Xun, ignoring her teasing, asked anxiously, "Who is it that I resemble?"
Mingji's eyes flicked playfully, her smile radiant—but she said nothing.
Faced with such a response, even though Li Xun was burning with curiosity, he could only return the smile and let it go.
Still, Li Xun was no ordinary person. Once he was sure that this familiar-looking face wouldn't bring him trouble, he very straightforwardly pushed the matter to the back of his mind.
Everything returned to normal. Li Xun could finally speak to Mingji as a peer.
He was naturally sharp and observant, with a mind as agile as any. Now that he had steadied himself, and seeing that Mingji held no resentment, he seized the opportunity to display his full capabilities—determined to leave a good impression.
On one hand, he genuinely admired Mingji. On the other, she was the only one on the mountain aside from Lin Ge who could guide him in his cultivation. If he didn't build a good relationship with her, then with whom?
Of course, by "build a good relationship," he didn't mean groveling like some worldly flatterer, spouting sycophantic praise that would only annoy. Rather, he cleverly brought up several profound and thorny questions he'd encountered in his cultivation, earnestly seeking the advice of the expert before him.
No senior disliked a diligent, thoughtful junior. And although Li Xun wasn't technically Mingji's disciple, given her evident fondness for teaching, she was unlikely to be any different from others in this regard.
Especially since Li Xun's questions were often unorthodox and full of lively insight—they had a certain charm that invited closer thought.
Thus, the exchange quickly shifted from conversation to a sort of impromptu test, with Mingji posing questions to challenge him.
Though her questions didn't go beyond what Li Xun knew, they came from a level of understanding far above his own. Her approach was intricate, far beyond what an ordinary practitioner could muster.
Anyone else might have been stumped. But Li Xun happened to be the kind of person who not only could solve difficult problems, but genuinely enjoyed them. His unique methods of deduction, honed through months of intense refinement, had transformed him. Mingji's questions, while formidable, were still within his reach.
That said, "within reach" didn't mean effortless—it still took time. Unknowingly, the sky dimmed around them. The two had spent nearly an entire day conversing in this quiet place, discovering a surprising sense of rapport.
It was Mingji who finally ended it. She wiped away the strange patterns they had drawn on the ground and said, "Let's leave it here for today. I need to return for evening devotions. And... it seems I've forgotten something…"
"Huh?" Li Xun looked up.
"I never properly apologized to you," she said.
"No, no, absolutely not!" Li Xun jumped up at once. "You already said earlier…"
"I said apologize," Mingji emphasized—and then, after a beat, added lightly, "with a gift."
That last word caught Li Xun off guard.
Mingji smiled gently. "With your current cultivation level, you should be able to practice the sword-flying technique, no?"
Li Xun scratched his head, somewhat sheepishly. "I can manage, barely... just haven't found the right sword."
That was half-true, half-false. It was indeed a fact that he didn't have a sword that truly suited him. But to say he couldn't find one—that was a stretch.
In Lin Ge's collection alone, there were at least five or six swords suited for someone at his level. But since Lin Ge never offered, he never dared ask.
Not because Lin Ge was stingy—he simply tended to be laid-back and forgetful. Though the relationship between master and disciple was harmonious, he didn't pay much attention to trivial things like whether his disciple lacked equipment or needed help.
As for Li Xun, cautious by nature, he didn't want to disturb the stable relationship they had by bringing up small requests. And so, between the two of them, the matter of getting a proper sword had simply dragged on.
Now, with Mingji raising the topic, Li Xun couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Judging by her tone... was she about to gift him a sword?
And so it was.
Mingji stood at the edge of the pool. She made no visible gesture, but in the heart of the water, waves suddenly rippled and surged. Spray burst forth, startling the newly awakened fish into scattering in every direction. The scene looked almost like a fountain springing up from the still pool.
Li Xun had sharp eyes. He immediately noticed a longsword, still sheathed, slowly rising from the turbulent center of the pond. Faint light shimmered along its length—it was clearly no ordinary blade.
With a flick of her hand, the sword leapt through the air, landing gently in Mingji's palm.
At that moment, Li Xun also caught sight of the intricate, profound patterns etched on the sheath.
The sword's design was ancient and austere, with no elaborate adornments. The scabbard was a muted gray-green, not particularly eye-catching. But to Li Xun, a connoisseur in such matters, the turn and flow of those patterns were full of subtlety and worthy of deep study.
Mingji looked at the sword in her hand, a complex expression flitting across her face. "This sword is called Azure Jade. When it was forged, the swordsmith attempted to bind a rare spirit jade to form a sword-soul. But at a critical moment, he lost control. The jade dissolved into vapor and coated the blade. Without a proper sword-soul, it never joined the ranks of the famous swords."
As she spoke, she unsheathed the sword. Only half a foot of the blade was revealed, and it made no sound as it emerged, yet cold air radiated sharply.
The blade had a faint, misty blue-green luster—like fine jade. Truly, it lived up to the name Azure Jade.
Mingji continued, "It may not be one of the famed swords of the world, but the sword blank is of excellent quality, and it carries the refined essence of spirit jade. It's a fine weapon in its own right—and just right for you, at this stage."
Li Xun's face lit with joy. He couldn't care less about its "flawed" status. As long as it was usable, that was enough. Besides, since when did a blade need fame to prove its worth? In this vast realm of Tongxuan, how many truly renowned swords even existed?
Mingji caught his expression and smiled faintly again. "This sword was once mine. But after my tribulation a hundred years ago, as my cultivation advanced, it no longer suited me. So I selected another, and cast this one into the pond as a remembrance. Now that it's yours—see that you use it well."
Li Xun immediately straightened, receiving the sword with full respect. But just as he was about to unsheathe it for a closer look, Mingji performed some unknown gesture. A flash of green light—and Azure Jade was suddenly back in her hand. She drew the blade and gave it a single sweep through the air.
Li Xun's heart stirred. In the light of the blade's movement, he caught a glimpse of symbols and restrictive formation —pattern inscribed on the sword body. Then he watched as Mingji ran her pale, jade-like hand over the blade. Instantly, the light dimmed, and the patterns within vanished.
With a soft clang, the sword slid back into its sheath.
Mingji smiled at him. "I once engraved a few spirit-attracting talismanic runes onto the blade using the Spirit-Binding art, to help it draw in spiritual energy for the blade.
"I could've left them for you, but wouldn't it mean more for you to carve them yourself? Gaining something without effort is never the same. I'd rather leave the task to you—hope you don't mind."
"Of course not, Aunt-Master. Your care, I understand completely!" Li Xun didn't take offense in the slightest. In fact, his confidence in his own talisman-crafting had only grown of late. As long as his cultivation progressed, what inscription could he not eventually master?
Besides, wielding a power one could not yet control wasn't a good idea anyway. Better to move forward steadily, one solid step at a time.
He smiled, grasped the hilt, and slowly drew the sword.
The glow was much dimmer now, but still cast a sheen over his face, tinting his features a ghostly jade-green—even his eyes gleamed with its color.
Sword energy surged through his palm, threading into his meridians like a coursing stream. In that moment, he felt a deep, intimate connection with the sword—so natural, it startled him.
"What a blade!" he exclaimed, unable to hold back.
Watching the youth's excitement, Mingji—though she couldn't say why—felt a quiet happiness of her own. Even the sense of melancholy she'd felt while parting with the sword seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Perhaps…it really was fate.