There was more than one entrance to the Abandoned Sword Mound. Ming Fuhua had landed in a different location than the others, and it took her quite some time to track Zhou Fuxue down by following the faint sound of him hammering against the boulders.
The moment Zhou Fuxue saw her, he didn't even have time to explain. He simply pointed at the massive rocks and said hoarsely, "First Senior Brother is inside..."
Ming Fuhua’s expression was as cold as deep water. Her palm surged with frost as she struck, shattering the boulders blocking the entrance into pieces. Dust billowed and debris rained down.
"Senior Brother!" Zhou Fuxue stumbled after her as she rushed inside.
The countless vengeful spirits within the Abandoned Sword Mound had retreated to the very edges of the cavern walls. Their hollow eyes stared longingly at the fresh flesh lying on the ground nearby, yet they dared not take a single step forward, intimidated by the terrifying aura radiating from the Kuayu Sword suspended in the air.
Ming Fuhua walked forward quickly. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a massive wall of ice to block the spirits waiting for an opening to strike. She then knelt down to check on Ming Zhu.
Ming Zhu’s back was a bloody mess; the blood had nearly soaked his entire Rizhao robe crimson. His face was as pale as paper, yet despite losing so much blood, he was still conscious. Seeing Ming Fuhua approach, he forced a weak smile and said feebly, "You took your sweet time. You missed the sight of my grand display of power. What a pity."
Seeing that he still had the energy to talk nonsense, Ming Fuhua knew he wasn't going to die. She let out a quiet sigh of relief and helped him up, stuffing a couple of medicinal pills into his mouth. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me no matter what happened?" she said coldly. "Why were you running around blindly?"
Ming Zhu frowned. "I’m injured like this and you’re still scolding me? Can’t you offer a patient some comfort? *Pah, pah*... what kind of medicine is this? It tastes terrible. I want water."
"What water?" Ming Fuhua replied. "Just swallow it."
As she spoke, she didn't even look up as she threw a palm strike to the side. Her spiritual power poured out, instantly freezing several approaching spirits into ice sculptures that emitted wisps of white frost.
Ming Zhu wanted to complain further, but the moment he saw Ming Fuhua’s gloomy expression—as if she were considering freezing him as well—he immediately shut his mouth and obediently swallowed the foul-tasting medicine.
Though the medicine tasted awful, its effects were instantaneous. As soon as it hit his throat, it transformed into a thread of spiritual energy that raced through his meridians. Soon, the bleeding from the mangled wounds on his back slowed to a halt, and a hint of color returned to his deathly pale face.
Ming Zhu stood up as if nothing had happened. Only then did he notice Zhou Fuxue standing to the side, head bowed and silent. A smile played on his lips as he stepped forward, hooking a finger under Zhou Fuxue’s chin to tilt it up. "What’s wrong with my Little Thirteen? Did someone bully you?" he asked playfully.
Forced to look up, Zhou Fuxue revealed eyes rimmed with red. He gritted his teeth and turned his head away in embarrassment, hesitating. "You..."
The moment he spoke a single word, he realized his voice was shaking uncontrollably. Even his fingers, hidden within his sleeves, were trembling with lingering fear.
Ming Zhu likely saw through his terror and self-reproach. He gave a soft laugh and leaned down slightly to pull the boy into a loose embrace. Patting his head, he said, "There, there. Don't be afraid. Am I not perfectly fine? Your Senior Brother always keeps his word—I said I’d be fine, so I’m fine."
Even though Ming Zhu was covered in the thick, pungent scent of blood, the usually fastidious Zhou Fuxue felt no discomfort. Instead, he reached out with trembling hands and hugged Ming Zhu’s waist.
Pressing himself against Ming Zhu’s chest, he listened to the slow heartbeat beneath the thin layer of flesh and thought: *He’s alive.*
The moment that thought surfaced, his blood—which had felt frozen with cold—seemed to resume its flow. A warmth spread through his body, as if he had been brought back to life.
After soothing his badly shaken junior brother, Ming Zhu patted his head and let him go. He turned to pick up the two halves of the broken halberd from the ground, then ran over to the cavern walls to select several discarded weapons that were rich in spiritual energy, gathering an armful.
As he picked through the scrap, the Kuayu Sword hovered and drifted beside him. The nearby spirits scrambled to get out of its way; far from daring to tear into that fresh flesh, they didn't even dare come within five paces of him.
Once he had finished his selection, Ming Zhu ran back to Ming Fuhua’s side. "Alright, let’s head back. Old Nine has a wasted spiritual pulse and no spiritual power to protect himself. It’ll be bad if he runs into danger."
Ming Fuhua wasn't worried. She turned to head back the way they came. "Younü is with him. Nothing will happen."
Ming Zhu’s expression turned slightly odd. His arms grew tired after carrying the pile of scrap for a while. Seeing this, Zhou Fuxue silently took several of the heavier iron pieces to carry for him, following closely at his heels.
"Thanks, Little Thirteen," Ming Zhu said, before turning back to Fuhua. "You mentioned Younü? I’ve been meaning to ask—how old is that girl? Has she even reached Core Formation? Why did your Master let her come to Hundred Sword Mountain?"
By the time he finished his sentence, the three had returned to the spot where they had fallen. Ming Fuhua picked up Lu Qingkong’s wooden boat and the Changyuan whip—which had shrunk to the size of a palm—and tucked them into her sleeve. "Younü may be young," she said flatly, "but if it really came to a fight, even your Fifth Senior Brother, Shang Yanfeng, might not be her match."
Ming Zhu let out a surprised "Whoa," nearly dropping several pieces of scrap. He had to squat down to retrieve them. "My Fifth Brother has a Sword Spirit Pulse, a once-in-a-century talent," he muttered while picking them up. "He was born for the sword. I’ve never seen anyone beat him in a fight. Hey, Fuhua, help me pick that one up. I can’t reach it."
Ming Fuhua stepped forward. Without even looking at the short dagger on the ground, she hooked it with her toe and kicked it upward. With a flash of cold light, she caught the dagger in her hand and handed it to Ming Zhu.
"During the next Sect Competition," Ming Fuhua suggested, "you can let Shang Yanfeng and Younü test each other to see who is truly superior."
Ming Zhu had blind faith in his "Fifth Brother." "Sure! Want to bet? What are the stakes? Hey, if my junior brother wins, how about you help me escape Rizhao? Hey, Fuhua? Fuhua! Is it a deal?"
"Kuayu." Ming Fuhua ignored him entirely, having no patience for his idle chatter. She cast a cold glance at the Kuayu Sword, which was circling Ming Zhu, then placed a hand on Zhou Fuxue’s shoulder. "He’s in your hands."
With that, she grabbed Zhou Fuxue and ascended on her sword, vanishing into the air in an instant.
Ming Zhu: "..."
Ming Zhu stared blankly at the figure flying away so gracefully. The scrap metal he had just gathered fell to the ground with a loud clatter.
Ming Fuhua knew that with the Kuayu Sword present, Ming Zhu could fly up on his own, so she left without hesitation. Moments later, she reached the entrance of Hundred Sword Mountain.
Zhou Fuxue stood at the edge of the abyss, looking down with concern. "Isn't Senior Brother afraid of heights? What if he can't make it up?"
"Don't worry about him," Ming Fuhua said. "Follow me."
Though Ming Fuhua and Ming Zhu were siblings, their appearances and temperaments were entirely different. Her face was like frost, and when she looked at someone coldly, she exerted a natural, commanding pressure—a far cry from Ming Zhu’s gentle, spring-breeze-like demeanor.
Zhou Fuxue could be composed in front of his Eldest Senior Brother, but facing Ming Fuhua, he instinctively felt a sense of oppression. Any words of refusal died in his throat.
"He will be fine," Ming Fuhua repeated, walking into Hundred Sword Mountain without looking back.
Zhou Fuxue stood there for a moment, thinking. He realized Ming Fuhua didn't seem like the type to leave Ming Zhu to die; her certainty meant she knew Ming Zhu had a way to manage.
Having reached this conclusion, Zhou Fuxue hesitated no longer and hurried after her.
Hundred Sword Mountain and the Abandoned Sword Mound seemed to be polar opposites. Everything Zhou Fuxue had seen in the mound was reversed here. He followed Ming Fuhua along the broad mountain walls until they finally stopped before a longsword inlaid with purple crystals.
"Rizhao has never cared much for spiritual pulses," Ming Fuhua said calmly. "Those without a pulse can still reach heaven-shaking levels of power if they cultivate with a focused and diligent heart. Conversely, those with exceptional pulses can still lose their way if their Daoist heart is inconsistent. Therefore, even though you lack a spiritual pulse, there is no need to think lowly of yourself."
She extended a slender finger and tapped the exquisite hilt. "This sword is named Wuxin. Years ago, Guining Zhenren specifically sought it out for disciples without spiritual pulses. It was meant to be your Eldest Senior Brother’s sword, but when he came to Hundred Sword Mountain, he accidentally triggered Kuayu’s recognition instead. Thus, this sword has remained unclaimed."
Zhou Fuxue was shocked. "Eldest Senior Brother... has no spiritual pulse?"
Ming Fuhua did not elaborate. She tilted her head and said coldly, "Whether you want it or not is your choice."
Zhou Fuxue looked at the Wuxin Sword, which radiated a purple glow. After a long silence, he finally wrapped his hand around the cold hilt. With a sudden surge of strength, he pulled. The sharp blade sliced a rift into the mountain wall. As it emerged, the blade vibrated against the surrounding sword intent, humming instinctively toward the Great Sword at the center of the mountain. After a few moments, however, it settled into a submissive silence.
"Let’s go," Ming Fuhua said. "We’ll head back to your Fifth Senior Brother’s place to get a suitable scabbard before you bind the sword."
Zhou Fuxue gave a nod of affirmation. Just as the two were about to turn back, a voice suddenly called out from the side: "Eldest Senior Sister!"
Ming Fuhua turned just as a small figure lunged at her. She instinctively reached out and caught the girl in her arms.
Younü clung tightly to Ming Fuhua’s waist, wiping her tears and snot onto her clothes. "Eldest Senior Sister!" she wailed, her eyes brimming with tears. "Eldest Senior Sister, you’re finally back! Younü knew you’d be okay!"
Lu Qingkong stood nearby and nodded to Ming Fuhua. He was holding a small dagger he had scavenged from some corner; a single touch left his hand covered in rust.
"Where is Eldest Senior Brother?"
Ming Fuhua pinched the back of Younü’s neck to peel the girl off her. "Outside," she replied.
Meanwhile, the abandoned Ming Zhu was trembling as he lay flat against the Kuayu Sword. He wobbled and drifted all the way up to Hundred Sword Mountain. The moment he touched the ground, he dumped his pile of scrap metal, clutched his chest, and ran to the side to vomit. He looked half-dead and couldn't get up for a long time.
The Kuayu Sword circled him a few times, its hilt gently nudging his back.
Ming Zhu’s face was a sickly shade of green. His stomach twisted with sharp pain. He swatted the Kuayu Sword away, leaned over, and vomited again.
While he was retching his soul out, the other four finally strolled out from the depths of Hundred Sword Mountain. Seeing that he had indeed made it up, Zhou Fuxue’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately ran over. "Senior Brother! Are you alright?"
Ming Zhu’s voice was as thin as a thread. "I’m... I’m fine... I can hold on a bit longer... *Urgh*..."
He hadn't eaten much that morning to begin with. By now, he had thrown everything up, yet his stomach was still churning violently. With nothing left to vomit, he began to cough up blood.
Zhou Fuxue cried out in alarm, "Eldest Senior Brother!"
***
