16 Legacy

Chapter 16

He recalled how Yun Ran had sought him yesterday but failed to find him, and a sudden worry crept into his heart. Perhaps Yun Ran, thinking something had befallen him, had misunderstood the situation and come into conflict with others? That would be disastrous.

Without hesitation, Shen Yihan hurried toward the source of the sword intent. Fortunately, the place was nearby, and he arrived quickly.

In a small grove, a dozen or so disciples stood off against each other. Two or three wore azure robes, the rest white. Yun Ran was among them, seemingly protecting the azure-robed disciples.

The leader of the white-robed group was a fairly handsome youth, though his face bore displeasure. Shen Yihan found him strangely familiar. When this young man looked at Yun Ran, a faint trace of hatred flickered in his eyes. Then it dawned on him—the youth resembled the Sword Master of Tian Tong Peak remarkably.

“Master Yun, by right, our respected teachers and my father have also addressed each other as senior brothers. Tian Tong and Deng Yang are both among the seventeen Sword Masters. Why do you oppose me over these few brats?” the white-robed disciple said.

From this, it was clear that the sword intent dispersed by Yun Ran earlier belonged to him.

Yun Ran did not answer but suddenly scanned the crowd, his gaze settling on Shen Yihan. Though disguised, Shen Yihan had only concealed himself from others, not from Yun Ran. Seeing that Yun Ran recognized him, he smiled warmly without embarrassment.

Yun Ran’s eyes narrowed, then turned back to the white-robed youth.

“You should not attack fellow disciples.”

At this, a blue-robed disciple behind Yun Ran could not help but speak up: “Exactly! The sword legacy has reemerged, and all disciples within the sect have the right to inherit it. Anyone who can find the legacy and pass the trials should be allowed. Why do you bar our passage? This inheritance is not exclusive to Tian Tong Peak!”

Before he could finish, two similarly dressed youths beside him gave him warning glances and tugged his sleeve, signaling him to stop.

The white-robed disciple’s eyes darkened. “I have already warned you. My senior brother discovered the inheritance and is alone inside the trial. No one is allowed to disturb him. You refused to listen. So, this is your own doing…”

Coincidentally, a few white-robed youths behind him pulled him aside quietly. “Senior Brother, since Master Yun has personally intervened, let’s not make trouble.”

The senior brother fell silent but his expression remained gloomy. He glanced at Yun Ran and sneered coldly. “I hope Master Yun truly acts for the sect’s rules and not because his own master is close with the Sword Lord of Chang Chun Peak, thus taking sides.”

The blue-robed disciple snapped angrily, “Lu Rong! What do you mean? Master Yun is always fair. How could he take sides? It’s you who disrespected the rules and attacked others, yet you blame Master Yun for disciplining you?”

Shen Yihan had been listening all along. From their quarrel, he guessed the white-robed youths were mostly disciples of Tian Tong Peak, and the leader was probably the Sword Master’s son, though he did not know his name.

Now, hearing the blue-robed disciple mention it, he was momentarily stunned, then smiled wryly to himself. “’Lu Rong’—what a fitting name. The Sword Master of Tian Tong Peak is an old man who finally has a son at this age. Perhaps he thought to compensate for what was lacking by naming him so?”

He chuckled softly at the thought.

The laughter was ill-timed.

Amid the tense standoff in the grove, the sudden noise rang out sharply. The disciples of Tian Tong Peak glared furiously in Shen Yihan’s direction.

“Lu Rong” said coldly, “Junior Brother, may I ask which peak’s master you serve? What is the meaning of your laughter? Do you find something amusing?”

Shen Yihan hesitated, no longer able to maintain his lie that he was a disciple under the head of Qing Xiao Peak. Such a ruse might fool someone unfamiliar with the sect’s inner workings, but ‘Lu Rong,’ as the Sword Master’s only son, surely knew the disciples of each Sword Master well.

He could not lie and muttered vaguely, “Uh… well…”

Before he could come up with an excuse, Yun Ran suddenly stepped forward, precisely before him.

Shen Yihan’s half-spoken words died in his throat as they locked eyes.

He understood the look in his friend’s eyes—a silent question about his strange appearance.

With so many Kunwu Sect disciples around, and disguised as he was, he could not answer openly. Instead, he blinked.

Yun Ran transmitted his voice: “Where did you go yesterday? Why do you look like this?”

Just as Shen Yihan was about to reply, ‘Lu Rong,’ impatient and angry at being ignored while Shen Yihan exchanged glances with others openly, barked, “Hey, you! I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?!”

Before Shen Yihan could respond, Yun Ran turned his gaze sharply toward ‘Lu Rong.’

“Quiet.”

“Lu Rong” was silent.

The disciples of Tian Tong and Chang Chun Peaks were also silent.

Clearing his throat, Shen Yihan hurried to smooth things over. “Well… please forgive me, Senior Brother Lu. I have not yet formally accepted a master.”

Lu Rong, who looked down on even disciples of the Sword Lord of Chang Chun Peak, regarded one without a sect affiliation as no better than a servant. For someone of such status to mock him openly only fueled his anger.

Thankfully, the other Tian Tong disciples knew their senior brother’s hot temper but also recognized that since Master Yun had intervened today, it was best not to cause further trouble. They pulled Lu Rong aside and whispered to him.

Although still displeased, Lu Rong finally ceased his outburst, snorted coldly, and said, “Fine. Consider yourselves lucky today.”

Then he turned and left.

As the Tian Tong disciples departed, a few disciples under the Sword Lord of Chang Chun Peak bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Master Yun, for your protection today.”

Yun Ran nodded. “Follow your master’s lead. The legacy’s reemergence is fraught with danger. You have yet to be strong enough to protect yourselves. Do not be careless.”

The Chang Chun disciples knew Master Yun’s cold demeanor well. Being saved by him today was unexpected, and hearing his warning left them humbled and grateful.

Shen Yihan knew his friend well. Although Yun Ran appeared icy, he was warm inside. He smiled at the Chang Chun disciples as they took their leave and then asked, “How did you recognize me so quickly?”

Yun Ran glanced at him. “You did not use any technique to conceal your aura.”

Shen Yihan scratched his nose. “Even so, I concealed my power level. It was enough to fool others. But you could tell at a glance.”

Yun Ran asked again, “Where did you go yesterday? Why has your spiritual imprint disappeared?”

Shen Yihan knew he could not reveal what had happened. Firstly, without mentioning the dream, he could not explain why he had been tracking Xie Xiaofeng, who was now dead. Secondly, he did not want Yun Ran to know he had been in danger. Yun Ran had already been worried over his lifespan nearing its end and his failure to breakthrough. If he knew of yesterday’s events, he would only be more anxious.

The heart demon was terrifying because once born, it was nearly impossible to dispel. It affected cultivation, breakthroughs, and tribulation crossing, always a shadow hanging over one’s head, impossible to shake. Throughout history countless great masters had perished because of it—either falling into madness or failing their tribulations.

Yun Ran’s obsession with Shen Yihan’s unsuccessful breakthrough was already evident. Shen Yihan did not want his friend to follow in those tragic footsteps.

He raised his eyes to meet Yun Ran’s. Though his friend’s gaze was shallow, it held a trace of concern. For some reason, he suddenly recalled that yesterday, in the illusion of the cursed insects, what he saw was Yun Ran himself—

His heart skipped a beat. He dared not look again and quickly turned his gaze away.

He did not believe he harbored any secret feelings for his friend. He thought the vision was merely caused by Xie Xiaofeng’s incoherent ravings, disturbing his mind.

Yet now, after that, when they looked at each other, something felt strange inside him.

He could not say if it was guilt or awkwardness.

In any case, everything seemed different from before.

Looking into Yun Ran’s eyes, he was certain his friend could never have other thoughts toward him. Still, he could not help but recall what Xie Xiaofeng had said yesterday—

Yun Ran… Yun Ran… was he perhaps too concerned about him?

Ahhh! He really should have killed that Xie long ago.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to join the excitement around your sect’s sword legacy, so I disguised myself. But… but some people doubted my identity and harassed me. I had to use concealment and hid all night. Sorry for worrying you.”

Yun Ran said, “If they doubted your identity, your cultivation must be considerable. Which peak’s Sword Master are you under? Were you injured?”

Shen Yihan shook his head.

Yun Ran took his hand, about to channel spiritual power to examine him. This was something they had done countless times before—completely normal.

But Shen Yihan recoiled as if burned.

“No need! I… I’m fine.”