Chapter 74: Shen Jing Senior Sister

The Human World

"Who's there? Come out!"

By a mountain stream, a man and a woman stood facing each other across the water.

The man was dressed like a mortal Jianghu knight-errant, complete with a bamboo hat. However, the precious sword in his hand was clearly a magical artifact, entirely blue and shimmering with ethereal water-like ripples.

The woman was beautiful and graceful, clutching a palm-sized bronze mirror. She gazed warily at the opposite bank, her expression making her appear somewhat vulnerable.

Almost simultaneously, both looked up, fixing their eyes on the same spot upstream. The woman gasped aloud.

On the stream's bank, the bushes rustled. A moment later, Qin Sang emerged, showing no sign of embarrassment at being discovered. He calmly nodded to the woman.

The woman was, surprisingly, a fellow disciple from the Kuiyin Sect—an elder sister named Shen Jing. Like Qin Sang, she was at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Though they had never spoken, they had met once during Uncle Yue's lecture.

However, Qin Sang's appearance wasn't due to Shen Jing's identity.

Qin Sang, in fact, was rather helpless. His Falling Cloud Wings, a top-grade magical artifact, consumed a significant amount of spiritual energy and couldn't be maintained indefinitely. Given his cultivation level, he simply couldn't sustain them for long.

He had been cautious, stopping at regular intervals to observe from a mountain peak before using his Cloud Evasion technique to travel. He never expected to find two people hidden in this unassuming mountain stream.

Ancient trees on both sides of the stream towered, completely obscuring the interior. Upon discovering them, Qin Sang was both surprised and delighted. He was about to activate his Falling Cloud Wings to conceal himself, naturally intending to benefit from their impending conflict like a fisherman.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Shen Jing and the man were on the verge of a life-or-death battle, their nerves stretched taut. Any slight disturbance wouldn't escape their notice. The Cloud Evasion technique was merely a common escape art; it was a bit shallow. While it might work from a distance, at such close proximity, it was easily detected.

Qin Sang decided to stop hiding and boldly stepped out.

Upon seeing Qin Sang emerge, Shen Jing's eyes lit up. Her wary expression instantly transformed into one of delighted surprise as she exclaimed, "Junior Brother Qin!"

"Senior Sister Shen," Qin Sang replied, then fixed his gaze on the bamboo-hatted man across the stream.

Hearing the way Qin Sang and Shen Jing addressed each other, the bamboo-hatted man's already gloomy face became so dark it seemed to drip with gloom. His hand unconsciously tightened on his sword, and his eyes darted around, as if searching for an escape route.

"Junior Brother Qin, this is wonderful! We've actually ended up in the same area." Shen Jing's eyes, brimming with surprise and excitement, made her appear even more captivating.

"Senior Sister Shen, it's not too late to catch up after we've dealt with this immediate problem."

Before the words fully left his mouth, Qin Sang flashed forward, blocking the bamboo-hatted man's escape route.

If he were in the man's shoes, his first thought upon encountering this situation would also be to flee.

The jade token was right there; there was no reason to leave it. As for how to divide it, they could discuss that once it was in hand.

Only then did Shen Jing realize, quickly agreeing, "Right, right... Thank goodness you came, Junior Brother Qin, otherwise I would have been in serious trouble this time. Be careful, Junior Brother Qin, this person's sword technique is very strange."

As she spoke, Shen Jing raised the bronze mirror in her hand, pointing it at the bamboo-hatted man from a distance.

Just then, the bamboo-hatted man suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, "I'll give you the jade token. Will you let me leave?"

Qin Sang didn't answer. If the man had been sensible, negotiation might have been possible, but Shen Jing had foolishly blurted out their connection the moment Qin Sang appeared. Under no circumstances could they let this man go now.

Shen Jing glared indignantly at the bamboo-hatted man, clearly refusing as well.

The bamboo-hatted man said coldly, "I wonder how you two intend to divide this jade token in my hand?"

"I don't want it!"

Before Qin Sang could speak, Shen Jing suddenly declared loudly, "Junior Brother Qin, without you, I would have lost my life today. Everything is yours; I don't want a single thing."

This reply greatly surprised Qin Sang. He gave Shen Jing a curious look, wondering if he had overthought things earlier. After all, among cultivators, some were as grateful and trustworthy as Master Han, while others were as fiercely righteous as the Tan brothers.

Qin Sang naturally had no objections to Shen Jing voluntarily giving up the spoils.

With two against one, it didn't take long before Qin Sang gravely wounded the bamboo-hatted man with his Gui Shui Yin Lei spell, then swiftly beheaded him.

Qin Sang didn't even need to use his Purple Soul Bell.

Qin Sang used the tip of his blade to pick up the mustard seed pouch and the long sword from the bamboo-hatted man's body. He then looked up at Shen Jing, remarking, "Senior Sister Shen, your treasured mirror is truly formidable."

During their recent clash, the bamboo-hatted man, unaware of Qin Sang's true capabilities, attempted to break through by targeting Shen Jing. However, her bronze mirror firmly entangled him.

Each time the bamboo-hatted man thrust his sword, Shen Jing's bronze mirror would emit a golden ring, stopping him dead in his tracks. This allowed Qin Sang ample time to prepare his spell. By the time the man realized his mistake and turned to counterattack Qin Sang, it was already too late.

Qin Sang recalled that this bronze mirror was the reward Shen Jing had received at the Sect Master's cave mansion. Indeed, a top-grade magical artifact lived up to its formidable reputation.

"Junior Brother Qin, you flatter me."

A hint of shyness flickered in Shen Jing's eyes.

As if the recent battle with the bamboo-hatted man had been exhausting, Shen Jing's breathing was slightly rapid, her cheeks flushed, and sweat had dampened her bangs. She elegantly brushed them aside with a slender finger, then parted her lips slightly and softly said, "Without your assistance, Junior Brother Qin, even if this mirror were tougher, I would eventually have been worn down and killed by him. Your Gui Shui Yin Lei spell is far more potent."

As she spoke, Shen Jing instinctively began walking towards Qin Sang.

"Senior Sister Shen, wait!"

Qin Sang's figure suddenly retreated, creating some distance between them. He then said calmly, "It's better if we maintain some distance."

Shen Jing looked utterly stunned, and said plaintively, "Junior Brother Qin, what do you mean? I didn't take any of his belongings. Isn't that enough to show my sincerity? Do you still not trust me?"

Qin Sang cupped his hands. "It's not that I don't trust you, Senior Sister Shen. It's just that the Immortal Ascension Assembly is too brutal, and I'm forced to be cautious. Please forgive me."

"Junior Brother Qin, are you saying... you don't intend to partner with me?" Shen Jing was incredulous. "Have you forgotten Uncle Yue's instructions? Aren't you afraid of punishment from the sect?"

Qin Sang offered a slight smile. "As long as I can enter the Yuanzhao Sect and complete the sect's mission, Uncle Yue wouldn't punish me for something so minor."

"Junior Brother Qin has a point," Shen Jing fell silent, still clearly unwilling, and muttered somewhat forlornly, "But... Junior Brother Qin, don't you realize how difficult it is to acquire a jade token? I've been in here this long and have only managed to snatch one, completely exhausting all the spirit talismans I collected as a rogue cultivator. If it weren't for this treasured mirror, Junior Brother, you'd be looking at my corpse right now. Five of our fellow disciples have already broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, and there are also seventh-level masters among the rogue cultivators. With just our cultivation levels, how can we possibly compete with them?"