"I'm going too."
From the second floor came the cool voice of a young girl. Chu Lian seemed to have anticipated this. She turned back to look at the white-haired girl and asked with a smile, "You're really going? Aren't you afraid our progress will deal you a blow?"
"If I fear that, then I have no way to grow. Don't forget, I once said I would become the invincible spear in your hand. Now is the time for me to prove myself, isn't it?"
Bare feet stepped across the floorboards. Her long white hair swayed gently as her crimson eyes fixed on Chu Lian, her expression incomparably serious.
"No. What I said back then doesn't count. Now I'd rather you become the one who wields the sword, not a weapon. Because you have that qualification, don't you?" Chu Lian shook her head, overturning her former words. This girl should be just like her—unrestricted.
"The one who wields the sword? I don't know how to do that."
The girl walked over and found a single sofa to sit on. Looking at Chu Lian, she seemed somewhat lost.
"You don't need to listen to others. You don't need to care about their opinions. If you want to kill, then kill. If you want to act, then act. Let the weapons in your hands become your most loyal companions. Let them feel excitement and pride in your actions. That's what it means to wield the sword."
Chu Lian herself could not explain it too clearly. She could only point out the core—an explanation the white-haired girl would understand.
"To wield the sword..."
Kurosaki Satsuki's gaze shifted slightly aside before she asked, "If I become the one who wields the sword, will I be able to catch up to your footsteps?"
That was what she truly cared about. For a girl who had grown up wild, with no experience beyond what she had previously learned, Chu Lian's words were sometimes indeed profound.
Even though she had now fused with the memories of that black demonic shadow, it did not mean she understood everything. What those memories granted her were mostly combat experience and various techniques. In terms of life in the present world and interacting with others, they were not much stronger than her own.
Even if she had come to know certain embarrassing matters related to intimacy, they were merely fragments of that person's past life, not practical experience. She could imagine them, perhaps—but to actually carry them out would be unimaginably difficult, nearly impossible.
So in truth, the white-haired girl was still someone far purer than Chu Lian by countless degrees. That purity of thought was also one of the reasons she progressed so quickly.
As for Chu Lian? No need to say more. If you cut her open now, the black substance inside could probably pollute an entire ocean. And people still expected her to be pure? Though her level of embarrassment and susceptibility to teasing remained high, that heart of hers had already turned dark.
She might look like a white-haired loli on the outside, but inside she was ten times darker than any black-hearted loli. Compared to the still-innocent Kurosaki Satsuki, she could only be described as thoroughly blackened.
"Yes. No matter how powerful a weapon is, it is still a lifeless object. A person without spirit cannot reach the highest heights. Only by breaking free from the identity of being used and becoming the one who uses can you gain the possibility of going further."
Chu Lian was not lying. She spoke based on what she understood.
Throughout history, there had been countless legends claiming that by severing all emotions and desires, one could achieve the supreme Great Dao, look down upon the mortal world, and become an immortal wanderer seated atop all other experts.
There was even the saying, "Heavenly Dao is without emotion," and indeed many geniuses had reached legendary heights under such doctrines.
But think about it carefully. Those who stood at the very peak were, without exception, beings who held a heart broad enough to embrace and save the world.
No matter what their goals were, desire and emotion inevitably existed within them. Thus, to reach the highest position—or even any level at all—true feeling was always superior to absolute detachment.
Though her reasoning would certainly invite ridicule—So this is your excuse for being flirtatious and seducing girls everywhere?—
There was undeniably some truth to it. Using it now to enlighten the white-haired girl was almost too easy.
"I'll try..."
Kurosaki Satsuki was not foolish. On the contrary, she was always cautious at heart and held doubt toward nearly everyone's words.
But Chu Lian did not fall within that range.
Tracing it back, it was because every word she had spoken before had struck at the core, benefiting her greatly.
More importantly, she could not deny her own heart. As the frost within gradually melted, the white-haired girl could no longer deny that she had been drawn to her.
Whether it was their time together during these days, or the fact that Chu Lian had saved her life three times, the figure in her heart was becoming clearer and clearer.
Even if, because of her temperament, she might never let the other know her feelings in this lifetime, she was willing to believe her words.
"Mm. Trust the weapons in your hands. Believe that they can bring you victory."
Chu Lian let out a quiet breath of relief. This girl was one of the most troublesome among them. Her unique background and experiences had shaped her into someone equally unique.
Guiding her was difficult. Fortunately, she listened to every word. Thinking about it, that was truly an honor.
"Satsuki, you could try creating a set of combat techniques that belong solely to you."
Li Mingxue had been watching them converse. Seeing the pause, she offered this reminder.
"Create my own?"
Kurosaki Satsuki felt a stir in her heart. The techniques she had learned were well matched to her abilities, but no matter how well suited they were, they could never compare to something forged specifically for herself. If she truly managed it, it would be a direct path to rapid growth.
"Yes, create your own. The reason Lian'er and I refused to personally teach you is precisely because we did not want to shackle your spiritual nature in martial cultivation. We believe you will walk a path that belongs entirely to you—forming your own art."
There was no harm in making it clear. The girl likely understood already.
"Go on, girl. I believe you can definitely do it."
Chu Lian echoed from the side. Whatever her deeper thoughts might be, the white-haired girl truly had the talent and foundation for it. Giving her confidence to strive forward—wasn't that a good thing?
"Alright."
She reached back and gently touched the two katana resting behind her. For the first time, Kurosaki Satsuki seemed to sense their eager joy. These two blades had accompanied her since the beginning of her flight. Had they developed their own consciousness as well?
If you believe in me, then I will definitely achieve it.
"Phew..."
Seeing that the girl had been persuaded, both Chu Lian and Li Mingxue let out a breath of relief. Now that the black demonic shadow had been eliminated, no one could steer the girl's path anymore. This was the perfect moment to guide her onto the right road.
"Satsuki."
Inori was happy for the white-haired girl as well. She did not need any special path. She herself was already unique. As long as she continued forward, the bright road that belonged to her would inevitably appear. What mattered now was strengthening herself so she would not fall too far behind Chu Lian.
Before Chu Lian entered the dungeon, Inori's strength had been at the mid Spirit level. The energy feedback from Chu Lian had not advanced her as quickly as expected.
On the contrary, after Chu Lian entered the dungeon, Inori's power changed almost daily. By the time Chu Lian emerged, she had already reached high Spirit level, not far from the Spirit peak.
Presumably, this was due to the difference in time flow between the dungeon and the present world. The disparity caused Inori's growth rate in the present world to be ten times what it would have been had she shared the same temporal space as Chu Lian. It could be considered an unexpected delight.
"Mm..."
After responding softly, the white-haired girl drew the black and white katana from her back and laid them across her knees. Watching the blade-light reflected from their edges, she seemed lost in thought.
"By the way, Mom, the Wang family is in the suburbs, right? Has their estate been sealed off?"
Chu Lian suddenly remembered the quest. To be honest, she did not even know the exact location of the Wang family's residence. She had never paid attention to it before, nor had she ever visited. She could only make a guess based on fragments of what Wang Tingsi had once mentioned.
"It's in the suburbs. The area around their estate has already been sealed. To the outside world, it's been declared a court seizure of a bankrupt property. Unauthorized personnel are forbidden from entering. Within a one-kilometer radius, there are no ordinary civilians. Some cultivators are stationed there, preventing any potentially dangerous lifeforms from escaping."
Li Mingxue had been monitoring the situation constantly, so she understood just how complicated matters at the Wang residence had become.
"Then what Tina mentioned—about wandering souls appearing nearby recently—does that have something to do with this?"
Chu Lian recalled what the little white cat had said that morning. If it was related, then her intuition had been correct yet again. This matter was connected to her after all.
"Mm. Since those wandering spirits have little capacity to cause harm, the cultivators consider them beneath their notice. Of course, their own strength is limited as well, and their cultivation methods are not suited to dealing with such things. They simply lack the means, so they allowed them to pass through. Now that Tina has dealt with them, it can be considered a good thing."
There was more than a trace of disdain in Li Mingxue's tone when she spoke of the cultivation world.
Naturally, that confidence stemmed from her strength and past experiences.
Chu Lian, though she had stepped onto the path of cultivation, had never truly engaged with the cultivation world. At best, she could be considered half a cultivator. She knew nothing of its deeper secrets and could only remain silent.
So even if she did not quite understand why her mother spoke with such an attitude when mentioning the cultivation world, she silently committed the remark to memory. Later, she would look up information and learn what kind of place the cultivation world truly was.
"I understand. Lastly, there's one more thing. Wang Tingsi said her older sister fought desperately to protect her escape. But I only saw her alone—I didn't see her sister. According to her, they got separated. I don't think it's that simple. I want to know where her sister actually is."
Chu Lian still cared somewhat about that senior. Even if she harbored hostility toward her, she was still an upperclassman. Showing concern was only natural.
"Her?"
Li Mingxue's expression softened slightly.
"Her condition isn't optimistic. In order to protect Wang Tingsi's escape, she suffered grievous injuries. By the time I arrived, she was already on her last breath. To preserve her life, I had no choice but to temporarily seal her in ice. I imagine you should have a way to save her, right?"
What Li Mingxue said was not entirely the truth. At the very least, she did not mention that it was Wang Tingsi who had abandoned her severely injured sister and fled alone—leading to Wang Shiyu's current state.
That matter was better left for the person involved to resolve. Saying it aloud would only trouble Lian'er's heart.
"Where is she now?"
Chu Lian's delicate brows furrowed. Resurrection was not something she currently had the resources to perform again. But saving someone gravely injured was not difficult—especially with Hare Menjou present. After all, she was essentially half a battlefield-type mage.
"She's in a place you would never expect."
Li Mingxue did not elaborate, merely leaving the statement hanging.
Chu Lian thought for a moment.
A place I would never expect? Could it be...