Chapter 76: I Want All Your Lifelong Mastery—and All Your Power!

Seeing Jiner’s faintly anxious expression, Liu Qiansha pressed his lips into a smile and said, “Don’t worry, I’m going to give you something even better.” With that, he drew another sword manual from his sleeve and handed it to Jiner.

Jiner took it, puzzled, and glanced at the cover. The title still read “Floral Moon Divine Sword.” She was confused at first, but then she realized this book was subtly different from the one Liu Ye had given her.

Even from the cover, although both bore the words “Floral Moon Divine Sword,” in Liu Ye’s version, the character for “Moon” was larger than the others, while in this one, the character for “Floral” stood out. She hadn’t noticed before, but compared side-by-side, the distinction was evident—each emphasized something different.

“Master, this is…” Jiner looked up at Liu Qiansha in confusion.

“The Floral Moon Divine Sword was actually created jointly by me and my junior sister,” Liu Qiansha explained. “In other words, there are two swords, one for a man and one for a woman.” At this, he stepped aside, picked up a silver sword from the table, and placed it in Jiner’s hands. “I once thought no one would ever be worthy of wielding this again, but now, it seems it will no longer be lonely.”

Jiner bit her lip, looking down at the sword in awe. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

The entire blade was silver-white and slender. The scabbard was adorned with delicately carved flowers, seemingly scattered at random but each perfectly placed. The hilt was set with a cluster of multicolored gemstones, arranged in the shape of a flower. Even in this dimly lit room, the gems sparkled brilliantly.

“It’s magnificent!” Jiner gasped, gripping the hilt with her right hand and gently drawing the sword. As it left the scabbard with a crisp ring, a flash of silver dazzled her eyes, forcing her to shut them tight.

Though she didn’t fully understand these things, her intuition told her this was a rare and precious weapon.

“Master, this is too valuable…” she said, raising her hand to look at Liu Qiansha, at a loss.

Liu Qiansha shook his head with a gentle smile. “Take it. This is my gift to you. I’m giving it to you because you’re suited to it. Fine things left at the bottom of a chest are bound to feel neglected and lonely.” As he spoke, his gaze drifted out the window, his expression tinged with distant sorrow.

Jiner noticed this and guessed his junior sister was no longer in this world, and that the sight of the sword stirred old memories.

Yet at this moment, Liu Qiansha felt more approachable than ever. Perhaps even the mighty have their moments of softness, and when they do, the distance between hearts narrows—just as it had with Liu Ye before.

But as soon as she thought this, Jiner frowned, silently rebuking herself: Damn it, why am I thinking of him again for no reason?

Irritated, she shook her head to clear her mind and quickly changed the subject. “Master, does this sword have a name, or is it just called the Floral Moon Divine Sword?”

Liu Qiansha turned back at her question, his earlier expression quickly replaced by a faint smile. “It’s called Flying Flower. The one Liu Ye wields is called Moonlit Grace.”

“Flying Flower? Moonlit Grace? The Floral Moon Divine Sword…” Jiner repeated softly, quickly grasping the meaning. Just the poetic cadence of the names conjured a sense of romance, tempting the imagination with visions of lovers dancing with swords beneath the flowers and moon.

But now, with the sword bereft of its original master, a faint melancholy lingered.

“Take your time to study it. I’ll come guide you tomorrow,” Liu Qiansha said, rising.

“All right. Thank you, Master.” Jiner stood as well and walked with him to the door. After seeing him out of the Flower Rain Pavilion, she eagerly sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, impatient to leaf through the new sword manual.

Carefully examining the first two pages, she found the sword techniques weren’t drastically different—there was much in common with Liu Ye’s manual—but overall, the style was clearly more graceful and supple, with feminine, flexible moves.

After studying for a long while, Jiner memorized two moves, stood, and picked up the Flying Flower Sword. With a soft hiss, the blade leaped from its sheath.

In the bright sunlight, the sword and gems gleamed dazzlingly, sending a surge of excitement through Jiner and rekindling her passion for sword practice.

With the moves fresh in her mind, she began to practice the new techniques.

After several tries, to her delight, she found this style truly suited her—gentle yet strong, slow but not weak, like petals in the wind, appearing delicate but capable of deadly lethality in an instant. Of course, she was far from mastering that level.

Jiner gently caressed the blade. As a breeze lifted a lock of her hair, it fluttered across the sword’s edge—and in a flash, it sliced cleanly in two, vanishing on the wind.

Jiner stared, stunned. Heavens, this sword was truly sharp!

After a long moment of amazement, she broke into a smile. “Flying Flower, from now on, it’s just the two of us. I’ll work hard; you won’t look down on me.” With this confident promise, she turned to the side and resumed studying the manual.

In the days that followed, Liu Qiansha came daily to personally instruct her. Jiner seized every moment to practice, sparing no effort in swordsmanship, inner cultivation, and fundamentals. Her burning desire to grow stronger drove her to ignore all hardship, sleeping less than two hours a night.

Liu Qiansha, seeing her diligence and determination, was gratified and grew ever more fond of his apprentice, ensuring she lacked for nothing in food or clothing.

Days flew by. One day, Snow Aunt came to the Misty Flower Palace and sought out Liu Qiansha. Soon after, Jiner was summoned.

Snow Aunt gave her several antidotes and applied acupuncture. After an hour, she removed the needles. “The poison of the Death’s Desire Powder is gone. As for the Silver Serpent venom, I’ve prepared this bottle of potent pills—take one daily from now on.” She handed Jiner a small porcelain bottle.

“Thank you, Snow Aunt. How long do I need to take these?” Jiner asked.

“How many days until your next attack?” Snow Aunt replied.

Jiner calculated. “Eighteen days.”

“Then take them until the day before. Whether the pills will purge the cold poison remains to be seen. Come to my house the night the poison is due.”

Jiner nodded, brow furrowed. Though she felt lighter at first, Snow Aunt’s final words left her uneasy again.

Sigh… May all go smoothly.

For Jiner, those eighteen days felt like eighteen years. Though each day was full, the wait was agonizing.

One day while practicing in the backyard, she caught a glimpse of a green blur out of the corner of her eye. Frowning, she looked over—it was Tianyu.

He was standing straight atop a flower branch, which merely swayed beneath his weight, showing not the slightest sign of breaking, as if he were lighter than air.

Heavens—was his lightness skill really so “light”…?

Seeing her incredulous stare, Tianyu smirked, then lightly pressed off with his feet, his body floating down before her as if lifted by the wind.

“Jealous, aren’t you? I noticed you spend all your time meditating or practicing swordplay, but haven’t touched upon lightness skill, which is essential for advanced martial artists. Watching you, I started worrying for you.” As he spoke, he twined a lock of her hair around his finger, toying with it.

Such a gesture might seem inappropriate from someone else, but coming from Tianyu—a head taller than Jiner, fair-skinned and handsome—it felt almost natural.

Jiner, however, didn’t see it that way.

Frowning, she swatted his hand away, stepped back, and raised an eyebrow in annoyance. “Hands off. We’re not that close.”

Tianyu grinned, “Familiarity comes with time. We’ve met quite a few times already.”

She shot him a sidelong glance. “Frankly, I find your little Bai much more likable than you.” No sooner had she spoken than a white figure darted out from nowhere, bounding cheerfully into her arms.

Startled, Jiner caught the creature instinctively, half laughing, half exasperated.

“You little thing, your ears are too sharp!” She noticed it clutched a string of wild fruit, munching away adorably.

“Tut tut, what a lovable little guy. But have you chosen the wrong master? Why not follow me instead?” Jiner teased the creature, ignoring the furious Tianyu beside her.

“Bai, come here!” Tianyu called, arms open.

But Bai merely glanced at him, then snuggled more comfortably into Jiner’s embrace, happily eating fruit.

“You!” Tianyu was beside himself, longing to yank the creature away and give it a scolding. This traitor! No loyalty!

Jiner, meanwhile, suppressed her laughter, feeling unaccountably pleased.

After a long standoff, she said, “Well, did you come here for something? If not, feel free to go. I have no time to waste on you.”

“You’re kicking me out?” Tianyu raised his brows, looking wounded.

She met his gaze innocently. “Why not? This is my place.”

“You!” Tianyu clenched his fists, grinding his teeth, then took a deep breath. “Looks like no one has taught you the rules around here, eh?”

“What rules? Master never mentioned any. He just said I should train here in peace, and if I need anything, to come find him.” She raised her brow in challenge.

Hmph! So what if the Island Lord is your godfather? He’s my master!

“You!” Tianyu was caught between anger and helplessness, his face alternating between green and white. Damn it, no one’s ever dared vex him like this before! He must be bored out of his mind to come here and look for trouble. Shooting her a disdainful glance, he said, “Forget it, I can’t be bothered with a little girl like you.” He snatched Bai from her arms and leaped out of the courtyard.

In the distance, faintly, one could hear his indignant scolding and Bai’s pitiful whimpers.

Jiner shook her head with a wry smile. Poor Bai—chose the wrong master from the start… But since Tianyu mentioned lightness skill, maybe she should ask her master about it sometime.

———

A few days later, one night in Snow Aunt’s house, Liu Qiansha, Jiner, and Snow Aunt sat in silence, sipping tea. The atmosphere was tinged with unease.

Jiner, who had endured eighteen days of anxiety, was now even more restless, wishing time would hurry up. Yet her face betrayed nothing, save the slight furrow of her brows.

“Mmph!” Suddenly clutching her chest, Jiner let out a muffled groan. Liu Qiansha and Snow Aunt tensed at once.

“How do you feel? Tell me!” Snow Aunt rushed to steady her.

“Cold! Still so cold!” Jiner hugged her arms, shivering uncontrollably. The stabbing pain of the Death’s Desire Powder was gone, but the bone-deep chill was still unbearable.

“Here, swallow these!” Snow Aunt took the bottle of medicine, poured five red pills into Jiner’s mouth. “Now listen—sit cross-legged, calm your mind, and try to circulate your inner energy to activate the pills.”

“What good will her meager inner energy do? Let me help.” Liu Qiansha pressed Jiner into a sitting position and began to channel his own energy to aid her.

After a tense while, some of the chill was forced out through the crown of her head, the rest suppressed by the medicine.

“It’s done. Let her rest.” Snow Aunt checked Jiner over and breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Qiansha nodded grimly, lifted the weak Jiner to the bed, then exchanged a glance with Snow Aunt before striding out to the back courtyard.

Snow Aunt glanced at Jiner, now lying pale and sweating, eyes closed in exhaustion, then hobbled after him.

Under the bright moon, Liu Qiansha stood in the courtyard, arms behind his back, lost in thought. His imposing figure, noble attire, and innate command gave him a wolfish presence beneath the night sky.

“Island Lord,” Snow Aunt said softly as she approached.

After a long silence, he turned, fixing her with a cool gaze. “Why didn’t you save her?”

She arched her brow, meeting his eyes. After a moment, she smiled. “I don’t have the true antidote at hand. Either way, this step was necessary.”

“Oh?” Liu Qiansha’s brows rose, his tone cold. “So what are you really after?”

Seeing his displeasure, Snow Aunt grew serious. “I never intended to harm your beloved apprentice, but you know the only thing that keeps me alive.”

At this, Liu Qiansha frowned, then gave a rueful laugh. “You don’t mean you want me to kill the Poison Saint for you? That so-called Ten Thousand Poisons Sect isn’t to be trifled with. I’ve no wish to see us both destroyed.”

Snow Aunt smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t dare ask you to take that risk. But perhaps she might succeed more easily.”

“She? Jiner?” Liu Qiansha looked at her in shock.

“Yes,” Snow Aunt said calmly.

“Are you sure? She may be gifted, but she started too late. Right now, she could handle a few petty thieves at best,” he scoffed. Was this woman mad with vengeance?

“If you, of all people, deem her gifted, she’ll be formidable in time. I can wait one or two years, and I can suppress the poison until then,” Snow Aunt replied confidently.

“Even with two years’ progress, it’s impossible,” Liu Qiansha insisted.

“I don’t need her to become exceptional, only to act cleverly. With her constitution, a little more conditioning and she’ll be truly immune to all poisons. That’s why I chose her. Also, I’ve heard that wretch has been cultivating youth-preserving arts, growing younger and more lustful, with his followers constantly offering him beautiful women. With Jiner’s looks, she’ll have no trouble getting close.”

“You mean to use her as bait? She’s still just a child, and it’s far too risky.” Liu Qiansha frowned, clearly disapproving.

“You’re a wise man. I don’t know her full potential, but given her poisonous blood, her mind must be far more mature than her years. You must have noticed the steadiness, resolve, and will to survive in her eyes—these qualities will serve her well.”

Liu Qiansha had to admit her words made sense. Still…

“She might not agree…”

“I will.” A weak yet determined voice sounded from the doorway.

Both turned to see Jiner leaning against the frame, her pale face unreadable. Clearly, she had heard everything.

“Why are you up? Go lie down,” Liu Qiansha said, hurrying over to support her, Snow Aunt close behind.

Seated on the bed, Jiner looked up at Snow Aunt. “Let’s make a deal.”

Snow Aunt exchanged a glance with Liu Qiansha and nodded for her to continue.

“I’ll kill the Poison Saint for you, and you’ll cure me completely.” Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted? Given the chance, she’d make the most of it.

Seeing Jiner’s cold resolve, Snow Aunt couldn’t help but smile. She had chosen well.

“Deal! Rest assured—if you kill the Poison Saint, I guarantee to cure you, and the Island Lord will bear witness.” She glanced at Liu Qiansha.

He nodded. “Jiner, if you so decide, I’ll be your witness. If Snow Aunt breaks her word, I’ll see you righted.”

Jiner nodded, turning back to Snow Aunt. “One more condition.”

“What is it?” Snow Aunt asked, curious.

“I want your life’s martial arts—and your inner power.” Both Snow Aunt and Liu Qiansha were stunned.

“No need to be so shocked. I just want to grow stronger, faster, to complete this mission—which is what you want too, isn’t it?” Jiner smiled calmly.

Snow Aunt nodded. “But even if I give you everything, you might not succeed. Then what of me…?”

Jiner laughed. “Even if I do kill the Poison Saint, you might not truly cure me. After all, your promise is just words. I know vengeance is your sole motivation, and if I succeed, even if you can’t heal me, you won’t care about your own life, will you?”

Snow Aunt, meeting Jiner’s sharp gaze, was secretly impressed—this girl was extraordinary indeed.

“Don’t misunderstand. I just mean we should trust each other more. Consider it as you taking me as your disciple: a master protecting her student’s life, and a student avenging her master. Isn’t that better?” Jiner smiled, her eyes softening.

She hated being coerced—hated it utterly. She’d rather reframe the relationship, even if only in words.

She could understand Snow Aunt’s feelings to some extent. Though the thought of using her charms on an old lecher and poisoner was revolting, and she wasn’t confident she could really kill him, there was no other choice. She didn’t think Snow Aunt would suddenly relent.

So she had to gamble—and if she was to gamble, she’d make sure the odds were in her favor.

Meanwhile, Snow Aunt was thinking too. Every day she waited, that scoundrel lived another day of freedom. She had no hope of vengeance alone, so why not stake everything on this?

“Very well! Such courage at your age—having such an extraordinary disciple is my good fortune! Before the Island Lord, I now take you as my pupil. Tomorrow, I’ll pass on my inner power and teach you all I know!” Snow Aunt declared.

Thus, Jiner gained another master. The next day, Snow Aunt kept her promise, transferring her inner power to Jiner.

Though it couldn’t compare to Liu Ye’s, it was already remarkable for Jiner—by her own talent, it would have taken four or five years to reach this level. This foundation would let her progress even faster.

Thus began a new round of tireless training.

With her newfound inner energy, she began practicing lightness skill as well, and every other day she learned medicine and poison arts from Snow Aunt. Each day brought visible progress. Liu Qiansha praised her in secret, and Snow Aunt grew ever more delighted and confident.

Of course, no one was happier than Jiner herself. Even the smallest improvement fueled her determination to keep striving.

She longed desperately to reclaim her life, to hold it firmly in her own hands, not be dragged along by others.

One day, seeking to practice lightness skill more effectively, she left Flower Rain Pavilion and came to a nearby grove.

After the past days of training, she had basically learned how to wield her new inner energy. Focusing, she gathered her strength, pressed off with her feet—and soared into the air.

This time, she didn’t fall flat as she had on her first try in the courtyard. Instead, she glided forward, as if stepping on air.

Ha! What a feeling!

But she rejoiced too soon. She hadn’t gone far before dropping back to the ground.

Phew! Still too weak. Jiner, you need to work harder! She encouraged herself, then repeated the movement.

After half a day, she could finally leap from tree to tree for a mile or more.

Not allowing herself a break, she had a sudden idea: eyeing two trees ten yards apart, she decided on a new drill.

Standing between them, with a shout, she leaped at one tree, kicked off, flew to the other, then kicked back again. Back and forth she went, dozens of times, until she was dizzy and her legs were weak.

She gritted her teeth and tried to land, but her exhausted body gave out, and she toppled sideways.

Just as she braced for a fall, she felt herself caught midair by a strong hand, steadying her.

Shaking her head, she looked up—and saw Liu Ye, whom she hadn’t seen in ages.

So, his punishment was over? It had been a month, after all.

“What are you doing, training like a madwoman?” Liu Ye looked at her, a bit speechless.

Jiner blinked, then protested, “Madwoman? I’m practicing lightness skill, plus speed and balance. Do you even understand?” Only then did she realize they were still standing close together; she hurriedly pushed his hand away and stepped back.

Liu Ye ignored her retort, instead surveying her critically. “You’ve gotten thinner, and your dark circles are worse. This is your time to grow—don’t risk your health with reckless training. Haste leads nowhere, understand?”

She blinked at him, wondering: was he worried about her?

“Rest before you practice more.” With that, Liu Ye produced a bunch of wild berries from his sleeve and handed them to her.

Jiner stared at the bright, luscious fruit, surprised, and hesitated before accepting, her heart filled with an odd, indescribable feeling.

“Remember, all your effort is wasted if your body breaks down,” Liu Ye said, turning and walking away.

Jiner watched his tall, upright figure disappear, then sat down and began eating berries in a daze.

After a few bites, a white shadow shot over—Bai—placing its paws on her knees and helping itself to the fruit.

Jiner laughed. “Little fellow, your nose is too sharp! Hey, slow down!” But the more she urged, the faster Bai ate, as if deliberately competing with her.

Seeing her start to fight back, Bai paused to look at her, then quickened its pace until its speed left Jiner dizzy.

“Hey! Leave some for me!” she cried, startled by its speed. Seeing the berries running out, she stood, laughing and racing away, stuffing berries in her mouth as she went.

“Awrooo!” Bai yelped in protest, then chased after her.

Thus, the girl and her pet frolicked through the woods, Jiner dodging Bai with her awkward lightness skill.

Not far off, Tianyu sat on a tree branch, cheek propped on his hand, watching the playful pair below. Listening to Jiner’s laughter, bright as silver bells, he found himself utterly entranced.

He’d always thought the island’s scenery was the most beautiful thing here—now he knew something could be even more so.

Late that night, Jiner, exhausted, intended to go on, but Liu Ye’s words echoed in her mind.

The body is the root of all endeavor—she really shouldn’t overwork herself every day. She resolved to rest a bit more each night, even if it was just half an hour.

After some thought, she sighed and lay down early.

At dawn, as sunlight streamed through the window, Jiner awoke with a start and sat up.

Seeing the late hour, she was annoyed.

She had not only gone to bed early, but also slept in an hour longer!

No time to waste—she hurried through her morning routine, ready for practice.

Opening the door, she stretched luxuriously in the crisp morning air.

Ah! Rest does make a difference—her body felt lighter than usual. Perhaps she should reconsider her schedule.

“What’s this? Sleeping in? That’s not like you,” a teasing voice called, making Jiner jump.

She turned to see Tianyu. “Master of the Palace, are you really so bored? Are you stalking me?”

She’d felt eyes on her lately; now it was clear who it was.

“Stalking? I’m just making sure my godfather’s disciple isn’t slacking,” Tianyu replied airily.

She rolled her eyes and turned to leave, but he flashed in front of her, blocking the way.

“Training alone is dull. Let’s practice together—we can spar and help each other improve. I can teach you how to progress with lightness skill; I have some secrets.” He raised his brows, looking smug.

She eyed him for a moment, then smiled, “All right.”

His lightness skill seemed even better than Liu Ye’s. Practicing together would sharpen her skills and adaptability. Why not?

Tianyu was delighted by her quick agreement.

“But if you’re just boasting, I’ll ignore you,” she warned.

He grinned. “Don’t worry. You’re so weak, you’re no challenge for me—I’ll do my best to help you catch up. Come on, let’s go to the woods.” With that, he vanished in a blur.

Jiner smiled faintly, then followed at her own pace. Her speed and form were worlds apart from his—even Bai was faster.

But she was confident she’d surpass him one day.

—

In the vast, ornate Star Palace, aside from a dozen staff, there were few others.

At the moment, Tianyu sat in the moonlit pavilion, holding Bai, frowning in thought. The wind stirred his long hair, his youthful, handsome face tinged with melancholy.

Half a month had passed. Every day, he was with Jiner—even when she meditated, he preferred to stay nearby, playing with Bai.

With her presence now a habit, coming back to the empty palace each night felt even lonelier than before.

Everyone on the island treated him with respect; even when he played pranks, people just quietly withdrew or pleaded, even the other palace masters never showed anger.

It was a terrible feeling.

He just wanted a friend, but everyone here was either reclusive or eccentric, or else obsequious. He always felt like an outcast.

At least, years ago, he’d found Bai. With its company, life was less lonely—but after all, it was just a speechless animal.

Thank heaven for Jiner. Even though he knew she only approached him because she needed something, it still felt good to be needed. Besides, he’d offered himself up—it was nobody’s fault.

Lost in thought, he suddenly caught sight of a black shadow flickering in the night. Instantly alert, he straightened—only to see Liu Ye had silently appeared in the pavilion.

Tianyu frowned, then relaxed, leaning back with a lazy smile. “So late to visit my Star Palace—what brings you?”

Liu Ye poured himself tea and sipped, then looked at Tianyu with no expression. “Why do you spend all day glued to her?”

Tianyu arched his brows, feigning shock. “Spying on us? Peeping? Maybe I should tell Jiner you’re the real stalker.”

Liu Ye’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Tut tut, that’s more like the cold-blooded Liu Ye I know. Don’t skulk around watching a little girl and offering her fruit, or you’ll ruin your reputation.” Tianyu stroked Bai’s soft fur, unfazed.

The air turned icy, the atmosphere tense. Even Bai shivered, burrowing deeper into Tianyu’s arms, peeking nervously at Liu Ye.

After a long silence, Tianyu gave in. “Enough. You came just for this? I’m only helping her train in lightness skill. Why so nervous? She’s not your disciple anymore. Besides, if she doesn’t complain to you or the Island Lord, why do you care? Why not go play bounty hunter elsewhere—this peaceful island hardly suits you.” He looked at Liu Ye with mocking disdain.

Liu Ye clenched his fists, anger flaring, but could find no real reason to vent. In the end, he could only snort coldly and storm out.

Outside the palace, he cooled off, suddenly feeling regret.

Yes—what right did he have to question them? Was it just because he couldn’t stand seeing them together, day after day?

With a roar, he slammed his fist into a nearby rock, shattering it; his knuckles were white with tension.