This statement was half-true.
Shen Hanzhou was indeed at a bottleneck, but the real reason was something even Shen Qingci couldn't quite explain.
She simply didn't want anyone wedged between herself and Chi Yuan. Whether it was an Enshrined Guardian or a secret guard, the most she would allow was for the Shadow Division to keep watch from afar; there was no need for them to get too close.
Jinglian didn't suspect anything. Instead, she nodded slightly. “Hanzhou's sword heart is pure, which is very much to my liking. If she hadn't already recognized you as her master, I would have wanted to keep her on Wanjian Peak to assist with the peak's sword dao instruction.”
Shen Qingci looked up, showing a rare hint of surprise.
Her master was usually a woman of few words. The number of times she had praised Shen Qingci over the past three months could be counted on one hand, and even then, it was mostly cold remarks like “passable” or “not a waste of effort.”
To say something like keeping her as an instructor made Shen Hanzhou the very first.
“If Hanzhou knew, she would surely be grateful for Master's high regard.”
Jinglian gave a soft snort and waved her hand. “Very well, your leave is approved. Go report to the Mission Hall, collect your sect-leaving token, and stay alert on the road.”
Shen Qingci complied, but as she backed away toward the door, she was called to a halt again.
“Keep your blade with you at all times!”
“Your disciple will keep Master's teachings in mind.”
After bidding farewell to her master, Shen Qingci headed straight back to her Yunqi Cave dwelling.
Qinghe was crouching in the corner of the courtyard wiping down the sword-practice platform, and quickly stood up when she saw her return. Shen Qingci walked into the inner chamber, poured out fifty whole Peiyuan Pills from her storage ring, packed them into a plain brocade bag, and handed it over.
“Take a trip to the Dharma Academy and give this to Yin Ruozhuo. Have him share it with Zhao Yu, Gu Qingyi, and the others. Tell them I said to take one a day, and not to overeat them.”
“These are Peiyuan Pills refined by the Shen family. They are Yellow-grade High-rank, without a trace of pill toxin, and their efficacy is forty percent stronger than those on the market. Each one is worth twenty mid-grade spirit stones.”
Qinghe took the brocade bag with an affirmative response and quickly left the cave dwelling.
Shen Qingci turned around and sat down, sending her divine sense into the system space to check the stock she had accumulated over the past few months. Mind-Focusing Incense, mid-grade spirit stones, Mystic-grade robes, Tier 3 array disks... they were piled up in a messy heap, taking up nearly half a slot.
With a light tap of her right hand, she divided exactly half of it and stored it in another storage ring.
Having done this, she sent a transmission to Shen Hanzhou, summoning her over.
In less than half a cup of tea's time, Shen Hanzhou arrived.
Dressed in tight-fitting attire, the sword at her waist still carrying the coolness of her morning practice, she bowed as soon as she entered. “Eldest Miss.”
“Sit.”
Shen Qingci slid the storage ring across the table. “There are some spirit stones, pills, array disks, and robes in here. Take them. Breaking through a bottleneck in sword intent consumes a lot of resources, so don't be stingy with them.”
Shen Hanzhou's brows furrowed slightly, and she raised her hand to push it back. “Eldest Miss, I still have some left from what you gave me last time. There's no need...”
“Alright, just take it since I'm giving it to you.”
“I have no use for these things inside the sect. The stronger your cultivation is, the more peace of mind I'll have when I travel outside.”
Shen Hanzhou gazed at her. Knowing her young mistress's unyielding temperament, she knew refusing would be futile.
After a moment of silence, she cupped the storage ring in both hands and bowed deeply. “This subordinate thanks Eldest Miss for the reward.”
“Mhm, it's only right.” Shen Qingci waved her hand. “Just focus on breaking through with peace of mind. I know what I'm doing regarding the trip to Blood Thorn Ridge. If something really happens, the Shadow Division can step in.”
“Yes.”
Shen Hanzhou nodded, her hand tightening around the storage ring. A trace of warmth was hidden beneath her cold and stern expression.
【It feels so good to be cared for by Eldest Miss!】
On the day of departure, the weather was clear, though the mountain mist had not yet dispersed.
Shen Qingci arrived at the mountain gate a quarter of an hour earlier than the appointed time, but to her surprise, her senior sister had arrived even earlier.
In her narrow-sleeved long robes, with the Frostchill sword resting horizontally at her waist, the ice-blue bead on the sword tassel swayed gently in the morning breeze.
She stood beside the stone pillar of the mountain gate, her posture as straight and tall as a sharp sword before it was unsheathed, looking as pure and cold as the unmelting snow atop a mountain peak.
“Have you been waiting long, Senior Sister?”
“I only just arrived a moment ago. Let's head out.”
The two of them left the mountain gate and walked down the stone steps for more than two li before Shen Qingci spoke up. “Senior Sister, let's travel by the Furong Merchant Alliance's flying vessel.”
Chi Yuan looked at her in surprise.
“The Furong flying vessels are overseen by Golden Core masters, follow fixed routes, and don't encounter trouble along the way. We can reach the borders of Qinghe within three days.”
Shen Qingci spoke calmly. “It saves spiritual energy compared to sword-riding, is more stable than teleportation arrays, and the cost isn't that high. Two first-class cabins only cost six hundred mid-grade spirit stones.”
Hearing that casually tossed-out phrase “not that high,” Chi Yuan's lips twitched.
Six hundred mid-grade spirit stones was enough to make an ordinary inner sect disciple pinch pennies and save for several years. Yet, when it came from her junior sister's mouth, she didn't even blink, completely treating it as a non-issue.
【She is so rich!】
She lamented silently in her heart, then replied, “In that case, we will do as you arrange, Junior Sister.”
The Furong flying vessel was docked at a ferry crossing a hundred li outside the mountain gate. The two of them rode their swords and arrived smoothly within just a few incense sticks of time.
Seven or eight flying vessels of various designs were docked in a scattered fashion at the ferry crossing, among which the Furong merchant ship was the most grand and eye-catching.
The entire flying vessel was silvery-white, with a total of five cabin decks. The bow was carved with spiritual runes of a wild goose spreading its wings, and a thick, continuous wave of spiritual energy radiated outward, fully showcasing the alliance's deep foundation.
The steward on duty for boarding was a middle-aged cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Seeing the two of them walking over slowly, his gaze first swept over their attire and bearing, before finally landing on the Jinglei sword at Shen Qingci's waist. He immediately put on a respectful smile and stepped forward to welcome them.
“Greetings, honored fairies. Our alliance's flying vessel bound for Qinghe County today happens to have exactly two first-class cabins left...”
“Two first-class cabins.” Shen Qingci placed a cloth bag filled with spirit stones lightly on the counter, crisply cutting off the other's sales pitch.
The steward deftly put away the spirit stones and handed over two translucent jade plaques. “The first-class cabins are located on the fifth deck. You can enter and exit freely with these jade plaques. The dining hall serves hot meals at any time. If you ladies require dining services, just give us a half-hour notice.”
After boarding, Shen Qingci first escorted Chi Yuan to her cabin. The layout of the first-class cabin was not particularly luxurious or spacious, but it excelled in being quiet and elegant.
The room was furnished with a soft couch, a low table, and a carved lattice window, making the living space very comfortable.
“Senior Sister will stay in this one. I am right next door. If anything happens, just knock on the door, and I will be at your beck and call.”
“Alright~”
Chi Yuan stood at the doorway of her cabin, watching her push open the door next door before turning to enter her own room.
By the time the flying vessel set off, the sun was already high in the sky.
Shen Qingci did not want to be cooped up in her cabin meditating, so she simply brought out a low stool and sat by the railing of the fifth deck. She quietly gazed down at the continuous mountain ranges and lush forests rapidly receding behind them, the scenery vast and sweeping.
When Chi Yuan came out of her cabin, this was the scene she beheld.
The young girl leaned against the railing, the ink-green hem of her robes fluttering wildly in the strong wind. Strands of her hair clung to her smooth cheeks, shedding her usual dignified and self-restrained demeanor, replacing it with a touch of youthful vitality and charm.
【She looks rather inviting.】
She walked over slowly and stood beside Shen Qingci.
“Have a seat, Senior Sister.” Shen Qingci patted the empty space beside her and opened an oilpaper packet that Yin Ruozhuo had asked Qinghe to bring back. “Dried spiritual apricots. They're sweet and sour, perfect for passing the time.”
Chi Yuan hesitated slightly, but still sat down next to her junior sister and picked up two pieces to pop into her mouth.
The sweet and sour flavor spread across her tongue, causing her jaw to pause slightly—a subtle reaction that Shen Qingci did not miss.
“How does it taste?”
“Sss... It's... pass~able~.”
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