ATLAS TRANSLATES

Was it enough? Was it enough?

Xing Shuishui was nearly out of breath. He Liansheng kept pushing his luck. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her sister had arrived. Her mind instantly went blank.

“Cough cough cough—”

“Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!”

The coughing echoed back and forth, very deliberately.

The people of Lingshan exchanged glances.

The He family head approached with a cold face, his blood rushing. The accompanying elders couldn’t hold him back.

He pointed his sword at He Liansheng and said: “You disgraceful child! Doing such shameless things in broad daylight. You have He family blood in your veins yet you claim to cut ties with us! What nonsense! I’ll drag you back to Lingshan right now to repent before our ancestors!”

Xing Shuishui let go of He Liansheng’s hand. They had just fought their way out of the Twelve Earthly Fiends Formation. Their spiritual energy was depleted. If they fought now, it would be troublesome. Plus, she was still worried about Xue Sansi’s condition.

After thinking for a moment, she said with a light smile: “What shamelessness? Head of the He family, don’t you have a wife? People have emotions and desires. Why do you see them as unforgivable sins?”

The He family head got angry just looking at her: “You demon woman! We haven’t even settled the matter from the mountain ceremony. I’ll tell you now – don’t even think about entering the He family!”

Xing Shuishui crossed her arms and corrected him: “Who wants to enter your family? He Liansheng is the one who wants to enter mine.”

The He family head roared: “Nonsense!!! You’re talking nonsense!!!”

He Liansheng stood in front of her. Xing Shuishui grabbed his belt with both hands, poked her head out, and made a face at the He family head by pulling down her eyelid.

Xue Zhuangxin called softly: “Little Nine.”

Xing Shuishui immediately became obedient.

She let go of her grip and turned to ask her sister: “How’s Brother Sansi?”

Xue Zhuangxin said: “His injuries are quite severe. He went back first.”

As she spoke, Xue Zhuangxin walked over. Her gaze passed over Li Yu and landed on the Lingshan crowd. She spoke coolly: “Why make false accusations? Just because we’re spirits, haven’t you falsely accused us enough over the years?”

The He family head sneered: “So many people saw her commit the crime that day. How is that a false accusation? It’s not like we didn’t give her a chance to explain, but she wouldn’t say anything when given the opportunity.”

Xing Shuishui said: “What if I told you the Right Ceremonial Officer I killed was just a soul fragment of Guan Wushan in disguise?”

Several Lingshan elders were startled, clearly having sensed something was amiss.

But the He family head said: “Stop making things up. You think we’ll believe whatever you say?”

Xing Shuishui pointed at him and complained to Xue Zhuangxin with a headache: “Sister, look at this old fool. When I don’t explain, he says they gave me a chance. When I do explain, he says I’m making things up. If you really want to argue about right and wrong — let’s fight!”

Right or wrong, their Sect Master could divine it if he wanted to, he just chose not to.

The He family head, who she had openly called an old fool, suppressed his anger and turned to He Liansheng: “I’ll ask one more time. Do you really want to abandon the He family that raised you?”

He Liansheng held Xing Shuishui’s hand, as if declaring something, and said: “I met Xing Shuishui first.”

The family head looked at him with disappointment, not understanding. He had started liking her before the name He Liansheng even existed.

The Lingshan Sect Master, who hadn’t spoken for a while, noticed Xing Shuishui’s empty waist and suddenly asked: “Where’s the Floating Spirit Mirror?”

He Liansheng said: “Broken.”

There was silence for a moment.

The Chiching Elder gritted his teeth and said: “A sacred object of Lingshan… you say it’s broken just like that??!!”

Xing Shuishui gestured as she explained: “Our blood dripped on it at the time, and it activated automatically. After it opened… after that it just broke.”

“This—this—this!”

The Lingshan elders’ faces immediately turned green. If they weren’t being watched, they probably would have jumped up and bitten someone!

But the Sect Master stroked his whisk and smiled: “Just as I guessed. The Floating Spirit Mirror activated automatically – what immense past life karma it must have taken to break the mirror. Wonderful, wonderful! I’ve witnessed the natural way of karma with my own eyes!”

Xing Shuishui’s expression was strange. Had the old mystic lost his mind? If she remembered correctly, these people were just fiercely preparing to drag them back to Lingshan.

He Liansheng held the Peach Source Sword and lifted his cold gaze: “Master, if you want to clean up the sect today, let’s settle it now. Don’t trouble Water Water. She did nothing wrong.”

It was exactly the same as what he’d said that year at Lingshan.

Xing Shuishui was stunned.

The He family head spoke first: “You still have the face to call him Master?”

Lin Lan didn’t know what was going on with this group. Seeing the tense atmosphere, he shouted: “Hey hey hey, if you want to fight, fight outside the city! Don’t fight in Bu Wen City! Can you take responsibility if you disturb the citizens?”

Li Guanxing pulled him away with a headache: “Stop butting in!”

The city lord’s people scattered seeing how things were going, leaving behind a mess and children who had just escaped from the dungeon. It started raining. The children knelt barefoot on the ground, kowtowing in gratitude, covering their eyes as they wept with joy.

Various colors flickered in the rain and mist.

The Sect Master looked at the destroyed Blood Curse Cauldron, then turned back and said: “Let’s negotiate.”

Perhaps this was the best outcome.

Xing Shuishui and He Liansheng exchanged glances. His master wasn’t so foolish after all. He knew what would be most beneficial.

“Alright then.”

Xue Zhuangxin walked gracefully to the Sect Master’s side and said: “My little sister just emerged from an evil formation, barely alive. She needs time to rest. I’ll negotiate for them from here.”

Xing Shuishui hurriedly said: “Sister!”

Xue Zhuangxin said gently: “You two go rest well. Don’t worry about me. So many people witnessed everything today, nothing serious will happen. I believe the Sect Master is sincere about negotiating.”

Xing Shuishui was still worried. Her sister was now just a mortal. While Lingshan wouldn’t normally harm mortals, she feared something might go wrong.

The Sect Master snorted: “Rest assured. We of Lingshan have always acted with honor. We disdain such base tactics.”

Du Dizhu swept a contemptuous look over everyone and sheathed his blade: “You all can negotiate. We of Wuxiang Mountain won’t participate in such hypocrisy. It would be best if you fail miserably. We’ll take our leave first.”

He noticed He Liansheng carrying the tired-faced Xing Shuishui away from the city lord’s mansion. Suddenly realizing something, Du Dizhu shoved aside Lin Lan who was blocking the way and walked in their direction.

Xing Shuishui had consumed too much fire essence. Her legs were weak as she walked. He Liansheng carried her on his back. She obediently rested her head on his shoulder, hugging his neck, and asked with her head tilted: “Later should we… sleep first, bathe first, or eat first?”

Before He Liansheng could answer, they heard footsteps cracking the stone slabs behind them.

The man gritted his teeth and chased after her shouting: “Why are you running, Xue Jiuling? Give me back my core! You little brat. I haven’t settled accounts with you for using so much of my dantian’s power to make offerings to heaven!”

Xing Shuishui rubbed her eyes. She had been about to fall asleep, but hearing Du Dizhu’s words, she giggled and whispered in He Liansheng’s ear: “Never mind, we’ll find out later. Let’s run faster! Don’t let him catch us!”

The girl’s red hair ribbon brushed his ear.

He Liansheng was distracted for a moment, his lips curling into a cool smile: “What if he catches us? I’ll deal with him for you.”

As always, not taking others seriously.

Xing Shuishui stared at him for a while, then smiled. She actively pressed her cheek against his neck and nuzzled him hard, eyes half-closed, ignoring her messy hair.

He hadn’t realized she could be so clingy.

He Liansheng, trying to hide his inner turmoil, said a bit harshly: “Be good.”

But his steps while carrying her became increasingly gentle.

Xing Shuishui said softly: “I’m already being good…”

Looking at the gradually receding city lord’s mansion, she mumbled: “I’m curious… what will your master discuss with my sister?”

He Liansheng said: “Nothing bad anyway. My master isn’t actually a bad person. Sometimes he just needs someone to give him a way out.”

Du Dizhu finally caught up with them. Xing Shuishui reluctantly returned his core to him. By now it was the busiest time in the mortal realm, with tea houses doing brisk business.

Li Guanyu and Li Guanxing came to bid them farewell. Li Guanxing held his head with a headache, saying their father had been spirited when he arrived, but for some reason now only wanted to quickly leave Bu Wen City and return to Lingshan with them.

Xing Shuishui thought of the awkward atmosphere between her sister and Li Yu, pursed her lips – what else could it be? He felt guilty.

The negotiations between her sister and the Lingshan Sect Master quickly reached a conclusion.

Xing Shuishui was the first to know.

She deliberately folded the letter without letting He Liansheng see it, tilted her head back and asked: “Guess what?”

He Liansheng remained noncommittal.

Xing Shuishui didn’t keep him in suspense. She held up one finger: “First, and most importantly. He Liansheng, you can return to Lingshan! The Sect Master said you did good by saving Bu Wen City and destroying the blood curse. Your merits offset your faults, so they won’t pursue what happened before, but you can’t damage Lingshan’s reputation anymore.”

He Liansheng raised an eyebrow, clearly having expected this.

Xing Shuishui held up a second finger: “Second, I’m not allowed to randomly set?fires in your Lingshan.”

Though these rules meant nothing to her. In this world, might makes right.

She waved the letter and burned it with a raised hand, smiling: “Anyway, your master compromised.”

After weighing losing a genius against accepting him being with a spirit, Lingshan could still think clearly. Besides, news of what happened in Bu Wen City would spread quickly.

There would definitely be fewer people who hated her.

But Xing Shuishui didn’t care. She crossed her arms and said: “Your master also said your cultivation level is already there. After the storm settles, he wants to grant you the title of Immortal Lord. He Liansheng — have you thought of your Dharma name?”

With his core returned, He Liansheng would recover soon. These past few days, Xing Shuishui had also gathered quite a bit of fire essence.

He Liansheng only paused for a moment before saying: “I have.”

A finger reached toward his lips. The young man’s eyelashes fluttered lightly. Xing Shuishui lifted her face and said: “Don’t tell me yet. Let me guess!”

She thought for a moment and said: “Immortal Lord He?”

He Liansheng said bluntly: “Sounds awful.”

Xing Shuishui tilted her head and asked: “Then what is it?”

He Liansheng gazed at her features, as if a feather was lightly brushing his heart.

The young man helped tie her messy braid while saying softly: “Immortal Lord Peach Source.”

She murmured for a while: “Peach Source Sword… Immortal Lord Peach Source…”

Xing Shuishui looked at herself in the mirror, smiling as brightly as spring peach blossoms, “I love this Dharma name.”

She asked again: “Do you know who will be Immortal Lord Peach Source’s dao partner?”

Before He Liansheng could answer.

Xing Shuishui tilted her head and pointed at herself, smiling: “Xing Shuishui. One ‘xing’ for open, one for blade. Two connected ‘shui’s for water.”

He Liansheng. Dharma name Peach Source.

His dao partner will be — Xing Shuishui.

In the mirror, He Liansheng’s eyes quickly reddened: “Shuishui—”

She was the beloved he wanted to embrace even if it took several lifetimes.