AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

Chapter 68: Seven Killing Swords Sect (2)

The sect got its name based on the seven mountain peaks rising in the distance, their sheer cliffs forming them into a straight, sword-like shape. Perhaps their uncanny resemblance to a sword is what gave the sect its name, or the fact that this terraforming was likely performed by a sword.

Most intriguing is the fact that I am aware of all these details, yet my perception radius has not improved. This phenomenon is not unknown to me I am able to reconstruct the surroundings of the grotto from my memories, even if I cannot see it. But I have never seen the Seven Killing Swords Sect before, and yet, its map and surroundings are obvious to me and in great detail.

Lan Xiaohui is rendered speechless. She likely never expected to return to this place and that must be for a reason. The tremors in her heart only grow stronger as time passes, and at one point, she cannot even look at the entrance gate anymore.

But the more her heart wavers the more I feel her determination rising. Lan Xiaohui would never run away from her demons she would face them and slay them.

I could urge her to continue onward, and she would likely obey, but the brighter future awaits us if she deals with this on her own.

It takes a while. Ten minutes at first. Then twenty minutes. Then thirty minutes. If the time dilation is still the same, then that means that six hours have passed in the world outside of this sphere, with the other half of her consciousness diligently practicing her Sword Law.

I am impressed she managed to come up with that. She likely mustve become aware of [Nooparallelism] when she fought Li Feng, but to understand its nature and to activate the function was either sheer luck or uncanny intuition. This time, however, I am leaning more toward luck.

She spends this time in front of the gate, either pretending she is waiting for someone or out of sight to the side. This time, I do not understand her thoughts or why her heart wavers. I know it is related to the Black Tiger, but I also know that it is far more than that.

After thirty minutes, she takes a deep breath and nods.

She passes through the gate and though she tries to keep her head high, her eyes are slightly downcast. She crosses paths with one of the outer disciples and I can feel her shoulders tense up, only relaxing once she is far separated from the outer disciple.

Though I called it a village, the sect is by no means small. Even though it has only a few facilities, everything within it is extravagant and massive. At the center of the plaza, my perception doesnt extend far enough to see the edge of it.

On her way towards the Sect Hall the main building of the sect she crosses paths with another disciple. This one bows his head to Lan Xiaohui and performs a formal greeting by pressing his fist into his palm.

Greetings, Sister Lan, the male disciple says.

Lan Xiaohui stops and turns towards the disciple, inclining her head politely. Greetings, she says, not replying with the same kind of polite fellow brother.

The youth does not seem to mind, simply bowing his head and continuing onwards towards the plaza.

This happens a few more times as Lan Xiaohui climbs the steps toward the administration section. Outer disciples politely greet Lan Xiaohui who responds in an increasingly more polite manner. She even calls a girl a fellow sister.

It is strange, Lan Xiaohui says at one point. It is as if they dont know me.

Clearly, they know her, but I also understand the meaning of her words. The Lan Xiaohui that left this sect, and the Lan Xiaohui that they know are not the same.

I feel her tense up once more, but this time, I also sense her battle readiness rise. This time, she holds herself with dignity and unconquerable pride as she confidently strides forward, and a familiar figure enters my perception radius.

Li Feng.

The reason behind Lan Xiaohuis surprise becomes apparent to me immediately as I also find it quite surprising to find Li Feng here. However, his presence develops a theory about this place that I have been formulating since our appearance.

Every individual in this place is known to me. I recognize them I know them but I cannot access any details about them. I am certain that I have seen them before.

Li Feng, on the other hand, does not show any battle readiness as he approaches us, nor any politeness. He holds a scripture in his right hand as he walks down the plaza, from the nearby Martial Pavilion.

Li Feng, Lan Xiaohui says, stopping in front of him.

Li Feng looks at Lan Xiaohui and his eyebrows rise slightly in surprise. Sister Lan, he says. It is an honor to meet you.

Lan Xiaohuis eyebrows furrow together and her lips quirk into a frown.

Li Feng produces an awkward smile, noticing Lan Xiaohuis expression. Is something wrong, Sister Lan?

Lan Xiaohui shakes her head in response, even though everything is wrong.

No, Brother Li, Lan Xiaohui says. I just thought I would greet you.

Li Fengs eyes widen, a pleased glimmer in his eyes. I did not think someone with your status would know my name, Li Feng says but I can feel the swelling arrogance in his heart. Congratulations on your engagement. For now, however, I must return to my room and study this manual.

Without waiting for a reply, Li Feng bows his head and continues down towards the plaza.

Lan Xiaohui remains still in the middle of the street, clearly affected by Li Fengs words.

These entities are likely reconstructions from my records of them, I tell Lan Xiaohui. These are their memories.

Lan Xiaohui seems to understand my meaning and nods.

I know, she says. I recognize some of them. That disciple that greeted me the first one his last name is Fu. I know that the Black Tiger executed him; and Li Feng, him I killed with my own hands. He cannot possibly be alive or at the Sect.

Slowly, Lan Xiaohui sets off again towards the Sect Hall, the knots in her heart unraveling. This place is possibly the Sect as Lan Xiaohui once knew it and the one a part of her no doubt wishes to still exist.

These are the hundreds of people that died because of you, she says with a strange tone.

That is most likely true, I confirm.

Lan Xiaohui smiles and after a moment of hesitation, she speaks: I have known this for a while now. I have known that it was you, and I did not acknowledge it for a while. If it werent for you, I dont know what my future would be. It is possible that Yu Shun would not have changed the way he did, and perhaps I could have had a happy life with him. There is a slight pause. These people do not even know that they are dead because of you, no less but they dont even recognize you either.

I decide to withhold my reply. Everything she says is quite possibly true. I did change Lan Xiaohuis future. I did, likely, destroy her life.

But I dont blame you, Lan Xiaohui says. You are a demonic sword a true demon that devours the life of others but I don't know if that makes you evil or if it matters whether you are good or evil.

Lan Xiaohui withdraws me from her sash and instead allows me to hover in the air next to her, like her companion.

I do not believe you compel people to follow an evil path I think you compel people to reveal their true heart. You made Yu Shun and the others slaughter hundreds of people for power and ambition, but the only thing youve made me do is decide to live and to seek the Dao again, Lan Xiaohui says, going so far as to smile in my direction.

Despite how far I have fallen without family, friends or even my cultivation you opened a path forward for me when I could not think of anything else but to use the last shred of dignity I had left to accept my death. And you kept opening paths forward, elevating me to heights I could never dream of before.

After a moment of silence, Lan Xiaohui adds: You destroyed my life. You are a demonic sword. But I have never been happier than I am now; You saved my life. You are also a righteous sword that is true to the principles of the Dao. I could not have wished for a better companion.