She continued with her lesson lavishly telling her students details and stories that had no relevance to the plot, but that she was sure to have read at some point. She grumbled internally when the interminable hours of theory lessons finally came to an end and her assistant took over, taking the pupils outside for their swordsmanship lessons. Apparently, whatever was affecting her did not allow her to exert herself too much. Not that she minded, avoiding any kind of labour had become a skill as far as she was concerned. She hesitantly looked towards Shi XinNian who had remained on the doorstep to look at Liang HaoHan who was training. He did not have authorisation to assist at practical lessons, since it included the execution of secret techniques. As she stood up to silently approach the boy she looked around, trying to avoid another OOC warning. She stepped close to him on silent feet and she was sure he had not heard her because when he turned his face paled and he bowed immediately.

“Shizun.” He said respectfully. She noticed his genuflection was stiff, probably due to the welts on his back.

She bit her lip and lifted a hand. A red flare started blaring in the background, but she ignored it to open her hand and push some spiritual energy toward the back that was bent before her. Shi XinNian opened his eyes in surprise and after she lifted her hand, putting an end to the warmth that had been enveloping him, he stood up once more, surprised to find his back no longer bothered him.

“Shizun?” he asked in obvious confusion.

Zhang YueLiang lifted the pipe to her mouth and nervously bit the mouthpiece as she lifted her face.

“I would not want people to say I ignore others’ needs. It is irresponsible to go about one’s day in the state you were in.” she said coldly.

-虎-

-30 points for Coherence!

Thirty? She asked herself freaking out, she could almost feel her own skin paling. She tried to maintain a stoic expression for the benefit of the boy in front of her who in the meantime had bowed again and suddenly brought his hands together.

“I am forever grateful, Shizun, I will be sure never to show up in this state again.” He said with conviction.

Zhang YueLiang lowered her gaze upon him filled with pity. She would have placed a hefty bet on the fact he must most certainly show up like that many more times. She sighed discouraged.

“You may go. I am sure you have many tasks from your Gongzi.” She said, waving her hand. He bowed once more and then ran away.

She looked on as he disappeared from her view and sighed again. She barely had the time to catch her breath when Zhang YouDao simply appeared at her side, even quieter than she had been. Her eyes widened in surprise and her brother smiled.

“Shimei, my apologies, I did not mean to frighten you. But it is so unusual to catch you unawares that I had to take advantage of this opportunity.” He said, chuckling.

Zhang YueLiang tilted her head. Zhang YouDao was a character she had always been interested in. Ignoring the predictable and shameful amount of power it was suggested he held, considering he was the Great Master and more importantly the Immortal in charge of the QingLong mountain, what interested her the most was his unwavering fealty to his adoptive sister. His was truly the love of kin, as if there was something deeper keeping them together, but the author had never explained the reasons behind those feelings. Even when the Original was past saving, he had even abandoned the protagonist to try and save her from the vengeful wrath of Shi XinNian. He had cried bitterly at her death, without holding anything back, even though his position always required a bit of a stiff upper lip. He had even disappeared from the narration for a time to withdraw to the loneliness of one of the caves they used to meditate. Altogether too much feeling for one who was meant to be the second most powerful Immortal of the Infinite Realm. She could not resist the warmth in his playful smile, and she allowed herself to respond in kind before turning around stiffly.

“You are too easy going, Dage, one day you will come to regret it.” She said coolly, taking a puff from her pipe. He chuckled again and stepped next to her.

“Oh, but I am sure you will cover for me, right?” she shot him a look. She had not received another OOC warning, so even the Original felt something for him. She really wanted to know more about their past.

“You know I will.” She said with a slightly softer tone.

Even though she suspected it would be him picking up her pieces and not the other way around. Thinking about her death put a bitter taste in her mouth. She turned around seeing how her brother had not replied and saw that Zhang YouDao was smiling warmly at her.

-龙-

+5 points for Empathy!

+5 points for Complexity!

Congratulations, you have opened up another possible story arc:

“The Origins of the Broken Blade”.

“Stop! – she exclaimed. The scene around her stopped and faded slightly. – C.S.?” she asked. The window reappeared.

-龍-

Yes?

“What does it mean? What story arc is it? And why does it have a title this time?” she asked in confusion.

-龍-

This arc concerns you personally and it is something that has happened behind the scenes without being narrated and that, according to your review, should have been narrated. The story arc you unlocked earlier is completely new and its title will be revealed at the right moment. It concerns an important character, so we suggested you explore…

“Yes, yes, I get it. But Broken Blade?” she asked as she studied Zhang YouDao’s frozen expression.

-虎-

This, Miss, you will find out on your own. If you had a better memory you would have already guessed who that arc belongs to.

The almost haughty indifference of that tone irritated her. She pinched the bridge of her nose groaning, why did this have to happen to her?

“How many of these arcs are there?”

-龍-

We do not know. “The Origins of the Broken Blade” was not meant to be shown, but it was in the author’s mind before she discarded the idea. It is possible there are as many as there are characters in this novel.

She grimaced in desperation and closed her eyes.

“I understand. This will be a challenge.” She sighed.

The scene unfroze and she saw her brother turn to face the horizon as she was doing.

“Not long now until the Celestial Meeting.”

Zhang YueLiang almost startled. She remembered that those two words did not anticipate a great future for her. The events that are not in my favour in this novel are piling a bit too high, in my opinion. She pointed out to herself. Aside from the fact the meeting took place shortly before Shi XinNian’s fall, in that instance she would hit rock bottom with the boy, acting in a way that was short of pushing him off the QingLong peak with her own two hands. She shivered. Liang HaoHan or Shi XinNian. That was the choice she had been faced with. And she had picked most wisely and most stupidly at the same time. She sighed, trying to focus on what was going on now.

“Yes.”

Her brother looked at her with some pity.

“Do not worry, I doubt the Great Master will bother us anymore.”

She clenched her pipe. The Great Master? There was only one person who her brother would call like that and it was the most powerful Immortal among them, the Shigong of mount HuangLong, or Celestial Peak, the one and central mountain that was situated between the four celestial peaks. She remembered that the relationship between the Great Master and the Original was not exactly friendly. Something told her it was because she had been irreverent, but other than some quarrels there should not be any other problems. She sighed.

Well, one more person who hates me. Hardly news.

They started walking along the path surrounded by flowers in bloom. She raised her eyes. It was the first time she allowed herself to take in the heavenly sights on that mountain. After all, were they not extremely close to the Infinite Realm? The Realm was above the clouds, on the impracticable peaks of the five sacred mountains that stretched over the mortal world as an invisible floor, which connected them as if they were part of one big city.

The author had brushed over the issue of distances making the excuse they were Immortals, one of their steps in the Realm corresponded to a thousand made by a mortal, one of their jumps could cover miles, and furthermore distances in the Realm were shrunk, ignoring the fact that each region was a different mountain.

Messy, messy, messy. She lamented internally.

She was curious to climb up there and observe the world through those clear floors, but who knew what kind of vertigo she would experience! However, a vague memory killed her enthusiasm. Because she, Zhang YueLiang, would not walk those sacred floors as she was an Immortal in training, she could have almost said she was completing an internship, so she was confined to that Middle Realm where Cultivators gathered to learn from the lower ranking celestial officials such as herself. She sighed.

“Shimei, don’t be worried. You will see, in three years you will be welcomed into the Infinite Realm. Many of your students will be able to testify to your abilities as a spiritual guide.” Her heart stopped beating and her legs did not want to move any further. She felt as though lightning had struck her.

She would be welcomed into the Infinite Realm during the Celestial meeting accompanied by Liang HaoHan as her assistant. But I do not remember how it happened!

“Shimei?” asked her brother in a worried voice.

She frantically raked through her memories, asking herself how she could have forgotten. Then she was assailed by a terrible doubt: had the author written about it?

“C.S.!” she spat out. The image around her froze once more.

-龍-

Yes?

“How will I ascend to the Realm?” she asked as her heart beat double time.

-龍-

Our wise author left it to the imagination of the reader. We might guess it was thanks to multiple actions, including recognising Liang HaoHan’s power and for thwarting the dangerous attack to the Great Master’s Court.

“…” I have no words, I have no words!

She raked her fingers through her hair in desperation. Did that mean she had to fight? And at that, could she fight well? She might be the legendary Exterminator of Resentment, but she could not remember reading about the Original fighting, not even once. Those were not plot holes, they were craters. The scene around her resumed without her noticing and Zhang YouDao looked at her worriedly.

“Shimei, are you feeling weak again?” he asked, filled with concern. She shook her head and was about to make fun of herself for her momentary lapse, but he picked her up anyway and started walking back the way they had come from to take her to her rooms.

“Really, Dage, it is not necessary.”

“Sure, Shimei, you have tired yourself with your training. Have you remembered to meditate in these last few days? Your energy must have been depleted after chasing away all those monsters.”

Zhang YueLiang paled and cursed the C.S. in every language she knew. How could they forget to mention this? Giving up, she let her brother carry her to her lodgings. Along the way they bumped into Shi XinNian and she almost blushed because of how he was seeing her. The boy, noticing someone was looking at him, turned around concerned. And yet, seeing who was approaching he could not help but relax slightly. The man who had to be the Great Master if he remembered correctly from their welcome in the main pavilion, smiled kindly at him.

“Ah, Shi Shizi, what good fortune seeing you here. I know you are busy with your duties toward Liang HaoHan Gongzi, but could you run to the kitchens and get a concoction for my Shimei?” he asked brightly.

Zhang YueLiang assumed a deathly pale colour at those words, but Shi XinNian bowed his head quickly.

“Of course, Shigong. What should I ask of the cooks?”

“Just my concoction. They will know what to give you.”

The boy raised his hands and joined them as a sign of respect before hurrying off in the direction of the kitchens. She looked on weakly. Why him? Unaware of her inner turmoil, her brother walked on until he set her down on her bed.

“Now rest, Shimei. Shi Shizhi will be here in a moment. Take the spiced mix from the bag and brew some tea. This will help you relax your mind and restore your spiritual power.”