After Being Reborn, He And Senior Sister Qingleng He - Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Yan Tian (I)
“Are you willing to join my Yan Tian Sect?”
…
In the extreme north, the howling, bone-chilling cold wind was mixed with snow. Due to the severe cold, the place was sparsely populated, but to cultivators, this was nothing.
The heavy snow had fallen all night, and Chi Wanyin had also fled on her sword all night.
A faint glow of morning light was not far away. Yet, when she looked up, her hair was disheveled, her clothes were ragged and covered in bl00d, and she couldn’t even mobilize the spiritual energy to resist the cold.
Not far behind her, the cultivators who had been ordered to execute her had surrounded her. Holding magical artifacts, they had set up a net-like formation that was inescapable. Not only they, but even Chi Wanyin knew she had nowhere left to run.
“This demoness is truly good at escaping. We’ve chased her for a day and a night, but now she can’t get away,” a cultivator in the crowd said.
A companion next to him reminded him, “Although she’s reached a dead end, we can’t be careless. After all, this demoness managed to escape the pursuit of the entire Yan Tian Sect before.”
Chi Wanyin’s speed on her sword became slower and slower until she exhausted her spiritual energy and fell into the snow, splashing up a large area of flying snow. The cultivators responsible for the encirclement still approached cautiously.
Although she was in distress at the moment, she only let out a mocking sneer and asked, “Where is Song Qingtang of the Yan Tian Sect?”
Everyone exchanged confused glances. Could she be trying to beg her former Senior Sister for mercy?
Before anyone else could speak, a Yan Tian Sect disciple was enraged and said, “How dare you mention Sect Leader Song! If it weren’t for you injuring her and betraying the sect, Sect Leader Song would have already broken through to the Divinity Transformation stage! You are a disgrace to the sect!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a female cultivator in white gracefully walked out of the crowd and stood before her, looking down at her with her usual indifference.
Song Qingtang was expressionless. Seeing her so battered, she only let out a sigh-like whisper, “Junior Sister, why go to such lengths?”
Chi Wanyin saw her draw the Shi Shui (Faded Water) sword from her waist, but a hint of self-mockery appeared on her face. “Senior Sister, you are always so high and mighty. How would you understand us, these ants?”
The answer was the Shi Shui sword piercing her body. Fresh bl00d splattered onto the snow, like dots of blooming red plums.
As Chi Wanyin’s consciousness faded, she vaguely heard sounds of celebration in her ears that she was finally dead.
Boundless darkness—this was the scene she saw when she opened her eyes again. She didn’t know where the end was, nor how long she had walked until she heard a slightly empty voice say to her, “You can’t die here yet.”
Suddenly, the surroundings spun, and when Chi Wanyin opened her eyes, her eyes were a little uncomfortable with the dazzling sunlight.
The next moment, she squinted and saw a boy in splendid clothing instructing the servants next to him, “Beat her up! Give this stinking beggar a good lesson.”
With such a familiar tone, Chi Wanyin naturally knew he was talking about herself.
When she swung her arm, Chi Wanyin noticed the body’s weakness. When did I become this weak? she secretly wondered.
However, even though this body was weak, with her experience from her previous life, it was enough to teach these few mortals a lesson.
Song Qingtang walked through the city streets. Even though she carried a sword, the people next to her seemed oblivious.
She only stopped when she reached the alleyway where both the ground and the wall cracks were covered with slippery moss.
She should have been completely out of place in this area, yet Song Qingtang continued forward until she reached the end.
A few mortals in coarse cloth lay in the gutter, and the boy in splendid clothing was being stepped on by Chi Wanyin.
Chi Wanyin was surprised to see Song Qingtang appear here. She had been about to call out “Senior Sister” but managed to hold back.
In terms of appearance, Song Qingtang’s face was naturally indescribably beautiful, but her face was always expressionless, making her appear cold as ice.
Chi Wanyin finally understood why everything felt so familiar—this was their first meeting. However… in her previous life, she was the one lying on the ground.
Chi Wanyin lifted her foot off the splendidly dressed boy, not caring that he ran away, and spoke to Song Qingtang with an aloof yet somewhat wary tone, “Who are you?”
Song Qingtang did not answer. She merely conjured a luminous butterfly with one hand. The butterfly fluttered its wings and landed on Chi Wanyin’s fingertip, then dissipated like a bubble.
It was then she slowly said, “I came here guided by the luminous butterfly. You have an immortal destiny. Are you willing to join the Yan Tian Sect?”
Chi Wanyin let out a slight laugh when she heard this. Her face was currently dirty, and her clothes were ragged, but her eyes were bright like stars.
“Dare I ask, Immortal, why do you cultivate Immortality?” she asked, seemingly with confusion.
Song Qingtang looked at the little girl, “If I achieve Ascension and become a deity, I can protect all living beings.”
Chi Wanyin had anticipated her answer. After all, the Yan Tian Sect’s Sect Leader’s appraisal of her Senior Sister was “upright in conduct, excellent in nature, and worthy of being the head of the sect.”
But what did she ask in her previous life? Chi Wanyin vaguely tried to recall. At that time, she was starving, so she only asked one sentence, “If I cultivate Immortality, will I be able to eat my fill?”
Song Qingtang’s reply to her was a very brief “Yes.”
Seeing her lost in thought, Song Qingtang was about to say something more, but Chi Wanyin said, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”
She extended her hand toward Song Qingtang. Her hands were not clean, with black dirt filling the crevices of her fingernails, but they had not yet been stained with bl00d.
When Song Qingtang took Chi Wanyin’s hand, there was no change in her expression.
It was Chi Wanyin who shivered slightly from the cold. Seeing her reaction, Song Qingtang withdrew her protective spiritual energy while saying, “I forgot that mortals cannot withstand this spiritual energy.”
She had an Ice Spiritual Root, so she naturally practiced Ice-type spells.
After removing the spiritual energy, Song Qingtang led Chi Wanyin toward an inn. “It’s late today, unsuitable for travel. Let’s stay at an inn for one night first.”
She paused, seemingly just remembering, “Oh right, I haven’t asked for your name yet?”
“My name is Chi Wanyin.” Though her clothes were ragged, her voice was pleasant.
“Great talent emerges late, great music is sparse (a subtle sound), that’s a good name,” Song Qingtang said thoughtfully.
Hearing the same words as in her previous life, Chi Wanyin had a momentary lapse, but it was fleeting.
“Do you remember your shengchen bazi (date and hour of birth)?” Song Qingtang suddenly asked.
Chi Wanyin shook her head, she didn’t remember. Seeing this, Song Qingtang said, “Since we met today, let’s take today as your birthday then.”
Chi Wanyin just nodded blankly.
The two traveled to an inn. Song Qingtang booked a superior room and asked the waiter to bring hot water.
Chi Wanyin knew the hot water must be for her. She didn’t know if her Senior Sister had mysophobia, but someone like her, even if she didn’t, was likely fond of cleanliness.
Song Qingtang then found a set of clothes in her Chuwu Dai (storage bag). “You can change into these after bathing.”
Chi Wanyin hesitated for a moment before taking the clothes. “Thank you… Immortal.” She had almost called her Senior Sister again without thinking.
Seeing her timid look, Song Qingtang softened her tone. “Although you haven’t formally joined the sect yet, you will be a disciple of the Yan Tian Sect in the future. For now, you can call me Senior Sister.”
“Yes, thank you, Senior Sister,” Chi Wanyin replied obediently.
After Chi Wanyin bathed, her hair was still damp. If it were before, she could have simply used a spell, but she was a mortal now. Song Qingtang saw her step out from behind the screen and took out a soft silk handkerchief from her storage bag to dry her hair.
Chi Wanyin leaned against her Senior Sister’s embrace. So, she and Senior Sister had such intimate moments? The events of her previous life were too long ago, so long that she had forgotten.
When she was almost done, Chi Wanyin suddenly asked, “Senior Sister, if I do something bad, will you kill me?”
Song Qingtang looked at Chi Wanyin in her arms. She was so small, even wearing the dress, it seemed quite loose.
“If you make a mistake, the Disciplinary Hall will handle it,” her slightly cold voice remained. “Besides, I won’t kill you.”
Seeing her tremble a little, Song Qingtang knew she might have scared her. She comforted herself that children were like this and reluctantly stopped meditating to walk toward her, letting her hold her hand. “Don’t be afraid. Senior Sister is here.”
So, Chi Wanyin slept all night, and her hand was held all night. Song Qingtang sat by the couch all night but showed no signs of fatigue until the waiter knocked on the door to deliver breakfast, and Chi Wanyin woke up.
During breakfast, Song Qingtang just watched Chi Wanyin eat, which made her curious. “Once you cultivate Immortality, do you no longer need to eat?”
Song Qingtang just shook her head. “You can take Bigu Dan (Grain-Free Pills), but the taste of the pill is not very good.”
Chi Wanyin frowned. “That sounds so boring. Even if I cultivate Immortality, I still want to enjoy these mortal foods, otherwise, what’s the point of being alive?”
Song Qingtang laughed. She didn’t seem as timid as yesterday.
After breakfast, the two set off from the inn. Considering that Chi Wanyin was still a mortal body, Song Qingtang decided to take her to the Yan Tian Sect via the Immortal Boat.
The Immortal Boat was docked above the sea of clouds, its entire body radiating light and color due to the formation arrays protecting it. Engravings of soaring dragons and frolicking phoenixes adorned it, and a giant Siyue Xue (Four-Moon Snow) tree in the center looked like a beautiful jade tree.
As Chi Wanyin sat on the Immortal Boat, the cities she had lived in now looked like small dots. A sense of realization washed over her.
Song Qingtang saw her reaction and naturally said, “Once you enter the Yan Tian Sect, you must sever mortal ties. All mortal identities become a thing of the past.”
“Is that true for Senior Sister too?” Chi Wanyin asked curiously.
Song Qingtang replied without hesitation, “Of course. If one seeks the Dao, no matter how noble their mortal identity, they must give it up.”
Chi Wanyin was silent. The Song Qingtang of her previous life thought and acted this way too.
In just two hours, the Immortal Boat arrived at the city governed by the Yan Tian Sect. Further on was not a place where the Immortal Boat could travel.
The two disembarked from the Immortal Boat. In front of them were steps that soared into the clouds.
Song Qingtang still held Chi Wanyin’s hand, walking up the steps one by one.
Chi Wanyin knew that mortals could not tread the steps of the Yan Tian Sect. If a mortal wished to ascend, they needed a cultivator’s guidance.
Everything about the Yan Tian Sect felt both familiar and strange to her, as she hadn’t set foot in the Yan Tian Sect since she started practicing the demonic arts.
These three thousand steps were all climbed with Song Qingtang holding her hand, just like in her previous life.
Upon seeing the jade gate inscribed with the three characters “Yan Tian Sect,” Chi Wanyin knew she had returned to this place once more, a place formerly filled with unpleasant memories.
Song Qingtang noticed Chi Wanyin’s slightly trembling hand and knew she must be nervous about coming to an Immortal Sect for the first time.
She immediately comforted her, “You don’t need to worry. Rest well today, and we’ll participate in the preliminary test tomorrow.”
The preliminary test was an examination for newly initiated disciples. The sect elders would also observe, and it wasn’t impossible for those who were appealing to be directly taken as disciples.
Song Qingtang took her to the guest rooms of the Yan Tian Sect. The flowing water, gurgling stream, and lush vegetation clearly marked it as a place of first-rate quiet elegance.
“I still have some sect matters to attend to, so I won’t disturb Junior Sister’s rest,” Song Qingtang said farewell.
Chi Wanyin entered the room alone. A petite and exquisite immortal attendant was waiting for her instructions, but Chi Wanyin only waved her hand to dismiss her.
The last time, when she first arrived at the Yan Tian Sect, she was indeed very nervous, but since she already knew the ending this time, she had nothing to worry about.
She lay on the bed in the guest room, and had a dreamless night.
The next day, Song Qingtang came to fetch her again and led her to the place for the preliminary entry test—a plaza paved with white marble.
The elders of the Yan Tian Sect were all seated high on the viewing platform, headed by the Sect Leader, Huai Yu Zhenren (True Person Huai Yu). A charming-looking woman seated below chuckled, “I wonder what this batch of new disciples is like. If there are any promising alchemy seedlings, my Senior Brothers and Sisters should not compete with me for them.”
The usually serious Lu Qiyue slightly frowned, “Junior Sister Ye, how can you be so reckless in front of the Sect Leader?”
Ye Tinghe didn’t mind, glancing at Huai Yu Zhenren, who didn’t seem bothered, and became even bolder. “Senior Sister Lu is a Talisman Cultivator; naturally, you don’t understand the hardships of an Alchemist.”
Lu Qiyue was about to argue with her, but seeing Ling Yuyang shake her head at her, she had to stop.
Another elder, Su Yin, also stepped in to mediate. “Alright, let’s see if there are any good talents this time.”
However, upon seeing the young girl Song Qingtang was leading, Ye Tinghe couldn’t help but exclaim, “Is this the child the Sect Leader asked Qingtang to bring back?”
It was then that Huai Yu Zhenren spoke, “I observe that she has an immortal destiny, but even I cannot divine the subsequent events.”
Tan Miaoyin was surprised. “There are things that even the Sect Leader True Person cannot divine?” One must know that Huai Yu Zhenren had stepped into the Divinity Transformation realm many years ago. She was extremely skilled in divination and fortune-telling, and was known to be able to predict life and death with a single word.
Hearing this, Ye Tinghe also dropped her playful expression and said somewhat seriously, “Senior Sister, could it be that…”
Huai Yu Zhenren looked toward the disciples in the plaza, her tone somewhat ethereal, “Perhaps after my death, the cultivation world will face a great catastrophe, but I have consistently been unable to calculate the way to break the situation.”
The four people present all had different expressions. On one hand, Huai Yu Zhenren was so candid about her impending death, and on the other hand, it seemed she had long chosen her successor.