Ling Xian'er was calm as still water, yet swift as a startled hare. In an instant she darted out of the pavilion, calling:"Sister, don't be angry—Xian'er has come to learn a few moves from you!"
Liu Yun, still fuming, snapped:"Who are you calling sister? If you have the skill, come and try me!"
Unlucky for Xian'er, she had walked straight into Liu Yun's tempestuous mood. With brows furrowed, she replied:"If that is so, then forgive me for offending you!"
Before the words had settled, her body seemed to vanish into silence, already upon Liu Yun, striking with a palm blow fierce and sharp. Liu Yun's feet shifted, tracing the Seven Stars, weaving and swaying in dazzling footwork as she met the attack head-on.
Liu Yun shouted:"Good timing!"Her steps curved in arcs, her body moving swiftly and unpredictably. This was the Heavenly Venerate Sect's Wu Ji Palm from the Nine Profound Scripture, a technique named Unfathomable Depths. Suddenly, she unleashed a flurry of palms toward Xian'er.
Xian'er, trained in her family's arts, shifted with ease, her body twisting like a dragon, hands circling outward before snapping forward with counter-blows. Liu Yun, though carried by anger, was startled—since taking the Tianshan Snow Lotus her strength had surged, yet here was a maiden who could withstand her storm of strikes. Pride flared, and Liu Yun cried:"Not bad, girl! Let's see what else you have!"
Xian'er gave a spirited shout. She flashed forward like lightning, skirt fluttering, palm slashing down like thunder toward Liu Yun's face. Liu Yun's eyes narrowed, lips curled, and her body swayed like willow in the wind—vanishing aside in a blur, the strike passing harmlessly by.
Such speed! Liu Yun marveled, though her pride refused to yield. Her palms blurred into a storm of shadows, the Unfathomable Depths again, overwhelming the air with phantom strikes. Xian'er found herself surrounded, yet she did not falter—her steps light as a swallow, she spun and darted, flowing past the blows like a dragon at play.
Liu Yun's will hardened. With a sharp cry, her palms turned to fingers, thrusting like twin phoenixes at Xian'er's acupoints. Xian'er, recognizing the peril, raised her sleeves, her palms rotating, releasing a surge of soft flowing force like water to meet the piercing strikes.
"Bang!" The clash of force sent both women skidding back, breath caught, eyes locked with rising battle-spirit.
"Good! There is skill in that, girl!" Liu Yun laughed, lunging again, her figure flickering left and right like a butterfly in the breeze, a crashing palm aimed at Xian'er's chest.
Xian'er's heart leapt—this strike was deadly. She invoked her clan's lightness skill, Immaculate Drift, her body lifting like willow fluff on the wind, sliding away, then countering with a subtle palm, soft yet concealing hidden power. Liu Yun's smile deepened as she met it, their strikes clashing in waves, palms flashing like paired dancers, sleeves whipping in the storm of energy.
Xian'er suddenly spun away, smiling:"Sister, your skill is formidable. Please forgive my clumsy tricks."
She then shifted fluidly, launching probing strikes at Liu Yun's chest and abdomen. Liu Yun turned with her, matching step for step, countering with the Nine Profound Scripture's triad—So Near Yet So Far, As Though Illusory, Obscure and Elusive. Palm-qi surged, overwhelming.
Alarmed, Xian'er retreated, answering with her own clan's secret art, the Feathered Wing Palm, its variations Feathered Fan, Soaring Immortal, Rain of Plumes. The two moved like storm winds, qi colliding in thunderous waves, their exchanges exquisite, their reactions lightning-swift. In skill, they were equals—neither yielding after hundreds of moves. Sweat drenched their robes, their breaths quickened, yet still no victor emerged. Even Wu Tong and the others marveled—who would have thought this maiden's martial arts so refined?
Just then, Granny Yao's thunderous voice split the air:"Enough!"The sound shook the mountains, scattering birds from the trees. Both women froze, leaping apart.
With solemn voice, the old woman declared:"Stop this instant! The two of you are cousins!"
"What!" Liu Yun cried. "Old woman, what are you saying? Cousins—truly?""Elder sister, let us hear Grandmother out!" Xian'er exclaimed.
All four companions stood stunned, minds whirling. Could it be true?
Granny Yao sighed:"Your paths of fate meet at Wu Tong. Liu Yun, you must yield, for Xian'er is the daughter of your mother's own sister, Li Hua. Your mother was Li Fang, was she not?"
The name struck Liu Yun like a blow. Her mother Li Fang—could this be? Memories stirred: as a child, an aunt had once brought a little girl to the Heavenly Venerate Sect, and they had played together, though she was but four or five, and the girl perhaps two or three. Could that girl be Xian'er?
Granny Yao continued:"Long ago there were two sisters, Li Fang and Li Hua. Li Fang wed Liu Xuan, giving birth to you, Liu Yun. Li Hua wed Ling Fei, giving birth to Ling Xian'er. Your aunt has since passed away—may she rest in peace. This secret I reveal today, for the sake of your aunt's memory. Xian'er is no common girl, but how could ordinary men ever be worthy of her? I hoped only for her a worthy match. For her sake, forgive my rash words and care for her henceforth."
Xian'er bowed her head, sorrow in her voice:"Grandmother, it is I who have caused you grief."
Granny Yao's eyes, softened with entreaty, turned to Liu Yun:"Liu Yun, forgive my earlier harshness. Since she is your cousin, I entrust her to you. Take care of her."
Liu Yun, shaken, recalled her reckless anger, now directed against her own kin. She stood uncertain. Granny Yao bent low, then addressed Wu Tong and the other two ladies:"Lord Wu, ladies—today my granddaughter follows you into the jianghu. Teach her if she errs. If she refuses to listen, then let her reap what she sows. I can do no more."
She turned to Xian'er, gazing deeply:"Lord Wu is righteous, his ladies wise and generous. Learn from them. The martial world is cruel. Since you have chosen this path, I can only guide you so far."
Li Qian, moved by the old woman's humility, tears brimming, said:"Elder, be at ease. I, Li Qian, will treat Xian'er as my own sister."
Zhao Rou also stepped forward, her eyes gentle:"Elder, I too will treat her as my own sister."
Born lowly, Zhao Rou had been blessed to marry Wu Tong, fulfilling her heart's dearest wish—to remain forever at the side of the man she loved.