Punishment Sword Platform.
When these three words were spoken.
The whispers among the Yunluan disciples gathered around the range of the 'Demon-locking Forest' suddenly fell silent.
They had not expected,
the Young Palace Master, Senior Sister, who always followed rules and cared little about anything...
actually lost her temper.
Even those who had been in the Yunluan Sword Palace for a dozen or even twenty years had never seen such a scene.
This was the Punishment Sword Platform!
The Sword Palace cultivated many sword cultivators, each of whom took the mission of 'Demon Slayer' seriously. The disciples trained were all hot-tempered, ready to draw swords at the slightest disagreement.
To resolve disputes, the sect had the 'Punishment Sword Platform', where if there were any disagreements, as long as it didn't involve life and death, anyone who fought on the platform, even if severely injured and near death, would acknowledge their skills couldn't compare!
Afterwards, regardless of victory or defeat.
Those who went on the Punishment Sword Platform must accept punishment, personally going to the 'Sword Viewing Forest', before the Sword Monument Stone filled with Yunluan Sword Qi, to suffer the pain of 'Sword Qi piercing the heart'.
Sword, for contest.
Punishment, for discipline.
The two combined, this is the Punishment Sword Platform.
For a Half-Demon who just entered!
To this extent!
Could it be...
the Young Palace Master truly moved by mortal emotions?
Many who had merely speculated...
now had wandering glances between Song Brahman Mirror and Song Chai Xin, finding themselves believing to some extent.
Looking at Song Brahman Mirror before him, dressed in a Yunluan Dress, her hair pinned up in a cascade, actions and demeanor indifferent, feeling as if separated by a distant sky and ocean.
Cui Chan's face flushed, gripping his sword handle tightly, yet faced with the confronting lady, not a word could be uttered.
He was speaking for her benefit.
Yet, Song Brahman Mirror shamelessly slapped the face of a principal before the entire Yunluan Mountain disciples!
This Half-Demon...
could be this important?
Contrasting Cui Chan's internal anger and embarrassment, Song Brahman Mirror had no expression.
Even if facing one of the three Elders, the 'Locking Demon Forest Leader', guaranteed like her, to become a cornerstone of the Yunluan Palace in fifty years if nothing unexpected happened.
But so what?
It only made Song Brahman Mirror barely remember his name.
Regardless of his intentions.
Their paths would never intersect.
Thus thinking, she turned her head, wanting to take away the person she brought here personally, intact.
Unjust treatment was inevitable for Song Chai Xin.
But at least...
her intervention could ensure his public situation wouldn't be too difficult.
But what remains, he must manage on his own.
Song Brahman Mirror thought to herself.
Unconsciously gazing at the young man she personally named 'Song Chai Xin', her heart felt strange.
She felt like looking into a mirror.
If,
from the start, her identity were exposed, then the fate suffered, would be no different from Song Chai Xin?
Gossip and rumors within Yunluan Mountain were utterly baseless.
They would never know...
The outwardly 'respected' Senior Sister, Young Palace Master, was really helping this young lad for her own selfish reasons.
Just...
Shoop!
At this moment,
A decree glowing with golden light flew down from the Yunluan Peak, Cloud Peak Celestial Pool, descended swiftly in front of the Demon-locking Forest, slowly unfolded, exposed to everyone's view:
[As the Young Master of the Sword Palace, one should have the heart to unite and embrace, respect the elders, broadly connect the Dao, how could you impulsively navigate the sword to an extreme path.]
[Punished to kneel in front of the 'Sword Viewing Forest Sword Monument' for three months, suffer the punishment of Sword Qi piercing the heart, as caution to all.]
The words on the decree appeared one by one.
Making Song Brahman Mirror's cold yet beautiful face show a mocking curve.
Then she lifted her jade neck, gazing at the highest point of Yunluan Peak, where the summit Celestial Pool was covered by ice and snow year-round.
"Ha."
"Do you also think I was wrong?"
Why all those usual disputes were ignored,
but coming forth for a Half-Demon had to be harshly punished?
If dissatisfied,
why not outright abolish me!
Or is it due to certain guilty feelings?
At this moment, the biting cold struck, despite seemingly surrounded by glory and beauty, Song Brahman Mirror only felt as if walking on thin ice.
Rapid progress in cultivation nearly made her forget her situation.
Appearances like flourishing flowers and oil in boiling flames, yet excessive is as bad as deficient!
Sometimes, standing high, if there were missteps, the fall...
would be all the more tragic.
The woman tightly pressed her lips, scanning those around with lowered heads, though unable to hide their schadenfreude.
And a batch who respected her, yet still had confusion and doubts about her behavior, from the younger generation.
For the first time, her heart was filled with bottomless dread.
The path ahead is unclear, with not a single person to accompany me.
This is truly a terrifying thing.
No matter how firm one's Dao Heart may be.
It is impossible not to be shaken.
Until Song Brahman Mirror turned her head.
She saw Song Chai Xin with furrowed brows, looking at the decree, with a displeasure almost overflowing from her eyes, showing no respect whatsoever for the so-called 'Yunluan Sword Master.'
All there was, was worry for her situation, fearing that involvement would bring harm to him.
The 'Celestial Book Fragment' in her arms was heating up, forming line after line of text.
Seeing Song Chai Xin's sincere and genuine concern engraved on the Celestial Book, without any pretense.
For the first time in her life, Song Brahman Mirror felt,
that there might be a possibility to let go of that 'mask' before others.
...
Three months.
Sword Viewing Forest.
The 'Yunluan Sword Net' enveloped the whole Yunluan Mountain, maintaining the True Sword weapons within that disperse sword Qi — Yunluan, which resided there.
But the Sword Monument Stone was at the entrance of the Sword Viewing Forest.
Any disciples entering the Sword Viewing Forest to choose a sword or comprehend mysteries would most likely pass through the entrance.
The Sword Monument of Sword Viewing Forest was filled with the sword Qi of a thousand swords writhing around.
Even for a 'Great Innate' individual, kneeling at the forefront was extremely difficult, equivalent to having one's skin endlessly being torn by sword Qi, with a pain that could rip the heart and lungs.
But compared to the physical pain.
The psychological trauma was even harder to bear.
With people coming and going, it meant almost every disciple of Yunluan Mountain could see the Young Palace Master kneeling before the Sword Monument, long black hair draping to her waist, a pale complexion.
For those who usually stood aloof.
Losing face, sometimes, is harder to accept than being severely injured.
But regarding all this, Song Brahman Mirror paid no mind, treating this 'baptism' as a stepping stone to temper herself.
This is who she is.
Song Brahman Mirror.
Born with a sword fetus.
Why strive to become the Swordsmanship Leader of the northwest 'Baoping State' in three hundred years?
Because, if she could become such a legend.
Even if all the filth about her was made public, no one would dare to say anything.
Day by day, time passed.
Song Chai Xin never came once.
Initially, there were still disciple fellows who, passing by, would stand in her position to express derision at Song Chai Xin's 'callousness.'
But as the first month passed.
Such voices dwindled significantly.
As the second and third months went by...
In this Sword Viewing Forest, before the Sword Monument.
Another young man covered in dripping blood, knelt, sitting beside her, appearing as usual.
[During the first month, Song Chai Xin left the Demon-locking Forest, entered the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, chopping wood and tending fires by day, while honing his skills at night. At month's end, achieved mastery in 'Golden Flesh and Jade Veins' of Martial Dao, completing the 'Meteor Chasing Moon Fist Scripture.']
[During the second month, Song Chai Xin left the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, submitted seventeen challenge posts, one per day, consecutively challenging and defeating seventeen Martial Pass Foundation Establishment practitioners at the second and third stage beneath 'Circulation Qi Collection,' without a single defeat!]
[Without exception, all of these people had been publicly derisive towards your actions.]
[During the third month, Song Chai Xin entered the Demon-locking Forest, drank demon blood, awakened his bloodline, refining blood and marrow by day and night, eventually achieving 'Mercury Blood Silver Marrow,' then...]
[Sought out the Law Enforcement Elder, requesting a same-realm battle with Cui Chan on the 'Punishment Sword Platform' with his 'Mercury Blood Silver Marrow' body.]
[In that battle, he narrowly escaped being beaten to death.]
[However, at the brink of life and death, in that critical juncture, Song Chai Xin comprehended the intent of the 'Meteor Chasing Moon Fist Scripture,' delivering a strike of 'Sun and Moon Shine Together,' forcing Cui Chan to don the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, using Qi to withstand, successfully defeating the True Sword top seat in their realm with only three months of cultivation!]
[After which, for using the 'Punishment Sword Platform,' he was sentenced to kneel before the Sword Monument for a month.]
Three months.
Almost every day, the 'Celestial Book Fragment' once beside me would inscribe Song Chai Xin's deeds within it.
Song Brahman Mirror watched exactly for three months.
Until Song Chai Xin slid over to sit beside her, indifferent to his blood-soaked body.
"Is it worth it for you to fight so hard?"
Song Brahman Mirror's tone was complicated, her heartstrings trembling.
To this, the blood-smeared young man simply chuckled:
"You asked me to call you 'Sister,' but it always felt awkward because sometimes, you seem quite naive too."
"Clearly, you don't need to stand up for me."
"Senior Sister."
His eyes suddenly turned serious:
"You have many choices, but you choose the worst one."
"And I..."
"I only have one choice."
"That is, to share your joy and sorrow, stand or fall together."
"That's speaking from a rational perspective."
With his head held high, letting the sword Qi cleanse his body, tearing his skin and flesh, yet remaining unimpressed:
"Speaking from an emotional perspective."
"Frankly, in my lifetime, I've only known and trusted you."
"I can't bear to see you bullied."
At this moment, the youth's shoulders seemed to bear a clear breeze and bright moon.
And upon hearing this, the woman said nothing, merely blinked.
Yet the brightness in her eyes was unparalleled.
[Song Brahman Mirror's affection for you rises, from meeting with regret → to sharing one's heart and soul!]