Be Gentle, Immortal Master

I packed up my supplies and got ready for the new day of tournaments. Bai Ye's strangeness last night still confused me a little—even though retreats always meant a chance of danger, he never seemed like the type to be afraid of such things—but considering this was the first time he needed to go through one of these ever since we met, I suppose it was natural to feel a bit uneasy, as he was probably more worried about my safety than his own. I had been too good at getting myself into trouble these days, and he wouldn't be able to come to my rescue like always if I needed help while he was gone.

With those thoughts, I secured Twin Stars onto my belt and made my way out the door. But just as my feet crossed the threshold, a strong surge of spiritual power flooded through me, so powerful that I stumbled. That pulse of presence at the edge of my consciousness was back. I looked down at Twin Stars, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the familiar crimson light glowing through the sheaths.

It wasn't my usual meditation time yet. How did its power awaken without being called through that technique? I instinctively wanted to resist the pull of that spiritual presence, but it was too late. The next thing I knew, I was in an unfamiliar room again. Bai Ye was standing by the window, staring into the light rain falling over the awning.

Another vision. Was this the power of Ocean Tear? Had it strengthened my bonding with Twin Stars so much that the visions could reach me now even without meditation?

Knowing there was no way out of a vision until Twin Stars let me, I turned my attention to the Bai Ye in front of me. He looked a little different this time from the previous two visions. That lighthearted, daring look was lighter on his face than before. His eyes seemed darker, his gaze into the distance heavier, the air about him more solemn. He was a lot more like the present-day him this time.

I wondered if these visions could've been in chronicle order. How much time had passed in between each of them?

Footsteps sounded behind me. Bai Ye turned, and I followed his gaze to find the girl in the red dress coming into the room.

"You went to the cave again," he said.

"The yin power in that chamber helps me," the girl replied. "I think I've perfected this technique now. If you'd like, I can carve it on the stone walls next time I go."

My eyes widened. So this was happening at Mount Hua after all … And this girl was the one that carved those illustrations in the cave chamber? I studied her more carefully, realizing belatedly that she hadn't aged either since the last vision. But although her look hadn't changed at all, the way she carried herself was completely different. No longer the spirited, innocent girl, she seemed much sharper, much stronger.

She must've grown up since last time. But how was that possible? Immortals only stop aging after ascension, and reaching ascension at sixteen was unheard of. Let alone the fact that as soon as disciples arrived at that stage, they were no longer supposed to remain at their master's halls.

"You know what I'd like." Bai Ye sighed. "That technique makes your power grow too fast. You should've stopped long ago."

The girl glared at him. "You were the one that nagged me to practice. Now that I'm good at it, you are the one that nags me to stop."

"That was a long time ago. You needed it then. But the bond is strong enough now to support your body—"

"Or you've gotten enough out of it from me, so you don't need me to do it anymore."

A hint of hurt flashed across Bai Ye's eyes. "You know that's not the case."

I gaped at how different this conversation was from the last one I saw. Although Bai Ye's tone towards the girl had been cold back then, he didn't seem to want to hurt her feelings, and I could tell there was genuine attachment between them. But this time, she seemed … estranged from him, and I had never seen anyone talk to Bai Ye in such a dominating way. It surprised me that he had simply tolerated it.

The girl looked at him. Then she turned her head away. "I'm sorry," she said in a softer tone. "You're right. This power … sometimes I can't help but feel I'm not myself anymore. It's almost like another person is controlling what I do and say. I didn't mean it. I …"

Bai Ye strode forward and gathered her in his arms. "I know," he said. "I know how hard it is for you … but that's precisely why you have to stop further bonding before it's too late. The power of a demonic sword is not something we can challenge. Not yet. If this power in you gets any stronger …"

The girl nodded. "Give me a little more time. Before your next retreat, I'll try to get everything under control. I promise."

The two of them stayed still in that embrace, and the vision slowly faded. With a bright flash of light, I was back at the pagoda again, still in the middle of my doorway.

My hands grew cold. The cave chamber, the bonding, the power of Twin Stars and its influence … It seemed like these visions were trying to tell me something, but too much of the crucial information was left out. How was the girl able to improve that technique? Why did Bai Ye say she needed the bonding to support her body? What did she mean by he was getting something out of it from her?

But above all, what stunned me most was the realization that she was indeed bound to Twin Stars.. Because I remembered very clearly that a demonic sword could only bind to one person in its lifetime, and that person right now was me.