15 Among the Blossoms

Page 1/3

The sole pattern of the shoes—seven stars arching around the moon—was not only remembered by Jade Cicada Garment but she was certain her memory was accurate.

Back when she was at Green Peak, she had used a puppet to impersonate Wei Shengming.

At that time, she was obsessed with the intricacies of sword techniques and counters. Encountering Wei Shengming’s lethal moves was like hitting a hard bone; despite prolonged effort, she could not break through. This frustration burned within her, and she became fixated on deciphering his killing moves before leaving Green Peak—it nearly became an obsession.

To better understand Wei Shengming, she asked Lu Wenshu to procure the sect robes of the Taiwei Sect. She dressed her puppet in them, treating it as though it were Wei Shengming himself, practicing swordplay against it day and night.

Among the Taiwei Sect’s robes was indeed a pair of shoes patterned with the seven stars arching the moon.

For a long time, she was accompanied only by that puppet acting as “Wei Shengming.” She would never mistake that seven-star-and-moon pattern.

When one disguises oneself or changes appearance, people usually focus on altering facial features and clothing. But subtle places like shoe soles, hidden from view, are rarely noticed.

Almost instantly, Jade Cicada Garment was convinced that the Daoist Li she had encountered was a cultivator of the Taiwei Sect.

However, she could not understand why a disciple of Taiwei Sect would wander alone in this remote valley as a wandering cultivator.

Suppressing her doubts for the time being, Jade Cicada Garment decided not to dwell on it.

Though Li Daoist had not revealed his identity, he had not acted against Wu Xilan or the Incomplete Sect. Without knowing the full picture, it was best to wait and see.

Jade Cicada Garment was very calm and patient; she would not make any moves before the other’s intentions became clear.

After some time, the spiritual herbs in Wu Xilan’s spirit field matured and were ready for sale.

The rejuvenation pills they had refined were also completed, so Jade Cicada Garment and Wu Xilan headed to the market to set up a stall.

On the way, they encountered Li Daoist again.

His name was Li Xu, still with the same shy, childlike face. Seeing Wu Xilan and Jade Cicada Garment, he greeted them, “Daoist Wu, Daoist Yu, are you going to set up a stall? How was the germination rate of the seeds last time? If it wasn’t good, I have a new batch.”

As a descendant of Shennong, Wu Xilan had no trouble growing any herbs. She replied, “Your seeds are naturally excellent. Next time you have any fresh spiritual herb seeds, be sure to bring some for me to see.”

“Alright.” Li Xu nodded, then looked at Jade Cicada Garment. “Daoist Yu, you look unfamiliar. Have we not met before in Yan Continent?”

Suddenly, his attention shifted to Jade Cicada Garment.

Wu Xilan was surprised and glanced at Li Xu, not understanding why he asked.

Wandering cultivators without sects often drift, their whereabouts uncertain. They might cultivate in one cave today and another tomorrow, traveling through many places over the years.

To put it nicely, they were wanderers of the four seas; less flatteringly, they were rootless. Under such circumstances, wandering cultivators rarely inquire about each other’s backgrounds; most encounters were fleeting.

Why was Li Xu suddenly inquiring about her junior sister?

Wu Xilan grew wary.

Could it be… that he had ulterior motives?

Jade Cicada Garment’s expression remained calm and unruffled. She coldly said, “Is it because you don’t often stay in Yan Continent?”

The light remark left Li Xu awkwardly scratching his nose, and he said no more. He glanced once more at Jade Cicada Garment, saw her indifferent demeanor, and finally walked away.

His retreat seemed somewhat like a hasty escape. Wu Xilan could not help but say, “This Daoist Li is strange. Why would he ask about you? Could it be… he’s discovered something?”

Wu Xilan was referring to Jade Cicada Garment’s identity as a member of the Yuan Shen Kui clan. At even the thought, her heart tightened and her brows furrowed.

Jade Cicada Garment replied, “No, he’s just feeling guilty.”

Li Xu did not often stay in Yan Continent because he was from the Taiwei Sect in Liu Continent. But why he was living in this valley was unknown.

Seeing Jade Cicada Garment so resolute, Wu Xilan did not question further.

Having been with Jade Cicada Garment for over three months, she knew her nature well; if Jade Cicada Garment said it was fine, then it was fine.

Moreover, Wu Xilan had known Li Xu for quite some time and believed he was not ill-intentioned.

With this in mind, Wu Xilan dismissed her suspicions and let go of the matter.

Page 2/3

When they reached the cultivators’ market and set up their stall, Wu Xilan’s spiritual herbs sold out quickly, earning 500 spirit coins—a decent income.

Wu Xilan told Jade Cicada Garment, “I come here often. As long as we don’t run into the Sword Sect’s disciples forcing purchases, the prices people offer are quite fair.”

As they were about to pack up and leave, they saw Li Xu again.

He was not setting up a stall, hands empty, seemingly here to buy something.

Jade Cicada Garment saw him enter a tavern, standing by the wine counter and talking with the owner.

Her brows furrowed deeply, an inexplicable irritation rising in her heart.

When she first arrived at this market and hid in the shadows to avoid the wind and snow, she had slipped into this very tavern.

No one would notice a shadow in the corner; even if noticed, it would be hard to distinguish her in the darkness. Jade Cicada Garment had learned something then—that the tavern owner was also affiliated with the Taiwei Sect.

At the time, she thought it unimportant and did not dwell on it. But now, two Taiwei Sect members had appeared near her.

If this were Liu Continent, it would be normal, but here in Yan Continent, it was odd.

The Taiwei Sect was a major sect; even if no longer the largest of the five great sects, its deep foundation and wealth meant even outer disciples did not need to go out begging for work.

Their appearance here must have another purpose.

At that moment, Jade Cicada Garment sharply sensed a probing gaze falling on her.

It was a covert, sneaky look—not intense but furtive. She was exceptionally sensitive to such scrutinizing eyes.

Back at Green Peak, as a mortal and a rare existence unfit for the Giant Sea’s ten continents, living under layers of restrictions set by Lu Wenshu, disciples from the Sword Sect who knew of her existence often looked at her with such investigative eyes.

Almost immediately, Jade Cicada Garment turned swiftly and fixed her gaze on one cultivator—a male vendor selling magical tools.

Seeing her look back, he quickly lowered his head, pretending not to watch her.

“Junior sister? Junior sister? What are you dazing for?” Wu Xilan called several times, but Jade Cicada Garment did not respond, waving her hand in front of her.

Jade Cicada Garment snapped out of her trance.

“Let’s go get some wine,” Wu Xilan said, pointing at the tavern’s sign. “This place sells spirit wine that’s expensive but delicious, and it helps regulate internal energy, which aids cultivation. Let’s buy a pot to take back.”

Cultivation benefits were secondary—it was mainly because it tasted good.

Clearly, Wu Xilan thought her junior sister had never tried it before and wanted to treat her to something new.

Wu Xilan hopped toward the tavern—the very one Li Xu had just left.

Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Jade Cicada Garment followed and entered the tavern with Wu Xilan to buy wine. Meanwhile, Li Xu had already vanished.

For some reason, a strong premonition urged Jade Cicada Garment to glance back at the magical tools vendor’s stall. She saw Li Xu there, squatting before the vendor, talking.

Her brows furrowed again. A strange intuition told her the vendor might also be from the Taiwei Sect.

After Wu Xilan finished buying the wine, she went to the vendor’s stall and purchased a jade furnace for refining pills—a new pill furnace.

They bargained back and forth.

“I buy from you often, can’t you give me a discount?” Wu Xilan said.

The vendor hesitated but ultimately agreed, dropping the price from 100 to 80 spirit coins.

Satisfied with her purchases, Wu Xilan counted her remaining coins and considered when she could buy a fine sword for Jade Cicada Garment. Although last time she nearly got tricked by two disciples of the Sword Sect, the best swords in Yan Continent still came from the Sword Sect. Jade Cicada Garment could verify if a sword truly came from them, so she could be called upon to check, avoiding future deception.

A genuine Sword Sect sword, even without being tricked, was still a heavy burden on her purse.

If it weren’t for needing to refine a new concealment pill, she could have saved these eighty spirit coins.

But with Jade Cicada Garment around, pill consumption increased, so preparation was necessary.

Page 3/3

Wu Xilan quietly planned in her heart, unaware of Jade Cicada Garment’s increasingly troubled expression.

After some thought, Jade Cicada Garment could not help but ask, “Senior sister, are these all shops you frequent?”

“Yes, I’m a regular. The Daoists here are generous and often give me discounts.” Wu Xilan, thinking Jade Cicada Garment was concerned about money, reassured her, “Junior sister, don’t worry! I have some savings. When the herbs in the spirit field bloom and bear fruit next time, we’ll sell them and buy a sword.”

Jade Cicada Garment gave a bitter smile, uncertain how to speak. She had a bold suspicion—that these Taiwei Sect people might be targeting the Incomplete Sect.

At first, she guessed that the Taiwei Sect disciples disguised themselves as merchants on Yan Continent with hidden agendas, likely against the Sword Sect.

But these people—the Li Xu, the tavern, the magical tools vendor—all frequently interacted with Wu Xilan.

Clearly, they were circling around Wu Xilan.

In other words, the Taiwei Sect’s interest might be focused on Wu Xilan or, by extension, the Incomplete Sect.

Jade Cicada Garment cautiously asked, “Senior sister, how long have you known Daoist Li?”

Wu Xilan thought for a moment, “Two or three hundred years, I suppose.”

Two or three hundred years… before Jade Cicada Garment’s arrival, the Incomplete Sect had already been watched by the Taiwei Sect.

So this had nothing to do with her.

Realizing this, Jade Cicada Garment breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart was still not completely at ease.

She asked again, “What is the relationship between the Incomplete Sect and the Taiwei Sect?”

Wu Xilan laughed heartily, “Haha… what kind of relationship could there be? We’re a declining little sect; they’re the largest—well, second largest—sect in the Giant Sea’s ten continents. Oh, don’t think too much. Just wait; I’ll find a way to get you a sword.”

Jade Cicada Garment said no more.

If her suspicions were true and she was being watched by so many eyes, she would have to be even more cautious in the future.

Back at the Incomplete Sect, Jade Cicada Garment developed the habit of sending her shadow out daily to patrol.

Fortunately, the sect was very clean, and inside the sect, she did not feel watched as she had at the market.

Li Xu did not appear again.

A few days later, Jade Cicada Garment rose early.

The Yu Xiao flowers she had planted in the spirit field had blossomed. Wu Xilan asked her to collect the petals for pill refining. Once refined, they could be sold at the market to accumulate spirit coins and eventually buy her a sword. Thus, Jade Cicada Garment cared deeply for the field of Yu Xiao flowers.

Seeing the flowers was like seeing the sword. She carried a jade bottle as usual, heading to the spirit field to gather dew.

Upon arrival, she suddenly stopped.

The spirit field was a mess.

Amidst a glow of time’s light, on the field that should have been filled with pale yellow Yu Xiao flowers lay a man dressed in black with black hair.

His black robe spread out, shimmering with flowing light like a layer of magnificent crow feathers—an understated yet dazzling black that crushed the scattered pale yellow petals beneath.

But his face was pale and chilling, ghostlike. His eyes were tightly closed, long lashes casting shadows on his lids, his delicate lips devoid of color, nearly blending with his deathly pale skin.

Damp, messy strands of hair clung to his face and neck, thick and unkempt, obscuring his features.

The Yu Xiao flowers beneath him were stained a vivid scarlet. Droplets of blood fell and gathered on the petals, mixing with the crystal-clear dew, turning the pale yellow petals to muddy ruin.

He lay there, barely breathing, so quiet it seemed as if he were merely asleep.