Pei Yuhang quickly explained to Ye Liyuan what had just happened.
When Ye Liyuan heard that Yu Xiaoyan had actually comprehended Sword Intent, she covered her mouth in astonishment.
To comprehend one's own Sword Intent during the Foundation Establishment Stage... that level of aptitude could no longer be described as merely genius.
'She's an absolute monster.'
When she heard that Yu Xiaoyan had cried sorrowfully because she couldn't bear for her "sister" to leave her, she sighed helplessly.
"Xiaoxiao has lived for so long with two souls in one body. Forcibly separating the Divine Souls might not be the right approach. It could very well leave her Dao Heart incomplete."
For a Cultivator, the Dao Heart is of utmost importance. Aptitude and the innate talent of one's physique determine a Cultivator's starting point, but the Dao Heart determines their true upper limit.
If a Cultivator's Dao Heart is destroyed, their entire future is ruined.
This was also Pei Yuhang's greatest worry after Ye Liyuan suffered the calamitous Celestial Tribulation.
He had been afraid that after his Dao Companion's Dao Foundation was destroyed, her Dao Heart would also shatter, leaving her unable to recover and reducing her to a soulless, walking corpse.
Now that Ye Liyuan had brought up the issue of the Dao Heart, Pei Yuhang nodded and said, "Yes, that's why I'm planning to have Xiaoxiao practice the Divine Soul Fusion Technique."
"The Divine Soul Fusion Technique? Isn't it too early, too profound for a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator?"
"We can't delay any longer. Xiaoxiao said she can begin to face her Golden Core Celestial Tribulation in a month. Having two Divine Souls will multiply the tribulation's difficulty. Xiaoxiao won't be able to withstand it."
"Besides, after a Cultivator reaches the Golden Core realm, their Divine Soul becomes incredibly resilient. It will be much more difficult to attempt a fusion then."
The thought gave Pei Yuhang a headache. Thankfully, his Dao Companion, as precious and comforting as Soft Jade, was by his side. Inhaling her fresh, pleasant scent, his heart grew calm.
"Yes. Whatever you decide to do, Ah Han, I will support you."
Ye Liyuan said.
...
Not wanting to disturb Ye Liyuan's rest any further, Pei Yuhang left the private chamber after finishing the meal with his Dao Companion.
After reaching the Golden Core realm, Pei Yuhang had rarely eaten mortal food. It wasn't until these past few months, after Liyuan lost her Cultivation and could no longer maintain Fasting, that he began eating worldly meals with his Dao Companion again.
Although these meals provided little nourishment for Pei Yuhang, simply being with the delectable Liyuan and satisfying his worldly appetite was a fine pleasure in itself.
After bidding his Dao Companion farewell, Pei Yuhang wandered aimlessly through the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.
He had been so busy these past few months, running everywhere for Liyuan's sake. Now that her condition was improving under the nourishment of the Fountain of Youth, and her life was at least no longer in danger, the sudden idleness left Pei Yuhang feeling a wave of emptiness.
SWOOSH— SWOOSH—
The sounds of something slicing through the air echoed in the desolate, snowy night.
He didn't have to guess who was practicing their swordsmanship so diligently again.
As usual, Pei Yuhang concealed his aura and prepared to watch the scene of the "Fairy dancing with her sword beneath the moon."
This was something Qing Yueqiu still did not know.
That her every moment of hard work was seen by him, her master.
...
The snow fell heavier and heavier. Amidst the biting wind, Qing Yueqiu's sword movements began to lose their form.
This was a cold night in the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, difficult even for Cultivators with surging Spiritual Qi flowing through their bodies.
Moreover, when Qing Yueqiu practiced, she would deliberately refrain from using Spiritual Qi to enhance her physical body, so she could experience the subtleties of her Swordsmanship with the sensitivity of an ordinary person.
This naturally made it even more unbearable.
The young woman's body was frozen to a point where her pale skin was flushed red, and her gaze grew unfocused.
Subconsciously, Qing Yueqiu recalled the cold night her master had found her.
That year, a blizzard the likes of which hadn't been seen in decades struck the Capital City.
Due to war, countless refugees had gathered outside the Capital City. After a single night, if you stood on the city walls, you could see a field of stiff corpses below, all covered in a layer of white frost.
Such a mass of corpses could not be left there, of course. Such a heart-wrenching tragedy was not to be seen at the foot of the Mortal Emperor.
Every day, the Forbidden Army would pile up the refugees who had frozen to death outside the city for mass cremation.
But even so, endless waves of refugees continued to flock to the frigid outskirts of the Capital City.
This was because outside the Capital City, the Court directly distributed rice rations. As long as you could get your share each day, you wouldn't starve to death. In other cities, the relief grain was whittled down by layers of corruption until almost nothing was left...
People would rather freeze to death in the cold night than let stomach acid burn through their insides and starve to death. And so, they rushed to the Capital City, one after another.
Ironically, the corpses that were turned to firewood became the very resource that allowed the next wave of refugees to survive.
The great fires fueled by the bodies of those who had frozen to death warmed the frostbitten hands and feet of those who came after.
Some of the shrewder refugees began to secretly gather the frozen corpses, burning them as firewood at night to keep warm and grasp at another chance to eke out a meager existence.
Qing Yueqiu was one of those refugees.
Back then, she had no name. She was just a destitute refugee whose life was as worthless as a roadside weed, fated to die in some forgotten corner at any moment.
But even so, she struggled with all her might to live.
Because her body was too weak, she couldn't fight off the other refugees for the relief grain. Even if she managed to grab some, it would likely be snatched away by someone stronger.
She had heard that life inside the Capital City was prosperous. The leftover meat and wine from the rich masters' daily feasts were enough to make a refugee fat and strong. Even just eating the scraps that restaurants dumped into the alleyways was a life fit for the gods.
And so, she formed a grand ambition: to successfully enter the Capital City and become a Capital City beggar!
Later, using her small frame, she managed to hide in a grain cart of a merchant caravan and sneak into the Capital City.
The Capital City was truly magnificent. There was no distinction between day and night. At all hours, the streets were filled with people singing and dancing. Even deep in the night, the city glowed as bright as day under the endless lamplight.
However, she was self-aware enough to know that she was just a lowly rat with cursed silver hair. She could not stand in the sunlight, could not be seen by the people in their bright, beautiful clothes.
The dim alleyways were the only place she could belong.
Fortunately, the refugees outside hadn't been lying. She snatched her first piece of meat in two years from the mouth of a large yellow dog.
And just like that, with her tenacious will to live, she survived in the Capital City.
But Lady Luck would not smile on her forever.
On a night when the moon was very large and round, and the air was even more frigid, she fell ill.
Her small body, covered in bruises and split-open wounds from being beaten for stealing scraps, lay trembling in the corner of an alley. She was like a defeated kitten, licking her wounds alone.
Her head grew heavier and heavier, her body hotter and hotter.
But her heart grew colder and colder.
She knew she probably wasn't going to make it.
'To fall like a weed in some unknown, dark corner... that's probably the fate for people like me.'
'No matter how strong the will to live, it only buys you a few more days, maybe half a month.'
'It's like a stray dog running for its life. Sooner or later, it can't escape the fate of rotting in some corner.'
She thought of her father, whom she had buried with her own hands on the road during their escape.
'Was it this cold when Father died? No, he was smiling when he passed. Was it because I was with him?'
'But now, I have to die all alone.'
'Is there anyone... who can be with me...?'
In her daze, a pair of white shoes appeared before her.
He was holding an umbrella, shielding her from the snow that had been blanketing her body.
"Brother Pei, what are you doing?"
"Oh, Junior Sister Ye... This girl is asking me for help..."
The handsome young master in white spoke as he placed a hand on her, dispelling the chill of death and leaving her with nothing but the warmth of his large hand.
On that lonely, cold night, for the first time since her family was destroyed and she had lost everyone, Qing Yueqiu felt warmth.