Firmament Sword

「South Sea, Luoshui Island.」

It was an expansive island with rolling mountain ranges, overlapping peaks, and towering summits. In the distance, the sea was as calm as a mirror under a cloudless sky.

A magnificent complex of buildings, with neatly arranged halls and houses, was hidden among the island’s mountains.

Luo Xinlan sat quietly on a massive boulder. Below her feet was a bottomless cliff, and beside her, the thunderous roar of a waterfall echoed. It was like a river from the heavens, plummeting from the high mountain.

Two years. It had been two years since she had left her home, her husband and sons, and the familiar Imperial Capital. Luo Xinlan missed her family dearly. She missed her two sons, and she missed the husband who cherished, loved, and respected her.

’I wonder how they’re doing now. Is my husband still at war...?’ Luo Xinlan murmured, gazing at the distant green mountains. ’It’s been two years. Has Luo’Er grown even more handsome? Has Lianyi become even more beautiful? Mother misses you so much...’

With a soft sigh, Luo Xinlan stood up. The mountain wind stirred the hem of her dress, making it flutter. Time had been kind to this woman, leaving no traces on her face. She looked like a young woman in her late twenties.

But at this moment, her eyes were filled with longing.

This was her sect. She was intimately familiar with every blade of grass and every tree, and she held a deep affection for this island.

But as wonderful as this place was, it was not her home.

”Junior Sister, I’ve been looking all over for you! So this is where you were.” A clear voice cut through the roar of the waterfall.

Luo Xinlan’s fine brows furrowed slightly, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. She turned to face the approaching person.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in cyan robes. He had sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, and his black hair was draped casually over his shoulders, giving him a free-spirited air.

”What’s wrong, Junior Sister? Are you homesick?” The young man offered a gentle smile, his face full of concern for Luo Xinlan, but a fiery passion flashed in the depths of his eyes.

He had been in love with this woman for many years!

He and Luo Xinlan were practically childhood sweethearts. They had grown up together, and he had always been fond of this junior sister who was a few years younger than him.

He once dreamed that one day, he would marry Luo Xinlan.

But unfortunately, his love was unrequited. Luo Xinlan had left the sect, returned to the mortal world, and married Xu Ji.

This had filled him with crazed jealousy for many years. Every time he saw Luo Xinlan, he couldn’t help but express his feelings for her. But Luo Xinlan was already married with a family and had only ever seen him as a brother. How could she possibly accept his love?

This continued until two years ago, when Luo Xinlan returned to the sect to request a Seven-Turn Foundation Establishment Pill. For the sect, this was considered a Top-Grade Elixir.

It could transform a person’s meridians and lay an excellent foundation for cultivation.

Normally, such an Elixir was absolutely forbidden from leaving the sect. Since Luo Xinlan had already left and was no longer a disciple of the South Sea’s Luoshui Nunnery, obtaining this Elixir should have been nearly impossible.

But He Fang Hall—the very senior brother standing before her—had gone against all opposition. On the condition that Luo Xinlan remain at the sect to serve for five years, he gave her the Elixir.

Luoshui Nunnery was a nunnery, but Luoshui... was a sect!

Therefore, the sect did have male disciples. However, most of them held low status within Luoshui Nunnery. The true power in this sect belonged to the nuns with profound cultivation.

He Fang Hall was the only exception, for he was the biological nephew of Luoshui Nunnery’s abbot!

He Fang Hall had lost his parents at a young age and was brought to Luoshui Island by his aunt, Nun Huitong, to become a disciple of Luoshui Nunnery.

Under Nun Huitong’s meticulous guidance and with the help of various Spirit Medicines, He Fang Hall lived up to expectations, reaching a high realm of cultivation at a young age.

Now, within Luoshui Nunnery, while his word wasn’t absolute law, few would dare to disrespect him or refuse him.

Moreover, most of the nuns in Luoshui Nunnery were dedicated to quiet cultivation, generally paid no mind to worldly affairs, and rarely argued with anyone.

As a result, He Fang Hall had practically become the Chief Steward of the entire Luoshui Nunnery, wielding immense power.

Back then, Luo Xinlan had also been a renowned disciple in Luoshui Nunnery, adored by many in the upper echelons. Thus, when He Fang Hall proposed that she stay and serve the sect for five years, they were happy to see it happen.

Many in Luoshui Nunnery’s leadership had been displeased when Luo Xinlan returned to the mortal world to marry.

In their eyes, people of the mortal world were vulgar and unbearable. One should either become a nun and sever all worldly ties, or, if one truly wished to marry, it should have been to He Fang Hall!

After all, He Fang Hall was one of their own.

Quite a few people in Luoshui Nunnery held this view. Therefore, they all turned a blind eye to He Fang Hall’s obviously selfish actions, pretending not to see them at all.

As for whether this was fair to Luo Xinlan and her family... that was simply not within their consideration.

”Senior Brother, is there something you need?” Luo Xinlan’s tone was distant, giving He Fang Hall no room for wishful thinking.

”What, can’t I come see you if there’s nothing I need? After all, you are my favorite junior sister!” He Fang Hall smiled, then walked up to Luo Xinlan, no longer bothering to hide the ardor in his eyes.

”Junior Sister, you know my heart. Why can’t you just give me one chance?” He Fang Hall said with a look of utter sincerity.