Tianshan Peak, outside Xie Qingmo’s small bamboo hut.Life at Tianshan Peak is indeed much quieter than at Wulai Peak, full of spiritual energy and far away from disturbances.However, for Jinchen, this tranquility would occasionally be broken by uninvited guests.On this day, a handsome sword-cultivating junior brother came here.He saw Jinchen standing outside the bamboo house from afar. He paused slightly and felt awe in his heart, but he still mustered up the courage to step forward and salute Jinchen respectfully."Master Sword Spirit is well. Disciple...disciple has something to report to Senior Brother Xie alone. Could you please ask Master Sword Spirit...to step aside for a moment?"Jin Chen was originally leaning lazily on the bamboo, but upon hearing that, he slowly raised his mischievous eyes and glanced at his junior fellow apprentice with a bit of amusement and coldness, then his gaze turned to the vaguely visible figure of Xie Qingmo in the bamboo house."……oh?"Jinchen stretched out the last syllable of the sentence, and then he actually stood up, casually picked up a piece of dogtail grass from the side, put it in his mouth, and walked away with his arms around his chest.[He wants to steal my wife.] Jinchen said firmly.Ling Gun Gun made a loud noise: [That's really lustful! So bold. ]The junior brother breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately Master Sword Spirit did not insist on staying.Little did they know that for the ancient sword spirit who could communicate with the sword master's mind, this distance was no different from standing in front of him and talking.Junior brother Jian Xiu walked into the bamboo house and bowed deeply to Xie Qingmo who was meditating, his face flushed with excitement."Thank you, Senior Brother! I...I have admired you for a long time! You are a man of heaven and a master in swordsmanship. This is what I have been pursuing all my life! I...I am devoted to you and would like to become your Taoist partner! If we practice together, I will surely help you reach a higher level!"His words were sincere and his eyes were burning.Jinchen was deep in the bamboo forest, his eyes narrowed dangerously.In the sea of consciousness, his voice was like a crazy presence in Xie Qingmo's mind.Xie Qingmo, it's obvious at first glance that this kid has an unstable foundation.Dual cultivation, is he qualified? What does he know about dual cultivation?Xie Qingmo, look out the window, there is a bird that looks particularly stupid.Xie Qingmo, I’m hungry. I want to eat what you cooked last time... Forget it, your cooking is not tasty. Let me cook it.Thank you Qingmo... Thank you Qingmo, thank you Qingmo.Xie Qingmo: “…”It's so noisy.Xie Qingmo slowly opened his eyes, rubbed his brows, and said to his sword-cultivating junior brother, "No."It's decisive and there's no room for maneuver.A look of disappointment flashed across that junior fellow's face, but he was not discouraged. Looking at Xie Qingmo's cold and elegant appearance, he couldn't help but speak again."So... does Senior Brother Xie already have someone he likes?" He paused, thinking of a certain saying that was circulating in the sect, and his voice became even lower, "Or... Senior Brother is really like what the sect master once said privately... After he breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage, he will cut off worldly ties and practice the ruthless way?"When Xie Qingmo heard the three words "Wuqing", his body stiffened slightly, almost imperceptibly.Jinchen: ???What kind of Taoism does my wife want to cultivate? !Xie Qingmo maintained his calmness on the surface, and his voice became even colder, "It has nothing to do with you."He said no more, stood up, walked past his stunned fellow apprentice, and walked out of the bamboo house.He had just taken a few steps when a dark figure appeared out of nowhere and blocked his way.The usual laziness on Jinchen's face disappeared, and he stared into Xie Qingmo's eyes, "Tell me, do you want to practice the ruthless way?"Xie Qingmo met his burning gaze, which seemed to reach straight into his heart.He subconsciously looked away, looking at the misty sea of clouds in the distance, and said with a bit of hesitation, "...I did have this plan in the past."When he was still alone and his heart was frozen, the ruthless path seemed to be the most direct and safest way to the pinnacle of the sword. Jinchen asked, "What about now?"Xie Qingmo was silent for a moment, confusion and struggle emerging between his cold brows.It's not that he can't see his own feelings clearly, but the invisible barrier between "emotion" and "Tao" is caused by the psychological shackles of his past experiences and cold temperament, which has not yet been completely broken.He finally whispered, "I'm…not sure yet."Jinchen: "..."Jin Chen gritted his teeth and said, "Xie Qingmo, you're making me so mad."Before he finished speaking, Jin Chen's figure turned into a stream of light and instantly disappeared into the sea of clouds.Xie Qingmo stared blankly in the direction where Jinchen disappeared, the sunset reflected on his handsome but confused face.He stood there somewhat at a loss.Xing Yan and Shi Yan sneaked over at some point and they looked at each other.Shi Yan: "Second Senior Brother, why did Master Jinchen leave in such a huff? Where did he go to play?"Xie Qingmo shook his head slightly, "...I don't know."Xing Yan sighed and took a step forward, "Brother, actually... we all heard it."He looked at Xie Qingmo's confused expression and couldn't help but point it out, "Brother, we actually think... you have long given up the idea of practicing the Ruthless Way."Xie Qingmo frowned even more tightly and looked at Xing Yan, "Why do you say that?"Even he himself hasn't figured it out yet.Lan Yi also came over at this time. She was very thoughtful and could see things more clearly.She looked at Xie Qingmo and said in a clear voice, "Brother, think about it. If you really practice the ruthless way, cut off all emotions and desires, and regard all things as straw dogs.""What about Lord Jinchen? He is the sword spirit that is connected to you by blood and soul. Your way is his way.""The Merciless Sword Master, can his sword spirit still retain the lively and agile temperament it has now?"Xing Yan continued, “I’m afraid I’ll also be infected by that ruthless Dao, become cold and indifferent, and even... gradually become distant from you. I won’t be by your side all the time like I am now, joking and bickering with you, and I won’t...”He paused, his cheeks slightly red, but he still said it, "I will not have any...intimate behavior with you.""The ruthless path is destined to be a lonely one. It will sever all your ties with this world, including... naturally, Master Sword Spirit."Lan Yi's voice was filled with a sigh, "By then, Senior Brother, can you really afford to lose him?"Shi Yan was unable to utter a word. He looked at his senior sister, then at his senior brother, and only said, "Master Jian Ling must be very sad now."He still has to add a few words.Lord Sword Spirit also said that he would give spirit stones as gifts. What will happen if we break up?Xie Qingmo stood there in a daze.Every word his junior brothers and sisters said hit his heart hard."Losing Jinchen...""Distant...""Cold and indifferent...""No more intimacy..."Just imagining Jinchen looking at me with eyes as if he were a stranger.Imagine that he no longer follows me closely, no longer chatters in my ears, and no longer gives me those warm touches and hugs.Imagine that Chen Jian became silent and lost his luster because of his own "Tao"...The sour, sharp and suffocating pain spread from the depths of his heart without any warning, and Xie Qingmo finally understood everything.It turned out that he had already fallen deeply in love with Jinchen, so deeply... the mere thought of possibly losing her was enough to make him heartbroken and irreparable.The evening breeze blew his white robe.Xie Qingmo stood there, his face looking a little pale in the sunset glow."I see."Xie Qingmo clenched the sword in his hand, "You guys go and rest first, I...I'll go find Jinchen."