A long time passes, enough for the wind to start gathering in the cave. Enough for the sun to fall.
And enough for dawn to dusk.
Finally, she answered hesitantly.
"A sword is a tool. It is a weapon and a shield. One can use a sword to kill their enemy, or defend their love ones…" She said, her gaze staring at Shi Jing face to gauge his reaction.
Shi Jing eyes fluttered. When he heard this, he shook his head.
"Do you think that this is wrong?" She asked, not sure of her own answer.
"No, in truth, there is no right or wrong answer to this question."
He elaborated in a deep voice.
"A sword can be a weapon… Then why do we kill? A sword can be a shield… Yet why do we protect?"
Lin Xue was stunned.
For a second, she forgot her status as a famed inner disciple as well as foundation establishment cultivator.
She eagerly leaned forward, causing her hair to fall to her waist. Shi Jing words occupied her mind.
"In this, what do you see?"
"If I ask you what is life, will you say to live is to pursue happiness? Or to live so that we can avoid suffering?"
"Sword, sword… What is a sword? is it not the same as what is life?"
"Why do we kill people? Why do we protect people? Why do we live to pursue happiness? Why do we live to avoid suffering?"
This unique perspective was something Lin Xue never expected to come from this youth.
How could she expect this? After all, Shi Jing was a regressor who has experience many life and death.
A transmigrator of another world. A part time scholar of modern day.
"Life is like a mirror, we can use it to reflect ourselves or reflect others. In my life, I want to live without regret, this is a reflection of my heart."
"Thus, when holding a sword, I wield it without regrets! This is a reflection of myself!"
"When I hold my sword, I am thus, reflecting myself before reflecting my enemy."
"If people aim to kill me, then I will kill them! If people covet my life, I too, will kill them!"
This answer shocked both of them.
Even though Shi Jing was the one who spoke, inwardly, his sword intent began to move on its own, as though it was given life.
This sudden change startled him. He didn't expect to gain greatly from this discussion.
He had a feeling that given enough time, this sword intent of his would give birth to a sword heart!
"Sword is like life… Then what is my life..?" She murmured under her breath.
His words dazed her.
Disregarding her status and age, she grew respectful toward Shi Jing as she stood up.
This question repeatedly pound in her head. It was an enchanting whisper from beyond. One that beckon for her heart and attention.
Just from this interaction, Lin Xue didn't dare to underestimate this harmless looking young man.
"Thank you, fellow daoist." She said, bowing her head to show her sincerity while addressing him as equal.
"This, I have to thank you as well, senior sister," He waved then retorted," I have also resolved some of my doubts."
"With this, we can be considered even."
Hearing this, Lin Xue grew apprehensive. Even then, she can't help but feel indebted to him.
After all, she finally grasped the clues to comprehending her own sword intent. Even the inner court elders couldn't help her.
This matter was too significant to be dismissed casually.
"This… is one hundred middle grade spirit stone, I hope it is enough to show my sincerity." She says as she wave her hand, producing a pile of spirit stones.
Seeing this, Shi Jing didn't refuse her generous gesture.
A single middle grade stone is worth a hundred low grade spirit stone. This pile alone is worth ten-thousand low grade stone.
With his monthly income of fifty low-grade, this was basically a fortune!
At the same time, he hoped that she would stop by more, this way, he could obtain another harvest of spirit stone.
After offering her gratitude, she departed from his abode.
Shi Jing held a slight positive feeling toward this senior sister. Just a slight. Slight enough to remember her face.
To him, her arrival and depart was just like a passing breeze between heaven and earth.
Shi Jing returned to his previous routine.
Cultivating his sword art, accumulating spiritual essence to prepare for his breakthrough, as well as comprehending his own sword intent.
At the same time, Lin Xue sudden visit gave rise to a storm of rumors and gossips in the outer court.
This was only natural, since many had witnessed her visiting Shi Jing.
As a result, the calm lake that is the outer court was disturbed once again.
However, this ripples didn't last long.
With the arrival of the inner court competition, people placed their attention elsewhere.
This means that Shi Jing slowly drifted into obscurity.
Of course, as a lone cultivator, he didn't mind.
In addition to the generous 'donation' by Lin Xue, he stopped descending the mountain. Only doing so once a month to claim his monthly allowances.
Due to this, he was unaware of the various matter occurring between the inner and outer court.
On the second month.
At this moment, Shi Jing was skimming through the transmigrator chat group.
Unknowingly, he has formed a habit of checking in with his fellow transmigrator.
But with his personality, he remained a lurker, showing no interest in participating in their discussion.
"It seems like as everyone starts to settle in with their new identity and adapt to this world, their progress has sped up greatly…"
Just Lu Sheng alone has actually reached the ninth stage of body tempering.
This speed… is it not slightly exaggerated?
How much time has passed exactly? A couple months?
Even the others, such as Autumn Hall and Lao Fuzheng has surpass the seventh stage of body tempering.
"This is natural… I assume everyone has their own golden finger, if they cannot progress at all, then… they may not survive for long."
As for Li Yao, she was occupied with being a princess of some mortal empire. It seems like she was satisfied with this outcome at the moment.
Shi Jing spent his idle time to relax by reading the discussion in the group chat.
After seeing nothing new, Shi Jing closed the transmigrator chat group.
But before he could, a notification stopped him.
"A direct message… From Autumn Hall? Why does she want to message me directly? I do not know her."
Shi Jing mind raced to think of the reason, but no matter what, he couldn't put his finger on it.
"It wouldn't hurt to see what this fellow want… I can choose to ignore it if it is pointless."
[Autumn Hall: Sir, I like to request a meeting with you…]
Seeing this, Shi Jing frowned.
But the following words stunned him.
[Autumn Hall: This is regarding the heavenly court!]