Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 126: Who Holds the Sword; Gifts from All Directions

In a daze, within a hazy dream, You Su felt as though he had transformed into a sword.

This sword contained divine intent that had been sealed away for an unknown length of time. From the moment it was forged, this sword was destined to be one of grandeur—towering and awe-inspiring.

Yet, this mighty weapon now rested in the hands of a woman who had only recently begun her journey on the path of the sword.

Her performance disappointed You Su.

She shouldn’t wield a broadsword like me, he thought. She should use something more delicate, refined… inwardly focused.

Wait… how could her comprehension of the sword dao be so profound?!

The seal—it’s loosening!

Woman! You truly are a genius of the sword! A broadsword like me is exactly what you need!

Come, lift the cloth covering me and let me see your face!

I acknowledge you!

Thud!

Huh? Wait… if you won’t show me, fine—but why did you knock me unconscious with a hammer…

…

“Master’s wife! I really didn’t mean to!”

You Su shot upright in bed, the blanket sliding off to reveal his well-defined chest.

As his vision adjusted to the waking world, he realized he was fully conscious—and his surroundings confirmed that this was indeed his own room.

Taking two deep breaths, You Su steadied himself.

What lingered most vividly in his mind was the fleeting glimpse he’d caught before closing his eyes—the first time he’d ever seen Master’s wife’s true appearance.

He began to understand why Junior Sister, who once proudly proclaimed herself “the most beautiful woman under heaven,” had humbly amended it to “the most beautiful maiden” after meeting Master’s wife.

Whether it was her visage or her flawless physique, no woman could surpass Master’s wife’s beauty. She was perfection incarnate—a goddess born from the pinnacle of creation’s imagination.

You Su firmly believed this.

Slap!

Without hesitation, You Su struck himself hard across the face. Even his tanned skin bore the clear imprint of his hand.

Master’s wife’s beauty was almost sacred, inspiring reverence rather than lust. Yet here he was, unable to forget—or worse, still relishing—the sight of her. The shame burned within him.

This wasn’t something a disciple should have witnessed. Such unearthly beauty brought no joy; instead, it filled him with endless dread and self-reproach.

Though he knew it wasn’t entirely his fault—he hadn’t opened his eyes willingly. The Profound Qi within him had reached its limit, forcing them open, much like when Master’s wife planted the Immortal Seed inside him upon awakening.

He could only pray she hadn’t noticed anything unusual about his eyes. If she hadn’t, he might bury this guilt deep within his heart, continuing to act as though nothing had happened while secretly striving to repay her kindness.

If only Master’s wife hadn’t placed such trust in him, allowing him—a mere man—to share the same bathing pool during her secluded cultivation. How else would he have glimpsed such celestial splendor?

Sigh…

You Su exhaled softly, recalling the state of his body just before losing consciousness.

Perhaps opening his eyes could have gone unnoticed, but there was no way Master’s wife hadn’t seen his… ahem, sword stance when she rushed to save him. What must she think of him now?

Am I nothing more than a traitorous disciple raised by my master, harboring impure thoughts toward the Dao Companion of said master?

Does she regret letting me into the Lotus Pool? Does she even regret taking me as a disciple?

These thoughts gnawed at him, leaving him unsure how to explain himself. After all, neither opening his eyes nor his involuntary reaction had been intentional.

Wait!

Where’s my big sword?!

You Su threw off the remaining blanket and parted his legs, staring down in disbelief.

Wha—how can it be… limp?

For countless days, every time he woke up, he’d found himself in that proud, upright position—and it usually lasted quite a while, causing him immense frustration.

But this time? Why was everything so calm?

Not only that, but You Su felt completely relaxed—light and refreshed. The pent-up energy that had plagued him for so long had vanished without a trace.

His understanding of the Art of Harmonious Union was limited to the three volumes of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, along with the entire manual of Mandarin Duck Sword Techniques.

He knew little of the foundational theories behind the Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Harmonious Sword Sect. Guan Chujun, his master, hadn’t taught him those, urging him instead to focus solely on the sword dao. Whether this was intentional or not, You Su suspected his master believed he should pursue purity as a swordsman rather than delve into the declining art of dual cultivation.

Thus, he remained unaware of what exactly had changed in his body. Previously, he’d felt an overwhelming surge of vitality, which intensified after practicing The Righteous Sun Sword Nurturing Art.

At one point, he considered relieving himself through… other means, but ultimately decided against it. The Yuan Sword strictly forbade such practices, deeming them a severe depletion of one’s essence and detrimental to one’s daoist progress.

So, he endured, suppressing his urges. He trusted his self-control enough to wait until Junior Sister returned.

But clearly, he’d overestimated his restraint. Some things simply couldn’t be controlled.

You Su’s thoughts drifted back to the absurd, blurry dream he’d had while unconscious.

Could that dream… have been real?

But Master’s wife wouldn’t… no, it’s impossible. Absolutely impossible!

You Su’s pupils contracted as he shook his head violently, trying to banish the thought. Suddenly, he felt a sharp, burning pain between his legs.

Ordinary physical attacks couldn’t inflict lasting pain on his body, so the sensation was unmistakably tied to some form of spiritual interference.

Who would bother whipping my butt for no reason? Was it Master’s wife?

No—that anger and resentment embedded in the attack matched emotions Master’s wife might feel, but You Su carried the Lotus Immortal Seed, which allowed him to sense residual spiritual energy. This wasn’t hers.

The lingering fragrance in the air provided a clue. Elder Three!

Elder Three helped me out of this predicament?!

Did she act on her own initiative, or was she asked by Master’s wife?

You Su’s mind reeled. He didn’t consider himself close to Elder Three—in fact, he sensed a subtle aversion in her attitude toward him. Their interactions were solely due to Master’s wife and Senior Sister’s influence.

And yet, she went out of her way to help me with this?

Still unclothed, You Su climbed out of bed and poured himself a cup of tea. Gulping it down, he tried to suppress the turmoil within.

Just then, the door creaked open softly, revealing the cold, masked immortal maiden wearing her jade rabbit mask. Her translucent blue eyes scanned his naked form unabashedly.

Pfft!

Before You Su could wipe away the water dripping from his lips, he quickly turned aside, covering himself bashfully.

“Senior Sister! Why didn’t you knock?!”

…

Inside the room, You Su tightened his belt and smoothed out his newly donned robes before clearing his throat.

“All right, Senior Sister, come in.”

With permission granted, Heavenly Maiden Wangshu entered naturally, showing no sign of embarrassment despite having caught You Su undressed earlier.

You Su’s dark eyes remained wide open as he gazed at his senior sister’s composed demeanor. He envied her ability to remain unaffected by such awkward matters of male-female relations.

If only I could adopt the same indifferent attitude, maybe I wouldn’t have so many worries…

But wishing wouldn’t change reality. To pretend nothing happened would be irresponsible, especially since he suspected neither Elder Three nor Master’s wife would bring up the matter directly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have woken up alone in his room.

“Senior Sister, please sit.”

You Su fetched a chair for Heavenly Maiden Wangshu, seating himself at the tea table afterward.

Wangshu sat down but seemed dissatisfied with the distance between them. Without hesitation, she scooted closer. When she looked up again, meeting You Su’s questioning gaze, her serene, lake-like eyes appeared to ask: Is there a problem?

You Su sighed inwardly and poured her a cup of tea, knowing full well she wouldn’t drink it. Still, propriety demanded the gesture.

Even in front of him, Heavenly Maiden Wangshu never removed her jade rabbit mask. With only eye holes and no mouth opening, drinking tea while masked was obviously impossible.

“Senior Sister, were you waiting outside my door the whole time I was unconscious?”

You Su pushed the teacup toward her. The timing of her entrance—right as he made noise pouring water—was too coincidental not to raise suspicion.

“That’s right. Didn’t you say men and women shouldn’t enter each other’s rooms casually?”

Warmth spread through You Su’s chest. His senior sister had accompanied him into battle, carried him back when he was injured, and stayed by his side even while he was unconscious. Not to mention, she respected his wishes. Truly, there couldn’t be a better senior sister.

“It’s great that you remembered that, but you didn’t need to guard me like that. And remember, next time, always knock before entering anyone’s room.” You Su still hoped to guide her properly.

“But I didn’t enter. I merely opened the door, and now I’m here because you gave permission.”

Her tone was calm, yet carried a hint of defiance.

“…”

“From now on, don’t even open the door without knocking.”

“Mm.” Wangshu nodded slightly, seemingly eager to change the subject. “Are you feeling better, Junior Brother?”

“Thank you for asking, Senior Sister. Not only am I better, but I feel stronger than ever. My spirit has grown significantly after two consecutive battles.”

“Your Immortal Seed is full again.”

The faint outline of a lotus pattern appeared on You Su’s brow. Hearing Wangshu mention it so casually left him uneasy.

After a brief pause, he replied, “Perhaps Master’s wife took pity on my efforts in battle and replenished my Immortal Seed. It was certainly troublesome for her.”

“But how do you know it was Master’s wife who refilled your Immortal Seed if you were unconscious?”

You Su glanced at his senior sister, noting the lack of emotion in her cerulean eyes.

Is she intentionally baiting me to reveal something…?

Shaking his head inwardly, he answered, “Who else could it be? Only Master’s wife would go to such lengths for me.”

“Master’s wife treats you very kindly.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m still weak as a new disciple. I’m sure Master’s wife treats you equally well.”

You Su couldn’t tell whether his senior sister sounded angry, jealous, or simply reflective.

Wangshu fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, suddenly, she said:

“I believe Master’s wife treats us differently.”

“Both of us are disciples—what’s so different?” You Su forced a nervous laugh.

Heavenly Maiden Wangshu shook her head, exasperation evident in her tone:

“I can’t quite explain it… but how did Master’s wife restore you?”

By bathing naked with Master’s wife in the same pool?

You Su looked at his pure-hearted senior sister and knew there was no way he could give that answer. Yet, in front of someone as guileless as her, lying wasn’t an option either. So, he simply said:

“I didn’t see anything. When I woke up again, I was already back in my own bed.”

Heavenly Maiden Wangshu stared at You Su for a moment, as if trying to discern something hidden beneath his expression.

You Su couldn’t bear her prolonged gaze and quickly changed the subject: “Senior Sister, what exactly happened while I was unconscious?”

“At first, Elder Three used her Jade Bed to help you recover. Later, under Master’s wife’s orders, she took you to where Master’s wife was secluded. Then, not long before dawn today, Elder Three brought your unclothed body back here. She seemed very angry and wouldn’t let me near you. After she left, I waited outside your room until you woke up.”

“It really troubles me that Elder Three went through all this trouble for me, Senior Sister. Does Elder Three have a weapon she specializes in?” You Su asked, shifting topics once more.

“Yes, it’s called the Emerald Spirit Whip.”

So it really was Elder Three…

You Su wasn’t arrogant enough to believe that a female cultivator who had spent centuries secluded on a mountaintop would take any particular interest in him—a blind novice just starting out. Even if Elder Three did admire him somewhat, common sense dictated she should’ve stayed uninvolved in such matters.

That left only one possibility: Master’s wife must have requested her assistance. For Elder Three to abandon even the pride of a mountain-dwelling cultivator, Master’s wife likely paid a significant price.

You Su’s thoughts wandered momentarily. Perhaps Elder Three had already received compensation from Master’s wife—or maybe she simply didn’t care about the matter—but regardless, You Su owed her a debt of gratitude. From now on, he resolved to show her greater respect. As for Master’s wife’s kindness, words alone couldn’t express his obligation—he would repay her endlessly.

“Why do you ask about this? Are you…” Heavenly Maiden Wangshu hesitated for a moment before cautiously questioning, “…thinking of abandoning the sword path?”

“How could I? I’ve worked so hard just to stay on Lotus Peak and learn the sword from you and Master’s wife,” You Su replied with a hearty laugh.

Heavenly Maiden Wangshu said nothing. Suddenly, she stood up, joyfully reaching toward You Su’s hand. But then, remembering his earlier admonishment about propriety, she withdrew her hand instead and said: “Junior Brother, come with me.”

You Su felt a strange pang of disappointment as he watched her retract her hand. Shaking his head slightly, he followed her outside.

Outside, Heavenly Maiden Wangshu was already waiting beneath the peach tree. Surrounding the tree were countless treasures of unimaginable rarity, their dazzling auras shimmering brilliantly. Each item was unmistakably a priceless artifact coveted by many.

Seeing You Su’s astonished expression, Heavenly Maiden Wangshu appeared pleased. She explained:

“All these gifts arrived because of Junior Brother successfully joining Lotus Peak. The other elders sent them as congratulations. I’ve already accepted them all on your behalf.”

Hearing this, You Su snapped out of his shock. His senior sister didn’t strike him as someone who cared much for material wealth, yet her tone carried a subtle threat: If you stop learning the sword, none of these treasures will belong to you.

Deeply moved, You Su realized that merely asking about Elder Three’s weapon had made his sensitive senior sister assume he might seek training elsewhere.

“It’s all thanks to the glory of Lotus Peak,” You Su said sincerely.

With heartfelt gratitude, he approached the treasures and began examining them closely.

Some items’ purposes were immediately apparent. For instance, the Elixir of Salvation gifted by the Seventh Elder, known for alchemy, came with detailed instructions explaining its healing properties. The Eleventh Elder, renowned for beast-taming arts, had sent a luxurious snow fox fur coat meant to be gifted to a cherished companion. Meanwhile, the Ninth Elder, famous for blade techniques, provided a jar of premium sword-nourishing oil specifically designed for maintaining Black Pine sword.

Other gifts were less conventional. For example, You Su picked up an intricately crafted wooden figurine holding a miniature sword in its tiny hands. He asked:

“Senior Sister, what is this used for?”

“This is ‘Sowing Beans into Soldiers,’ a gift from the Twelfth Elder. Simply demonstrate any sword technique to it, and it will endlessly repeat it—including capturing the essence and spirit of the move. It’s a precious treasure meant to help you remember forgotten techniques.”

Mechanical arts have truly advanced to this extent? You Su marveled inwardly.

“And this?”

You Su pulled out a stack of talismans. Unlike ordinary talismans inscribed with arcane symbols, these depicted various scantily clad maidens in suggestive poses.

“These are Maid Talismans gifted by the Second Elder, who specializes in talismanic arts. Each talisman summons a paper maiden to assist you with chores or other tasks.”

You Su wiped away sweat from his brow. Was it really necessary to make them look so… revealing? Surely no one would use these paper figures for anything inappropriate, right?

After thoroughly inspecting all the gifts, he counted eight presents in total—not counting Master’s wife. Surprisingly, four grand elders hadn’t sent anything.

As if reading his thoughts, Heavenly Maiden Wangshu added:

“The Eighth Elder of Earth and Wood Peak wasn’t sure what to give, so she said you’re welcome to ask her for help if you ever want to establish your own cave residence. The Fifth Elder of Crimson Rainbow Peak oversees a Sword Pavilion and has granted you permission to take any sword you desire whenever you wish. Only the Tenth Elder of Book Immortal Peak gave nothing. I dislike the Tenth Elder the most.”

Book Immortal Peak, huh…

“What about Elder Three?”

“Elder Three said she’s already given her gift. What was it?”

“She… feared I’d grow arrogant, so she gave me a whipping.”