Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 128: The Rear Hall of Third Elder

You Su remembered.

When Blacksmith Wang handed over the reforged Black Pine Sword, he didn’t charge extra for it. Instead, he asked You Su to fulfill one request—

Defeat a cultivator wielding a sword forged by Venerable Ye Qing.

You Su wondered if Blacksmith Wang had survived the calamity in Chuyun City. He had left so hastily that he hadn’t even bid farewell to the elders of Chuyun City.

Blacksmiths who forge swords are often lovers of swords themselves. You Su hoped that when news of him slaying Lord Liu reached Blacksmith Wang’s ears, the blacksmith wouldn’t regret entrusting the Black Pine Sword to him.

As for this agreement, You Su was determined to fulfill it at some point. He no longer imagined doing as Blacksmith Wang suggested—finding some wealthy, spoiled noble to duel simply because they happened to possess a sword forged by Venerable Ye Qing.

Now, as a disciple of Lotus Sword Venerable, he needed to embody the dignity and grace befitting such a title. Challenging superficial opponents would only diminish his standing. If he were to fight, it should be against true swordsmen of great skill.

The two continued chatting idly as they made their way toward Emerald Glorious Peak.

Passing by Emerald Glorious Residence, Shi Yan generously offered to treat You Su to some wine.

Mundane alcohol couldn’t intoxicate immortals, but the pleasure of fine wine was something even immortals couldn’t resist. Thus, using precious treasures and intricate processes, celestial brews were crafted. The most potent of these could leave even Void Realm experts utterly drunk.

You Su politely declined with a smile, as he still had to meet Third Elder, and drinking might lead to complications.

It wasn’t that he feared anything untoward happening under the influence—it was simply impolite to approach an elder smelling of alcohol.

Emerald Glorious Peak was renowned for its spiritual plants and served as a major cultivation resource hub not just for the Mystic Firmament Sect but also for Eternal Height Divine Mountain. Growing and nurturing these plants required vast resources, making Emerald Glorious Peak the largest among the thirteen peaks of the sect.

The sprawling mountain was almost entirely covered with divine flora and spirit grasses, while the foothills were filled with extensive spirit fields. From afar, Emerald Glorious Peak resembled a massive jade jewel rising majestically into the heavens.

Even though You Su couldn’t see it, he was awestruck by the fragrant air surrounding him. The concentration of Xuan Qi here was even denser than on Lotus Peak—a true treasure trove.

Unlike other peaks in the Mystic Firmament Sect, which were sparsely populated, Emerald Glorious Peak teemed with life. Many outer disciples were hired to care for the countless plants scattered across the mountain. These disciples received rewards upon completing their assigned tasks.

As they walked, many greeted Shi Yan with shouts of “Brother Shi.” Shi Yan seemed unused to the title and tried repeatedly to correct them, though his efforts bore no fruit.

After what felt like hours of walking, Shi Yan finally brought You Su to their destination. It turned out they were only halfway up Emerald Glorious Peak.

At this midpoint stood a grand palace called Qing Lan Palace. Surrounded by lush greenery, its brilliance shimmered like waves of emerald whenever the breeze swept through, earning it its poetic name.

Two beautiful female disciples from Emerald Glorious Peak stood nearby—one wearing a pink dress and the other a blue one. Both exuded charm and elegance. Their eyes were fixed on You Su’s handsome yet refined features, as though admiring a rare artifact. They nudged each other playfully before approaching.

“Eighth Senior Sister, Ninth Senior Sister,” Shi Yan greeted warmly.

“Mm, Shi Yan, who is this junior brother…?” Eighth Senior Sister, dressed in a delicate pink gown, didn’t spare Shi Yan a glance as she asked curiously.

“He’s the second true disciple of Lotus Peak—You Su,” Shi Yan introduced.

Upon hearing his name, both sisters’ eyes lit up. They exchanged a knowing glance, and the more reserved Ninth Senior Sister shyly nudged the laughing Eighth Senior Sister, causing her laughter to deepen.

“You Su greets the two senior sisters of Emerald Glorious Peak,” You Su said respectfully, bowing slightly.

“We’ve heard much about Junior Brother You Su. Seeing you now, we can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved—you’re truly remarkable.”

Eighth Senior Sister smiled sweetly, holding back Ninth Senior Sister’s restless hand resting on her arm.

“Eighth Senior Sister, what about me? How do I look?” Shi Yan asked innocently.

Eighth Senior Sister glanced at his bulging muscles and chuckled. “Ask your Sixth Senior Brother—he loves guys like you.”

Shi Yan grinned sheepishly. “So my looks aren’t completely hopeless after all!”

You Su raised an eyebrow, hoping this “liking” wasn’t what he thought it meant, and replied:

“Senior Sister flatters me. The fame of Emerald Glorious Peak’s celestial maidens far surpasses mine.”

This wasn’t mere modesty. Aside from Shi Yan, whose appearance was rather plain, all ten true disciples of Emerald Glorious Peak—two men and eight women—were exceptionally beautiful.

There were rumors among the disciples that appearance was one of Third Elder’s criteria for selecting disciples. After all, the peak master herself consistently ranked highly on lists of the most beautiful immortals in Central Continent. However, this rumor was debunked when Third Elder accepted Shi Yan as her disciple.

It was worth noting that even though Lotus Sword Venerable rarely appeared in public, she had long dominated the top spot on those rankings.

“Junior Brother knows how to speak!” Eighth Senior Sister laughed, pointing to Ninth Senior Sister leaning against her. “Tell me, who’s prettier between me and this sister?”

Before You Su could answer this impossible question, Ninth Senior Sister spoke up first, her tone laced with embarrassment:

“Senior Sister! You Su can’t see!”

Eighth Senior Sister froze momentarily, realizing her blunder.

You Su’s renown stemmed largely from his achievements despite being blind. While there were many prodigies admired from afar, You Su was the only one who accomplished such feats without sight.

“Forgive me, Junior Brother You Su. I misspoke—I didn’t mean to offend,” Eighth Senior Sister said, toning down her laughter.

“No harm done, Senior Sister. There’s no need to treat me differently because I’m blind,” You Su replied calmly.

At his words, the two beauties’ gazes shone brighter. Eighth Senior Sister resumed her cheerful demeanor and said:

“Junior Brother has extraordinary resolve. One day, you’ll surely ascend to the Void Realm and undergo a complete transformation. By then, seeing the splendor of the Five Continents won’t be too late.”

“I will strive hard, Senior Sister.”

Eighth Senior Sister suddenly brightened, her clever eyes twinkling as she added:

“By the way, Junior Brother, Ninth Senior Sister grows quite a few Shen Ming Valley Clear Grasses in her cave residence. This herb is excellent for restoring vision. Perhaps you should follow her to gather some—it might help.”

Ninth Senior Sister instantly flushed red, stammering in embarrassment: “What are you saying, Eighth Senior Sister! I-I don’t even have a cave residence!”

Shi Yan chimed in supportively: “That’s right, Eighth Senior Sister. Doesn’t Ninth Senior Sister live in a treehouse on the Rootless Tree? How could she grow grass in such a tiny space?”

Eighth Senior Sister shot him a glance and retorted: “You’re new here, so it’s understandable you don’t know. But isn’t it common knowledge? Even the spirit plants in Ninth Senior Sister’s treehouse can dance! Would you like to see it, You Su?”

Ninth Senior Sister’s face turned crimson as she clenched her fists, twisting her blue skirt nervously. She mumbled something incoherent, unable to refute the teasing.

Before ascending Divine Mountain, You Su had always assumed celestial maidens were reserved and aloof. But meeting Eighth Senior Sister, who joked and invited people to visit her sisters’ chambers, showed him that immortal maidens were just like mortal women—each with their own personalities.

He chuckled helplessly, intending to decline the playful invitation, when a new voice suddenly cut through the air, clear and authoritative:

“What’s so amusing? You all seem quite lively.”

A graceful male cultivator approached, clad in a fresh, elegant green robe. Though his words sounded casual, his tone carried a hint of reproach.

Even the usually vivacious Eighth Senior Sister straightened her expression at his arrival.

The three true disciples of Emerald Glorious Peak bowed respectfully: “Second Senior Brother.”

The second senior brother of Emerald Glorious Peak was named Ye Qingchen. He hailed from a prestigious background, being the eldest son of the Ye family—one of the three great families of Eternal Height City. Truly born into a celestial aristocracy.

Moreover, at sixty-five years old, Ye Qingchen had already reached the Feather Transformation stage. He was hailed as the most promising disciple of Emerald Glorious Venerable to break through to the Void Realm. Handsome and talented, he held significant status within Emerald Glorious Peak and immense popularity across the Mystic Firmament Sect.

Ye Qingchen merely nodded slightly, glancing at You Su as if to dash any hopes. His voice was cool and dismissive:

“While Shen Ming Valley Clear Grass may indeed aid vision, it shares the same limitation as top-grade elixirs—they can heal wounds but cannot resurrect the dead. Not even thousand-year-old Cassia Seeds can restore sight to those born blind.”

You Su was well aware of this. Before the age of ten, his master had sought various remedies to restore his sight, including rare herbs, but none had worked. Eventually, they gave up, placing all hope in achieving a rebirth upon breaking through to the Void Realm.

However, with Tai Sui now fused within him, You Su believed his sight would return soon. He saw no need to risk entering some “dragon’s den or tiger’s lair” just for Shen Ming Valley Clear Grass.

Eighth Senior Sister lowered her head, speechless. Ninth Senior Sister, however, tightened her lips and admitted her mistake, trembling slightly:

“Second Senior Brother, I misremembered the effects of Shen Ming Valley Clear Grass. I’ll remember next time.”

Eighth Senior Sister shot her a glare and quickly interjected: “It’s my fault—I failed to teach Junior Sister properly.”

You Su remained silent, watching the scene unfold. What was originally a harmless joke now required such careful handling in front of Second Senior Brother?

“The Herbal Codex clearly states its properties—how could you forget? Both of you will copy the Herbal Codex three times and submit it to me tomorrow,” Ye Qingchen declared sternly.

To You Su’s surprise, the two beauties visibly relaxed, as if this punishment was lenient compared to what they expected.

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

With that, Eighth Senior Sister pulled Ninth Senior Sister away from Qing Lan Palace. Before leaving, they both cast lingering glances back at You Su.

“Lacking awareness of being true disciples of Emerald Glorious Peak…”

After the two women departed, Ye Qingchen muttered softly to himself.

You Su heard it clearly and inwardly sighed. Was this nitpicking on Second Senior Brother’s part? Still, it wasn’t his place to comment on matters of another peak.

Ye Qingchen glanced once more at You Su and Shi Yan, his gaze indifferent yet tinged with a faint trace of displeasure. “If you have business, attend to it. No need to entertain these senior sisters.”

Without waiting for Shi Yan’s response, he turned and left, leaving behind only his tall, upright silhouette.

“Yes, Second Senior Brother,” Shi Yan obediently bowed before leading You Su deeper into Qing Lan Palace.

But Ye Qingchen’s voice rang out again, halting them:

“Shi Yan, where are you taking him? If it’s to claim mission rewards, go left.”

Only then did You Su realize that Third Elder had summoned him—and apparently, only Shi Yan knew about it.

“Second Senior Brother, You Su isn’t here for mission rewards. Master instructed me to bring him up the mountain.”

Ye Qingchen narrowed his eyes. The master personally inviting a young man up the mountain? Though You Su had made a name for himself, such occurrences were unheard of. He frowned slightly, his tone tinged with irritation:

“When receiving external guests, Master always meets them at the pavilion in the Misty Tea Fields. Didn’t anyone teach you this before entering the peak?!”

Shi Yan, caught off guard by the sudden reprimand, stammered: “Eldest Senior Sister taught me, but…”

“If she taught you, why are you leading him toward the rear hall? Don’t you know the rear hall is Master’s private quarters—off-limits even to me? Or do you need me to teach you again?”

Ye Qingchen’s tone toward Shi Yan was harsh. He harbored deep dissatisfaction with this newly accepted disciple. Despite multiple attempts to dissuade Master, she had refused to listen.

His discontent wasn’t baseless. First, Shi Yan’s appearance and demeanor clashed severely with Emerald Glorious Peak’s aesthetic. Among the disciples, the two men were as elegant as jade trees, and the eight women as delicate as willows—but Shi Yan’s muscular build was wildly out of place. Additionally, Ye Qingchen believed Shi Yan’s talent fell short of Emerald Glorious Peak’s standards, let alone his bizarre cultivation methods.

Of course, none of these were the most important reason…

“Second Senior Brother, I remember everything. But Master specifically told me to bring You Su to wait in the rear hall,” Shi Yan explained earnestly.

“Master wants him to wait in the rear hall?!”

Ye Qingchen widened his eyes, scrutinizing You Su incredulously. “Are you sure you didn’t mishear?”

“I’m not stupid. How could I misunderstand something like that?” Shi Yan replied. “Second Senior Brother, I’ll take him there now.”

“No!”

Ye Qingchen stepped forward, blocking their path. Chest puffed out, he eyed You Su, who wore a faint smile but remained silent throughout.

Even the usually compliant Shi Yan grew frustrated by Ye Qingchen’s obstruction: “Second Senior Brother! What if Master returns and finds I didn’t follow her instructions? What happens if she scolds me?”

Yet Ye Qingchen advanced another step, barring their way. “No one except Eldest Senior Sister has ever entered the rear hall. Do you think Master would allow an outsider inside? If you misheard, wouldn’t that defile her private quarters? Such a grave offense—you’d bear responsibility.”

He narrowed his eyes further, his voice sharp: “Or… are you doing this intentionally?”

“No… Ugh!” Shi Yan struggled to explain, tongue-tied.

“Qingchen, are you daring to question your master’s words now?”

An unexpectedly familiar, sultry voice cut through the air, icy despite its allure.

Third Elder, voluptuous and graceful, glided toward them from the deeper corridors of Qing Lan Palace behind You Su.

Ye Qingchen froze momentarily upon seeing his master appear so suddenly, then quickly regained composure, stammering: “Disciple wouldn’t dare… it’s just…”

But Third Elder ignored him, brushing past without a glance or explanation, leaving behind a trail of intoxicating fragrance.

“You Su, follow me.”

“Yes, Third Elder.”

You Su bowed to her ample figure, then whispered to Shi Yan: “Thank you for your efforts, Brother Shi.”

He followed Third Elder, never once glancing at Ye Qingchen as they passed.

“Stop calling me ‘Brother Shi.’ Just call me Shi Yan!” Shi Yan said with a helpless shake of his head.

Ye Qingchen’s cheeks puffed slightly as he watched the voluptuous elder and the youth disappear down the corridor leading to the rear hall. Through gritted teeth, he spat:

“Shi Yan, no stone-crashing today. Your second senior brother will personally guide your cultivation!”

“Really?! Second Senior Brother, you’re the best!” Shi Yan exclaimed joyfully.