Chapter 105: Beholding Your Past
Mingzhu Heaven.
The man resting with his eyes closed upon the massive throne suddenly jolted awake. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, took a deep breath—and then, unexpectedly, let out a laugh.
His laughter echoed through the vast, empty hall.
Hearing it, Han Xiao entered from outside and bowed.
“Your Excellency.”
She raised her eyes to look at him, a faint glint reflecting beneath her silver mask.
“As for Piaomiao Pavilion…?”
Xiao Lancheng’s smile had yet to fade.
Leaning back against the wide throne carved from obsidian and Tianxing silver, he appeared thin and frail. Dressed in dark robes, the thick fur collar of his cloak made his already pale, gaunt face seem even more so.
His features were refined, his eyes tinged with a deep red at the corners. Against his pallor, it gave him an almost sickly, yet striking beauty.
“I encountered some rather interesting people… and events.”
His smile softened slightly.
“Lin Jin… just as you said, he’s quite interesting. But what surprised me even more was my dear younger brother. Doesn’t he despise humans? I only knew he had some connection with that Chu Tingxue from Yanyu Mountain—but when did he get involved with Jiang Zhenfeng of Piaomiao Pavilion?”
He gave a low chuckle.
“You should’ve seen it. The two of them played off each other perfectly, turning my carefully laid plan completely upside down. It’s been years since I’ve had this much fun.”
At that, Han Xiao’s expression sharpened.
“Then what should we do, Your Excellency? Shall we act ahead of schedule?”
“No need to rush.”
Xiao Lancheng propped his head against his hand, his eyes half-lidded with a trace of fatigue.
“Jiang Zhenfeng has entered the Dengwen Sword Pavilion. Whatever happens, we’ll wait until she obtains Dengwen. Look at her—such a fine girl. So unwavering in her beliefs.”
He let out a quiet sigh.
“Let’s give her a chance to struggle. Let her grasp her ideals, her faith… and then we’ll shatter them.”
He paused, then murmured:
“Dengwen. What a fitting name. In the mortal world, they place a Dengwen Drum outside the imperial court—so the powerless may beat it and present their grievances to ‘Heaven,’ meaning their emperor, in hopes of justice.”
He smiled faintly.
“Tell me, Han Xiao… when this Miss Jiang obtains the Dengwen Sword, will her convictions—her path—be heard by ‘Heaven’?”
Han Xiao lowered her gaze, her voice as cold and emotionless as stone in winter water.
“I do not know.”
“Han Xiao… don’t be so dull. Try smiling once in a while.”
He looked at her lazily.
“Come. Wish her luck with me.”
She met his gaze, as if wanting to say something—but in the end, she didn’t.
After a brief pause, she complied.
“May Miss Jiang have good fortune.”
“Good. That’s more like it.”
Xiao Lancheng straightened slightly, then asked:
“Has my mother’s medicine been prepared?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Mm.”
He rose and slowly made his way toward the inner hall.
“Once I’ve attended to her medicine, we’ll set out for Piaomiao Pavilion. I wouldn’t want to miss a single moment of this show.”
Han Xiao remained where she was, watching him disappear into the distance.
Just before he was gone, she heard him chuckle softly and murmur to himself:
“Han Xiao… who do you think killed that little boy, Qi Xiaolang?”
The Dengwen Sword Pavilion gave no warning before pulling people in. Lin Jin was yanked straight off the bridge, the force so strong it felt like it might rip his soul right out of his skull.
Dizzy and disoriented, he watched as he was dragged into a pitch-black crevice—and just as helplessly, watched it seal shut behind him.
Darkness swallowed everything. He lost all sense of direction.
After what felt like an eternity, a gentle stream of spiritual energy finally lowered him to the ground, giving him a sense of solid footing again.
Rubbing his temples, still reeling, Lin Jin suddenly noticed a faint light ahead.
A circular array lit up beneath his feet, its dim glow illuminating the small space around him.
So the seemingly sheer and dangerous cliff hid something within. No wonder it was called the Dengwen Sword Pavilion—the mountain and the pavilion were one. The mountain stood in the open world, while the pavilion lay hidden inside.
Lin Jin cautiously observed his surroundings.
The glowing array beneath his feet didn’t seem hostile, but the rest of the space was unclear, so he didn’t dare move recklessly.
“…Senior Sister?”
He tried calling out.
But his voice vanished into the silence like a stone sinking into the sea.
“…Big Black Bro?”
Still no response.
A trace of unease crept into his chest.
He didn’t know anything about the trials inside the Dengwen Sword Pavilion. Earlier, he had resisted being pulled in precisely because he had no idea what awaited him.
Embarrassingly enough, he had skipped this entire arc when reading the original story.
The reason was simple—he didn’t like the romance between the male and female leads.
Originally, Jiang Xianrou had been portrayed as an independent, powerful, and aloof figure. But after meeting the male lead, all that brilliance faded. She became someone who admired and depended on him, even losing her chance to gain Dengwen’s recognition, only receiving the sword later because he gave it to her.
It made her character feel hollow, and Lin Jin found it hard to watch.
So he had skipped not only their romance, but also the Sword Pavilion trial they experienced together.
Which meant—this trial was completely unknown territory for him.
Looking down at the array, he cautiously took a step toward its edge.
The moment he tried to step out, an invisible force blocked him—like a barrier.
So that’s why no one answered him. He was sealed inside a completely enclosed space.
Did everyone who entered the pavilion get separated to face their own trials alone?
Elsewhere, Xiao Lanqi was furious.
“Damn Piaomiao Pavilion! Damn this stupid Sword Pavilion!”
He slammed his fist into the barrier, making it tremble with a loud bang—but it remained intact.
“This is supposed to be a trial for your pavilion master’s succession, right?! And you just drag anyone in?! Take a good look at who I am! You think your sect is worth my time?! Even if you handed it to me for free, I wouldn’t want it!”
He kicked and struck the barrier repeatedly, even setting it ablaze in frustration.
For a moment, a crack actually appeared—but it quickly healed.
“What kind of nonsense is this?! Ancestor of Penglai! Stop hiding and face me! Where’s Lin Jin?! Spit him back out!”
He raged and cursed, but not a single word escaped the sealed space.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhenfeng sat calmly at the center of her array, back straight, eyes closed, unmoved by anything.
After a while, a gentle male voice echoed through the darkness—warm, calm, and soothing.
“Fifty-ninth-generation disciple of Piaomiao Pavilion… Jiang Zhenfeng?”
“Yes.”
“You brought noisy companions.”
The voice sighed faintly.
“One is not of your sect, and one is a heavenly demon. Neither should be part of this trial.”
“They would only be idle outside,” Jiang Zhenfeng replied with a faint smile. “Better to give them something to do. I trust the Ancestor doesn’t mind.”
“Oh?”
The voice seemed amused.
“They both possess exceptional potential. One bears a Sacred Jade Physique, the other the inheritance of Taowu. Aren’t you afraid they might pass the trial and obtain Dengwen before you?”
“Why would I be?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
Jiang Zhenfeng raised a brow.
“Is that part of the trial?”
“…No.”
“Then I’ll decline to answer.”
“Very well.”
She opened her eyes and stood.
The voice continued:
“The trial of the Dengwen Sword Pavilion—First Trial: Behold Your Past.
“No matter the path one has walked, smooth or difficult, all carry hidden shadows. If I were to lay bare your past… would you accept it?”
“I accept.”
Her expression didn’t change.
As soon as she spoke, the array beneath her flared with light, and a beam pierced through the darkness.
The light expanded, dispelling everything around her.
Just before stepping into it, she finally answered the earlier question:
“If I’ve come this far, I’m confident I can obtain Dengwen. When it comes to strength and will, what is there to fear? If I lose, then I simply wasn’t good enough—but I know I won’t lose.”
“…Why?” the voice asked after a pause.
“Because I know I am second to no one.”
She stepped forward into the light.
“And because I possess what the Ancestor and Dengwen value most—”
As her figure vanished into the brilliance, she left behind two final words:
“Ambition.”
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