Side Story: Similar and Different

The sun slowly set on Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Its orange glow set alight the snow-covered slopes of Snow White Plum Peak and filled the low-lying clouds with gentle warmth. In a grassy clearing new the main sect building, two women were leaping and twirling around each other as if in a dance.

A slender purple sword flickered in and out of sight. A long silver spear swished and slashed the air. Occasionally, these two weapons would clash together, creating brilliant flashes and bursts of spiritual energy that swept the grass away in all directions.

One was clad in a white battle dress. With long sleeves, long pants, and multiple layers made of a resilient material, it offered great protection as well as grace. It gave her the image of a noble warrior; imposing and dignified.

The other was clad in a dark red, almost brown, outfit that was simple but efficient. It was form-fitting and provided a great range of motion. It was augmented by black leather vambraces and shin guards for additional protection. She looked like an agile fighter and her movements reflected that.

After several more rounds, there was a blast of energy that sent the one wearing dark red sprawling onto the grass.

"Ow!" Bei Lingluo gasped, her head spinning, staring up at the blurry orange clouds above.

"Sister Bei, are you alright?" Wu Qianyu asked worriedly.

She hurried next to Bei Lingluo and knelt down, checking her condition.

Bei Lingluo exhaled and shook her head, "Heh, Sister Wu's sword art is really painful. My whole body aches. No more, please!"

Wu Qianyu looked down at the Purple Jade Sword in her left hand and quickly put it away. During their practice, she had been testing out her brand-new creation, the Sorrowful Sword Style.

"It was my fault; my sword style is still in its infancy. I couldn't control it properly. I guess it is still too early for me to use it in a spar." She said.

She reached a hand down and Bei Yingluo took it.

Once back on her feet, Bei Yingluo patted her butt and smiled, "You can always spar with me, senior sister. I would have nobody else to practice with, otherwise."

Wu Qianyu nodded agreeably. It was the truth after Lin Qingcheng and Zhou Ziyun went to the continent. It was just her and Bei Yingluo who stayed at the main sect building and it was a little lonely. The ice sisters had a cultivation method unique to them so they had to stay atop the mountain at the Plum Blossom Villa. They came down occasionally but it was far from reliable.

She was more than fine training by herself. She was already used to it. But Bei Yingluo had caught her and begged to train together. Being the most senior disciple present and the only other disciple there, she could hardly say no. It was her responsibility.

"Senior sister?" Bei Yingluo asked.

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to have dinner together?"

Wu Qianyu looked towards the setting sun. She usually ate simply in order to continue training during the evening. But it was also good to have company so she acquiesced.

"Sure, let's go."

The pair entered the sect building. They bathed and changed into casual evening gowns before meeting up at a small pavilion. A cadre of maids quickly served up a delicious and nourishing multi-course meal prepared by excellent chefs.

As they ate, the conversation was light, with Bei Yingluo being the more talkative one.

"Senior sister, these three dishes are in the southern style of my hometown, I had the chefs specially prepare them for you."

"Senior sister, where's your hometown? What kind of food do you like?"

"Senior sister, when did you start working on the Sorrowful Sword Style?"

Bei Yingluo also spoke a lot about her clan and how they were rapidly expanding with many marriages. One of her aunts was already pregnant so they were making great progress. She was thankful for all the support they got but she also voiced their desire to return to their home one day. She wanted to go back as the disciple of an immortal and re-establish their roots with honor and dignity.

"I'm sure master will support that." Wu Qianyu said, "Home and family are important and he understands that…"

She trailed off and stared at her bowl of rice, her thoughts suddenly becoming muddled. She was reminded of her past, her Green Leaf Sect, her family and friends. While she had already accepted this reality of pain, it didn't mean that she enjoyed the feeling. It didn't mean that she forgot the faces of her father, her mother, of her friends. In times of introspection, it still hurt her greatly, a pain that fueled her determination and chosen way of life.

Bei Yingluo studied her senior sister. She was always very preceptive and could guess what Wu Qianyu was thinking about. She knew the rough details of Wu Qianyu's past which was very similar to hers. They had both been attacked by monsters. Their people had suffered and died.

But Bei Yingluo had been lucky and she hadn't lost everyone. Only a few survived the slaughter but it made all the difference in the world. She understood how more painful it would have been if she had no one left, if her mother and her sister had died in front of her.

"Senior sister…" Bei Yingluo said softly.

"Hmm?"

Bei Yingluo clutched the front of her robes, above her heart, "Senior sister, you're so brave. Sometimes I wish I could have just a fraction of your brave spirit."

Wu Qianyu smiled, "Yingluo, you're doing very well. Your clan survived because of you. Your clan will rise to prominence because of you. I am different from you; we all have different paths in life."

"But… you can have a clan or branch sect too! You can remake the Green Leaf Sect, master will surely agree!" Bei Yingluo insisted.

Wu Qianyu's smile remained as she nodded slowly, "He would but it's not what I want. I am a peculiar person. My parents always complained about it, how I always liked to be alone, how I never had any interest in getting married and creating a family. I realized the truth after meeting master. He showed me the true path. He showed me what was possible."

She paused and looked towards the dimming sky, "In this life, I have no desire for anything except to be by his side and to walk along that path. There is only him and nobody else. He is all I need."

Bei Yingluo sat in stunned silence, unable to find any way to respond. When she had offered herself to Chen Wentian inside that monkey lair, she had done so out of desperation. When she had offered herself to him again after she became his disciple, she had done so to gain his trust and affection. Since all the other disciples were doing it, she didn't want to be left out.

But Wu Qianyu's words went far beyond ordinary respect and admiration of a disciple for her master. It was filled with devotion and passion. It was a declaration of her love, an utter and everlasting love.

Bei Yingluo couldn't match her. She hadn't even thought of the possibility of such emotions. They were similar in some ways but so different in others.

"Yingluo," Wu Qianyu looked back at Bei Yingluo.

"Yes, senior sister?"

"You're a good girl. I can tell. You are kind and clever. But you don't have to try and follow in my footsteps. Master has never asked me to love him. He won't ask that of you. All you have to do is work hard on your cultivation and never let him down. If you do that, he will be satisfied."

"I understand."

Wu Qianyu smiled, "Good, let's finish up with dinner. We can continue sparring this evening."

"Yes, senior sister!"

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