Chapter 553: Chapter 326: Rift Between Master and Disciple, Jingchun’s Illness, Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Love for Li Xian

The cave chamber was carved into the suspended mountain wall. Inside, it was simple, with a wooden bed, a meditation mat, and nothing else; the cave entrance was sealed with a black iron grille. It was only three steps across, with no extra space. Zhao Chunxia had been trapped here for a long time, rarely moving. Every day at noon, sunlight filled the valley, allowing her a fleeting moment of exposure to the sun.

Zhao Chunxia’s scapula was pierced, with spikes protruding from her shoulder. Bloodstains had dyed her back garment, now scabbed. She sat still, gazing at the mountain wall opposite.

This dark gorge had two sheer rock faces, opposing and enclosing each other. It was both a marvel of nature’s creation and a masterpiece of human craftsmanship. There were nearly a hundred stone caves in the facing wall, all inhabited by women with similar fates.

Her disciple Ji Hui was here, too. Ji Hui’s cultivation was shallow, and her scapula was not pierced. Yet she, too, found herself desperate with no way out, sometimes pleading helplessly, hoping her master would rescue her.

Whenever Zhao Chunxia met her disciple’s gaze, her heart felt conflicted, thinking, "Oh, my disciple, oh disciple, your master’s scapula is pierced, inner qi hard to use, celestial music difficult to perform, ankles pierced. Really, this time, I’m beyond salvation. If... if no one comes to rescue us, our entire lives... our entire lives will be confined within these three steps, at the mercy of others, like fish waiting to be sliced. If possible, your master would give everything to save you. Alas, your master indeed... truly... heaven have mercy, if someone rescues us from this predicament, I, Zhao Chunxia, would be willing... sigh!"

Sensing her hopelessness, she composed herself, nodding gently at Ji Hui, feigning calm, and communicated verbally, "Wait for the right time." Ji Hui tried to believe, seeing her master calm and composed, thus took the opportunity to recuperate.

Zhao Chunxia’s delicate face turned pale, her gaze shifting. She looked toward another cave chamber nearby, diagonally upward, where the "Hong Qiushui," sword of Autumn Waters, was imprisoned. They had once been friends. Hong Qiushui was a renowned heroine in the Jianghu, powerful and capable, yet suffered the same fate, not knowing why she was trapped here with her scapula pierced.

"What is He Wentian’s conspiracy, after all? Keeping us trapped here, spending effort to maintain us, extracting our blood essence, for what purpose? Perhaps he intends to extract our blood until our lifespan ends?"

Zhao Chunxia was continually fearful. She knew He Wentian was cunning and meticulous. This place was dim and gloomy, remote and eerie, with strong enemies guarding outside, stone doors obstructing; any hope of escape was nearly gone.

Though she had cultivated well, she fell victim to deception, entrapment, imprisonment... her heart was full of melancholy. Living aimlessly like this for several days, every noon, as the sunlight cast down, Ji Hui must gaze with a shred of hope. Zhao Chunxia, even in despair, always comforted her disciple with her eyes, but it was increasingly forced. She had lost her inner peace, felt incredibly guilty each time they made eye contact, contemplating their tragic fate, all because of her stubbornness, leaving her clueless about how to cope.

Ji Hui reluctantly persisted while Zhao Chunxia felt increasingly stifled.

On the eighth day of capture.

Her gaze fixed, Zhao Chunxia’s abdomen churned, suddenly wanting to vomit, feeling dizzy and disoriented. Her suppressed emotions had let external pathogens infiltrate, causing a major illness to arise.

Zheng Decun had undeniable skill and means. He managed the imprisoned women orderly and tidily. Seeing Zhao Chunxia’s discomfort, he twisted his waist, holding an iron chain, and used lightweight skill to ascend outside the cave chamber.

Zheng Decun’s voice was shrill, saying, "Ah, so you’re actually sick. This isn’t some sham, planning to escape instead. This is a Life-Saving Pill, quickly consume it. If you die, your disciple will suffer." He leaped back down.

He lived comfortably, having built a tall building in the valley, equipped with a pond and courtyard—spending his days leisurely. Everyone hated him so much they wished to devour him alive. Jing Chun Daoist had developed a severe illness, his condition weak. The others were in desperate straits, none with the mind to offer comfort. Only Ji Hui felt quite anxious.

Jing Chun Daoist wished to die from this illness, but thinking of his disciple Ji Hui, he took the Life-Saving Pill. Although his illness didn’t ease, his life was spared. Zhao Chunxia immediately cast a calm gaze to soothe Ji Hui’s panic.

It was forced, Ji Hui began to doubt, "Wait for the right time, wait until when? Is it possible that master has... she’s only placating me? This... this... undoubtedly, thereafter, I will remain here in this dark chamber to live out my life?"

On the tenth day, she suddenly saw the gorge bustling, with numerous servants carrying dozens of wooden boxes. Upon opening the boxes, they were all women. Judging by their attire, they were all from the Sword Sect.

These women were unconscious, hidden in boxes, secretly transported here. Zhao Chunxia recognized several elders from the Yue Mountain Sword Sect, her face turning ashen and her pupils trembled.

All the women were imprisoned in various cave chambers. Among them, those with higher cultivation were pierced in the scapula while unconscious. Zhao Chunxia was extremely shocked, grinding her teeth, "I recognize several Sword Sect elders. He Wentian dares to go to extremes, capturing all the women from our Sword Sect? Has he secretly slaughtered the Five Swords alliance? He’s so mad in capturing women, unafraid of the Sword Sect’s combined assault?"

She had already felt hopeless. Witnessing this scene made her even more desperate, her eyes moving with emotion, her calm spirit impossible to feign. When the women awoke, their curses echoed, but none of it helped, she felt too powerless to speak.

Her spirits crushed deeper, the illness penetrating even further. Although her life was safe, her condition worsened. On the twelfth day, she completely lost consciousness for a full day. Upon waking, she noticed Ji Hui’s gaze had changed, full of despair, fear, and even some blame.

Zhao Chunxia uttered "Ah," wanted to speak but stopped.

It turned out Ji Hui had realized early on but deceived herself, firmly believing her master possessed the ability to save them. But after Zhao Chunxia remained unconscious the entire day, it clearly showed her limitations, life hanging by a thread. Ji Hui could no longer deceive herself and felt a sudden wave of despair and fear. Recalling various experiences, it was all caused by her master’s overconfidence. As a disciple whose master taught and enlightened her, it wasn’t her place to blame. But naturally, emotions are what they are, how can they be entirely rational.