After their reunion it was like they had travelled back in time. They would regularly meet once a week. The only difference was that instead of playing tag, they drank tea and chatted. They weren't little girls now.

  They mostly talked about cultivation, their adventures and the happenings in the sect. Yao Le had reached the fourth level just one below her. She was going to take the next inner court disciple exam. Su Ning was happy that her friend's effort have finally paid off.

  Months passed and Su Ning's birthday was approaching. It was going to be perfect but then she received a bad news from her father. He was being sent by the sect to quell a disturbance caused by demonic cultivators and would miss her birthday.

  "I promise I will bring back a great present for you, Ning'er."

  "Hmmph. Go away. Who even wants you?" Su Ning replied with puffed cheeks. Only in the presence of her father would Su Ning behave as a spoiled child. In the eyes of the sect and her mother, she was the model of elegance and decorum.

  "Don't be like that Ning'er. You know papa would've stayed if it was possible. Please forgive papa."

  "Fine but I want two presents." Her father shook his head at her sly behaviour. Perhaps I should've listened her mother more.

  "Two presents it is. Now tell me how is your training going."

  "It's going fine but master still refused to teach me a proper sword art. He only makes me practice basic forms and movement skills. Everytime I ask he only tells me that I'm not ready. Why is it?"

  Her father started chuckling. Her master had also taught him too so he was familiar with his teachings.

  "The core sword arts of our sect have one thing in common, they all have 'absolute' in their name like our sect. Our founding ancestor once said, "A single sword wielded with a single intention with enough dedication will pierce through the heavens and lead to ascension."

  "We of the Absolute Sword sect choose our sword arts based on our firm will and intent. Like how I use the Collosal sword and cultivate the 'Absolute Domination' sword art. It makes my sword qi much more vigorous and harder instead of sharper because I want to overwhelm my enemies first instead of instantly killing them.

  "When we pick our sword art, it means we have decided our way of life and will follow it to the end. Once cultivated it is very difficult to switch so master is probably waiting for you to find your path and resolve."

  "My path and resolve?" Su Ning had never deeply thought about it. All this time she had only been cultivating to meet her parents expectations.

  How do I want to live my life?

  Seeing his daughter's puzzled look, he started to ruffle her hair which caused her to wake up from her thoughts. Su Ning pouted and slapped his hand away.

  "You don't have to think to deeply about it. It will come on its own. Just keep on training and strengthening your sword heart.

  "How about when I come back I can you teach some tricks. It could be my present."

  Su Ning puffed up her cheeks. "Papa you're being shameless. I want real presents not more training. Don't you dare come back without them."

  His father kept laughing as he prepared for his departure. This would be the last time she would see him.

  On her birthday, she got the news that her father was ambushed by demonic cultivators. It were the members of Desolate Corpse cult. Her father had been missing since then.

  Her mother began to stay at home with her more. She kept her intouch with news about her father. Both mother and daughter put on a brave face infront of the other. Only infront of Yao Le would she allow herself to shed tears.

  Yao Le played a great role in consoling her. She stayed with her most of the time and they even started sleeping together like when they were kids.

  With no news confirming her father's death, the spark of hope remained alive in her heart. With the help of both her mother and Yao Le, she was gradually recovering. Every night she dreamed of her father coming back safely and regaling them with his adventure.

  But then two pieces of information came which turned her world upside down. First came the news which finally confirmed her father's state.

  And the second-

  "Ning'er I know you would be shocked but please try to keep your composure. After your father was ambushed, we began investigating among newly recruited disciples and found some spies for demonic cults.

  "And one of them was Yao Le."

  LeLe a spy? No no NO! It can't be true. She's my friend .. why would she do this ... it must be a lie

  She tried to deny but her mother told her the complete story. Yao Le was approached by a member of the Desolate Corpse cult who had infiltrated as an outer court disciple. In exchange for cultivation resources, she began to gather and leak intel using her status as a best friend of Su Ning, a core disciple and daughter of important members of the sect.

  This was the reason she reunited with her after all these years. All their chats during tea it was all a deception.

  Suddenly she remembered how she had complained to Yao Le about her father leaving as soon as she found out. Su Ning's heart fell at the realisation.

  Yao Le had been tortured and had confessed everything she knew. Tommorow she was going to be executed.

  No I have to meet her. I want to hear the answers from her mouth.

  Using her mother's influence, she met with Yao Le for the final time. She was bound by chains in her cell. She was facing down with her long unkempt hair completely covering her face. Even after sensing her presence, Yao Le remained motionless.

  "Do you know my father has been refined into a jiangshi? Those cult members killed my father and now they are going to even use his corpse to commit more evil.

  "Or how about your mother. Aunt Ji couldn't bear the disgrace and after hearing about father and your execution she committed suicide."

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  Yao Le flinched upon hearing that but she still remained inactive. Seeing her even refuse to lift her head to meet her eyes, Su Ning's rage exploded. She tightly gripped the bars as if to break them and started shouting.

  "Even after hearing all this you are still silent. Don't you have anything to say. At least just tell me why? Just only answer me this.

  "What did you do this? You had a great mother and you were even a disciple of the sect. We were best friends or atleast I always thought of you as one. What did you lack in life?

  "You knew the consequences of colluding with the demonic sect then why did you betray everyone just for some resources? What was the thing you desired so much that you killed both father and auntie?

  "Please answer me, make me understand."

  Su Ning couldn't hold back her emotions anymore and broke into tears. Her vision got blurry. Like before she could only cry infront of Yao Le and this hurt her even more.

  "I'm sorry but you would never understand."

  She immediately looked up but Yao Le was remained in same position as if the words she heard were an illusion.

  But she had got her answer. Su Ning wiped off away her tears, turned around and left. There was no point in continuing to stay here.

  "Uncle, mother, NingNing I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean it to happen. Uwuu... I'm very very sorry. Uwuuwuu.." Yao Le's sobs echoed in the empty cell but there was no one left to hear. By her own actions, she was now all alone.

  Yao Le and the rest of spies and infiltrators were executed at dawn. Death by a thousand cuts, the sect punishment given to traitors and demonic cult members. But Su Ning wasn't there to hear their painful screams.

  "Su Ning so you have made your decision. Not many people choose this sword art."

  "Yes master. I wish to cultivate the Absolute Righteous sword art."

  "Is it because you want to take revenge for your father?"

  "No. One day I will take back father's corpse and give it a proper burial. But I chose this because I finally understand the insanity of the demonic path.

  "It is like an illness of mind; causing harm to both oneself and the others. If this illness is left unchecked, rivers of blood and tears will continue to flow."

  Her master closely observed Su Ning standing straight at his side. Even though only few days had passed, she had changed so much. Put under the tribulations of life, her sword heart had sharpened so much.

  "Since you have chosen the Absolute Righteous sword art, what is your righteousness, your justice?"

  "I may not have the wisdom to talk about justice but I know enough about evil. It should not be understood, should not be reasoned with and should never be forgiven. This is my way of life- to swiftly slay all evil in my sight"

  The master patted her head. "In the history of our sect people mostly pick after their coming of age ceremony. The ones who chose before are idiots who soon regret it or legends whose name echoes across time.

  "With all the countless years that I have lived, I can proudly say that you will become the greatest sword cultivator of all time.

  "Just never let go of your sword and I promise you will overcome all obstacles in your life."

  ***

  The image of the two pythons reflected in her eyes got larger and larger as Su Ning laid their motionless awaiting her end when something sparked in her chest.

  How can I show such a shameful position to those evil doers. My legs are in pain, my left hand is seriously wounded but so what.

  I still have a hand left. I have no right to simply accept my defeat.

  I can still swing my sword.

  Gathering all her remaining strength, she made one final slash at the pythons coming to devour her and then her vision tuned red. From head to toe, her whole body was drowned by the torrent of blood.

  "What the fuck happened?"

  Ding Yang who was about to give his victory cry was flabbergasted. His connection with the two pythons was lost. Both of them had deformed and uselessly splattered on the ground.

  "How is this possible?" He was scratching his head trying to figure it out when suddenly he froze in fear. The sight of blood stained Su Ning, her whole body dyed red was terrifying enough but what got him was her sword.

  Like its wielder it should have been coated in blood, but the sword remained unstained and was gleaming with a silver light. Even though the glow was weak it was steady and it's existence undeniable.

  "Sword aura! Impossible! You are just a little girl!"

  No matter what sword art you practice, the progression in the sword Dao is the same- sword aura, sword intent and then sword domain.

  Sword aura represents the union of the sword art, the man and the sword. Its manifestation means that the sword has become a part of your body. It is only possible through intense training and combat to deepen the understanding of the sword Dao. Only top geniuses can manifest sword aura in the Qi refining realm.

  And now Su Ning has taken her first big step and now could truly be called a sword cultivator. She took a single glance at her sword and then began moving forward towards Ding Yang.

  Her left hung limply by her side, her footsteps slow and unsteady but for Ding Yang her expressionless look was the face of death itself.

  "Go kill her python." In his desperation he sent out the remaining python that was guarding him at her. Without even a single glance, she made a single slash at the python which deformed like others before splattering on the ground. Her bloodshot eyes remained fixed on him.

  The characteristics of the sword aura is dependent on the sword art. For Su Ning, it didn't make her attacks sharper nor did it increase the destructive force or imbue it with any other element.

  The silver glow of the Absolute Righteous sword aura is the bane of evil beings. It specializes in the disruption and destruction of demonic arts. Even looking at her sword made Ding Yang's soul shiver in fright.

  The advantage of the blood pool had been overturned. The loss of three blood pythons have severely depleted his blood pool, wasting his years of effort. But now was not the time to worry about losses.

  Ding Yang rapidly formed hand seals and two blood pythons emerged. Then three orbs of blood started floating upwards in preparation of bloody rain.

  "Blood barrier!" The remaining blood from the pool formed a wall guarding him from Su Ning. "Bitch don't think you've won."

  The pythons charged towards her, the orbs transformed into spikes; Ding Yang had put everything in his final attack but Su Ning, she was unfazed. Ever since her sword heart awakened, she was in a state of enlightenment.

  Her master's teachings, the time spent practicing the forms, the Absolute Righteous sword art scripture, it was all pouring into her mind. She could feel all her questions answered and doubts about cultivation being cleared. One look at the upcoming attacks and the next step came to her as easy as breathing.

  With both her hands tense and fully extended holding the sword behind her back, Su Ning put her left foot forward and then moved generating power from the rotation of her hips, core and shoulders, concentrating it all to the tip of her sword she swung with all her remaining strength. The sword travelled in a sharp horizontal arc, the silver glow rapidly increasing exploded in a blinding flash.

  "Absolute Righteous sword first form- Seperating Heaven and Hell"

  When the flash settled down, the pythons, the barrier and Ding Yang all were severed in half. Then a second later everything deformed into simple blood and splattered on the floor.

  Ding Yang's mouth was wide open, his soul has left him before he could even scream. His torso fell and then his body disintegrated into a thousand pieces. The Absolute Righteous sword aura does not leave even an intact corpse of demonic cultivators.

  Su Ning though thoroughly exhausted remained standing on her two feet using her sword as a crutch. Even though the fight was over, her pride wouldn't allow her to fall. And also-

  "Su Ning, you are simply amazing."

  ***

  Ling Yun and the others came out from the corner they were hiding. Ling Yun refused to leave Su Ning alone so he decided to stay. He had urged Chensha to take little Hua back but Chensha, concerned of his safety, decided to leave together with him.

  It resulted in both of them watching this battle awestruck with the exception of little Hua who remained buried in Chensha's embrace. With the fight over, he called Su Ning to them.

  With Su Ning's victory, he finally gave a sigh of relief that he had been holding for so long. Ever since little Hua was kidnapped he had been worried to death, but now everything was over. Little Hua was safe and they can finally go home together.

  Chensha picked up little Hua and started walking back. Su Ning heard Ling Yun and slowly approached him. Her blood covered visage could give anyone nightmares and her sword was still shining.

  Why is she still so tense? I have checked and there are no enemies left hidden. It's over now.

  "Hey Su Ning there are-"

  "Where are you trying to run away, blood fiend?"

  Ling Yun's heart started pounding furiously as he followed her gaze fixed at the back of Chensha.

  The night was still not over.