Chapter 5: The Shadowless Whip and the Conjoined Sect Master

The instructor, accompanied by the Wolf Girl, walked closer and stopped before the assembled disciples. Gravely, they surveyed the group before speaking slowly.

“The sword techniques were concluded a few days ago. Starting today, I will instruct you in whip techniques.”

“This whip technique, named the Shadowless Whip, was created by the Sect Master. It is swift, unpredictable, vicious in its strikes, and elusive in its movements. Should you master its essence, you can face a hundred opponents and ascend to the ranks of first-rate experts.”

No sooner had the instructor finished speaking than the diligently listening disciples erupted in gasps of awe. Their eyes burned with fervent zeal.

Seeing that the disciples’ enthusiasm for learning had been ignited, the instructor nodded in satisfaction and spoke again.

“This whip technique, when combined with profound internal energy, will double in power. To provide you with a deeper understanding of the whip, I have specifically invited the Wolf Girl to demonstrate for you.”

“The Wolf Girl is similar in age to all of you, yet she has already mastered eighty to ninety percent of the Shadowless Whip’s essence. Observe carefully.”

With that, he nodded to the young girl standing rigidly beside him, her expression aloof. His demeanor was exceedingly respectful.

The Wolf Girl said nothing. She merely glanced at him before leaping onto a nearby rockery. Drawing the snakeskin soft whip from her waist, she began to wield it, making it crackle and hum with formidable force.

Potent gusts of air, like razor-sharp blades, emanated from the whip’s tip, grazing faces with a stinging pain.

Shui Jingxuan tilted his head, dodging the whip’s wind blades. He watched her leap and maneuver across the rugged rocks, her movements light and agile, as if treading on flat ground.

He watched her whip’s powerful aura cleave a tree, thick as an embrace, in two. He watched her leave deep, axe-chiseled whip marks on the rockery, scorched and smoking, a testament to the immense power unleashed.

Had the Wolf Girl been fighting an opponent instead of demonstrating, that person would surely have been torn to shreds, their bones utterly pulverized. True martial arts possessed such terrifying might, in no way inferior to supernatural abilities!

Shui Jingxuan was profoundly shaken, his eyes gleaming with fervent admiration. He resolved to distinguish himself among his fellow disciples as quickly as possible, hoping to gain the opportunity to learn more profound martial arts from the instructor.

Having always been a strong individual, even in this reborn life, and despite the absence of immediate mortal threats, he would never allow himself to settle for mediocrity.

***

Having completed the whip routine, the Wolf Girl gracefully descended from the tall rockery.

Her delicate features and flowing skirt made her truly appear like a celestial maiden descending to earth, completely devoid of the fierce aura she had possessed moments before.

Her display left the surrounding disciples wide-eyed and awestruck, and even the instructor’s gaze held a mix of appreciation and reverence.

‘The Sect Master’s designated Chief Protector truly lives up to her reputation,’ the instructor mused with astonishment. ‘To be so formidable at such a young age, what an extraordinarily talented individual she will become when she grows older!’

Just as he was about to voice his praise, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from behind him.

“Excellent! Truly worthy of being this Sect Master’s direct disciple! You have not shamed me!”

Upon hearing the newcomer, everyone was startled. They immediately knelt in a half-bow, calling out in unison, “Greetings, Sect Master.”

The Wolf Girl cast a cold glance at the approaching figure, her spine ramrod straight. She remained standing steadfastly, showing no intention of bowing, a clear indication of her unique status within the sect.

Shui Jingxuan had not yet reacted consciously, but his body had already knelt. It seemed some residual habitual consciousness lingered within this body.

Ji Wushuang slowly emerged from the shadows, ignoring the kneeling multitude. He smiled and raised a hand, calling out gently to the Wolf Girl, “Come to Master’s side.”

The Wolf Girl frowned, clearly reluctant, yet she slowly ambled over and stood by his side.

“Such a good girl! Wolf Girl’s whip techniques have improved again. When we return, Master will surely reward you handsomely.” The tender voice exuded a strong sense of doting affection. Ji Wushuang raised a hand, meticulously tucking a stray braid from the Wolf Girl’s forehead behind her ear, then affectionately caressed her cheek.

“Reward? What reward? Is letting you kiss her considered a reward? Are you rewarding her or rewarding yourself?”

A sharp female voice suddenly rang out from behind Ji Wushuang.

The dissatisfaction and jealousy in her words transformed into daggers, aimed directly at the Wolf Girl.

Upon hearing the woman speak, the Wolf Girl, whose brow was already slightly furrowed, revealed a hint of disgust in her eyes. She turned her head away from Ji Wushuang’s hand, her expression displeased.

“Silence!” Ji Wushuang’s brow furrowed fiercely at his beloved disciple’s rejection. He turned to glare at the woman behind him, then abruptly pulled the Wolf Girl into an embrace and forcefully led her away.

Attached to his back was a woman, the very one who had just uttered the sarcastic words. They were conjoined twins, connected at the back.

The three of them paid no heed to the kneeling sect members from beginning to end. And the sect members, as if accustomed to such disregard, remained kneeling obediently, not daring to breathe loudly or even raise their heads.

Of course, Shui Jingxuan was not among them.

After kneeling, Shui Jingxuan could not suppress his inner curiosity. He subtly raised his head, scrutinizing Ji Wushuang from head to toe. Axi, being timid and weak, had never dared to look directly at the Sect Master, so his memories of the Sect Master were merely a blurry silhouette. Now, with Shui Jingxuan’s soul inhabiting the body, he naturally needed to clearly discern the Sect Master’s appearance.

Ji Wushuang possessed a stern face and a tall, robust physique. He wore an exceptionally solemn and luxurious raven-blue priest’s robe, which accentuated his extraordinary bearing. However, his every movement felt somewhat sluggish and discordant, lacking the composure of other masters.

Moreover, his originally deep and sculpted features were, for some unknown reason, shrouded in a sinister aura.

His thick eyebrows slanted towards his temples, and his slightly upturned eyes appeared as if lined with eyeliner, two faint streaks of dark ink.

Even his beautifully shaped thin lips were bluish-black, as if he had been poisoned, transforming his strikingly handsome face into something utterly sinister and forbidding, making it difficult to meet his gaze.

‘This image is exactly that of a villain!’ Shui Jingxuan mused. The sense of familiarity in his heart grew stronger and stronger until a woman’s voice suddenly came from behind the figure.

Then, as he turned to leave, Shui Jingxuan caught sight of the woman attached to his back, who bore an eighty percent resemblance to him.

It was then that Shui Jingxuan felt as if struck by five bolts of lightning, finally realizing the truth.

This person was a conjoined twin. No wonder his movements were so sluggish; it was due to his restricted mobility. Moreover, Ji Wushuang was, in fact, the shared name of both individuals.

Connected for life, were they not truly ‘unparalleled’? He had known this person in his previous life, which explained the constant sense of familiarity.

The Wolf Girl and Ji Wushuang were two characters from an old movie Shui Jingxuan had watched in his previous life, The Bride With White Hair.

Because the film was so old and much time had passed, he couldn’t recall it immediately until seeing Ji Wushuang’s true form today triggered the memories deep within his mind.

After all, such conjoined villainous characters were rare, and their extremely dark and twisted personalities in the movie had left a deep impression on Shui Jingxuan.

However, after so long, he had forgotten much of the plot, remembering only that the Wolf Girl betrayed the Demonic Sect, fell in love with a Wudang disciple, and Ji Wushuang, in retaliation, massacred the Wudang sect members, only to be cleaved apart by a young Wudang junior, Zhuo Yihang, dying from ruptured blood vessels.

The plot was not Shui Jingxuan’s primary concern. He swiftly analyzed the pros and cons in his mind, finally arriving at a disheartening conclusion: the Demonic Sect was not a place for him to settle down.

If the plot unfolded as it should, in a few years, when Ji Wushuang died and the Wolf Girl defected, the Demonic Sect would undoubtedly experience turmoil, ultimately suffering heavy losses or disintegrating.

If he performed too exceptionally, he would inevitably be used as a pawn during the Demonic Sect’s chaos, making it difficult to even save his own life, let alone gain any benefits. Shui Jingxuan frankly looked down on a desolate place like the Demonic Sect.

Having clarified the situation, the surge of passion Shui Jingxuan had felt earlier, ignited by the Wolf Girl’s whip techniques, instantly cooled.

He immediately altered his survival strategy, deciding to conceal his true abilities, secretly master his martial arts, and refine his supernatural powers.

Then, when the Demonic Sect fell into chaos a few years later, he would leave this place and seek another sanctuary.

So much had been processed in his mind, yet only a few moments had passed in the outside world. By the time Shui Jingxuan regained his focus, Ji Wushuang had just walked away, and the disciples were preparing to rise.

He quickly stood up with them, standing humbly in the crowd. He meticulously followed the instructor’s whip lessons, not overly outstanding, yet not as clumsy as he usually was, thus failing to attract any particular notice from the instructor.

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