Book 2: Chapter 107: Unsheathed Blade

Dont say that, Sis. You are always a twinkling girl for me However, not a single star can be seen in this night sky today, except for the bright and beautiful moon. Is it because her radiance has concealed all the nearby stars?

Sis

Why is Sister s.h.i.+mizu so depressed?

Lily felt sympathetic for a moment, but she didnt know what response would be proper.

Hmm? s.h.i.+mizus eyes lit up suddenly as she felt her thoughts become clear and her perception of the surroundings also became sharper.

W-What is this feeling?

This feeling was the same one she had felt on the night she had learned the 7th stage of the mystic swordplay. Her perception and confidence as well as the clear comprehension towards the mystic swordplay from back then had returned again!

Why did this happen? Why did the talent that disappeared suddenly return again at this moment? I can feel that it might even be possible for me to break through to the 8th stage of the mystic swordplay if I train right now! Why? Why did this clear comprehension leave me without any omen and return again? Is it because Im outside? Is there anything common between that day and today? Night? Moonlight? Environment? No

s.h.i.+mizu arrived at a conclusion all of a sudden!

Its the mirror!

s.h.i.+mizus heart began to thump wildly1.

The 7th stage of the mystic swordplay had perplexed s.h.i.+mizu for a long time, and she hadnt made any headway at all. However, on the night when she had seen Lilys seemingly normal mirror for the first time and touched it, she had been enlightened! And then, it disappeared silently on the next day.

And today, when she had touched the mirror again, the enlightenment had arrived once again!

Its the mirror! This is a very special mirror! This mirror is what allowed me to have incredible insight and improvement!

s.h.i.+mizu glanced at the utterly ignorant Lily beside her, This absolutely isnt like what she told me, thats its just a powerless mirror that can reflect a clear image. This mirror possesses unfathomable power that far exceeds mine! Yet Lily didnt tell me this!

No, its possible that even she didnt know about it, as there are no traces of the mirrors power!2 But it certainly exists!

Lil Sis Lily is so talented because she always had this mirror on her! Its the reason she was able to go from a powerless girl to standing at the apex of Kanto in just half-a-year. This speed is too unnatural and cant be explained with just talent! Its all because of this mirror! This beautiful, elegant and precious mirror!

Perhaps this is the real ancient mirror that the demon kunoichi mentioned! Only the holder of this mirror can be the woman chosen by the Heavens!

s.h.i.+mizus chest heaved up and down intensely and her hand that was holding onto the mirror quivered in excitement. Her gaze also turned eager because of this and shone with a cold light. Even Lily had noticed this change in her and asked worriedly, Whats wrong, Sister s.h.i.+mizu? s.h.i.+mizu just lowered her head and allowed the shadow of her bangs to hide her eyes.

Lily, you are my good little sister, right? Eh? Of course? Lily asked in puzzlement, feeling that s.h.i.+mizus tone sounded a bit strange. Lily can you lend your mirror to me?

Eh? Lily was stunned. If it were some other treasure, she wouldve given it to s.h.i.+mizu without a second thought, but this mirror had the soul of the woman most important to her sleeping within it, so it wasnt just a simple treasure to her and was rather more precious than her own life! As such, it was something she could never give up.

But Sis Thats

Can you lend it to me, little sister! My mirror was shattered! They shattered my life! Its impossible for me to continue living without the mirror! My good little sister, lend it to me, okay? s.h.i.+mizus grip on the mirror turned harder and her eyes flashed with a pa.s.sionate desire, making a radical expression appear on her beautiful face!

Sis, whats wrong with you? You look scary. Lets talk about it later, okay? Now isnt the time for this. Let go now, Sis Lily treasured her mirror a lot, so she also tightened her grip on the other side of the mirror when she felt s.h.i.+mizu pull on it. Having the mirror s.n.a.t.c.hed from her was akin to having her senior sister s.n.a.t.c.hed from her, Sis, just what happened to you? Let go

Lend it to me! s.h.i.+mizu yelled loudly all of a sudden and pulled the mirror forcibly towards her bosom.

Sis! What are you doing?! Return it to me, that mirror has I can give you whatever you want, Sis, but not this mirror, Lily pulled hard at the mirror anxiously and just like that, a struggle for the mirror began between the two on this cliffside. As Lily had exhausted her spirit power or perhaps because of the bewilderment within her heart, she was on the pa.s.sive end in this struggle. Although she was on the brink of crying from the anxiety, she didnt dare to truly use force on her sister, Sis, listen to me! Let go of it first, okay? If you want the mirror, we can talk about it. Dont act like this, you look very scary!

However, s.h.i.+mizu refused to let go of the mirror no matter what.

You should be the one letting go! You already have everything you want, so why cant you even give this old mirror to me?! Do you really see me as your sister? Didnt you say its just an ordinary mirror? It definitely has an unimaginable power, right?! Or else, why would you treasure it so much? Why cant you lend it to me? You liar! s.h.i.+mizu had arrived at the limits of her strength as well. In this obsessive, almost paranoid state, she ended up pus.h.i.+ng Lily subconsciously.

Eh?

Lilys exhausted body felt emptiness under her feet.

At the same time, s.h.i.+mizu pulled hard and pulled the mirror into her bosom with ease after it had seemingly lost the opposing force.

s.h.i.+mizu revealed a gleeful look in that split second, but when she turned around, she saw the terror-stricken Lily who had been pushed back by her into the air with the Abyssal Rift underneath looking back at her with disbelief written all over her face.

And in the next moment, Lily began to fall.

s.h.i.+mizu was dumbstruck instantly.

No! I didnt do it intentionally! Lil Sis!

s.h.i.+mizu took hold of Tranquil Bamboo anxiously when she saw Lily fall down and then stooped down to extend it towards the falling Lily.

Grab it, Lil Sis!

Lily had exceptional reaction speed, so even though she felt fl.u.s.tered during the fall, she was able to grab onto the sheath in time.

s.h.i.+mizu finally sighed in relief.

Lil Sis Lily! Listen to me, I-I didnt do it intentionally! Believe me. It was an accident, not intentional I didnt push you intentionally Tears welled up in s.h.i.+mizus eyes from the anxiety and the hand holding onto the sheath also began to tremble.

Lily held onto the other end of the sheath tightly and smiled gently, Sis, I never believed you would do something like pus.h.i.+ng me intentionally, so it doesnt matter. This is just an accident, Sis. If you like the mirror that much, Ill lend it to you for a few days. We can share it, okay? Can you pull me up now, Sis?

Believe in me, little sister. Im just a little tired. Dont worry and hold on tight. I definitely wont let go, even if I end up falling into this abyss along with you. Just let me catch up my breath and Ill pull you up.

Theres no hurry, Sis. Take your time Lily looked at s.h.i.+mizu with trust and smiled faintly.

Hold on, little sister. Ill pull you up right

Throb! s.h.i.+mizu felt her heart spasm suddenly and the illness that had always troubled her returned suddenly at this moment. Her vision turned black and her grip on Tranquil Bamboo loosened unconsciously.

NOOOO!

s.h.i.+mizu screamed internally and resisted the fatal pain in her heart to grab onto Tranquil Bamboo with her all!

And only then did she relax.

Wait, why is it so light?!

And when her sight recovered from the darkness

She saw the terror-stricken, doubt-filled look on Lilys face as she fell into the Abyssal Rift together with the sheath of Tranquil Bamboo while only the handle remained in s.h.i.+mizus grip.

NO! NOOOO! s.h.i.+mizu cried out hoa.r.s.ely.

Yet she was unable to stop Lily from falling. In a moment, Lily had descended deeper into the dense mist of the Abyssal Rift and disappeared without a trace.

Lily hadnt uttered a single word from beginning to end.

Yet that terror-stricken, grudging look of disbelief lingered within s.h.i.+mizus mind for a very long time.

s.h.i.+mizu sat down on the cliff dazedly with a blank look in her eyes, her beautiful hair cascaded down.

W-What have I done? My little sister, I have pushed her down the cliff?

s.h.i.+mizu looked at her hand, I-I didnt do it intentionally. I didnt do it intentionally!

She screamed herself hoa.r.s.e again with tears dripping down her face endlessly, yet there was no response from the abyss that was filled with the tranquil mist and fearsome eldritch energy.

s.h.i.+mizu looked down at the mirror within her bosom.

Her eyes lost their l.u.s.ter thenceforth as she cupped the mirror and held it close to her bosom.

It still has little sisters warmth and scent on it hehehehe

s.h.i.+mizu chuckled coldly within the darkness of the night and a powerful grudge oozed from her body and formed a dark visible stream of energy that emanated from her.

This dark energy stream seemed to be searching for its dwelling and began to seep into the blade that laid beside s.h.i.+mizu, continuing to gather inside it.

s.h.i.+mizu hugged the mirror tightly and revealed a strange smile.

No more. I have a little sister no more. Im a woman scorned and hated by the world, someone who pushed her little sister down a cliff with her own hands. I have already lost everything, except for this mirror. My precious mirror, Ill treat you the same as my little sister, and when I gain immense power, Ill definitely visit the Underworld and revive my little sister if theres really an Underworld, that is

My precious mirror, you are my everything. Y-You are the real ancient mirror! Ill also have that unfathomable talent from now on and Cough! Cough! Cough!

A cold breeze pa.s.sed by and caused the frail s.h.i.+mizu to cough violently again. The mirror slipped through her fingers while coughing and rolled on the ground after bouncing off before coming to a stop.

Ah! My mirror! I cannot lose her again!

s.h.i.+mizu fell to the ground desperately and wasnt able to stand up because of her ailment acting up again. However, she still crawled towards the mirror fervently in spite of this.

My mirror3

Yet, she saw a pair of pet.i.te hands pick up the octagonal mirror before her.

Saionji Nanako cupped the ancient mirror with the Sakura Parasol on her back and looked at s.h.i.+mizu with disbelief written all over her face.4

Silva: Mine is thumping just as wildly

Robinxen: Phew that was closebut is she going to steal it?

Robinxen: Is this the one ring now?

Silva: Im getting gooseb.u.mps