Naked Sword Art

Chapter 443: Lost Memories

For the next couple of days, Xiao Fang kept to himself. He didn’t spend time interacting with any of his guildmates—instead, he secluded himself inside one of the soundproof training chambers nestled deep within the guildhouse.

There, surrounded by silence and dim candlelight, he focused entirely on mastering the [ Illusory Body ] techniques.

Illusory Body:

1st level: Illusory Clone - (foundation realm)

2nd level: Illusory Mimic - (refinement realm)

3rd level: Illusory Husk - (core realm)

4th level: Illusory Veil - (profound realm)

5th level: Illusory Body - (divine realm)

The first level, [ Illusory Clone ], was something Xiao Fang had mastered before becoming an inner court disciple. The second technique, [ Illusory Mimic ], only took him a few hours to grasp, allowing him to recreate false limbs, lasting afterimages, and the trick to making it seem as if he were switching places with a clone.

There were lots of similarities to creating an [ Illusory Clone ] but the [ Illusory Mimic ] technique required a whole lot of concentration, precision, and sleight of hand.

The third level, [ Illusory Husk ], had him stumped for a little while, just like the [ Solid Body ] technique did. It took him several days to learn, but over a week to master. Once perfected, it allowed Xiao Fang to disguise himself as a realistic, stationary object, fooling even seasoned cultivators as long as he remained still.

That time might’ve seemed long for someone like Xiao Fang, but this wasn’t a technique anyone could easily learn, even with months of practice.

What made this technique especially difficult to learn was that it didn’t only involve manipulating the Illusory Qi on his body—it also required influencing the Illusory Qi in his surroundings.

If Xiao Fang had attended the Phoenix-Class lectures, he might’ve gained valuable insights into environmental Qi manipulation and learned the technique far more efficiently.

Recognizing the time he could’ve saved with proper guidance, Xiao Fang decided to postpone learning the next level of the [ Illusory Body ] technique—at least until he could find someone qualified to assist him.

The fourth level, [ Illusory Veil ], was the second-to-last technique in the [ Illusory Body ] technique, but it was also the final one he could attempt at his current Illusory Body cultivation realm.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, Xun Wei was busy collecting reports from the Disciplinary Departments of both the Outer and Inner Courts.

Everywhere she went, she was met with praise and respect. Though she was still only 19 years old, even powerful elders and senior disciples spoke to her with deference. No one questioned her strength—not after her performance in the tournament. As the direct disciple of the Disciplinary Department Head, Yao Wu, and the one who had single-handedly brought the Flowing Blade Sect to its knees, her reputation was firmly established.

Yet, despite all the accolades, a subtle unease lingered in her heart. Something felt off.

She couldn’t explain it, but the nagging sensation that her memory had been tampered with wouldn’t go away. What she didn’t yet understand was that the feeling came from her nature as a dual cultivator. Though her conscious mind had no recollection, her body remembered—it had been affected by a dual cultivation technique. She didn’t know how or when, but ever since the tournament ended, that strange feeling had only grown stronger.

And whenever something felt wrong, there was only one person she truly trusted to confide in: Xiao Fang.

After finishing her duties, she made her way—discreetly—to Xiao Fang’s guildhouse, hoping to speak with the clone he’d left behind before heading off to the Chaos Sect.

She knocked gently.

The door creaked open, and Elder Jiang Mei stood behind it. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Xun Wei.

"Welcome back, Disciple Xun," she said with a warm smile. "And congratulations on your victory in the tournament. I wasn’t able to attend, but I’ve heard wonderful things about your performance. Did you come to see Long Wang again?"

A wave of nostalgia swept over Xun Wei the moment she stepped forward. It felt like the last time she’d come here was to deliver an urgent message to Xiao Fang—yet she couldn’t remember what the message was... or who had even sent it.

"Is he here?" Xun Wei asked, her voice quiet but tense.

If there was anyone who could help her make sense of what she was feeling, it was Xiao Fang.

"He’s currently training in seclusion," Jiang Mei replied with a gentle smile. "Would you like me to leave a message for him when he comes out?"

’So he has safely returned back from the Chaos sect then,’ she thought.

Strangely, the news didn’t surprise her. Somehow... a part of her already knew that his real body had returned.

Xun Wei clenched her jaw lightly. The frustration was building. She couldn’t tell if she was really forgetting, or just slowly losing her mind.

"No," she finally replied, turning away. "I’ll come back another time. Please... don’t tell anyone I was here."

"I’ll keep it a secret, don’t worry. It’s always a pleasure to see you—come by anytime," Jiang Mei said sincerely.

Xun Wei had only taken a few steps before she stopped. A sudden idea struck her. She turned back toward the door.

"Elder," she asked, "do you remember the last time I came here?"

Jiang Mei tapped a finger against her chin. "Let me think... Yes. It was the day of the tournament. You mentioned you had something urgent to tell Wang."

Xun Wei’s heart skipped a beat, and a tingle crept up her spine.

’I knew it.’

Her instincts had been right. Something had happened—something important. Whether it was a truth she was meant to discover or a memory she was never meant to recall, she didn’t know. But one thing was certain:

Once she spoke to Xiao Fang, everything would come to light.

...

In the Core Court, Xun Wei visited Li Lian to ask about what she remembered about the tournament, but unlike her, Li Lian didn’t have any gaps in her memory, nor the sinking feeling as if she was forgetting something.

"Did you say Fang is back?" Li Lian asked.

"Mn, he’s currently training in seclusion, so I couldn’t see him though," Xun Wei replied.

Li Lian frowned.

"It feels like it has been forever," Li Lian said as she looked up at the stars.

In the past, the longest they’ve been apart was for a month, and now once again a month had passed since she had seen him, so she missed him dearly. For now, she was just glad that he was able to return back from the Chaos sect safely.