Xie Lian smiles, softly. "I have made a vow never to take a life with a sword again. And even if I still carried one, I would not be able to make use of it like Hanguang-jun does Bichen. I cannot access my spiritual power." He twitches his fingers at Ruoye, and it coils over, settling in a soft circle around them. "Ruoye has spiritual power of its own. I can command it, as one does a loyal companion, but I don't control it."