Thanks to that gust of wind out of nowhere, by the time Yun Xiu came to her senses she was already standing on the sword-light.
Once she’d steadied herself, the young man let go of her hand at just the right moment.
Feixiao’s shouts chased after her from far behind. “Yun Xiu-Xiu, farewell! Come visit me in the Demon Realm if you ever get the chance! I’ll treat you to Tianshan honey-roast meat and pearl-flower wine, plus purple-cloud coconut-braised fish, fish-roe loquat prawns, bamboo-fungus golden pheasant soup, and jade-hibiscus milk cakes—”
Yun Xiu’s stomach growled.
Yun Xiu: “…”
Forget “later”, she wanted to get off the bus right now.
Three months of life left. On one side: eating and drinking to her heart’s content, roaming mountains and rivers. On the other: cowering in a Sword Sect, hiding her head and tail in constant dread. Even an idiot would know which to pick.
Damn it, it had to be magic. How on earth had she ended up onboard?
“Oh right, in my old auntie’s neck of the woods there’s an amazing demon-doctor who specializes in treating brains, he’s a real pro—”
Yun Xiu: ?
Isn’t the aim a little off? Is there the kind who treats the whole package, say, one who can revive her on the spot after she’s hacked to death by a swarm of swords?
If that’s too much, just fixing the brain would do too, then afterward whip up a cool sci-fi robot body and mount the brain in it. That’s how they always do it in the futuristic films.
Feixiao’s voice had faded out into the distance by now.
Yun Xiu squatted in her corner, her train of thought wandering ever further off the rails, it had now reached the collision of interstellar and cultivation, with native cultivators waging war against alien Gundams.
Mm… a film like that probably wouldn’t pull enough ratings to land the prime-time eight-o’clock slot, though. An interstellar mother-in-law-versus-daughter-in-law drama would rate better.
A sweet fragrance suddenly drifted to her nose. Yun Xiu’s attention was instantly hooked, she lifted her head and saw a little milk cake in a butter-paper wrapper.
The white-robed young man said flatly, “I passed through Baihua City on the way here, and couldn’t fend off the townsfolk’s enthusiasm, so I accepted a bit of their thanks. I’ve long since abstained from grain and have no need for such things, so eat them if you like.”
Yun Xiu took the milk cake and murmured, “Th-thank you.”
In under five minutes, Yun Xiu had polished off the whole packet of milk cakes. She patted her still-unfilled stomach, feeling a bit listless, and had barely lowered her hand when Lord Sword Venerable handed over a fresh, steaming packet of hibiscus flower cakes.
Yun Xiu’s eyes lit up: !
Again in under five minutes, a big packet of hibiscus cakes was wiped out, yet her stomach still gave a growl. A bit embarrassed, Yun Xiu pulled her hat brim low and murmured, “M-maybe hauling gravestones lately wore me out too much. I, I wasn’t like this before.”
Back in her old life she’d eaten plenty too, but it had still fallen within the range of a normal appetite. The body she’d transmigrated into had an enormous appetite, always feeling hungry, hungry. Last time at the Shuiling Palace she’d had to eat two whole tables of food before she was full.
“It’s fine.”
The young man showed no particular emotion and gave a light acknowledgment.
The next second, he pinched a hand seal and conjured up a little cloud-puff table and two cloud-puff stools, setting them out in front of her, then took from his storage pouch a carved drunken crab, sweet-and-sour fish, Dongpo pork, stir-fried bamboo shoots… and a whole fruit basket of juicy peaches.
The peaches were fresh, still fuzzy. Calmly, the young man pinched a seal and used a water ball to wash them clean, patted them dry, and arranged them on a fruit plate.
“Eat.” he said blandly.
Yun Xiu stared at the tableful of dishes for a long moment, then lifted her head and, as if working up her courage, called to him softly, “Um, fellow—mas-master.”
Xie Wuwang’s gaze swept over. “?”
“Just how much stuff did you accept from those people?”
Xie Wuwang: “…”
The Zhezhu Sword Spirit glowered resentfully at the girl feasting away. Its boss had come straight over the moment he left the Immortal Alliance, where would he have found time to sit through that crowd of Baihua City mortals’ thank-you speeches? He’d obviously bought it all at the Alliance.
As expected of a Sword Venerable, its boss was the most thoughtful even as a master, this busy, and he still remembered to buy meals for a disciple who hadn’t even formed her foundation.
Mm. It would’ve been even better if he hadn’t bought it out of its rations, though.
Eating in a veiled hat was really inconvenient. Yun Xiu snuck a glance at Xie Wuwang and saw the young man lounging across the little cloud-puff table, leafing through a scroll, not looking at her at all.
Yun Xiu relaxed and slowly took off her veiled hat, setting it down.
Then she picked up her bowl and chopsticks and shoveled it in, mouthfuls at a time, cheeks bulging, eyes and brows curving in satisfaction. If her fox tail hadn’t been hidden, it would surely have been wagging right now.
The young man held the scroll in jade-like fingers, idly turned a page, lashes half-lowered, and laughed softly.
Cultivation-world sects are generally built in remote places uninhabited by mortals, and the main Lingyun Sect sat in the Jiuli region, a land of gloomy cold.
The temperature here was extremely low, a cultivator setting foot in this place had to keep spiritual energy circulating at all times to fend off the clammy chill that bored into the meridians.
Jiuli’s environment was peculiar too, barren and hollow, the ground everywhere strewn with grayish-white crystal columns and black crystal blossoms precipitated out of the cold air, gorgeous and strange.
Of course, that was only outside the sect, within, it was another scene entirely.
At the sect’s founding, the Lingyun Sect had fused five high-grade magic implements into its five main peaks to open a Five-Elements Reversal Array, keeping the choked spiritual energy flowing naturally and inexhaustibly, unaffected by the cold. As for weather and sunlight, to keep the disciples from losing all sense of the passage of time, they were made to follow the four seasons of the mortal world.
Mm, all of this Yun Xiu had picked up earlier from the Lingyun Sect’s admissions webpage.
Sitting on her little cloud-puff stool, cupping a peach, Yun Xiu spotted the Lingyun Sect’s gate in the distance, and… a huge crowd of people packed around the entrance.
They were all young faces, eyes brimming with longing, sword-cases on their backs, chins up and chests out, bursting with high spirits.
She took a bite of her peach and asked softly, “So, so many people. Is it new-student enrollment today?”
Lord Sword Venerable slowly raised his eyes from his book, gave them a glance, and said flatly, “No.”
Then why were they all clustered here?
Just as Yun Xiu was puzzling over it, the flying sword drew nearer and she caught fragments of chatter drifting up from below.
“Can we really get to see the Sword Venerable?”
“Not sure. There was just some rumor on SpiritNet that he’s coming back to the sect today. I saw everyone here, so I came too.”
“So that’s why all these people are waiting around.”
“Whatever, I’ll wait too. Just in case I do get to see him.”
Yun Xiu: “…”
Now she understood.
Xie Wuwang unhurriedly closed his scroll. “We’ve arrived. Would you like to get off here first and familiarize yourself with the sect grounds, or…”
Before he could finish, Yun Xiu grabbed hold of his hand… rather, the scroll in it, her eyes as resolute as if she were swearing into the Party. “I choose the second option.”
Xie Wuwang looked at her. “Are you sure you don’t want to think it over?”
Yun Xiu: “No need!”
What could possibly be more terrifying than being mobbed by a swarm of little fans?!
Xie Wuwang laughed softly. “All right.”
The pale blue sword-light flashed once over the heads of the disciples, unnoticed by anyone.
Yun Xiu patted her chest, congratulating herself on having dodged a disaster, and took a bite of peach, just as the flying sword abruptly came to rest before the doors of a solemn, majestic great hall.
At a single glance: jade steps and a crimson courtyard, carved beams and embroidered pillars, and all around utter silence, not a single sound.
Yun Xiu’s gaze traveled slowly up the long jade steps and saw the hall packed with stern-faced elder-masters, their eyes blazing.
Higher still, in the seats of honor sat a row of grave, upright Elders, sitting bolt straight.
Higher than that, Yun Xiu didn’t dare keep looking.
Her pupils slowly shattered, and she turned her head stiffly toward the young man beside her.
The white-robed young man said in a leisurely voice, “I’d thought that since you’re shy with strangers, I’d let you get acquainted with the sect grounds first before coming here to pay respects to the Elders. I never imagined you’d be so eager.”
Yun Xiu: “…”
You never said the two things were sequential, either!
Before arriving, Yun Xiu, hands stuffed in her pockets, had wondered what could possibly be more terrifying than a fan meet-and-greet.
Now she knew.
It was this: a family gathering that never stops staring at you and grilling you with questions, and might even make you perform a party trick at the dinner table.
“Let’s go.”
The young man beside her mounted the steps, Yun Xiu didn’t budge, and lowered her head to look at the half-eaten peach in her hand.
If she bolted now, wouldn’t that make him lose face in front of all these people…?
Good Guy Bro didn’t mean any harm, either, he’d dried her clothes before, told her to run first during the fight, and given her so much to eat.
…He just wanted to take on a disciple, that was all.
Yun Xiu lowered her eyes for a moment, and reached an answer in her heart.
She reached out and tucked the peach away, gritted her teeth, and trotted after him at a jog, struggling to keep up at his side.
Seeing how truly stiff her body was, Xie Wuwang said gently, “There’s no need to be afraid. These people cannot interfere with our master-disciple bond. Today is only to introduce you to them.”
“No matter what they say, if you don’t wish to answer, you needn’t pay them any mind.”
Yun Xiu gave a soft “mm,” and, recalling how Feixiao always said she was as cowering and skittish as a little mouse, steadied her veiled hat, shifted her stance, and did her best to straighten her back.
…
It was a perfectly ordinary day. You Yujing was practicing the sword… or rather, slacking off in the gaps between practice, leaning against a tree reading a picture-book, when his master suddenly came racing over on a white crane and landed on the training platform.
Too fast, the white crane couldn’t brake in time, its talons scrabbling several times against the ground, and just as its head was about to slam into a wooden practice post, You Yujing hurriedly grabbed the bird’s head with both hands.
“Little Yu-Yu, your master has urgent business with you!”
The white crane’s tongue lolled as it stopped and steadied. You Yujing let out a breath. “Master, how many times have I told you, you’re the lord of an entire sect. You should carry yourself with a bit more dignity day to day. Now, what is it this time?”
Shuo Yunhuai wore a solemn face. “Your Shishu Wuwang has taken on a disciple and is bringing her back to the sect today. Help me pick out a meeting gift, what should I give?”
“Should I give this ultra-dazzling badass golden cape, or these glowing magic shoes? I think this seven-colored glazed-crystal sword-case isn’t bad either, a sword cultivator’s bound to use it. What do you think, Little Yu-Yu?”
You Yujing: “…”
He fell silent for two seconds, then put on a pair of Rare Treasures Workshop sunglasses.
You Yujing: “They’re all fine. But Master, do you know whether the disciple Shishu Wuwang has taken on is a boy or a girl?”
“A little girl.” Shuo Yunhuai didn’t even look up, still browsing. “Little Yu-Yu, any ideas? What do girls these days like?”
You Yujing paused. “What female cultivators like… shouldn’t you be asking Shimei Long about a matter like this?”
“She said give spirit stones, way too tacky. No, no, how could I, the dignified Lingyun Sect Master, give such a tacky meeting gift?”
Shuo Yunhuai fished out a feathered robe studded with gems of every color, bright enough to blind. “Little Yu-Yu, what do you think of this outfit?”
You Yujing: “…”
He thought Shimei Long had a point.
In the end, under Shuo Yunhuai’s suspicious gaze, You Yujing painstakingly picked the single normal-looking item out of Shuo Yunhuai’s treasure chest, a jade-flute magic implement.
Shuo Yunhuai stroked his chin, muttering, “Girls these days really like this stuff? What strange taste…”
Having learned that Sword Venerable Wuwang was returning to the sect today and bringing back his own disciple, You Yujing was very curious about this disciple, and simply tagged along with Shuo Yunhuai to Lingxiao Hall.
On the way, You Yujing learned that the news had actually started with nothing more than Sword Venerable Wuwang offhandedly saying, the day before at the Immortal Alliance, that he already had a disciple, in the course of turning down other great powers’ recommended prospects.
Once the Lingyun Sect’s Grand Elder got wind of it, he’d pressed and pried and pestered without end, and only then had Sword Venerable Wuwang stated he’d bring her back to the sect the next day.
Because of that one remark, Lingxiao Hall was packed to capacity today. Elders and elder-masters alike, those with business and those without, had dropped everything and taken their seats here early, before dawn even broke, terrified of arriving late.
After all, in the entire Lingyun Sect, top to bottom, not one Elder yet dared to deny Sword Venerable Wuwang his face.
They’d waited most of the day and still not a shadow of anyone had shown.
The Elders could at least sit, as a disciple, You Yujing could only stand in the lower ranks, so he simply picked a spot against the wall and pulled out his picture-book to read.
It was a bestselling romance picture-book, still in serialization, the volume in his hands was the seventh. The world-shaking, tragic love between the male and female leads was said to have brought countless cultivators to tears in the dead of night, but You Yujing didn’t actually care for it. What he loved was a peripheral side character in the book.
The male lead had a Sword Sect little junior sister, cold-natured by birth, chilly in temperament, who usually dressed all in black, wore a veiled hat, and never spoke more than three words to anyone.
In short, she came across as thoroughly haughty and self-satisfied, aloof and arrogant, a highly unlikable character.
But You Yujing loved her, and he sincerely understood her.
The junior sister didn’t associate with people because she was born insensitive to emotions and didn’t know how to get along with others.
The junior sister spoke curtly because she felt she was bad at talking and feared angering people, the more she said, the more she’d get wrong.
In corners where no one was around, the junior sister would feel lonely too, squatting on the ground and murmuring softly to the wild flowers.
And there was more, and more…
In short, for the sake of this aloof little junior sister, You Yujing had followed a full seven volumes of the picture-book, just to dig out her precious few scenes from amid the sweeping tragic romance of the leads.
At last he found the page.
Gazing at the little junior sister in the picture-book, You Yujing couldn’t help getting starry-eyed, his heart going all soft. He was about to read on when the people around him suddenly straightened up, their expressions turning grave.
You Yujing looked up and saw two figures outside the hall doors.
Sword Venerable Wuwang had come with his disciple!
He hastily tucked the picture-book away and stood at attention too, and like everyone in the great hall, fixed his gaze on the doorway.
Sword Venerable Wuwang walked unhurriedly into the hall, a black figure following at his side, from the build, definitely a girl, though a veiled hat hid her face.
Amid so many people, the girl showed not the slightest timidity, back straight, steps steady, following Sword Venerable Wuwang in, one step at a time.
In his seat, the Grand Elder stroked his white beard.
The little girl carried herself with quite unusual poise. An ordinary disciple facing this kind of formation would be sweating buckets.
Only…
The same question circled in everyone’s mind, the same one the Grand Elder had.
…Why couldn’t they read her cultivation realm?
Was she using some method to conceal it, or was this little girl’s cultivation deeper than their own, so they couldn’t perceive it?
Not one for ceremony, after a round of formal pleasantries Shuo Yunhuai walked straight down from his seat and, grinning, sized Yun Xiu up. “Wuwang, so this is your disciple?”
Xie Wuwang gave a noncommittal “mm.”
“Interesting.”
Shuo Yunhuai laughed and looked at Yun Xiu. “What’s your name?”
One second, two seconds…
The air in the great hall suddenly sank into silence.
After a full minute of silence, the assembled Elders were shifting anxiously in their seats.
Only then did the girl finally speak, softly: “Yun.”
The Elders’ and elder-masters’ pupils quivered.
What arrogance was this, facing the Lingyun Sect Master, and refusing to even give her full name?
Only over in the corner, You Yujing’s shocked gaze traveled slowly from the aloof little junior sister in the picture-book in his hands to the black-clad girl in the center of the great hall.
Mm… hm?!