Hiss……
Chu Mingyao’s brow twitched sharply. That familiar tone, that voice she would never forget…… even without turning around or extending her divine sense, she knew exactly who was standing there.
It had to be Xiang Qingyun.
The moment Xiang Qingyun had called out ‘Eldest Senior Sister’, the surrounding disciples had already begun stealing glances. The memory of Xiang Qingyun knocking Chu Mingyao unconscious in the arena was still fresh in everyone’s minds. As Xiang Qingyun drew closer, her loaded words only served to draw a larger crowd, until disciples were openly stopping to watch.
Though they kept a respectful distance, such a gap meant nothing to a cultivator’s sight.
In the past, Chu Mingyao had rarely entered seclusion, and never for more than a week. Ever since she had collapsed under Xiang Qingyun’s sword, however, the news of her long seclusion had spread throughout the Sword Sect like wildfire.
While most couldn’t track her time as precisely as Perfected Zizhu, everyone had their own count. Some started from the day she fell; others from the day she woke. Regardless of the math, such an unprecedented event— coupled with the eldest senior sister losing to a newly admitted junior— had ignited a forest fire of gossip. After all, cultivators were still human, and as long as they were human, they gossiped.
“I have already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.” Chu Mingyao said, her voice calm. “Why would I remain in seclusion?”
The words struck like a thunderbolt, and a dazed silence swept over the disciples on Neiwu Peak.
Nascent Soul? She’s already reached Nascent Soul?!
Most of them were still struggling through Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment. Even a Golden Core breakthrough was a sign of rare talent, and mid-stage Golden Core was the mark of an elite. But Nascent Soul?
Suddenly, forty-two days seemed like an impossibly short time. For a breakthrough like that, a month was a blink of an eye.
Chu Mingyao turned around with a gentle, poised smile, facing Xiang Qingyun directly.
“Junior Sister, it has only been a few days, yet your cultivation has improved significantly as well. You are already at mid-stage Golden Core. It won’t be long before you reach the late stage. Not bad. You are truly worthy of being a disciple of the Sword Sect.”
On Neiwu Peak, the disciples who had just barely regained their wits drifted right back into a fog of confusion.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I even doing here?
It was one thing for the eldest senior sister— whose cultivation speed had always been terrifying— to reach the Nascent Soul stage. But how was it that this new junior sister, who had only recently joined the sect, was already on the verge of late-stage Golden Core? If this was the standard for a Sword Sect disciple, what did that make the rest of them?
Even though Xiang Qingyun had joined with some prior cultivation, she was still barely out of her teens. Before this, she hadn’t even set foot in a place as spiritually rich as the Sword Sect.
Sensing the collective shock with her divine sense, Chu Mingyao felt a deep surge of satisfaction. Excellent. This was exactly how it should be.
So, they wanted to gossip about her? Then they deserved this bitter stimulus. It seemed they had far too much idle time for rumors and not nearly enough devotion to their own paths.
She shifted her gaze to Chu Mingnan, who stood beside Xiang Qingyun. “Second Junior Brother, what a coincidence. Are you and Junior Sister here for your stipends as well? And where is Eldest Senior Brother? I’ve only just emerged and haven’t had the chance to find the others.”
Normally, Chu Mingdong would be the one glued to Xiang Qingyun’s side. How had he been replaced by Chu Mingnan?
Chu Mingnan’s smile remained as gentle and amiable as ever. “Little Junior Sister has been helping me research a new pill formula recently, working day and night. I ran out of medicinal ingredients for my experiments, so she suggested accompanying me to collect more— and taking a short break while she was at it. As for Eldest Senior Brother, once he heard you had entered seclusion, he followed suit and did the same. Third Junior Brother and Little Junior Brother accepted a monster-clearing mission in Danming Village[1]Red Dusk Village jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1953546_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1953546_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and headed down the mountain over ten days ago.”
The Sword Sect favored individual aptitude. Since Chu Mingnan specialized in alchemy, he was entitled to additional materials for research, provided he produced results. If a disciple continuously drained resources without introducing new pills or contributing finished products to the treasury, their stipend would be revoked.
With Chu Mingnan’s skill, fulfilling those quotas was easy, leaving him with plenty of leftovers to refine whatever he desired.
Hearing his words, Chu Mingyao immediately understood the secret behind Xiang Qingyun’s rapid growth. Driven by the pressure she had applied, Chu Mingdong had gone into hiding to cultivate, leaving him unable to provide for his favorite junior. Consequently, Xiang Qingyun had simply shifted her focus to Chu Mingnan.
Helping with research was likely a convenient cover. In reality, she was probably consuming Chu Mingnan’s pills and using his expertise to accelerate her refinement— swallowing a mountain of resources while keeping her foundation suspiciously solid.
After giving Xiang Qingyun a thoughtful, piercing glance, Chu Mingyao frowned. “The Danming Village extermination mission? I recall a team went there three months ago, led by Junior Brother Wei Kuo. It hasn’t been that long. How have monsters resurfaced so soon?”
At that single look from Chu Mingyao, Xiang Qingyun’s shoulders slumped like a bullied rabbit, and she instinctively tried to cower behind Chu Mingnan.
Chu Mingnan’s response was just as reflexive. He shifted his arm, clearly intending to shield her. It was only when Chu Mingyao spoke that he snapped back to his senses, realizing he was overreacting to a simple question. A fleeting blush crossed his fair face.
“Indeed.” He replied. “Danming Village is near Louri Town[2]Sunset Town jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1953546_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1953546_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and has been peaceful for centuries. But recently, incidents involving both monsters and demons have become frequent. It’s a troublesome affair. However, with Third Junior Brother going personally, he should be able to strike at the root of the problem.”
Chu Mingyao’s unease lingered. “You said he and Xiao Bei have only been gone for ten days?”
By her estimate, traveling from the Sword Sect to Danming Village by flying sword would take nearly ten days alone. Tracking and eliminating monsters in the dense mountains was a grueling process. They likely hadn’t even begun the bulk of the work. If she collected her stipend now and rushed there immediately, she might still arrive in time to assist.
A glint flashed in Chu Mingnan’s eyes. Guessing her intent, he said brightly, “With Eldest Senior Sister taking action, the safety of Danming Village is guaranteed.”
Chu Mingyao didn’t share his optimism. She shook her head. “I can only say I will do my best.”
“E-Eldest Senior Sister……” Xiang Qingyun’s timid voice piped up. Her eyes were as red as a rabbit’s. She flinched under Mingyao’s gaze, then forced herself to look up with a show of shaky resolve. “Can I go with you?”
She clenched her small fists, her eyes filling with a performative righteous indignation. “I want to help too! When Third and Fourth Senior Brother left, I was at a critical stage in my cultivation and didn’t want to slow them down. But I’m at mid-stage Golden Core now, and my swordplay has improved. I have combat power! Eldest Senior Sister, I won’t be a burden!”
Chu Mingyao stared at her expressionlessly. “Can your flying-sword speed keep up with a Nascent Soul cultivator?”
Xiang Qingyun’s heroic pose froze. Her clenched fist hung awkwardly in the air, the momentum of her speech dying instantly.
“You can’t keep up?” Chu Mingyao asked calmly.
Xiang Qingyun nodded dejectedly. As she lowered her head, she made sure to wipe a stray tear from the corner of her eye— a move that successfully drew a pained, sympathetic look from Chu Mingnan.
“Then you would be holding me back.” Chu Mingyao said flatly. She gave Chu Mingnan a final nod. “I’m pressed for time.”
Before the words had even fully faded, she transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward the treasury to claim her resources.
The disciples who had been eavesdropping staggered off like sleepwalkers. Those returning to their meditation went their way, and those heading up the mountain to collect their stipends hurried along.
Fortunately, the eldest senior sister had departed first, allowing them to leave with clear consciences. They truly couldn’t listen anymore. Even though the drama was undeniably juicy, every word out of Chu Mingyao’s mouth had landed like a critical hit to their pride.
A Nascent Soul Eldest Senior Sister. A mid-stage Golden Core Junior Sister.
Heh…… By the next sect tournament, that junior sister would likely become their senior sister as well.
Gossip? What was left to gossip about? Their eldest senior sister was already a Nascent Soul expert and was currently rushing to Danming Village to subdue monsters. Perhaps her seclusion had been triggered by the junior sister. Perhaps she did feel resentful and couldn’t stand the sight of the junior sister. But even if that were true, so what?
She was a Nascent Soul cultivator!
Now that she had flatly stated Xiang Qingyun would only hold her back and had vanished, it made Xiang Qingyun look terribly wronged. The disciples felt a flicker of sympathy for her— but then again, Chu Mingyao was a Nascent Soul.
If a Nascent Soul says a Golden Core is a burden, is there anything factually wrong with that?
Nothing at all.
Chu Mingnan stared blankly at the fading streak of light where Chu Mingyao had disappeared. It was only when Xiang Qingyun tugged at his sleeve, her voice thick with soft sobs, that he finally snapped back to his senses.
References[+]