No-Sword Peak had only one thatched cottage, supported by four thick pillars and suspended three inches above the ground. Around the cottage, a breeze carried a subtle, hovering fragrance. Tracing the scent led to pear trees where smoldering aloeswood incense was hidden, its smoke wafting slowly amidst mottled bamboo curtains hanging askew in all directions. CLANG! CLANG! Sounds echoed.
"Disciple, this Qi Refining Method, just browse through it," Su Bei said. "Once you're finished, remember to tuck it back under the bed leg. One side is uneven—makes for an uncomfortable sleep. Your master will go to the Sword Concealing Pavilion to see if there's a more suitable cultivation technique for you. Don't cultivate this one!"
Su Bei then placed the patina-covered Sword Scripture into Xiao Ruoching's hands. With a tender expression, he showered her with cautions and admonitions before striding away. The wind brushed against his white garment, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow.
Hmm. If I can cultivate this so-called Sword Scripture, then my disciple, the undisputed Child of Destiny of this world, why would she cultivate a technique that looks impressive but is actually no match for those ancient, incomplete cultivation techniques? I trust my disciple understands this! Even if she does cultivate it, it's no big deal. After all, a Child of Destiny with such a prominent halo is unreasonably strong, no matter what she cultivates. As for why I placed the Sword Scripture in her hands? Isn't it to give her a choice? This way, I wouldn't be influencing the destined path of this Child of Destiny. The choice is hers.
Watching Su Bei's receding figure, Xiao Ruoching tightly gripped the Sword Scripture in her hands! An uncontrollable excitement surged within her. In my previous life, I was never able to cultivate this Sword Scripture; after all, it was the Sword Sect's unrevealable secret technique, one Su Bei had kept firmly in his own hands!
But then, Xiao Ruoching's brows knitted together. This important Qi Refining Method, he just handed it over to me without a care? There must be a trap! Yes. Something must have happened after I got drunk—I must have done something, maybe even said some things in my drunken state. He's suspicious of me! That's why he's using the Sword Scripture to test me. If I really cultivate the Sword Scripture, he'll surely become guarded against me! How infuriating! Indeed, my master's mind is still so cunning, so distrustful!
Xiao Ruoching frowned, subconsciously settling into Su Bei's rocking chair, swaying back and forth. Should I cultivate the Sword Scripture or not? Without a doubt, cultivating the Sword Scripture would allow my cultivation to progress by leaps and bounds. Coupled with my invariably diligent practice day and night, my chances of claiming first place in the upcoming Sect competition of the Twenty-One Provinces would increase considerably. But Su Bei clearly doesn't want me to cultivate this Sword Scripture; he fears my cultivation will advance too quickly, easily threatening him! It's as if all the world's delicacies are laid out before me, yet I cannot take a single bite! This feeling... it's incredibly frustrating. Have I, reborn, still ended up being played in the palm of Su Bei's hand?
Xiao Ruoching laughed mockingly at herself as she gazed at the Sword Scripture in her hand. In this life, do I actually have a chance to kill him? Or will I have to go through it all over again? Be cruelly murdered by him, have my constitution stolen? No! In this life, no one can block my path! I returned with so much unresolved defiance. If it's just like my previous life, what was the point of coming back? I still need to save Junior Sister Mo Li, who will soon fall into our master's evil clutches! And there's Junior Sister Zi Jun, always so gentle, never fighting or competing.
"Junior Sister Mo Li, I will definitely find a way for you to apprentice under Elder Xi! You'll grow up safely and securely," Xiao Ruoching muttered to herself, her eyes fixed on the distant peaks. "Don't worry, your senior sister is back. With me here, this time… unless you yourself choose to apprentice under Su Bei…" Her voice faded.
Then she chuckled lightly. How could I have such a strange thought? Junior Sister Mo Li would have to have lost her mind to apprentice under my master. You must know, in our previous life, the various elders practically came to blows fighting over Mo Li. If Su Bei hadn't bewitched Junior Sister, she would have apprenticed under Elder Xi long ago. Enough! Having returned to this life, how could I be content if I cannot cultivate the Sword Scripture? You forbid me from cultivating the Sword Scripture? I will cultivate it! I'll cultivate day and night...!
Xiao Ruoching leaned back in the rocking chair, her legs clad in black stockings dangling, shimmering in the sunlight. Her high heels, embroidered with sword patterns, kicked at her skirt, making it sway. She stood up, ready to cultivate.
Hmm, these novel pants actually feel pretty good. Tight and stretchy. Just… a bit chilly…
「 」
Snowflakes, like willow catkins, drifted down onto the mirror-smooth surface of the Sword Washing Pond. Su Bei strolled towards the Sword Concealing Pavilion, his hands clasped behind his back. Along the way, he could clearly hear the unreserved chatter of Sword Sect female disciples:
"Ah! Have you heard? Our Sword Sect is recruiting new disciples!"
"I know, I know! Fifth Elder is in charge this time!"
"Aah, I love Fifth Elder! There are probably a lot of people aiming for Fifth Elder this time…"
"Yes, in terms of talent and cultivation, Fifth Elder is practically unbeatable in the Twenty-One Provinces!"
"Fifth Elder even composed eighteen timeless poems right in front of those Confucian Immortals…"
"And the Acting Sect Leader said that this recruitment conference will invite sects from all over to demonstrate the broad-mindedness of our Sword Sect."
"Really? Do you think those sour Confucians will try to retaliate at our Sword Sect's recruitment event?"
"Who knows! They'll definitely try to make things difficult for Fifth Elder!"
"Boohoo! I really want to become Fifth Elder's disciple."
"Fifth Elder is too young, only just over five hundred years old." The voices faded.
Su Bei's brows knitted slightly. He pondered for a moment, then sighed with a touch of melancholy. As expected. That idiotic Head Senior Sister unhesitatingly chose this face-slapping plotline. Such magnanimity… What a headache! Never mind. There's still a month until the sect conference. In the meantime, I need to get my precious disciple properly settled. If she has no place to sleep, I'll have to build a house, right? If there's no place to bathe, I'll have to dig a hot spring, won't I? My disciple can't possibly endure hardship with me every day! Although she's a tool, I'm not some wicked capitalist. If she doesn't eat well and sleep well, how can she work?
He walked a little further along the stone path, gradually reaching a denser part of the bamboo forest. The bamboo, evergreen, had leaves lightly dusted with snow, as tranquil as an ink wash painting.
The Sword Concealing Pavilion was just ahead. The number of disciples also began to increase.
Seeing Su Bei, they greeted him one after another:
"Good morning, Fifth Elder!"
"Fifth Elder, you've come to the Sword Concealing Pavilion? What a rare guest…"
"In all the Twenty-One Provinces, only Fifth Elder's handsomeness can rival mine."
"Fifth Elder must be here to exchange pointers with Eighth Elder…"