The man could only sigh helplessly, saying nothing more, and simply supported her feet with both hands as he carried her toward the town.
After they left, a figure appeared at their previous spot.
It was Su Qiulian.
She rested her finger against her chin, glancing from afar at the “Qin” character on their robes and the swords on their backs, musing to herself, “Disciples of Qinshui Sword Sect… perhaps they can be of use?”
In the next instant, her figure dissolved into nothingness.
***
At Tianyi Sword Sect, Bai Luoshuang was sizing up the young girl before her, while Jun Ziyi, standing at her side, introduced her as if presenting a commodity:
“Well? An Innate Dao Fetus, and she even has an Innate Spiritual Root! That’s more than enough for someone like you, Sword Sovereign, to take as a disciple, right?”
As she spoke, Bai Luoshuang’s gaze never wavered.
Under her stare, Chen Xiner felt uncomfortable all over.
She hung her head even lower, arms held tightly to her sides.
“Name, age, and where do you live?”
Bai Luoshuang questioned.
“I am Chen Xiner, eighteen this year, from Yingzhou.”
Chen Xiner answered everything without faltering, even though she was being scrutinized so intently.
There was still a childish roundness to her face and her limbs were somewhat slender, but her posture was upright, not frail or weak.
Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail.
If only she could be a little more confident, puff out her chest and lift her chin, she’d surely look rather heroic.
Bai Luoshuang reached out, pulled her closer, and checked her bones carefully, then nodded.
“Not bad. She really does have an Innate Dao Fetus and Innate Spiritual Root. Still, for my Sword Intent, I’ll have to see your comprehension. For now, pay your respects as my disciple!”
“Yes!”
Chen Xiner dared not refuse.
In fact, she had no reason to.
Standing before her was none other than the greatest Sword Sovereign of the age.
To become her disciple was the greatest blessing she could ever hope for.
If, by some chance, she could one day grasp the Sword Sovereign’s Sword Intent, then she would soar high—no longer that orphaned little mud child from Yingzhou.
By rights, the Sword Sovereign accepting a disciple should be one of the grandest events in Tianyi Sword Sect.
But Bai Luoshuang couldn’t be bothered with such fanfare, simply going through the motions.
She didn’t even inform the sect disciples or hold a ceremony, just took Chen Xiner back from Jun Ziyi.
They arrived atop Lingtian Cliff and entered the Cave Residence.
Bai Luoshuang casually tossed Chen Xiner a set of her own old clothes.
“Go wash up, change into these, and then come find me.”
“Yes… Master!”
Taking the clothes, Chen Xiner followed Bai Luoshuang’s instructions to the bath atop the cliff.
She undressed, stepped into the pool, and was soon bare beneath the steaming surface.
A mist of steam veiled most of her youthful figure in hazy obscurity.
The quiet splashing of water soon echoed around her.
At the bottom of the pool were Lingyan Stones, so the water would never go cold.
Warmth spread from the water to every corner of Chen Xiner’s body.
Her hair loosened and fanned out in the water, strands like the roots of a great tree.
Chen Xiner carefully washed every part of herself.
But…
Halfway through, she collapsed against the edge of the bath, crying.
“Father… Mother… Xiner finally… finally gets to live a good life, but you can no longer see it…”
Bai Luoshuang, inside her Cave Residence, naturally heard her, but had no intention of going to comfort her.
She quietly brewed herself a cup of tea and drank alone.
When she had finished, Chen Xiner had also finished bathing and came to her, dressed in the new clothes.
“Master!”
Chen Xiner wanted to kneel and bow, but Bai Luoshuang stopped her.
“That’s not necessary! You just finished bathing, don’t get the clothes dirty again.”
Chen Xiner halted, then saluted with clasped hands instead.
“Yes…”
Bai Luoshuang took another look at her current appearance.
Chen Xiner was now wearing the disciple robes Bai Luoshuang herself had worn as a disciple.
While they looked no different from the standard sect uniform, Bai Luoshuang’s own clothes had their own unique touch.
For instance, around the chest, on Chen Xiner, they seemed quite loose and baggy.
Still, a change of outfit had made her look sharper and full of spirit.
She had a straight nose and sword-shaped brows that somewhat resembled Bai Luoshuang’s own, though her eyes still looked like those of a child.
No matter how much she tried to put on a brave front, there was always a melancholy coldness at their core.
Whenever Bai Luoshuang met her gaze, Chen Xiner’s pupils would tremble unconsciously, as if wanting to look away but not daring to.
Fortunately, Bai Luoshuang only looked at her for a moment before turning her attention to her teacup.
“I cultivate the Dao of Ruthlessness. What do you think of that?”
“I…”
Chen Xiner truly couldn’t answer.
She hadn’t even read a handful of books—how could she possibly respond?
“The Ruthless Dao Master acts for the sake of all under heaven. The sword in your and my hands must point toward treachery and evil. The sword must be as such, and so must the person. The ruthless sword, the ruthless heart—so one is not burdened by worldly matters, nor ensnared by love…”
Here, Bai Luoshuang paused, her mind drifting again to the memory of Shen Qingyi.
By now, Qingyi should still be safe and sound in Hao Ren Town.
The time hasn’t come yet; she should not be in danger now…
Thinking this, Bai Luoshuang shook her head and said, “Still, in my opinion, the Dao of Ruthlessness should be one of feeling!”
Chen Xiner wanted to hear more, but Bai Luoshuang fell silent, leaving her bewildered.
The Dao of Ruthlessness should be one of feeling…
What does that mean?
Ruthless yet full of feeling, so which is it?
A child just couldn’t understand!
She watched as Bai Luoshuang walked to the bookshelf, took down a blank Yujian, and held it in her palm.
With two strokes of her finger, she engraved the character “Sword” on it with Sword Intent, then handed it over.
“On this jade slip is my Sword Intent Heart Method. Comprehend it on your own, and come to me once you have made some progress. The cultivation method for the Innate Spiritual Root can be found in the Scripture Pavilion. Take this insignia; the Elder in the pavilion will find it for you.”
As if afraid Chen Xiner might hesitate, she added, “It’s free of charge.”
With that, she swept her sleeves and left, leaving Chen Xiner dumbfounded, staring at the Yujian and Shuang Insignia in her hands.
This Master…
Is really strange!
***
Shen Qingyi had already arrived at the town mayor’s doorstep, holding Dog Lian in her arms.
Though she was blind, she had lived in the town for so many years and knew the way well, so it hadn’t taken long.
She was about to knock when she heard a man and a woman quarreling not far away.
“Come on! Can’t we rest a bit first? Your big sister is truly about to drop dead from exhaustion these last few days, traveling day and night, searching along the way. Honestly! I can hardly walk anymore! Let me sleep at the inn for a while, won’t you? Please, I’m begging you!”
As she spoke, Qiu Ziling grabbed Qiu Zimei’s shoulders, trying to pull him back toward the inn they’d seen on the way.
But as she was riding on Qiu Zimei’s shoulders, he decided where and how they walked.
Her feet were firmly locked, so there was no way down.
“Alright, junior sister, we’re already at the mayor’s house. Since we’re here, let’s just go in!”
Qiu Zimei patted the thigh draped across his shoulder.
“As if just being here means—”
Qiu Ziling started to retort, but just then her eyes landed on Shen Qingyi standing at the door, and her face instantly lit up.
“Ooh! There’s a beautiful blind lady over there! Hurry, hurry up! I want to make friends with her!”
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