One year later.
A beautiful woman in a blue-gray short coat pushed open the creaking wooden door and went to the kitchen across the way, rolling up her sleeves to start cooking.
This was the residence of the Ninth Sword Disciple’s sect.
As Mu Qing’s closed-door disciple, it was only natural for Lian Chengxue to serve her master’s daily needs.
Besides, over the past year, Mu Qing had truly taught her a great deal.
She was a water-affinity cultivator, which complemented Mu Qing’s wood affinity.
Under her master’s full guidance, the hardships of immortal cultivation passed day and night.
The First Sword Six Moves had fused with her spiritual energy down to the bone, allowing her to reach the advanced level of Foundation Establishment.
As a twenty-eight-year-old woman who started cultivation late, jumping six levels from entry-level to Qi Refining advanced, Lian Chengxue was quite satisfied with her progress.
There were still many things she wasn’t used to, but for someone who had reignited her passion for cultivation, adapting was only natural.
She still vividly remembered the pain of Mu Qing smacking her head with a sanitary pad when she first got her period.
What could Lian Chengxue say?
Only that she had been too focused on training and had forgotten for a while.
And panic?
She was a mature, reliable man—none of that would happen.
Okay, she admitted there was a little bit, but it wasn’t her fault.
Who knew it would hurt so badly at night?
She shed a few tears.
If anyone had seen her acting so fragile and weak, she would have been done for.
If she didn’t call for her master, who else could she call?
Thinking of that little hand that had warmed her belly, Lian Chengxue smiled.
She rolled up her snow-white arm and lightly sprinkled salt into the loofah soup.
After a year of cooking rustic, lightly seasoned meals over firewood, a simple meal of four dishes and soup was no trouble at all.
She packed the food into a lunchbox and stepped outside.
She took the flying sword from her waist and mounted it.
Her Foundation Establishment dantian consumed spiritual energy a bit quickly, but Mu Qing wasn’t far away.
In the early morning of May in the south, the wind carried a chill.
Lian Chengxue didn’t erect a sword aura barrier; she let her tied black hair stream behind her as she enjoyed the free flight on her sword.
Arriving at a stretch of emerald bamboo forest, Lian Chengxue slowed down and prepared to land.
In the bamboo forest, a petite figure in bright green was practicing sword forms.
Seeing her attire, Lian Chengxue’s face flickered with a strange expression.
She picked up the lunchbox, retracted her flying sword, and walked down along the swaying bamboo tips.
A lotus-green silk ruqun reached just above her thighs.
Mu Qing finished a sword flourish and sheathed her blade.
Her translucent toes in white silk stockings lightly tapped the air, hovering an inch off the ground.
A smile appeared on her cute face.
“Xiao Xue? So early today?”
“It’s not that early. I still have to lead the new disciples in morning practice later. Master, where did you get those stockings?”
Lian Chengxue remembered that stockings were a modern invention—how did they exist in the Lan Realm?
“An old friend of mine gave them to me. They’re perfect for summer; it feels like my legs are soaking in water—cool and refreshing.”
Mu Qing lifted her soft white, pink-tipped foot and looked at it, quite satisfied.
“Disciple, do you want a pair?”
The robes of the Lan Realm were mostly unisex, so wearing them didn’t bother her.
But if she were to wear stockings…
Lian Chengxue’s forehead broke out in a few black lines.
She knew all too well how alluring her beautiful legs would look in black silk.
Just imagining the stares from passersby—no, she absolutely couldn’t wear them!
“No, no need, Master. I have enough clothes.”
Mu Qing looked up at her disciple in the loose short coat.
She was clearly stunningly beautiful, yet she spent all her time training, cooking, and washing clothes, paying no attention to herself.
That wouldn’t do—she had to be firm!
“These leftovers don’t match my style anyway. You can take them and put them away. What’s wrong? Do you think you’re so skilled now that you can ignore your master’s words?”
She reached out and poked Lian Chengxue in the waist.
Mu Qing raised her little eyebrows and gave a friendly smile.
Over the past year, Lian Chengxue couldn’t say she had learned much else, but her understanding of Mu Qing had grown daily.
Whenever her master made that expression, it meant refusal was not an option.
If she didn’t agree, her fate would be little better than a fish out of water.
“Uh, no, no, Master. I’ll take them.”
She put down the lunchbox and accepted the small bundle produced from the Qiankun Ring, bowing in fearful obedience.
“Mm, good disciple.”
Mu Qing gently stroked Lian Chengxue’s face and smiled serenely.
“Now go to morning practice. Remember to eat some too.”
“Okay.”
‘I’ll just take them home and put them away. I’ll avoid her for a while, and when she forgets about this, it’ll all blow over.’
With that thought, Lian Chengxue mounted her flying sword and headed toward the training ground.
Unlike last year’s hesitant nervousness, Lian Chengxue descended from her flying sword and landed gracefully, as if stepping down a staircase.
This batch of new disciples seemed smaller than her year.
Lian Chengxue sighed.
This was her first day leading a group; she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous.
And she only knew one way to lead people—she hoped she wouldn’t scare them.
After a few seconds, Lian Chengxue cleared her throat, then suddenly spoke in a low voice: “Attention, everyone! I am your instructor, Lian Chengxue. You may address me as… Senior Sister Lian. Now, line up—boys on one side, girls on the other; tall on the left, short on the right. First Sword Six Moves, first form!”
As soon as she finished, chaotic footsteps scattered like a tangled mess.
A crowd of teenagers with clear, foolish looks compared heights and quickly formed a line.
They were all this obedient?
Lian Chengxue was startled, then thought that obedience was better—it saved her trouble.
She made a few adjustments to the formation, and morning practice began under strict discipline.
After several rounds, Lian Chengxue picked two class representatives to lead the group while she singled out a soft, weak-looking girl and pulled her to the edge of the training ground.
“You’re Zhao Lian’er, right?”
“Yes, Senior Sister Lian, I am…”
Zhao Lian’er kept her head down, frantically guessing why Senior Sister Lian had pulled her aside.
Her mind spiraled to dark places, and tears began to blur her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“?”
Senior Sister Lian wasn’t going to punish her?
Hearing Lian Chengxue’s words, Zhao Lian’er raised her face in surprise, tears stopping at the brim of her eyes.
‘This girl probably misunderstood something.’
Lian Chengxue put on a gentle smile, like a spring breeze brushing against the face, instantly dispelling the gloomy mood.
She said softly: “I want to ask you—this is only our first meeting. Why are you all so afraid of me?”
“Because, because… Senior Sister Lian is not only an elder in the immortal sect, but also so much more mature than us. And the words you just said were too strict, so without realizing it…”
“I see…”
Lian Chengxue’s bright smile dimmed slightly, then she forced herself to perk up so Zhao Lian’er wouldn’t notice.
“Alright, go back now.”
“Goodbye, Senior Sister Lian.”
“Goodbye.”
Watching Zhao Lian’er’s retreating figure, Lian Chengxue let out a faint sigh.
A year had passed like a dream.
Perhaps she should say a proper farewell to her former self.
From a 996 office worker to an ancient immortal in a coffin tomb—it was too jarring.
Lian Chengxue leaned against the railing at the edge of the training ground.
Her pink nails glittered in the sunlight as her fingers idly traced the embossed ridges and grooves.
Just like her body—she got periods.
Without a doubt, a woman’s body.
She turned toward the pond below the training ground and looked down.
The water reflected a charming, oval face.
When she frowned slightly, it exemplified an unrefusable kind of bright and dignified beauty.
‘So this is what I’ve become… I guess I’m… still pretty?’
Lian Chengxue cupped her own face—the texture was top-notch.
Paired with that golden-threaded white robe, she did have the bearing of an immortal.
No wonder Lin Zhi’s mouth had dropped open wide enough to hold an egg when she first saw her.
‘I wonder how she’s doing. Is she okay? When I’m allowed to go down the mountain, maybe I’ll go visit her first. After all, the tomb boat is much faster than this flying sword.’
‘I really want to eat those sweet little cornbread again.’
A meal’s kindness—never to be forgotten…