"So how was he?"
As Xiao Mei Yue was walking out of the wooden house, she saw two youngsters leaning against the door, each with a martial arts manual tucked under their arm. Both wore jade-green robes and white headbands on their foreheads. One had an ordinary appearance, while the other was quite handsome. Her gaze lingered on the handsome one.
"Hao Jun," she murmured softly, looking at the handsome young man with an affectionate gaze before speaking.
"In my opinion he's an extremely cautious fella, he's not greedy nor arrogant, instead of choosing advanced martial arts from the beginning, he chose a martial arts which he could easily grasp"
"And after seeing my reaction towards the martial art he picked up he immediately gave it to me in order to not create tension between us, I'm afraid he already saw through us" Xiao Mei yue shared her observations with hao jun,
Hao Jun had purposely sent her to the young man in order to pull him under him, but the young man was astute and didn't fall for xiao mei yue, respectfully rejecting to become his lackey, by not ignoring nor dismissing her.
Hao jun had also many times tried to pull the young man under his wing, but the young man did not pay any attention to him, this time he used the alluring xiao Mei yue, but the young man still kept his composure even in front of a beautiful young woman.
"Interesting, I will see for myself whether or not he will kowtow once we all learn martial arts, but anyways what martial arts manual did you choose?"
"It's a secret" Xiao Mei yue said while smiling and left the wooden house.
...
The sky was was clear blue.
Four youngsters walked at a steady pace at the top of the mountain and soon reached a courtyard. At the courtyard gate, a middle-aged woman stood quietly, as though she had been expecting them.
The woman wore jade-green robes, her eyes calm and deep.
"Disciples are back elder" the youngsters kowtowed in front of her.
"Did you all choose martial arts to your likings?" She looked at the youngsters not paying any attention to their greetings and asking with an indifferent tone.
After meeting her gaze the youngsters uncontrollably swallowed their saliva in fear and looked down at her feet, unable to withstand her gaze.
"...yes" they all answered in unison, their voices filled with fear.
"Let me see what martial arts you all chose" she extended her hand taking their martial arts manuals one by one.
"Hmm. Elastic sound harmony" "ten extreme illusion swords" Dao of saber sword arts"
"Diamond clad dragon fists" she looked through the manuals one by one reading their names.
"This..." as she slowly read the martial arts manuals, hao jun's eyes widened in shock, but he remained silent.
Xiao Mei yue and the two other former slave disciples expression did not change. they only listened attentively not daring to do anything.
"Alright, for the "elastic sound harmony" Ten extreme illusion swords" and "dao of saber sword arts" I will have to get you three the necessary equipments to train your martial arts and as for you who chose "diamond clad dragon fists" you don't need any equipment and can start training your martial arts"
She handed them back their manuals after speaking.
"Elder feng jing" we're all very ignorant and in need of your guidance, may i ask where could we go in order to train our martial arts" one of them stood up cupping his fists.
Jade wind sect was located at the top of jade dragon mountain, the mountaintop was a vast expanse of land, even multiple villages could be built upon it, but the disciples only knew where the courtyard, the shrine, martial hall and the wooden house were located. They had no idea where they could go if they wanted to train.
"Right i never explained that to you did i" Elder Feng Jing reached into her bosom, taking out a palm-sized paint brush with a jade stone attached to its handle.
"Look here" she gracefully extended her hand forward, stroking the empty air in front of her with her paint brush, each stroke was gentle and precise, with no wasted motion.
"The surrounding qi is moving toward her? This is just like during the Martial Masters' ritual… but it doesn't seem like she's absorbing the qi" The disciples' eyes widened as shock spread across their faces.
Little by little a map of jade dragon mountain and it's surrounding villages formed in front of them.
"As you can already tell, this is Jade Dragon Mountain, where our Jade Wind Sect is located. As disciples, you are not to descend this mountain without my permission. The mountain has a vast expanse of land where you may train your martial arts. Aside from this courtyard, which will serve as your sleeping quarters, you are not allowed to enter any other properties you encounter on the mountain."
"Disciples will do as elder says" the youngsters cupped their fists in unison. Although Elder Feng Jing spoke calmly and without any threat, the disciples could still feel the power behind her words
Seeing their obedient response, Elder Feng Jing gave a slight nod.
"Also take this, it will greatly improve your trainings" she reached into her bosom taking out four small bags and throwing it towards them.
They each picked up one bag and opened it. Inside were silver white small beads.
"This is.." the youngsters eyes lit up as they immediately figured out what the silver white beads were and put them into their pockets without asking any clarification from elder feng jing.
"You may leave, for the three of you I will bring your equipments once I get them, cultivate diligently" With these words, she cast them a gaze full of expectation as she lightly waved her hand, dismissing them.
"Yes.."
"These youngsters… not even a month has passed since their arrival, yet they have already adapted so quickly. They clearly understand what kind of place the Jade Wind Sect is. Earlier, I deliberately read out the martial arts they had chosen, hoping to expose their paths and sow discord among them. But even under this psychological test, not a single one of them showed any sign of disturbance. They all remained calm."
As the disciples departed into the courtyard, Elder Feng Jing fell into deep thoughts.
....
Two days later.
In one of the rooms of the courtyard, a young man sat cross-legged on his bed, holding a silver-white bead in his palm. The bead emitted a faint glow, before dispersing into the air.
He closed his eyes directing his consciousness toward his shrine. Within it, a pale blue mist slowly seeped forth and disappeared, the space began to fill with a milky, luminous substance.
"This beads…are truly a game changer," he murmured as he slowly opened his eyes. "Absorbing qi from the surroundings is usually slow and difficult, yet with this, I barely need to exert any effort and just one of them was enough to fill up my shrine."
The silver-white bead was a condensed qi. Unlike the scattered and unstable qi found in nature, it was compressed, making it far easier for martial masters to absorb directly. but it also needed to be refined when absorbed though refining qi that's already in your shrine is a lot easier than absorbing.
"Now then, I should go see Xiao Mei Yue. My literacy is improving I may not need her guidance much longer, i also have a sword now, i should begin training soon" The young man grabbed a thick bamboo manual along with a single-edged sword. The 70-centimeter blade was razor sharp with a pointed tip, its hilt canted and wrapped in bronze.
Earlier, Elder Feng Jing had come to his room to deliver the sword he needed for martial arts training and during the two days he had spent waiting for the sword, he had been visiting Xiao Mei Yue to learn how to read and write.
After stepping out of his room, he arrived at the center of the courtyard.
There sat a beautiful young woman with a pale, smooth face, dressed in jade-green robes, reading a bamboo manual with a sword lying beside her.
"Brother you're here" The young woman lightly closed her manual, taking the initiative to greet him.
"Sister Xiao Mei yue...here" the young man took a silver-white bead from his bosom and tossed it towards her.
"This... Xiao Mei yue eyes shone brilliantly after catching the bead "brother you've already given me two qi essence beads, it woud seem as though I'm extorting you if I take this one"
"No sister xiao Mei yue, compared to your guidance these three qi essence beads are far too cheap." The young man cupped his fists, speaking in a pleasant way. urgent her to take the bead
"Sigh, alright but this will be the last qi essence bead I'll accept from you and please have a seat so we can begin your studies" after seeing his stubbornness she gave in and decided to take the bead.
"I still have eleven qi essence beads left and it's not like I urgently need them, I might as well use them as currency to pay Xiao Mei Yue in order to learn from her." he calmly calculated in his mind, After receiving about fifteen qi essence beads from elder feng jing he had given xiao mei yue three in order to learn how to read and write and used one to fill up his own shrine earlier.
Xiao Mei Yue had never demanded payment from him, but the young man did not wish to owe anyone favors, so he decided to give her some of his qi essence beads as payment. And even if she did not ask for payment so what? Nothing is free in this world.
"Unless one is born into a wealthy family, there is little chance to learn reading and writing. Though she never asked for payment, it is only right that I offer something in return for her guidance." He knew in his heart that being literate brought many advantages. Since they were fellow disciples, he had to give her something in return for her guidance. If he were the only one benefiting, why would she bother teaching him? Xiao Mei Yue might even see him as someone trying to take advantage of her and would avoid him. After all, who in their right mind would do anything for free in this world?
"Brother have you picked a name yet? I could suggest a few if you...."Wu jin" just as xiao Mei yue was speaking the young man cut her off. And she revealed a happy expression.
"Very well, I'll call you Wu jin from now on then."
The sweet scent of various flowers filled the air, and the sound of a heavy waterfall could be heard.
Ding" Ding" Ding"
Sounds of a zither echoed beneath the waterfall. "I planned to keep my martial arts hidden… but Elder Feng Jing blew my cover. Now the other disciples know about my Elastic Sound Harmony Art."
Hao Jun sat on a small rock beneath the waterfall, a wooden zither resting on his lap. After receiving it from Elder Feng Jing, he had come here to train.