Chapter 108: Martial Meeting Begins (9)
Lan Xiaohui spends most of the day walking through the city. Hu Yan had given Lan Xiaohui the week off to prepare for the Martial Meeting, but I know that my owner wants to go back to the restaurant and work.
Lan Xiaohui does not do well when she has nothing to do. It doesnt help that her mood has taken a negative dive after witnessing her poor ranking in the Inner World challenge, but that is to be expected. Since she cannot use the Inner World Mystic Sword Formation, her best alternative option is to cut up the remains of dead creatures that have tough skin and organs.
As for earning her wage, I strongly doubt that concept even enters her considerations.
Does someone with Lan Xiaohuis background coming from a wealthy and prestigious family even understand the value of money? Somehow, my owner does not strike me as someone particularly well-versed in the world outside her ivory tower.
Even now, she tries to make herself inconspicuous by walking far away from everyone else but fails to realize that her most attention-grabbing quality is at full display her appearance. And though weve passed by countless cultivators who have all been bestowed with a fine, attractive appearance due to their cultivation, Lan Xiaohui has something they do not: a profound Physique.
Certainly, there are a few of those who practice martial arts where the focus is the strengthening of the body like the very physical art of bare-handed combat but they, with their fists bound in strips of cloth, do not have the same profoundness.
Lan Xiaohuis skin may as well be carved from porcelain jade quite literally. Her physique is a variation of my very own [Black Jade Body]. Cultivating the body is not simply about strengthening muscles, bones, and tendons, but shifting the body towards becoming something more something like a Heavenly Treasure.
Lan Xiaohui, simply because of her Physique, is by far more advanced on that path than those Foundation Establishment or Core Formation cultivators we pass by.
While I am unqualified to remark on the subjective quality of her beauty, the fact that her body is akin to a Heavenly Treasure is, by my standards, very attention-grabbing.
Fortunately, while she does draw a few curious gazes, it does not lead to any incidents. I understand why Lan Xiaohui does not want to be seen and, more importantly, recognized by her former fellow disciples. She wants to remove herself from that past and grasp an unreachable future.
During this time, we visit many of the districts and Lan Xiaohui remarks about a particular tradition that occurs this time of the year.
The people here hold a Red Banner Festival, to honor the hero Lu Long, who defended the city a long time against monsters, she explains, pointing to the many red banners flying from the nearby buildings.
I noticed the banners and thought that it was out of the ordinary, as they were not there the last time we were on the streets.
It will begin in earnest in a few days, and Ive heard many things about it, but have never seen it myself, Lan Xiaohui says. I have always wanted to see it.
Either way, one will lead to the other, so I do not object to this course of action. At the very least, Lan Xiaohuis mood should be soaring very high for quite a while, which should greatly improve her training.
After twenty or so minutes, her happy humming and cheerful step is interrupted suddenly.
She changes directions suddenly and steps off the main road and then pulls out a jade bead from her belongings. The bead glows faintly as Lan Xiaohui focuses on it and then she smiles.
Lady Yue has just arrived at Star City and wants to meet me, she says.
We should go meet her.
Lan Xiaohui nods. I was slightly worried about her, when I havent heard from her since we parted ways. Ill tell her to meet us at the restaurant.
I find it interesting that Lan Xiaohui was worried about Lady Yue. She herself had witnessed the mysterious cultivator handily defeat a Grand Elder of a sect how could anyone or anything harm Lady Yue?
Lan Xiaohui is so strange.
Thank you, Yaoyue, she says.
For what?
Cheering me up, Lan Xiaohui says, smiling.
My sentient core bubbles with joy at those words. Perhaps being useful should feel good, but this is merely the most basic function of my existence. So why does this cursed thing react in such a way when being shown gratitude?
I did not think it was possible anymore, Lan Xiaohui says, chewing on her bottom lip. In this life, I did not think Zhu Xuelian would enjoy life or a festival, but just like you gave her this new life, you made this possible too. Thank you.
This time, I do not object to my sentient cores deviant operations.