CH 81

Villainous Master (3)

Song Xu Yi became a disciple of Ning Jing Yu at the young age of ten.

As she boarded Ning Jing Yu’s flying sword and ascended to the pinnacle of the Xuan Shu Sect, the other new disciples watched on with envy.

However, despite the admiration of her peers, Song Xu Yi did not actually wish to ride on the flying sword.

Despite her desire to emulate Ning Jing Yu’s graceful flying sword technique, Song Xu Yi attempted several times to mount the thin blade of the flying sword without any success, ultimately falling down on her bottom.

Rather than helping Song Xu Yi, Ning Jing Yu found the situation amusing and burst out laughing with her sleeves rolled up.

Although Song Xu Yi was aware of Ning Jing Yu’s laughter, she found it difficult to become angry due to Ning Jing Yu’s enchanting laughter. Blushing with embarrassment, Song Xu Yi watched as Ning Jing Yu widened the blade of the flying sword with a technique and then sat behind her, nervously holding onto Ning Jing Yu’s shirt hem and closing her eyes.

Song Xu Yi felt ashamed and avoided looking at the other disciples’ faces, but unbeknownst to her, the Sect Leader was relieved by what had happened.

Despite Ning Jing Yu’s renowned reputation, those who knew her well understood that she was exceedingly lazy and indifferent towards those she disliked. In fact, Ning Jing Yu had not taken on a disciple in many years, and the Sect Leader was worried that Song Xu Yi’s exceptional talent, with her single spirit root, would be wasted if Ning Jing Yu did not accept her.

Fortunately, the two of them were now getting along well, and Ning Jing Yu should be extremely satisfied with Song Xu Yi as her new disciple.

The Sect Leader let out a momentary sigh of relief.

“You’re so timid!” Ning Jing Yu exclaimed, teasing Song Xu Yi.

Unaware of the Sect Leader’s concerns, Song Xu Yi sat nervously behind Ning Jing Yu on the flying sword, feeling the wind rushing past her cheeks. When she attempted to open her eyes, Ning Jing Yu playfully ordered her to come down.

Song Xu Yi’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment once more.

She quickly descended from the flying sword and followed Ning Jing Yu with small steps, passing through the plum trees until they reached a dilapidated thatched hut deep in the woods.

Song Xu Yi was taken aback, having not expected someone as elegant and noble as Ning Jing Yu to live in such a shabby dwelling. She couldn’t help but look at Ning Jing Yu with a sympathetic expression in her eyes.

As Ning Jing Yu turned around and caught sight of the pity in Song Xu Yi’s gaze, Song Xu Yi attempted to withdraw it.

Ning Jing Yu blinked and knelt down in front of Song Xu Yi, asking, “You feel sorry for me?”

Her eyes twinkled as she let out a quiet sigh and continued, “As you can see, I am covered in injuries and debts, and my home at Fallen Cloud Peak is the coldest place in the entire Xuan Shu Sect. If you choose to become my disciple, be prepared to live a life of hardship for the next thirty to fifty years.”

Ning Jing Yu then added, “If you regret your decision now, it’s still not too late to back out.”

Before Ning Jing Yu could finish her sentence, Song Xu Yi, her young apprentice, raised the small bag on her back and presented it to Ning Jing Yu with a red face. She spoke softly, “Master, I have some money. My parents have given me a lot of spirit stones, and you can use them to pay off your debts. If it’s still not enough, we can figure out a way to pay the remaining amount later.”

Song Xu Yi didn’t think much of offering financial assistance to her master. As someone from the modern era, she believed that it was natural to pay for education. Moreover, since Ning Jing Yu was the best sword practitioner in the world, she believed that the tuition fees should be high.

Song Xu Yi’s reaction pleased Ning Jing Yu, who was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter again.

Ning Jing Yu playfully tapped Song Xu Yi’s head and said, “You’re such a silly child. Are you planning to support your master? What will people think if they find out?”

She sighed and motioned for Song Xu Yi to follow her. As they walked out of the dilapidated hut, Ning Jing Yu waved her sleeves, and the snow-white fabric brushed past Song Xu Yi’s face, carrying the scent of plum.

When the sleeves returned to Ning Jing Yu’s side, Song Xu Yi was surprised to see that the shabby hut had transformed into a beautiful bamboo building with two rooms.

With a yawn, Ning Jing Yu gestured towards one of the rooms and spoke softly, “Your room is this one. You can rest there from now on. I need to meditate to heal my wounds in the coming days, so you should take some time to familiarize yourself with the scenery of Fallen Cloud Peak. Please don’t come to disturb me.”

Ning Jing Yu handed a small pouch and a thin booklet to Song Xu Yi, saying, “This is a grain-clearing pill. Use it first and practice your Qi according to the instructions in the booklet.”

Song Xu Yi nodded obediently and watched as Ning Jing Yu entered the next room.

The booklet had been hanging on the waist of an outer servant who was sweeping the door, and Song Xu Yi had noticed it before.

Despite Ning Jing Yu’s somewhat casual approach to teaching, Song Xu Yi didn’t mind and began to diligently follow the booklet’s instructions.

The booklet featured peculiar patterns of Qi, and although Song Xu Yi struggled to understand them at first, she was patient and organized her daily routine reasonably, dedicating twelve hours to studying the booklet, four hours to exercising, and eight hours to rest.

On the edge of the cliff near the plum forest of the Fallen Cloud Peak, Song Xu Yi dug a sand pit and made a bar to run laps every morning and evening with sandbags tied to her.

Although she didn’t know if this was effective, she believed that training her body would benefit her in life.

After a week of rigorous exercise, one evening as Song Xu Yi was running laps and gazing at the red haze in the sky and the setting sun, she suddenly felt her mind clear and sensed a small stream of Qi entering her body.

As Song Xu Yi felt the Qi entering her body, at that very moment, some images suddenly flashed through Ning Jiang Yu’s mind while she was meditating.

Abruptly opening her eyes, Ning Jiang Yu was lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Song Xu Yi remained unaware of the change in her master and tried to recreate the sensation of the Qi entering her body. However, the feeling quickly faded away and she was unable to grasp it again.

Upon returning to her room, Song Xu Yi attempted several more times to recreate the feeling of Qi into her body, but once again, it eluded her.

Nonetheless, she was not discouraged, understanding that this was only the beginning and that there would be more opportunities to experience it. So, she proceeded to wash up and went to bed following her usual routine.

However, the night proved to be anything but peaceful.

In the middle of the night, Song Xu Yi sensed something unusual: the air around her had suddenly become much colder.

Despite tightening her blanket, the coldness persisted, seeming to seep into her body.

In an instant, Song Xu Yi was wide awake.

Retreating into the bed, she grabbed a Night Pearl and caught the familiar scent of plum.

“Ma, Master, what’s wrong?” she asked, sensing something off about Ning Jing Yu’s demeanor.

Suspecting she may have misread the situation, Song Xu Yi tried to look again, but Ning Jing Yu had already closed her eyes, struggling to adjust to the sudden brightness of the pearl.

“It’s nothing,” said Ning Jing Yu, regaining her composure and speaking in a calm voice. “I was just sensing something during my meditation, and I had a premonition of something absurd.”

Song Xu Yi bit her lower lip, feeling that Ning Jing Yu’s dream might have some connection to her. However, Ning Jing Yu didn’t seem willing to discuss the matter and changed the topic instead.

“Do you plan to become a medical cultivator or a sword cultivator?” she asked.

Without a second thought, Song Xu Yi replied, “Sword cultivator.”

Water spirit roots had natural healing properties, and the single spirit root of Water Spirit Root was an excellent medicinal material in itself. In ancient times, some cultivators even captured Water Spirit Root disciples to use them as furnaces to repair their bodies’ dark wounds.

Later, a great master, unable to tolerate the low status of water spirit roots among cultivators, developed a technique to transform water into a sword and became a sword cultivator, which revolutionized the perception of water spirit roots.

Song Xu Yi had a specific goal in mind and did not wish to specialize in healing as a medical cultivator.

Ning Jing Yu’s response to Song Xu Yi’s choice was unsurprising.

She gazed deeply at Song Xu Yi, her brow furrowed as if she was facing a difficult decision.

Sensing the importance of this moment and the impact it could have on her learning, Song Xu Yi spoke up to advocate for herself, “Master, I am determined to honor you in the future.”

Song Xu Yi was determined to try to alter the outcome of Ning Jing Yu’s battle with the new Demon Lord, although she was unsure if she would succeed. Ning Jing Yu was taken aback by Song Xu Yi’s resolve and looked at her once again.

“What a dutiful child,” Ning Jing Yu observed Song Xu Yi’s appearance carefully, and then suddenly burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling.

In the darkness of the night, it was possible that Song Xu Yi was mistaken, but she felt that Ning Jing Yu did not look as dignified and elegant as when she first met her. Rather, she appeared almost like an enchanting demon, captivating and irresistible.

As Ning Jing Yu was Song Xu Yi’s master, Song Xu Yi dared not admire her beauty too openly, so she quickly averted her gaze and lowered her head.

“I’ll make a note of it!”

Ning Jing Yu’s voice took on a nonchalant tone once again as she yawned overhead, before starting towards the door. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll come to teach you, and for now, I can’t think of anything else for you to do. You owe me a favor first.”

Song Xu Yi was taken aback, but a smile soon spread across her face as she realized that Ning Jing Yu had finally acknowledged her as a disciple.

The next day, when Song Xu Yi woke up, she noticed that the bamboo door of Ning Jing Yu’s room was still closed, so she didn’t want to disturb her master’s rest. Instead, she strapped on a sandbag and began running to improve her physical condition.

After completing a lap, Song Xu Yi felt a bit tired and was about to rest for a while when she noticed Ning Jing Yu leaning against a plum tree, looking weary.

The sight of Ning Jing Yu standing under the plum tree was breathtaking, but Song Xu Yi had no time to appreciate it. Ning Jing Yu raised her eyes and gave Song Xu Yi a deliberate yawn before ordering her to run another lap.

Song Xu Yi clenched her teeth and began her second lap, her sweat now drenching her clothes. As she passed under the plum tree once more, Ning Jing Yu remained unfeeling, her voice cold and heartless as she ordered Song Xu Yi to run another lap.

Song Xu Yi pursed her lips and began her third lap.

Song Xu Yi completed the third lap in a single breath, but the number of times she had fallen was a blur. Her vision was darkening, her legs trembling, and she was gasping for air as if she would collapse at any moment.

Suddenly, a pair of hands seized Song Xu Yi by the throat with brutal force.

She fought and thrashed, her face turning crimson, but the grip was unyielding, like iron.

The air in her lungs grew thin, and Song Xu Yi felt as if she were teetering on the brink of death.

As if a switch had been flipped, an invisible current surged through Song Xu Yi’s veins, causing a ‘click’ sound to resonate in the air. Her eyes opened wide in surprise.

Just as suddenly as the current appeared, the hand clutching her throat released its grip.

The composed beauty pulled her hand back and regarded Song Xu Yi with a tranquil expression as she spoke in a measured tone, “You’ve learned to channel Qi into your body.”