Shen Yuan lightly bowed. "Thank you, Elder Hua. Your praise honors me."
'Good, now I just need one more Inner Sect Elder and the mission will be completed,' he thought to himself with a smirk.
"Have you considered joining the Artifact Hall? It would be a waste of your talent if you didn't join in," she asked.
Shen Yuan showed visible hesitation but soon replied. "I appreciate the offer, but I have many commitments at the moment."
'Like hell I will join that sinking ship, it would be better to open my own Refining Hall at that point so I won't be below anyone,' he inwardly shook his head as he remarked at the situation of the Refining Hall.
"Understandable," she said with a nod. "But do consider it. The Sect could benefit greatly from your skills. After all, there are not many blacksmiths in our Sect."
"I will, Elder," Shen Yuan promised with a serious look on his face.
As she moved on to see some of the other weapons, whispers spread among the disciples.
"An elder noticed him!"
"He's really going places."
But before the whispers could even spread among the entire crowd, a voice rang from the door.
"Oh my, is Little Brother Shen Yuan becoming a Blacksmith?" A playful voice echoed from the gates with a hint of flirting in it.
Shen Yuan turned his head to see Elder Lan Rui entering inside.
"Ah, Elder Lan Rui, long time no see." Shen Yuan smiled as he welcomed her.
"Good, good. You are really doing well in the Inner Sect, even becoming a Blacksmith." She nodded her head and came in front of him.
"Thank you for the praise, Elder Lan Rui." Shen Yuan modestly smiled.
"Show me something good, let me appreciate what you have," Elder Lan Rui winked and suggestively said.
Some of the disciples felt their faces burning as some others turned their heads in embarrassment.
Shen Yuan coughed and said, "Yes, please come this way." He hurriedly turned around and led her to one of the swords displayed at the center of the garden.
"What a beautiful sword," Lan Rui commented as she looked at the pure white sword put on display in the center.
It was a white long sword with little carvings of snow over the blade and a phoenix carved on the handle.
"You know," Wan Ling began, "I think you're going to become quite famous in the Sect."
"Hmm? You think I wasn't already famous in the Sect?" Shen Yuan chuckled. "But that doesn't matter; fame isn't my goal."
"Then what is?" Ling Mei asked.
He looked up at the blossoming tree. "To forge my own path and support those important to me."
The girls exchanged glances, a mix of admiration and affection in their eyes.
[Touching,] Yue Lan teased. [But don't get too sentimental. You might seduce these young maidens' hearts.]
Shen Yuan smiled inwardly. 'Just sleep peacefully and leave me alone.'
As night fell, they each took their leave, thanking him once more.
"Goodnight, Senior Brother," they said in unison.
"Goodnight," he replied. "Rest well."
As he stood alone beneath the cherry tree, Shen Yuan reflected on the day's events.
[You've made quite an impact,] Yue Lan noted.
'Yes, but this is just the beginning,' he thought. 'I still need to get stronger, and...' He got silent as he remembered his dream.
[...]
Yue Lan grew silent as she saw Shen Yuan lost in thought.
[Are you thinking about your dream again?] she softly asked.
"...Yes," Shen Yuan muttered softly as he went on his chair to sit down.
Taking out a gourd of wine, he started drinking directly from it.
[You don't need to focus too much on your dream, whatever it was. If it was something in the past then it has already happened and there is no point thinking about it, or if it's something for the future then let it come. We will face it together.]
Shen Yuan stopped drinking the wine as he heard her words. He smiled fondly and nodded his head, "True, we shall face whatever comes our way, no point brooding over it."
[Good, thats the spirit, you need to move forward continuously, otherwise you will be buried in this world. Now why don't you see your rewards?]