11 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

Liuli had left, and instead of taking Yue Bai back to Qinglin Hall, Ji Wu Nian decided to take a stroll around Wushi Peak. "Among the seven peaks of Sanqing Sect: Luanqing Peak focuses on swordsmanship, Wushi Peak on scholarly pursuits, Sigua Peak on writings, Baicao Peak on medicine, Bachifeng on crafting, Jingyu Peak on music, and Qiyun Peak on the balance of Yin and Yang," Ji Wu Nian explained as they walked out of the hall, acknowledging the many disciples who greeted them along the way. "These past few days, we've only focused on your sword training. You haven't had the chance to explore Sanqing Sect." Ji Wu Nian guided Yue Bai to a corner of the plaza, where a few disciples had gathered to watch two others in white robes playing the zither. "Those two over there are obviously from Jingyu Peak. Musical duels are the most enjoyable to watch, as long as you can handle the surrounding spiritual energy fluctuations. It's like listening to a concert." She then pointed to another group of disciples who were meditating in the plaza, "Those over there frequently meditate together to ensure the smooth flow of spiritual energy throughout their bodies. If they encounter any blockages, they seek guidance from each other." She patted Yue Bai on the shoulder. "Your spiritual veins are unblocked, so you don't need the same practice." She then led Yue Bai in another direction, where it seemed a disciple was explaining something to others. "That one over there is a disciple of your sect master's grand-disciple, who just formed a core last year. Now, he often guides the younger ones." She went on explaining various things until they reached the center of the plaza, where the most conspicuous group of people was clearly training in swordsmanship. "Do you want to learn this, Ye Er?" Ji Wu Nian asked, her eyes sparkling. It was clear that there was some kind of open and honest intrigue here. "Like helping you up onto the sword and holding your waist, or catching you if you fall," Jiu Yi commented. "It's all part of the plan." Yue Bai could only reply, "Yes, Master, I do." She needed to figure out how many times she should fall or stand on the sword to seem normal. "Yue Bai, I've always thought your pretense is a bit self-punishing," Jiu Yi couldn't help but comment. "You're a perfectly great figure. It's one thing to be low-key, but why pretend to be weak? Every world has its share of geniuses." "Let her explore, she finds it interesting," Yue Bai replied. "I feel like I need to stay by her side now." Recent events had led Yue Bai to believe that Ji Wu Nian's desires were deeply hidden. "Is she testing you?" Jiu Yi also found Ji Wu Nian's clinginess towards Yue Bai quite puzzling. "Why would she suspect you? You didn't even want to be her disciple before..." Yue Bai didn't know; she could only stay by her side and slowly find out. Ji Wu Nian and Yue Bai took a few steps towards the center of the plaza, and the nearby disciples quickly made way for them. Ji Wu Nian, accustomed to being the center of attention, nodded in acknowledgment, even though she couldn't recall most of their names. However, Ye Er still tried to remain low-key, now appearing a bit timid. Her posture—trying to stand tall yet with a hint of shyness—her slightly pursed lips, and her furrowed brows made Jiu Yi want to applaud this master of disguise. What a perfectly endearing yet stubborn little cutie, pitiable but spirited. Ji Wu Nian, adept at toying with the cute ones, was effortlessly hitting the right notes to showcase their master-disciple bond in public. She hung her sword, Xifeng, at her waist and drew Yue Bai's Fengyu to demonstrate. The cold aura from the sword drew even more attention, but Ji Wu Nian paid no heed and held Fengyu horizontally in front of her, "To fly with the sword, you must first control it." As Ji Wu Nian let go, Fengyu remained motionless. "The sword follows the mind, moving as it wishes." Fengyu responded to her words, slowly shifting from horizontal to vertical, its tip pointing upward, gleaming coldly. Ji Wu Nian kept her gaze fixed on Yue Bai's eyes as she spoke. Her dark orbs were initially focused on the sword but became locked onto Ji Wu Nian's gaze once noticed, unable to look away. In a flash, the sword flew into the air, then plunged straight toward a corner of the plaza. The music disciples barely saw a shadow as the gleaming sword, like flowing water, circled around them once before speeding away. The cold light shot toward the meditating disciples, zigzagging through them with sharp turns before darting into another group. "As long as you don't wish it, your sword will never harm anyone," Ji Wu Nian's smile made the tear mole under the sunlight look crimson, "But if you do wish it," she took a step closer to Yue Bai, extending her hand, "your sword should charge forward relentlessly..." Her slender, delicate hand, with its clear palm lines and concealed power, swiftly clenched, causing Yue Bai to see a flash of sword light. "To annihilate all." With the word 'all' barely out, Fengyu's tip halted just an inch from Yue Bai's forehead. The visible cold air emanated from the sword, and in the corner of her eye, Yue Bai saw a path of ice connecting all the groups Ji Wu Nian had previously introduced. She remembered there had been some exclamations earlier, but now the crowd seemed to react just like Yue Bai—frozen in place, silent in the plaza. The mark left by the sword had frozen the crowd. "Clap, clap, clap...," Jiu Yi's applause resonated in Yue Bai's mind, "Your master’s performance, very impressive." The phrase was perfectly timed, as the sword returned to Ji Wu Nian right after she finished speaking. "Her cultivation hasn’t grown," Yue Bai thought as the sword tip in front of her retreated. The person pointing the sword at her placed it back in midair, approaching her with a crescent-eyed smile that wouldn't let her go, "But her control over spiritual energy has certainly been honed." "Just because of this sword control?" "No," Yue Bai responded as Ji Wu Nian neared, raising her head slightly, "It's how she handled my body refinement last night." The meticulously fine spiritual energy lines that penetrated her every inch of flesh, entered her blood vessels, and conformed to her muscle texture, everything done just right. Usually, sword practitioners couldn't achieve such precision; even those specialized in medicine might struggle to match her skill. As Jiu Yi wanted to ask further, Yue Bai told him to wait. Ji Wu Nian was already standing behind her. Covering Yue Bai's eyes, Ji Wu Nian bent down to whisper softly in her ear, just a breath brushing past, "Ignore them, Ye Er, just listen to me." "Master...?" "Yes, Master is here," Ji Wu Nian spoke close to her ear, "Ye Er, be obedient, and follow Master’s instructions." "Release the spiritual energy within your body; imagine it as your hands, reaching out gradually." "Feel Fengyu; it’s right in front of you." Yue Bai exerted maximum effort to suppress all her soul force, pretending to be a novice. She remembered the techniques clearly: controlling breath inward she had practiced, but releasing and controlling spiritual energy was not part of this body's memory. As she closed her eyes, the world turned pitch black, but with careful sensing, she felt the spiritual energy flowing through her body, connecting with the outside world with each breath and then fading into invisibility. Following Ji Wu Nian's guidance, she released more spiritual energy, extending it from a few inches to several feet. She could faintly sense the chill; Fengyu was there. "Slowly touch it, you can either hold its hilt or envelop it entirely." Like condensing her spirit, the dispersed spiritual energy needed to be gathered bit by bit. Under deliberate suppression, the released spiritual energy couldn’t move as freely, sometimes disintegrating upon nearing Fengyu’s cold aura. "Take your time." Ji Wu Nian's breath tickled her ear, causing the spiritual energy to scatter again. Gritting her teeth, Yue Bai directed her spiritual energy to surge forward, enveloping Fengyu. "Now gradually move it into your hand." Concentrating on stabilizing the spiritual energy, Yue Bai intentionally tensed her body, appearing to struggle. "Relax your body a bit." The moment she relaxed, the gathered spiritual energy dispersed in an instant. Ji Wu Nian noticed the little girl's frown through her hand, saw the pursed lips, and laughed into her ear, "This spiritual energy is already an extension of your body. Why would using your own body strain you? Ye Er, relax your body and focus your mind." Yue Bai admitted she was right, "Understood, Master." So she tried again. After a few attempts, Ji Wu Nian guided her to raise her right hand. "Slowly move it into your palm." "Holding it?" The cold touch appeared in her hand, and Yue Bai feigned surprise, looking towards Ji Wu Nian, "Master...?" Hugging her, Ji Wu Nian pinched her cheeks and nuzzled her head, "Little Ye, so smart." Yue Bai looked down at her sword, displaying controlled but excited emotions, "Thank... Thank you for your guidance, Master." Glancing at the crowd, many expressed astonishment, their eyes filled with envy and complexity. "Ah, you can't hide your talents," Jiu Yi lamented. Yue Bai saw Ji Wu Nian's satisfied expression and thought, "Isn't this exactly what she wants?" “Want doesn't bring progress," Jiu Yi added nonchalantly, "You're just wasting effort." Yue Bai remained silent as Ji Wu Nian invited her for a meal.