After finishing breakfast and declining a group of senior sisters who wanted to invite him, Lu Li returned to the small courtyard.
This time, he found Master Su Wanqiu sitting on the stone bench, watching Qing Luo practice her sword, move by move.
“Lu Li, you’re here.” Su Wanqiu swept her divine sense, then let out a wry smile. “I can finally understand why Qing Luo always gets so emotional whenever she talks to me about you.”
“Exactly, Master.” Qing Luo reluctantly twirled her sword in a flourish, the long blade flipping through the air before sliding back into its sheath.
“Senior Sister Lu is already at the eighth layer.”
“You’ve only been here for three days. At this rate, I’m worried I’ll have to call you senior sister in a few days.” Su Wanqiu smiled with her eyes.
“Master, please don’t joke. That would be overwhelming for your disciple.” Lu Li gave a bitter smile and bowed again.
“It’s no joke. You possess an upper-grade Charm Spiritual Root, so you are destined to become the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sect. Even though you’re only at the Qi Refining Stage, your status is almost the same as mine.” Su Wanqiu flipped her wrist, and a jade pendant appeared on the table.
“This pendant has a simple storage function. I’ve already placed Nourishing Qi Pills for you inside. Take them as prescribed.”
“Thank you, Master!” Lu Li took the pendant. As his fingers touched it, a faint warmth seeped into his body.
“Additionally, there are three strands of mana stored within—capable of both attack and defense.” Su Wanqiu watched him fasten it at his waist.
“Alright. The real enthronement ceremony will have to wait until after the Grand Tournament, because although your cultivation has advanced, your martial skills are still unrefined.”
“That’s true.” Lu Li had learned some swordsmanship while working as an escort guard, but those were all mortal techniques, completely different from the immortal path.
“And Master, now that I have a female body, my grasp of martial arts should…”
“We’ve considered that as well. So today, you’ll practice our Yin Yang Sect’s exclusive technique. Once you can change your form and sex again, you’ll resume sword practice.” Su Wanqiu extended a finger.
“Come here. I’ll pass a technique to you.”
“Yes.” Lu Li stepped forward.
Su Wanqiu touched his forehead with her finger, and amidst a faint coolness, the usage of the Light Gauze swirled into his mind.
A moment later, Lu Li realized that a complete set of techniques had taken root in his consciousness.
But the name of the technique made him a bit embarrassed.
“Silk of a Hundred Turns.” Lu Li pinched the naturally hanging Light Gauze.
“So, Master, should I make the first move now?”
“Of course you’ll spar with me.” Qing Luo put down her iron sword and picked up a wooden one.
“Junior Brother Lu… no, Junior Sister Lu, please enlighten me.”
“I’d rather you call me Junior Brother Lu.” Lu Li instinctively assumed the stance he used when guarding a convoy.
The wide and sweeping posture made Qing Luo burst out laughing, and even Su Wanqiu covered her face with a smile.
“It’s rare to see the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sect strike such a pose.” Su Wanqiu waved her hand, unable to hide her amusement.
“Lu Li, you only understand the technique now; it’ll take some time before you master it. Just practice with Qing Luo.”
“You don’t get many chances to personally spar with the Saintess!” Qing Luo raised her wooden sword.
“Junior Brother Lu, I’m coming!”
“Alright!”
The sword wind cut through the air as the wooden sword shot up and thrust straight at Lu Li’s chest.
It was so sudden and fast that Lu Li couldn’t defend at all.
Although the knowledge was in his mind, he had no idea how to use it or what follow-up movements to execute.
In the nick of time, Lu Li abandoned the Yin Yang Sect technique, stamped his feet, and leaped into the air.
His long dress fluttered like a blooming white lotus.
“Sword, come!”
Even though his Charm Spiritual Root now dominated, his Sword Spiritual Root still maintained control over the sword.
The floating longsword instantly reversed direction, and the hilt flew into Lu Li’s hand.
“Go!” With a flick of his wrist, the longsword shot out again, this time straight at Qing Luo.
“Wow, that’s cheating!” Qing Luo shouted, but her hands stayed steady.
She sidestepped, formed a finger like a picking flower, and snapped the longsword right in midair.
“Master, Junior Brother Lu didn’t use Silk of a Hundred Turns at all! And that posture… hahaha!” Qing Luo laughed uncontrollably as she watched Lu Li land again—dress fluttering, left hand on the ground, and that face making her burst into laughter once more.
“Your Junior Brother Lu has only been here for three days. He hasn’t learned needlework, deportment, or etiquette yet—that’s normal.” Su Wanqiu watched Lu Li stand up and brush the dust off his clothes, shaking her head with a smile.
“So, this morning you two can practice exchanging moves. Qing Luo, take Lu Li to the Etiquette Hall this afternoon.”
“Huh?”
“Lu Li, I know you were originally a man, but as the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sect, you’ll have to attend all kinds of grand ceremonies.” Su Wanqiu couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips as she reasoned with him.
“You can’t just sit there all carefree and have no idea what to do.”
“That’s true.” Lu Li’s head ached. As the son of an escort guard, he did know a little about etiquette—but that was just the rough, boisterous code of the jianghu.
When a job was done, they’d drink and eat meat together. If there was no job, he’d wander around Hundred Immortals Town looking for work.
“You’ve got to learn sooner or later. I’m really looking forward to seeing you, Junior Brother Lu, practice needlework.” Qing Luo wore a mischievous grin.
“This…” Lu Li remembered hearing about the things boudoir young ladies had to learn when he was escorting goods.
He never expected that he would be the one learning them.
“Alright, Qing Luo, stop scaring Lu Li.”
Su Wanqiu explained, “As immortal cultivators, some of the skills we learn are similar to those of mortal women. But Lu Li, don’t forget, our Yin Yang Sect also has knowledge that male disciples must learn.”
“That’s a relief…”
“However, embroidery, weaving, and sewing are still required. Even if you are a man, there will be times when you need to mend your clothes… though you might not actually need to.”
Su Wanqiu thought for a moment before continuing, “Next are classics, calligraphy, rites, and law—those are necessary for both male and female disciples.”
“Then come music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but you won’t learn singing.”
“Why’s that?” Lu Li was a bit puzzled.
“We are immortal cultivators, not courtesans.”
Su Wanqiu explained, “Cultivation is about taking control of your own destiny. Why would we go backwards?”
“But if you must learn, it won’t be vulgar rhymes or seductive songs—only beautiful, renowned melodies that are sung across the world.” Su Wanqiu tilted her head, recalling.
“Also, different female disciples have different goals. Some aim to become the head of a household, so they must also learn servant management, accounts, and diet—there’s a lot.”
“And medicine, pharmacology, alchemy, talisman-making, blacksmithing—so many things.” Qing Luo counted on her fingers.
“See? Isn’t immortal cultivation simple?”
“It’s simply too simple.” Lu Li picked up the Light Gauze again.
“Qing Luo, let’s go a few more rounds.”