“You fought that battle completely recklessly.” Lin Yin had now changed out of her heavy purple ceremonial dress.
Sitting in the small courtyard, she looked at Lu Li, then at Su Wanqiu, whose face was full of worry.
“Will you do it again?”
“No, I won’t,” Lu Li said, head lowered.
“Su Wanqiu, before the Foundation Building Trial, make sure he properly practices the sect’s basic cultivation techniques.” Lin Yin let out a sigh. “The Charm Technique could have been used at the very beginning, and the match would have been won instantly.”
“Also, your Silk of a Hundred Turns was completely useless. You just threw out a Light Gauze laced with True Yuan.”
“Third point: although your Charm Technique has reached major success, why does a phantom of the Nine-Tailed Fox always appear whenever you cast it? If you don’t conceal it at least a little, you’ll only invite trouble when you walk the world in the future.”
“But… this battle of yours has indeed raised the reputation of our Yin Yang Sect.” Lin Yin looked at Lu Li. “The Imperial Sword Sect, the Buddhist Light Sect, and several other schools were originally hoping to use this opportunity to thoroughly ridicule us.”
“They never expected that our Yin Yang Sect truly does possess a Saintess whose Spiritual Root surpasses the upper grade.” As Lin Yin said this, the wrinkles on her brow eased considerably. “Future attempts to probe us will be far fewer. The sect rule that disciples may only descend the mountain once every three years can also be gradually loosened.”
“There are still three days until the Foundation Building Trial, Su Wanqiu. You explain the basic techniques to him in the morning, and I’ll teach him some Magic Techniques in the evening.” With that, Lin Yin waved her hand. “We should also be thankful that Saint Son only vomited blood and sustained no internal injury. Otherwise, the mess would have been far too big.”
“Yes.” Su Wanqiu and Lu Li bowed once more. Lin Yin then tore through the air and flew toward the main hall.
“Whew…” Watching the purple light disappear into the distance, Su Wanqiu let out a long sigh, then turned to look at Lu Li. “You really don’t let me rest easy.”
“It’s because my skills are lacking,” Lu Li replied, lowering his head in admission.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. How could anyone master the Silk of a Hundred Turns in just two months?” Su Wanqiu sat down on the stone bench. “And you are the most unique Saintess of our sect… but judging by your current appearance, you don’t seem very masculine.”
“Master is joking,” Lu Li said with a bitter shake of his head.
According to the original schedule, he could have entered the Secret Realm for the Foundation Building Trial today and then transformed back into a male body.
But because he had used the Charm Technique and wounded Liu Qingyun, the latter needed some time to regulate his breathing.
In other words, Lu Li would have to remain in a female appearance for three more days.
“This is the perfect time to teach you about the Silk of a Hundred Turns.” Su Wanqiu took out a Light Gauze and draped it over Lu Li. “You also need to think about a very important question.”
“What is it, Master?”
“Why are you cultivating immortality?” Su Wanqiu’s tone was gentle, yet carried a certain firmness. “I know Qing Luo wants to resurrect her parents. Jiang Yuebai and Shen Zhaoxue cultivate to shoulder the burden of their families.”
“You are different from them. You joined the sect purely to survive.” Instead of continuing the lesson, Su Wanqiu gently patted Lu Li’s shoulder. “If you were an ordinary disciple, it would be fine. You would have plenty of time to ponder this question.”
“But you are a genius—carrying a bit of roguishness from the martial world, yet possessing the Charm Spiritual Root of our Yin Yang Sect.” As she said this, Su Wanqiu couldn’t help but smile. “And your form when transformed into a woman is indeed endearing.”
“With your talent, breaking through to Foundation Establishment is inevitable. So you must consider why you cultivate immortality.” Su Wanqiu patted Lu Li’s shoulder again, more heavily this time. “Then the Silk of a Hundred Turns will also display different emotions and characteristics depending on the user.”
“For example, Qing Luo’s Silk of a Hundred Turns appears light and agile, but it actually hides explosive force.” Su Wanqiu executed a move; the Light Gauze billowed like mist and smoke, yet produced a sharp gust of wind. “As for Jiang Yuebai’s technique, it looks forceful on the surface, but it conceals countless undercurrents.”
Strike by strike, accompanied by Su Wanqiu’s explanations, Lu Li suddenly understood what the Yin Yang Sect’s so-called “Silk of a Hundred Turns” truly was.
Indeed, the founding ancestor of the Yin Yang Sect had been a woman, so the Silk of a Hundred Turns originally described the techniques of first meeting, testing, entanglement, infatuation, longing, obsession, pulling, and parting between a woman and a man.
Later, because different people executed it, one could discern different natures.
“And your nature is closer to nothingness—perhaps it has to do with your experiences.” After finishing her dance with the Light Gauze, Su Wanqiu looked at Lu Li, who seemed lost in thought. “Lu Li, you’ve always been tense. Are you afraid that once you become a woman, you’ll never be able to return to your original state?”
“Yes… just as Master says.” Lu Li had lived for eighteen years as he was before suddenly becoming like this. It was truly hard to adapt.
What was hardest to adapt to was that in every aspect, his female form was far superior to his male form.
“Then rest assured, no matter what, you are my disciple.” Su Wanqiu reached out and gently stroked Lu Li’s head. “I know about your family situation… I am your Master. You can ask me not only about the path of immortality, but also about matters of daily life.”
“Yes…” Feeling the warmth of Su Wanqiu’s palm, Lu Li closed his eyes.
When was the last time he had felt such warmth?
As an infant, held in his mother’s arms.
Time passed, and it was now hazy and indistinct.
“You can relax a little. In recent years, everyone has experienced that Beast Tide.” Su Wanqiu let out a soft sigh as she continued to soothe Lu Li’s long hair. “I once had a child. If he were still alive today… he would be about your age.”
“Master…”
“All water under the bridge.” Su Wanqiu said, “Tonight, don’t practice, don’t think. Just rest well.”
“Yes, Master…”
The moonlight settled over the small courtyard, silent and soundless.
Only a sigh, like the wind.
The next morning, Lu Li woke up early.
Refreshed, he stepped into the courtyard and heard the sound of a Light Gauze cutting through the air.
“Junior Sister Qing Luo.”
“Senior Sister Lu.” Qing Luo withdrew from her move and looked at Lu Li’s face. “…Did Master cast some forbidden curse on you?”
“What makes you say that?” Lu Li instinctively looked down at his own clothing.
He was still wearing the plain green dress of an ordinary female disciple, without any adornment.
The only thing that caught the eye was the green-pink bracelet on his left wrist.
“Because whenever I used to call you Senior Sister, you would stiffen slightly, sigh, and then talk to me,” Qing Luo said, studying Lu Li up and down. “Today, you didn’t react at all.”
“I sorted out a few things last night.”
“So you’ve decided to be a woman—wah!” Qing Luo started to say, but Lu Li flicked her forehead, making her yelp.
“If this Senior Sister decides to be a woman, what would my Junior Sister do?” Lu Li tilted his head with a smile, twirling a strand of hair around his finger, looking at the now panicked Qing Luo.
“…That’s terrifying.” Instead, Qing Luo tugged at Lu Li’s sleeve. “Lu Li, I beg you, don’t scare me.”
“So, I’ve only figured out a few things—just a few.” Lu Li smiled, dropping the teasing expression, and ruffled Qing Luo’s hair like he used to. “Alright, let’s go eat.”