The afternoon sun was so bright it was almost blinding. Beside the training grounds, thousand-year-old emerald bamboo grew in tangled clusters, their leaves gleaming a vivid green.
Dozens of disciples stood in neat formation, sword tips slicing through the air, sending up sharp gusts of energy. Sweat dripped from every forehead.
"Keep your mind on your dantian. Don't rush."
Wen Shubai stood beside a junior apprentice, pressing down on the boy's shoulder with the hilt of his sword. His voice was clear and steady.
The Second Elder was panting from exhaustion. He stood beneath a tree and waved Wen Shubai over. Wen Shubai gave a slight nod, handed his sword to a nearby disciple, and walked toward the elder.
"Second Elder."
Seeing Wen Shubai approach, the Second Elder pulled him aside and lowered his voice: "Shu Bai, I was down the mountain a few days ago and came across a remarkable young woman. Her bones are extraordinary—she can split three thousand bundles of firewood with her bare hands every single day."
Hearing that number, a flicker of surprise crossed Wen Shubai's eyes.
The Second Elder watched his expression and continued: "And this girl has a steadfast heart, but her family is poor. When she's hungry, she gnaws on tree bark. A child with such sincerity—if we don't take her in, it would be a loss to our Sky Severing Sect!"
The more Wen Shubai heard, the more pitiful the girl seemed. But...
"Second Elder, why are you telling me this? If you truly feel it's a shame, just speak directly to the Sect Leader."
The Second Elder choked. How could he possibly dare go to the Sect Leader about this?
He coughed. "When the time is right, I will speak to the Sect Leader myself."
"But the girl will arrive in a few days. Shu Bai, you must look after her well. Her temperament is sensitive and withdrawn, so do keep an eye on her."
Hearing this, Wen Shubai sighed. "I will be sure to take good care of our junior sister."
Such a tragic background—it was truly pitiable.
But he was also curious to see what a girl who could split three thousand bundles of firewood a day would look like. Probably quite hefty.
The Second Elder was finally at ease. He'd simply have Ji Zhaoxi train under Wen Shubai directly.
After all, with Wen Shubai's good nature, she wouldn't feel out of place.
And so Ji Zhaoxi was admitted into the Sky Severing Sect under special circumstances.
When Liu Dazhuang received the letter, he was beside himself with joy. Their family was finally going to produce a cultivator—even if it was just playing at it.
Ji Yingjin held the letter and read it over and over, growing happier each time.
They immediately summoned Ji Zhaoxi.
"Daughter, this letter specifically mentions this Senior Brother Wen Shubai. The Second Elder says he's kind and never makes enemies. When you get there, you make sure to stick close to him."
Ji Zhaoxi nodded seriously.
Wen Shubai, huh? Got it!
She'd just follow him around every day.
"I heard he often goes down the mountain to do good deeds. Practicing the Emotionless Dao and still having such a heart—he must truly be a good person," Ji Yingjin said with feeling.
Ji Zhaoxi leaned in to look as well. The letter also said that when Wen Shubai helped someone, that person turned around and tried to swindle him—yet he still chose to forgive.
Sounded like a saint.
The four of them whispered among themselves about this Wen Shubai.
Meanwhile, on the mountain, Wen Shubai, who was training his junior brothers and sisters, suddenly sneezed.
His eyes held a trace of confusion. He hadn't sneezed in a long time.
Ji Yingjin looked up several books on the Emotionless Dao, growing more melancholy with each one: "Xixi, sweetie, when you go have your fun, just have fun—but don't actually learn the Emotionless Dao."
Liu Dazhuang hurriedly nodded along. "We're just going there to play, no need to compete with anyone. Don't go cultivating that Emotionless Dao and forgetting your father and mother."
Liu Dazhuang's eyes started to redden as he spoke. "I know your dad and mom are just butchers, but you're our only child. You need to think about us, alright?"
Ji Zhaoxi grew sentimental too, dabbing at her tears: "Father, Mother, don't worry. I'll have a good time at the Sky Severing Sect and absolutely will not learn the Emotionless Dao!"
Besides, she needed to remember her parents' kindness.
She'd just spend a few years there, and once she'd had enough, she'd come back. By then, she'd have earned a good reputation.
When she returned all accomplished, their old Ji family would never again be mocked as "the butcher's family."
Their reputation would be a notch classier, since they'd have a disciple of the Sky Severing Sect in the family.
On the other side, Wen Shubai had already started planning Ji Zhaoxi's training.
He thought seriously about what the Second Elder had said today.
His junior sister was this strong? Then naturally he couldn't use the standard training intensity for ordinary disciples. He'd have to increase the difficulty of every single exercise.
He wondered if she'd show up carrying three thousand bundles of luggage. He'd better send a few junior brothers down the mountain to help her carry her things.
Day by day, time passed. These last few days, Ji Yingjin and Liu Dazhuang had been busy helping Ji Zhaoxi pack.
They stuffed a ton of food into her luggage.
Those cultivators at the Sky Severing Sect, they'd rather starve themselves to death one by one—there was no way his daughter would be able to eat that kind of food.
And they packed plenty of gold too, so the Second Elder and Wen Shubai would take good care of his girl.
Just as Ji Zhaoxi was climbing into the carriage, a familiar voice spoke up again.
"Going somewhere far?"
Liu Dazhuang was beaming with pride: "My daughter's going to the Sky Severing Sect! She's going to cultivate the Emotionless Dao!"
The man tried to say something, but Liu Dazhuang cut him off:
"You know the Second Elder of the Sky Severing Sect? He praised my daughter personally, said she's a once-in-a-century prodigy! If she's not suited for the Emotionless Dao in this world, then nobody is!"
Liu Dazhuang's voice was dripping with smugness. From inside the carriage, Ji Zhaoxi silently listened to her father's voice growing more distant.
Her dad could brag all he wanted. When the truth came back to bite, it wasn't going to be her fault!
Just as Ji Zhaoxi was about to lie down for a bit of rest, Liuli couldn't help but chime in: "Miss, Liuli also thinks you're a once-in-a-century prodigy."
Ji Zhaoxi put a straw hat on her head. "Sleep, sleep."
Sometimes she really wanted to ask Liuli where this inexplicable confidence in her came from.
At first, she'd thought Liuli was just flattering her. But later, she realized that Liuli genuinely admired her from the bottom of her heart.
She truly seemed to believe Ji Zhaoxi was some kind of genius.
Ji Zhaoxi was starting to doubt herself.
Could it be that she really was that amazing, and she just hadn't discovered it yet?
Otherwise, there was no reason for Liuli's admiration.
