The waterfall plummeted from a breathtaking height, its waters surging with overwhelming force as they crashed against jagged rocks, instantly shattering into tens of thousands of droplets. Even before getting close, the thunderous roar was already deafening.
The moment Ji Zhaoxi laid eyes on the waterfall, she nearly fainted, staggering back a few steps.
"U-um... Senior Brother, we're supposed to meditate here?"
What kind of sect was Tianjue Sect, and why was their training so brutal?!
Liuli quickly steadied her. "Young Miss, I believe in you."
Ji Zhaoxi's face was pure despair. But she didn't believe in herself!
Surely they weren't actually going to make her learn something here, were they?
Wen Shubai said gently, "Junior Sister, meditation is all about emptiness. In a moment, you'll sit on the shoal at the waterfall's edge, close your eyes, and try to become one with it."
He started to walk into the waterfall to demonstrate for her.
Ji Zhaoxi asked seriously, "Senior Brother, are you absolutely sure the Second Elder didn't tell you anything? Think again, something a bit more subtle. Could it be that you forgot something?"
She hinted as tactfully as she could.
Seeing how serious Ji Zhaoxi was, Wen Shubai turned earnest as well. He thought for a moment. "The Second Elder said that Junior Sister has a kind heart and excellent swimming skills, and that you once saved fifty common folks who had fallen into the river."
He looked at her warmly. "This is something every Tianjue Sect disciple should learn from you."
Liuli was practically trembling with excitement. "Young Miss, how could you hide such good deeds from me!"
Liuli's eyes went red with emotion. Her young miss was truly the kindest, most virtuous person in the world.
She herself had been rescued from those wicked men by her.
Ji Zhaoxi let out a laugh. Wen Shubai's eyes crinkled with amusement too, and Liuli was absolutely beaming.
Ji Zhaoxi: ...
Her smile instantly collapsed. Wen Shubai was caught off guard by how fast her expression changed.
"Liuli, if something happens to me, take my inheritance and leave Tianjue Sect!"
With an air of someone marching to her doom, Ji Zhaoxi headed off.
Liuli shook her head earnestly. "Young Miss, how could anything happen to you? You're destined to ascend to immortality!"
Ji Zhaoxi laughed again. She truly had no more tricks up her sleeve.
Wen Shubai watched the deeply bonded mistress and servant pair, feeling rather moved.
He led Ji Zhaoxi into the waterfall.
"Junior Sister, feel the vibration of the water striking the stone. Don't resist it."
Wen Shubai's tone was gentle. He sat down on the largest rock in the middle of the waterfall, yet still sparing a moment of attention for Ji Zhaoxi on the shoal.
Ji Zhaoxi imitated Wen Shubai, crossing her legs on that slick, slippery rock.
Meditating under a waterfall wasn't as terrifying as she'd imagined. She closed her eyes, and her mind began to wander.
Just earlier, Senior Brother had praised her horse stance for being better than the other disciples'. If she could meditate under a waterfall, maybe one day she really would grow a second spiritual root...
Then she'd be able to fly on a sword too. Honestly, cultivating the Emotionless Dao didn't sound so bad.
The mist grew thicker, and the sound of the waterfall pounded relentlessly in Ji Zhaoxi's ears. Since the horse stance had worn her out so much, as she tried to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, her eyelids suddenly felt heavy.
Wait... was this some kind of flow state?
Just as Ji Zhaoxi was about to sink completely into sleep, a few droplets splashed onto the tip of her nose. She jolted awake.
What flow state? She was just tired!
The moment she woke, everything fell apart. The waterfall kept crashing down on her, and she lurched sideways. The current was too strong for her to react, and she toppled straight into the water.
The very next second, someone grabbed the back of her collar.
She'd barely swallowed a mouthful of water before Wen Shubai hauled her out and brought her back onto the grass nearby.
He crouched down, saw her red-rimmed eyes, and handed her a clean handkerchief. "Junior Sister..."
The moment he spoke, Ji Zhaoxi's eyes grew even redder.
Wen Shubai hesitated for a moment, then praised her: "Junior Sister really does have excellent swimming skills, and she's bold. You held out for so long under that waterfall."
Ji Zhaoxi wiped the water from her face, sulking.
"Junior Sister lasted a full quarter of an hour. That sort of focus already far surpasses the other new disciples," Wen Shubai said softly.
Liuli was thrilled. "Young Miss!"
A true prodigy.
Ji Zhaoxi paused mid-motion, but still said nothing.
There was a touch of admiration in Wen Shubai's eyes. "In the path of cultivation, the worst thing is to be stiff and rigid. But Junior Sister could fall asleep meditating under a waterfall — that means you've already reached a state of complete unity between mind and body."
Ji Zhaoxi glanced at Wen Shubai out of the corner of her eye. Was Senior Brother being serious or not? But he looked so earnest.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. She said, embarrassed, "Is that so... Senior Brother, just now I felt my heart go all empty. Does that count as talent?"
She looked at Wen Shubai with hopeful eyes.
Actually, she never thought she had talent before.
But Liuli and everyone else said she did. Maybe she'd just been too hard on herself all along?
Wen Shubai paused, then nodded. "Yes, Junior Sister truly does have talent."
Ji Zhaoxi excitedly turned to Liuli beside her, and Liuli nodded vigorously.
Really!
After training, Ji Zhaoxi and Liuli ran off to the back mountain.
Many Tianjue Sect disciples had reached the stage of fasting, and there was a dining hall for new disciples, but all they served were things like spiritual spring porridge.
Liuli was extremely well-informed and quickly learned that there was a tavern called Drunken Immortal Pavilion at the foot of the mountain, and that every night a servant would deliver food boxes up the mountain.
Ji Zhaoxi spent money like water and immediately bought a yearly membership.
Just as the two were waiting for the servant, the Second Elder appeared as well. The three of them stood there, staring at one another.
"Second Elder." Ji Zhaoxi greeted him hesitantly. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him.
The Second Elder could tell. He wanted to bolt right then and there.
Thankfully, at that very moment, the servant from Drunken Immortal Pavilion arrived, panting heavily.
Ji Zhaoxi was puzzled. "Second Elder, you eat too? Don't you fast?"
The Second Elder's face stiffened, then he puffed out his chest. "This one is not eating. This one is using my taste buds to experience the greed and desire of the mortal world — the highest form of cultivation!"
Ji Zhaoxi was full of admiration.
Only someone of elder rank could make plain gluttony sound so impressive.
But in her eyes, the Second Elder was the least Tianjue-like person she'd ever met. All the other Tianjue Sect disciples were elegant and ethereal, but the Second Elder looked solid and sturdy — clearly a man who'd tasted his fair share of fine food.
Inside the misty, cloud-wreathed hall, the aroma of braised pork knuckles lingered in the air. Suddenly, the door was knocked on.
The Second Elder sternly shoved the braised pork knuckle under the table below.
"Enter."
The one who came in was Wen Shubai. He bowed to the Second Elder, his voice carrying an uncommon seriousness, his moon-white robes clashing with the greasy, smoky air of the hall.
"Second Elder."
The Second Elder took one look at him and knew he was here to demand answers.
