Volume One, Chapter Four: The Bestowal of Immortal Arts

Through the misted window, Ye Qinghan saw something extraordinary.

Unbelievable! Unbelievable!

At this moment, Su Cheng was sitting by the pool, her body immersed in the water, back facing the door, revealing strong, solid shoulders.

Just a silhouette, yet Ye Qinghan felt as if her mind was on fire!

Her face flushed to the roots of her neck, her earlobes burning, her heart pounding wildly like a frantic deer!

Her master was bathing!

Hehe~

[Should I prepare some fresh clothes for Qinghan? Although there are some spiritual fruits behind the Ling Shuang Hall, she still needs to eat. I wonder if she’ll like my cooking...]

[This seed of the innate supreme spiritual root—maybe I should give it to her as well. Without cultivation, it can’t be nurtured.]

[I wonder if she would be willing to trade the Ling Shuang Sword for the God-Slaying Spear or the Chaos Bell...]

I won’t! I want the Ling Shuang Sword!

Of course, she knew the treasures her master used for bargaining were extraordinary, but she just adored the Ling Shuang Sword!

For Ye Qinghan, who dreamed of becoming a sword immortal, the Ling Shuang Sword was the perfect gift, bar none.

Ye Qinghan pressed her face against the door crack, sneaking a peek inside. Her master's back looked so handsome~

[Having stolen the woman Cheng Liang had his eyes on, he surely won’t let me off easily. I just hope he will spare Qinghan...]

Ye Qinghan had long sensed something was amiss. Why was her master so afraid of Cheng Liang?

Wasn’t Cheng Liang her master’s fellow disciple?

By seniority, her master was actually Cheng Liang’s senior brother!

After listening for a while, Ye Qinghan left quietly. If her master caught her spying, this alone would be grounds for expulsion from the sect!

The next day, Ye Qinghan, plagued by insomnia, slept late and only woke up at noon.

“Oh no! Master said she would teach me the Ling Shuang Sword Technique today, but I slept until noon!”

Ye Qinghan hurriedly dressed, took the Ling Shuang Sword, and went out. She searched the entire Ling Shuang Hall, but couldn’t find her master...

“Oh no, oh no! On my very first day, I’ve upset Master!”

Her heart sank. If her master grew displeased, thinking her lax and unwilling to learn, and withheld teaching her the sword art, what would she do?

Better to admit fault early. After searching in vain, Ye Qinghan went to the main hall and knelt down.

She hadn’t knelt long when her master’s voice called from outside.

“Qinghan, get up!”

Ye Qinghan didn’t dare respond and stayed kneeling obediently.

“Qinghan? Hey? Get up quickly, help your master!”

As Ye Qinghan pondered, she heard knocking on her door—thump, thump, thump.

“Hey? I just went to buy some vegetables, and the eldest disciple is missing?” Su Cheng scratched his head, searching near her room.

Soon, he found Ye Qinghan in the main hall, tears streaming down her face, kneeling and sobbing uncontrollably...

“Master... sob, sob...” Ye Qinghan suddenly threw herself into Su Cheng’s arms. To be honest, this time she was truly scared—she had never feared losing someone like this before; this was a first.

Her fox-like head buried in Su Cheng’s chest, she rubbed hard, wishing she could crawl inside him.

Su Cheng, bewildered by the scene, asked, “Who bullied you? Tell your master!”

[Did Cheng Liang come? That seems unlikely. Aside from myself and Qinghan, who carries the jade pendant, it’s quite difficult for others to enter the Ling Shuang Hall.]

[Then what happened? A nightmare?]

“No...”

“Did Cheng Liang send someone?”

Ye Qinghan, nestled in Su Cheng’s embrace, shook her small head like a rattle.

“What’s wrong then?” Su Cheng was puzzled—why would his precious disciple wake up crying?

“Qinghan woke up late, and thought Master didn’t want disciples anymore... sob, sob...”

Ye Qinghan didn’t even know why, but somehow, it felt right to behave this way—pure instinct.

It was as if all the grievances she’d suffered since childhood were being vented fiercely on Su Cheng. She clung tightly to him for a long time.

[How could I ever not want you? This precious treasure, who wouldn’t love you? I’ve long decided to give you my life.]

“Good, come help your master. I’ll cook for you.”

Like a curious little groundhog, Ye Qinghan peeked out from her master’s arms, her fox face innocent and adorable.

“Master can cook?”

“I’ve always been alone, so I know how to make some simple dishes. I saw you weren’t awake this morning, so I went to buy vegetables early. If I’d gone later, the fresh ones would have been picked over,” Su Cheng said, pointing to a basket of vegetables and meat by the door.

Ye Qinghan was surprised—there was even a kitchen in this celestial palace!

“Do you know how to wash the vegetables?”

Su Cheng glanced at Ye Qinghan, standing at the door with a clueless expression, and sighed.

“Forget it, you wait outside for a bit.”

“Uh... I do!” Ye Qinghan hurried forward, not wanting her master to think she was a fool. This was hardly a challenge for her.

She helped wash the vegetables and, following her master’s instructions, tried cutting them. It was quite simple and not difficult at all!

However, cooking was something only her master could do. Having never done it herself, Ye Qinghan didn’t know how.

Watching Su Cheng bustling around the stove, she had no chance to help or show off.

Her master’s serious demeanor was very handsome...

Since last night, the image of her master by the pool had lingered in her mind, refusing to leave. Whenever she closed her eyes, her master appeared.

If not for that, she wouldn’t have slept until noon.

At this moment, she felt her master was the one truly born with an enchanting aura...

“Qinghan? Take this out carefully, it’s hot.” Su Cheng placed the cooked dishes on the nearby table, then returned to his work.

“Okay.”

Soon, four dishes and a soup were prepared, and Su Cheng even steamed some rice.

Ye Qinghan had her bowls and chopsticks ready, standing by the table. Though there were only two of them, proper etiquette was still observed.

“Sit down and pick what you like.”

Ye Qinghan was not picky. She usually ate simple meals and didn’t indulge in rich foods.

But her master’s cooking was truly good—not extravagant but quite decent.

After devouring two big bowls of rice like a whirlwind, she finally began to eat slowly.

“Master, I heard a secret realm will open in a month.”

For ordinary people or sects, this secret realm was an immense opportunity. Legends said it held celestial-level cultivation techniques and treasures.

However, it was also extremely dangerous. This time, only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and below could enter.

“You want to go?” Su Cheng was indifferent, never really caring about such matters.

Ye Qinghan nodded. It wasn’t for the techniques or treasures—after so long cultivating, she needed to test her own strength.

Everyone called him a prodigy, but how strong was a prodigy really?

“These are the Ling Shuang Sword Technique and cultivation method. Take them and study on your own.”

Su Cheng tossed two tattered-looking scrolls onto the table, then cleared the dishes and left.

Ye Qinghan stared blankly at the cultivation method her master had given her, about to take a look, when suddenly the technique dissolved into a stream of light and flew toward her.

In an instant, all the knowledge was imprinted in her mind, leaving her stunned...

Such a miraculous cultivation method? Ye Qinghan put down her chopsticks, then sat under a tree and practiced the method through a full cycle...

Wonderful!

Absolutely wonderful!

What nonsense celestial-stage cultivation techniques? If celestial-stage techniques were half as good as this, she would willingly devour the Ling Shuang Sword herself!

Although she only practiced one full cycle, her realm hadn’t changed, but she could feel her strength had at least doubled!

If she cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage using this method, Ye Qinghan believed she could defeat ten opponents at once!

Yet, she also realized a problem: if her master had such a fine technique, why didn’t he cultivate it himself?

Su Cheng, washing dishes in the kitchen, sighed helplessly. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to cultivate—this technique was bound to Ye Qinghan; he simply couldn’t use it...

Ye Qinghan slowly stood, feeling refreshed and clear-minded, then prepared to study the sword technique. Before she could even touch it, the sword technique also dissolved into light and vanished...

“Wonderful~ Absolutely wonderful!”

The disciple could offer nothing in return but her loyalty!

Ye Qinghan’s curiosity grew—this seemingly meek master of hers was hiding so many treasures!

Meanwhile, Su Cheng’s mood brightened as he saw the system notification.

[System Notice: Eldest disciple Ye Qinghan has comprehended the Ling Shuang Sword Technique. Reward: Ling Shuang Sword Technique (Complete)]

In an instant, Su Cheng felt invincible...

But he still couldn’t cultivate. He was just an ordinary person with a few extra skills...

Ye Qinghan wasn’t in a hurry to cultivate. After tidying the dishes, she rushed into the kitchen.

“Master, master, let me wash!” She snatched the plates from Su Cheng’s hands and eagerly did the work.

[How could she resist such a good cultivation method?]

“Is there anything you don’t understand? Or something you want?”

“No, this is what a disciple should do. I was just so immersed in the cultivation method you gave me that I lost track of time and was rude.”

[Silly child, what rudeness? To me, you’re no different from my own daughter. Where are all these rules coming from?]

“Well then, if you don’t understand anything, you can always ask me.”

“But Master, you don’t have cultivation. How can you guide me?”

“It’s just the Ling Shuang Sword Technique. I can still give you some pointers.”

[Heh, though I lack cultivation, nowadays I might be able to cleave the heavens with a single sword...]

Ye Qinghan’s eyes gleamed. So her master had been pretending all along! She understood—it was the classic “play the fool to catch the tiger” trick!

That was more like it!

Her master should be this way!

For the next week, Ye Qinghan secluded herself in cultivation, practicing the method and solidifying her strength. When she emerged, her aura was strikingly different.

“Disciple greets Master.”

“Go soak in the spiritual pool. It will purge impurities from your body and consolidate your cultivation. Come back after soaking.”

“May disciple also use it?”

Ye Qinghan thought it was exclusive to her master. Although she hadn’t reached a realm untouched by the mortal world, as a fox demon who loved cleanliness, she knew purification techniques.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

Su Cheng was also taken aback. What kind of question was that?

“Isn’t that for Master only? I once saw Master... uh... never mind.”

“You are my direct disciple. There’s no place in Ling Xian Hall you cannot go.”

[Have I been too strict with her? I shouldn’t be! Why would she think such things?]

“Thank you, Master.”

“Go quickly. Later, I will check your progress.”