Chapter 40: Taking Great Pains to Find Lingxiang

After Maidong asked this, Xin Yi felt even more like meat on a chopping block.

Maidong's eyes seemed to flash with a fierce light, like a wild beast hunting, while Lingxiang looked composed, like a beast king waiting to enjoy its prey, squinting as she stared at him.

This scene made him swallow hard, yet it felt as if a fishbone were stuck in his throat—could it be that all women in the world today were this fierce?

"There is nothing I don't understand," Xin Yi replied, feigning composure.

"Nothing you don't understand?" Lingxiang muttered, pinching her chin. "That is strange indeed..."

"What is strange about it?" Maidong was very confused upon hearing this: Xin Yi's aptitude was quite good, so even if there were no problems with his cultivation, it shouldn't be called strange. What kind of devious scheme was Lingxiang cooking up?

"Although I am not skilled in martial force, the *Water Art* comes from Qingwei Peak, and I have long since known every move and stance by heart. It cannot be called profound, but if used well, it naturally counts as a superior technique." Lingxiang suddenly raised her eyes to look at Xin Yi, her gaze seemingly able to see through a person's heart. "But with the Soft Sword you are currently using to practice this technique, it will certainly not go smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Xin Yi was startled.

Could it be that he was overthinking things? Lingxiang's words seemed to imply something.

"What do you mean by that? Why wouldn't it go smoothly for Xin Yi?" Maidong grew anxious upon hearing this. "Don't tell me you were just fobbing him off when you said it was suitable for him to practice? It was hard enough for me to put in the effort to steal the book for you."

This stubborn girl, she truly couldn't stand to hear even the slightest bit of criticism against Xin Yi.

Lingxiang rolled her eyes and said, "I naturally wouldn't deceive anyone. That day, I observed his sword-wielding stance, and it was indeed compatible with the *Water Art*, but the *Water Art* is not suitable for practice with a long sword, let alone a Soft Sword."

It was already the third quarter of the You hour when they emerged from the Outer Disciple Courtyard. The sun had set behind Xishan, but because the road was on the south side of the mountain, the sunset glow was invisible; only streaks of golden light were vaguely visible between the silhouettes of the peaks. Yet, in no time at all, even that sunset glow dimmed completely, leaving only the galaxy across the sky accompanied by a full moon, as if it were telling a story, or perhaps sighing.

Maidong could not see Lingxiang's face clearly, nor did she know her expression, but their years of friendship told her that this girl must be hiding something in her heart—just now in the courtyard, she had only been focused on Xin Yi, but thinking about it now, Lingxiang's words seemed to be probing for something.

Seeing Lingxiang wrapped in a cotton coat ahead, lost in thought, she was just about to open her mouth to ask something when she was caught off guard by Lingxiang speaking first.

"I didn't know Fifth Senior Brother had such a hobby. It's already sunset, yet you are still silently following behind people. What are you trying to do, sneaking around like this?"

Uncle-Master Zhaoming?

Maidong looked back and sure enough saw an old man walking out with a brisk stride. Although she could not see his face clearly, judging by his figure, it was indeed Zhaoming Real Person.

"You've been down the mountain for a long time; your five senses have become quite sharp." This voice was indeed Zhaoming Zhenren's.

Maidong hurriedly bowed and performed a Daoist salute. Zhaoming Real Person gave a gesture of support, saying there was no need for such formalities.

"I have something to discuss with your Martial Aunt. You go to Qiuyun Peak first; I will send her back later." As Zhaoming Real Person spoke, he took a square piece of paper from his sleeve, recited a chant, and after folding it several times, it turned into a paper boat. He then handed it to Maidong.

Maidong bowed and took the paper boat with both hands, then tossed it toward the edge of the cliff. The paper boat flashed with a fluorescent light and transformed into a large boat, floating in mid-air. She then leaped onto the paper boat in one bound, turned back to bow to Zhaoming Real Person once more, and with a light wave from Zhaoming Real Person, the paper boat flew steadily toward Qiuyun Peak, disappearing from sight in no time.

"It has been many years, but Fifth Senior Brother's *Transformation Art* has truly become more and more refined. It seems there is no need to worry about Grandmaster's technique having no one to pass it on to." Lingxiang teased, her face full of smiles.

Zhaoming Zhenren listened, his face full of helplessness. Only a heartless girl like Lingxiang would dare to joke about Grandmaster like that.

"I have come to find you this time because there are some matters that require your help." Zhaoming Zhenren said, extending his hand to signal for Lingxiang to walk and talk.

"That is rare indeed. What could I possibly help Fifth Senior Brother with now? Not to mention helping you, I'm afraid I don't even have the ability to teach disciples anymore."

Upon hearing this, Zhaoming Zhenren knew Lingxiang was dwelling on the Linglong matter again. He pretended not to notice and spoke on his own.

"There is a disciple in the Outer Sect named Chengkai, who is diligent and motivated, and has deeply won my favor."

Chengkai? That disciple with the free-spirited *Sword Technique*?

A thought crossed Lingxiang's mind, and she remembered the man from the martial arts arena that day; he was indeed quite good.

"Fifth Senior Brother has profound cultivation and many years of practice, yet you have few disciples under your tutelage. It is rare for this person to catch your eye; I don't know what kind of fortune he has cultivated over several lifetimes." Lingxiang said, starting her walk down the mountain. "But since that is the case, just take him in and train him directly after the three trials. What does that have to do with me?"

"I naturally intend to do so, but he is currently deeply troubled by a knot in his heart. If it is not resolved soon, I fear it will become a heart demon when he enters the Dao later." Zhaoming Zhenren sighed, following behind Lingxiang.

"A knot in his heart? He is so young, and his path of cultivation has yet to begin; what kind of knot could he possibly have?"

Hearing Lingxiang say this, Zhaoming Zhenren found it amusing—so young? This Chengkai was at least a year or two older than Lingxiang.

Although he thought this in his heart, he did not show it on his face.

"You were his judge during the first martial arts trial. I heard that he often mentions you in front of others afterward."

"Oh? This Chengkai, could it be that he wants to join my Qingwei Peak?" Lingxiang joked. "I'm not sure I could handle him; that build, tsk tsk tsk..."

Zhaoming Zhenren naturally understood the implication in her words and just shook his head with a smile.

"I see that he is quite convinced by you, and you two are not that far apart in age. Why don't you go and resolve his troubles on my behalf? I imagine the results would be excellent."

Hearing this, the abacus in Lingxiang's heart began to click loudly, and in the blink of an eye, her thoughts turned a hundred times. She paused slightly, and after a moment, she turned to look intently at Zhaoming Zhenren, her eyes flashing with such brilliance that even the stars seemed to dim.

Seeing her like this, Zhaoming Zhenren secretly thought it was a bad sign—this girl! Could it be she had her eyes on some treasure of his again!

"Well, Fifth Senior Brother, look, I have been walking down the mountain for a long time, and my business is doing quite well. In business, one naturally cannot suffer a loss. Now that you are asking me to do things for you like this, you can't just be so bossy and expect me to act with righteous generosity. As the saying goes, if you take someone's money, you resolve their troubles. I am essentially saving your future disciple from disaster. Since he is your disciple, shouldn't you, as the master, give me some benefits?"

She had been down the mountain for a long time; she hadn't learned much else, but she had learned all the mercenary ways of the world below.

"What do you want?" Zhaoming Zhenren said with a mournful face.

"I heard that Fifth Senior Brother obtained a *Fire Spirit Bead* some years ago. I'm not greedy; just lend it to me to play with for a few years, and I'll return it to you when I'm tired of it. How about that?"

Just as expected!

"That is a treasure I obtained only after exhausting all my strength to subdue that Fire Qilin! You are being too casual with your request. Look, I have *Shark Pearls*, *Suihou Beads*, and such; you can pick any of those, but let me keep the *Fire Spirit Bead*, okay?"

"I have *Shark Pearls* too, and while the *Suihou Bead* is a treasure, it is also a common object and useless to me. Since Fifth Senior Brother is unwilling, then forget it, but as for Chengkai..." Lingxiang said, twisting her braid.

"Wait..." Zhaoming Zhenren turned his head and squeezed his eyes shut, looking as if he were in great pain. "Fine! I'll give it to you!"

This disciple really wasn't cheap!