Upon returning to the sect, Jiang Qiao tried several methods to make the Duanhong Sword recognize him as its master, but all were in vain. The silver lining, however, was that Mu Qinggan had not been seen for a long time.
Other disciples said that Mu Qinggan had gone off on a sect mission and had yet to return. With her gone, Jiang Qiao felt even more compelled to seize the time to strengthen his abilities.
The past two days had been incredibly intense for Jiang Qiao. After spending his nights cramming for sect examinations, he found that, thankfully, the original owner of his body had a solid grasp of cultivation theory and a good foundation. Once he brushed up on the material, everything came back to him.
When the results were released, he had placed first.
The elders at Plucking Stars Cliff thought highly of Jiang Qiao. A student who was both naturally gifted and diligent was a rare sight indeed. However, in their eyes, Jiang Qiao pursued perfection to a fault; he was too competitive and placed too much importance on rankings.
The elders had summoned Jiang Qiao for talks about this several times, and he understood their point. But he wasn’t naturally competitive—it was just that all of this was a desperate struggle to save his own life!
If he didn't work hard, he would lose his life. If he compared himself to a candle, time was the flame, and it was burning toward the wick. He had to turn the tide. Furthermore, he reasoned that if he couldn't even surpass the new disciples, how could he ever hope to surpass Mu Qinggan?
Jiang Qiao walked through the corridor as the evening breeze gently brushed a stray lock of hair past his ear. It was now the afternoon of the fifth day since his rebirth; in two days, he would be able to go to the Black Market to retrieve his medicinal pills.
A personal disciple of the Sect Master ran over to him and said, "The Sect Master wants to see you."
Jiang Qiao agreed, though he was inwardly puzzled. Why would the Sect Master want to see him? He had the sinking feeling of a student being called to the teacher's office for a disciplinary meeting.
The personal disciple seemed to notice the worry on Jiang Qiao’s face. "Don't worry, the Sect Master has good news for you."
As he spoke, the smile on his face was impossible to hide.
Jiang Qiao headed toward the Sect Master’s residence, still unable to grasp her intentions. Upon entering the courtyard, he was greeted by the shade of a bamboo grove and a cool breeze—it was quite elegant. The winding path led him through shifting scenes, with a distant rockery framed by a hexagonal wooden window.
He pushed open the door, and a faint, refined fragrance drifted out. Purple gauze curtains hung halfway, obscuring the woman inside, though her silhouette was remarkably graceful.
"Are you Jiang Qiao?" Her voice came from above, ethereal as mist. The sophisticated, mature tone left Jiang Qiao briefly entranced, but he quickly remembered that Li Wentian had once stolen the Sect Master’s shoes and socks, and he nearly lost his stoic expression.
He had to suppress a laugh with all his might.
"Yes, Sect Master."
The Sect Master let out a light, soft laugh, then reclined on her couch and crossed her legs. "The elders at Plucking Stars Cliff have told me all about you. You are highly gifted and give your all to your cultivation. I intend to take you on as a personal disciple. You won't need to stay at Plucking Stars Cliff anymore; you will follow me directly."
Jiang Qiao had never expected such a turn of events and was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words.
Was he really at a level worthy of being a personal disciple? He felt he might be overstepping his bounds. Moreover, Mu Qinggan was also under the Sect Master’s tutelage; he didn't know if that was a blessing or a curse.
"You have outgrown your current path; the training methods at Plucking Stars Cliff are no longer suited to you. If you join my school, I can guarantee that with your aptitude, you will master the Water Heart Formula within three days. Surpassing my current star pupil would not be a difficult task. Will you accept?"
To Jiang Qiao, anything that made him stronger was a good thing. The Water Heart Formula was a refined sword technique. When Mu Qinggan had killed him, she had used the Water Heart Formula—a clean, decisive strike.
There were many benefits to being the Sect Master’s student. Even though he would have to face Mu Qinggan frequently, the odds of him growing stronger were much higher.
He immediately knelt down in a knowing manner and kowtowed. "Master," he said.The Sect Master let out a soft, giggling laugh, gesturing for Jiang Qiao to stand up and continue speaking. "Your relationship with Mu Qinggan seems very close. Last time, she even brought you fine food and dishes to the Confinement Tower. Are you two in a relationship as Dao companions?"
With a sudden shift in tone, the question turned sharp, catching Jiang Qiao completely off guard.
"We are not Dao companions," Jiang Qiao answered honestly. Being Dao companions and dating Mu Qinggan meant risking one's life—it simply wasn't worth it...
"Not that, then it's an ambiguous relationship, right?" The Sect Master's previously amiable tone suddenly turned chilly. "We can talk about that later, but the sect's rules must be obeyed. Mu Qinggan entered the Confinement Tower without permission—was that your idea?"
Although the Sect Master valued Jiang Qiao in terms of cultivation, her imagination had already painted a vivid picture regarding matters of the heart: Jiang Qiao acting spoiled toward Mu Qinggan, claiming he was about to be locked in the Confinement Tower, and begging her to bring him something delicious. In the end, Mu Qinggan caved after his constant pestering.
Therefore, emotionally speaking, this Jiang Qiao needed to be thoroughly scrutinized, lest her carefully cultivated prime cabbage be ruined by a pig.
"Reporting to Master, it was not my idea."
Seeing the resolute look in Jiang Qiao's eyes, the Sect Master hoped he wasn't lying. Could it really be that Mu Qinggan placed too much emphasis on affection and disregarded the rules? It seemed she would still need to discipline and caution Mu Qinggan properly later on. "Very well, I understand. Today, I will teach you the Water Heart Formula."
A burst of powerful spiritual energy instantly swept the purple gauze curtains aside. The beauty on the couch wore a skirt embroidered with peonies, her fair, flawless feet exposed to the air, looking utterly enchanting.
As Jiang Qiao looked at the Sect Master, she seemed like an untainted immortal maiden freshly emerged from a lotus pond. Translucent silk fabric wrapped around her slender body as she walked with light steps right up to Jiang Qiao.
She instructed Jiang Qiao to raise his hand. "Relax. When I teach you these moves, your body shouldn't be tense. Adjust your breathing and let the spiritual energy within you circulate and flow like water."
While teaching Jiang Qiao, the Sect Master noticed his face—it was indeed exceptionally striking. No wonder that girl Mu Qinggan had taken a liking to him.
Moreover, the emotion hidden in his brows and eyes always gave the Sect Master a sense of an old friend returning. No matter how she looked at it, the resemblance was uncanny.
Afterwards, Jiang Qiao practiced according to the Sect Master's instructions.
At first, his interactions with the Sect Master were more or less tense, but as time passed, he gradually relaxed and naturally adapted to her pace.
Finally, Jiang Qiao managed to condense water at his fingertips.
The Sect Master smiled brightly. "Condensing water is only the first step. You may return to your cave abode to rest for now. Go back and practice it more so that the water forms more smoothly. I will teach you the rest this afternoon and check your progress at the same time. If you haven't practiced well, there will be a punishment."
Jiang Qiao nodded. To a certain extent, this punishment system could also spur him on to improve.
"What kind of punishment?"
"Copying the sect rules fifty times."
...
As soon as Jiang Qiao stepped out from the Sect Master's quarters, he ran straight into Senior Sister Mu Qinggan coming from the opposite direction.
It seemed this new wave of favorability points increasing was also inevitable. Jiang Qiao adjusted his breathing to calm his nerves; the upcoming conversation was likely to be a tough battle.
Mu Qinggan's eyes were slightly red, and her red robes were stained with a bit of earthy dust. It was clear that the excitement she had felt upon seeing him earlier had now turned into a dejected, listless daze.
She opened her mouth to speak: "Junior Brother, you've become Master's direct disciple now too. That's wonderful, congratulations. But..."
As she spoke, Mu Qinggan clearly lacked energy, and her gait was limp and feeble, like a drunken person swaying on their feet, yet a strange smile hung at the corners of her lips.
Jiang Qiao suddenly had a bad premonition.