The path that led to the Master of the Sect was both simple and arduous. The Sect Leader resided at the peak of the highest mountain that covered the entire Sword Saint Sect. For those who sought his presence, the journey was difficult and not meant for the faint of heart.
Liu couldn't help but feel embarrassed as he clung to Cu Ren's back. The older, bulkier fellow was doing all the walking while he enjoyed the lift. After thirty minutes of ascending, it seemed like they weren't going to stop anytime soon.
"Just so you know, I can go faster. I'm just being considerate of your young body," Cu Ren said, never missing an opportunity to remind Liu of his age.
Liu wondered why Cu Ren felt the need to prove himself to a mere kid, but he decided to ignore it and focus on his thoughts instead. "Who is this Sect Leader?" he wondered.
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Finally, after over an hour of trekking, they reached the peak of Pei Min Mount. As they ascended, Liu had the chance to gather his thoughts and admire the breathtaking landscape surrounding him. From the elevated height, he was able to view the entire sect, and it was a truly awe-inspiring experience.
At the top of the mountain sat a temple adorned in white, with golden engravings that represented purity. Liu found himself drawn to it, mesmerized by its beauty.
The mural on the building depicted a blade and its sheath, with a hand stretched out in between. Liu wasn't much of an art enthusiast, so he didn't pay much attention to it. However, the white plum trees that decorated the small compound around the temple gave off a sweet, alluring aroma that welcomed him as he drew closer.
Cu Ren led the way, but Liu followed closely behind. As they approached the temple's entrance, Cu Ren stopped a few inches short and clapped his fist to his palm, bowing in reverence.
"Cu Ren has arrived, Master. I have brought the young boy you desired to see here," he spoke in a deferential tone that surprised Liu.
A soothing voice emerged from within the temple, causing Cu Ren to stiffen a little. "Very well. Thank you, Cu Ren."
Cu Ren's face broke into a smile, and he bowed his head even lower. "Allow him to come in. I wish to meet him alone."
"Understood, Master!" Cu Ren nodded energetically, turning to deliver the good news to Liu. However, before he could speak, the young boy walked past him, heading straight for the temple.
"Thanks for carrying me all the way here," Liu waved without looking back at the shocked Cu Ren.
"Y-you can talk?!" Cu Ren stuttered in disbelief.
Liu's heart raced as he approached the temple doors. He longed to see Cu Ren's flustered face, but now wasn't the time for games. He was eager to meet the person who had saved his life.
"You may come in, young one," a voice called from inside.
Liu gulped, his hand trembling as he pushed open one side of the wooden double doors. He was immediately struck by the warmth that enveloped him. Despite the bitter winter outside, it felt almost too warm to be real.
But Liu knew better than to question the magic that had brought him here. "You've come this far, Liu," he whispered to himself. "Let's go in and thank our benefactor."
As he stepped inside, an indescribable warmth flowed through him, tingling his skin and hugging his insides. The captivating aroma from earlier was nothing compared to the scents that now filled the air.
He found himself in a moderately large room, larger and more beautiful than the Healing Cottage where he had recovered. Warm mats insulated the floor, making it soft and comfortable underfoot. The temperature was perfectly balanced, neither too warm nor too cold.
Most striking of all was the veil that separated his side of the room from the other end. It was thin, almost translucent, and yet Liu could not see what lay beyond it.
"Please, have a seat," the voice from earlier called again, and Liu realized with a start that he was not alone.
Liu obediently plopped down on the ground, facing the veil. He wasn't sure about the proper etiquette for greeting the Master, or even if it was necessary to do so. But he felt compelled to express his gratitude.
"Um... I want to thank you for saving me back then. I would have died if not for you. T-thanks... erm... Sect Leader." Liu stumbled over his words, feeling awkward and unsure.
To demonstrate his sincerity, he bowed his head, humbled by the experience of being saved by this mysterious person.
"Please, raise your head. There's no need to go that far," the voice said gently.
Liu looked up and was surprised to see the veil opening, revealing the white-haired person he had met in the snowy field. He couldn't help but marvel at their beauty once again, his heart racing and his cheeks burning hot. There was something about this encounter that sent him into overdrive.
"Allow me to introduce myself, young one. I am the Sect Leader of this place, though I am better known by another title," the person said, smiling warmly.
"The Sword Saint," they added, and Liu's jaw dropped wide open in sheer amazement.
But almost instantly, his expression warped into one of disbelief and suspicion. "You look troubled, young one. What appears to be the matter?" the Sword Saint asked, drawing closer to Liu.
Liu's pink lips grew more intense as he struggled to speak. "Your statement... how can you be the Sword Saint?" He tried to avoid eye contact, but the Sword Saint's azure eyes were too compelling to ignore.
"What do you mean by that?" they asked, their smile fading slightly.
Liu struggled to articulate his doubts, but he persevered, determined to make his point. Taking a deep breath, he balled his fists and spoke with conviction.
"The Sword Saint is a legend that has endured for over three centuries. According to the tales, he defied the Three Pillars of the World and fought for the people, putting an end to the Great Conflict. But to me, it seems more like a myth than a historical fact. The feats and accomplishments attributed to the Sword Saint seem too embellished, too unbelievable."
Liu's thoughts raced as he considered the implications of his doubts. Was the person before him truly the Sword Saint, or merely someone who had adopted the title? As he pondered this question, he realized that something crucial was missing.
"The Sword Saint was a man, wasn't he?" Liu blurted out, his eyes fixed on the woman before him. "But you're a woman."
He couldn't help but stare at her. Her beauty was beyond compare, surpassing even the stars themselves. With every passing moment, Liu felt his heart race faster and faster, unable to control the surge of emotions coursing through him.
"What did you just say?" The self-proclaimed Sword Saint's words suddenly brought him out of his charmed state.
All of a sudden, the smile on her face was gone, and a somewhat cautious glare replaced her kind eyes.
Liu instantly realized he had made a mistake. Based on the sudden switch in the Master's emotions, he could tell that she was angry
"Did you just… call me a woman?"
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[A/N]
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Liu's muscles pulsated as he watched the woman's gentle expression transform into a slight glare. He felt a pang in his heart and almost regretted saying anything. But how could he have kept silent? This was undoubtedly a beauty standing before him.
"How could you tell?" Her calm voice tickled his ears, lacking any hint of malice. Nevertheless, Liu still felt uneasy. It seemed he wasn't being given much of a choice in the matter.
As the answer to her question was so obvious, lying or staying silent would have been even sillier. "You... look like a woman," he said, gesturing towards her cute, round face, porcelain skin, and accentuated curves. It was plain for anyone to see.
"Ah, I see. You are indeed quite peculiar." As abruptly as the glare had appeared, it vanished without leaving a trace. In its place, a natural smile bloomed on her lips, causing Liu's heart to skip a beat.
Still, Liu remained confused. Wasn't she a woman? What was so peculiar about his response? Now that he thought about it, he recalled Yisheng and Cu Ren addressing the Sect Leader as a male. What was going on?
"I am indeed a woman. However, no one here knows this. Using advanced Spirit Arts, I have disguised myself as a man for centuries. Sometimes I forget which one I am." She gave a soft smile. "You're the first to figure it out."
Liu stared blankly at her, not knowing what to make of everything she had just revealed.
'Centuries? She doesn't look any older than twenty-five!'
Not only that, but she mentioned Spirit Arts. According to what he knew about this world, Spirit Arts belonged to the North Continent, while Martial Arts were more prevalent in the East.
'Are we in the North?' He thought to himself.
In any case, the woman before him didn't seem to be lying. Plus, it really did seem like everyone accorded her the respect of someone worthy of her title. She really was the Sword Saint.
'This Sect… no wonder it feels weird. Is this what Spirit Art is about?'
From the little he heard from stories and murmurs around, he had deciphered a little about how this world operated.
The strong stood tall, while the weak were trampled upon. However, what made these people strong? It wasn't advancement in technology or science.
No… it was Arts.
Arts were special techniques that seemed almost Magical and highly improbable, but Liu knew better than to doubt their existence. He had seen many strange things in his old life, and his Reincarnation was yet another proof that the supernatural existed.
Arts were divided into three.
Martial Arts for Warriors.
Spirit Arts for Spiritualists/Shamans
Beast Arts for Tamers.
These three had various uses and functions, and they were also prevalent in distinct parts of the world. He didn't think he could completely count on words of people, but they knew how this world operated better than he did.
He didn't have a reason to completely doubt them.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind. Questions, I presume." The Sword Saint snapped Liu from his inner thoughts, causing him to finally pay attention to her.
Liu couldn't believe his eyes. Her face was so close to his, he could feel her breath on his skin. He was completely caught off guard and his head jerked backwards, leaving him in a flustered mess.
"Uwahh!" he exclaimed, his cheeks ablaze with pink. His eyes were wide with shock and his heart was beating a mile a minute. He couldn't believe he had let himself get so distracted.
"Damn it! How could I have zoned out like that?" Liu thought to himself. He was beyond embarrassed.
The Sword Saint noticed Liu's discomfort and let out a light chuckle. "Ufufu... I didn't mean to fluster you. My apologies." Despite her apology, Liu felt like he was in an awkward position.
But he knew that she was the woman who had saved his life, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to her power and ability. He knew that he needed to make a good impression and get on her good side.
So, he decided to take her up on her offer to answer any questions he might have. "Um... how old are you? How come you look so young?" he blurted out without realizing it.
The Sword Saint smiled. "Well, it's not polite to ask a lady her age, you know," she said teasingly. "But I'll let you in on a little secret - I'm pretty young compared to other Practitioners of my level."
Liu nodded, remembering the myths and tales he had heard about Practitioners. It was said that they could live for hundreds of years and achieve true immortality after attaining a height of Enlightenment.
The idea seemed absurd, but what if it were true? The mere thought of speaking with someone so powerful made his body stiffen.
The Sword Saint noticed his discomfort and flashed a sweet smile, assuring him that there was nothing to fear. Her words were soothing, yet he couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered within him. If it weren't for the rumors he'd heard about her, he wouldn't have thought she was capable of harming anyone.
He mustered up the courage to voice his doubts. "That's not what I've heard about Sects," he said, staring at her warily. "This is a Sect, isn't it?"
There was a moment of silence as the two sat opposite each other, eyes locked in a tense stare. The Sword Saint broke the quiet, confirming his suspicion. "You're right. This is indeed a Sect. However, you are confusing the practices of the perverse Sects with the true aim that every Sect should strive for."
He listened carefully as she explained the purpose of a Sect, her words pure and genuine. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "A Sect exists for the purpose of its members. The children within it shouldn't be groomed for the sake of the Sect. Rather, the Sect should be groomed for the sake of the children."
Her words struck a chord within him. He was taken aback by her sincerity and honesty. "That is the purpose of this Sect, Liu. It is to help you." She spoke his name, and he felt a chill run down his spine. How did she know his name?
His heart raced as he stepped back, putting some distance between him and the Sword Saint. She looked so harmless and beautiful, but he could sense that something was off. "You...how do you know my name?" he stammered, his body quivering with fear.
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[A/N]
The mystery continues to unfold.
Is the Sword Saint good? Is she evil? What will emerge from this encounter?
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