Chương 39: Off to the Great Assessment

Once Li Mei was no longer visible, the flames around Xinyi died down as she said, "No matter what she uses to try and tempt you, don't ever accept her proposal to join the Thousand Sword Sect, Jian Shen."

"Huh? I don't think that's wha..."

"You think she was flirting with you and trying to seduce you because of handsome you are?"

Before Jian Shen could answer, Xinyi sighed and said, "While that might be a part of the reason as well, I can tell from the way she looked that she'll try to recruit you into her sect one way or the other."

"So, just trust me, and reject her directly. The Myriad Flame Sect is where you deserve to be at. With how great your control is over those flames you use, once you join the sect your strength will definitely grow by a huge margin."

"As for the Path of Sword, it isn't something which can be learned by just joining a sect. So don't trust her even if she says she can help you learn it. If that was the case, there wouldn't be the Five Great Sects, but only One Great Sect."

Listening to Xinya's words, Jian Shen nodded his head and realized that if Li Mei truly said something like helping him comprehended the Path of Sword, he truly would've been tempted.

Luckily Xinyi helped him realize that even if she said such words he shouldn't believe her. After all just like she said, if one could comprehend the Path of Sword by just joining the Thousand Sword Sect, there would only be One Great Sect.

"It's good that you understand. Let's end our training here. After eating make sure to rest early, we are going to leave tomorrow morning."

After Jian Shen left to soak his body in the medicinal bath which had been brewing for him until now, Xinyi turned to look in the direction which Li Mei left in while thinking that she needed to get back to the Sect and officially invite Jian Shen to join them.

Only then would her mind be at peace.

...

Like everyday, the table was filled with various delicacies, which were completely consumed by the two hungry aunt and nephew.

Later on, the two of them directly went to their rooms to rest early, since they were going to leave early in the morning.

Jian Shen as always woke up before the sun had even come up on the horizon, and went to the open space connected to his room.

The same as always he sat on the ground cross legged and placed the Yang Dragon Sword on his lap.

He began doing this after he once sensed that his swordplay improved by meditating with it. While the meditation sessions didn't show constant results, Jian Shen did it every day.

While meditating, Jian Shen's control over the sword had grown by quite a bit, and he could now sense more than before.

Until now when he slashed the sword Jian Shen he did it to make the sword meet the opponent or their weapon.

However, he recently began feeling as if his sword wasn't limited by size or reach. Unfortunately he only barely feel this, and couldn't properly understand what it was.

Due to this, he kept on continuing to meditate every day in hopes of trying to figure it out.

But, no matter what, Jian Shen always felt like he was very close to grasping it, and at the same time worlds away as well.

This morning, the same as always Jian Shen could sense that his understanding on how to use the sword had increased by a little.

Though he still couldn't grasp the mysterious sensation he was trying to understand, Jian Shen didn't push it and left to meet his aunt who was waiting for him.

"Are you ready, kid?"

"Yes."

"Good. Let's go."

…

First, they went to find themselves a carriage, where Xinyi like always flaunted her robe and threw a pouch full of gold coins to reserve the best looking carriage for themselves.

Getting inside it, Xinyi told the driver where they wanted to go, and closed her eyes since there wasn't anything else to do.

Jian Shen, on the other hand, looked outside the window to see the buildings they passed by, until they were outside the city.

Unlike what he expected when leaving the city, Jian Shen didn't feel anything complicated at all.

Instead, he only felt relieved from managing to leave the Deng Kingdom like he always wanted to. And at the same time began remembering all the good times he had inside the city.

Unfortunately, it didn't last a long time, because the number of good memories he had were quite few. And almost every single one of them involved him having sex.

If there was one happy memory which wasn't sex, then it was the day he spent with Wuying on their date.

At the same time, Jian Shen realized that him leaving the Deng Kingdom, marked the true beginning of his new life.

A life which was he was in complete control of. Just like he always wanted.