Shu Yue stood in the Lu residence's courtyard, her hands clasped in front of her. Her bamboo sword was strapped to her waist, looking more like an ornament than a weapon and matching her benign demeanor.
She swept her gaze over the courtyard, surveying her surroundings, her face calm and relaxed. There were a variety of flowers and plants, which gave the place a sweet, comforting fragrance. Two parasol trees stood on both sides of the courtyard, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze.
The courtyard of the Lu family was spacious compared to the Chen residence. The Lu family was a large family, with three households living in this massive residence.
Shu Yue cast a glance at the two men in silver robes standing in the courtyard. They were the guards of the Lu family. The orange belts tied around their waists and the swords strapped to their hips announced that they were S-rank warriors.
Soon, the door of the main room slid open and Lu Baiyu emerged, another guard next to him. A black belt was wrapped around his waist, identifying him as an SSS-rank--the second highest level. He smiled when he saw Shu Yue.
"Greetings, Elder Lu," Shu Yue said with a polite bow.
Lu Baiyu nodded. "You came." He gestured to the two guards and said, "Please prepare a carriage for us."
Shu Yue's brow slightly furrowed, but immediately realized it. Since Lu Baiyu was secretly recruiting disciples and teaching them a secret martial art technique, it was only natural that he would have a secret place to handle things. He couldn't do it inside his own residence, could he?
Like a courteous and obedient woman, Shu Yue followed Lu Baiyu outside. But, of course, she kept her guard up despite showing a calm and composed demeanor. She was secretly reading the wind, in case there was a shift in their aura, so she could act immediately. If Lu Baiyu was really working with the mysterious man, she had to be even more cautious. This could be a trap, for all she knew.
"Where are we going, Elder Lu?"
"To the others." Lu Baiyu smiled at her. There was something ominous about his smile and the way he looked at her. It was a forewarning of some sort.
Shu Yue and Lu Baiyu boarded the carriage that was waiting outside his residence. During the ride, Lu Baiyu talked about his favorite grandson, Lu Rui. He mostly bragged about him, claiming that Lu Rui was a talented warrior with a promising future. At the age of eleven, he was already close to mastering the basic movements of sword techniques. Lu Baiyu also stated that once Lu Rui mastered the basics, he would teach him the secret manual that he possessed.
Shu Yue smiled faintly while she listened to the old man. Lu Baiyu sounded so proud of his most beloved grandson. He really doted on him, just as she thought. Little did he know that right at this moment, Xiao Ran was on his way to the Lu residence to take the boy. But Shu Yue had a bigger plan than simply using Lu Rui as a threat.
The carriage soon stopped in front of a bamboo forest. Stepping out of the vehicle, Shu Yue cautiously swept her gaze around. They were on the outskirts of Tian Village. Gazing at the lush bamboo forest, Shu Yue couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. She used to train here with Xiao Ran.
After Lu Baiyu paid the driver, they entered the bamboo forest. The surrounding was silent. Towering green stalks swayed in the wind, their leaves rustling. The bracing scent of grass and damp earth perfumed the air, giving her a sense of peace.
The smell of nature. It was one of the few things Shu Yue genuinely liked in this world.
As they walked through a grove of bamboos, Shu Yue silently surveyed her surroundings. The wind whispered through the forest, the secrets it held reached her like a message in a bottle. There was a faint smell of sweat and metal, and the aura of internal energy could not be mistaken. She could sense the presence of several martial artists. They must be Lu Baiyu's disciples.
They passed more clumps of bamboo, the tall green stalks clacking and creaking as they knocked together in the light breeze. Their footsteps crunched across leaves on the ground.
"Why isn't your demihuman attendant with you today?" Lu Baiyu asked, breaking the silence. He didn't look at her and kept his gaze fixed ahead.
"I asked my fox to run an errand for me. But I'm sure he'll come to pick me up."
Lu Baiyu raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "You have a very interesting attendant, and you seem to trust him that much. I was wondering how did you two meet?"
Shu Yue smiled faintly. "I met him twelve years ago in a forest. He was like an abused puppy, untouchable. There were hunters around at the time. Unfortunately."
"You helped him escape from the hunters. And now he owes you his life." Lu Baiyu frowned thoughtfully, then his lips curled into a crooked smile. "It makes sense. A defenseless creature, and a young one at that. Such act of kindness has bound him to servitude."
The smile on Shu Yue's face melted in an instant. She didn't like how Lu Baiyu phrased it. It sounded as if she was forcing Xiao Ran to serve her--as if his situation was no different from being a slave.
That was never her intention for helping him. She helped him because she saw herself in him--because he was just like her. Above all, she never considered taking advantage of a demi-human. Her own kind.
"I never asked for his service or wanted it in the first place," Shu Yue said with a forced smile. "But he begged me to, and he had nowhere to go."
"You have such a tender heart, young lady. Maybe that's also the reason why the demi-human chose to stay with you." He went silent for a few moments before continuing. "But be careful, as that's what could one day land you in hot water. Those demi-humans... Such creatures cannot be trusted."
Shu Yue nearly laughed. Lu Baiyu dared to warn him about her fox? If there was anyone she shouldn't trust, it was him.
She remained silent for a moment as she let her mind drift back to the events of twelve years ago. She could still remember it, the way Xiao Ran kneeled before her feet and begged her to take him as her servant, and the way he kissed the back of her hand to pledge his loyalty and service.
For a lifetime.
Twelve years ago, Xiao Ran offered his entire life to her.
"He promised to protect me forever." Shu Yue wasn't sure why she said that all of a sudden. But maybe she was just looking for a particular reaction from the old man.
A strange smile shaped Lu Baiyu's mouth. "Interesting."
Shu Yue tilted her head slightly to look at Lu Baiyu. "I wonder, does the role of bodyguard suit him?"
As expected, Lu Baiyu gave her a look as if to say that she was being ridiculous. "A fox-human with only one tail won't even stand a chance with a dog. Demi-humans aren't cut out to be a human's bodyguard. That's a spirit beast's job. Now that you have a soul-binding scroll, getting yourself one is a piece of cake."
Shu Yue smiled kindly.
Of course, humans never expected a demi-human to be strong. They were not allowed to cultivate skills, according to the empire's rules, so they stay as an E-rank. Even if their respective masters were willing to grant them permission, a demihuman should only learn basic techniques.
Because humans were afraid. If demihumans grew in power, humans would no longer be the absolute ruler. So they devised a strategy to prevent this from happening. And the result of that strategy was the current state of demihumans.
They were treated like animals.
Unfortunately, Xiao Ran was the epitome of a rule breaker. Like Shu Yue. And, of course, he didn't just have one tail.
They were demihumans who lived to defy humans. Why would they let humans rule the world and trample on them?
I'd rather rip them apart than bow down to them!
"But my fox is really strong," Shu Yue said softly. "And fast."
Lu Baiyu made no comment, his eyes fixed straight ahead. Either he didn't hear her or he just chose to say nothing. But he seemed unbothered, his body and expression relaxed.
Knowing that Lu Baiyu wasn't looking, Shu Yue allowed a wicked smile to form on her lips, an ominous glint flashing in her eyes.
They soon arrived at their destination, in the depths of the bamboo forest. The sound of clanging blades and flapping robes filled Shu Yue's ears. The clearing before her was occupied by fourteen young disciples. Blades against blades, they sparred with each other. Dust and dry leaves flew everywhere.
Shu Yue observed them calmly. They were all warriors. Their swords emitted a faint blue light and they danced in familiar stances. She seemed to have seen this style of swordsmanship before, but she couldn't recall when and from whom. If it wasn't for the twisting feeling in her stomach, she might be admiring them right now.
She couldn't wait to get her hands on that secret manual.
"So what do you think?" Lu Baiyu said, beaming with pride.
"It is amazing," Shu Yue admitted, feigning enthusiasm. "I've never seen such profound sword technique before, at least not in our clan." That was no lie. Although she could see some flaws in their movements, such as stumbling and sending careless attacks, Shu Yue, with her keen eyes, could really tell that the sword art the disciples were using was of a high level.
But when had she seen this sword style before?
Lu Baiyu grinned, pleased at her reaction. He then clapped his hands, drawing the disciples' attention. His students stopped to greet their master.
"Greetings, Master Lu," they said in unison, their heads bowed forward.
Lu Baiyu nodded in satisfaction. "So these talented people are my disciples," he told Shu Yue.
Since the fourteen disciples were facing her direction now, Shu Yue took this opportunity to look at their faces. At first, she narrowed her eyes, observing the disciples. But as soon as she finished surveying them, her eyes widened in sudden realization.
They were the disciples who triumphed in the sparring ring. Could it be that Lu Baiyu was recruiting every disciple who came up on top? Shu Yue won, and the next day Lu Baiyu appeared in her house, recruiting her as his disciple. But there was something off, something that didn't make sense.
"I see. Is everyone here?" Shu Yue asked, looking at the disciples. They were about twenty-three of them.
Lu Baiyu nodded. "Everyone's here, yes."
Shu Yue frowned, falling into deep thought. If Lu Baiyu recruited every disciple who won the sparring match that he hosted, how come the strongest and most skilled of all wasn't here?
Where was Dishan?
"My dear disciples," Lu Baiyu started, breaking Shu Yue away from her contemplations. "Let me introduce you to your new martial sister, Chen Yue!"
"Chen Yue?" they blurted out, disbelief on their faces.
Shu Yue smiled at them and bowed, as graceful and elegant as she always was. "It's my pleasure to meet you, my fellow warriors. My name is Chen Yue."
The disciples all looked at her, scrutinizing her. When their gazes moved to the mask she wore on the side of her head, their eyes widened in realization and amazement.
"So she's Chen Yue, the one who defeated Dishan?" one of the disciples said, his voice full of awe and shock.
The disciples greeted and praised her for breaking Dishan's winning streak in yesterday's match. The mention of Dishan's name once again made Shu Yue wonder why that man wasn't among Lu Baiyu's recruited disciples when he was the most outstanding warrior ever to compete in Lu Baiyu's sparring competition.
"All right! Now don't scare the young lady," Lu Baiyu said. "Please continue your training while I give our newbie a quick introduction."
Like well-disciplined students, the disciples did as they were told. Lu Baiyu faced Shu Yue.
"Again, I want you to promise me that you will not tell a single soul everything about this," Lu Baiyu said, his voice firm and sharp. His expression was stern.
Shu Yue bowed, under the pretense of being submissive. "Your disciple, Chen Yue, pledges an oath to Elder Lu to keep this a secret. This disciple will never tell anyone, not even my parents or close friends. If this disciple breaks her promise, Elder Lu may punish me."
Lu Baiyu was nodding at every word she said. "Since you're now my disciple, you may address me as master."
"Yes, master."
Lu Baiyu smiled, his expression pleased.
Pleasing, isn't it? Better savor this moment as it won't last long.
With her head still bowed, the corners of her lips curled up slightly in a contemptuous sneer.
"All right, let's not waste any more time." Lu Baiyu withdrew a bamboo scroll from his sleeves and handed it to her. "This is the copy of the abridged version."
"Abridged version?"
"Yes. I can only give you the abridged version for now. It contains the first part of the sword training technique. Don't worry, I'll give you the complete copy once you've proven your determination and loyalty." Lu Baiyu placed an emphasis on the last word.
Shu Yue noticed a peculiar tone in his voice. Her suspicion toward Lu Baiyu grew even stronger. She couldn't help but think there was a deeper meaning behind those words, because he didn't seem to be referring to her loyalty to him.
The crisp sound of metal on metal echoed throughout the area as the disciples fought and sparred with one another. Shu Yue showed Lu Baiyu a kind smile. But inside, she wanted to laugh bitterly.
I know you have other motives than helping us. You're behaving too shady for this to be an act of goodwill.
"I understand, master," Shu Yue said politely before unrolling the bamboo scroll and scanning the name of the martial arts technique. Her heart skipped a beat.
Claw of the Eternal Beast.
This was one of the Ophiuchus Clan's lost martial arts!