Her fingers were still clutching on to Zuo BingTan's sleeves, her gaze was fervent with hope.
However, no one had the chance to figure out what she meant or who she thought Zuo BingTan was when she muttered those two unfamiliar words that sounded like someone's name.
A breath later, save for YuLan – the new Enlightened who was still somewhat disoriented – the other Enlighteneds in the room sensed a surge of qi from the room's door.
The killing intent was weak, but because everyone had been paying attention to the pure yin maiden and her peculiarity, they were all caught off-guard. A flash of green passed by everyone's sight and soon the incoming blade directly made its trajectory path to YuLan.
At the last second before it made contact with her hand, YuLan was awoken from her daze and swiftly let go of her hold on the man and nimbly stepped backwards. There was no hesitation in that attack; if she did not evade in time, her hand might have already been separated from her body. The blade ended up grazing her white sleeve and made a tear in the fabric.
Only when the wielder of the sword directed another attack towards YuLan did another sword step in to block it. The clanging sound of two cold metals reverberated in the room.
A man in a blue robe stood in front of YuLan, his blade extended fully towards the attacker, the cold blade emitted just the slightest of light. His handsome face was expressionless, and there was no mirth in his eyes. However, apart from blocking the attacker earlier, he now just stood still. Although he was still in a battle stance, it was a defensive one. From his act, it was clear he merely intended to protect YuLan, but did not intend to retaliate further.
(the now adult Shen Wei)
Soon, Xiao Zi and Zhen Zhu stood by YuLan's side as well in a defensive pose.
The attacker was a young woman, not much taller than YuLan herself. Her face was small and could be considered beautiful. Her eyes were large and bright, with enticing red lips. Her body was on the smaller side, thin but still graceful. She was wearing a light-green robe, similar to what Zuo BingTan was wearing.
YuLan felt dizzy when she finally got to see the familiar face. It was a face she knew well, belonging to the girl she had considered a sister in her past life, a very kind girl who had followed her through her whimsical journey for freedom, even to the Northern Plains to the Kingdom of Jing.
The very same girl who had received Zhang KongJing's cold blade in her stead that ultimately claimed the girl's life.
The same one who kept referring her as 'Xiao Hua', a little flower, despite how YuLan had changed her name.
Everything about her was the same outwardly; but the coldness in the green-robed woman's eyes, her haughty expression, her disgust when she looked at YuLan... -- everything about her was not Xiao Hui.
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"Shimei! I have told you to not be impetuous!!" Zuo BingTan stepped forward and grabbed the woman's sword from her hand. Upon being reprimanded, the woman relented and withdrew her fighting stance. Then she looked up towards the man with an expression that looked like she had been wronged, her lips pouted slightly. When she wore such meek expression, she looked harmless and endearing.
Another younger man wearing a blue robe stepped forward and stood in front of YuLan as well. He lightly put his hand on Shen Wei, who still had his sword extended.
"Shen Wei DaShixiong. Let it be. You know how Qing Lian (1) is." Zuo JinHai sighed exasperatedly, but as he looked at the green-robed young woman named Qing Lian, there was a trace of impatience in his voice.
Qing Lian stomped her feet and looked around the room with teary eyes, before delicately threw a pitiful look towards YuLan,
(Qing Lian)
"You are all bullying me! I was just worried about BingTan shixiong."
"Where is Ao Xiang (2) shixiong?" Zuo BingTan started to knead his aching temple, but he did not reprimand Qing Lian further. Qing Lian's facial features were four-to-five points similar to his late mother's, so he could never be overly harsh with her despite her recklessness. Besides, Qing Lian was the darling of their DaShixiong – Ao Xiang.
"I am here!" A grim male voice was heard from the direction of the door.
A man with a youthful face stood tall. He was wearing a light-green robe, his hand carrying a few scrolls. Despite his deep voice that carried a trace of melancholy, his facial expression was kind. As he noticed Qing Lian, his initial stern expression dissolved into a comforting smile. The clear elation and doting expression towards the young woman showed on his face.
(Ao Xiang)
Upon seeing his adoring smile and realizing that she was not in trouble, Qing Lian walked in a coquettish manner towards Ao Xiang and wrapped her hands around his arm.
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The room had become too small for everyone to converse in comfort; therefore they moved to the inn's courtyard.
Apparently, Wu Shan sect's and Hui Lin sect's disciples had known each other for quite a while. They were both co-ed sects, and the disciples had gone through various missions in the past. Therefore, the introduction was simply to let everyone be acquainted with the three Ping sect's cultivators. Cao Lu herself had maintained necessary contact with her two younger brothers – Zuo JinHai of Wu Shan sect and Zuo BingTan of Hui Lin sect; hence, she was somewhat familiar with the other people present.
From Wu Shan sect, there were two Enlighteneds present: Shen Wei and Zuo JinHai, with Shen Wei being the leader of the group. A few years ago, his shifu, Sage Shen Zheng, had become the sect master as well, making Shen Wei the most senior disciple, be it in rank or cultivation. Shen Wei and Zuo JinHai had already owned their swords: 'WeiFeng' and 'Muhou', respectively
Ding Shun and Yu Mei were two Martial-Artists from Wu Shan sect. They were entrusted to accompany their senior brothers to obtain some crystals and metals from the land of Yanshi to be brought back to the sect. The crystals and metals would then be tempered into swords and weapons to be distributed to their peers who had yet to own any.
Zuo BingTan and Ao Xiang were two Enlighteneds of Hui Lin sect. Qing Lian – from Hui Lin sect as well – was a late-stage Martial-Artist. However, she already owned a sword.
In fact, this time, Hui Lin's involvement in the trip was a bit unusual. Although it was true that one of the reasons they joined the expedition was to bring some crystals back for weaponry, it was mainly for Ao Xiang.
Ao Xiang had not yet owned a sword. His high cultivation level and prestige was due to the fact that not only was he considered a genius in the sect, but also because he was the only Enlightened ranked cultivator known to man, but also with a talent of being a beast-master.
Being a beast-master in this world did not mean that the practitioner could tame normal living animals, but because they had an innate ability to summon spirit beasts.
Cultivators had always been differential to just one element of the existence of the universe. For example; Ping sect was always partial to Water that aided their yin countenance; Wu Shan sect's teaching always adhere to the power of Fire and Metal; Hui Lin sect focused on the energy derived from Wood and Earth elements.
Ao Xiang, for some reason, had always been able to maintain harmony with the five elements: Metal, Fire, Earth, Water, and Wood. Although he did not excel in any single one of them, he was above every other practitioner who dabbled in the art of spirit beast taming. This resulted in his innate ability to be able to summon every single spirit beast of every single element. In fact, Hui Lin sect's spirit guardian – with a corporeal existence of a white tiger – had also treated Ao Xiang as its master.
Although to summon a spirit beast was to expend a large amount of qi, Ao Xiang had never failed in summoning his spirit beasts, regardless of where he was.
Even if he were in the middle of the ocean – with no single other element existed but water – Ao Xiang could still summon the Fire Phoenix or the Earth Tortoise. The spirit-beasts were not actual mythical animals – they were merely a condensed manifested corporeal existence of the corresponding element. Their strength adhered to the wielder's qi.
It had to be mentioned that normally, it would have been miraculous for a beast-master to summon a sole Fire Phoenix the size of a chicken. But Ao Xiang had always been able to call the spirit-beasts in their true form and size.
Therefore, although Ao Xiang was not too adept in the art of the sword or traditional offensive martial-art, Hui Lin sect treated him extraordinarily well. In fact, his high cultivation base was also contributed to his innate compatibility with the five elements – they blended together with his qi, boosting his comprehension of the Dao when needed.
The existence of the five elements – spirit beasts – was his Dao's path.
Ao Xiang himself preferred to keep doing what he did, and he would be perfectly happy if he could read lots of books in his spare time. The elders of Hui Lin sect never put much pressure on him to learn the more offensive type of martial-arts as well. His character was upright and kind as well, and he had been brought up in the sect with the utmost care - Hui Lin sect's current Sages would want him to be one of the future generation's elders as well.
However, Ao Xiang had one weakness: Qing Lian.
Ever since she was admitted to the sect, Ao Xiang – who was nine years older than her – was inexplicably attracted to her appearance. Previously, he would never have thought that he would be so superficial, but Qing Lian's pretty face and dainty stature brought forth the protective instinct inside the man.
Qing Lian herself was the darling of the sect. Among the female disciples of Hui Lin sect, she was one of the prettiest and she knew how to evoke males' sense of chauvinism. She was doted on by her shixiongs and knew how to use her blessed looks to play with the hearts of the many male disciples without getting in trouble herself. She managed to be in the good books of so many male disciples in Hui Lin sect, but was careful enough to not incite bloody rivalry between those who were vying for her attention.
To put it simply, she was not an indigo-blue lotus (1); she was a white lotus with a black root.
Lately she had been latching on to two senior male disciples of Hui Lin sect: Ao Xiang and Zuo BingTan. She realized that Ao Xiang was always attracted to her and would almost always cater to her every whim For her, he was the ultimate golden thigh that she must hold on to. However, she also realized that Zuo BingTan had always been more partial towards her than other female disciples. Needless to say, Zuo BingTan was also a Royal Prince and quite talented in cultivation.
How good would it be if Qing Lian could also win Zuo BingTan's heart and hug his thigh to secure her future. At the end of the day, she treated Ao Xiang as her safety net because she had never thought much to be a Sage. What good would it be to have a long life but unable to enjoy the riches the world had to offer? Zuo BingTan could give her those riches if he were to ascend the throne, or even if he were to return to the Imperial Palace to re-claim his status as a Royal prince.
However, Ao Xiang's attention was more passionate and yielding, hence Qing Lian smartly kept her attention balanced between the two men.
But Qing Lian really liked swordsmen.
Ao Xiang was already perfect in his appearance and his conduct, but for Qing Lian, he was too lacking in ambition and was too soft. In her opinion, men were most astounding when they were on the offensive. Combined with deadly sword-arts, sword-wielding practitioners looked so much more aesthetically pleasing to her.
Hence Ao Xiang finally succumbed to the pressure and her multitude of hints that he would occupy her heart more if he were to learn some sword-arts.
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Notes:
(1) Qing =indigo blue. But sometimes it is referred as 'green'. The kanji itself (青)means 'blue. Lian = lotus.
(2) Ao Xiang = to soar