Bernice Ascends Taixu Mountain

"Are you sure you're okay, Bernice? How about I do it...?"

"Of course! I'm wide awake now."

"D-Don't take me into the Hollow. I still need to trade stocks tonight."

Lazily rolling over to sit behind Bernice, Paipai rested her head against the other girl's shoulder.

She looked as though she could fall asleep at any moment.

Riding the motorcycle, Bernice took Paipai with her toward Taixu Mountain.

At the rear mountain.

Fu Hua stood at the entrance to the vegetable garden.

Looking at the plot she had painstakingly cultivated, her heart brimmed with accomplishment.

"There seems to be room in the system space, and there are Chi Yuan too. Why not raise a few?"

Nodding, Fu Hua bought eight Chi Yuan.

She watched the plump, white Chi Yuan waddle around the rear mountain.

"Master, so you're here."

"What is it, Cui Ji?"

"Wow, what's this? It looks just like that fat chicken in your profile picture."

"These are Chi Yuan. You could call them a specialty from my hometown."

"They'd probably taste great made into fried chicken burger patties..."

Fu Hua reached out and patted Cui Ji on the head.

"No. At least for now, you can't touch them."

"Aww, okay. I was just about to ask—what are we eating?"

At that, Fu Hua stroked her chin.

"Hmm, that is a question worth pondering. How about you make a trip into the city and buy some ingredients?"

"But Master, the Inner Ring is really far from here."

"I was merely testing you. I've already stocked ingredients in the storage room."

"Huh! Master, since when did you start teasing people?"

Hearing that, Fu Hua calmly turned around and looked toward the distant mist.

"It was not teasing."

"Master—"

"Enough. The weather is nice today, so I'll formally teach you swordsmanship."

Fu Hua grasped the air, and two wooden swords appeared. She tossed one toward Cui Ji.

Then she turned and headed toward the front courtyard.

"Come. To the training ground."

"Yes!"

Taking the sword, Cui Ji followed her to the front courtyard.

On the open training ground, Fu Hua stood at the center with a wooden sword in hand.

A light breeze swept past, stirring her white hair as she slowly spoke.

"The Taixu Sword Qi has five Essences.

"The first is Heart Essence, the second Form Essence, the third Soul Essence, the fourth Intent Essence, and the last is Spirit Essence."

"Though I am teaching you today, you have already grasped the foundations of the first two Essences."

"Eh!? Really—"

"Yes. Have you felt that your Ether aptitude has become much stronger than before?"

"Definitely. When I took commissions, I noticed I could stay in the Hollows longer."

"And among the fist techniques I taught you before, the Cunxin Fist Technique is derived from Form Essence."

After a round of explanation and demonstration.

Cui Ji formally began cultivating the Taixu Sword Qi.

Sitting on a round stone stool, Fu Hua watched Cui Ji practice her swordsmanship.

While sipping the tea she had brewed.

As the sunlight neared noon, protected by some mysterious force.

The air within Taixu Mountain was exceptionally fresh.

Fu Hua took a deep breath and looked at the scene before her.

A faint smile had remained on her lips throughout.

At the foot of the mountain.

A motorcycle slowly came to a stop.

Bernice and Paipai stared wide-eyed at the magnificent Taixu Mountain.

"So amazing, Paipai! How do you think they did it? The environment here feels so comfortable~"

"Yeah. If I hadn't experienced it up close, I would've thought it was a mirage."

Paipai remarked.

The two stared at the mountain, so out of place amid the desert, for quite a while before finally coming back to their senses.

"Paipai, Paipai. Look over there—it seems like there's a mountain path. Let's go take a look."

Paipai nodded without saying anything and followed Bernice onto the motorcycle.

The two circled around to the entrance of Taixu Mountain's climbing path.

Before them stood a simple, ancient wooden archway, its plaque bearing three archaic characters.

Taixu Mountain.

"So this place is called Taixu Mountain. It sounds so impressive. Paipai, should we go up?"

Paipai looked up at the endless mountain path and the countless steps.

She decisively chose to sit down on the steps nearby.

"No, no. You go by yourself.

The environment here seems pretty nice. I'll lean against this and sleep for a bit."

Bernice was not surprised when Paipai waved her hand and promptly lay down to sleep.

She remained as energetic as ever.

"Alright then, I'll go up by myself. I'll take some photos for you guys to see later."

"Hey, hey, hey, put down the flamethrower. Don't set someone's mountain on fire. This obviously looks like a place where people live.

We won't be able to afford the compensation then."

"Fine, fine. I'll leave it with you for now."

With that, Bernice eagerly began climbing upward.

Along the way, birds chirped and insects sang in the forests on either side, while butterflies occasionally fluttered past.

It all felt very novel to her.

After all, sights like this were rare in the Outer Ring.

She pulled out her phone and began snapping pictures like crazy.

"So pretty~

Though I still prefer the thrilling rush of racing."

Inside the Taixu Sect.

Fu Hua set down her teacup and slowly spoke.

"Cui Ji, continue cultivating for now. It seems we have a visitor."

"Yes, Master."

After speaking, Fu Hua rose to her feet and walked slowly toward the entrance.

Flames began to emanate from her body. Then, she transformed into a firebird and flew toward the mountainside.

Fu Hua was very fast.

After spotting Bernice on the mountainside taking pictures everywhere like a curious child, she began descending.

"Ahaha—what a huge firebird! It's surrounded by flames, so cool—"

Just as she was about to raise her phone for a photo, the firebird unexpectedly plunged straight toward Bernice.

As it neared the ground, the flames began to recede, revealing Fu Hua with white hair and red eyes.

Bernice froze at the sight.

"Excuse me, are you...?"

Before Fu Hua could finish asking her question, Bernice excitedly rushed forward and grabbed her hand, her eyes sparkling.

"Were you that firebird just now? That was so awesome, flames all over your body.

Hehehe..."

"May I ask what brings you to Taixu Mountain?"

Because this was the Outer Ring, Taixu Mountain had only just appeared.

Fu Hua had assumed that curious people would come by, so she had intended to use this to intimidate them a little.

But who would have thought it would be an absolute extrovert?

"Oh, oh, oh, right! Hello, my name is Bernice! I'm a member of the Children of Calydonian from the Outer Ring Motorcycle Clan."

"I saw a green mountain here while passing by, so I came over to take a look."

"I see. A visitor is a guest—would you like to come up the mountain and sit for a while?"

"Sure, sure! By the way, you're the owner here, right? What did you do just now? That was amazing..."

Along the way, Fu Hua listened as Bernice took pictures and chatted at the same time.

She did not seem tired at all.

"Miss Bernice, you truly are full of energy~"

"Hehe, of course.

As long as you're in a good mood, you're bound to encounter lucky things. I've always believed that."

Her personality was quite like Kiana's.

"Is that so? Miss Bernice, you really are optimistic. Still, that isn't a bad thing."

"Right, right? Oh, we've talked for so long, but I still don't know your name."

"Just call me Fu Hua. Fu Hua, Sect Master of the Taixu Sect on Taixu Mountain."

"Hello, Miss Fu Hua~"

They arrived before the gates of the Taixu Sect.

Bernice was drawn in by the antiquated decor within.

She raised her phone again, preparing to take photos, but mindful of Fu Hua beside her, she still asked with a grin.

"Um, hahaha... Fu Hua, can I take a few pictures? I want to show them to my friends."

Fu Hua waved a hand, unconcerned.

"If it is outside, Miss Bernice, feel free. Inside the sect—please excuse me."

"Okay, got it, got it. Thanks, Fu Hua."