As Though Possessed by a Scholar

Within the Taixu Sect.

At this moment, Fu Hua was teaching Cui Ji cultivation as usual.

Off to the side.

Li Sushang, who was eating a barbecued pork bun, was suddenly stopped by Hoshimi Miyabi.

"What is it, Miss Miyabi?"

With the pork bun still in her mouth, Li Sushang asked in confusion.

"Miss Sushang, can we have our match now?"

Miyabi asked calmly.

"Sure, give me a moment."

After swallowing the pork bun in one bite, Li Sushang pulled out her weapon.

An ice-blue longsword.

"Ancestral Master, I want to spar with Miss Miyabi."

Fu Hua nodded and waved her hand.

"Go ahead, but do not disturb things over here."

"Got it. Do not worry."

After obtaining her Ancestral Master's permission, Sushang extended a hand in invitation.

"Miss Miyabi, we can begin."

Miyabi nodded. Without another word, Hoshimi Miyabi drew her blade and swung it straight at Sushang.

Her opponent reacted just as quickly, raising her sword to block. Several flying swords then formed around her and shot toward Miyabi together.

Without paying much attention to them, Fu Hua checked the time on her phone.

"Mm. Cui Ji, cultivate by yourself for now. Your master will be back shortly."

"Yes, Master."

She hurried to a storage room at the back of the mountain.

The furnishings inside were extremely old, and she could even faintly smell the scent of decaying deadwood.

But that was not important.

Fu Hua walked to the very back and moved aside the neatly arranged jars.

She went straight to the largest jar.

This was the Spring Never Ages she had begun pickling several months ago.

By her calculations, it should be ready by now.

She easily lifted it with one hand.

Taking it outside, Fu Hua opened the dust-covered lid beneath the sunlight.

A rich scent of pickled vegetables immediately rushed into her nose.

After inspecting its color, Fu Hua could not help nodding.

"It needs a little more time, but it is already good enough to eat."

Although the food stored in the front courtyard granary was enough to keep them on the mountain for a long time.

Fu Hua felt it was time to have something lighter to balance things out.

Returning to the training ground in the front courtyard, Fu Hua sat on a stone bench.

In a cheerful mood, she leisurely drank her tea.

Two little sparrows landed beside the teapot on the round stone table.

The two little ones chirped nonstop, but they were not noisy.

Above her head, emerald branches swayed gently in the breeze as patches of sunlight flickered down.

Fu Hua tilted her head up slightly and sighed at how wonderful the passing days were.

At the foot of the mountain, after asking around several times, Herrscher of Reason finally reached her destination.

"This place is so remote. What kind of genius picked it?"

Sitting atop her blade hidden within its sheath, Little Herrscher fanned herself while complaining.

Suddenly, a motorcycle sped past. She took a closer look and found that it was Caesar.

"Yo, you must be the little sister Fu Hua mentioned. You really do look alike~"

"...That is me. You may call me the great Ms. Herrscher of Reason."

"Oh~ What a special name. Watching you fly on a sword feels so cool."

"Hehe, of course. This is basic stuff."

"Want to go for a ride? The Outer Ring does not have much scenery, but the atmosphere is pretty good."

"OK! I have no problem with that."

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, Herrscher of Reason went racing through the streets with Caesar.

As noon approached.

Fu Hua went to the kitchen and began kneading dough. As expected, she was preparing to steam several large buns.

Outside, Sushang and the other two had already gathered and begun chatting.

"Come to think of it, I never expected I would gain another martial aunt."

"Ah, I would not dare accept that, not at all. My seniority is still far too lacking."

Cui Ji hurriedly waved her hands.

"Do not be so reserved. Your generation is definitely above mine; that has nothing to do with seniority."

"I see. Then please guide me well, Miss Sushang."

"Hehe, judging by this, Martial Aunt is planning to practice the Taixu Sword Intent, right?

That is amazing. You have made this much progress in less than a year."

"Miss Sushang, has your cultivation not been going smoothly?"

Hoshimi Miyabi asked.

"I would not put it that way. After all, anyone who can master the Taixu Sword Intent is already an unparalleled genius.

I played with swords alongside my mother for several years before she taught it to me."

"I see."

"Master has gone to cook. I wonder what delicious food we will get today."

Li Sushang's eyes narrowed, and she asked with a grave expression.

"Was the food you ate before really that good?"

"Eh, of course it was. Master's cooking is delicious. In all these days, she has never repeated a dish."

Hearing Cui Ji say that, Li Sushang was instantly dumbfounded.

Has Ancestral Master changed her ways? Or does this mean... I might finally get a good meal today?

"You have waited long enough. Let us eat—"

Expectantly, she turned toward Fu Hua's voice.

Her expression instantly froze.

Fu Hua was walking over, carrying a large plate of steamed buns in one hand and a bowl of Spring Never Ages in the other.

"Eh, Master, what kind of dish is this?"

"Spring Never Ages. You asked before what that jar was for; it was for pickling this."

"Oh~ It is really my first time seeing it."

"Miyabi, come sit as well."

"Yes, Teacher."

Hoshimi Miyabi rose calmly and walked toward the stone table.

"Sushang, you..."

"Ahaha~ Um... Ancestral Master, I just ate a barbecued pork bun, so I am not very hungry. I will take a casual walk down the mountain."

"Fine."

Not thinking much of it, Fu Hua sat down, picked up a steamed bun, and began eating it with the Spring Never Ages.

"Ah, this tastes pretty good."

Hearing Cui Ji's assessment, the corners of Fu Hua's lips rose almost imperceptibly.

Sushang, who had not gone far yet, quickened her steps even more.

At the mountain gate, Little Herrscher was returning from her stroll when she saw Sushang hurrying down the mountain and asked.

"Great-granddisciple, it is mealtime. Where are you going?"

"You are back, Ancestral Master. I am just going down the mountain for a walk. It is nothing."

Sensing something vaguely amiss, Little Herrscher hurriedly spoke.

"Perfect, I will take a walk with you too—"

Inside the courtyard, sensing Herrscher of Reason's return, Fu Hua frowned.

"Little Herrscher."

She set down her chopsticks, her tone neither warm nor cold.

It happened to carry straight into Herrscher of Reason's ears.

"Old Fossil, I am back, ahahaha..."

As though possessed by a scholar, Herrscher of Reason walked with a coquettish sway, covering her mouth as she gave an awkward laugh.

"Since you are back, come eat."

"I am not hungry yet, so I will pass on the meal."

"...Little Herrscher."

"Ah! Fine, fine—"

After signaling Sushang with her eyes, Herrscher of Reason dejectedly walked over.

She sat down beside Fu Hua.

Understanding the signal, Sushang turned her back to them and lightly clenched her fist.

Do not worry, Ancestral Master. I will complete this task.

With that, she left without hesitation, as though she had made some kind of resolution.

"Ah~"

After sitting down, Little Herrscher did not pick up her chopsticks. Instead, she opened her mouth and gestured toward Fu Hua.

Seeing this, Fu Hua smiled helplessly and picked up a steamed bun.

"I want the one in your hand."

"But I have already eaten half of this one."

"It is fine. I cannot eat much anyway."

Hearing that, Fu Hua blinked and stuffed the steamed bun into Little Herrscher's mouth.

She then picked up the new one from before.

"Oh, right. It seems the people from Cunning Rabbit House dragged the target of their commission into the Hollow, and that little iron guy even made a special trip back."

"I thought he had remembered something, but who would have thought that guy only went back to fetch a little doll? Hahaha..."