A Teacher for a Day, a Mother for Life

The clouds drifted and rolled, Cloud Lotus Boat had been flying for nearly three days.

Outside the cabin, the wind howled fiercely, yet He Shutong's hair remained perfectly still. Her entire body was enveloped in a gentle Mystic Qi. She stood suspended in mid-air, eyes lowered, meditating, like a still lotus flower.

You Su, however, could not withstand the fierce cold wind high in the sky. Not daring to disturb his Mistress, he closed the cabin door and returned to his cabin.

Inside the cabin, Wangshu Fairy had already fallen asleep on the large lotus platform.

In truth, You Su could sense that this senior sister's cultivation level was quite impressive. She hadn't rested for a moment along the way, tirelessly bombarding him with all sorts of strange questions; she probably wouldn't feel tired even after a long sleep. However, You Su was somewhat exhausted from responding, so he could only politely reply:

"Senior sister, aren't you going to take a rest?"

Upon hearing this, Wangshu Fairy simply said "Oh," and quickly fell asleep on the lotus platform. You Su secretly shook her head; her senior sister was already forty-nine years old, yet she acted like a child who was caught by her parents for being playful and refusing to sleep.

You Su took out a mirror from his Universe Bag. He used his Divine Sense to check and make sure that Wangshu Fairy was in meditation before he focused his mind and opened his eyes.

Although Wangshu Fairy was Mistress's disciple, she was ultimately no match for her junior sister, with whom she could be completely honest. You Su felt that the fewer people knew about her secret of being able to open her eyes, the better.

This was the first time You Su had seriously examined his appearance. His reflection in the mirror showed distinct features, a youthful unruliness on his face, and a sharp and resolute edge. His sword-like eyebrows slanted into the few strands of black hair at his temples, and his eyes had turned as black as ink.

Looking at the face, You Su felt a little unfamiliar. He quietly studied it for a while, constantly changing the angle in front of the mirror, as if trying to memorize the face. Finally, he chuckled softly twice, then looked away from the mirror and gazed at the distant and tiny world outside the cabin window.

His eyesight was excellent in this state, and the magnificent city below was a scene of prosperity he had never imagined. Its vastness meant that even from the air, its boundaries could not be seen at a glance. Everywhere there were towering pavilions that reached into the clouds. Even the City Lord's Mansion in Chuyun City, would be considered mediocre in this city.

You Su peeked out again, looking in the direction the Cloud Lotus Boat was heading—a magnificent and boundless mountain stood between heaven and earth, its peak invisible even from the height You Su was at. Its existence was like a sacred pillar connecting the earth and the sky, the Unseen and indistinct.

We've finally arrived at Mount Henggao.

As if to welcome their arrival, a large flock of cranes flew past the Cloud Lotus Boat.

Along with it came a gigantic cloud. The Cloud Lotus Boat traversed through this cloud, but the feeling it gave You Su was quite different from before. These were not ordinary clouds, but more like a peculiar liquid, and moving through them seemed to create ripples in space.

Once the clouds parted, Mount Henggao finally revealed just a small part of its majestic form.

Light smoke and white mist swirl above the giant mountain, and verdant buildings rise one after another between the steep cliffs. Everywhere there are white clouds and flowing water, empty pavilions and floating islands, giving people a sense of beauty in a well-ordered way. In a daze, it seems that you can still hear the ancient bells coming from the sacred mountain. If you savor it carefully, you can feel the great meaning of the Dao in the bells.

"Junior brother, we're almost there."

Wangshu Fairy had risen at some point and was standing beside You Su, looking towards the most magnificent architectural complex on the sacred mountain.

You Su blinked twice, his completely black eyes returning to their clear black and white state. He turned his head back:

"Are we approaching the Xuanxiao Sect?"

"Um."

You Su took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation about the new environment.

The chief elder of the Xuanxiao Sect First Elder an old man with white hair and a wrinkled face. He wore a Daoist robe and a Daoist crown, and was the standard immortal in people's imagination.

He sat upright beside the tea table with his eyes closed, two cups of fragrant tea wisps of steam rising from them. The other cup belonged to a serene Fairy in a white dress.

"The Thirteenth Elder has returned." The First Elder's voice was deep and hoarse.

"Greetings, First Elder." He Shutong responded with an elegant demeanor, neither humble nor arrogant.

The First Elder nodded slightly, still with his eyes closed, and asked again, "You've been away from the sect for eight years, supposedly to gain experience in the mountains. Have you achieved anything?"

"The results were minimal."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing First Elder raised his long eyebrows slightly, his bark-like eyelids lifted slightly, and two terrifying purple lights shot out from his eyes. Upon closer inspection, the First Elder's pupils resembled two purple stars, within which extremely intricate engravings swirled continuously.

Long before He Shutong went up the mountain, the First Elder was already the First Elder. He Shutong did not know the other party's true cultivation level. At this moment, being stared at by the First Elder's half-closed purple eyes, she couldn't help but feel a tightness in her heart.

"Are you confident you'll recover?" the old man asked calmly.

He Shutong sighed inwardly. Even though she had tried to conceal her shattered spiritual platform before returning to the sect, the First Elder still saw through it at a glance.

"Yes," He Shutong replied affirmatively.

"That's good. Thirteenth Elder is exceptionally talented and will go further than us old folks. Don't be impatient." The First Elder thought her physical condition was due to forcibly breaking through to a higher realm.

"I will keep in mind the First Elder's teachings." He Shutong offered no further explanation.

"This is not instruction, this is advice." The First Elder closed his eyes again, his tone chilling.

Although He Shutong is the master of a peak, she bears very few responsibilities as an elder, and her teaching and disciple-taking are limited. After returning from leaving the sect for eight years, if she were to dissipate her cultivation, her position as the Grand Elder would likely be coveted by many, especially by the twenty-three junior elders who are firmly overshadowed by her.

He Shutong raised his glass and took a small sip, offering no response.

"What exactly happened in Chuyun City? Even Gu Yao lost his life here."

He Shutong shook her head. "I have already told the First Elder everything I know in the order."

"Sigh, we can only wait for them to investigate first..." The First Elder stroked his beard slightly. "Wangshu is your only disciple, her life is of utmost importance. From now on, never let her leave the sect recklessly again."

"This time I brought back a young man, and Ji Lingruo from the Snake Clan of the Eastern Ying Continent. I intend to take these two as my personal disciples."

The First Elder's voice was filled with surprise and doubt. "So, Thirteenth Elder's Lotus Birth Sword Technique isn't a single lineage passed down through generations?" He finally lifted the lid of his cup, took a sip of tea, and a smile played on his thin lips, "Eight years away from the sect, it seems Thirteenth Elder hasn't remained unchanged after all. To obtain that thing, he's even started taking on more disciples."

Thirteen mountains rise abruptly from the ground, nestled among the Xuanxiao Sect, inspiring awe at the wonders of nature and the superb skills of the immortal craftsmen. The Cloud Lotus Boat continued its journey towards one of the thirteen isolated mountains, traveling without hindrance.

You Su noticed that the sound of the wind beside her ears slowed down until it disappeared, and only then did she realize that they had arrived at their destination.

"Junior brother, we've arrived."

Wangshu Fairy reminded You Su and then opened the cabin door first. Lotus Peak was not the magnificent fairyland one had imagined; there was only a simple and unpretentious courtyard. If You Su had the ability to see, he would have even noticed that the layout of this courtyard was very similar to the Sect Residence of the Mandarin Sword Sect. If it weren't for the surrounding fairy-like streams and verdant trees, it would be hard to believe that this was the residence of an elder of the Xuanxiao Sect.

You Su stepped out of the cabin and found that his master's Mistress had been meditating on the deck, was nowhere to be seen.

"Senior sister, where did Mistress go?"

"The First Elder just came looking for Master."

The First Elder is the head of the thirteen Grand Elders; wouldn't that make him the number one person after the Xuanxiao Sect Master?

You Su was secretly alarmed. It was normal for her Mistress, an elder, to need to report back to the sect after eight years of absence, but she never expected that the person who would greet her upon her return would be such a person.

Although the Cloud Lotus Boat was already anchored, it did not touch the ground. The height of the boat plus the height of its suspension made it three or four meters high.

After speaking, Wangshu Fairy leaped off the deck and landed lightly on the ground, like an elegant white cat.

"Junior brother, jump too, I'll catch you." Wangshu Fairy turned around and said to You Su, her tone serious. She then raised her hands as if to support You Su.

You Su's lips twitched, feeling that he had been underestimated too much by Wangshu Fairy. Although his cultivation level was not as high as his senior sister, who claimed to be at the Feather Transformation Realm, he was not so low as to need someone to catch him when he jumped from a height of less than five meters.

"Does my senior sister think I'm a three-year-old?"

You Su smiled helplessly, then leaped into the air with a powerful push of his legs.

But his expression suddenly changed, even though he was confident he would land safely. Something was wrong!

As soon as they left the range of the Immortal Ships, they felt the chaotic air currents in the air. They weren't coming from one place; some were from the left, some from the right, some were cold, and some were hot. They carried You Su's body, which was forced to fall, causing her to sway and crash to the ground.

You Su tried to resist, but these raging currents of energy possessed extraordinary power. Whenever he tried to control his body with his Qi, the newly condensed Mystic Qi was melted and turned into "accomplices" of this strange current of energy.

No matter how ordinary it may appear on the outside, it is essentially one of the thirteen extraordinary peaks of the Xuanxiao Sect. How could it be so simple?

You Su frowned, and in a flash, he was about to draw the Ink Pine Sword to help himself land when a pair of jade hands gently supported his body in a princess carry.

You Su Wangshu Fairy's arms, like a hero rescued by a beauty. He looked at Wangshu Fairy with a sheepish expression; in the girl's blurry face, her two sapphire-like eyes were without a trace of impurity.

Wangshu Fairy set You Su down again. The moment You Su's feet touched the ground, the chaotic energy disappeared completely. Startled and bewildered, he quickly stood up and moved a little further away before bowing and saying:

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

"You're welcome." Wangshu Fairy's tone was calm, without a trace of teasing. On the contrary, You Su could hear a hint of joy at being thanked.

For some reason, even though he had lost face in front of the pure-hearted Wangshu Fairy, You Su didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed at all.

"Senior sister, what is this strange wind?" You Su asked humbly.

"It's called the Trouble Wind."

You Su repeated the name in her mind, still somewhat confused, and then asked, "Then why couldn't I sense it as soon as I landed?"

"It's not that we can't feel it, it's just that it's become more obedient."

Wangshu Fairy stretched out one hand and raised it in the air. A thin wisp of mist immediately wrapped around her delicate fingers, making her look as obedient as a friendly spirit beast.

"There are many places in the sacred mountain where this Trouble Wind. Where it is present, people cannot fly; they can only walk."

Wangshu Fairy did not explain further, but You Su already understood. The sacred mountain was full of the abodes of immortals and important sects; how could cultivators be allowed to roam freely within it? Walking was the basic respect for these holy places.

Wangshu Fairy had already started walking towards the courtyard ahead, You Su followed closely behind.

"Then why is it called 'Trouble Wind'?" You Su asked, puzzled.

"Master said this is one of the teachings of the Immortal Ancestor Henggao: only by being down-to-earth can one be free from worries."

Upon hearing this, You Su smiled noncommittally.

The closer you get to the courtyard, the more you can feel the rich, almost water-like Mystic Qi within. It flows through your body like a gentle hand, caressing your limbs and bones, bringing the Unseen and ethereal sensation.

The courtyard had no walls or gate plaques, only four simple wooden houses. Apart from a peach tree in the center of the courtyard, there was nothing else noteworthy. And beneath the peach tree, a graceful Fairy in a white dress, with a mature and beautiful figure and a cool and aloof temperament, was already standing and waiting.

"Master."

"Mistress."

The two bowed to each other.

He Shutong nodded in response. "I remember you once said that you received the qualification to attend classes from the Immortal Master of the Divine Mountain."

These words were, of course, directed at You Su. You Su nodded. Although Gu Yao was dead, the certificate he had given her for attending classes was still valid, which was enough to prove her qualifications.

"Your status Auditory Disciple is unworthy of me. From this day forward, you are my True Disciple. From now on, do not call me 'Mistress,' but 'Master.'"

Upon hearing this, You Su was stunned for a moment, and finally asked, "Just who exactly is Mistress?"

He Shutong glanced at him, as if to say, 'You still couldn't help asking first,' and then calmly said:

"I am the thirteenth elder of the Xuanxiao Sect, and the Lotus Sword Venerable, the peak master of Lotus Peak."

You Su's pupils widened slightly. Although he had guessed it beforehand, hearing the name of Void Glimpse Venerable with his own ears was still incredibly shocking. Such a person was actually his master's Mistress, and even wanted to take him as her True Disciple. It truly felt unreal.

Although his master and Mistress are dao companion, they belong to two different sects. Does his becoming his Mistress's True Disciple count as switching sects?

"You don't want to?" He Shutong frowned slightly.

"I..." You Su hesitated. He could easily choose between Gu Yao and his master, but he was having some trouble choosing between his Mistress and his master.

"If you're worried that this is disloyal to your master, you needn't worry." He Shutong put her hands behind her back, her two index fingers nervously intertwined. She continued, "Your master instructed me before he left that if your Mandarin Sword skills are good enough to graduate, you can find another master. I have also shown you kindness in guiding you, so becoming my disciple is your best choice. Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"Furthermore, I also plan to take your junior sister as my personal disciple. If you are to Auditory Disciple, you will have to leave after one year."

You Su Suben had some doubts about the master's instructions mentioned by his Mistress, but the last sentence made him make a final decision.

He straightened his clothes, then crossed his hands in front of his chest, bowed deeply, and said:

"From this day forward, disciple You Su acknowledges Lotus Sword Venerable as his master. I hereby swear that I will always respect my master and diligently cultivate! If I ever commit any act of deceiving my master or betraying my ancestors..."

He couldn't utter the second half of the solemn oath. You Su knew that his Mistress trusted him enough to never betray his master and ancestors, which was why she didn't want him to continue. He suddenly raised his head, bowed again, this time with even greater solemnity, and said:

"A teacher for a day is a mother for life! Your disciple will always be filial and respectful to you, Master. Please accept me as your disciple!"

As the Lotus Sword Venerable looked at You Su, who was bowing respectfully, a faint smile appeared on his usually icy face for the first time, like spring snow melting away.

She felt relieved and, wanting to make amends to You Su, finally accepted You Su as her disciple.

Upon hearing You Su's words, "A teacher for a day is a mother for life," she felt a warm current flowing through her heart. She realized that the word "mother" was too great, and she was still far from being worthy of it. From now on, she needed to learn to care for her disciples properly.