You and Your Senior Brother

"Lotus Sword Venerable..."

Ji Lingruo called out timidly into the mist, wondering if the Lotus Sword Venerable was dressed behind the impenetrable fog.

But this doubt was quickly dispelled.

The mist dispersed, like a blooming snow lotus, and from within the snow lotus emerged a Goddess, ethereal and graceful as flowing wind and swirling snow.

She wore a light white veil, the hem of her skirt floating on the shimmering water. Although she was in the water, she gave the impression of a Fairy descending to earth, gracefully draped in flowing tassels.

Ji Lingruo was captivated by the sight of him at first glance. To this day, she still can't believe that such a beautiful person exists in this world.

It was at the age of fourteen that she first saw the Lotus Sword Venerable, which made her self-proclaimed title completely transform into 'the most beautiful girl in the world'.

"Thank you for traveling so far, it must have been hard for you."

He Shutong had beautiful, gentle eyes and a bright, smiling face.

This was their first meeting since Ji Lingruo came up the mountain. In order to show respect to this new disciple, she decided to show her true face by wearing clothes and emerging from the mist to complete the master-disciple ceremony.

"No, it's not hard at all."

Ji Lingruo dared not look any longer and lowered her eyes.

He Shutong's light gauze clung to her body, revealing glimpses of her skin. Fortunately, her long hair, reaching her waist and hanging down to her chest, spread out in the water like ink spreading out, obscuring any suggestive gaze.

"You should know that I'm going to take you as my apprentice, right?"

He Shutong observed the girl's physique and cultivation level, and was secretly surprised. He never expected that the clumsy girl who had just opened her Channel Opening would reach the Spirit Platform Middle Stage in just two months.

"Know."

Ji Lingruo hadn't spoken a single word to He Shutong in the past three years, and there was no emotional foundation between them whatsoever. Facing a Void Glimpse Venerable, she couldn't help but feel somewhat nervous.

"My process for accepting disciples isn't too complicated. I've spent three years with you and know your character well. From now on, you can just call me Master."

He Shutong pursed her lips. Compared to Mistress," she still felt it was more appropriate for the young girl to call her "Master."

The title "Mistress"... aside from that young man, it just didn't sound quite right when anyone else called her that.

"Yes, Master."

Ji Lingruo was secretly relieved. She had never regarded the other party as her Mistress from beginning to end, and fortunately, the other party had not made such a request of her.

She still performed a solemn half-kneeling ceremony to express her sincerity in acknowledging He Shutong as her teacher.

He Shutong did not refuse. After the ceremony, she lifted the girl into the air:

"I've encountered some minor problems on my Dao Path cultivation and may be in seclusion here for a long time. But cultivation is ultimately a personal matter, so you must be more diligent. Your talent in Way of the Sword is actually very high. You must make up for the time you wasted without Demon Core. You can learn more about Way of the Sword from your senior brothers and sisters."

"Yes."

Ji Lingruo glanced at the Fairy who was patiently giving instructions, and felt a strange sense of relief.

As Void Glimpse Venerable, the other party should have been well aware that the transformation of her Demon Core had occurred overnight. This should have been an earth-shattering event, yet the other party did not ask a single question, as if he trusted her completely.

A moment of silence fell over the room.

He Shutong seemed to be preparing something, pursed her lips slightly, and after a long while, said:

"You and your senior brother... have you practiced dual cultivation?"

?

Do I need to ask about this when I'm becoming an apprentice?

"Master, does this have anything to do with learning swordsmanship?"

"There is some connection."

He Shutong suddenly stretched out her slender hand and played in the shimmering water. Her skirt, which trailed like a thin mist, faintly exuded the fragrance of orchids as she lingered on the water's surface.

Ji Lingruo she stared, somewhat mesmerized. At first, she thought the fairy was dancing gracefully, but the more she looked, the more familiar she seemed. The other woman was actually performing the Mandarin Duck Mandarin Duck Sword, move by move, with the double swords.

After a long while, He Shutong stopped her sword dance, and the entire surface of the pool seemed to follow her will, without even a ripple.

"Actually, my main purpose in taking you as my disciple was not to teach you the Lotus Birth Sword Technique, but to teach you the Yang Sword."

"You also know the Yang Sword?"

Ji Lingruo's gaze was filled with surprise and doubt. She simply could not associate the holy Goddess in front of her with the extremely vulgar dual cultivation technique in her stereotype.

You Su had mentioned that this Mistress was an outsider, so she often guessed that this woman without cultivation was a wife bought by the Sword Sect Master. But she never expected that the other party was a legitimate successor of the Yang Sword.

"The Mandarin Duck Sword should have been broken in my hands, but your senior brother's appearance forcibly extended the life of the Mandarin Sword Sect. Because of him, I saw hope for the revival of the Mandarin Sword Sect. Therefore, I should also do my part for the Mandarin Sword Sect. You have been learning the Mandarin Duck Sword from You Su for three years, but he is ultimately a man, and he can never truly grasp the essence of the Mandarin Duck Sword. From now on, I will teach you the Mandarin Duck Sword. Of course, I will also impart all my Lotus Birth Sword Technique. You are a disciple of Lotus Peak, and also a disciple of the Mandarin Sword Sect. Would you accept this?"

He Shutong asked with some concern, still worried that the girl might be afraid of difficulties.

"Master, please accept my bow!"

Ji Lingruo had no reason to refuse. Both the Lotus Birth Sword Technique and the Duck Sword Technique were exceptional Swordsmanship rarely found in the world. She could learn two skills from just one master—it was practically a huge win!

He Shutong lifted it up again and smiled serenely:

"Since you are willing to learn the Yang Sword technique, then I will be frank with you."

"Uh-huh."

"How many times have you and your senior brother practiced dual cultivation together?"

Is it really that direct?!

"Just... once," Ji Lingruo, still somewhat embarrassed.

"That time in Chuyun City? Not even once since we came up the mountain?" He Shutong frowned slightly.

"Without..."

"Did you have a falling out with You Su?"

"It's not a major conflict..."

Ji Lingruo, and then she realized the reason why she hadn't cultivated with her senior brother...

Was it lingering resentment? Was it the girl's shame? Or had their feelings for each other faded?

Actually, she couldn't explain it clearly either.

"As you can probably tell, he's actually quite cautious, and not just anyone can easily get close to him. You're a very important person to him. If he does anything wrong, please be more understanding, after all, he's blind."

He Shutong suddenly whispered, "Actually, You Su is also suffering a lot... His yang energy is very strong, and it will become even stronger after he loses his virginity. If there is nowhere to release it, it will be a great burden on him."

So he'd been holding it in all along...

No wonder the sensations were so intense when I was with my sister...

Ji Lingruo remained silent, He Shutong, as if regaining her senses, explained:

"I don't mean anything by saying this. Cultivating with him is not only to help him, but also to your own great benefit. In the eyes of the Mandarin Sword Sect, the way of dual cultivation is the Great Way of Yin and Yang, not Evil Dao to be avoided like the plague. Just treat it with a normal mindset, and everything should be based on your own wishes."

That being said, truly advanced dual cultivation involves the fusion of spirit and body. Separating these elements often results in Lower Vehicle.

Moreover, in the girl's view, dual cultivation should not be a goal, but a natural process. She and You Su were just missing such a natural opportunity.

Actually, if You Su had wanted to enter her room the night he delivered the Lady Talisman, she probably would have half-heartedly agreed. But that blind man insisted on putting on an aloof and elegant act, showing no interest whatsoever, which left her quite speechless.

"I... I understand..."

Ji Lingruo clutched the hem of her dress and murmured her reply, sighing inwardly, "Does she really have to take the initiative in something like this?"

But to He Shutong, her behavior seemed as if she was still bothered by something.

Could it be that he hasn't forgiven You Su yet?

Having said all that, He Shutong felt it inappropriate to say anything more.

Saying anything more would make it seem like she was threatening or forcing the girl to offer herself to You Su. If this provoked the girl's rebellious nature, then it would be counterproductive.

"When Elder Liu of your snake clan came to fetch you, she strongly opposed your relationship with You Su. At the time, I told her that you could break the deadlock between the human and demon races. This Non-Self empty talk; I genuinely believed in you. I look forward to that day. Alright, now you can leave."

"I..."

Ji Lingruo hesitated, knowing that whether or not to engage in dual cultivation was not a decision she could make alone.

"Then this disciple will take his leave."

Ji Lingruo took one last look at the beautiful and charming He Shutong, and her heart still fluttered for her.

As He Shutong watched her figure disappear, her gentle smile quickly turned into sorrow.

She had thought that You Su's yang energy problem would be solved Ji Lingruo went up the mountain, but she didn't expect the girl to seem to have some reservations.

What should we do...?