Late Inner Qi

Cloud Dwelling Courtyard was the name Chen Qinglin had given his little courtyard.

What Chen Qinglin didn't know was that someone was waiting for him in the evening light.

Ling Ling was sitting in front of the courtyard, resting her elbow on the stone table and propping up her little face. She swung her legs idly, and somehow, she'd fallen asleep!

Golden light fell across her hair, making it shimmer brilliantly.

Only at times like this was Ling Ling quiet and gentle.

He walked over to the stone table and quietly watched Ling Ling for a while.

Then he slowly woke her.

Ling Ling had come to find Chen Qinglin that day. When she discovered he wasn't there, she'd sat down at the stone table in front of the courtyard.

Bathed in the warmth of the spring sunshine, she'd fallen asleep before she knew it.

Only when she seemed to hear someone calling her did she slowly open her eyes and see Chen Qinglin.

"Junior Brother, where have you been all this time? I came looking for you, but you were never here!" Delighted to see Chen Qinglin, Ling Ling jumped up, ran over to him, and tugged at his sleeve.

"...I had something to take care of. What did you need, Senior Sister?" Chen Qinglin asked gently, looking at his somewhat playful senior sister.

"Of course I came to play with you! First Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister are both in seclusion, practicing martial arts, and Second Senior Sister took a mission and left the mountain. I was so bored, I could only come find you..." Ling Ling chattered on.

"What about Senior Sister Su and Senior Sister Chang? Didn't you go see them?" Ever since Ling Ling had met Chang Yan, Xie Jingyun, and the others, she often visited Qingzhu Peak to spend time with them.

"They said they were going into seclusion to practice martial arts, so they didn't have time to play with me." Ling Ling thought about it, looking a little dejected, her voice growing soft.

I think First Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, and Senior Sister Xie Jingyun aren't going into seclusion to practice. They just find you annoying.

Chen Qinglin grumbled to himself.

"Then why don't you practice martial arts in seclusion with them, Senior Sister?" Chen Qinglin realized he'd asked a pointless question.

"Practicing martial arts all the time is so boring! Junior Brother, you're not going into seclusion to practice too, are you?"

Ling Ling eyed Chen Qinglin suspiciously, her innocent, watery eyes fixed on him.

"Ah! Well...you guessed right, Senior Sister. I do need to practice martial arts, but I don't have to go into seclusion. I can still chat with you."

Looking into those eyes, Chen Qinglin couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"That's wonderful, Junior Brother! Then let's go find Yuexing. If we go together, she'll definitely come out to see us."

"..."

"Tomorrow, Senior Sister. It's too late now. I'll go with you tomorrow, all right?"

"All right!" After spending time with him these past few days, Ling Ling knew her junior brother always kept his promises. She answered happily.

"Open the door, Junior Brother! Tell me what you did when you left the mountain. Did anything interesting happen?..."

"Senior Sister, how am I supposed to open the door when you're holding on to me..."

"Oh, right!" Ling Ling let go of Chen Qinglin.

Perhaps it was because he was younger than her, or perhaps for some other reason, but Ling Ling thought this junior brother was a little different from everyone else.

She liked spending time with Chen Qinglin. Sometimes she came to his courtyard and sat nearby, watching him practice his sword.

He picked out a few interesting stories and people he'd encountered along the way to tell Ling Ling. Her eyes lit up as she listened, and she wanted to go out and explore the world too.

At the same time, she was very worried about Chen Qinglin leaving Qingfeng Mountain to take a mission.

Chen Qinglin couldn't help comforting his little senior sister, even though Ling Ling was two years older than him.

In their daily interactions, he always ended up soothing this little senior sister as if she were his younger sister.

Only after making Chen Qinglin confirm again and again that he would go with her to see Yuexing the next day did Ling Ling finally leave Cloud Dwelling Courtyard, still reluctant to go.

When Chen Qinglin returned to his courtyard, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He was more exhausted than after completing a mission.

The next morning, dewdrops in the grass glistened like little mirrors, each reflecting the faint yellow figure of a person.

When Chen Qinglin opened the courtyard gate, he saw that Ling Ling was already waiting for him.

The moment she saw him come out, Ling Ling hurried over with delight, talking at length about how long she'd been waiting and asking why he'd taken so long.

She pulled Chen Qinglin along as she ran toward Qingjing Peak.

Chen Qinglin could only follow his little senior sister, helplessness written all over his face.

They encountered some Qingyun Peak Disciples along the way. When they saw Ling Ling and Chen Qinglin, they greeted them one after another.

Some who hadn't met Chen Qinglin asked the others about him, and learned that he was the disciple Martial Uncle Fu had taken on two months earlier.

The new junior brother was a martial arts fanatic. He'd been at Qingyun Peak for two months, and spent most of his time practicing in his own courtyard.

That was the impression all the Qingyun Peak Disciples shared of this junior brother.

Seeing him being dragged along by Ling Ling with a look of utter despair, they couldn't help smiling.

A few female disciples eyed Chen Qinglin's youthful face, a mischievous glint in their eyes.

They planned to round up a group to visit Junior Sister Ling Ling another day, then go see Chen Qinglin.

There were also some senior brothers who had feelings for Ling Ling. They watched Chen Qinglin with envy or indignation written all over their faces.

Chen Qinglin noticed them and couldn't help rolling his eyes.

When he saw how devious these senior sisters were, Chen Qinglin would realize that sometimes, the prettier someone was, the more mischievous she could be.

They reached the front of Qingjing Peak. Chen Qinglin thought they'd have to wait there for a while, but Ling Ling actually had a Jade Token that let her enter and leave Qingjing Peak, so she took him straight inside.

She wandered around as if she were back home, turning this way and that as they passed courtyard after courtyard. She even cheerfully introduced Qingjing Peak to Chen Qinglin.

What was more, all the disciples on Qingjing Peak seemed to know her, and even the Elders spoke to her in gentle tones.

"..."

They finally reached the courtyard where Su Yuexing lived.

Ling Ling immediately called for Su Yuexing, saying she'd brought Chen Qinglin over for a visit.

Su Yuexing opened the courtyard gate and looked at Ling Ling with an exasperated expression. When she saw Chen Qinglin standing beside her, looking speechless, she burst out laughing.

Then she welcomed them into the courtyard and played host.

Time was sand slipping quietly through the fingers.

Sixty days and nights had come and gone, and all kinds of flowers had appeared on Qingyun Peak.

During this time.

Chen Qinglin spent most of his time cultivating in his courtyard. Once in a while, he went with Ling Ling to visit the other peaks.

He'd made many friends.

He'd also grown closer to his three senior brothers and sisters.

First Senior Brother Ji Yangchun seemed like a warm and friendly person. Second Senior Sister Yun Yue was somewhat cold, while Third Senior Sister Shui Qingqian was gentle and refined.

Ling Ling liked this senior sister quite a bit and often took Chen Qinglin along to bother her.

Perhaps it had something to do with his master, Fu Shenxing's, guidance; there weren't any major conflicts between the senior brothers and sisters.

All in all, they got along well enough.

[Chen Qinglin]

Lifespan: 15/120

Realm: Late Inner Qi

Martial Arts: Origin Returning Art (Perfected 35/40000),

Wind Riding Sword Art (Perfected 40000/40000),

Divine Wind Leg (Perfected 20000/20000),

Moon Treading Steps (Great Accomplishment 5634/30000),

Blood Shadow Sword Art (Great Accomplishment 16/20000),

Spirit Concealing Technique (Minor Accomplishment 2246/4000),

Wind Chasing Sword Art (Great Accomplishment 136/20000)

Sword Techniques: Ride the Wind Slash (15% Wind Intent),

Through Passage Wind (10% Penetration Intent)

Wind Vanishes (20% Wind Intent)

Intent:

Wind Intent/21% (2645/20000),

Penetration Intent/10% (17/10000)

Over the past two months, he'd gone to the Hidden Martial Pavilion to exchange for Wind Chasing Sword Art. Spirit Concealing Technique had come from an earlier mission and could conceal his cultivation and aura.

Blood Shadow Sword Art was something he'd obtained from Shen Dingyuan on his first mission.

Perfecting Wind Riding Sword Art and reaching Minor Accomplishment in Wind Chasing Sword Art had brought his Wind Intent to 21%. When his Wind Intent reached 20%, he'd entered a mysterious state. Through that, he'd comprehended Penetration Intent from archery and created two sword techniques.

He had another trump card up his sleeve.

Chen Qinglin stood on the cliff, gazing toward Cangzhou.

My little brother is twelve now. I wonder if he's joined Iron Sword Martial Arts School to practice martial arts.

I wonder if my little sister has been behaving, and if our parents are doing well.

How are Brother Qingshi, Master, and my senior brothers and sisters?

Chen Qinglin decided to go back and visit them.