From Today On, I'm Your Master

In Dead End Alley.

The bun shop owner panted, hands braced on his knees, as he glared at the little beggar girl before him. "Run! Aren't you so good at running? Go on, keep running!"

Knowing she couldn't get away, the little beggar girl unfolded the dirty cloth and wolfed down the buns.

She'd eat as much as she could.

"You're still eating, are you? I'll break your legs!"

The bun shop owner strode toward her.

The closer he got, the faster the little beggar girl ate.

Gripping his rolling pin, the bun shop owner swung it hard at the little beggar girl's head.

She squeezed her eyes shut and curled up into a ball.

But to her surprise, the pain never came.

The little beggar girl opened her eyes and saw a handsome young man in fine clothes holding the bun shop owner's hand.

Xiao Mo looked at the trembling, scrawny beggar before him. "What's going on?"

"Who are you? Why stick your nose into my business? She stole my buns! And she's done it several times! I'm going to teach her a lesson!" the bun shop owner snapped angrily.

Xiao Mo released the owner's hand and tossed a few pieces of silver into his arms. "Will this be enough?"

The bun shop owner froze for a moment, then hurriedly nodded. "Enough, enough!"

"Little brat, you're lucky!" After cursing a few times, the bun shop owner left the alley.

The little beggar girl stared at the young man standing before her. She swallowed, clasping her small hands tightly over her chest.

Xiao Mo crouched down and smiled at her. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. What's your name?"

"Jiang Qingyi," the girl replied timidly.

"Mm, that's a lovely name. Would you like to come with me?"

"Come with you?"

"That's right. I want to take on a disciple, and I think you'll do nicely. If you come with me, you'll get to eat your fill every day. What do you say? Want to think about it?"

The girl looked at the half a bun left in her hand, as if pondering the offer.

At last, she looked up at Xiao Mo, her gaze earnest. "I-I'll go with you!"

"Good." Xiao Mo smiled and nodded. "My name is Xiao Mo. From now on, I'm your master. Let's hear you say it."

"Master."

"Mm."

After bringing Jiang Qingyi up the mountain, Xiao Mo took her to receive a disciple token and the Dragon Spring Sword Sect's women's uniform.

Back at his peak, Xiao Mo told Jiang Qingyi to take a bath and change into clean clothes.

When Jiang Qingyi stood before Xiao Mo again, his eyes lit up.

Before, Jiang Qingyi had looked like a little boy, with short hair and mud and dust all over her.

But after she washed up and put on a dress, she really did look quite the part.

Xiao Mo tossed Jiang Qingyi a wooden sword. "Starting today, you'll learn swordsmanship from me. The sword art I'll teach you is called the Grass Character Sword Art. To master it, you need to practice both the formula and the moves. You'll practice the moves during the day, and at night I'll teach you to recognize the characters and memorize the formula. Don't slack off. Is that clear?"

The Grass Character Sword Art was the sword art Avatar Xiao Mo practiced. Every move and gesture was etched into Xiao Mo's mind.

Xiao Mo even wondered if he might be able to practice the Grass Character Sword Art in the real world after he left.

Jiang Qingyi hugged the wooden sword tightly. "Yes, Master."

"Follow along. First stance."

For the next half a month, Xiao Mo taught Jiang Qingyi swordsmanship every morning, starting as soon as the sky grew light.

Jiang Qingyi studied seriously and worked hard.

But without an Innate Sword Bone, she learned at a snail's pace. Her aptitude could only be called "poor."

Another half month passed, and Jiang Qingyi still hadn't mastered the first stance of the Grass Character Sword Art.

"Master... Am I stupid?"

One day, Jiang Qingyi clutched her wooden sword and asked dejectedly.

"Who said you were stupid?" Xiao Mo asked, sitting in the courtyard with a cup of tea.

Jiang Qingyi quickly shook her head. "N-no one, Master."

Xiao Mo looked at Jiang Qingyi and spoke calmly. "Come here."

Jiang Qingyi swallowed and slowly walked up to her master.

"Qingyi, you're not stupid at all." Xiao Mo gently patted Jiang Qingyi's head. "There's a saying: all things are difficult at the beginning. We don't need to rush. We'll take it slowly. Don't overthink anything. Just focus on doing your best. Understand?"

"Mm-hmm!" Jiang Qingyi nodded.

Encouraged by her master, the girl regained a little of her confidence.

After that, Xiao Mo often bought spirit beast flesh for Jiang Qingyi to eat.

Jiang Qingyi's progress remained slow.

A month and a half had passed, and Jiang Qingyi still hadn't even crossed the threshold of cultivation—Qi Refining Layer One!

One day, Xiao Mo went down the mountain to buy wine. He couldn't help overhearing a few outer disciples talking:

"That disciple Elder Xiao took in has no Root Bone at all. I wonder why Elder Xiao accepted her."

"It's been a month and a half already, and she still hasn't reached Qi Refining Layer One."

"Damn, aren't my talents better than Jiang Qingyi's? Even I haven't become an elder's disciple!"

"Hahaha! Xiao Mo usually looks down his nose at everyone. I can't wait to see that girl get beaten black and blue at next year's Dragon Spring Sword Sect New Blood Martial Arts Competition!"

Just as they were drinking and talking, Xiao Mo walked up to them.

"Fellow Daoist, what's the matter?" A burly man turned to ask when he saw Xiao Mo.

"Nothing. I just don't like hearing you talk about my disciple that way."

With that, Xiao Mo kicked them in the stomach.

The burly man flew ten meters away.

After teaching them a lesson, Xiao Mo returned to Linggan Peak as if nothing had happened.

By the time Xiao Mo reached the mountaintop, it was already late at night.

Beneath the moonlight, a girl was still practicing her sword.

Her movements were clumsy, but she was so very determined.

"Qingyi." Xiao Mo softly called the girl's name.

"Master." Jiang Qingyi put away her wooden sword and ran over to him.

"You're still awake?" Xiao Mo patted her head.

"Master, Qingyi couldn't sleep, so she wanted to practice some more," Jiang Qingyi said softly.

Xiao Mo smiled. "It's good to work hard, but you need to balance work and rest."

Jiang Qingyi shook her head firmly. "It's okay, Master. I'm not tired."

Looking at the girl, Xiao Mo's eyes held a hint of complicated emotion, but he didn't stop her. "All right. Practice for one more incense stick at most, then go to bed. Understand?"

"I understand, Master. Master, make sure you get plenty of rest too." Jiang Qingyi nodded.

Xiao Mo turned and walked back to his wooden house.

Watching her master's retreating figure, Jiang Qingyi pursed her lips and clenched the sword in her small hands.

Just as her master was about to enter, Jiang Qingyi called softly, "Master."

"Mm?" Xiao Mo turned around.

Beneath the moonlight, the girl's eyes rippled like a clear spring, pure and gentle. "I won't let you down at the sect's New Blood Martial Arts Competition!"

Xiao Mo froze for a moment. Then the corners of his mouth lifted, and he nodded with a smile.

"All right."