Jia Ruo accompanied Yi on four more visits to pay respects like this, and he also learned the vines' origins.
Jia Ruo's heart clenched. If it had been him, he would have started a huge fire to burn the mountain down long ago, then left this place of sorrow.
He wouldn't have had the courage to return again and again to the place where all his fellow disciples had fallen. He wouldn't have had the courage to walk over and over through the ruins that held all their memories, much less face the departed souls of his compatriots.
Even as an outsider, every time he finished paying his respects at the graveyard, with its hundreds of tombs, the desolation weighed on him until he could hardly breathe.
The weather turned colder. Ionia had entered winter, but snow had yet to fall in Baruo County, in southern Ionia. Only the morning fog had grown thicker by the day.
Amid the dense fog, Yi and Jia Ruo were washing up by the river, as they did every morning.
"Master, why do I feel like my Mana has grown quite a bit, but my strength and speed haven't improved much?" Jia Ruo crouched by the river, scooped up a handful of clear water, and splashed it over his face.
"Look at this river. What does it bring?"
"Um... rushing water?"
Yi shook his head. "The water eventually flows into the sea, then falls as rain and gathers into rivers again."
"What it truly brings is life."
Astonishing force suddenly surged from Yi. The dense fog around them was swept away from him in every direction, revealing the vegetation along the riverbank.
"Mana is like this river. It merely passes through your body. Even if you widen its banks, the Mana will eventually flow back into the world and circulate endlessly. You must use it to nourish the life within you, so that you can fully contain and wield it. Of course, that requires a special method."
"Then, what should I do?"
"Don't rush. I'll teach you tomorrow." Yi straightened his robe. "Today, come with me one last time."
Jia Ruo had been training under the Sword Saint for another month and six days.
16
11
7
2
Four more numbers had appeared on Yi's scroll.
At last, the day he'd been waiting for had come.
Yi and Jia Ruo climbed the mountain again. This time, the Sword Saint told Jia Ruo to bring You Meng. Whenever he taught Jia Ruo basic sword techniques, he usually had him practice with a Wooden Sword he'd carved himself.
Jia Ruo replaced the Wooden Sword at his waist with You Meng without asking any questions. He knew Yi must have a particular reason for it, and all he had to do was obey.
If Yi wanted him to know something, he would find out soon enough. If Yi didn't, there was no need to ask.
By the time they reached the mountaintop, the enormous vines had become capable of twisting rapidly, like living creatures. Sensing life approaching, they lashed out and coiled toward them.
Yi casually cut them into countless pieces. The severed vines didn't wither at once, though. They writhed on the ground for a few moments before gradually falling still.
Yi paid them no mind and calmly walked into the graveyard.
The ritual was the same as before. Near dusk, they reached the last three tombs.
"Master Doran, Ima, Ibe..."
For the first time, Jia Ruo heard Yi's voice tremble.
"Please forgive Yi for his unfilial disrespect."
He bowed nine times before the graves, each bow landing with a thud.
"Jia Ruo, come here."
Yi's voice returned to normal. He reached down and drew You Meng from Jia Ruo's waist.
In this blessed land of Ionia, there were many Martial Arts Sects. With Magic Power abundant, experts and geniuses emerged in droves. As a result, the sects all carried themselves with arrogance, and they constantly competed with one another.
After centuries of constant sparring, few had lost their lives, but the rifts between the sects had gradually deepened, further discouraging any exchange between them. Ionia's leaders weren't as united as people imagined.
The old Wuji Sect had been even more extreme. They prided themselves on living apart from the world, hiding behind Wuji Village with the aloof bearing of immortals who had risen above the mortal realm.
As a result, the old Wuji Sect's requirements for taking disciples had been incredibly strict. For one thing, they accepted only people from Wuji Village.
But after the Noxian invasion and the fall of the Wuji Sect, Yi believed it was time for the Wuji Dao to change. True Wuji lay in embracing all and learning from everyone.
Yi held You Meng horizontally in both hands and said, "Kneel."
At his words, Jia Ruo seemed to guess what was about to happen. He knelt facing the tombs.
"I ask you: once you have learned the Wuji Dao, will you remain true to your original purpose and cultivate yourself toward goodness?"
"This disciple will."
"Good. If you encounter someone unarmed and suffering unjustly, will you show compassion to the weak?"
"This disciple will."
"If you encounter someone who abuses their strength and acts with impunity, will you have the courage to draw your sword against the strong?"
"This disciple will!"
Yi nodded, raised his voice, and declared, "Today, I ask all my compatriots to bear witness as I take Jia Ruo as my disciple and pass the Wuji legacy on to him!"
Then he looked at Jia Ruo. "Bow."
Jia Ruo kowtowed nine times to all the graves in the cemetery, then nine times to Master Yi.
"Master!" After his final kowtow, Jia Ruo straightened up and called out to Yi. He'd spent every day pestering Yi to take him on as a disciple as soon as possible, but now that the moment had finally come, he wasn't as excited as he'd expected.
"Originally, after joining the Wuji Sect, Master Doran would have crafted a sword just for you. But You Meng is a good fit now." As he spoke, Yi handed You Meng to Jia Ruo.
Jia Ruo accepted it with both hands, then stood up. As he sheathed You Meng, he asked, "Can I use You Meng to practice sword techniques from now on?"
"Suit yourself. I was only worried you might hurt yourself."
"Then... I'd better stick with the Wooden Sword for now." Jia Ruo gave an awkward smile and scratched his head.
"Go down the mountain first. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you the Wuji techniques. I'll also take you to meet Wukong, your senior brother." Yi said, "I still have something to do."
"Then I'll head back first, Master. You... please take care."
He had already guessed what Yi intended to do.
That night, Jia Ruo lay in the little hut and watched the mountaintop blaze with firelight. "Master said we're setting out tomorrow to find my senior brother, Wukong," he told Neeko.
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