The Advancing Eldest Senior Brother

Lu Wu-bing was exchanging pleasantries with Wu Yunchong.

Several more figures came racing down the mountain path.

The leader had a face like polished jade, a tall, slender build, and a longsword on his back. Holding a wreath of purple flowers, he laughed heartily. "Junior Sister, look what your senior brother brought you!

"The purple azaleas at Jade Terrace on South Peak have bloomed. Knowing how much you love them, I picked some and braided them into a flower wreath. See if you like it?"

His brows were finely shaped, his spirits high. Between his laughter and words lay an indescribable carefree abandon, as though no worry in the world could weigh upon his heart.

"That's right. When Eldest Senior Brother heard Junior Sister was coming back, he spent all night preparing. For this bundle of flowers, he even fought that fellow Shen Wanjian from Gold Jade Hall and enraged that sister-obsessed lunatic until he howled. Shen Xinzhu must be crying herself to death now."

Following close behind the slender young man was a lean, sallow-faced youth, waggling his brows as he joined in the teasing.

Lu Wu-bing noticed that a yellow-haired dog with a narrow waist followed at his feet. A longbow was slung across his back, and a quiver hung at his waist.

Thus, he knew that the one who had spoken first was Celestial Star Peak's Eldest Senior Brother, Yue Lingfeng.

And this dog-owning man, born into a hunter's family and skilled in archery, was Sixth Senior Brother Yuan Fei.

At that moment, the yellow dog let out a low, rumbling growl from its throat, staring fixedly at Mao Mao in Lu Wu-bing's arms with wary eyes.

It even seemed to show a trace of fear.

The fur around its neck had risen...

Mao Mao, however, reacted completely differently from the big yellow dog. After one glance, it could not be bothered to pay any attention.

Instead, it gave a tiny sneeze, half-closed its eyes, and continued sleeping.

Besides Eldest Senior Brother and Sixth Senior Brother,

there was also a round-faced, round-bodied young man who looked blessed and prosperous among those who had rushed down the mountain.

He was looking over with a beaming smile.

The other person beside him had a waist like a wasp and arms like an ape, looking sturdy and fierce. She was a woman.

She stood eight feet tall, with a burly frame and bulging muscles on her arms.

Lu Wu-bing's eyes went slightly blank at the sight.

What a King Kong Barbie.

The plump youth was Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Dexing. Born into a grain merchant family with enormous business holdings, he had always eaten and drunk well.

Senior Sister Xiaolan had said that he also had an exceptionally good temperament; one could scarcely ever see him get angry.

As for that tall and sturdy female disciple, there was no need to ask. She had to be Seventh Senior Sister Lin Wenjing.

Hearing that name, one would think she was very quiet and refined.

But looking at her, there was no way she could be all that quiet.

The moment she opened her mouth, her voice boomed like a great bell. "If I'd known Junior Sister would encounter danger on her way back to the mountain, I would have gone with her. At the very least, I could have killed a few bandits."

As she spoke, she swung the broad sword in her hand. It gave off dull whooshes, its killing intent chilling.

It seemed she had inherited her master's wife Qin Huaiying's mantle and had not fought with few people.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother."

Ouyang Lan accepted the flower wreath with a smile. Yet unlike before, she did not joyfully put it on her head. Instead, she smiled with slight embarrassment. "This trip was somewhat dangerous, but it also greatly broadened my horizons. Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, there is no need to worry.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Lu Wu-bing, Junior Brother Lu, Master's newly accepted personal disciple. His talent is extraordinary, and his swordsmanship..."

"Cough, cough!"

As though the mountain wind had caught in his throat, Lu Wu-bing coughed softly. He stepped forward two paces and smiled. "Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. This junior brother has only just entered the sect, and his cultivation is very shallow. I hope you will all offer me much guidance in the future."

"Don't worry. This is precisely what Eldest Senior Brother does best... His talent for swordsmanship is extremely high.

"The rest of us have all received much guidance from Eldest Senior Brother. When the time comes, I'll accompany you in sword practice."

Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Dexing said with a beaming smile.

Clearly, this senior brother, who looked more like a businessman than a swordsman, had already keenly sensed the subtle emotions in the air.

Eldest Senior Brother had brought flowers and happily come down the mountain to welcome Junior Sister home.

Yet Junior Sister did not seem to like it all that much.

Instead, she was enthusiastically introducing the newly arrived Junior Brother.

Especially the way she looked at Junior Brother—her eyes shone like flowing light. Though she tried every means to conceal it, she could not hide the closeness and warmth within.

This is bad!

If he had known, he would not have followed them down the mountain to welcome her.

Fourth Senior Brother was so embarrassed that his toes nearly dug out an entire Starry Hall. He hurriedly laughed to smooth things over.

After saying that, he saw Eldest Senior Brother smiling so stiffly that the muscles in his face were twitching, and added, "Perfect timing. There's still an empty little courtyard beside my Grain Rain Residence. Junior Brother can live there, and we can keep each other company and chat in our spare time."

"Your place has people coming and going all day. There's never any peace and quiet; Junior Brother may not like it. He might as well live in Orchid Fragrance Courtyard next to mine, where no one will disturb him."

Seventh Senior Sister Lin Wenjing also extended an invitation.

There was an unreadable look in her eyes. She did not look at Lu Wu-bing, but at Ouyang Lan instead.

She too had noticed the strange atmosphere.

Ouyang Lan herself gave it no further thought. Hearing this, she smiled. "Junior Brother, what Seventh Senior Sister said is quite right. There are even medicinal herbs planted in Orchid Fragrance Courtyard beside her residence.

"Your family has a deep heritage in this field. When you have time, you can try growing some useful flowers and herbs, so you won't be bored."

"Xiaolan, come with me... Wu-bing and Wenxiu, get settled first. That will be all for now."

Qin Huaiying did not say much. After casually making the arrangements, she took Ouyang Lan up the mountain.

She had many things she wished to ask her daughter.

The senior brothers and sisters quickly agreed.

As Ouyang Lan followed her mother up the mountain, she continued giving instructions. "Seventh Senior Sister, find Junior Sister Wenxiu a quiet guest room, preferably on Gazing Sky Cliff. Junior Brother, familiarize yourself with the surroundings first. Once you've washed away the dust of the road, I'll practice swordsmanship with you."

Practicing swordsmanship with Junior Brother every day had long become a habit.

Along the way,

while Ouyang Lan's swordsmanship had advanced by leaps and bounds... she had also become addicted to that feeling of utter concentration, meeting every move with a corresponding counter.

In her eyes, Junior Brother's gaze was sharp and viciously precise, able to spot the flaws in her swordsmanship at a single glance.

Moreover, his attacks were swift and ferocious...

The pressure he created was like a true fight to the death.

That was excellent.

So much so that several sword moves in her repertoire had quietly progressed from the Skilled Realm to the Proficient Realm.

In the past, this would have been utterly unimaginable.

Thus, having an excellent sword-practice partner to cultivate alongside, advance together, and compete with each other was even more important than finding a good master.

A master could lead one through the gate, but cultivation depended on the individual.

Individual talent varied in height, and methods of cultivation differed, resulting in cultivation speeds as far apart as heaven and abyss.

And Ouyang Lan had keenly noticed that gap.

These words had been perfectly normal.

Yet to the other senior brothers and sisters, they struck like five bolts of thunder.

Especially Eldest Senior Brother Yue Lingfeng. He lowered his eyes slightly, his smile so stiff that the muscles around his lips were beginning to ache.

What ached even more was his heart.

He looked around, then slapped his forehead. "Right! Shopkeeper Wang of Shuofang Pavilion came asking for help. He said his employer lost several treasures and suspects [Moon-Snatching Star-Plucking Hand] Gong Wuying was responsible.

"If we catch that flying thief, not only will there be a substantial reward, but there is also a Jade Lake Hairpin among the items that can serve as a gift of thanks. It would be perfect to bring back for Junior Sister. Xiaofei, are you coming?"

"Let's go together. I want to see just how capable this flying thief is, daring to use the name Wuying. Does he not know the prestige of our Celestial Star Sect's Shadowless Sword?"

Sixth Brother Yuan Fei chuckled. He casually glanced at Lu Wu-bing, as though wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing. He followed Eldest Senior Brother and turned to head down the mountain toward the city.

From afar, they could still hear him shouting noisily, "That fellow Shen Wanjian of Gold Jade Hall has gotten his hands on a batch of Hundred Flower Brew, rich and fragrant. Why don't we go have a taste first?"

"Is that so? Hurry, hurry! At the very least, we need to intercept a few jars."

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