Heaven Dou Empire, the imperial capital.
Skywater Academy.
A room somewhere.
"Teacher, is there really no way to cure the poison in Yue'er's body?"
A young woman dressed in ice-blue clothes, with ice-blue eyes,
stood by the window.
Beside her stood a middle-aged man.
At that moment, both of them were looking at the girl lying on the bed.
At that moment,
her breathing was somewhat slow.
Her jade-white feet were flawless.
Her face was deathly pale.
"This is poison from the stinger of an Ice Jade Scorpion from the Far North."
"Five apothecaries have already come."
"There's no use searching any further..."
The teacher from Skywater Academy shook his head.
An Ice Jade Scorpion.
And one that lived in the Far North.
Even if there were an apothecary who could cure the poison,
they would have to go to the Far North in person and find an Ice Jade Scorpion to use as the medicinal catalyst.
"Bing'er, how about..."
The teacher hesitated, but before he could finish,
Shui Bing'er turned around. "No! I won't give up on my sister."
Their parents had passed away first.
She and her younger sister had depended on each other.
Her sister could be mischievous and naughty at times,
but looking at Yue'er before her, her face deathly pale,
and seeing how her life was about to slip away,
she couldn't bear it.
She shook her head.
"Keep posting notices throughout Heaven Dou. I hope we can find the best physician in the entire Heaven Dou Empire to come and treat Yue'er!"
As Skywater Academy's greatest genius,
she held a very special position.
She had the influence
to make Skywater Academy use all its resources on her behalf.
Meanwhile,
elsewhere,
after many days,
he had finally made his way from the empire's southwestern region
to the imperial capital.
As he entered the imperial capital,
he happened to pass by the notice board of an academy.
"Skywater Academy?"
"I've long heard that Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy is a genius."
"In her future battle against Tang San, she'll steal the show!"
At the thought of this,
a plan came to Yu Xiaolong.
"Perhaps she can help me complete this beginner's quest."
The first quest
was to take on his first disciple.
And Shui Bing'er was a Soul Master in this world with an exceptionally strong talent for ice attributes.
At present,
Skywater Academy was in need of help.
Naturally, he wouldn't let this opportunity pass him by.
"Treat an illness? Shui Yue'er..."
Looking at the request on the notice,
Yu Xiaolong's lips curled upward.
He took down the notice.
Skywater Academy.
Inside a room,
everything was quaint and elegant.
In the plaza stood buildings that looked like ice sculptures.
Their ice-blue hue made them seem as though they belonged in a world of ice and snow.
They were exquisitely beautiful.
The entire academy was filled with women,
all of them in the bloom of youth.
A woman led Yu Xiaolong inside.
Along the way, many girls noticed him.
He took a look at himself.
He was already thirty-five years old.
Yet he'd still managed to enter this garden of beauties.
"Shui Bing'er, someone has accepted the notice!"
"Who!?"
"Quick, bring them to see me."
Shui Bing'er sprang to her feet
and ran out without looking back.
The weighty fullness of her chest swayed slightly.
"Sir, are you certain you can heal my younger sister?"
Shui Bing'er met Yu Xiaolong.
Yu Xiaolong was dressed in black.
He had a short, crew-cut hairstyle.
His style was much like that of his elder brother, Yu Xiaogang.
The only difference
was that his features were more sharply defined,
and his gaze was much more piercing.
He kept his expression blank. "Of course. That won't be a problem, but..."
"But what?" Shui Bing'er was taken aback.
It was clear
that although Shui Bing'er looked to be seventeen or eighteen,
she conducted herself with great composure
and grace.
There wasn't the slightest flaw to pick out.
"I have one condition."
"What condition?"
Making terms with Skywater Academy's greatest genius
was, frankly, surprising.
But Shui Bing'er remained calm.
She didn't get angry.
For the sake of her younger sister's life,
she was patient and polite.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaolong spoke indifferently. "I want you to take me as your master!"
"What?"
"Become your disciple?"
That request
was beyond anything Shui Bing'er had imagined.
She had expected this man to demand some expensive item.
Gold coins?
A Soul Tool?
Any number of things.
But she had never imagined he'd only ask her to become his disciple!?
"What? Unwilling?"
Yu Xiaolong asked.
From beginning to end, he never let his expression change.
Facing Shui Bing'er,
a genius who was peerless among her peers,
he considered her nothing but a good-for-nothing!
I'm giving you this chance.
You'd better seize it!
Shui Bing'er also noticed the man's arrogance
and utter disregard for everyone around him.
She pondered for a moment.
Her talent had never depended on a teacher.
She had made it this far
entirely through her own efforts!
If this gentleman
could truly save Yue'er,
then becoming his disciple was no problem.
"All right."
"Sir, but you have to save my younger sister first."
Shui Bing'er agreed without hesitation.
However, Yu Xiaolong raised a hand.
Then he said, "Become my disciple first."
What kind of joke was that?
Only after she became his disciple
could he obtain the skill card [Spirit Feather Healing].
Only with [Spirit Feather Healing]
could he save someone.
"Okay." Shui Bing'er froze.
She took a deep breath.
She agreed.
She actually agreed.
Yu Xiaolong hadn't expected it either.
Things had gone so smoothly.
If this had been some other gifted young genius,
they would probably have thrown him out on the spot.
That was a genius's pride.
But Shui Bing'er was different.
Though she looked like an eighteen-year-old girl,
her mind was remarkably mature.
When it came to major matters, she could handle herself.
"Sir, I still don't know your name."
"My surname is Yu. My given name is Xiaolong."
Yu Xiaolong clasped his hands behind his back.
He stated his name.
His expression was cold.
Shui Bing'er clasped her fists. "Teacher Xiaolong, Shui Bing'er pays her respects to you!"
As he watched her bow and pay her respects,
he raised both hands. Beneath her ice-blue scarf,
her wrists emerged, fair as snow.
[Ding] [Apprenticeship successful] [Shui Bing'er has become your first disciple] [You have received a reward: Spirit Feather Healing] [You have received a reward: Aquarius Star Dragon Martial Soul]
A series of reward notifications appeared.
Yu Xiaolong helped Shui Bing'er to her feet.
His fingers touched Shui Bing'er's wrist.
It felt soft to the touch.
Her icy, crystal-clear skin felt silky smooth.
At his age, Yu Xiaolong could still touch such youthful flesh.
His eyes twitched.
"Teacher Xiaolong, can we go treat Yue'er now?"
Shui Bing'er looked at Yu Xiaolong.
Though she seemed composed,
she was extremely anxious inside.
Shui Bing'er tried her best not to seem so impatient.
Yu Xiaolong said, "Of course. Take me to see your sister."
With that,
led by Shui Bing'er,
the two of them entered a room.
The room was decked out in gold and jade.
Its entire decor resembled an icy palace.
A girl lay on a soft, warm jade bed.
She looked to be about fifteen.
Her fair face was pale and weak.
Her lips had a faint greenish tinge.
"Teacher Xiaolong, my sister was poisoned by an Ice Jade Scorpion. Could you..."
Shui Bing'er couldn't help speaking up.
Yu Xiaolong raised a hand, cutting her off.
Before you continue