Yin Qingyi

Lin Xuan pushed open the door and found an unfamiliar young girl standing outside.

"Who are you?" Lin Xuan thought for a moment and realized he did not know this girl.

"E-Excuse me, can you repair weapons?" the girl asked, her face red. "A senior brother from the Mission Hall sent me. He said only you could fix it."

"Chen Dazheng?" Lin Xuan understood at once. More contribution points to earn!

"Come in," he said with a smile.

The girl stepped into Lin Xuan's little room with dainty, lotus-like steps, her face flushed. Once inside, she stood there nervously, her small hands not knowing where to go, so she could only clutch the hem of her clothes tightly.

Let me see your weapon. Lin Xuan sat down, looking like he was ready to get serious about work.

The girl handed over the long sword at her waist, then watched anxiously with her pair of black-jewel eyes unblinking, afraid she might miss something.

Lin Xuan examined it carefully and discovered that this was no ordinary longsword, but a treasure-grade weapon. Its interior was engraved with inscriptions, though they had now become blocked.

"A treasure-grade weapon?" It seemed this girl was no ordinary person.

The next moment, he seemed to think of something and said inwardly, "Drunken old uncle, the time has come for you to shine!"

"Little Xuan, what are you plotting against this lord again?" Wine Lord said bluntly.

"Hehe, don't you know the Sword-Nurturing Technique? Why not teach me?" Lin Xuan said.

Wine Lord rolled his eyes. "Don't you boast all day about being a Sword Pool Prefecture disciple, claiming your weapon-nurturing skills are excellent? Why are you interested in my methods now?"

Lin Xuan grumbled inwardly. Since this girl possessed a treasure-grade weapon, her identity was surely special. He did not want to repeat what happened with Elder Fang and expose his identity through his weapon-nurturing methods, but he would not tell Wine Lord any of that.

"Didn't you call yourself peerless with the sword? Don't tell me it was all a lie?" Lin Xuan curled his lip.

"Nonsense! Brat, you dare doubt this lord?" Wine Lord knew exactly what Lin Xuan was after, but he still said indignantly, "I'll show you what true weapon-nurturing techniques are!"

Though Wine Lord's voice brimmed with anger, inwardly he was blooming with delight. Haha, Little Xuan, inherit this lord's mantle and carry forward this lord's Inscription Art!

"Listen well. My Inscription Art can not only nurture weapons. Once you master it, you can even raise a weapon's grade. Forging artifacts itself may not be impossible either!" Wine Lord began imparting his ultimate art.

Seeing Lin Xuan remain silent for so long, the girl's heart sank. She asked softly, "Senior brother, can it be repaired?"

Lin Xuan seemed not to hear her and continued lowering his head without a word.

The girl's little face fell. She bit her finger and was just about to gather the courage to ask for her longsword back when she saw Lin Xuan begin to move.

His slender fingers danced, tracing strange runes across the longsword. From time to time, he flicked the blade lightly, making it ring with a crisp chime.

Lin Xuan's movements were exceptionally agile. Every gesture seemed to carry an indescribable divine charm that made one sink into it, unable to pull free.

After a long while, Lin Xuan flicked the longsword again and completed the repair. The girl also snapped out of her daze, staring at Lin Xuan with a crimson face.

"It's fixed." Lin Xuan handed her the longsword. "Thirty contribution points."

"Ah?" The girl froze, then understood. Her face turned even redder, like a ripe red apple.

"I-I..." The girl rubbed her little hands nervously. "I don't have that many contribution points."

"How about I owe you first and pay you back once I've gathered enough?" the girl said quietly.

Lin Xuan frowned slightly. Did I guess wrong? She's not some rich second-generation heir?

The girl's expression did not seem feigned, so Lin Xuan smiled. "I was joking. Free service, no charge!"

"Really?" Joy lit up the girl's flushed face. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Stop calling me Senior Brother. My name is Lin Xuan. What about you?"

"Yin Qingyi," the girl said softly.

"Yin Qingyi..." Lin Xuan was slightly stunned. "Are you from the Azure Robe Society?"

"N-No, it's just the same name," the girl said, clearly startled.

"If your longsword has problems again, come find me. Free service," Lin Xuan said with a smile.

Yin Qingyi secretly glanced at Lin Xuan, and a smile appeared on her little face as well. She thanked him again, then left.

Lin Xuan stood outside the door, smiling as he watched Yin Qingyi's retreating figure. Just as he was about to head back in, a disciple beside him suddenly teased, "Brother Xuan, if you can't bear to let her go, chase after her!"

"Chase your sister! She came here to repair her weapon!" Lin Xuan laughed as he cursed.

"Damn! Brother Xuan, you can repair weapons too?" Nearby neighbors poked their heads out. These youths were all independents who had joined no faction, but they greatly admired Lin Xuan, and over the past few days, they had grown familiar with him.

"Brother Xuan, take a look at mine!" Someone brought out his weapon.

Lin Xuan welcomed everyone. It was a perfect chance to familiarize himself with Wine Lord's Inscription Art. He found that Wine Lord's methods were highly unique, not the usual mainstream approach, but their results were astonishingly good.

"Uncle, I never expected you really had some skill!" Lin Xuan praised inwardly.

"Little Xuan, call me Master! This lord has passed all his unique ultimate arts to you!" Wine Lord said angrily.

Lin Xuan: ...

Within a few days, most of the people in the residential area knew that there was a youth in cabin number 25 of the South District who could nurture weapons. Quite a few disciples came seeking him out by reputation.

Three days before the inner sect selection tournament, a large group of youths arrived imposingly outside Lin Xuan's cabin number 25.

"Damn! They're disciples from the East District!" the nearby disciples murmured.

The East District was different from the South District. The South District was a commoners' area, where everyone had a little cabin packed close together, with nothing else besides. The East District, however, was a place only disciples with money and influence could live.

They had independent courtyards with dedicated training rooms, and some were even assigned Bamboo Forest Guards. It was something these ordinary youths could never imagine.

This group of youths escorted a girl to Lin Xuan's cabin, their faces full of arrogance.

"Lin! Get out here, now!" one youth shouted.

After shouting several times, they found that the cabin before them showed no reaction at all. The youth snorted coldly and shoved open the door.

The room was empty, without a single person inside.

"Are you looking for Brother Xuan?" Lin Xuan's neighbor to the left, Ding Xiaopang, said. "Wait a while. Brother Xuan will probably be back around noon."

"What? You want us to wait for him?" These people said disdainfully, "Kid, are you close with this Lin Xuan? Hurry and find him. Our time is precious!"

"Brother Xuan left early this morning. I don't know where he went either," Ding Xiaopang said quietly.

"Fuck you! If we tell you to find him, go find him. Why so much nonsense?" The youth slapped Ding Xiaopang across the face.

Ding Xiaopang was sent flying by the blow. He clutched his face, tears welling in his eyes from the pain.

"What right do you have to hit someone?" The nearby youths could no longer stand it.

"Oh? You want to rebel?" This group of youths said disdainfully. "Coming to your South District is already giving you face. This Lin Xuan actually dares make us wait for him? He's courting death!"

"What right do you have to hit people? What right do you have to insult Brother Xuan?" The youths refused to accept it. They were all at the age when their blood ran hot, so naturally they could not endure such treatment.

"What, not convinced?" the youth said with a smile. "Get them! Beat them until they're convinced!"

At once, four or five East District youths pounced forward...

That morning, Lin Xuan had gone to Elder Fang's place to repair several weapons and earned quite a few contribution points. Humming a little tune as he returned to the South District, he found that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Usually at this time, this group would have run out to discuss martial arts with him. Why had no one come out today?

Just as he was wondering, he heard a startled cry: "Brother Xuan is back!"

Thanks to Wuhui Wuchang for the recommendation votes!