No matter how the world outside clamored, Liu Yunche remained in the pavilion, honing himself.
Concealed Edge scraped against the Sword-Sharpening Stone with a soft rasp.
What Liu Yunche did not know was that a woman in her early thirties was watching him with keen interest from a nearby treetop.
Qinglü, High Cultivator, came every day. She watched Liu Yunche train without fail, moving from the Thunderclap Saber Art to Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, then to the Dragon-Imprisoning Stance and the Skin-Locking Method.
She saw every bit of Liu Yunche's progress.
In particular, when he used the Sword-Sharpening Stone to hone his Blade Intent, he never made a sound, no matter how much it hurt. He gritted his teeth and endured it alone.
"Excellent resolve. He's a fine prospect."
She stopped concealing herself and appeared atop the tree.
Liu Yunche's head snapped up. A woman in a palace dress was walking down from the treetop.
Walking down. There was no other word for it.
A lotus bloomed beneath each step, and faint ripples visible to the naked eye spread through the air under her feet.
Liu Yunche stared, momentarily stunned. When he came to his senses, he knew he had encountered a formidable expert.
At the very least, he had never heard of a Blood-Qi Warrior who could walk on empty air and make lotuses bloom with every step.
Liu Yunche rose and hurried forward, cupping his fists in salute. "Greetings, Senior."
Qinglü, High Cultivator, nodded slightly and regarded him with a faint smile.
Unsure what was happening, Liu Yunche asked, "Senior, you are..."
Qinglü, High Cultivator, sat down in the pavilion and smiled. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking someone else's name?"
Liu Yunche fell silent.
"Junior Liu Yunche greets you, Senior."
The moment Qinglü, High Cultivator, took her