"Draw the blade?"
Watching Jiang Xiaobai and the others leave, the old sweeper slowly walked out of the Collection Pavilion, surprise on his face.
"He can draw that blade without reaching the ninth level of Hidden Edge Force?"
While the Elder was puzzling over this, a figure in a white dress descended from afar, lightly touching down on tiptoe outside the Collection Pavilion.
"Oh, it's you, lass!"
A smile appeared on the Elder's face when he saw the visitor. "What a rare treat. You actually found time to come and see me!"
Chu Qingci looked slightly awkward at that and murmured an acknowledgment.
Seeing Chu Qingci's reaction, the Elder paused, then glanced in the direction Jiang Xiaobai had gone. His smile deepened. "So... I was just an afterthought?"
"Yes!"
Chu Qingci hesitated, but still nodded gently.
"..."
The Elder froze, then couldn't help laughing. "You're a fine lass in every way, but sometimes you're far too blunt!"
Once his laughter subsided, the Elder looked toward where Jiang Xiaobai had gone again and said slowly, "Still, that lad really is something!"
"I've been all alone for so many years. Never did I imagine... that at this late stage, I'd take him as my disciple!"
"Huh?"
Disbelief immediately spread across Chu Qingci's face. "You took him as your disciple?"
"Mm!"
The Elder nodded slightly and sighed, leaning on his broom. "That lad has a sharp eye!"
"By all rights, he shouldn't have been able to sense the power of transformation perfection within me at all."
"Yet... the moment he saw me, he opened his mouth and asked to become my disciple!"
At this point, the Elder chuckled again. "Heh, this young fellow... is rather interesting!"
Listening, Chu Qingci's lips stirred faintly. "You really can't judge him by ordinary standards!"
"What..."
Noticing the