As you wish

Earlier, Liu S sui had returned to the little courtyard to read the introductory Method Formula. He read with great care and concentration, and soon memorized everything in it.

The setting sun had yet to disappear when he began tempering his body according to the book's instructions.

First came various postures, followed by lunges and backbends, and finally a set of fist techniques.

The fist techniques were not difficult, but they required him to exert force continuously. After keeping them up for even a little while, he found it extremely difficult to breathe and could not continue at all.

Just as he was about to give up, his chest and abdomen suddenly stirred, and his breathing fell into a peculiar rhythm that perfectly matched the force of his punches!

That breathing rhythm was indeed peculiar, sometimes long and drawn out, sometimes rapid. It seemed to follow no pattern at all, yet Liu S sui was familiar with it. Otherwise, he could not have used it.

It was the breathing method Jing Jiu had taught him in the little mountain village.

Even now, he did not know this breathing method was called Jade Gate Breath. But though he appeared simple and clumsy, he was actually clever, and knew very clearly what this meant.

Jing Jiu said nothing and glanced at him.

Liu S sui understood what he meant and hurriedly stood up.

Back at the village entrance, a single glance had told Jing Jiu that he was an innate Dao Seed, one in ten thousand. Otherwise, he would not have chosen him.

Over the past year, Jing Jiu had taught him nothing more, passing on only the most basic Jade Gate Breath.

Though basic, it was extremely important. Liu S sui's Dao Seed had been protected very well. As long as the people of the Green Mountain Sect were not blind, they could not possibly overlook it.

But Liu S sui had discovered its wonders in just half a day, which somewhat exceeded his expectations. The boy's comprehension was actually better than he had imagined.

"You don't need to thank me," Jing Jiu said. "You taught me things too. It was only an exchange."

Liu S sui thought, How could chopping wood and cooking possibly compare with cultivation?

Jing Jiu added, "Cultivation requires concentration and a quiet mind. The stewards will take care of the chores in the courtyard. You don't need to keep thinking about coming over."

"Young master, don't you want me anymore?" Liu S sui asked urgently.

Jing Jiu disliked noise and raised a hand to stop him from saying more. He glanced at the courtyard outside the window and found it quite spacious; sweeping it really would be troublesome. Nor did he want strangers handling his personal affairs.

"Then do as you wish."

Green leaves fell with the wind, then drifted downstream with the creek.

Time flowed like water, and soon more than ten days had passed.

The Outer-Sect Disciples at South Pine Pavilion cultivated diligently day and night without pause. Not one dared relax.

All across the cliffside terrace, young disciples could be seen tempering their bodies, some holding squatting stances, some leaning against pines, and still more practicing their punches.

From dawn to dusk, the sounds of punches never ceased, nor did the shouts. Though it was early summer, leaves rustled down from the trees, and the birds in the woods had even less peace.

In the places where the wind from the punches blew strongest, faint wisps of white vapor could already be seen rising.

Master Lü was quite satisfied as he watched these scenes. He thought that by the end of the three-month period, more than half the disciples should successfully enter the Initial Realm.

Just then, Liu S sui walked out of the sword hall.

Master Lü was even more satisfied at the sight of him. A smile on his face, he thought that the boy truly deserved to be called an innate Dao Seed and had indeed lived up to expectations.

By his judgment, Liu S sui would enter the Embracing Spirit Realm in another few days at most. At this rate, the boy really might reach perfection in the Embracing Spirit Realm in another year.

If South Pine Pavilion could produce a genius disciple who entered the inner sect within a year...

Thinking of Senior Brother Meng, now on Shangde Peak, his yearning grew ever stronger.

Had he not been lucky enough to encounter Zhao Layue, how could Senior Brother Meng have enjoyed such fortune?

Master Lü's gaze followed Liu S sui. When he saw him enter that little courtyard, his smile abruptly vanished, and he frowned.

That courtyard belonged to Jing Jiu.

Neither he nor the Outer-Sect Disciples knew what Jing Jiu had done over the past ten-odd days.

After noon, they would see Jing Jiu lying in the sun on a Bamboo Recliner. No one knew where that Bamboo Recliner had come from either.

Master Lü increasingly felt that he had misjudged him.

But what truly displeased him was not Jing Jiu's inadequacy. It was that, even now, Liu S sui still regarded himself as Jing Jiu's study attendant, or rather, his servant.

Liu S sui seemed entirely unaware of the importance the sect and the immortal masters placed on him, or the respect of his fellow disciples. Just as he had in the little mountain village, he continued tending to Jing Jiu's daily needs.

Besides cultivating hard every day, he also had to go to that little courtyard and do a great many chores.

Whenever they saw this, Master Lü and the disciples alike found it utterly absurd, and naturally grew very displeased with Jing Jiu.

According to the Green Mountain Sect's rules, or rather its customs, they rarely interfered with the cultivation of Outer-Sect Disciples. But the thought in Master Lü's heart grew stronger and stronger, until he could barely suppress it.

He did not want that youth, who had nothing but a handsome face, to hold back the Green Mountain Sect's most promising genius.

He wanted to find a suitable opportunity to separate this master and servant. He was even considering whether he should find a reason to expel Jing Jiu from the sect.

Late that night, when all was quiet, Liu S sui returned to his own courtyard. He pushed open the door and entered, only to see Master Lü standing inside.

He was a very clever boy and soon guessed why the immortal master had come. His face grew somewhat pale.

Seeing the change in his expression, Master Lü said, "It seems there's no need for me to say much."

Liu S sui pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Master Lü had not expected him to be so stubborn. In a grave voice, he said, "Cultivators disregard fate and look down upon all living beings. How can they be servants to others?"

With his head lowered, Liu S sui said, "The young master has shown me great kindness. I must repay him."

Master Lü frowned. "I don't care what entanglements you had with him in the mortal world. Now that you have come here, everything in the past must be severed with a single stroke of the sword. Our Green Mountain Sect cultivates the way of the sword and holds a sword's heart. Do you lack even that much resolve?"

Liu S sui kept his head lowered, his voice trembling slightly. "If you drive the young master away, Immortal Master, then I won't cultivate anymore either."

Master Lü felt a flicker of anger at these words. Cultivation was the dream of countless mortals in this world, yet the boy would give it all up for someone else?

But in the next moment, the anger in his heart turned to faint admiration. Was Liu S sui's resolute choice not also in accord with the Green Mountain Sect's way of the sword?

Looking into Liu S sui's eyes, Master Lü said, "I will respect your wishes and won't force him to leave. But you must understand that you are a true genius of cultivation, far above that young master of yours. Whether or not you can adapt to this change, it has already happened. One day, he will no longer be able to keep pace with you. You will part amid the clouds and mist, never to meet again. I only hope he won't hold you back too much before then."

With that, he left the little courtyard.

Liu S sui raised his head, his small face looking somewhat bewildered.

A moment later, he looked toward the neighboring courtyard, shrouded in darkness, and hesitated.