"Phew~"
Blowing away some of the heat, Wu Qingce lifted the teacup and took a sip.
"Hiss... As expected of tea brewed by Senior Brother—its color is clear orange-red, its orchid fragrance drifts like a gentle breeze, its full flavor is pure and rich, its poetic smoothness... its mellow aftertaste leaves a lingering fragrance between the teeth and cheeks, ten flavors..."
"Enough." Jiang Beiran waved a hand and cut him off. "Aren't those all words I taught you? What are you showing off to me for? Is it good or not?"
"Superb!" Wu Qingce nodded with utmost seriousness.
"Here, take these." Jiang Beiran tossed two paper packets in front of Wu Qingce.
"These are...?"
"The tea leaves you're drinking. When you go back, remember to drink a cup after every meal."
Wu Qingce looked utterly confused after hearing that.
"They're for detoxification. As long as you eat poison, this tea will immediately make you throw it up."
"Senior Brother thinks someone will poison me?"
"It's better to be cautious. You've now become the number one disciple in JB District, and Chaotic Star Hall will certainly divert a large amount of resources toward you. By then, your fellow disciples may not necessarily remain close to you. You know Luo Bei from True Martial Hall, right? He took first place in the hall's external trial two weeks ago, and now he's bedridden."
"Ah?" Wu Qingce was startled at first, but he immediately accepted the tea leaves and cupped his hands. "Yes, thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
When he had first entered the Returning Heart Sect, Wu Qingce had truly believed in the words "mutual trust." He had thought that being able to enter the same sect and join the same hall meant they had cultivated brotherly fate in a previous life, and that they should naturally get along well.
But over the past four years, he had witnessed far too many troublesome matters, so he had gradually begun to align himself with Jiang Beiran's way of survival.
"And this. Try it and see whether it suits your hand." As he spoke, Jiang Beiran placed a black Cloth Bag before Wu Qingce.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Knowing that anything made by Senior Brother was bound to be a fine product, Wu Qingce decisively thanked him first before opening the Cloth Bag.
"Empty?" Seeing that there was nothing at all inside the bag, Wu Qingce could not help asking.
"Reach inside and feel around, and you'll know. Also, be careful while you're feeling around."
Hearing Jiang Beiran's words, Wu Qingce cautiously reached his hand inside.
"They're darts!"
The instant he touched the contents of the Cloth Bag, Wu Qingce knew what he had found.
"That's right. These are Shadowless Darts I forged some time ago—formless and soundless. Take them back and practice properly."
"Senior Brother, you're far too incredible... I've never even heard of darts like these. Not even my father has any."
Wu Qingce took a Shadowless Dart from the Cloth Bag and examined it again and again before barely managing to make out its outline. If they were used for a sneak attack, the opponent would have no way to guard against them.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Wu Qingce, who had been obsessed with darts since childhood, immediately stood and bowed deeply to Jiang Beiran. His admiration had reached its absolute peak.
"Alright, sit down. Tell me what new things happened at this tournament."
Sitting back down with delight, Wu Qingce straightened his back and reported, "Many elders from other sects came this time. Blue Banner, who led us, also said that the major sects of JB District are placing more and more importance on this Martial Arts Tournament."
Jiang Beiran merely gave a disdainful smile after hearing that. Such a fine competition was far too wasted on a bunch of old men. Unfortunately, the time was not yet ripe. Otherwise, I would let the people of this continent see what true competition really was.
Wu Qingce then began describing his mental journey toward claiming the championship, repeatedly mentioning one name: "Zhou Guican."
"This Zhou Guican is truly formidable. If Senior Brother hadn't taught me how to fight opponents who are very fast, I nearly would have fallen to him."
Oh? Has he also reached the Ninth Stage Peak? Jiang Beiran asked.
"Yes. In terms of cultivation, he and I are neck and neck. At most, he's only a tiny bit below me."
Jiang Beiran could not help pondering this. Wu Qingce's cultivation had progressed so quickly over the past four years because he had consumed quite a few of Jiang Beiran's pills. For Zhou Guican to be neck and neck with him in cultivation, he was at the very least a Key Cultivation Target within his sect, and his talent had to be exceptional.
Silently committing Zhou Guican's name to memory, Jiang Beiran took out an envelope after hearing Wu Qingce's report and tossed it to him. "These are the materials you need to help me find next month."
"Yes!" Catching the envelope, Wu Qingce gladly accepted the order.
"Mm, then go back. I still have things to do."
"Senior Brother... I... have an unreasonable request. I don't know whether I should say it."
"Oh, then don't." Jiang Beiran waved his hand.
"..."
Although he had spent so long with Jiang Beiran already, Wu Qingce still could not get used to his senior brother's way of speaking without following any conventional script.
"Senior Brother, please let me say it..."
"Sigh..." Jiang Beiran let out a breath. "What is it?"
"I recently learned a new set of moves, and I would like to ask Senior Brother for some pointers."
"Pointers? You sound quite confident. Fine, I'll exchange a couple of moves with you. Come on."
After saying that, Jiang Beiran stood and walked to the Open Space nearby.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!" Wu Qingce hurriedly cupped his fists toward Jiang Beiran, then walked to face him and assumed a stance.
"Senior Brother, excuse me!"
With a loud cry, Wu Qingce somehow produced six Crescent Flying Daggers in rapid succession and threw them one after another toward Jiang Beiran. He then drew the Azure Edge Sword at his waist and launched an assault alongside the flying daggers.
Wu Qingce's entire offensive was astonishingly swift. In the blink of an eye, he had already reached Jiang Beiran, unleashing the newly mastered move, Hundred Flowers Dazzling, at the same time.
"Too slow."
As Jiang Beiran spoke, he pinched Wu Qingce's Azure Edge Sword between two fingers. With a sweep of his left hand, he seized every one of the Crescent Flying Daggers attacking him from six directions.
"..."
After roughly a second of silence, Wu Qingce silently released the sword hilt, walked over to a purple bamboo stalk, and crouched down.
"Don't pull that act. I won't comfort you. Get up already."
Knowing that his senior brother meant what he said, Wu Qingce was miserable beyond measure, but he still forced himself to stand and cupped his hands toward Jiang Beiran. "My Senior Brother is Invincible!"
Handing the Azure Edge Sword and six Crescent Flying Daggers back to Wu Qingce, Jiang Beiran commented, "The idea behind this move is good—you wanted to use attacks from multiple angles to disrupt your opponent's judgment. But you're simply too slow. And why do you insist on standing still to throw darts? Wouldn't it be more effective if sword and darts struck together?"
Wu Qingce's face immediately flushed red. "I... I still can't do that."
"Then why did you tell me you'd mastered it?"
"..."
"It is this junior brother's lack of skill that has made a fool of himself! I'll go back and practice it another eight hundred times!" With that, he bolted out of the Purple Bamboo Forest as if fleeing for his life.
"Be careful not to wander into the Formation Technique again on your way out, or I'll dock a month of your pills."
"Got it~" Wu Qingce's voice drifted back from the distance.
Hah, winning one championship has made this kid swell up like a balloon. If I praised him twice more, wouldn't he fly straight into the sky? Stick discipline suits him better.
After thinking that, Jiang Beiran shook his head and returned to the room, sitting once more before the Alchemy Furnace.
PS: Sorry, my hands slipped... and it turned out so short again.
But it will definitely get longer! Please give me a little time!
Before you continue