Chapter 40

"You don't have to tell me, either. I don't want to know just yet. But I do know that over the next while, you'll face some unpleasant things."

"Sir-"

"Don't speak yet." Ye Fu interrupted her. "I'm only your teacher, so I can't interfere too much. Whatever you have to face, you must face it, no matter what. But because I'm your teacher, I can't bear to see your wings broken before they've fully grown."

Ripples of color shimmered in Qu Hongxiao's eyes.

"You'll have to work even harder over the next few days. I hope you can bear it," Ye Fu said softly.

"Hongxiao can bear it," Qu Hongxiao murmured, lowering her eyes.

Ye Fu smiled and handed her the book and the pear-tree branch he was holding.

"Sir, what does this mean?"

"Close your eyes."

Qu Hongxiao was a little puzzled, but she closed her eyes at once.

Ye Fu let out a small breath and thought, There are only five days left. You came for the grand event in Black Stone City, so you can't miss it. But taking part in your current state would be pointless.

Once Ye Fu opened his mind, he could clearly sense the presences lying dormant in every corner of Black Stone City, shining like stars. Qu Hongxiao had originally been among the brightest of them, but now her light had dimmed.

I understand the law of the strong preying on the weak in this world of cultivation, but I don't like it.

That was what Ye Fu thought.

He breathed out and said, "Over the next while, finish reading this book."

Qu Hongxiao looked at the book in her hands. It was called "Clear Breeze." It was the most common book in this world, and she had already read it countless times. Why was Sir asking her to read it again? Though puzzled, Qu Hongxiao didn't ask.

"Think of the pear-tree branch in your hand as something to relieve your fatigue," Ye Fu said.

Before Qu Hongxiao could speak again, Ye Fu gave a slight stamp of his right foot. A gentle breeze swept past, and Qu Hongxiao vanished from the courtyard in an instant. At the same time, a strand of divine sense attached itself to the pear-tree branch in her hand and went with her.

Ye Fu looked at the spot where Qu Hongxiao had disappeared and murmured, "I hope you can bear it."

He knew that in five days, Qu Hongxiao had to take part in that grand event in Black Stone City, even though he saw no need for it at all.

But Qu Hongxiao had come to Black Stone City for that very reason, so Ye Fu respected her wishes. As her teacher, he naturally couldn't stand by and watch her take part in her current state, so he had to give her some extra lessons.

The most direct way was to restore her to form.

For Ye Fu, this was actually very simple. He could simply give her a direct infusion of power. But that was no different from pulling up seedlings to make them grow, and Ye Fu naturally wouldn't do something that would drain Qu Hongxiao's foundation.

The copy of "Clear Breeze" he had given Qu Hongxiao to study had been revised and rewritten by Ye Fu. When he remade it, he had added some Vast Righteous Qi.

Every character Qu Hongxiao read would subject her to the impact and cleansing of Ye Fu's Vast Righteous Qi. For Qu Hongxiao, this was no different from having every meridian in her body shattered and reforged. The process was exceptionally painful, which was why Ye Fu had repeatedly said he hoped she could bear it.

To keep Qu Hongxiao's soul from being torn apart the moment she read a single character, however, Ye Fu had added only a trace of Vast Righteous Qi. If he had put all his Vast Righteous Qi into it, even Ye Fu didn't know how powerful it would be. But considering that a mere "The Master said" had previously summoned the image of a sage, one could imagine.

Ye Fu could imagine that for Qu Hongxiao, the next five days would each feel like a year, and she would endure unimaginable pain. It was impossible for him not to feel for her; she was his first student, after all.

But this was a road she had to walk, and Ye Fu had merely helped her walk it sooner.

Ye Fu gently stroked the pear tree and said with a smile, "I broke off a branch without asking your permission. Please don't blame me."

The pear tree trembled slightly, its blossoms in full bloom.

The branch he had given Qu Hongxiao was merely Ye Fu's last resort, meant to protect her soul.

He stood in the courtyard for a while longer, watching Qin Sanyue sweep it spotless inside and out. Only then did he come back to his senses and hurry off to make breakfast.

Qu Hongxiao felt a gentle breeze blow over her, and then her vision went black and she fainted.

When she woke again, she found herself in a valley.

The valley was beautiful and full of vitality, with the breath of life flourishing everywhere. In such surroundings, Qu Hongxiao felt much more relaxed. After resting for a moment, she took a closer look at the book and branch Ye Fu had given her.

When she turned her gaze to the branch, a strand of consciousness rushed into her mind.

"Hongxiao, it's your teacher. There's no need to wonder where you are or to worry. Rest assured, the place you're in is very safe. There are many things I can't explain to you, and I hope you won't blame me. In any case, spend the next five days here reading. It may be very painful, and I hope you can bear it."

As soon as the words ended, the strand of consciousness dissipated completely.

Qu Hongxiao bit her lip and stared at the pear-tree branch in her hand for a long time before letting out a regretful sigh.

She no longer wanted to guess who Sir really was.

She simply felt that she truly wasn't worthy of being the Mortal Realm Walker, and that she had caused Sir a great deal of trouble.

Without dwelling on self-reproach, Qu Hongxiao quickly composed herself and took a careful look around the valley.

The valley was like a mountain range cut straight across, with sheer cliffs on either side rising so high that their tops were out of sight. Yet a faint light fell from above, illuminating every corner of the valley.

She walked forward.

After passing through a patch of grass, she saw a simple wooden cabin beside a stream in the woods.

She went up to it, pushed the door open and entered.

The inside was just as plain, containing nothing but a table, a bed, a stool and a windowsill.

This must be where I'm to read.

Qu Hongxiao wasted no more time. Sir had mentioned five days, so she knew that he was already aware of her purpose in coming to Black Stone City.

She went over and sat down on the stool. Looking up, she spotted a red ribbon on the windowsill. As a woman, she recognized at a glance that it was a ribbon girls used to tie their hair.