Tale of an Ordinary Cultivator

By the time Zhao Yunxiao and Jun Chuan arrived at Lightwind Pavilion, Gu Qiansi was already there.

Just like Zhao Yunxiao, Gu Qiansi was no stranger to Jun Chuan.

The three of them quickly settled down in the pavilion, sitting around a freshly brewed pot of tea made from special tea leaves that Jun Chuan had brought in from outside of the sect.

Upon their requests, Jun Chuan started sharing his experiences during his recent trip.

“I’m telling you, I almost couldn’t make it back alive this time,” Jun Chuan said agitatedly. “I always thought that people are exaggerating the tales about Bloodwind Forest, but I couldn’t be more wrong! I hadn’t even entered the forest itself when I came face to face with this monster that can probably kill any inner disciple with a single swipe of its paws! If not for my quick wits, I would have died to it for sure!”

“Are you certain about that? How do you beat something that can kill an inner disciple with a single swipe of its paws?” Zhao Yunxiao questioned.

“Of course I can’t beat it!” Jun Chuan said. “That’s why I immediately turned and ran, luring it to a place where I saw a large group of gentle monsters earlier. It probably chased me for a hundred of kilometres, but once it caught sight of the fatter meat, it naturally lost interest in me. That is quick wits right there!”

“I don’t know whether to believe you or not,” Zhao Yunxiao said frankly while Gu Qiansi just chuckled. “By the way, you mentioned that you have been to the Origin Lake Sect previously?”

“That’s right, and I revisited there this trip too. What about it?” Jun Chuan asked.

“Sounds like you are indeed the right person to ask then,” Zhao Yunxiao felt slightly more assured. “The thing is that I am currently interviewing to join Elder He’s work trip to the Origin Lake Sect. In case I get selected, I would like to understand more about the sect itself so that I can make the necessary preparations.”

It was not as though Zhao Yunxiao had never left the sect grounds.

In fact, he left the sect grounds quite often not just for hunting, but also to take up various sect missions.

But it was especially because of his experience that Zhao Yunxiao appreciated the importance of doing proper research on the places that he would be going.

Only by doing so could he prepare himself for any otherwise unforeseen circumstances, increasing both the success rate and efficiency of whatever he had set out to accomplish.

“That’s true, it’s almost time for Elder He’s annual trip to the Origin Lake Sect,” Jun Chuan remarked. “Well to be honest, you don’t have much to worry about. As our subordinate sect, members of the Origin Lake Sect look up to us quite a bit. Their attitude towards me is quite good even when I visit alone. Considering the fact that you will be visiting with Elder He, you will probably receive the highest level of treatment while you are there!”

“That’s good to hear,” Zhao Yunxiao nodded. “What about the terrain and culture? How are they like compared to us?”

Just like that, Jun Chuan slowly answered Zhao Yunxiao’s questions about the Origin Lake Sect one by one.

The terrain and geography.

The history and legends.

The culture and practices.

People who were friendly and those to look out for.

Zhao Yunxiao asked about everything he could think of, while Jun Chuan similarly answered to the best of his abilities.

Gu Qiansi simply sat there and listened, only chipping in once in a while whenever an interesting topic came up for discussion.

“Thanks for the information, I will keep all that in mind,” Zhao Yunxiao was finally satisfied after asking questions for hours.

The sky was still bright when they started, but it had already turned dark by now.

“Here is a map of the Origin Lake Sect that I have secretly made. Memorise it well and return it to me after,” Jun Chuan said while passing over a scroll.

“Thank you, Senior Martial Brother Jun. I will make sure no one else sees this,” Zhao Yunxiao received the scroll and promptly kept it away in his bamboo backpack.

The terrain and geography of a sect were sensitive information that could be used against them in times of war.

Therefore, leaking such information about a sect was greatly frowned upon.

If not because of their close ties, Jun Chuan would never reveal the fact that he had secretly made a map of the Origin Lake Sect grounds.

“If you really want to thank me, there’s something that you can do for me,” Jun Chuan said.

“Oh? What is it?” Zhao Yunxiao asked. “I have to say beforehand that I am no match for Senior Martial Brother Sun. If you want someone to deal with him, then you are asking the wrong person.”

“Can you stop rubbing it in?” Jun Chuan felt the corner of his lips twitch.

“What happened with Senior Martial Brother Sun?” Gu Qiansi asked.

“Don’t ask. It’s a pain,” Jun Chuan answered with a sigh.

“I will tell you later,” Zhao Yunxiao said before turning back to Jun Chuan. “What else do you need help with if it’s not about Senior Martial Brother Sun?”

“It’s nothing difficult as well,” Jun Chuan said. “In the event that you do get chosen to go on this trip, help me send my regards to a young lady named Xia Wei. She’s an inner disciple of the Origin Lake Sect – someone I got to know during my latest visit.”

Zhao Yunxiao and Gu Qiansi immediately narrowed their eyes at Jun Chuan.

“...What is it?” Jun Chuan got a bad feeling from their stares.

“I always thought you travel around for the sake of gaining experience and wealth. I never thought that you have just been spending your time preying on innocent young girls,” Gu Qiansi shook her head in disappointment.

“How disappointing, Young Noble Child Predator,” Zhao Yunxiao shook his head as well.

“Rude little brats, Xia Wei is older than both of you!” Jun Chuan could not help but curse. “Just because you don’t have cultivation partners, don’t be jealous of someone who is about to get one!”

“Did you pretend to be someone of status in front of her?” Zhao Yunxiao continued to eye Jun Chuan suspiciously.

“Why do I need to pretend when I am indeed a member of the Black Tortoise Sect?” Jun Chuan clicked his tongue. “If you are going to continue being like this, return the map to me!”

“This map alone is not enough to bribe me,” Zhao Yunxiao shook his head, though he showed no signs of returning the map.

“So what happens if I add this?” Jun Chuan retrieved a scroll from his wooden chest.

“What is that?” Zhao Yunxiao asked.

“A more detailed record of everything that I have told you just now, and more,” Jun Chuan said. “You can call it the records of the Origin Lake Sect!”

“I will make sure that Fairy Xia Wei’s impression of Senior Martial Brother Jun rise to the sky after the visit!” Zhao Yunxiao immediately stretched out both hands.

“That’s more like it!” Jun Chuan smiled in triumph while placing the scroll in his outstretched hands.

Gu Qiansi: “...”

It did not take long before Lu Zhiying joined them at Lightwind Pavilion after her dance lesson.

Once again, she looked to be in a bad state after the intense lesson, which drew frowns from Jun Chuan.

But after hearing from the dishevelled Lu Zhiying that she actually enjoyed the lesson from Leng Huiqi, Jun Chuan could not help but change his impression about this new junior martial sister.

He was much better travelled as compared to the others, and had seen plenty of different people.

Because of that, he was much more acceptive towards Lu Zhiying’s behaviour, understanding that there were all sorts of people in this world.

The group did not stay for much longer, heading to the canteen for dinner before returning to their residences.

It was a rather uneventful day, but they knew that the next day was going to be a big day for Lu Zhiying.

Therefore, Zhao Yunxiao and Gu Qiansi did not want to drag the night out, wanting Lu Zhiying to get as much rest as possible so that she could be in her peak condition the next day.

Zhao Yunxiao spent the night in meditation, and morning quickly arrived.

Before heading to the canteen, Zhao Yunxiao started looking through the map and scroll that Jun Chuan had passed him the day before.

Even though he had yet to be selected for the trip, Zhao Yunxiao decided to study everything in advance.

This way, at least he would not have to rush through everything in a hurry after knowing the results.

And should he end up not being selected in the end, this was still information that could prove useful one day in the future!

There was not enough time to go through everything in a short amount of time, but Zhao Yunxiao was not too worried.

After all, he still had time to slowly digest this information.

Seeing that it was almost time, Zhao Yunxiao put down the scroll, packed his bamboo backpack, and left for the canteen.

***

“Look at that excited look on your face,” Gu Qiansi teased. “I know that you are not feeling nervous, but you are looking a little too excited! Remember, you need to relax and calm your mind to achieve the best results later.”

“I know, I know,” Lu Zhiying nodded in a perfunctory manner. “I will relax when it’s about time!”

This was a big day for Lu Zhiying.

Today, she would be forming her spiritual meridian root and selecting her sect job.

Between the two, the former was an important milestone that effectively marked an individual taking their very first step onto the cultivation path.

Considering that, it was only natural that Lu Zhiying would be excited.

“You can relax, but don’t relax too much to the point of speaking carelessly either,” Zhao Yunxiao reminded. “Carefully think it through before saying anything.”

“What do you mean, Senior Martial Brother Zhao? I always think through my words carefully!” Lu Zhiying retorted.

“If this is the result of thinking it through, then maybe you should just not say anything whenever possible,” Zhao Yunxiao replied.

“Hey! That’s not nice!” Lu Zhiying complained.

“It’s important. The last thing you want is to end up offending those who will be helping you with forming your spiritual meridian root,” Zhao Yunxiao added. “Understood?”

“Fine...” Lu Zhiying agreed with a sulk, obviously unhappy about the matter.

“And are you heading back to the garden plot?” Zhao Yunxiao turned towards Gu Qiansi.

“Mm,” Gu Qiansi nodded.

“Really? Isn’t it taking a little too long?” Zhao Yunxiao asked. “Do you need any help? Want me to drop by later?”

“There’s no need for that. We can still manage something like that,” Gu Qiansi shook her head. “Or are you still eyeing our materials?”

“It really is hard to be a nice person,” Zhao Yunxiao sighed. “But if you really do have extra materials left over, maybe you can consid-”

“No, we bought just the right amount,” Gu Qiansi shut him down even before he could complete his sentence.

“Fine...”

Just like that, for the first time since Lu Zhiying joined the sect, the three of them split up and headed for three different destinations after breakfast.

Lu Zhiying went to the Inner Grounds where she was supposed to report for the formation of spiritual meridian root along with other new disciples.

Gu Qiansi went to continue her work of creating the barrier around her herb garden plot.

As for Zhao Yunxiao, his destination today was the Forge, where he had to report for his weekly rostered duty.