"Very well." Su Moyan rose, her figure graceful, commanding. "I cannot let a beautiful child wander unfamiliar lands alone. You will have shelter here. And I will teach you to cultivate—"
Her voice paused as Loubing lowered her head and carefully presented a manual, its faint glow spilling between her fingers.
Su Moyan's eyes lingered on the text, and a smile curved her lips.
"And alchemy too, I see…"
True Scripture Of The Pill Dao? Moyan smiled, this girl might just be the second Li Mingzhu and she could not wait to see it happen.
"I'll accept you as my disciple." Su Moyan declared at last, her voice ringing with finality. "So rise, Loubing. You are no longer a stray.."
Loubing's throat tightened, her hands pressing the glowing scripture close to her chest before tucking it away. She bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master."
Su Moyan's lips softened into a faint smile. "Enough of this solemnity. Come, let us head inside. A house may be empty, but tea can still be brewed."
They entered the modest residence, the faint scent of herbs and sandalwood drifting from within. Su Moyan's movements were unhurried as she set water to boil, her sleeves brushing the counter though not a sound was heard.
Loubing, sitting quietly, tilted her head. "Master… why do you live here all alone? Don't you like being around people?"
Su Moyan chuckled lowly, the sound warm yet touched with weariness. "It is not that I dislike company. But there are… persistent forces that prefer I be somewhere else. Hiding here saves me the trouble of entertaining them."
She poured the steaming water into a pot, letting the leaves unfurl. Her gaze flickered, distant for a moment. "To be exact… there is one person I am hiding from. A man who refuses to let me be. Hmph. A small spat turned into two years of silence."
Loubing blinked, lips parting in disbelief. "A man?"
Su Moyan only smiled knowingly, handing her a delicate cup of tea. "Drink up. The bitterness will fade on your tongue, and you'll taste the sweetness beneath."
They sat across from one another, steam rising between them. After a sip, Su Moyan leaned forward slightly, her eyes intent.
"Now then, Loubing. Tell me about yourself. I would know what kind of disciple fate has delivered to my door."
The tea smelled faintly of herbs, but it only made the bitterness in Loubing's chest sharper. She sat stiffly, her cup untouched.
"My parents…" Her voice caught for a moment. "They disappeared when I was a child. One minute we were all together, the next, they were just… gone. After that, I was alone."
She lowered her gaze, but her words cut like glass.
"In the Heavenly Realm, that's all it took. Without parents, without backing, I was easy prey. I went to the schools, sat through the same lessons as everyone else, tried to cultivate… but no matter what I did, the Qi wouldn't flow. I was slower, weaker. And that was all it took for them to bully me.."
Her nails dug into her palms until they stung.
"They shoved me around like I was a dog. Called me trash in the streets, spat in my food, broke my tools, laughed while I struggled in the dirt. Teachers turned their eyes away, after all, who wastes time on a child who can't even sense Qi? They told me I was worthless, that my parents left because I shamed them. Maybe they're right."
Ye Feng frowned, he knew that wasn't true, he knew her parents treasured her.
Her shoulders trembled, but her voice rose, edged with fury.
"I wanted to scream, to fight back. But I couldn't. Every time I tried, they beat me until I couldn't stand. I swallowed it. All of it. Every insult, every kick, every humiliation. I swallowed it until it burned holes in my chest."
She finally raised her head. Her eyes glimmered, not with tears, but with a fire that refused to die.
"I swore… I swore if I ever gained strength, I would never kneel again. I would crush them. Make them choke on the words they threw at me. When I return to the heavenly realm, I will burn it all to the ground..."
The silence after her words felt heavy, as though the air itself held its breath.
Su Moyan set down her cup, her gaze steady, sharp as a blade yet warm enough to cut through the chill.
"So.." she said slowly, "they spat on your food, mocked your name, called you useless, trash… and you burned with anger all the while."
Loubing's nails dug into her palm. "Yes. They humiliated me at every turn. Even when I said nothing, they looked at me like filth. Like I didn't deserve to breathe the same air."
Moyan's lips curved, not in pity, but in sharp approval.
"Good. Keep that anger. Mold it into steel. If you are stronger, no one will dare look down on you. If you can refine pills, cut down your enemies, and climb the Dao step by step. Who will dare spit on you again?"
Her voice deepened, laced with quiet command.
"But listen well, Loubing. Power does not mean you can become like them. The weak are not your prey. Bullying those beneath you only wastes time and stains your hand with rot. But your enemies?" A small smile ghosted across her lips. "Your enemies, you beat them into the ground until they kneel or never rise again."
The fire in Loubing's chest roared at her words. She raised her head, her voice low, trembling with conviction.
"I won't be weak again. I'll make them choke on the name they mocked."
Su Moyan leaned back, satisfied. "That's the spirit I want to see in my disciple. Remember, Loubing — cultivation is not for the timid. It is for those who dare."
Loubing eyes darkened, she would be the best, she would surpass these so-called peerless geniuses.
Su Moyan's smile softened, the sharp edge of her words giving way to a gentler air.
"Enough heavy talk for today. You've just arrived, you look half-starved, and you're wearing clothes that don't fit. Come, let's head into town. You need food in your stomach and proper clothes on your back."
Loubing blinked. "Clothes?"
Moyan's gaze swept over her, then she chuckled, a playful glint in her eye. "Well, you can't wear mine. Our… body differences would make it a very awkward fit."
Her eyes flicked deliberately to Loubing's flat chest.
Loubing froze. "…!"
A flush crept up her neck, her fists balling. "T-That's unnecessary!"