She rejected him for this trash?
A cold glint flashed in Sword Venerable Changyuan's eyes as he grew increasingly convinced that this female disciple named Yu Lanqing was utterly ungrateful.
Sect Master Yunhai looked at Yu Lanqing and asked once more, "Have you made up your mind?"
Yu Lanqing nodded solemnly, her tone resolute. "Elder Shen is transcendent and detached from worldly affairs. I have long admired him and wish to cultivate under his guidance!"
The gazes of the elders followed Yu Lanqing's reverent eyes to the man dozing off in the grand chair, struggling to discern any trace of "transcendence" or "detachment" in his appearance.
This girl Yu Lanqing must have truly lost her mind after being provoked by Sword Venerable Changyuan!
Just listen to this nonsense she's spouting!
But no matter how distraught she was, this was still the main hall of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, where the most esteemed figures of the sect were seated.
Once words were spoken here, there was no room for regret.
A fleeting trace of pity flashed in Sect Master Yunhai's eyes before he waved his hand. "Very well. Since your mind is made up, step forward and pay respects to your master."
"Thank you, Sect Master." Yu Lanqing clasped her hands and bowed sincerely to Sect Master Yunhai.
Then she strode toward the left side where Shen Huaizhuo sat, stopping only when she reached the steps directly in front of his chair.
With a loud *thud*, she knelt firmly on the ground.
"Disciple Yu Lanqing pays respects to Master!"
Her voice was clear and resonant.
The sound startled Shen Huaizhuo, who had been slouching in his chair, jolting him upright.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw a slender figure in green robes kneeling rigidly before him.
Upon closer inspection...
Hm?
Wasn't this the little disciple hailed as the most talented sword cultivator since Changyuan a few years back?
Ah, right. Today was Changyuan's emergence from seclusion.
It should have been the day for this disciple to formally pledge herself as his student.
But the problem was—shouldn't she be kneeling before Changyuan?
Why was she here in front of him?
"Unnecessary, unnecessary. Though my seniority is higher, 'Elder Master' will suffice. No need for such grand gestures."
A gentle breeze wafted from Shen Huaizhuo's fingertips, attempting to lift the kneeling figure.
Yet the knees pressed against the jade floor seemed glued in place.
He couldn't raise her at all!
The elders in the hall averted their eyes, too embarrassed to acknowledge that Shen Huaizhuo was one of them.
This... was just too humiliating.
Not only had he been caught napping in the main hall, but even a casual spell had been effortlessly countered by a disciple who had only joined the sect five years ago.
If not for Shen Huaizhuo's indisputable seniority, they would never admit this man was also a peak master of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect!
"Disciple Yu Lanqing pays respects to Master!"
Yu Lanqing remained composed, repeating her words with the same unwavering clarity.
Shen Huaizhuo's eyes widened in shock. He pointed at her, then at himself. "Me?"
"You want to take me as your master?"
"Yes." Yu Lanqing lifted her gaze to the now fully awake man.
His moon-white robes were slightly disheveled from sleep, his hair loosely tied, adding to his carefree demeanor.
A stark contrast to the dignified elders around him.
But Yu Lanqing knew better.
This seemingly unremarkable, indolent man was, in truth, a person of rare integrity.
In her past life, during a joint sect competition, she had earned the highest score and won a Jade Marrow Bone-Tempering Pill as a reward. Yet her master and several elders had pressured her to surrender it to Ji Fuyao, who supposedly "needed it more."
When everyone sided with Ji Fuyao, accusing her of selfishness, it was this man who had rubbed his eyes, sat up from his nap, and defended her so fiercely that the elders were left speechless.
Later, when she overheard her master's harsh evaluation of her and was drowning in bitterness, it was this man who had snapped her out of it with his sharp words.
He mocked her for acting like a servant, putting everyone on Lingxiao Peak before herself, and thus deserving to be overlooked.
He told her that life was meant to be lived freely—for oneself.
Yet, back then, she had been too consumed by her obsession to prove herself superior to Ji Fuyao. She failed to grasp the wisdom beneath his sarcasm and wasted his kindness.
In the end, she died beneath the blades of her master and Ji Fuyao.
And this man had vanished even before her demise.
She remembered the day she had planned to share the news of forging a sword bone, only to find Qingzhu Peak desolate.
Upon inquiry, she learned he had been ambushed while treasure-hunting, trapped in an ancient ruin. His life token in the sect had cracked, and he was never seen again.
Yu Lanqing had intended to leave the sect after the competition to search for him.
But fate had other plans—her life ended abruptly during that very event.
No chance left to find him.
But now, reborn, she had a second chance.
This time, she would become his disciple outright!
With her watching over him, she would ensure he never fell victim to schemes or disappeared.
A way to repay his guidance from her past life.
As their eyes met, Shen Huaizhuo saw a myriad of emotions in her bright gaze—gratitude, regret, even sorrow and pity.
Most of it baffled him.
But one thing was unmistakable: determination.
This disciple wasn't joking. She truly had no interest in Changyuan.
She wanted *him* as her master.
How bizarre!
His first instinct was refusal.
Taking a disciple meant endless trouble.
Especially one as talented as this.
Greater talent meant faster cultivation, more to learn, and thus more guidance required.
Had Qingzhu Peak lacked disciples all these years because he was unqualified?
Of course not. Even if the best were reserved by the sect master, he could have taken mediocre ones easily.
After all, he was the last living disciple of the previous Profound Heaven Sword Master. In seniority, even Yunhai and Changyuan had to address him as "Elder Master."
Had he never taken a disciple because he couldn't?
No—because he didn't *want* to!
Having stolen this lifetime of leisure, he refused to waste it on others.
"Sect Master, I've never mentored a disciple before. I'd hate to ruin such fine potential. Perhaps this disciple should—"
Before Shen Huaizhuo could decide whom to foist her onto, the very disciple he was about to pass off spoke up crisply:
"This disciple has already memorized the Qi Refining and Foundation Building manuals and sword techniques from the library. I practice sword forms in the Morningstar Pavilion by day and meditate at night, each for no less than three hours. Master need not worry about my training."
*Hiss!*
A disciple this self-sufficient?
Shen Huaizhuo wavered slightly but maintained his stern expression. "Qingzhu Peak is overgrown with rare flora. Some possess peculiar properties. If you were harmed, or worse—if you harmed them—"
"Before joining the sect, this disciple was raised in the herb fields of Hundred Herbs City. I have some experience tending spiritual plants!"
His resolve wobbled further. Desperate, he blurted, "Having another person around is still a nuisance."
"Since joining the sect, this disciple has assisted in managing Lingxiao Peak's affairs for five years. With me here, Master need never be troubled by trivial matters!"
Shen Huaizhuo's resistance crumbled entirely.
A disciple this independent, this *low-maintenance*—she was practically tailor-made for him!
With her around, his lazy days on Qingzhu Peak would only grow lazier.
To refuse now would be sheer stupidity.
Another breeze drifted from his fingertips.
His peerlessly handsome face broke into a benevolent smile as he said warmly, "Good disciple, rise quickly—the floor is cold!"