In a dead-end alley.
The bun shop owner, gasping for breath with his hands on his knees, glared at the little beggar before him. "Run! Aren't you good at running? Go on, keep running!"
The little beggar knew she couldn't get away. She unwrapped the dirty cloth and began to wolf down the bun.
'Every bite counts.'
"You're still eating? Watch me break your legs."
The bun shop owner strode forward.
The closer he got, the faster the little beggar ate.
Gripping a rolling pin, the bun shop owner swung it forcefully at the little beggar's head.
The little beggar squeezed her eyes shut and curled into a ball.
But to her surprise, the expected pain never came.
The little beggar opened her eyes to see a well-dressed young man gripping the bun shop owner's large hand.
Xiao Mo looked at the small, trembling beggar before him and asked, "What's wrong with her?"
"Who are you? Mind your own business! She stole my buns! And this isn't the first time! I'm going to teach her a lesson!" the bun shop owner said angrily.
Xiao Mo released the owner's hand and tossed a few pieces of silver into his arms. "Is this enough?"
The bun shop owner froze for a moment, then nodded hastily. "Enough, it's enough, more than enough..."
"You little brat, count yourself lucky!" The bun shop owner muttered a few curses and left the alley.
The little beggar stared at the young man standing before her, swallowed nervously, and clutched her small hands tightly to her chest.
Xiao Mo crouched down and asked with a smile, "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. What's your name?"
"Jiang... Jiang Qingyi..." the girl answered timidly.
"Mm, that's a good name. Do you want to come with me?"
"Come with you?"
"That's right. I'm looking to take on a disciple, and I think you have potential. If you come with me, you'll have a full meal every day. What do you think? Want to consider it?"
The girl looked at the remaining half of the bun in her hand, as if deep in thought.
Finally, the girl looked up and stared earnestly at Xiao Mo. "I... I'll go with you!"
"Good." Xiao Mo nodded with a smile. "My name is Xiao Mo. From now on, I am your Master. Let me hear you say it."
"Master..."
"Mm."
...
After bringing Jiang Qingyi up the mountain, Xiao Mo took her to receive a Disciple Token and a set of female robes for the Longquan Sword Sect.
Returning to his own peak, Xiao Mo had Jiang Qingyi take a bath and change into clean clothes.
When Jiang Qingyi stood before Xiao Mo again, his eyes couldn't help but light up.
Before, Jiang Qingyi had been like a tomboy, with short hair and covered head to toe in mud and dust.
But after washing up and changing into a dress, she certainly looked the part.
Xiao Mo tossed a Wooden Sword to Jiang Qingyi. "Starting today, you will learn the sword from me. The Sword Technique I will teach you is called the Grass Character Sword Intent. This Sword Technique requires practicing both the Sword Formulas and the Sword Techniques. You will practice the Sword Techniques during the day, and at night, I will teach you to read and recite the Sword Formulas. You must not slack off. Do you understand?"
The Grass Character Sword Intent was the Sword Technique cultivated by Clone Xiao Mo, and every single move and stance was imprinted in Xiao Mo's mind.
'I wonder if I'll be able to practice the Grass Character Sword Intent in the real world after I leave this place.'
Jiang Qingyi hugged the Wooden Sword tightly. "Yes... Master..."
"Follow my lead. The first form."
For the next half a month, Xiao Mo taught Jiang Qingyi the Sword Technique every morning at the crack of dawn.
Jiang Qingyi studied very diligently, working extremely hard.
However, because she lacked an Innate Sword Bone, Jiang Qingyi's progress was incredibly slow. Her aptitude could only be described as "poor."
Another half a month passed, and Jiang Qingyi still hadn't learned the first form of the Grass Character Sword Intent.
One day, Jiang Qingyi clutched her Wooden Sword and asked dejectedly, "Master... am I really stupid?"
"Who said you were stupid?" Xiao Mo asked, sitting in the courtyard and sipping his tea.
Jiang Qingyi quickly shook her head. "No... No one told me that."
Xiao Mo gazed at Jiang Qingyi and said softly, "Come here."
Jiang Qingyi swallowed nervously and slowly walked over to her Master.
"Qingyi, you're not stupid at all..." Xiao Mo gently patted Jiang Qingyi's head. "There's a saying: the first step is always the hardest. We're not in a hurry. We'll take it slow. You don't need to overthink things, just focus on doing your best. Understand?"
"Mhm!" Jiang Qingyi nodded.
With her Master's encouragement, the girl's confidence was slightly restored.
In the days that followed, Xiao Mo often bought the flesh and blood of Spirit Beasts for Jiang Qingyi to eat.
Jiang Qingyi's progress remained very slow.
A month and a half went by in total, and Jiang Qingyi hadn't even reached the threshold of Cultivation—the First Layer of Qi Cultivation!
One day, when Xiao Mo went down the mountain to buy wine, he happened to overhear several Outer Disciples talking.
"That disciple Elder Xiao took in has no Root Bone to speak of. I have no idea why Elder Xiao would accept her."
"It's been a month and a half, and it seems she still hasn't even reached the First Layer of Qi Cultivation."
"Damn it, isn't my talent way higher than that Jiang Qingyi's? Even I haven't become an Elder's disciple!"
"Hahaha, Xiao Mo always looks down his nose at people. I can't wait to see how that girl gets thrashed at the Longquan Sword Sect's New Blood Tournament in a year!"
Just as the group was talking and drinking, Xiao Mo walked up to them.
"Fellow cultivator, what is it? Is there something you need?" a burly man asked, turning to look at Xiao Mo.
"Nothing much. I just don't like how you're talking about my disciple."
The moment he spoke, Xiao Mo lashed out with a kick.
The burly man flew back ten meters.
After teaching them all a lesson, Xiao Mo returned to Lingqian Peak as if nothing had happened.
By the time Xiao Mo returned to the mountain peak, it was late at night.
Under the moonlight, a young girl was still practicing her sword.
Her movements were so clumsy, yet so full of effort.
"Qingyi," Xiao Mo called out her name softly.
"Master." Jiang Qingyi put away her Wooden Sword and trotted over to him.
"You're still not asleep?" Xiao Mo patted her head.
"Master, I couldn't sleep. I wanted to practice a little more," Jiang Qingyi said softly.
Xiao Mo smiled. "It's good to be hardworking, but you also need to balance work and rest."
Jiang Qingyi shook her head emphatically. "It's okay, Master. I'm not tired."
Looking at the girl, a complex emotion flickered in Xiao Mo's eyes, but he didn't stop her. "Alright. Practice for the time it takes for one more incense stick to burn, at most. Then go to sleep, understand?"
"I understand, Master. You should get some rest too." Jiang Qingyi nodded.
Xiao Mo turned and walked back to his wooden cabin.
Watching her Master's retreating back, Jiang Qingyi pressed her lips together, her small hands gripping the sword in her hand tightly.
Just as her Master was about to enter his home, Jiang Qingyi called out softly, "Master."
"Hm?" Xiao Mo turned around.
Under the moonlight, the girl's eyes were like ripples in a clear spring, pure and gentle. "The Sect's New Blood Tournament... I will not let you down, Master!"
Xiao Mo was taken aback for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curved up. He nodded and smiled.
"Good."