parentshiftbook Chapter 261: Miscellaneous Matters of the Sect
Chapter 261: Miscellaneous Matters of the Sect
The night was dark and the wind was high.
A chilly night wind swept across the mountain peaks, rustling the sycamore leaves in the corner of the courtyard.
Inside the study of the mountaintop villa, the sandalwood tables and chairs gleamed with a warm luster, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and wine. The octagonal table was laden with exquisite dishes and wine, and even the small side dishes were made from century-old spiritual vegetables, a sight rarely seen by ordinary cultivators.
The candlelight flickered, casting shimmering shadows on the wall that perfectly outlined the woman's slender figure. Her soft features, illuminated by the candlelight, lost their usual aloofness and gained a captivating, mature charm.
Zhang Ping held a white jade wine cup, his fingertips tracing the rim of the cup. His expression was calm, revealing little emotion, except for the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth, which betrayed his good mood.
"Have you thought it through?" He slowly placed the wine glass on the table, making a crisp, light sound. His gaze was piercing, fixed directly on Jiang Qingya. "Once you start, there's no turning back."
Jiang Qingya stiffened slightly, her hands awkwardly clasped in front of her lower abdomen, her fingertips twisting uncontrollably. She kept her head down, avoiding Zhang Ping's gaze.
Having grown up in a remote mountain village, she stumbled and struggled her way to immortality after a chance encounter. She has traveled to many places and met many people, but the strongest she has ever encountered is only a rogue cultivator at the Marrow Infusion Realm. What's more, the one sitting in front of her now is a true cultivator at the Divine Integration Realm who has broken through the barriers of life.
Even though Zhang Ping's tone was always gentle and polite, without the slightest hint of intimidation, the natural difference in their cultivation levels still made her heart pound.
After a long silence, she finally took a deep breath and slowly raised her head. All hesitation and trepidation had vanished from her beautiful eyes, leaving only a resolute determination. She bowed respectfully to Zhang Ping and said:
"This disciple is willing! Thank you for your grace, Sect Master!"
Upon hearing the word "gift," Zhang Ping's smile deepened.
He stood up, his loose black robe billowing gently in the night breeze streaming through the window, and slowly walked around Jiang Qingya. Jiang Qingya lowered her head even further, feeling somewhat uneasy, as if she could feel that calm gaze scrutinizing her from head to toe.
She silently repeated to herself: "It's alright, Jiang Qingya. You were willing to give up your husband and children to control your own destiny, so what's this little thing? Besides, the sect leader is doing this to improve my talent; he genuinely cares about me..."
Before the silent recitation ended, the candle flame went out abruptly with a "poof".
The room was instantly plunged into thick darkness.
Jiang Qingya subconsciously gasped softly, and the next second, a warm hand gently pinched her waist.
Zhang Ping's deep voice rang in her ear, carrying an undeniable power:
"Don't move, it's starting."
……
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed.
Autumn has quietly crept onto Bobo Mountain, gradually tinting the once lush green hills with varying shades of gold and fiery red. The stone paths in the mountains are covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which rustle softly underfoot.
"Swish— Swish—"
The sound of the broom scraping across the stone slabs was monotonous and rhythmic.
"What bad luck! Why did it have to be my turn to sweep fallen leaves in autumn?" Long Yingying pouted as she laboriously swept a pile of withered sycamore leaves into a heap, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.
She wore a unique white, flowing, wide-sleeved gown. The skirt, starting above the knee, was woven from a semi-transparent ethereal fabric, becoming increasingly sheer as it went down, until the skin was almost clearly visible at mid-calf. Her fair, shapely calves were exposed, dazzling in the autumn sunlight.
Fortunately, she had already cultivated to the Body Refinement Realm, and her blood and qi were abundant, so she wasn't afraid of the autumn chill at all. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been shivering from the cold long ago dressed like that.
There were quite a few girls in the sect dressed like her. Some who felt it was indecent to show their legs would wear a kind of sheer stockings—no one in the entire Taihu region had ever seen such a thing before. It was said that the sect leader drew up the blueprints based on his memories from his previous life and had the weapon-refining hall rush to make them. Wearing them not only flattered the shape of the legs but also protected them from the cold and heat. They were sold out as soon as they were put on the shelves.
Long Yingying also really liked them, but unfortunately the two pairs she bought a few days ago were accidentally torn, so she could only wait until she finished her mission today to go to the sect shop to buy a few new pairs.
"Yingying, are you done sweeping?" A figure in a black dress walked up carrying a broom. It was Zhang Xiaomei, who was on duty with her.
"Almost there, almost there, just a little bit left!" Long Yingying swept the last pile of fallen leaves into the dustpan, dusted off her hands, and the two of them headed towards the sect's mission hall together.
"By the way, Yingying, have you heard?" They hadn't walked far when Zhang Xiaomei suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered mysteriously, "Jiang Qingya has broken through to the late stage of the Refining Realm!"
Long Yingying was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening and her eyes widened in surprise:
"Who are you talking about? Jiang Qingya, the one who accepted the task of serving the sect leader?"
"Who else could it be but her!"
Upon hearing this, Long Yingying fell silent instantly.
This matter caused quite a stir in the sect back then. After all, the entire Yin Yang Sword Sect was made up of female cultivators, and besides cultivation, their greatest pleasure was getting together to gossip. Naturally, the one mentioned the most was the sect's only man.
When the escort service task was first posted, many girls were too shy to sign up. But no one expected that by the deadline, 246 people had submitted applications. The sect leader ultimately chose Jiang Qingya, who seemed the most inconspicuous and had been married before.
Back then, many people secretly laughed at her for overestimating herself, but now...
A wave of indescribable regret washed over Long Yingying. She pouted and muttered to herself, "It's just good luck... If I had gone, I might have been the one chosen. What makes me any less than that old woman?"
The midday sun was shining brightly, and the number of people in the sect gradually increased. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the training grounds, canteen, and shops.
Just then, a streak of light shot into the sky from the villa atop the main peak, moving so fast it was almost a blur, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Five days later.
Beneath the city gates of Penglai Immortal City, a bustling crowd thronged, with cultivators in various attire jostling shoulder to shoulder. The sounds of hawking and bargaining rose and fell, creating a vibrant and prosperous scene.
Zhang Ping withdrew his escape light and landed in front of the city gate. He looked up at the majestic immortal city and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"I'm back again. This time I need to buy everything the sect needs, and while I'm at it, I'll look for those few types of demon beast materials."
As soon as he finished speaking, a light blue, semi-transparent panel suddenly popped up in his field of vision.
[Talent Awakening: Mechanical Heart]
[Effect: Significantly enhances understanding of the art of weapon crafting, allowing for easy deciphering, deduction, and improvement of all weapon crafting schemes, and grants a natural control over mechanical creations.]