Ye Xianyu didn't mind, merely offering a meaningful smile as she returned to the topic.
"The second saying is: 'When poor, improve yourself in solitude; when successful, benefit all under heaven.' Or, 'When foolish, live in peace in a corner; when strong, protect one side.' Let me summarize it for you in eight words: With great power comes great responsibility."
After hearing this, Xu Xian chuckled. "That's not so bad then. I'm just a mortal; my responsibility is tiny."
Ye Xianyu reached out and poked his forehead with a finger, feigning sternness. "That's why you must work hard to become strong. There are no weaklings among our master's disciples."
Xu Xian rubbed his belly, remaining sullenly silent.
The Dao of this Wendao Sword Sect was truly the 'Dao of Reason'—nothing but big principles.
"And the third saying?"
Xu Xian took the initiative to ask. He just wanted to finish this quickly so he could eat; he was getting hungry.
"The third saying..."
Ye Xianyu hesitated, teasing him by sitting on the edge of the cliff. Her long legs dangled over the abyss, swaying back and forth like a gentle breeze. She gazed at the vast sea of clouds and the brilliant blue sky, her face blooming like spring as she spoke warmly. "It's also eight words."
Xu Xian listened intently.
Ye Xianyu’s tone grew heavier. "Simply perform good deeds, and ask not of the future."
Xu Xian lowered his eyes, chanting the words in his heart.
He then looked up toward the distance.
He saw the blue sky where clouds rolled and drifted, and the green mountains where a thousand peaks stood lush.
He wondered.
The Sword Ancestor.
What kind of person was he, really?
He must have lived a very transparent, enlightened life.
And he must have been very reasonable.
This time...
Xu Xian did not respond.
And this time, Ye Xianyu did not ask if he understood.
The former felt that the intent behind those words was too deep—could anyone truly achieve it?
As for the latter, she herself wasn't sure if she could do it. Since she couldn't achieve it herself, she shouldn't force Xu Xian to do so.
As the saying goes: Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.
She told him simply because she should tell him.
He was Little Eleven; he would be the one taking over her responsibilities in the future.
"Anyway, you must remember this and work hard. Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one become a person above others."
Enduring hardships?
Xu Xian hated 'eating bitterness' most of all, but he didn't say it this time.
Because he had no choice.
He was already here.
It would be a waste not to practice cultivation.
Enduring bitterness was better than suffering a loss.
The breeze blew gently as Xu Xian sat down beside Ye Xianyu, searching for a topic of conversation.
"Senior Sister."
"Hmm?"
"Do you know which two types of people I hate most in this world?"
"I don't."
Xu Xian said calmly, "One is the type who uses connections to get through the back door."
"And the other?"
Xu Xian said seriously, "The type who won't let me use connections to get through the back door."
Ye Xianyu couldn't help but laugh. "I was just like you back then."
Xu Xian wasn't surprised, only asking casually, "Oh, so you didn't get a meeting gift either?"
Ye Xianyu curled her lip and said, "Back then, my Little Senior Brother also told me to ask Master for it. Then, he told me those same three sayings."
Xu Xian was stunned, his face a mask of confusion. "What do you mean?"
Ye Xianyu said with a beaming smile, "Exactly what you think it means."
Xu Xian was speechless.
Ye Xianyu continued, "Little Senior Brother was recruited by Eighth Senior Brother."
Xu Xian: "???"
Ye Xianyu: "Eighth Senior Brother was recruited by Seventh Senior Sister."
Xu Xian's mouth hung open...
Ye Xianyu: "Seventh Senior Sister was recruited by Sixth Senior Brother."
Xu Xian swallowed hard.
Ye Xianyu added, "Sixth Senior Brother was recruited by Fifth Senior Brother."
Good heavens. Xu Xian was absolutely floored.
'Are you playing Russian nesting dolls with me?'
It seemed the Sword Ancestor himself didn't even know how many disciples he had; they were all recruited on his behalf by his other disciples. That was some true filial piety right there.
He muttered a small complaint under his breath.
"It's like a damn pyramid scheme."
Ye Xianyu's sharp ears caught it, and she asked curiously, "What does that mean? What's a pyramid scheme?"
Xu Xian changed the subject dismissively. "Nothing. So, if I'm not mistaken, Fifth Senior Brother was recruited by Fourth Senior Brother?"
Ye Xianyu shook her head.
"Oh, then it was Fourth Senior Sister," Xu Xian said.
Ye Xianyu continued to shake her head, saying, "Fifth Senior Brother was recruited by Master himself. He's also the only one among us who has actually seen Master."
Xu Xian’s heart skipped a beat as he asked weakly, "One, two, three, four... are they dead?"
Ye Xianyu rolled her eyes at him and snapped, "You're the one who's dead!"
"Uh..."
Ye Xianyu explained, "Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother, and Fourth Senior Sister went on a long journey with Master back then. I don't know where they went, and no one else knows either. They haven't returned to this day."
Xu Xian grew thoughtful and speculated, "Is it possible... you know."
Ye Xianyu was speechless. She pointed to a tall building on a certain peak among the mountains. "Do you see that building?"
"What about it?"
"That is the Changming Tower. When human cultivators enter the nascent soul realm, they can separate a portion of their soul. Any cultivator of our Wendao Sword Sect will place a wisp of their soul into an soul lamp inside the Changming Tower once they break through to that realm. As long as the person lives, the lamp burns; if the person dies, the lamp is extinguished. On the top floor, the soul lamps of Master and several Senior Brothers are kept. Sorry to disappoint you, but they are burning just fine."
Xu Xian immediately replied, "Look at what you're saying, making it sound like I want them dead. I'm happy they're alive!"
Ye Xianyu tilted her head and asked, "Are you? If you're so happy, why the long face?"
Xu Xian rubbed his stomach and complained, "I'm hungry! When are we going to eat?"
"Eat?"
"Yeah. Even if there's no welcome banquet, there should at least be a home-cooked meal, right? It's getting late."
Ye Xianyu looked at him as if he were an idiot and said calmly, "I don't eat."
"Huh?"
"I finished my bigu long ago."
"But I still have to eat!"
Ye Xianyu said lazily, "Then you'll have to find your own way."
Xu Xian was utterly speechless. He said indignantly, "I'm seriously fed up. Do I, the dignified Little Martial Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect, actually have to cook for myself?"
Ye Xianyu gloated, "Then you'd better cultivate hard. Suffer the bitterness of cultivation now, and you won't have to suffer the bitterness of hunger later. Let your Senior Sister set a small goal for you."
Xu Xian didn't really want to talk.
Ye Xianyu said, "Reach foundation establishment within a year. With your talent, that shouldn't be too much to ask, right?"
Xu Xian was in no mood to think about such things and gave a vague agreement.
"Fine, fine, fine. You're the Senior Sister; you have the final say. By the way, are you leaving? If not, I'm going first."
Ye Xianyu: "No rush."
Xu Xian: "I'm in a rush!"
Ye Xianyu: "Wait a bit longer..."
Xu Xian: "What else are we waiting for?"
Ye Xianyu: "You'll find out in a moment."
Boredom set in.
The sound of the wind continued.
The sun gradually sank in the west. A growling sound echoed in the evening breeze.
Xu Xian had long since lost all interest in life.
It was dusk, and the sunset's afterglow turned the sky a bashful red. Despite the intoxicating scenery, he had no heart to appreciate it. Ye Xianyu, however, was mesmerized, lost in the view.
Suddenly.
The girl spoke.
"They're here."
Xu Xian looked up and saw a woman dressed in white, flying toward them on a sword. After landing, she bowed with her hands clasped.
"Sect Master, did you ask for me?"
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