Trouble

If the spring breeze pities the flowers, may it grant me youth once more.

Well, strictly speaking, in front of Gu Chengming, Jiang Lu was actually the "youth."

But alas, Jiang Lu had previously been mistaken in his judgment of Senior Brother Gu, which led to this realization.

To be honest, after enduring the magnificent power of Gu Chengming's sword, Jiang Lu almost felt as if he saw his life flash before his eyes.

He sat slumped on the ground for a long time, the thrilling sword moves from moments ago replaying in his mind.

At this moment, Jiang Lu was somewhat at a loss for how to express his complex feelings.

If he had simply been exhausted by the opponent's "entanglement" technique and then passively defeated, it wouldn't have caused such a strong impact. But with that last sword, he had used all his skill, integrating everything he had learned in his life, aiming for that stunning, decisive kill.

Yet, he still lost.

He lost so completely, so... naturally.

This left him feeling both lost and bewildered, even beginning to have some doubts about the Huiyuan Sword Art he cultivated.

Could it be that his understanding of this sword art was flawed from the very beginning?

He carefully processed the impact of that sword strike and the "momentum" contained within Gu Chengming's "obsessive entanglement" sword path.

After a long while, he slowly stood up, bowed to Gu Chengming again, his voice slightly hoarse:

"Thank you... Senior Brother, for your guidance."

Undoubtedly, Gu Chengming's sword strike just now had opened a brand new door for him.

It completely shattered the complacency and shallow understanding he had long held while immersed in his own small world.

Saying "thank you for your guidance" was indeed Jiang Lu's heartfelt and sincere sentiment.

Gu Chengming stepped forward, helped him up, and politely said:

"Junior Brother Jiang, you exaggerate. I also benefited greatly from our spar just now. Your sword path is ever-changing, and I've gained insights from its subtleties."

Hearing this, Jiang Lu was momentarily speechless. He had initially come with the intention of "correcting," wanting to advise Gu Chengming on his "misguided" sword art.

Yet, the result was that he himself had been "instructed" by the other party, and it was a complete and utter defeat.

This huge contrast made him feel a blush of shame.

But at the same time, he also realized that this Senior Brother Gu was far from as simple as he had previously thought.

His mind couldn't help but start wandering.

The sword intent and realm displayed by Gu Chengming's sword just now were clearly not something a disciple merely at the First Realm, Third Level could wield.

Especially in a sect like Wenjian Sect, where sword arts and cultivation realms are closely intertwined, the gap in realms is often an insurmountable chasm.

Could it be... that Senior Brother had always been hiding his true abilities?

Phrases like "hidden dragon in the abyss" and "great wisdom appearing foolish" from storytelling novels immediately came to his mind.

The figure of Senior Brother Gu before him instantly took on an enigmatic and unfathomable aura in his eyes.

Daring not to think further, Jiang Lu sincerely thanked him again, then bowed and took his leave.

After all, Gu Chengming's sword strike had indeed greatly benefited him, and he needed to find a place to calm down and properly digest this realization.

On the other side, Gu Chengming watched Jiang Lu's somewhat pensive figure disappear outside the courtyard gate, and also felt greatly benefited.

Of course, his "benefit" did not come from any inspiration Jiang Lu's sword art gave him.

It was because.

The information on the panel had refreshed.

【Huiyuan Sword Art saw you use your own true sword intent to defeat Jiang Lu in a way that completely surprised it. It felt a mix of emotions for a moment.】

【Among so many disciples of Huiyuan Gate, either they were exceptionally talented and completely looked down on this basic sword art, or their talent was too poor, practicing it haphazardly and without method.】

【Huiyuan Sword Art felt a strange comfort, but at the same time, a faint sense of inferiority arose.】

【It felt that it was, after all, just a basic cultivation method, unable to directly grant users powerful strength like those high-level sword arts.】

【Huiyuan Sword Art Affection +15】

【Current Affection: Friendly (45/100)】

Gu Chengming looked at the rising affection, and a weight lifted from his heart.

Indeed, what a resentful woman responds to most is being acknowledged and needed.

Gu Chengming stroked his chin, thinking to himself.

........................................................................................

Meanwhile, at Daoning Gate.

Above the mist-shrouded peak, an exquisite cave dwelling stood silently.

In front of the cave dwelling, several vibrant spirit bamboos swayed in the wind, rustling softly, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of plants and wood.

Inside the cave dwelling, a young girl sat cross-legged, her eyes slightly closed. She wore a plain white long dress, its hem spread like flowing clouds on the smooth stone floor.

The girl's brows were like distant mountains painted with ink, her eyes like autumn waters rippling. Her jade-like nose was delicate, her lips elegantly pale, and her skin was whiter than snow, possessing an almost transparent quality.

A cascade of black hair, unbound, flowed freely behind her, making her appear even more ethereal and otherworldly, like a Guanghan fairy who doesn't partake in mortal food.

She was Daoning Gate's "dao seed," Su Qingmeng.

A faint sound of footsteps came from outside the cave dwelling. A girl dressed in Daoning Gate disciple attire stopped at the entrance and respectfully bowed.

"Jingshui Pavilion disciple You Yuyao, ordered to patrol, apologizes for disturbing Junior Sister Su's cultivation."

Jingshui Pavilion is an organization within the Wenjian Sect responsible for maintaining sect rules and inspecting the safety of disciples' cave dwellings. Its members are mostly careful disciples with decent cultivation.

Su Qingmeng slowly opened her eyes. There was not a single ripple in her clear gaze.

She looked at You Yuyao at the entrance, her voice as clear and cold as jade striking together:

"Senior Sister You, please come in."

Granted permission, You Yuyao cautiously entered the cave dwelling.

Looking at the legendary "dao seed" Junior Sister before her, You Yuyao unconsciously spoke with a hint of restraint and awkwardness.

"Junior... Junior Sister Su, I... I'm just routinely checking if the cave dwelling's restrictions are intact, it won't take up too much of your time."

You Yuyao's voice was a bit tight, her face showing a mix of admiration and awkwardness.

Su Qingmeng nodded slightly, said nothing more, and simply watched her quietly.

You Yuyao forced herself to remain calm, took out a small compass, and walked around the cave dwelling, carefully checking the spiritual energy flow of all the restrictions. Her movements were very light, afraid to make any unnecessary sound that might disturb her junior sister's peaceful cultivation.

After checking, You Yuyao put away the compass and bowed again: "Junior Sister Su, the restrictions are all normal. I... I'll take my leave now."

"Senior Sister You," Su Qingmeng suddenly spoke.

"Ah? Yes!" You Yuyao's body stiffened, and she quickly responded.

"Your Ningshui Art seems to have hit a bottleneck." Su Qingmeng's gaze fell on You Yuyao's wrist, where a faint, slightly sluggish spiritual energy fluctuation was visible. "Impatience is a major taboo in cultivation. Calm your mind, and water drops can pierce stone."

Hearing this, You Yuyao's face instantly lit up with wild joy. She hadn't expected her minor cultivation problem to be seen through by Junior Sister Su at a glance, and to receive such valuable guidance. She was so excited that she became incoherent: "Thank... thank you, Junior Sister Su, for your guidance! I... I understand! I will definitely calm my mind and cultivate properly!"

Su Qingmeng merely nodded faintly, then closed her eyes again, as if nothing had just happened.

You Yuyao dared not disturb her further and carefully withdrew from the cave dwelling.

After leaving Su Qingmeng's cave dwelling, You Yuyao's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

As she walked towards her own cave dwelling, she replayed Su Qingmeng's words in her mind, feeling enlightened. The bottleneck that had troubled her for a long time seemed to show signs of loosening.

Just as she was immersed in excitement, a hushed whispering sound from not far ahead caught her attention.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw several female disciples from Daoning Gate gathered under an ancient pine tree, whispering to each other with a hint of schadenfreude on their faces.

"Have you heard? About that Gu Chengming from Huiyuan Gate?"

"The one who went to Junior Sister Su a while ago to ask to become Dao companions?"

"What? Something like that happened?"

"It's certainly... quite unbelievable."

These words reached You Yuyao's ears without missing a single one, causing the excitement on her face to instantly fade, replaced by an unpleasant expression.

In her opinion, Junior Sister Su Qingmeng was a figure of unparalleled purity and extraordinary talent, the pride of Daoning Gate and even the entire Wenjian Sect.

As for that guy named Gu Chengming, You Yuyao had specifically inquired about him.

He had been in the sect for many years, yet his cultivation remained at the First Realm, Third Level.

You Yuyao felt that associating such a person with Junior Sister Su Qingmeng's name was, in itself, a tremendous insult!

She couldn't listen anymore, so she quickly walked over and coldly interrupted their chatter:

"Are you all so idle? Don't you need to cultivate?"

The female disciples turned around and, seeing it was You Yuyao from "Jingshui Pavilion," immediately looked a bit embarrassed.

Although they were gossiping behind her back, they didn't want to offend anyone from Jingshui Pavilion.

"Senior Sister You..."

The few of them stammered a greeting, then wisely dispersed.

You Yuyao snorted coldly, watching their retreating figures, but the anger in her heart did not subside in the slightest.

She returned to her cave dwelling, closed the stone door, but the harsh discussions from earlier still echoed in her mind.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Wenjian Sect is still too lenient with its disciples! How could they allow such a black sheep to freeload and deceive the sect for so long!