"Ever since the Azure Emperor became a top Grandmaster, he has been content to stagnate. I have long disdained to associate with him," the Sword Emperor said, narrowing his eyes as he cast a meaningful look at the DJI drone hovering before him. "Rest assured, Thunder Emperor. If what you say is true, the Sword Pavilion will definitely lend you our strength."
The Sword Pavilion was willing to stand on Shen Yun's side, but on one condition: everything Shen Yun said had to be true. The concept of the Heavenly Dao becoming increasingly profound and difficult to grasp had been deeply ingrained in people's minds for the past two thousand years. It would not be so easily overturned.
However, the Sword Emperor refused to give up even the slightest glimmer of hope. He was obsessed with the Dao, and his sole pursuit in this life was to take one step further.
"That won't be necessary," Shen Yun replied, casually declining the offer of assistance. "A mere Azure Emperor is not enough to warrant our concern."
"Oh?" The Sword Emperor grew increasingly delighted. The more powerful the Jiuzhou Sect appeared, the more likely their claims were true.
"When the Thunder Emperor holds his title-conferring ceremony, the Grandmasters of my Sword Pavilion will certainly attend in person," the Sword Emperor offered another gesture of goodwill. "I hope to discuss the Great Dao with the Thunder Emperor when the time comes."
"It is only right," Shen Yun replied, exchanging the requisite pleasantries. "We reached out precisely because the Sword Pavilion is also an ancient sect. We wanted to see if you shared our grand ambition to restore the glory of the ancient era. Now it seems the Sword Emperor truly refuses to wallow in the mire with the likes of the Azure Emperor."
"HA HA HA HA." The Sword Emperor burst into hearty laughter, clearly pleased by the compliment. The atmosphere in the room was warm and amicable.
Off-screen, out of the Sword Emperor's sight, Wei Er gave the camera a thumbs-up. Everything was playing out exactly as they had anticipated. As a young top Grandmaster, the Sword Emperor undeniably yearned for further advancement. He was completely different from someone like the Azure Emperor, who was simply idling his life away.
Afterward, the Sword Emperor invited Wei Er to dine with him and personally gave him a tour of the Sword Pavilion. He even gifted Wei Er some cultivation manuals and Enlightenment Jade Scrolls containing the Heavenly Dao Insights left behind by the Sword Pavilion's Thunder Series ancestors. Although no formal treaty was signed, the intention to collaborate was incredibly strong. The warm reception lasted until Wei Er finally departed, fully loaded with gifts.
"I didn't realize I was quite the actor," Shen Yun mused aloud back in the branch base. He set his tablet aside and stroked his chin, feeling rather pleased with himself.
"After all, all the world's a stage, and it's all about the acting," Xiao Jiu chimed in with a sweet smile, her large eyes curving into charming crescents. "I'm super good at acting too."
"Oh?" Shen Yun turned his head to look at her.
As if to prove her point, Xiao Jiu's face transformed in an instant as she cycled through a myriad of expressions. Seductive, adorable, aloof, haughty—she nailed every single one, adjusting her entire aura perfectly to match each persona.
"GASP—are you really this good, Xiao Jiu?" Shen Yun watched, thoroughly dazzled. It had been nearly half a month, and he thought he had grown accustomed to her charm. But right now, he realized he had still underestimated her.
"Whether I'm good at it or not just depends on whether Master likes it," Xiao Jiu pouted, feigning a hint of grievance.
"Of course I like it!" Shen Yun slapped his thigh and curled a finger at her. "Come here."
Xiao Jiu beamed with immediate joy and obediently perched herself on his lap, leaning her entire upper body into his embrace. She wasn't putting on any deliberate display of seduction anymore. Instead, her exquisitely beautiful face was filled with genuine affection and bashfulness. Even though she usually understood everything and dared to say anything, she became just like an easily embarrassed young girl when it came to actual physical intimacy.
Feeling her soft, delicate frame resting warmly in his arms, Shen Yun's heart melted, and he let out a long breath. He wondered what kind of pitiful existence he had been living before this. This was what it meant to truly live.
"Master Shen—!"
The door suddenly pushed open. A barefoot girl in a white dress stood in the doorway, gripping a suitcase. Her jaw dropped, and her eyes went wide as she stared at the maid snuggled against Shen Yun's chest.
"I—I didn't see anything," Miao Yun stammered after a long, stunned pause, hastily throwing her hands over her eyes.
"The gaps between your fingers are way too wide," Shen Yun grumbled, though he kept his arms securely wrapped around his beautiful maid. "Besides, we weren't even doing anything."
Wei Er had indeed mentioned that Master Miaoyun would be arriving in the Otherworld today. Shen Yun just hadn't expected her to walk in on a scene like this. Still, he didn't particularly care. Everyone from top to bottom knew he had an adorable, stunning little maid who was practically his girlfriend. What was wrong with getting intimate with his own girlfriend?
"I-I heard that you had just finished your call with the Sword Emperor, so I thought..." Miao Yun's voice remained soft and gentle, but her face was burning a bright red. Clearly, she wasn't quite the utterly clueless girl he had initially assumed her to be.
"So, did you need something?" Shen Yun asked. Seeing her so flustered was making him feel a bit awkward, so he decided to simply change the subject.
"I..." Miao Yun finally snapped out of her daze. Dropping her hands, she took a deep breath. "I want to become your disciple."
"Why?" Shen Yun asked, rather surprised.
"You really are incredible, Master Shen," Miao Yun said, her gaze filled with undisguised adoration. "I heard all about it. A top Grandmaster! You reached Golden Core Peak immediately after surviving your Celestial Tribulation. So I thought... if I became your disciple, you would be able to guide my cultivation."
"...You really are quite fond of cultivation," Shen Yun remarked with a sigh after a moment of silence. He deliberately used the word "fond" rather than "obsessed" or "fanatical." Having just spoken with the Sword Emperor, the stark contrast in their mentalities was exceptionally clear to him.
"Is that not allowed?" Miao Yun asked, looking a little crestfallen. She wasn't obsessed with advancing her realm. All she wanted was for someone to answer her questions about cultivation.
"There's no need for talk about becoming a disciple. You are the one who has to carry on the legacy of the Wudang Sect," Shen Yun chuckled. "However, if you have any questions, I will do my best to explain what I can."
He shared a telepathic connection with Xiao Jiu. As long as she was by his side, his status as a top Grandmaster was the real deal. By now, the situation had become much clearer, and Shen Yun was no longer so worried about exposing his true strength.
However, rather than looking happy at his offer, Miao Yun blushed even harder. She seemed a bit bashful, but after steeling her resolve, she used her soft voice to declare quite seriously:
"Master Shen, before my mother passed away... she gave me two instructions. First, I must choose something I love doing to accompany me for the rest of my life. And second... I am not allowed to fall in love."
"...What the heck?" Shen Yun stared at her, completely bewildered. The first instruction was perfectly normal, but what on earth was the second one? What kind of mother leaves a dying wish forbidding her daughter from dating?
Xiao Jiu suddenly let out a PFFT of laughter.
"Master," she giggled, leaning in close to whisper in his ear. "I read online that before the revival of Spiritual Qi, this eldest disciple of the Wudang Sect suffered from a severe heart condition. She couldn't allow herself to get too emotional, so naturally..."
Shen Yun experienced a sudden flash of insight, though he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. No wonder he always felt like he couldn't quite keep up with Miao Yun's train of thought.