Fairy Mei Lian had her brows furrowed, eyes fixed on a scroll detailing reports of troublemakers in the sect, when Elder Wu Kang's familiar voice intruded.
"Fairy Mei Lian, I see you have finally decided to take a disciple."
Her gaze lifted briefly, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Disciple? No. I don't have a disciple." She dismissed him with a while shaking her head, already weary of his endless attempts to win her.
But Elder Wu Kang stood his ground, confusion knitting his brow. "Strange. A boy came earlier today bearing your acceptance talisman.
And you know the rule—anyone who holds such a talisman is automatically acknowledged as the disciple of its owner. Does that mean you never gave it to him yourself?" Elder Wu Kang said already thinking of the possibility of personally opening the gate for an imposter.
For a moment Mei Lian froze, a faint crease forming on her forehead. Then realization struck her as she suddenly remembered that her sister who was known to be extravagant had collected her talisman.
That shameless bitch… did she sell my talisman to some random brat? If that was true, then by sect law she was already bound as his master whether she liked it or not.
Suppressing the urge to curse aloud, she let her lips curl into a faint, cold smile. "Yes. I do have a disciple. And what of it?" Her voice carried just enough dread to keep Elder Wu Kang from asking further questions, though inwardly she was still pissed at her current situation.
Wu Kang, however, wasn't so easily deterred as he pressed on. "Strange, Fairy Mei Lian. I thought you only had interest in strong men. How curious then, that your disciple is nothing more than a boy at the first stage of the Flesh Tempering Realm." His tone was laced with mocking and amusement.
It was no secret that Elder Wu Kang had harbored feelings for Fairy Mei Lian since their disciple days. But she had always remained far out of reach, bound by a rule that made her nearly untouchable.
Before anyone could think of courting her, they had to first surpass her in strength.
For most, this was an impossible feat. The sect they belonged to, though renowned, was a dual cultivation sect—its focus was not combat. Battle techniques were considered an optional pursuit, secondary to cultivation methods that promised steady advancement as the environment already encouraged it.
After all, the greater the cultivation is usually translated to greater advantage in battle.
But not for Fairy Mei Lian. She was different.
She was a battle maniac who lived to fight, and any man bold enough to pursue her had to face her challenge on the battlefield.
The outcome was always the same—defeat, humiliation, and the shattering of any romantic ambitions. No one had ever succeeded. Mei Lian's strength was second only to the sect master himself, and her reputation as the unrivaled blade of the sect was carved in blood and shattered pride of her suitors.
Her mastery was not by chance. She had achieved Spirit Qi attunement with her weapon at a shockingly young age, a feat that spoke volumes of her deep understanding and affinity for the martial path.
For her, weapons were not tools but extensions of her will, and every strike she made carried the weight of profound comprehension.
"Well, he is my disciple, not my partner. If you have nothing better to do, you can help me punish these troublemakers." Mei Lian's tone was sharp as she gestured toward the pile of scrolls stacked neatly on her desk.
Elder Wu Kang's lips curled in frustration. With nothing left to say, he clicked his tongue and stormed out of the disciplinary office, the faint echo of his footsteps swallowed by the quiet hallways.
That crazy bitch fairy Mei Lian muttered in a low voice as she opened another scroll
—
Meanwhile, Jian leaned closer to Maria, their breaths mingling as his lips hovered just above hers. But just he was about to plant a kiss on her lip a knock sounded from the door stoping them in their tracks.
Jian sighed, straightened, and moved to answer. As the door creaked open, his eyes fell on a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties. Youth itself seemed to glow from her skin, smooth and radiant under the soft light.
She was beautiful—strikingly so. Her slender figure carried voluptuous curves that seemed almost sculpted to defy the laws of nature, as though the heavens themselves had taken their time in crafting her form. Her presence commanded attention.
"I am here to show you around the Yin and Yang Unity Sect, courtesy of Elder Hong Wei. My name is Mo Yin," the young woman introduced herself with a faint smile, her voice carrying a note of politeness.
"I see. That was quick—I didn't expect someone to be sent this fast," Jian replied smoothly. His lips curved into a playful grin as he winked at Maria. Her cheeks flushed a soft red, betraying her embarrassment.
Mo Yin, however, was visibly displeased. When she was informed that she would be guiding Fairy Mei Lian's disciple around the outer court, she had assumed she would be meeting someone impressive—refined, powerful, and befitting of Mei Lian's reputation.
She had even taken extra care with her appearance, adorning herself with accessories she rarely wore. To be greeted by such a weak and not so powerful individual left her secretly disappointed.
"I'm sorry for the wait," Jian said apologetically. "Let us quickly change into our robes, and we'll be on our way."
Moments later, Jian and Maria stepped out dressed in their sect robes. Just as they prepared to leave, Mo Yin's eyes flicked toward Maria.
"She doesn't need to follow us," Mo Yin muttered coldly, pointing at her with subtle disdain. "Her duties lie within your quarters."
Jian turned, catching the faint, dejected look Maria tried so hard to hide. His expression hardened. Ignoring Mo Yin entirely, he asked in a firm voice, "Do you want to come along?"
Maria's eyes lit up. She nodded shyly.
Without hesitation, Jian extended his hand to her. "Then come."
Maria slipped her hand into his, her face glowing with quiet joy.
Mo Yin's irritation deepened. She could not understand the connection between this man and Fairy Mei Lian, but she knew better than to recklessly offend someone under Mei Lian's wing. Still, it unsettled her to walk side by side with Maria, a mere helper. In the Yin and Yang Unity Sect, helpers were little more than servants, and walking shoulder to shoulder with one was beneath her.
To make matters worse, Mo Yin's sharp spiritual sense caught faint traces of Yang Qi clinging to Maria.
That lingering aura betrayed the intimacy of their private sessions It was un heard off that disciple cultivate with helpers which left a sour taste in her mouth. Jian was well aware of the situation but he couldn't do anything about it not that he cared, as this was a cultivation sect.
Swallowing her pride, Mo Yin pressed her lips together and said noth
ing. With no further obstruction, their little tour of the sect began.