Zhenwu Mountain is located in Qingyun Prefecture of Wangzhou. It stretches for more than ten kilometers, bordering the Han River to the north. The grand mountains and the great river merge into one, creating a magnificent and rarely seen landscape... However, for climbers without any cultivation, it is not so friendly.
"Hah... hah!"
Leo Young rested his hands on his knees, panting uncontrollably... It was already dusk. The armed escort convoy had encountered no mishaps and had successfully delivered Leo Young to Zhenwu Mountain.
Afterward, the armed escort convoy headed back, leaving a disciple from Zhenwu Mountain to guide Leo Young up the mountain, even carrying his luggage for him. However, this body was excessively frail, possessing the sort of sickly beauty of one who might take six minutes to run a kilometer. They hadn't gone far before Leo Young was already at his limit.
"Why don't we rest for a moment?" The Zhenwu Mountain disciple beside him looked to be in his thirties, with dark skin, and sounded a bit helpless. "The Sect Master is in Zhenwu Hall at the summit. We still have a long way to go."
"Haha..." Leo Young showed no signs of embarrassment. He laughed while catching his breath and said casually, "Daoist master, I have an unreasonable request to make."
The Zhenwu Mountain disciple said, "Please, speak."
"Carry me up on your back." Although Leo Young was gasping for air, his posture and expression were incredibly calm, as if he were stating something perfectly natural. He then added, "I don't think I'll be recovering anytime soon."
"..." The Zhenwu Mountain disciple, who looked to be in his thirties, was taken aback. It was the first time in his life anyone had made such a request of him. Leo Young's ordinary yet composed demeanor gave him an indescribably strange feeling... Was it appropriate to make such a request of a stranger you've just met?!
However, he couldn't say these things out loud. He could only remain silent for a moment before replying with some difficulty: "That... I can't do that. I have been cultivating for only a short time, and my internal cultivation is still shallow. I'm not yet at a level where I can carry a grown man up a mountain."
Hearing this, Leo Young was slightly surprised and casually remarked, "Still coming to practice martial arts at this age?"
This wasn't a very appropriate thing to say. While not exactly taboo, it was a bit rude, but that was just Leo Young's personality.
The dark-skinned Zhenwu Mountain disciple, who appeared to be in his thirties, kept his expression unchanged. In a voice that was both ordinary yet heavy and slow, he said, "I will only reach the age of capping in two months."
"...."
"...."
The two looked at each other, remaining silent for a full three breaths before Leo Young slowly asked, "Clerics do not tell lies, do they?"
"To let this brother know," the supposedly nineteen-year-old Zhenwu Mountain disciple said with a sigh, "our sect was founded by Perfected Master Zhang. In the early years, when martial arts were not yet flourishing, we cultivated as lay practitioners. We could marry, have children, and eat meat. This is different from the Qumang Sect, which has allied with the Zang Nation and advocates for the unity of the three teachings. To be frank, we are not what the world considers clergy... However, I was indeed not lying just now."
"Is that so..."
Leo Young raised an eyebrow slightly. In an alternate history game like this, who the hell knows how crazily modified things can get.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a fragrant breeze brushed past from behind. The two turned to see a woman in a long purple robe approaching at a leisurely pace. She had a slender figure, a delicate waist, and elegant temples. Her long, smooth black hair cascaded down to her waist, swaying gently in the wind. Looking up at her face, one saw a fine nose, vermilion lips, and a fair, jade-like complexion. Her pair of peach blossom eyes shimmered with a strange light, and a beauty mark at the corner of one eye added a touch of enchanting allure. She was truly a beauty rarely seen in the world.
"Greetings, Second Senior Sister." The prematurely-aged Zhenwu Mountain disciple greeted her respectfully.
Leo Young was slightly lost in thought.
Zhenwu Mountain was no small sect with only a dozen or so disciples. The number of disciples on the mountain exceeded a thousand, and its population was in constant flux for various reasons. Even if one stayed on the mountain for decades, it was possible not to know everyone. Naturally, they didn't rank everyone one-by-one according to age. Therefore, a title like 'Eldest Senior Brother' or 'Second Senior Sister' usually denoted a seniority level like that of a direct disciple of the Sect Master. Otherwise, even when addressing senior brothers and sisters, one would use their surname first.
"Mm..." The woman called Second Senior Sister smiled faintly, gently waving a white jade folding fan in her hand. On it were four extremely abstract characters that Leo Young couldn't make out at all. He watched as she snapped the fan shut with a pa, raised her head slightly, and asked with a smile, "And who is this?"
The latter replied, "In response to Second Senior Sister, this brother was introduced by the head of the Qin Clan from Liuli Prefecture of Hongzhou to seek apprenticeship here."
——Naturally, Leo Young wouldn't go around telling everyone about his clan being annihilated.
This Second Senior Sister's cultivation was clearly impressive. With a single glance at Leo Young's aura, she smiled faintly and said, "From the looks of it, it seems you can't make it up the mountain."
Leo Young was completely unaffected by her heavenly beauty and aura. He calmly said, "Could you lend me a hand, friend?"
"Oh?" Second Senior Sister glanced at him and smiled. "And how would you like me to lend a hand?"
The Zhenwu Mountain disciple with the overly mature appearance and disposition felt his heart leap into his throat, terrified that Leo Young would say something inappropriate... What Leo Young had said to him earlier was fine; they were both men. At worst, it just meant Leo Young was a bit impolite and lacked common sense. But if the subject were a woman, that would be...
Leo Young said, "In whatever way you deem appropriate."
"The way I deem appropriate, you say..." Second Senior Sister smiled. "For example, carrying you on my back?"
The disciple's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He truly hadn't expected Second Senior Sister to say such a thing. Leo Young, however, remained perfectly calm and smiled naturally. "That would be for the best, of course."
The smile on Second Senior Sister's face did not falter. "Carrying you in my arms?"
It was as if the two were on the same wavelength; Leo Young naturally understood her meaning.
"As a man, it's a bit hard to accept, but in my current state, I don't really care."
"By the scruff of your collar?"
"...If you're sure that position is safe."
"Hehe..." Second Senior Sister chuckled, tapping Leo Young's shoulder with her fan with a pa. "How interesting. You must stay on Zhenwu Mountain. There are few people and things left on this mountain that can pique one's interest."
With that, she naturally walked past Leo Young and continued up the mountain, showing no intention of carrying him on her back, in her arms, or by the scruff of his collar.
"Hey?! Aren't you going to take me with you?!"
"Mm." Second Senior Sister waved her hand without turning back and said with a laugh, "With a body that weak, you ought to train it more."
Leo Young sighed. "If you weren't going to take me, you should have said so earlier..."
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