Forcing the Aloof Master to Madness - Chapter 15

Shen Lezhi began to study spells with Wang Xi again. Firstly, it was Shen Lezhi’s request, and secondly, because the Xuan-Yu Sect’s triennial Grand Sect Competition was about to begin.

The list of participants was actually drawn up quite early. In previous years, Shen Lezhi was tacitly excluded; with her life hanging by a thread, there was no point in attending the Grand Sect Competition.

However, her health had improved a lot now. She had recently attended the main alchemy class on Medicinal Herb Peak, and some people had gotten to know her. Moreover, since she was the only disciple of the Glimmering Moon Immortal Venerable, the Sect Leader personally designated her to participate in this year’s Grand Sect Competition.

The Grand Sect Competition would include more than just the disciples of the Xuan-Yu Sect. The four recognized major sects in the cultivation world were the Xuan-Yu Sect, the Confucian Wind Estate, the Traveling Scholar Academy, and the Bright Mountain Manor.

All disciples from the four major sects who had not yet reached the Golden Core stage could participate in the Grand Sect Competition. While other smaller factions were ineligible to participate, they would still come to the Xuan-Yu Sect during that period to partake in the excitement of the four major sects’ competition.

Many young talents became famous during the Grand Sect Competition, and it was also a chance for the various sects to assess the strength of their younger generation.

However, Shen Lezhi felt that she was just going to make up the numbers. She was only at the Qi Cultivation stage, and there was less than a year until the Grand Sect Competition. There was no way she could make a major leap forward.

Furthermore, the original female protagonist’s body, even with half of the Exquisite Heart, wasn’t material for cultivation. Otherwise, why would the original female protagonist desperately want the remaining half of the Exquisite Heart from Wang Xi?

Shen Lezhi felt no pressure about this whatsoever. Others might care about the reputation of the Glimmering Moon Immortal Venerable’s only disciple, but she didn’t. After the Sect Leader personally nominated her, Shen Lezhi went to ask Wang Xi for instruction. Wang Xi merely nodded and said she would teach her new spells, but after a few days of teaching, she basically let her learn whatever she wanted and didn’t force her if she didn’t want to learn.

Shen Lezhi figured Wang Xi probably didn’t care either. Essentially, since she was only at the Qi Cultivation stage, whether she disgraced herself or not was all the same.

Thus, Shen Lezhi comfortably began to implore Wang Xi to teach her spells she was interested in.

For example, conjuring rain out of thin air, boosting the power of a weapon, or Sword Riding.

She proposed a whole list of strange and wonderful spells. Wang Xi listened, then stared at her for a long while. Shen Lezhi grew self-conscious under the gaze and softly hesitated before explaining the reason she wanted to learn them: “It would be more convenient for planting spiritual plants…”

“Feasible,” Wang Xi said little, responding with cool indifference.

“Can we learn Sword Riding first?!” Shen Lezhi had mentioned wanting to learn Sword Riding more than once. Her physical strength was much better now, but running around every day was truly exhausting!

In the modern world, she could take a car. Even going to the countryside, she could take a car right up to the village entrance!

Relying entirely on two legs to cross mountains and ridges every day—did she transmigrate into primitive society?!

She really, really wanted to learn Sword Riding.

“No,” Wang Xi replied to her mercilessly. “Learn movement techniques first.”

Shen Lezhi was deeply disappointed.

She was led by Wang Xi outside the cave residence. Linglong Peak was the mountain where Wang Xi lived, and she was also the Peak Master here. However, unlike other factions, the name Linglong Peak was probably coined specifically for Wang Xi, taking its name from her Exquisite Heart.

Shen Lezhi wasn’t sure if that was the meaning in the original novel, but the Peak Master of Linglong Peak, the Glimmering Moon Immortal Venerable, was the only person in the Xuan-Yu Sect who did not hold the responsibility of an Elder yet occupied an entire mountain peak and was the Peak Master of Linglong Peak.

This was probably the Xuan-Yu Sect’s centerpiece?

Wang Xi certainly had the assets to be the centerpiece, Shen Lezhi mused idly.

“The basic movement technique of the Xuan-Yu Sect is called the Shu Step Technique. It was created primarily to better navigate mountains and traverse cliffs,” Wang Xi’s words pulled Shen Lezhi’s thoughts back.

These things, these concepts, were entirely novel to Shen Lezhi, who had received modern compulsory education and firmly believed in science. Even though Wang Xi spoke very formally, she listened with rapt attention.

“When casting the spell, concentrate the spiritual energy in the Dantian onto your feet. Land on the toes, do not press down on the heels. When moving, your steps should be light, like dancing. This set of footwork can be supported with only a faint amount of spiritual energy.” This was probably the longest sentence Wang Xi had ever said, but Shen Lezhi had no time to ponder it.

Because she watched Wang Xi lightly tap her toes, rising into the air, dancing gracefully, as light as a flying bird, as if stepping on a gentle breeze, ethereal like an immortal.

Shen Lezhi exclaimed inwardly: Wuxia dramas did not lie.

In fact, this whole scene was even more fantastical than those historical fantasy dramas. Wang Xi’s movement technique was not just graceful. Shen Lezhi watched carefully for a while before realizing that she completely failed to predict Wang Xi’s direction of movement. Although the other party’s speed wasn’t particularly fast, it was so erratic that her eyes couldn’t keep up.

This set of footwork was not simply for aesthetics.

But the more she failed to keep up, the more determined Shen Lezhi became. She fixed her gaze on Wang Xi’s posture, watching the clear wind follow the hem of her robes.

Everything before her seemed to become clear. Her eyes seemed to finally be catching up with Wang Xi’s figure.

She was utterly engrossed, catching sight of the ink-dyed strands of hair, the eyes like frost and snow.

The lock of hair between the brows, the trace of coolness at the corner of the eye.

Shen Lezhi abruptly held her breath, her eyes no longer darting around, fixed steadily ahead.

She didn’t dare make a sound. Her fingertips felt frozen by the cold frost, completely terrified.

Right before her eyes, Wang Xi had two fingers together, pointed at her brow, her eyes cold as if hiding sharp, frigid light, her entire body radiating a gloomy killing intent.

Shen Lezhi had no doubt that if the other party held a sharp weapon, this strike would instantly take her life.

Her eyes had clearly kept up with the other party’s figure, but there was a split second where everything seemed to skip a frame. The next second, Wang Xi had moved right into this posture, threatening her face.

“I want to learn!” Shen Lezhi widened her eyes, completely disregarding Wang Xi’s lingering killing intent, fully expressing her desire to learn.

She admitted she hadn’t seen much of the world, but this was too cool!

Wang Xi withdrew her hand and lowered her gaze to Shen Lezhi’s urgent expression.

In her memory, Shen Lezhi had never been particularly fond of practicing. It wasn’t that she was lazy; on the contrary, Shen Lezhi was very diligent at the beginning, learning spells day and night, consuming many pills to aid in absorbing spiritual energy.

But it was all useless. Her meridians were chronically blocked by medicine, and coupled with her innate physical deficiency, she was no longer suitable for cultivation and would never advance further in this life.

Later, Shen Lezhi stopped practicing, pretending to be content with living until old age, thus garnering everyone’s pity.

And she had never been like this before, showing simple awe and a genuine desire to learn a most basic movement technique.

Wang Xi closed her eyes briefly. Where did Shen Lezhi get her innocence from?

This person had certainly changed quite a bit in this life, but her ultimate goal was still nothing more than the remaining half of the heart in her body.

Wang Xi met Shen Lezhi’s expectant gaze and continued to play the role of the good Master.

“Very well.” If Shen Lezhi wanted to learn, she would teach.

After saying this, she walked two steps around to stand behind Shen Lezhi, placing her palm against the other party’s waist. She was close enough to still smell the fresh, clean fragrance on Shen Lezhi’s body.

It was like the clear scent of morning dew falling, so pure it seemed to have washed away the dust of the world.

Not strong, but lingering.

Wang Xi found it ridiculous that Shen Lezhi could be associated with the word “clean.”

This person truly was skilled at deception.

She was a few inches taller than Shen Lezhi. When pressing against the latter’s waist, she needed to lower her head slightly, which brought her close to Shen Lezhi’s ear. Seeing this, Wang Xi simply lowered her voice: “Lift your body, step on your toes, and circulate the spiritual energy throughout your body.”

Wang Xi didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this. She had taught the teenaged Shen Lezhi in the same way.

But this was not the teenaged Shen Lezhi, nor was it the original Shen Lezhi.

Shen Lezhi was held in Wang Xi’s palm, her entire body stiff. Her heart pounded like thunder, but she dared not breathe loudly.

Wang Xi squeezed her waist and hip area, trying to help her lift her body. Her palm pressed down slightly, and her fingers sank into the soft flesh of Shen Lezhi’s waist.

So ticklish.

Shen Lezhi couldn’t bear it and lowered her head, biting her lip, her fingertips trembling.

Wang Xi’s soft words sounded in her ear. She was somewhat confused about whether the other party was truly teaching her a spell or simply flirting with her.

In Shen Lezhi’s mind, the two of them already had that kind of relationship, and it wasn’t the first time they had engaged in such intimate actions during teaching. However, the other party’s tone was cold and overly serious, making it difficult for Shen Lezhi to judge the situation.

“Concentrate.” Perhaps seeing that Shen Lezhi hadn’t moved for a long time, Wang Xi reached out and pressed her palm against her lower abdomen, pressing down firmly to force Shen Lezhi to tuck her stomach. “Circulate spiritual energy from your Dantian.”

“Nn…” Shen Lezhi’s face instantly flushed crimson. Even biting her teeth didn’t suppress the momentarily sensitive tickle.

If she wanted her to concentrate, then she shouldn’t stand so close!