I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Pei Youyi nodded, stood up, and took the tray away.

"Alright, let's go then. I'll take you to find Sixth Uncle."

She carried the tray into the house, placed it down, and then came out.

The two walked out together, passing through several long corridors, for more than ten minutes.

Finally, it stopped at the entrance of a secluded courtyard.

The yard wasn't big, and the wooden gate was peeling paint, looking like it hadn't been maintained for a long time.

Pei Youyi knocked on the door, her voice very soft and respectful.

"Sixth Uncle, I am Youyi, and I have brought someone to see you."

There was silence for a few seconds, then a deep, resonant voice came through.

"Come in."

Pei Youyi pushed open the door and led Gu Yan inside.

The courtyard was very simple, with a stone table, a few chairs, and several bundles of firewood piled in the corner.

An old man sat at a stone table, wearing an old gray robe.

His hair was gray, and his face was deeply wrinkled, but his eyes shone like sharp blades.

He was holding a small knife and whittling a piece of wood, his movements slow but steady.

Pei Youyi walked over and bowed slightly.

"Sixth Uncle, this is Gu Yan, the Jade of the Empire."

Pei Zhanyue raised his head and glanced at Gu Yan, his gaze sweeping over him.

"Imperial Jade, I've heard of it. What brings you here?"

Gu Yan stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Senior Pei, I would like to learn swordsmanship from you."

Pei Zhanyue didn't stop whittling the wood.

"I don't teach. Over the years, countless people have come to me, but I haven't taught a single one."

"The Pei family is a family of sword immortals. Why bother learning the saber? Go back and practice your sword."

Gu Yan didn't leave; she stood there and spoke again.

"Senior, I am not a member of the Pei family, so I don't need to practice swordsmanship. I want to learn the saber."

Pei Zhanyue looked up at him, his eyes flashing with an alarming light.

"Learn about knives. Do you know what a knife is? A knife is something that kills people."

"You, a celestial being, what use are you for learning killing techniques?"

Gu Yan opened her mouth as if to say something, but Pei Youyi spoke first.

"Sixth Uncle, Xiao Yan really wants to learn, please make an exception."

"His health isn't good, so it would be good for him to learn something for self-defense."

Pei Zhanyue put down the knife and the piece of wood in his hand and leaned back in his chair.

"Youyi, you know my rules. If I say I won't teach, I mean I won't."

Before Pei Youyi could say anything more, Pei Zhanyue's gaze suddenly fell on Gu Yan's waist.

The demon-suppressing sword hung on his belt; the blade was jet black, and the patterns on the scabbard were ancient and rustic.

Pei Zhanyue narrowed his eyes and stared at the knife for several seconds.

Then he spoke, his voice a few decibels deeper than before.

"Hey kid, who gave you that knife at your waist?"

Gu Yan glanced down, took off the knife, and handed it over.

"It was a gift from the Lin family head."

Pei Zhanyue took the knife, drew it out and glanced at it; the blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

He looked at it for a few seconds, then put the knife back in and placed it on the table.

"The Lin Family Demon-Suppressing Blade: Its wielder can command all the underworld in Jinghai."

"That old bastard Lin Zhenting even gave you this, what's your relationship with him?"

Gu Yan was taken aback for a moment; he knew that Gu Yan commanded all the underworld in Jinghai.

However, I was still slightly surprised to hear it from Pei Zhanyue himself.

"The Lin family head has been very kind to me."

"so..."

Pei Zhanyue nodded and remained silent for a long while.

To be honest, he knew Gu Yan wasn't telling the truth, and that even if she were taking care of him, she would never give him the knife.

The courtyard was quiet, and the wind carried the scent of grass and trees.

He spoke after a long pause, his tone softening somewhat.

"The title of Imperial Jade, Lin Zhenting's Demon-Suppressing Blade, were personally brought by Youyi."

"With all three things combined, it wouldn't be fair for me to just kick you out."

Gu Yan was overjoyed and quickly bowed again.

"Thank you, senior."

Pei Zhanyue raised his hand to interrupt him, his eyes still shining brightly.

"Don't thank me yet. I don't teach people, but I can give you a test."

"I'll teach you now, but you can leave and don't come back."

Gu Yan nodded quickly, determined to try whatever the test might be.

"Please speak, senior."

Pei Zhanyue stood up, walked to the corner of the courtyard, and pulled a piece of wood from the pile of firewood.

The piece of wood was as thick as an arm and about a meter long, with a very rough surface.

He walked back, put the wood on the stone table, and took out three incense sticks from his pocket.

"See this piece of wood? I'm giving you three days."

"Use this demon-suppressing knife to carve this piece of wood into the shape of a sword."

"It doesn't need to be very exquisite, but it must be recognizable as a sword."

"If you finish shaving the incense sticks before they burn out, you've passed."

Gu Yan looked at the rough piece of wood, then at the Demon-Suppressing Blade in her hand.

He had never learned swordsmanship; he only knew how to hold a knife by feel.

Carving a piece of wood into the shape of a sword was too difficult for him, a complete novice.

Pei Youyi also frowned; she knew how difficult this test was.

"Sixth Uncle, Xiao Yan has never learned swordsmanship. Isn't this test too difficult?"

"Could you suggest something simpler, or give me a few more days?"

Pei Zhanyue shook his head, sat back in his chair, picked up the small knife used for whittling wood, and continued whittling.

"Youyi, I know you feel sorry for this kid."

"But rules are rules, and I, Pei Zhanyue, have never broken any rules in my life."

He paused, looked up at Gu Yan, and his tone became more serious.

"Besides, the title of Imperial Jade speaks for itself."

"Perhaps he will be the first non-family head of the Pei family in the future."

"It doesn't sound good to be unable to pass even one test."

As he said this, he looked at Pei Youyi with a slight smile on his lips.

There was something else hidden in that smile, as if it were teasing or testing someone.

Pei Youyi's face flushed instantly, burning red.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Sixth Uncle, what are you saying? What do you mean by 'head of an outsider'? That's not true."

Her voice was much softer than usual, and it carried a hint of panic.

Pei Zhanyue smiled, a very happy smile, his wrinkles smoothing out.

"Youyi, Youyi, you're blushing. I've never seen you blush in all these years."

Pei Youyi lowered her head, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes, her ears burning.

"Sixth Uncle, don't talk nonsense. I just brought Xiao Yan here to learn swordsmanship."

Pei Zhanyue waved his hand, his smile widening.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore."

He looked at Gu Yan, his eyes regaining their sharp, razor-like edge.

"Kid, the test is over. It's up to you whether you accept it or not."

Gu Yan looked at the piece of wood, then at the Demon-Suppressing Blade in her hand.

He hadn't learned swordsmanship, but he possessed illusion magic and his own methods.

Moreover, he must become stronger; there is no turning back.

He raised his head, looked at Pei Zhanyue, and said in a firm voice.

"I'll take it."

Pei Zhanyue nodded and stuck the three incense sticks into the crack of the stone table.

"Alright, let's begin."

Gu Yan used all her strength to pick up the Demon-Suppressing Blade, walked to the stone table, and stared at the piece of wood.

My mind started racing, trying to figure out how to make a move.