A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

The morning stars twinkled in the sky, and the faint sound of chanting could be heard in the air.

Guangfu Temple is considered part of the Emei Sect's property, as Emei disciples frequently travel to surrounding counties to provide free medical care. In years of famine, they also purchase grain for disaster relief. Abbess Miejue was known for her strong sense of justice and hatred of evil, and there were few gangs that preyed on the local people in the counties surrounding Mount Emei. Therefore, the temple enjoyed great popularity and was a place of great religious significance.

Su Baichuan stayed in a guest room at the temple. While drinking tea, he listened to Su Mengqing's concise account of how Miejue had taken Chen Yu as her disciple.

"Father, let me tell you, Junior Brother Chen is truly a person who forgets to eat and sleep when he is cultivating diligently, burning the midnight oil and raising the rooster at dawn. From now on, I won't be able to slack off even if I want to."

Su Baichuan smiled and said, "A fine sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold. If you want to have extraordinary abilities, you must have extraordinary ambitions."

"My daughter understands the道理 (principles/reasoning)."

"Then practice your skills diligently and help the young hero more."

"My junior brother's martial arts skills are not necessarily inferior to my daughter's. What can I do to help? Besides, it is Master who is teaching him the skills."

Su Baichuan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said, "My daughter said that the abbess said that from now on, any disciple in the outer sect who has outstanding talent and studies diligently, regardless of gender, can enter the inner sect to cultivate advanced techniques. Those who make great contributions to the sect can inherit the mantle?"

"Um."

"Did the nun have this idea before?"

"No, Master never gets close to male disciples."

"That's right. The abbess broke with tradition starting when the young hero joined Emei. When the young hero was at Qingcheng Mountain, he also helped the abbess retrieve the Heaven-Slaying Sword. I think the saying 'He who makes great contributions can inherit the mantle' was said to the young hero."

Su Mengqing frowned. "Is Father overthinking things?"

"Haha, let's try another way. What do you think, young hero, the chances of becoming the future leader of the Emei Sect?"

This was a question Su Mengqing had never considered, but the father and daughter were close and could talk about anything. She pondered, "Judging from my junior brother's talent, his merit in retrieving the Heaven-Slaying Sword, and his performance in Qingcheng Mountain and Ziyun Village, it's not impossible."

"That's right, the key is that the young hero is only fourteen or fifteen years old."

"She is fourteen years old."

"You have a bright future ahead of you, which is why I told my daughter to help you, young hero."

Su Mengqing, given her special background, sensed something unspoken. "What does Father mean?"

"In my opinion, the nun should have long ago considered taking the young hero as her personal disciple. Placing him in the outer sect is merely a training exercise. Getting to know the outer sect disciples will make it easier for him to do things in the future."

"Master has no such intention."

"Daughter, don't underestimate people. To become the leader of a sect, you must be no ordinary person. It's just that you are still inexperienced and can't see through people's hearts. In your opinion, young hero, you will most likely inherit the mantle and become the only candidate to lead the Emei Sect in the future. You are kind, brave, and righteous. You are young, decisive, and ruthless. You are actually very much in line with your master's temperament."

"Why does Father favor Junior Brother so much?" Su Mengqing smiled.

"Let's not go too far back. Back at Ziyun Village, that girl wanted revenge. The villain tried to dodge but was struck on an acupoint by the young hero. You, me, Heroine Ji, and Hero Yang were all there. But when it comes to a split-second reaction and decision, who can compare?"

"That's true."

"It's not that Father is only after profit; the escort agency can only ensure safety and prosperity by relying on the Emei Sect. Since young hero is no ordinary person, the Su family and I might as well lend a helping hand. Father's so-called assistance is to give young hero a boost."

"Daughter understands, Father, rest assured. Eldest Sister is quiet and doesn't compete, so she's long been out of Master's consideration. As for Senior Sister Ji, I don't know why, she's become increasingly indifferent. If Junior Brother Chen hadn't come up the mountain, he might have had a chance to compete with Senior Sister Ding for the sect leader position, but now that things have changed, I'll help him. However, if Master has any intention of testing and choosing between Junior Brother Chen and Senior Sister Ji, I'll only offer my opinion."

"Yes, of course, Father is not ungrateful. After paying respects to the nun tomorrow, Father will return. If you need anything in the future, just send a message."

"Father, don't forget to inquire about the Five Immortals Sect more often!"

"No need to worry, your father knows some people in the martial arts world and has connections with well-known escort agencies in various places. He will do his best."

"The daughter has returned."

"Go."

After Su Mengqing left, Su Baichuan opened the window. The sounds of wind and chanting filled his ears, and he muttered to himself.

"Changwei Escort Agency can rely on Emei for at least another sixty years."

……

"The essence of spiritual cultivation lies in purifying the mind; the essence of purifying the mind lies in eliminating desires. And 'eliminating desires leads to a tranquil mind, purifying the mind leads to a clear spirit.'"

"Let me tell you again what it means to concentrate the mind and enter the essence." Knowing that Chen Yu had an outstanding memory, Abbess Miejue only recited the "Emei Nine Yang Skill" once before explaining its essence.

Chen Yu listened attentively without making any interruptions.

"Concentration does not mean absolute stillness, but rather the spirit entering the energy center and remaining there without leaving. Therefore, concentration is based on mental tranquility, and entering the energy center is an inevitable trend..."

Thanks to Abbess Miejue's explanation of the human body's meridians and acupoints in Hengyang, and also due to his own tireless study, Chen Yu understood the meaning of the "Emei Nine Yang Skill" after only one reading when Abbess Miejue explained it.

"Has Yu'er understood everything?"

"Yes, some difficulties and problems may arise when it comes to the actual practice."

"It's alright. You can visit Woyun Nunnery at intervals to ask me for guidance. I'll also take the opportunity to check on your progress in martial arts."

"I understand, disciple."

"I heard from Xiaofu that the Green Bamboo Gang is backed by the Five Poisons Sect?"

"Yes."

"How do you plan to do this?"

"Focus on practicing martial arts and wait patiently for the opportunity to strike."

"Well said. A fierce tiger in the heart, yet calm and composed. Since the enemy managed to set up a trap at Ziyun Village and fail at the last moment, they certainly won't let it go easily. What about the Hengshan Sect?"

"The bandits only heard about the Hengshan Sect. The Green Bamboo Gang is in Yongzhou, which is only a hundred miles away from the Hengshan Sect. It is normal for them to be mentioned in conversation. Moreover, when I was in Hengyang, I knew that the disciples of Hengshan were known for their chivalry and should have nothing to do with the Five Poisons Sect. So when I have achieved some success, I can visit the sect and ask them."

"There are different levels of respect and importance; one must clearly distinguish between the essential and the trivial. Your idea is thorough, so I have nothing to worry about. Tomorrow, go to the Medicine King Cave to collect a bottle of medicinal pills and focus on your practice."

The Emei Sect's elixirs are divided into two main categories: food elixirs and medicinal elixirs. Food elixirs are elixirs that can be used to treat illnesses through food. When disciples go out and find themselves in dangerous or desperate situations, food elixirs can be useful to increase their physical strength to last for several more days.

The medicinal pills are elixirs that help to concentrate the mind, nourish qi and blood, and strengthen the internal organs. They are similar to the Shaolin Temple's "Great Rejuvenation Pill" and "Small Rejuvenation Pill". During his time in the outer sect, Chen Yu was close to his senior brothers and sisters who were engaged in alchemy and sorting herbs. He also had a good understanding of the Emei Sect's elixirs. He felt that although he could not refine the "Nine-Flower Jade Dew Pill" and "Impermanence Pill" of Peach Blossom Island, his level was not low and was no worse than Shaolin and Wudang in the world of Yitian.

Chen Yu, acting on Miejue's instructions, bid farewell to his companion and descended the mountain under the moonlight.

……

The bluestone road meandered and twisted, and at the end of the road was an apartment with a layout almost identical to that of Chen Yu's courtyard. Orange light was reflected on the oil-paper windows.

Ji Xiaofu felt as if she were floating, formless yet intangible, with an endless abyss below her. The profound darkness instilled fear, and hallucinatory sounds echoed in her ears—her own, and others'.

"If you follow me, young lady, and learn martial arts, I guarantee you will experience a whole new world within martial arts."

"Don't talk nonsense."

"Girl, we meet again."

"Go away, don't follow me."

"Girl, you can't escape."

"Don't come any closer."

"Ah..." Ji Xiaofu screamed. The moment she sat up, the darkness receded like a tide and the lights came on. She broke out in a cold sweat, her mind replaying Chen Yu's words at the Su family in Guanzhou.

When victims are imprisoned and detained, and subjected to prolonged coercion and control, they may develop a sense of resignation, submission, or even dependence on their perpetrators.

Ji Xiaofu hugged her knees, covered her face, and began to sob.