World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 456: Junior Brother, Junior Sister

When the array dispersed, the Daoist masters led the children that they had recommended away from the great palace. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The candidates could no longer clearly remember what had happened inside the array. It all felt like a dream to them, preventing it from affecting their Dao Hearts.

The three candidates who had been chosen now stood before Qing Yanzi, while the three Daoist masters who had brought them made detailed introductions.

The twelve-year-old Li Jing'an showed the best performance among his peers. Though he looked rather ordinary, he was quick on his feet, resilient to pressure, and talented at identifying the key to breaking a stalemate in the shortest time. It wasn't surprising that he had passed.

Zhou Liuji, eleven years old, had shown courage and loyalty. He quickly mounted a horse, turned back to save others, and repaid kindness with kindness. His performance wasn't as outstanding as Li Jing'an's, but it was still commendable.

Going through dangers together within the array had allowed them to build the foundation of their friendship.

Unlike them, Wei Lin's selection was rather... mysterious.

By sheer coincidence, the eight-and-a-half-year-old girl had ended up sitting at the rear gate of the great palace. Though there was no way she could have broken through the trials on her own, fate had placed her there. That was enough reason to take her in.

Cultivators were a superstitious bunch when it came to fate. They believed such things to be divine will.

Wei Lin was red with embarrassment. She didn't just have little confidence to begin with; she also lost her way in the trial. Since she never expected to pass, she just found a spot to sit and wait for the trial to end. To her disbelief, she was chosen as one of the three disciples.

Gently, Qing Yanzi asked, "Are you three willing to become my disciples?"

The three nodded at once. One of the Daoist masters pressed down on Li Jing'an's shoulder, prompting him to kneel. Noticing it, Zhou Liuji pulled Wei Lin along. The two knelt before Qing Yanzi as well.

Li Jing'an recalled his great-uncle's instruction.

"Xiao An, if you're lucky enough to be chosen, don't wait for Daoist Master Bu Yan to ask if you're willing. Just kneel and beg him to accept you as his disciple."

Li Jing'an quickly said, "Please accept me—accept us as your disciples!"

Qing Yanzi laughed, his eyes narrowing with joy. He stood and helped the three up. "From this moment on, you will be my third disciple, Wei Lin. Jing'an, you'll be my fourth, and Liuji, my fifth. You three are now under my sect. From now on, you are to revere the Three Pure Ones and honor our forefather. Learn what it means to be a good person and comprehend the path to immortality.

"Your initiation ceremony will be held three days from now. I want you three to invite your closest kin to witness it. Now, come and meet your first martial sister and second martial brother."

Side by side, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan stepped forward. Li Jing'an immediately lowered his head and knelt again, but Wang Sheng hurriedly helped him up.

He then grinned. "No need for such formality; we're martial brothers now. Here, follow my lead. This is how you bow in greeting. From now on, just do this when you see your first martial sister."

"Ah!" Li Jing'an chuckled, his expression honest and simple.

Zhou Liuji clearly knew more about the Pure Yang Sword Faction than the others. When he saw Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan, he flushed with excitement, and his hands trembled. His voice quavered as he asked, "Are you really going to be my senior martial siblings?"

Qing Yanzi could not help but smile. Though he was their master, it seemed he was the least famous of the group.

The three new disciples bowed respectfully to Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan. Mu Wanxuan's eyes softened with affection and curiosity. She took Wei Lin's hand and gently patted her head, unsure how to express her joy.

Li Jing'an and Zhou Liuji then turned to Wei Lin and bowed, addressing her as "Third Martial Sister."

Flustered and nervous, Wei Lin asked timidly, "Don't you need to greet First Martial Sister too, Second Martial Brother?"

"Of course not," Zhou Liuji whispered in her ear. "First Martial Sister and Second Martial Brother are the most famous Daoist couple in the cultivation world. Second Martial Brother is matchlessly strong. With his sword, he wiped out fifteen ancient cultivators, faced heavenly tribulation, and destroyed the Dark Faction. He's the face of the Hua Republic's cultivation world, too. Without him, our country would still be in chaos.

"Our first and second martial siblings grew up together and share deep affection. Their bond is like that of your parents. Do your parents bow to each other?"

Wei Lin's face brightened with understanding. The Daoist masters around them pretended not to hear the children's whispering.

The Pure Yang Sword Faction was too small to accommodate so many guests until morning. Hence, the Daoist masters and sect masters soon bid farewell to Qing Yanzi and took their leave.

Half an hour later, the Pure Yang Sword Faction, which had been lively all day, finally quieted down. The sect members, elders, servants, and cooks gathered in the great palace, while the three new disciples, left behind to stay, felt a little uneasy.

Their Daoist masters had already departed and would return in a day or two to bring the children's parents to witness their formal initiation into the Pure Yang Sword Faction. From then on, the three would begin their cultivation here and would not be allowed to descend the mountain casually.

Six off-heritage sect members, two servants, and one cook were assigned to look after them.

Currently, Li Jing'an and Zhou Liuji stood nervously beside Wang Sheng, while Xiaomiao and Chi Wen had pulled Wei Lin away to join the women on the other side.

Wang Sheng had intended to introduce Jingyun and Xi Lian, but before he could, Zhou Liuji eagerly began recounting their stories in great detail. He had clearly done his homework before coming.

Li Jing'an could not help but whisper, "Fifth Martial Brother[1], how do you know so much about them?"

Zhou Liuji sighed. "I've admired Second Martial Brother for a long time. I even joined the International Fan Club of Sword Cultivator Fei Yu. I spent a lot of my pocket money on it. I never got to see him, though. Later, I found out that the fan club was fake. It was just scamming kids like us."

"How much did you spend?" Li Jing'an asked.

"Not that much, maybe seventy or eighty thousand. I didn't have much allowance back then, but I made it to vice president! Who would've thought I'd one day become Second Martial Brother's actual junior? And all because I can ride a horse. You'd better train hard in swordsmanship, Fourth Martial Brother. My aptitude is not as good as yours, so I'll be counting on your protection."

Smiling wryly, Li Jing'an scratched his head. "Your aptitude is probably better than mine. I only practiced martial arts for a few years before. They said it would help build a foundation for cultivation."

"Enough of that modest talk, you two." Wang Sheng stood up and gestured for them to follow him. "I'll take you to your quarters. In a couple of days, I'll have a small building made for you."

"Alright."

"Yes, Second Martial Brother!"

Wang Sheng couldn't resist ruffling Zhou Liuji's hair. "If you ever want to see me, just call for me. Each meeting will only cost you a tenth of the pocket money you were scammed out of back then. I'll let you watch me train to your heart's content. Now, go and excuse yourself before Master."

Zhou Liuji and Li Jing'an chuckled endlessly as they bowed to take their leave. They then hurried after him.

The three new disciples had already split into two groups. The boys closely gathered around their second martial brother, while the aunts and elder sisters showered the only girl with affection.

Xiaomiao and Chi Wen soon pulled Wei Lin, who seemed wrapped in immortal light, away to sleep together for the night.

The two young boys stayed in the rooms beside the other off-heritage sect members. Too excited to sleep, Zhou Liuji slipped into Li Jing'an's room late in the evening. The two huddled under the blankets and used a phone to scour the internet for the legendary videos of Wang Sheng's battles against foreign cultivators.

Qing Yanzi came by in the middle of the night, intending to check on the new disciples and quietly build an image of a kind and caring teacher. However, he instead found himself playing the part of a night patrol instructor.

While the two boys were chatting away in excitement, he coughed outside their window. They instantly froze and fell silent under the blanket.

"Go to sleep," Qing Yanzi sternly instructed.

The two quickly turned off the phone and lay motionless on the bed. Li Jing'an even started to snore.

These two little brats...

Qing Yanzi could not help but recall how Wang Sheng had behaved when he had first come up the mountain. His second disciple had been a little older and naturally more mature than Zhou Liuji and Li Jing'an.

When teaching disciples, one had to adjust according to their nature. It seemed he would have to spend several more years of effort on the two.

Pure Yang Sword Faction... Pure Yang...

Qing Yanzi looked up at the stars and sighed softly. He then began strolling through the quiet grounds of the Pure Yang Sword Faction.

Everyone had once been a disciple. Though now, his master was long gone.

***

Past midnight, in a pavilion behind the mountain, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan sat by the bedside, preparing to cultivate.

"Senior Sister, what do you think of Master's new disciples?"

Mu Wanxuan smiled gently. "Quite decent."

She turned on her phone, typed out a few lines, and showed it to him.

Third Martial Sister is still young and easy to guide, but she's a bit too gentle, and she doesn't seem to know how to turn others down. Fourth Martial Brother has a good heart, acts decisively, and shows quick thinking, but he's also a bit reckless. Fifth Martial Brother is bright and talented, but I doubt he can endure hardship.

Wang Sheng nodded in agreement, slightly amused that his senior sister had actually taken the time to analyze them. He himself had not paid much attention at all.

"Mm, I agree." He chuckled. He then asked, "Senior Sister, are you in a hurry to go back to the Moon Palace to cultivate? We'll probably spend the next two years guiding our three juniors here in the mountains. The next trip to the Moon Palace will be with Master and the Celestial Master."

Mu Wanxuan shook her head softly.

"You decide," she murmured as she gave him a gentle look. When Wang Sheng smiled, she quickly looked away. "Let's cultivate."

She then closed her eyes and focused.

In the nearby pavilion, Qing Yanzi hummed a tune as he returned from afar. Catching sight of Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan's room, he felt even happier. He pushed open the door to his small tower.

After removing the Daoist robe that marked his status as sect master, Qing Yanzi stretched lazily. He then started planning the details for the disciples' initiation ceremony, which would be held in three days.

He took a bronze box, which had a few secrets, from the ring on his finger. Old memories stirred as he traced the delicate patterns on its surface, making him smile faintly.

Moments later, Qing Yanzi softly exclaimed in surprise. With a sweep of his sleeve, darkness enveloped the room.

He looked down, finding the bronze box under his hand emitting a faint, milky glow. When he focused carefully, he felt an incomprehensible Dao Rhythm of Pure Yang flash by.

1. The ordinal numbers(First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth) refer to the disciples' order of recruitment, not seniority. It is not gender-specific either(i.e., Fifth Martial Brother means the fifth of all the martial siblings, not just the fifth of the martial brothers.). ☜