13 Chapter 13 - Lu Ai

It has been fifteen days since the last sect meeting. At this time, Yu Weiyuan was taking a stroll in the Peach Courtyard of the Inner Sect.

He breathed a sigh as he let out the tension accumulated through the last few days. 'After the meeting, I had to kickstart the war preparations myself, checking on each and every Hall and Pavillion, giving speeches to the disciples and verifying all the accounts...'

He breathed a heavy sigh full of relief. 'Now I can finally relax a little.'

He walked leisurely through the central plaza, crossing disciples who all saluted him respectfully. As the previous successor of the Sect, he had taken care to build his image in the hearts of the sect disciples, always being willing to help, keeping a warm smile on his face, offering advice and leading expeditions for training.

This is also why the succession was so smooth, without any opposition from the Elders. Yu Weiyuan was too perfect. He was a genius seen only once in an era and was respected as the "Eldest Senior Brother". It was only a matter of course seeing him take the responsability of Sect Master.

He continued walking until he stopped before a majestic and imposing giant peach tree which stood at thirty meters of height. Each of its leaves had a lively pink color and brimmed with life and spirituality.

Yu Weiyuan looked at the godly tree, remembering its nature. 'Spirit Swallowing Peach Tree... A heavenly plant that swallows the Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth, nurturing its own Essence through it before releasing it purer, devoid of impurities...'

'Hence, the area surrounding the tree is heavily beneficial to cultivation: this is the reason why it was placed in the Inner Sect.'

The Profound Heaven Sect is divided in three areas.

First is the Outer Sect. Most new disciples will be placed here upon entering the Sect and become Outer Disciples, obtaining a residence, an artefact and monthly resources.

An Outer Disciple can ascend to the Inner Sect through a sect competition or upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm before fifty years of age. Or being talented enough to enter the Inner Sect directly after admission. The environnement of the Inner Sect is better conductive to cultivation and the treatment of its disciples is higher, with better resources, stronger artefacts and a superior residence with one or two servants.

Finally at the top of the many mountain peaks of the Sky Reaching Mountains are the various Halls and Pavillions' main offices. In each of these mountain peaks, the power of Heaven and Earth converges, making the Spiritual Qi denser and the environnement even better than the Inner Sect.

Next to each of these main offices is a Core Disciple Residence in which resides a Core Disciple cultivated as the successor of the Hall or Pavillion. The difference in treatment between the Core Disciples and the others is akin to the difference between Heaven and Earth. Core Disciples are cultivated as the next generation of Head Elders and as such, are entitled to a certain number of high-grade resources and equipment.

Looking at the noble and imposing Peach Tree, Yu Weiyuan fell in reminiscence once more.

'It is here that Master and I parted ways...' He sighed with a little sorrow as he offered a new prayer. 'I hope your Immortal Soul has reincarnated safely and that you can grow up safely and happily, and reach a higher realm of swordsmanship as you always wanted.'

Then, he released a chuckle. 'If you were here, you would probably chide me from being absent-minded and berate me for being too prone to nostalgia. Or you would laugh at my dazed appearance, mocking me for losing my bearings, haha.'

Yu Weiyuan's chuckle died down as he sighed once more. 'It should be time for me to see her.'

The young Sect Master is someone decisive. As soon as he thought it, he did it. He departed from the Peach Courtyard, coming back towards the mountain peak topped by his own Sect Master Mansion.

While he took his time, walking through the path paved with carved white stones slithering through the forest of spiritual trees resplending with a thriving green colour, he could distinguish his Mansion in the distance, but also his former lodgings, the Prime Disciple Residence, at a closer distance to him.

Yet, Yu Weiyuan entered neither of the buildings. He continued walking until he reached a small bamboo hut in the back mountain, similarly located in a bamboo forest.

He stood before the door, taking a deep breath before calling: "Sister!"

Hearing no reaction from within, he shouted again.

"Sister! Sister!" As the silence remained, he gritted his teeth. 'It's only because it's you that I'm willing to forgo a little bit of dignity...'

"Sister!" Hearing no response, a bit of a blush reached his cheeks as he shouted "It's Little Wei, your beloved Little Brother!"

'Argh!!! I'm so damn ashamed!!!' Yu Weiyuan shouted in his mind. 'How could the exalted Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sect even say this!'

But as he heard no reaction once more, he started to become worried. 'What happened to her?!"

"I'm entering!" He opened the door to the hut, and the scenery that graced is eyes didn't please him a bit.

His blood ran cold as he could distinguich the silhouette of a woman curling up on the corner of a stone bed, holding her knees close to her, hiding her face behind them. Her long hair was dishevelled. it fell down like cascades of spilled ink on all sides of her body.

The most peculiar thing about her was the three feet long bamboo sword lodged in her armpit of which she held the hilt with her two hands, gripping tightly, seemingly wanting to never let go.

"Sister..." Yu Weiyuan nearly choked as he tried his best to stiffle the heavy distress that wrenched his gut.

Responding to his earnest plea was only a hoarse voice. "Go away..."

'Sister...' Yu Weiyuan exhaled, releasing a breath of heavy emotions. 'Has your father's death affected you so much?'

Yes.

Before Yu Weiyuan was the daughter of the late Sect Master Lu Yingjie, Lu Ai.

When the nine years old Yu Weiyuan came to the Profound Heaven Sect as her father's disciple and successor, the seventeen years old Lu Ai wasn't jealous nor envious but enthusiastic.

After all, Lu Ai had grown up without knowing her mother, and Lu Yingjie had always refused to talk about her. Even if her father loved her with all his heart, taught her carefully and spoiled her willfully, her heart was void of her mother's love.

The teenage Lu Ai had filled this void by being for the young Yu Weiyuan someone akin to a motherly elder sister, smothering him, taking care of him and giving him little nicknames.

When he grew out of his childhood, he was very ashamed of all this nicknames and refused to answer when she called him with them, but now, Yu Weiyuan would accept all the nicknames of the world if that could cheer up his lifeless elder sister.

"No. I won't leave you like this, Sister." He walked to the bed, and sat next to her, showing her his back, knowing she didn't want her little brother to see her like this.

"Hm." She only hummed in agreement, obviously knowing Yu Weiyuan's stubborness.

"Do you know?" He began, his voice light, as if talking about common. "Fifteen days ago, I lured three Elders of the Myriad Demon Temple to my hometown."

She raised her head from her knees, her spiritless emerald-coloured eyes regaining a bit of their light.

"I killed them." He said gently. "In my own hands."

Her beautiful face, with skin as white as snow, showed a little expression and her gem-like eyes brightened for a moment before dimming again. "What use had your revenge?"

"Father is still dead."

"You're right." Yu Weiyuan began, his voice still gentle. "I was selfish."

"I quenched my grief through murder and killing. Just like I did in the past. Just like I will do in the future."

As she heard Yu Weiyuan, Lu Ai was distressed for him. When her father died, she felt broken. Her heart had no trace of her mother. Only her father had a place within. When he left, she felt empty. In the sect he had left behind, every single place stirred up her memories.

She was scared to get out of her hut and be remembered of her heart-wrenching sadness and grief. But even when she was alone, she couldn't let go of the bamboo sword her father had carved for her when she was still nothing but a child.

Now, when she saw Yu Weiyuan again, she remembered how her little brother was not prone to show all his emotions. Ever since the events of the Dragon Tomb Secret Realm, his outlet for them had always been his Killing Intent.

The anguish she felt for her little brother reminded her at last that even though her father had died, Yu Weiyuan was still here.

She didn't say anything, but indulged a bit in the comfort his presence brought her.

"You know..." Yu Weiyuan continued, his voice still serene. "When I came back from my hometwon, I was stopped by the father and son of the Divine Sword Mountain Sect."

"They wanted to duel the personnal disciple of Lu Yingjie to wash away the shame of losing the title of Sword King to him."

As Yu Weiyuan remained silent, Lu Ai couldn't help but satisfy her curiosity. "What happened then?"

"I refused." He answered, looking back at her with a warm smile. "I said I wasn't the heir to his legacy."

Lu Ai widened her eyes in astonishment as Yu Weiyuan's gentle voice continued. "Sister."

"Even if I wanted to, I can not claim the title of Sword King and honor Master."

He looked at her in the eyes, slowly turning his body towards her, lowering his hand to move away the hair covering her bedazzling emerald eyes who started to slowly light up.

"Sister, you are the only one."

"After all, who can succeed Master as the Sword King better than his very own daughter Lu Ai, the famed Sword Princess, one of the Four Heavenly Beauties of the Crouching Dragon Domain?"

Right after she heard his words, an aura belonging to the Golden Core Realm burst out of Lu Ai's body as her lifeless temperament melted like the winter snow before the spring sunlight, becoming aloof, dignified and supremely sharp, akin to a peerless Immortal Sword falling from the High Heavens.

Inside her Dantian, the First-Grade Golden Core that floated above a shimmering Spiritual Sea slowly formed its Sixth Dao Marking, strengthening itself, attuning itself to Heaven and Earth through the truths Lu Ai had comprehended from her cultivation.

Lu Ai stood up from the bed, her eyes shining with renewed determination.

Her voice lost its hoarseness, regaining its silvery tone as she said unwaveringly:

"No one can inherit Father's Will apart for me!!!"

She raised her bamboo sword in the air, ethereal and mysterious Sword Intent coiling around its blade.

"I will take his sword arts to the peak of the world and beyond it!!!"