Page: Yearning

A month has already passed since the last time Yue and her friends saw each other. After being taken to the sect master's residence, all she had to do is to cultivate. Although Yue has now been able to elevate her status, she felt like she lost something precious in return. Being a youngster at her age, there were a lot of things that she started to miss. They were the moments she had with the precious people in her life. When moments like this occur, she tries to immerse herself in practicing her skills to the point of near exhaustion. Other than cultivation, this was her routine everyday.

"Little miss, master asked you to visit his courtyard." A voice came from the entrance of her room. Yue immediately stopped from what she's doing and went to meet the person.

"Sister Wu, I'll be changing in a minute."

Yue's sister Wu is a servant of the place. It was her that was assigned to look for Yue's needs and at the same time maintain her place in good shape. Although she is a maid, Yue calls her as sister since they get along well and she's the only person she can talk to in this place.

After changing, both made y way to the master's place.

"Sister Wu, do you know why I'm being summoned by master?" Yue was trying to think of any reason why she's being called.

"Little miss, this servant can't dare to assume but I saw master Chen entering the place."

Yue reached the place and entered. Inside there were three people on an empty space. One was the master, and the other two were the senior disciple and Chen Weimin. Yue gave her greeting and proceeded to the empty space.

"You're all here. I have something to announce." The sect master's voice was deep. "Today, I would like to see your progress in your cultivation and your own chosen skills. Last time, I gave you permission to choose a skill from my library. I would like to see how you trained well. Chem Weimin, Yue, you two will spar first. Whoever wins will receive a guidance from your senior brother. We'll start within five minutes."

Yue and Chen Weimin looked at each other. "Sister Yue, I won't go easy on you. Please be on guard."

Chen Weimin was a competitive person. Ever since he was taken in as a personal disciple, he had always wanted to make a good impression in front of the sect leader. Now, although he is confronted to a girl younger than him, he would not hesitate to give his all.

"Brother Weimin, I would like to say the same. Let's show our utmost best in front of master." Yue spoke in a confident tone. Although his fellow disciple is older, they both entered the place at the same time, received the same resources and were guided together. Both would be on the same level and only skills will dictate the victor.

"Sister Yue, we both are on the 4th layer of flesh tempering stage but I have already reached the peak of initial success in my <Dragon Jade Palm>, a Sky rank martial skill. I wonder how you fared on the skill you have chosen from master's library?"

"Brother Weimin, I have also chosen the same skill as it was recommended by our master but I'm a bit behind compared to you. However, I'll warn you not to let your guard down. You might regret it. By the way, I will be using a wooden sword." Yue warned. In terms of strength, there is no much difference since they have the same level of cultivation. The only difference they have is that one of them is practicing two martial skills at the same time while the other had only learned one from the library. Although Yue is a bit behind in training the <Dragon jade palm>, she had another ace and that is the <Sky Sword of Critical Strikes>. After having the essence core, Yue discovered during her practice that the skill was somewhat deep and mysterious. From what she knows, Long Bai had introduced the skill to be Earth rank however after practicing with the integration of essence, the skill have became more stronger and mystifying.

After five minutes have passed, the two junior disciples stood up from their meditative stance and gave the greetings to their master, after that to each other. It is always a custom to give respect to the opposing team when a friendly match is going to happen. With their senior's signal, the sparring started.

Yue was calm and composed while the opposition was aggressive. Chen Weimin took the initiative to show his skills.

<Dragon Jade palm>! There was a follow-through of gusty wind from his palm. Yue tried to counter it with the same skill but she was pushed back two steps instead.

"Haha! Sister Yue, Take another one from me!" Chen Weimin became more arrogant after the first try showed that his palm was really stronger. This time, he tried to close some distance to make the palm strike even more efficient. When both were at two meters distance apart, Weimin made another palm strike but this time Yue pulled out her wooden sword from her waist. Like a samurai stance, leaning sideways while facing the enemy with the sword on head level pointing at the incoming enemy, Yue executed a sword skill at the intermediate success. There was a clash of gusty wind and a sharp wind edge on the courtyard.

<Dragon Jade Palm!> <Head Stab!>

Dust covered the entire fighting area for a short time. After the dust settled down, the sect master and the senior disciple saw a boy laying on his back to the ground. Chen Weimin was grovelling on the dusty ground with a pained expression.

Although the wind generated by Weimin's palm was strong, it was punctured by the sharp nature of Yue's stab causing her strike to dissipate the nucleus of the palm skill. The remaining force that was left was responsible of injuring Weimin causing him to fall to the ground. With the sect's observant eyes, he was able to see the skill level difference from the bout but the thing that made him curious was the skill Yue used. From his knowledge, there was no such skill from his library.

Chen Weimin recovered from the the hit, stood with both feet and yelled at Yue. It was something he can't accept.

"You.. Did you stole another skill book from master's library? As far as I remember, master only allowed us to pick one. There's no way you can have two martial skills when we only entered a month ago. How will you explain this to master?" Chen Weimin felt humiliated for being defeated by a girl of a younger age. More over, she possesses two martial skills. If his speculation is true, Yue would be punished or even more, banished from the sect. If such case will happen, then he will remain and be able to garner more attention from the sect leader.

Yue slowly approached the sect master's area and gave her salutations.

"Master, Yue won the fight fair and square. Please give me your guidance."

"What fair and square? You cheated! Tere's no way..."

"Shut it! Behaving such in front of master. You're no better than a thug who never resorts to reason." Yang Kai, the senior disciple interrupted Weimin before ho would do more blunder. Although Yang Kai has also his own speculations, he wouldn't dare make accusations in front of the sect elder. If there's stolen in the library, the sect master would definitely know. This was his thoughts after seeing his master keeping his silent. Chen Weimin on the other hand can't do anything but clench his hand and grit his teeth while thinking about his humiliation.

Yue waited for the master's words while holding her pose. After three breaths of time, she heard the master asking question.

"Little Yue, you showed us a good fight. The skill you executed was strong and holds a some profound nature. Can you tell your master how you learned this skill?"

Yue heard her master's response and immediately relaxed her tense body. She thought he would be mad.

"Master, you're not mad?"

"Hahaha. Why would I be mad when you did nothing wrong? If you stole something from me, I will know it. Now, will you tell your master?"

Yue was in a pinch. She could not definitely disclose the origin of her skill set but then, she is also facing her master. She can't be ungrateful to both so she thought of a careful response.

"Master, before I entered the sect, I was fortunate enough to be taught by a kind person who saw me as I am. I don't want to be ungrateful to master for not replying well, but then I can't also be ungrateful to the kind person who gave me hope. I hope master will forgive me."

Yue bowed deeply to express her sincerity to her master and to her most cherished brother whom she remembered at the moment.

"Hmm. Stand and be proud of your accomplishments. To learn such profound skill is also my benefit since you are my disciple. If that master of yours will learn that I punished you because you showed good progress, how will I face him in the future? Everyone have their own fortune."

The outcome of the conversation came out fine. After the talk, each junior disciple had another round but with Yang Kai.

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Sect leader and Yang Kai

"Master, were you able to recognize the skill little Yue used from the fight a while ago?"

"Unfortunately, no. This is the first time for me witnessing such fighting style. You did a back ground check didn't you?"

"Yes master but the information tells me that she's just from an ordinary background. Although she used to work for a big family, her parents were undoubtely just commoners."

"Hmm.. keep digging, maybe there's more to it. Maybe its her fruitious encounter with an expert that contributed to her talent. That expert might have been from the central continent if I'm not wrong. The five school alliance does not have such kind of martial skill so the most plausible guess would be the central continent. If she's related with someone from the central continent, the more that we need to know. The info might help us in the future."

"Yes master."