Young Miss Qiang

Xiaoling had Weisheng set his sword aside. There was more to learn before they could jump into physical training. 

"Let me teach you about the Cursed Eye," Xiaoling said, gesturing to one of the scrolls, "Pick the one written on a silk scroll. It has a metallic pink pattern outside. It looks ancient." 

Weisheng ran his hands through the pile of scrolls. He found the scroll with similar characteristics. He handed the scroll over to Xiaoling. She received it, running her fingers over the text. 

Xiaoling cleared her throat, "The Cursed Eye is an ancient demonic curse created by the Supreme Demon Lord 10,000 years ago. In the Tian War, the Supreme Demon Lord was sealed in the Underworld by Lord Hou Hai, who was a God of War at that time." She explained, "Lord Hou Hai stepped down from his position after the war. His whereabouts are unknown. Also, it's necessary to note that the Supreme Demon Lord was sealed and not banished." 

Weisheng raised an eyebrow, "What difference does it make?" 

"The Supreme Demon Lord was an entity that our mere Spiritual Weapons couldn't compete with. He was the controller of curses, spirits, and hellfire. Simply put, he wasn't an entity we could banish. Even the God of War couldn't banish him. Therefore, he was sealed in the Underworld, where he still lives and feeds off the negative spiritual energy." Xiaoling explained, "If he didn't exist, his ancient curses wouldn't exist either. So, you being the wielder of the Cursed Eye prove that the Supreme Demon Lord is alive." 

Weisheng nodded, "Do we know anything else about this curse other than the fact that the Supreme Demon Lord created it?" 

"There's lore if you're interested," Xiaoling shrugged, "But it's more of a rumor than fact." 

"I would still like to know," Weisheng replied. He didn't realize how immersed he had gotten in his studies. 

"People say that the Supreme Demon Lord was originally a regular mortal, which is quite possible and believable. As a mortal, he owned a brothel. He loved a woman who worked as a musician in his brothel. Something happened between them and the woman died in the process," Xiaoling explained, "He couldn't take the sorrow, creating the Cursed Eye to get back at the people who caused the death of his loved one." She added, "But if you ask me, it sounds like a mere rumor. The Supreme Demon Lord was cruel and vile. I don't think he could even fall in love." 

Weisheng narrowed his eyes, "Why do you think such a rumor surfaced? There's always a reason behind rumors, right?" 

Xiaoling nodded, "You're right. I'm afraid I don't know the details. I only know what the common people talk about." She shrugged. 

Weisheng confusedly laid back in his chair. He wasn't sure what that story could mean for him. 

"Anyway," Xiaoling murmured, "What we know about the Cursed Eye is limited. Even with the rumors, we don't know if someone actually wielded this curse. The only way I knew you had it was because your eyes turn pink every time the curse surfaces. I read this in a text. And the way you were controlled by the curse the other day, I'm sure you wield it." She explained, "Unfortunately," She sighed, "That's all we know. We don't know how to lift it, cure it, destroy it… anything. We don't know anything." 

Weisheng opened his mouth to ask a question when he heard footsteps on his right. He saw Ru walking toward the pavilion with a red-haired lady. The lady was wearing a short silk Qipao with shoulder cutouts. She was wearing her hair in a bun. 

"Did someone show up?" Xiaoling asked Weisheng as she slowly stood up. 

The red-haired lady quickly ran up to the pavilion and hugged Xiaoling from the side. "Big sister!" She exclaimed, squeezing Xiaoling in her arms. Weisheng narrowed his eyes in confusion. Xiaoling looked much younger than the girl. 

Xiaoling chuckled softly, slowly patting the lady's head, "Where had you been, A'Qiang?" 

The lady named Qiang retreated her arms, giggling in response. 

"Leave it," Xiaoling smiled, quickly diminishing it and frowning, "A'Qiang, you arrived on a great time," She murmured in a concerned tone, "I lost my sight because of this man!" She pointed at Weisheng, catching him off-guard. 

Qiang turned her head to look at Weisheng in surprise, who was still seated. 

"Teach him a lesson for me, would you?" Xiaoling grinned. Ru quickly walked up to her and guided her away from the pavilion. They stood far away to watch the show. 

Weisheng gulped as his eyes met with the Qiang girl, "M-Master!" He called Xiaoling desperately. 

Qiang scoffed, snapping her fingers to summon her deadly weapon. Weisheng's eyes widened, and his hands trembled to reach for his crusty sword upon looking at Qiang's fierce double swords. Before he could properly hold the hilt, Qiang swung her two swords in harmony at Weisheng. 

He panickingly stumbled down the pavilion, holding his single sword with two hands. Qiang glared back at him. 

"What a weakling!" She sneered, "How dare you hurt my Big Sister?!" She shouted while charging toward Weisheng. 

Weisheng's mind told him to block the two powerful swords with his terrible sword, but his body made him run away from the spot, dodging Qiang's attack. Qiang's double swords were large and mighty. However, their drawback was quite obvious even for someone as naive as Weisheng. 

They were heavy, and each attack required an enormous amount of strength. Their heaviness made Qiang's movement slow and predictable. 

Qiang scoffed, glaring at him again, "You think I'm slow and predictable?" She asked as if she read his mind, "Think again, weakling!" She shouted, running a chill down Weisheng's spine. 

Before Weisheng could process it, Qiang stood behind him with her swords crossed around his neck. His eyes widened in shock, and his body failed to move a single inch. It would only take Qiang one pull to end his life. 

But Qiang looked back at Xiaoling, keeping her swords in place, "Do I kill him?" She asked innocently. 

Xiaoling smiled, "No, no," She shook her head, "I was just joking. I wanted you to train him. He's my student, Weisheng. The one you fetched case reports for." 

Qiang sighed disappointingly, "No wonder he's a weakling," She murmured. 

In an instant, her double swords vanished into thin air. Weisheng instantly fell to the ground, taking a deep breath. He looked back at Xiaoling in disbelief. She was so cunning, it was scary. 

Xiaoling chuckled softly, stretching her arm for Qiang to grab, "Let's go fix my eyes, Young Miss Qiang," She murmured, "Ru, go tend to Weisheng before he starts crying," She whispered to Ru.