World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 15: First Descent from the Mountains

Manipulating objects with one's mind was a skill that only cultivators in the Seed Formation Realm could utilize!

Li Shiwu's eyes lit up as he nodded eagerly, fearing that Qing Yanzi would change his mind. "Senior Brother, let Bu Yu and Fei Yu come with me! I promise they won't suffer any mistreatment."

"I'm planning to. I want them to go out and see the world," Qing Yanzi replied. "All this time, they've been cultivating even more diligently than I have."

Li Shiwu chuckled sarcastically. "Being diligent in cultivation is a good thing."

"But being too diligent is also a cause for concern. Especially my second disciple—he's a sword maniac. In a few more years, I might not even know what to teach him about the Dao of the Sword anymore."

Qing Yanzi laughed and sighed, but his words were tinged with a hint of pride.

Feeling a bit awkward, Wang Sheng smiled and tugged on his senior sister's sleeve. The two bowed and returned to the courtyard.

As the two Daoist masters continued exchanging polite pleasantries and negotiating benefits inside the room, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan exchanged a smile and went to cool off under the shade of a tree outside.

Qing Yanzi didn't just want to have his two disciples descend the mountains for the sake of experience. He also had a "small" request, which Li Shiwu readily agreed to.

If everything went smoothly, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan would have their Daoist priest certifications secured upon their return.

Registering as official Daoists came with numerous benefits. Currently, the most significant one was gaining a formal title, which would make things more convenient for Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan in the future.

It seemed they would depart almost immediately. Once the arrangements were finalized, Li Shiwu engaged in casual conversation with Qing Yanzi's disciples for a few minutes before notifying them that they would leave the following morning.

In the evening, Wang Sheng helped Mu Wanxuan pack her luggage. He had already reached the point where he could calmly organize his senior sister's personal belongings without batting an eye. Her undergarments were growing increasingly diverse and elegant, though. Hence, he couldn't help but feel slight ripples in his heart every now and then.

Ahem. Dao Heart. Dao Heart.

Since his senior sister had little experience interacting with outsiders, Wang Sheng had to be extra mindful.

Starting that afternoon, he repeatedly reminded her of several things.

"Don't let your phone leave your side once we've descended the mountains. If your battery is low, charge it with the power bank. Don't casually talk to strangers, and don't go into anyone else's car. The men down there can't be trusted. And, no matter what, you have to take care of me..."

It was like a nagging parent giving instructions to a child who was about to travel far away.

With her pure-hearted nature and almost celestial beauty, Wang Sheng genuinely feared she would get taken advantage of.

After all, unlike the serene and carefree life on the mountain, the world below was fraught with dangers.

That night, Qing Yanzi called Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan over for a lecture. He instructed them to remain humble and calm, never bully the weak, and refrain from flaunting their Daoist arts. They were also to maintain a low profile wherever possible.

Wang Sheng thumped his chest with confidence. "Rest assured, Master! I excel at staying low-key!"

He then smoothed his shoulder-length hair as he resolved to adopt the persona of an elegant art student for their journey.

However, early the next morning, while meditating on his wooden bed, Wang Sheng overheard voices in the courtyard. Curiosity getting the best of him, he followed the sound.

Ugh...

In the soft glow of dawn, he found Mu Wanxuan dressed in a light-blue Hanfu gown with flowing sleeves, her hair styled in a traditional bun. As she twirled gracefully, her emerald-green skirt fluttered around her like a celestial being stepping out of a painting.

Wang Sheng was utterly mesmerized.

Wasn't that the Han-style dress that he had gifted her for New Year's? Why was she wearing it now?

With a serious expression, Qing Yanzi nodded in satisfaction. "This is the right dress. An elder once said that appearance is the most important when wandering the Jianghu. Little Sheng, go put on your blue Daoist robe and stand next to your senior sister. Let me take some good photos of you two."

Really, Master? Is this what you meant by low profile?

Wang Sheng groaned, covering his face with his hand. He found himself suddenly far less enthusiastic about the journey.

The Daoist robe that Wang Sheng had worn during his initiation ceremony had long since become too small. Hence, Qing Yanzi had commissioned the village tailor earlier to make two new sets for him.

One was azure blue, with soft fabric and wide sleeves that fluttered in the wind—a formal outfit designed to highlight Wang Sheng's tall and slender frame.

The other was navy blue, made from simple cotton with drawstrings at the cuffs and ankles. It was meant for sword practice and combat, combining practicality with a touch of elegance. Wang Sheng preferred the second set—it was inconspicuous and less flashy. The first one felt a bit too extravagant for his taste.

Since disciples descending the mountain had to wear Daoist attire, Wang Sheng donned the navy-blue one. With his long hair tied back with a simple green ribbon and a sheathed ancient sword in his arms, he now exuded the air of refined elegance of a young Daoist priest.

He and his senior sister then posed for countless photos for their master.

To be fair, despite Qing Yanzi's occasional eccentricities, he was an excellent mentor.

After the resurgence of primal qi, many accomplished Daoist masters on the Wudang Mountains had retreated into seclusion, unwilling to let anyone disturb their pursuit of destiny. Unlike them, Qing Yanzi didn't neglect his disciples. Instead, he regularly checked on Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan's cultivation progress, ensuring they stayed on the right path.

Even more admirable was his fairness. He treated his disciples equally, never favoring Mu Wanxuan for being a woman or Wang Sheng for being the junior. Whenever he taught them, he always had them learn together. He would spend hours on topics like the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams and the Seven Stars, ensuring they had a broad foundation and could cross-verify their understanding.

As Wang Sheng's mastery of the Seven-Star Sword Formation grew more profound and his comprehension of sword intent reached perfection, progressing further in the Dao of the Sword now required not just relentless practice but also a deeper sense of enlightenment. Hence, Qing Yanzi taught Wang Sheng a rather intricate palm technique called Flourishing Dead Leaves.

However, Wang Sheng seemed utterly disinterested. After mastering it, he still clung to his trusty square-dancing iron sword, practicing relentlessly every day. Adhering to principles, he constantly applied the phrase "read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will naturally reveal itself" to Daoist cultivation methods.

Seeing his disciple's obsession with the Dao of the Sword, Qing Yanzi felt both gratified and slightly concerned.

Ultimately, cultivation focused on one's personal path. If they became overly fixated on techniques and neglected the Dao, it would be akin to picking up sesame seeds while losing a watermelon—a shortsighted and unwise approach.

Nevertheless, since his disciple enjoyed it, Qing Yanzi let him be, stepping in only to supervise from time to time.

***

In the small courtyard bathed in morning light, the short table still held the leftovers of their breakfast—half-eaten pickles and bowls of porridge that hadn't been completely finished.

Although Qing Yanzi and Mu Wanxuan were capable of fasting, years of habit kept them adhering to three meals a day. Moreover, since Wang Sheng had yet to form his Dao Seed, he still needed to eat.

After breakfast, Qing Yanzi accompanied them to the courtyard gate, where Wang Sheng and his senior sister stood side by side, listening to their master's repeated instructions.

"Stay humble; avoid arrogance. Don't stir up trouble, don't bully the weak, and if you're unsure about anything, call me."

"Little Sheng," Qing Yanzi said, "you've been here on the mountains for three years. As the saying goes, ‘While your parents are alive, you shouldn't travel far. If you must travel, have a purpose.' It's time for you to visit home. Once your tasks are complete, take your senior sister with you to spend a few days at your parents' house. I'll reimburse you for the train tickets."

Wang Sheng chuckled softly in response. His master's suggestion reminded him that he, too, longed for home.

"Off you go, then. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll return."

Waving his hand, Qing Yanzi bid them farewell. Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan bowed their heads and replied in unison, "Thank you, Master."

Wang Sheng added, "Please take care of yourself while we're away."

"Mm."

Wang Sheng turned around and picked up their suitcases, both of which were covered in stickers of popular characters from trendy historical anime series—courtesy of his senior sister.

As they passed through the forest, their master disappeared from view. Wang Sheng felt a swirl of emotions in his heart.

Glancing at his senior sister, who was clad in a flowing Han-style dress and looking as though she had descended from the heavens, Wang Sheng resolved firmly that he would not let her suffer any mistreatments while they were away.

That being said, if his senior sister continued wearing such attire... Wang Sheng hesitated but ultimately held his tongue.

Mu Wanxuan tilted her head slightly.

Never mind. She likes dressing this way, and it's not like her outfit is against sect rules. Why would anyone forbid someone so beautiful from walking down the street anyway?

Wang Sheng wasn't worried about anyone daring to harass his senior sister. His concern lay more in what could happen if she retaliated. A single slap from her, and her Dual Principles could spawn Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams to overturn heaven and earth.

Needless to say, the aftermath would be troublesome to handle.

Today's lawful society was nothing like the ancient days of limited communication—justice would inevitably be served.

Cultivators couldn't disregard the law either. Chivalry required discretion; rashly injuring or killing others was out of the question. Qing Yanzi had emphasized this point repeatedly in his teachings to both disciples.

Wang Sheng reminded her, "Senior Sister, if anyone tries to take photos of you, just ignore them. Avoid harming anyone."

"Okay," Mu Wanxuan replied without hesitation.

However, there was a trace of confusion in her gaze; she was clearly unsure of what Wang Sheng meant.

Before they could even reach the parking lot at the mountain gate, a group of morning worshippers and disciples from the Wudang Mountains had already begun gathering on the path, subtly forming a circle around them. If not for the faint sword intent that Wang Sheng—who stayed beside Mu Wanxuan—emanated to deter anyone from approaching too closely, someone might have already stepped forward to hit on her or ask for her contact information.

Mu Wanxuan's gaze swept over the crowd. A few people had even turned on their camera flash to snap photos, making her frown slightly.

"Martial Uncle Li is waiting for us. Let's ignore them and hurry," Wang Sheng said in a hushed tone.

The two then picked up the pace. At the end of the day, the Wudang Mountains were a tranquil place for cultivation. Onlookers would take a few pictures out of curiosity but refrained from any inappropriate behavior.

At the edge of the parking lot was a bus adorned with a banner that read, "Wudang Mountains Traditional Martial Arts Exchange Group."

Inside it were over a dozen teenagers in Daoist robes and four Daoist priests around Wang Sheng's age. They stared at Mu Wanxuan intently as she walked toward them.

Outside the bus, a few middle-aged Daoist masters chatted with their fly-whisks in hand, occasionally glancing at Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan.

While the young Daoist priests remained relatively composed, the younger disciples were quite animated.

"Is that one of our senior sisters? Wait, are they carrying luggage? They're coming with us?"

"Did you get a picture? Did you?"

"Wow, did she come down from heaven? She's beautiful."

"When did such a stunning female disciple join the Wudang Mountains? Looks like Martial Uncle Li is going to greet them! Looks like they're coming with us!"

As Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan approached while exuding otherworldly auras, Li Shiwu took the initiative to step off the bus and greet them warmly. After exchanging a few words, he led the two into the bus.

"Everyone," Li Shiwu called, gesturing to the middle-aged Daoist masters nearby. "These are Senior Brother Qing Yanzi's beloved and highly skilled disciples. They are here to support us." freёnovelkiss.com

Having already heard of Mu Wanxuan's prowess, the Daoist masters greeted the pair with serious expressions.

Wang Sheng smiled gently. "Greetings, martial uncles. I am Wang Sheng, Daoist name Fei Yu. My senior sister is shy and not very talkative, so if there are any instructions, please direct them to me."

The Daoist masters' stern expressions softened into kind smiles.

"As expected of Senior Brother Qing Yanzi's students, you two are polite, well-mannered, and full of charm."

"Come, come. Add us on YouChat. I'm from the Changyun Temple."

"Let's add them to the group chat for this event. That'll make it easier to communicate."

Wang Sheng felt a few imaginary beads of sweat form on his forehead.