Qu Weichen spent all three days of her end-of-month break cultivating.
Now, she practiced standing meditation while expanding the circulation of her “qi,” trying to include her lower limbs.
When the “qi” flowed to her hands, she kept trying to channel it into her dagger.
Unfortunately, no matter how many times she tried, it wasn’t that easy to succeed.
Still, at least she had a clear direction to work toward.
If she could cultivate to the point where her “qi” could leave her body, wouldn’t she be able to hurt people with a flick of a leaf or a flower? Maybe her dagger could even unleash a “qi” slash.
The path of the martial artist… Qu Weichen felt even more motivated.
“Use qi circulation to temper your body and bones.
Keep the qi flowing naturally, so you can mobilize it instantly for attack or defense,” Constance said, watching Qu Weichen’s stance and nodding slightly, clearly satisfied.
During her time at the academy, this kid really hadn’t slacked off.
Pleased with her, Constance also asked a little about Qu Weichen’s life at the academy.
“Did you make any friends there?”
“Yeah, I did.” Qu Weichen took note of Constance’s advice.
With a bit of focus, she could feel the nourishing and tempering effects of the qi’s circulation.
As for making friends…
Qu Weichen thought of how, after finally memorizing all the magic incantations and gestures, and getting the mana flow just right, just as she was about to cast a simple fireball, the supposedly foolproof spell exploded, blowing her and Tu Weierxi both sky-high.
—Luckily, it was only a first-tier spell, so the blast wasn’t too bad.
Qu Weichen rubbed her nose, a bit helpless.
“I made a few kind elf friends.
They’re so enthusiastic and so nice.
I have no talent for magic, and lately I’ve been driving them up the wall.” Although it was Tu Weierxi teaching her, after the first explosion, the other three elves mercilessly teased Tu Weierxi about her teaching skills, then eagerly joined in to help teach Qu Weichen magic.
All in all, it’s just a month.
Explosions? Just grit your teeth and get through it.
“Elves, huh.
They really are talented at magic,” Constance said with feeling.
“Those basic first-tier spells are useful later on, so learn what you can.
If you really have no talent at all… then just focus on the martial path.”
“Yeah, I know what I’m doing.”
“That’s enough for today.
Get some rest.
Go to the academy by yourself tomorrow, I won’t see you off.” Constance patted Qu Weichen’s shoulder.
“I asked the Hall Master about what you mentioned before, but there’s no answer yet.
Maybe the Hall Master will come find you.”
“…Okay.” Qu Weichen instinctively thought of the beautiful Hall Master who had comforted her in the courtyard that night.
She pressed her lips together and answered softly.
[Why are you getting all emotional? It’s just a pretty face, everyone’s got one.] Qu Weichen: You don’t.
[???] Number Nine was stunned.
It hadn’t expected Qu Weichen to snap back so quickly.
Qu Weichen: Stop thinking weird stuff.
I just feel like there’s something off about the Hall Master, but I can’t put my finger on it.
Mainly, she didn’t know enough.
There were plenty of rumors, but who knew what was true? Some of the gossip was ridiculous—some said the Hall Master seduced the previous Hall Master, tricked him into giving up his life and the whole Sanctuary, and called her a vixen who used dirty tricks.
But if you thought about it, that didn’t make sense.
It was just one previous Hall Master, but this Hall Master had the whole Prison Sanctuary convinced.
How could one person just hand it all over? Were the Sanctuary’s soldiers all idiots? As for the other rumors about the Hall Master “often showing up at various places with different beautiful young men and women”—who knew if that was true, but Qu Weichen thought about it seriously and didn’t find it hard to accept.
It’s a fantasy world, who cares about other people’s social lives? [That Hall Master tried to charm you!] Number Nine was one hundred percent on guard against the Hall Master.
It said seriously, [Did you forget how you felt the first time you met her? Even though I couldn’t detect what she did, you definitely weren’t acting normal!]
Qu Weichen: …I wasn’t even charmed by her, you’re overreacting.
She paused, then said seriously to Number Nine: Look at me.
My looks are just as good, and I’m the same gender as her.
I’m only unsettled because she’s hard to read, not for any other reason.
While explaining to Number Nine, Qu Weichen walked toward the courtyard.
It wasn’t fully dark yet, so after a bath she could read for a while, then keep working on her cultivation.
But as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she froze.
Under the purple-pink clouds, a tall woman in a white robe stood by a tree, back straight, reaching up to hook a branch with tiny flowers.
The pale yellow blossoms bloomed at her fingertips.
She stood in a patch of golden light, her robe outlining a slender waist.
Just standing there, she turned her head, her long black hair swaying slightly, and her light brown eyes caught the sunset as she looked at Qu Weichen.
“You’re back early today.”
Qu Weichen heard her laugh softly.
She pulled herself together, blocking out Number Nine’s sudden, frantic warnings in her mind, and replied, “The Hall Master already told the head of the guards.
It’s only right that I’m back early.”
“Did you come for something today, ma’am?”
“You want to go out for training?” The Hall Master’s lips seemed to always hold a gentle smile.
Her eyes curved, making her look even kinder and softer.
Those light brown eyes seemed to shimmer with water, or like finely polished gems. Just looking at her, there was a sense of endless vitality.
She broke off a yellow blossom from the branch, lowered her head as if admiring it, gently poking the stamen.
After Qu Weichen answered “yes,” she asked softly, “So, do you want to hunt magical beasts, or kill some undead?”
“I’m not strong enough, I can only hunt low-level magical beasts.” Qu Weichen paused.
“I can’t handle undead.”
“Want to take a trip to the Abyss?” The little flower in her palm was poked again and again, a few petals falling as the Hall Master casually tossed them aside.
She looked up at Qu Weichen again, saw her tense expression, and laughed.
“I’m just joking, didn’t mean to scare you.
The Prison Sanctuary hasn’t conquered the Abyss yet.
After all, I have a lot of conflicts of interest with certain people.”
“…Do you have a grudge with the Third Prince of the Imperial Capital?” Qu Weichen hesitated, biting her lip.
That wasn’t what she really wanted to ask, but… “Your Highness, was it you who orchestrated what happened to General Pingyuan’s son and daughter?” And those troublemakers at the academy in the beginning…
“I did use a few tricks.” The Hall Master didn’t avoid the question, her expression unchanged, that gentle smile never fading.
“As for the Third Prince, it’s just a conflict of interest.
I didn’t want to make things hard for him, but he acted against me out of fear, so I had to prepare a little gift for him.” The real big gift hadn’t even been delivered before he came to make peace… but that was within her expectations.
They hadn’t interacted much before, but she knew he was good at adapting.
“Does the Hall Master know charm magic? Or did you put some kind of mind-dulling drug in their food? Or maybe some special magic…”
[How can you just ask that directly?!] Number Nine’s voice sounded a bit shrill, like it couldn’t handle this turn of events.
But Qu Weichen ignored it, just looked seriously into those light brown eyes, not backing down at all.
“I just learned there are so many ways to do things.” The Hall Master’s expression didn’t change.
She looked at Qu Weichen, thought for a moment, then said, “But as for those, I’ll tell you when you’re more useful to me.”
“Is it strength, potential, or do you need me to kill someone?” Qu Weichen hesitated, then asked, “Or kill undead?”
“All of the above, of course.” The Hall Master said, “You’re so wary of me, of course I won’t tell you everything.”
Qu Weichen: “…” She fell silent, complaining to Number Nine in her heart: The Hall Master doesn’t seem to see me as a fourteen-year-old kid at all.
[Even an idiot wouldn’t reveal all their cards and secrets to a fourteen-year-old, right?] Number Nine replied instinctively.
“Are you mad now?” The Hall Master smiled and poked Qu Weichen’s cheek.
The sudden intimacy startled Qu Weichen so much that, if she hadn’t controlled herself, she would have jumped back a few steps.
Sensing her stiffness, the Hall Master seemed even more amused, poked her other cheek, then let go.
“Alright.
The academy is full of kids, none of them are my real enemies.
You don’t need to deal with anyone else.
As for training… next month on your break, have Constance take you to the outskirts of Beastcall Mountain to hunt magical beasts.”
“Dress nicely, keep yourself clean.
Play the part a little.
Not only can you fight magical beasts, but you might also get to deal with people with other intentions.
That counts as training too.” The Hall Master spoke softly, her tone gentle and calm.
“With Constance there, nothing will go wrong.”
“…Thank you, Hall Master.” Qu Weichen stepped back to bow, but as soon as she moved, the Hall Master caught her wrist.
She didn’t use any force, but Qu Weichen froze, not daring to move.
“You?”
“You’re still so young, no need to be so stiff and old-fashioned.” She didn’t do anything else, just put the remaining yellow flower in Qu Weichen’s hand, then strolled away.
“Rest early.”
Qu Weichen answered, and only after she was completely gone did she look at the yellow flower in her hand.
The poor thing barely had any petals left.
“What’s she giving me this for?” Qu Weichen asked mentally.
[Who knows? Maybe she just wants you to throw it away.] Number Nine said.
[Just don’t keep it.]
Qu Weichen stared silently at the flower for a while, then crushed it in her hand and let it fall into the dirt with the other fallen blossoms.
“I let my guard down,” Qu Weichen muttered.
“I need to work even harder.”
