Chapter 31. Gifted and Talented.
Wu’er possessed an exceptionally sharp intuition, honed by her years living among wolves from a young age, granting her the ability to sense danger.
When she saw Xiao Heng approaching, her instinct was to escape. She didn’t want any interaction with him, despite her master’s instructions for Xiao Heng to take care of her before leaving.
Wu’er began to suspect that Xiao Heng had ulterior motives. She could see the impure intent in his eyes, which made her instinctively guard against and reject him.
However, Xiao Heng remained persistent. He believed that Wu’er’s rejection stemmed from her lack of human interaction. He was convinced that given time, she would adapt and her wariness would fade.
His master had emphasized the importance of taking good care of Wu’er, and Xiao Heng was determined to honor that instruction.
During her stay at the Lishan Sword Sect, Wu’er never spoke. Having never interacted with humans before, her eyes constantly reflected caution and rejection. She remained a loner within the sect.
Unable to speak, she avoided interaction with others, staying mostly in the room the Sect Master had arranged for her.
It seemed the best arrangement for Wu’er, as she was not ready to live with others yet.
No one in the Lishan Sword Sect, not even the Sect Master, dared to bully Wu’er, as Elder Ming Zhe had instructed everyone to respect her.
The Sect Master showed considerable concern for Wu’er, trying to take care of her because of Elder Ming Zhe’s request, but Wu’er did not appreciate his efforts and similarly rejected him.
This reaction left the Sect Master feeling deeply embarrassed. Despite his dignified position, his goodwill was met with indifference, and there was little he could do about it.
Since Wu’er was under Elder Ming Zhe’s arrangement, the Sect Master eventually left her matters to Xiao Heng, intervening only if necessary.
After Elder Ming Zhe’s departure, the Sect Master’s attitude towards Wu’er became less cordial. He turned a blind eye to her, internally questioning his Martial Uncle’s decision, wondering if he had gone senile by bringing such a rebellious disciple to the Lishan Sword Sect, which he felt was an embarrassment to the sect.
However, since this was Elder Ming Zhe’s wish, the Sect Master did not dare to challenge it. He could only continue to let Wu’er stay in the sect and take good care of her, ensuring she stayed out of trouble.
Fortunately, Wu’er’s adaptability was quite remarkable. Understanding their language, she quickly acclimated to life in the sect.
Wu’er soon grasped the basic way of life in the sect. She joined meals with everyone and practiced alongside them, quickly adjusting to this new rhythm.
Presently, Wu’er seemed capable of coexisting peacefully with the other disciples.
In appearance, she was indistinguishable from the others. Her beautiful features and uniquely cold, aloof demeanor often drew admiring glances.
Wu’er’s talent in cultivation was exceptional. With the foundational moves taught by Elder Ming Zhe, she learned swiftly.
Initially, Wu’er was grouped with the new disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect, due to her lack of prior knowledge.
In her first class, Wu’er focused on learning the martial arts and rules of the Lishan Sword Sect. She then moved on to the basic skills needed for further cultivation.
These were the minimum requirements for them, but they still had to pass an examination and reach a certain cultivation level before progressing to the next stage.
Rushing through these stages could cause severe harm to their bodies and might lead to backlash, making it a risky endeavor.
This foundational stage typically took about a year and was quite challenging.
Many new disciples, previously living as mortals, often struggled with the intense training. Some could not endure it and left before completing six months.
Yet, this stage was crucial. It provided the basic cultivation techniques that helped them understand their body structures better. This understanding was vital for their future cultivation.
While many were still contemplating how to break through, Wu’er had already surpassed her bottleneck. She had developed a deep understanding of her own body and bone structure.
This advancement meant Wu’er was ready to move on to the next stage of cultivation ahead of schedule. She could begin learning more advanced cultivation techniques.
Since Elder Ming Zhe’s departure, Wu’er’s reluctance to get close to others and her rejection of some people had discouraged the other disciples from approaching her.
When Xiao Heng realized that Wu’er had already surpassed the pre-school stage and was ready for the next phase of cultivation, he consulted with the other teachers and decided to personally guide her through the next steps.
This approach allowed Xiao Heng to spend more time with Wu’er, achieving his goal of closer interaction. However, Wu’er remained silent, absorbing Xiao Heng’s teachings quickly but still instinctively rejecting him on matters unrelated to cultivation.
Time passed, and Wu’er had been at the Lishan Sword Sect for nearly half a year.
Her rapid progress in cultivation amazed many. They had never seen anyone advance so swiftly.
It became clear why Elder Ming Zhe had taken Wu’er as his disciple and publicly announced her status.
Elder Ming Zhe had recognized Wu’er’s exceptional talent early on, which explained his high regard for her and his decision to let her cultivate at the Lishan Sword Sect.
Wu’er understood that she was different from the others, not because of her inability to speak or her background, but because of her unique cultivation abilities.
This realization excited her. It felt as though her entire being had entered a different state, her bones and flesh becoming one.
Moreover, she understood from Xiao Heng that she could advance to the next stage of cultivation ahead of schedule. This prospect of becoming stronger even faster thrilled her.