Volume 3 Chapter 13 / Chapter 179: Senior Brother, Dividing into Three Groups
As autumn deepens, the weather gradually turns cold. The once golden apricot trees of the Profound Star Sect now barely retain a few leaves on their branches. Several mountains become bare, and the disciples don thicker autumn clothes.
After Ye Anping bought three sets of men’s clothing for Feng Yudie, and after his junior sister praised her, Feng Yudie directly went to the sect’s Garment Hall and bought two sets of men’s disciple robes, wearing them every day.
Encouraged by Pei Lengxue for half a month, Feng Yudie gradually became adept at cross-dressing. Although her movements and demeanor still couldn’t compare to those skilled in disguise or those who mastered the art of transformation, most would take her for an androgynous individual unless they touched her chest.
This behavior often led to Elder Qin of Sky Cloud Peak scolding her: “A girl should look like a girl. Wearing such ambiguous clothing, kneel on bamboo sheets as punishment!” Elder Qin was already annoyed by her “mischievous” behavior and found every opportunity to reprimand her during lessons, making her practice swordsmanship with several hundred pounds of extra weight or confining her in the Spirit Gathering Array for three days and nights.
However, misfortune turned into a blessing. Feng Yudie’s near-unnatural talent allowed her to reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage after a month and a half, meeting all the criteria Ye Anping had in mind for his chosen candidate.
One day, Ye Anping bought a newspaper from the central peak and saw a note in the corner: “The Sect Master of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect in the Southern Region, Yun Tianchong, will exit seclusion after the New Year.”
This news marked the beginning of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect questline. As expected, the storyline timeline had significantly diverged from the game.
After the evening class, he asked his junior sister and Feng Yudie to meet him in the bamboo forest next to the Tri-Rivers Courtyard.
…
In the bamboo forest beside the Tri-Rivers Courtyard, the autumn wind rustled the leaves. Wearing his sect uniform and holding his spirit sword, Ye Anping faced a bamboo stalk with his eyes closed, lowering his stance slowly.
“Calm your mind and gather your energy… Calm your mind and gather your energy…”
Swish—
A sharp sword sound echoed in the bamboo forest.
The spirit sword in Ye Anping’s hand seemed to vanish for a moment, leaving a half-moon silver arc in front of him. The bamboo in front of him creaked and groaned, splitting in half vertically despite being cut horizontally.
Both the “Sword Inquiry Technique” he practiced and the “Shadowleaf Sword Art” his junior sister practiced underwent qualitative changes at the fifth level.
The “Shadowleaf Sword Art” allows the user to control all things as spirit swords, potentially turning one sword into ten after the fifth level. If mastered, it would be like a shower of petals, impossible to evade.
The “Sword Inquiry Technique,” on the other hand, becomes inscrutable. At the fifth level, it can transform a horizontal slash into a vertical cut or a thrust into a slice. When mastered, one can stand with arms folded and still unleash a thousand sword beams.
Seeing the bamboo split vertically from a horizontal slash, Ye Anping breathed a sigh of relief.
“Whew—”
He finally caught up in the last moment, successfully advancing the “Sword Inquiry Technique” to the fifth level. This fifth level was essential for his plans.
Recalling how his junior sister reached the fourth level of the “Shadowleaf Sword Art” while chopping logs at the Hundred Lotus Sect and then the fifth level within a month or two, he felt a pang of inadequacy. It took him nearly a year to advance from the third to the fifth level.
Despite not being slow, compared to his junior sister’s talent, he felt ashamed.
Perhaps it was also due to Feng Yudie’s fortune that he could progress this far. Without her help, he might still be struggling at the early Foundation Establishment stage, unable to handle the Shadowmoon Sword Sect affair.
“I really should thank her.”
Crunch, crunch—
Hearing footsteps behind him, Ye Anping sheathed his sword and turned around.
Today, Feng Yudie wore a robe resembling a mortal emperor’s dragon robe. Seeing this, Ye Anping’s face scrunched up: “What kind of clothes are those?”
Walking beside Feng Yudie, Pei Lengxue, although smiling, seemed to force her smile. As Ye Anping suspected—
Pei Lengxue was extremely annoyed! This silly girl had been a constant bother!
Since her senior brother asked her to humor the silly girl, she had become accustomed to asking for compliments on her men’s attire every morning.
Annoying!
Annoying to death!!!
However, seeing her senior brother waiting, she quickly put on a cheerful face and hurried over.
“Senior Brother, have you been waiting long?”
“No… I was just practicing my swordsmanship.”
Ye Anping, feeling he might have indulged his junior sister too much, looked at the golden-robed Feng Yudie and felt a bit dazzled.
Feng Yudie’s taste in skirts was normal, but her taste in men’s clothing…
Never mind… The plan is crucial.
“Whew—”
Ye Anping exhaled, leading them to sit in the pavilion nearby.
As Feng Yudie sat down, Xiaotian emerged from her forehead, frowned at her outfit, flew to Ye Anping, and angrily kicked his head, complaining:
『Ye brat! Look at what you’ve done! My adorable Yudie is ruined! Wearing such ambiguous clothes… You turned her into a cross-dresser! Give me back my cute Yudie! Wah—Give her back!』
“…”
Ye Anping, feeling guilty, ignored it. After the matter was settled, his junior sister would just need to say, “I still think you look better in skirts,” and the habit would be broken.
After organizing his thoughts, Ye Anping got straight to the point:
“Senior Sister Feng, pack up. We are going to the Shadowmoon Sword Sect in the Southern Region.”
“Huh?”
“There are spirit stones to be earned.”
“Oh!” Feng Yudie snapped her fingers, understanding, and nodded, “Got it. What do we need to do?”
Now you don’t even haggle and just agree… Ye Anping pouted and replied:
“You need to gain the trust of the second young mistress of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect, Yun Jiujiu.”
“Trust… How?”
“I can only tell you some of Yun Jiujiu’s preferences and personality traits.”
“Be detailed, okay? You were pretty detailed with the previous matters.”
“Most of the time, you’ll need to improvise. My junior sister and I can’t constantly watch what’s happening on your side. We have our troubles to deal with…”
“Hmm… Tell me more.”
Xiaotian realized: 『Ye brat, you made Yudie wear men’s clothes for this, didn’t you?』
Ye Anping hesitated for a moment before saying:
“I will approach the eldest Young Mistress of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect, Yun Yiyi.”
Then, looking at Pei Lengxue, he said:
“My junior sister will approach the third Young Mistress, Yun Xi.”
“Alright!”
Ye Anping looked at her worriedly:
“Junior Sister, this time don’t be so eager! Senior Brother won’t be by your side. You have to consider things yourself…”
“Oh, okay…”
“But I will prepare some contingency plans. Yun Xi’s side will be easier.”
“Mm! Okay!”
Ye Anping sighed and finally said:
“Once we arrive at the Shadowmoon Sword Sect, we won’t be able to meet frequently. So, I will set a location for us to meet every three days. I’ve also prepared some secret codes to prevent being tracked and exposed. I’ll explain everything in detail on the way.”