Lurking

“You!...”

Uncle Hai’s foot stepped onto the final step of the peak, only to find the second young master standing quietly beside him.

His face was calm, not flushed, and he looked at Uncle Hai with a hint of a meaningful smile on his lips.

With one finger in front of his lips, Lu Suifeng made a gesture of silence.

“No need to ask; you will know in due time!”

Uncle Hai wanted to say something, but after hearing what Lu Suifeng had said, he revealed a bitter smile instead.

Lu Suifeng turned around and glanced at the thousand-layered stone steps beneath his feet, surveying the surroundings.

He murmured, “Solitary peak, a ladder-like path, obscured by the deep clouds at dawn. Ascending, the high birds draw near, looking down, and the myriad peaks appear low. What a splendid rear mountain courtyard, I am fond of it!”

Lu Suifeng snapped his fingers with delight, pointing at the scenery around the peak, and said with a touch of nostalgia, “Look at the terrain of this peak, flat and spacious, pavilions and towers hidden among lush greenery, like a painting. And that mountain spring, flowing swiftly, murmuring and tinkling, its sound like celestial music, bringing tranquility and serenity to the heart, as clear as a mirror...”

Uncle Hai had also been to this rear mountain courtyard several times before, but apart from finding it peaceful and desolate, he had no other special feelings.

However, following the second young master’s words, he suddenly felt as if he was in a dreamlike painting, reluctant to leave.

The same mountains and waters, the same scenery, but with a world of difference in perception.

This was the realm!

Not far away, two people hurriedly approached between the forest and the pavilions.

One appeared to be a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, while the other, slightly older, was a girl of around fourteen or fifteen.

The siblings bore a slight resemblance, like a brother and sister.

“Young Master! Captain Hai!” The siblings bowed respectfully.

“They are...”

“They are specially arranged by the family to take care of your daily needs. Hehe! From now on, they are both under your command, whether in life or death,” explained Uncle Hai.

“Well...”

“Alright! Now that they have arrived here, I must quickly return and report,” said Uncle Hai, turning around and heading straight down the mountain.

“Tell my father that I want to be left alone! I prefer tranquility!”

Lu Suifeng shouted after Uncle Hai’s figure.

Uncle Hai waved his hand without looking back.

“Don’t forget our deal!”

Lu Suifeng watched as Uncle Hai disappeared down the steps, then turned around and suddenly waved his hand at the siblings.

“You can go back! I don’t need anyone to take care of me here.”

Bang!

The siblings were startled by his words, and then both knelt down, tears welling up in their eyes, a look of sorrow on their faces.

It was heart-wrenching to witness.

“Please, Young Master, accept us! We have nowhere else to go,” the girl, Yun Wuying, choked out.

“Oh! What happened?” Lu Suifeng asked, somewhat surprised.

“We are orphans, distant disciples of the family. The family suddenly took back our house a few days ago and sent us up the mountain to take care of Young Master’s daily needs. From now on, we will follow Young Master. The family head said, as long as Young Master lives, we live; if Young Master dies, we die.”

“Is that so? It seems like you have become sacrificial pawns,” Lu Suifeng sighed lightly.

“Stand up and tell me your names.”

“I am Yun Wuying, and my younger brother is Yun Wuya,” the girl said, pulling the boy up as she replied.

“Give me a reason to keep you,” Lu Suifeng said solemnly, looking at the siblings who had experienced such hardships, his gaze deep and resolute.

“We have heard of Young Master’s deeds. As long as we are alive, we will wholeheartedly protect your safety, even if it means sacrificing our lives. We will not let Young Master suffer any harm.”

Yun Wuying said firmly, while Yun Wuya stood beside her with his chest puffed up, bearing the weight of responsibility.

“Oh! With your insignificant cultivation, you can barely protect yourselves, let alone ensure my safety,” Lu Suifeng disdainfully shook his head.

“Young Master, please don’t underestimate us!”

Yun Wuya’s face flushed, stubbornly arguing, “I broke through to the Profound Qi Realm a few days ago, and my sister has reached the pinnacle of the Transmutation Realm. It won’t be long before she steps into the Profound Spirit Realm, becoming a strong cultivator among her peers.”

“Young Master, you may not know, but as distant disciples, our status in the clan is extremely low, almost invisible. So...”

Yun Wuying added, her head drooping with a sense of desolation.

The plight of these siblings was truly moving.

But in this world, fairness did not exist.

Only through self-improvement could one gain enough respect and influence.

“Your talents are quite remarkable, achieving such heights without guidance or sufficient resources. It is no easy feat. However, in my eyes, you are as weak as ants and dust. I will not allow such feeble existence among those around me.”

Lu Suifeng declared, his gaze fixed on the profound sky, his words resolute and resounding.

“As long as Young Master keeps us, we will work twice as hard in the future, never failing to meet your expectations.”

The siblings pleaded persistently, their expressions filled with determination.

“Alas! It’s a pity that my time is limited. I will only burden you. I cannot bear it,” Lu Suifeng sighed, looking up at the sky.

“Young Master lives, we live. Young Master dies, we die! We, brother and sister, will forever follow Young Master, never leaving or abandoning you!”

The two of them knelt down again; their eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

Gazing silently at the siblings who remained kneeling, a glimmer of brilliance flickered in their eyes as if piercing through their spiritual essence...

Once the decision to keep the siblings by his side was made, it meant that the fate of the three would be tightly intertwined.

Therefore, caution was necessary.

“Are you certain about staying?”

Lu Suifeng solemnly inquired, “By choosing to stay, you are determining your own future, both blessings and misfortunes. It’s still not late to leave now, and I will find you a suitable place to settle.”

The siblings clenched their lips and nodded firmly.

Then, they vigorously shook their heads.

Lu Suifeng naturally understood the underlying meaning.

He sighed lightly and said, “Since that is the case, then stay for now!”

The two of them gratefully expressed their thanks.

“However, do not rejoice too soon. From this moment on, you must undergo the most brutal training and discipline. Only if you pass this test will you be qualified to remain by my side.”

Lu Suifeng sternly warned, “As I have said, I will not tolerate such incompetence in my presence!”

“Rest assured, Young Master! We will never disappoint you!”

The siblings fearlessly declared.

Though uncertain about what they would face, they firmly believed they could overcome any challenge.

Their lives were already dependent on Young Master, leaving nothing to fear.

Observing their confident and fearless demeanor, Lu Suifeng couldn’t help but sneered.

It wouldn’t be long before the cries of anguish echoed through the secluded mountain courtyard.

...

In the following days, the siblings’ presence was nowhere to be seen.

It was only after several days that they suddenly rushed out from a building, covered in dirt and emitting a pungent odor that made one nauseous.

Plop, plop!

Cold rain fell from the sky, but they paid no attention to it.

They threw themselves into a pool of clear water, desperately scrubbing away the foul stench that clung to their skin.

They didn’t know what had happened to their bodies.

All they remembered was that Young Master had given them a pill, its color a vibrant green and its fragrance intoxicating.

Young Master called it the “Cleansing Marrow Pill”.

He said that after taking it, their physical constitution would change. Their tendons and marrow would be cleansed, and they would undergo a rebirth.

Though unaware of its preciousness and value, as long as it was given by Young Master, whether it was a celestial pill or a poisonous one, they would swallow it without hesitation.

The siblings sat cross-legged, their bodies experiencing alternating sensations of heat and cold...

Suddenly, a gentle touch on their foreheads caused a resounding explosion in their minds.

In an instant, a boundless aura surged forth, merging like a trickle into their sea of consciousness.

“Focus your mind and guide the flow of energy according to the instructions in your mind...”

In a flash, they felt a palm gently pressing against their foreheads, as a warm current permeated their bodies.

It flowed through their brows, connecting to the bridge beneath their tongues, gathering in their chest.

The true fire of their hearts condensed, then surged towards the navel, breaking through the gate of their innate energy, rising like a deep-sea dragon soaring into the sky.

This was known as the overflowing sea of energy, surging against the current, reaching the top of their heads.

The river of energy within their bodies had been unclogged, rolling and turning endlessly, eternally alive.

Days passed, one after another, as if time had been lost.

The two could only see vivid scenes unfolding before their eyes, while a faint voice echoed in their ears: “Wuya, you are introverted, rarely speaking, and value your words. Your outward appearance is cold, but your inner self is burning like fire. Solitude in swordplay, where one sword surpasses a hundred or a thousand; a single strike shatters all. Devoid of fixed forms, yet encompassing all sword styles. The intent precedes the sword, and the mind in motion rescues the blade. Additionally, you will be paired with the ‘Myriad Illusionary Shadow’ body technique, which, when cultivated to its highest realm, allows you to manifest thirty-six residual images simultaneously...”

“Wuying, you possess both external grace and inner wisdom, with a subtle mind and deep roots. You are capable of inheriting the ‘Elusive Heart Scripture’ from me. An elusive heart, like a dream, like a fantasy, like wind and clouds, seemingly real yet illusory, constantly changing. When the wind and clouds meet, like the encounter of a dragon and a tiger, mutually generating and restraining, endlessly giving birth, it will naturally give rise to the elusive sword, palm, fist, and the incredibly exquisite elusive body technique...”

There was no fixed duration for cultivation, as the sun rises and sets...

When the two emerged from their meditative state, it had been more than ten days.

The Young Master was nowhere to be seen, leaving only a note: I will be away for a while, but I will return soon. You two must diligently practice and not disappoint me...

The subsequent pages detailed various training exercises and methods, sending shivers down their spines.