Chapter 003: The one who Understands Me, Brother Tie Ta

Yao Yuan stared at the burly man standing before her, eyes wide with disbelief at his casual indifference regarding her feminine appearance.

"Women are meant to be admired, so what's the big deal?" The large man shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Do you have something to hide?"

Yao Yuan bristled at the implication. "Can you tell me where do I look like a woman?" she challenged, gesturing emphatically at her masculine attire.

The man's brow furrowed as he reassessed her appearance. "Huh, you're not a woman? Oh, sorry buddy, you really look like a chick." He scratched his head awkwardly, offering her a sheepish grin.

Yao Yuan paused, her features settling into an expression of stunned incredulity as she stared at the man, scarcely able to process his words. A slow smile tugged at her lips. "Good brother," she murmured, reaching out to pat his shoulder in a gesture of fraternal camaraderie. "You are the only one who understands me. I am Yao Yuan, what should I call you, brother?"

"I am Xu Da, everyone calls me Tie Ta (Iron Tower)," the burly man replied, his chest puffing out with a hint of pride.

"Heh, your name suits you perfectly," Yao Yuan chuckled. "From now on, I will call you Tie Ta also." Her gaze drifted over the tall, dark-skinned young man, a flicker of envy stirring within her as she took in his ruggedly masculine physique. She glanced down at her own slender hands, so delicate and feminine, and sighed wistfully.

"Alright, Brother Yao, if you have time, let me treat you to a drink so I can apologize," Tie Ta offered, his expression earnest. "I will drink three cups as a punishment."

Yao Yuan shook her head, declining the gesture. "No need for that, I've just recovered from a serious injury, it's not suitable for me to drink." Just a few days ago, a mere sip of potent liquor had rendered her unconscious for hours – a stark reminder of how drastically her body had changed in the aftermath of her transformation.

"Besides, I still need to find a martial arts technique for myself," she added, her mind refocusing on her quest for knowledge and power.

"Then I won't bother you. I'll take my leave first." Tie Ta waved a farewell, a perplexed frown creasing his brow as he wondered how a man could possess such delicate, pretty features.

"You take care," Yao Yuan replied with a warm smile, returning his wave. If only everyone could be as understanding as Tie Ta, she mused, she would have no issue with being addressed as 'miss.'

Luo Zhan'en approached, his steps measured and unhurried. "Brother Yao, you know Xu Da?" he inquired, his voice laced with curiosity.

"We've just met. Let's go, help me find martial arts techniques quickly," Yao Yuan urged, her impatience evident in her clipped tones.

She cast her gaze about, taking in the vast array of cultivation manuals that lined the shelves, yet none seemed to measure up to the profound depths of the techniques she had once mastered. Could it be that she was destined to practice the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" method, with its undercurrent of feminine grace and seductive allure?

She had attempted to revive her previous technique, the "Supreme Law of Myriad Forms," only to feel as if her veins were on the verge of bursting whenever she channelled her energies. Even the common techniques Luo Zhan'en had provided seemed ill-suited to her current physiology, as if some fundamental aspect of her being had been irrevocably altered.

And yet, the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" cultivation method flowed through her like a gentle stream, its intricate movements feeling almost instinctive, as if her body had been designed to embody its precepts. A sense of foreboding gnawed at her heart – was this a glimpse of the future she had been so desperate to avoid, a path she now seemed inexorably bound to tread?

"How's it going? None of them suitable for you? Should we go to the Orchid Palace instead?" Luo asked, his brow creasing with concern as he took in the disappointment etched across her delicate features.

"No need," Yao Yuan replied, her mind whirring with inevitable conclusions. What was the difference between venturing to the Orchid Palace and embracing the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" technique? If she could only practice feminine arts, then the method Luo had gifted her represented her best – perhaps her only – option.

"The 'Fairy Plays with Butterfly' you gave me is so advanced, haven't you thought about auctioning it off for money?" she mused aloud, her tone deceptively casual.

Luo Zhan'en shook his head. "My father said that such techniques should be passed down as family heirlooms."

"That would make sense," Yao Yuan conceded with a slight nod. "You'll be able to use it in the future." A secret chuckle bubbled up from within, mingling with the rueful acceptance of her newfound path.

"I hope to have a daughter," Luo confided, his expression wistful. "She can use it."

Yao Yuan's thoughts drifted to the profound implications of his words, pondering the chain of events that would need to unfurl for such a scenario to transpire. You shouldn't think about having a daughter unless you get married and have children first, she mused, and then practice the divine arts.

Oblivious to her introspection, Luo Zhan'en spoke up, his tone laced with concern. "Should we go back? Your body has just recovered, it's not good to strain yourself too much."

"Alright, I'll listen to you," Yao Yuan acquiesced, her mind still mulling over the layers of delicious irony that seemed to permeate every interaction.

As they prepared to depart, a hushed voice reached Yao Yuan's keen ears, the words carrying a hint of awe and speculation. "Who is this young lady, that even the aloof Brother Luo treats her like this?"

Another voice, equally muted, responded, "I'm not sure, why don't you go ask them?"

"I'm not going, you go ahead."

A soft grumble escaped Yao Yuan's lips as she registered the exchange. "It seems like he is quite famous in this place. But it is no wonder, since he is such a young Spirit Infant realm cultivator. It means he is no ordinary talent; he is a freak of nature." Even her former, masculine self could only aspire to such prodigious heights.

Luo's keen hearing picked up her mutterings, prompting him to offer an explanation. "I studied at the Jiang Cheng Academy when I was a child, so some people will recognize me."

Yao Yuan nodded, her mind already contemplating the path ahead. Once they returned to the Luo residence, she would seclude herself and dedicate her efforts to regaining – no, surpassing – her former cultivation prowess. Even if she had to embrace the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" method, she would endure it, subjugating her discomfort and misgivings beneath an indomitable will. She could not allow herself to continue languishing in Luo Zhan'en's shadow; she would overtake him, she vowed silently, no matter the cost.

And so it was that Yao Yuan chose to sequester herself, delving into the rigorous regimen of the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" cultivation method. Although she was forced to start anew from the foundations, everything felt somehow easier this time, as if her current form was more attuned to the intricate movements and sublime energies she was harnessing.

Previously, it had taken her sixty days to reach the first stage of the Body Strengthening realm when she had embarked upon her cultivation journey with no prior attainments. At the tender age of five, she had progressed to the Marrow Cleansing realm, followed by the Foundation realm at ten, and the Golden Pill realm at seventeen – a pace of advancement that was considered extraordinary even among the ranks of vaunted geniuses.

And yet, she had still paled in comparison to Luo Zhan'en's meteoric rise, a fact that gnawed at her with persistent frustration.

For those unfamiliar, the realms of cultivation in this world were divided into distinct tiers: the Mortal realms encompassed Body Strengthening, Marrow Cleansing, Foundation, Golden Pill, Spirit Infant, and Grandmaster, each subdivided into nine increasingly rarefied stages.

Beyond the Mortal realms lay the Celestial realms, encompassing Demigod, True God, God-General, Great Sage, and the pinnacle of power – the elusive Realm Master stage. These lofty heights were further stratified into Initial, Early, Mid, Late, and Peak echelons, each representing a quantum leap in attainment and longevity. Indeed, by the time a cultivator ascended to the Demigod realm, their lifespan could be said to rival that of the heavens themselves.

The "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" martial art that Yao Yuan now embraced seemed to be a technique capable of scaling those dizzying heights, its profound depths far exceeding the "Supreme Law of Myriad Forms" she had once mastered.

After three days of immersive practice, she finally regained her footing, her cultivation base re-established upon the fertile soil of her newfound physiology.

Three months later, she had reached the Marrow Cleansing realm, and to her surprise, this pivotal breakthrough was accompanied by a purging of deep-seated impurities from her body, further refining her physical vessel. It was a tangible demonstration of the extraordinary nature of the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" technique, and as she continued her diligent efforts, she couldn't help but notice the subtle changes manifesting in her appearance – her skin becoming smoother, more radiant, as if suffused with an inner luminescence.

A year passed in the blink of an eye, a fleeting span of time marked by countless hours of focused cultivation and unrelenting determination.

"Ah, I have finally regained my cultivation to the Foundation realm," Yao Yuan murmured, feeling the spiritual energy pouring into her dan tian, solidifying and compressing through countless cycles until, at last, a solid foundation for the Way took root within her core.

"Oh, it seems to be a high-quality foundation," she noted with a pleased hum, marvelling at the sheer potency of the energies she had harnessed. "Not bad, not bad at all."

Soon after, the spiritual energy in the room settled, returning to a state of quiescent equilibrium – a sure sign that her ascension to the Foundation realm had been perfectly consummated.

"I should go out and stretch my legs," Yao Yuan declared, arching her back in a languid stretch as she revelled in the renewed sense of vigour coursing through her veins. She couldn't help but wonder what might have transpired in the world beyond her sanctuary during the span of her solitary retreat.

Throughout her seclusion, she had been undisturbed, save for the occasional visit from Xiao Cui, who silently attended to her basic needs – delivering nourishing meals and replenishing her supplies of revitalizing pills. There had been no conversation, no distractions from the singular focus that had consumed her every waking moment.

She had sequestered herself in the underground chamber of the Luo residence, a facility specifically designed to cater to the needs of cultivators engaged in such rigorous training. These hallowed spaces were equipped with spiritual energy absorption arrays, concentrating the ambient energies to levels three times higher than those found in the outside world – an invaluable boon, yet one that could not sustain her indefinitely.

With her newfound abilities, bolstered by the profound insights she had gleaned from the "Fairy Plays with Butterfly" method, it was time for her to venture forth and amass the resources necessary to fuel her continued ascension along the path of cultivation.

As she emerged from her sanctuary, Luo Zhan'en's gaze settled upon her, his eyes betraying a hint of melancholy – as if he were faced with the imminent loss of a cherished younger sister.

"You're leaving?" he murmured, the words tinged with a palpable undercurrent of reluctance.

"Yeah," Yao Yuan confirmed with a slight nod. "I've been imposing upon your hospitality for a year. It's time for me to go out and experience the world for myself." As she studied her host, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise that he had yet to succumb to the siren call of the "Divine Arts" and embark upon the same transformative journey she had endured. And yet, she knew better than most that such a decision was not one to be made lightly. If she hadn't been consumed by the all-consuming need for retribution, she might never have found the resolve to take that fateful step.

"Should I accompany you on your journey?" Luo asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

Yao Yuan rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Why would you go with me? If you come along, it's not an adventure anymore."

Aloud, she simply stated, "No need, I already have the ability to protect myself."

Luo inclined his head in acquiescence. "Alright, let me prepare some things for you. You can set off once everything's ready."

"Sure, and thank you." Yao Yuan clasped her hands and offered a respectful bow, acknowledging the profound debt of gratitude she owed this kind soul who had extended a helping hand to her, a stranger adrift in a turbulent sea of upheaval. "Let me give you an advice: don't practice that [Divine Art]."

Luo's brow furrowed in confusion. "What [Divine Art]?"

"You know," Yao Yuan countered, her tone laden with cryptic significance.

"I really don't understand."

"You do."

"I really don't."

A wry smile tugged at Yao Yuan's lips as she shook her head. "It's okay, I do." She reached out, patting Luo Zhan'en's shoulder in a gesture of commiseration, before turning and making her way back to her quarters.

"Why did she leave without explaining? You should have made it clear," Luo grumbled to the empty room, frustration colouring his words. "Women really can't understand simple things."

Yet even as bewilderment clouded his mind, Yao Yuan's thoughts were alight with the promise of newfound freedom and the unfurling of her long-awaited vengeance. The path ahead would be arduous, fraught with trials and transformations that would test the mettle of her very soul.

But she was ready – ready to embrace her destiny, to wield the sublime arts she had mastered as both a sword and a shield against the injustices that still haunted her steps. The world would soon bear witness to her ascension, an unstoppable force propelled by an indomitable will and a thirst for retribution that burned brighter than the fires of creation itself.

**To be continued