10 Story 2 - Garden Ch 5

(POV Luo Ning)

"This is the tale of the Elder Gardener and his apprentice. About 30 years ago, in 1196 ED, a boy arrived at the Hua Sect's gates. He begged for several days to be accepted into the sect, but it wasn't until he took out a powerful sword cultivator's blade that an elder finally received the boy."

"The Elder was the current guardian of the garden. The sect had long abandoned it for outer disciples to care for, but the Elder was from 1st sect leader junior generation, and he swore he wouldn't let it go to ruins."

"The Elder created a second slot for the garden duty just for this boy. Just like that, the boy became a gardener. By day, he learned the way of all the plants; by night, he trained with a copper sword the Elder gave him."

"What happened to the elder," asked Lee Shun.

"I'm getting to that part. After many years the boy finally entered the Qi Condensation realm. To the Elder's surprise, the boy's talent in cultivation was almost nonexistent with his artificial Qi organ. His talent in herbs and the sword surpassed anyone in the entire sect."

"Really? The Gardener's ability is that good?"

"Yes, even my master, Wong, tried to take the boy in as his personal disciple, but he was turned down."

"That would have allowed him to enter the inner sect. Why would he pass on it?"

Luo Ning chuckled at Lee Shun's expression as she, too, once made the same face when she heard the story from her master.

"It will make sense soon. On the eve of the blood moon, 20 years ago, a beast wave broke out. Thousands of beasts attacked the sect. If it weren't for the elder and sword techniques, the outer sect would've been demolished before the elders and masters from the main sect arrived."

"Also, tales from outer disciples say a giant fox beast killed many of its own kind, but I believe that is just them talking nonsense. The elder over-exhausted his own life force and perished in a few days."

"Before he died, he made my master promise him two things. I don't know what the second one was, but the first was to allow the boy to stay in the garden and study a stele the elder made before passing. If you look over at the temple, the marble stele is on the backside. It doesn't teach any moves but provides sword intent to hone one's understanding of the sword."

This is a closely guarded secret by all those inner disciples. They took the job here and had to promise the sect leader never to disclose this information to any other inner sect disciple. So as not to have disciple fight over this duty position in the future.

"Wow, that is amazing. I don't think any outer disciple could tell. I've stared at it many times and never felt anything." Lee Shun said, looking over at the stele.

"Only those that walk the path of sword cultivation will feel its intent."

Then they both looked at the Gardener as he watered the Weeping Vine. Luo Ning could only feel pity. Even she had to admit her talent was nowhere near his when it came to the sword. She wouldn't admit it to Lee Shun, but when she was stumped on the eight strikes of the Hua Sect, she went to the Gardener to help point out her flaws and thoughts.

She asked her master for cultivation medicine to help the Qi organ, real or false, but he got angry with her. He explained that everyone must walk their path. Luo Ning thinks that when the Gardener was asked to take him as his second master after the elder's death, it hurt his pride. Then when the boy declined, he swore never to help the boy.

"I think he's incredible. He even taught me his sword technique."

Now it was Luo Ning's turn to be surprised. "He taught you his sword technique?" She stated as a question.

"Yes, I can't move much, but I can show you."

"Yes, I would love to see it."

After showing Luo Ning the down vertical strike, the two conversed about the Gardener and sword techniques to evening.

"Miss Luo Ning, I shall walk Lee Shun back since it is evening."

"Oh, of course, Mr. Gunn."

The outer disciples made their way down the path, and Luo Ning watched their backs disappear. Today was the first time in a long time she had talked to another human for so long. She smiled and walked to the temple.