The Sealed Scripture Pavilion

"Both the Outer and Inner Sect's techniques and what's left of their resources are in your storage pouch. Sect Master Maomao prepared them for you."

Su Yan watched as Liu Ming fumbled with his robes, clearly struggling to put them on properly.

He grunted a few times, but his efforts were in vain.

It was obvious to her that he had forgotten the daily routines of sect life. The way he was awkwardly handling the robes she had brought for him said it all.

"Do you… need help?" Su Yan asked gently.

Liu Ming kept wrestling with the robes, almost as if they were waging war against him. Or maybe the robes were just mocking him.

"Don't worry, I can do this!" he insisted, still struggling.

Su Yan just stood there, watching him. She didn't find it funny; in fact, she felt sorry for him.

"I…"

The beauty was about to offer her help again, holding out a hand, but then remembered he had said he could manage. She decided to hold back.

With a heavy sigh, Liu Ming finally admitted defeat. "J-, just help me…" he said while smiling bitterly. Surely, he felt embarrassed about not being able to dress himself properly in front of a woman.

"Okay."

After a few minutes, Su Yan had helped him put on the robes properly. She adjusted the neckline and dusted the robes off with her hands before stepping back to get a better look at him.

"I think it's alright now."

Su Yan didn't realize when she started smiling while looking at him. It was comforting to talk with a descendant of her master. Plus, he looked very different now compared to when he was in the village, wearing a worn-out jinbei. Now, dressed in the robes of his rightfully inherited sect, he seemed much happier to her.

'Still, I suppose I don't know enough about him to make that conclusion…'

While Liu Ming looked at himself in the new robes, Su Yan asked, "The clothes fit you, right?"

Liu Ming wore a soft, sky-blue robe with a deep V-neckline, held together by an inner layer. The robe had darker blue trim along the edges and cuffs of the wide, long sleeves. Around his waist, there was a wide, dark green belt with intricate golden patterns and symbols, featuring the Sacred Cloud Seal as a clasp in the center.

The bottom half of the outfit was a long, flowing garment that reached his ankles, with an outer layer that split at the sides.

He chuckled a bit and adjusted the pale-blue guan tied around his ponytail, which was secured by a hair crown.

"They look quite nice. It's been a long time since I've worn something this luxurious."

He grinned.

Su Yan only nodded in response.

"So…" Liu Ming paused, trying to find words to say to avoid an awkward silence. He quickly thought of something and asked, "What are we going to do today? Do we start unsealing all the mountains and resources of our sect?"

Su Yan thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"No. I believe it would be better to leave them sealed until we are certain we can protect our sect from external threats. That way, if our sect were to be overrun by cultivators from an opposing sect, we wouldn't have much to lose."

Realizing her words might have come across as arrogant, Su Yan quickly lowered her head and held out a respectful hand gesture as she apologized.

"M-, my apologies, Patriarch. Disregard what I said. My words don't matter in your presence. As the leader of our esteemed sect, you surely know better."

There was a firmness in her voice that felt like they were working in some sort of administrative department.

To Liu Ming, unlike Xiu Meixiang and Yu Lan, who saw him more as a master they could potentially be close with in the future, Su Yan was much too formal.

'Why does she act like this around me? She calls Grandfather 『Sect Father』, which should mean she shows a lot of filial piety for him, right? So, shouldn't she be more comfortable around someone like me since we're about the same age?'

Sigh~

'I really can't understand women…'

Liu Ming waved his hands dismissively and chuckled nervously.

"That's not necessary. Besides, Grandfather always told me that a good leader knows when to listen to their followers. I barely know much about the sect and its current situation since I've been gone so long, so it's fine for you to make suggestions."

Su Yan gently lifted her head and responded, "O-, okay."

Liu Ming thought he might be mistaken, but it seemed like Su Yan was surprised by his response. This made him stroke his chin thoughtfully as he looked to the side.

'She doesn't see me as one of those arrogant young masters, does she…?'

A sigh of defeat escaped his lips.

Su Yan stood upright.

"If you don't have any plans, there's somewhere I'd like you to access for us, your disciples. I believe you, as the patriarch, will also benefit from it."

Liu Ming nodded, and the two of them left the room.

━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━

They were now navigating their way through Ancient Script Mountain.

Liu Ming walked calmly behind Su Yan, who moved with an elegant and proper gait. He felt like she was almost too perfect, as if it was impossible for her to make mistakes.

Watching her walk, Liu Ming unconsciously tried to match her steps, hoping to look more competent.

After all, as the patriarch, he needed to appear more elegant than his subordinates.

As he watched her lower body, his eyes caught her plump backside, making his cheeks burn a bit. "Mmm~" a weird sound escaped his mouth, and his nostrils flared for some reason.

Su Yan looked back at him and asked, "Is there a problem?"

Realizing he had almost been caught staring, Liu Ming vigorously shook his head and forced a laugh.

"Ah, no, no. Of course not!"

He cleared his throat loudly before flinging his robes out and clasping his hands behind him.

"Let's keep moving."

Su Yan nodded once and continued to lead him.

However, Liu Ming didn't like the silence.

The thought of walking all the way to wherever they were going without saying a word made him feel like melting into a puddle and sleeping.

'Wait… I could ask her for a short lesson on this mountain's history. That should help start a conversation.'

A sharp smile appeared on Liu Ming's face, as though he'd found a way to get both of them to talk more.

"So, I was wondering if you cou—"

Before he could finish, Su Yan delicately announced, "We've arrived."

Liu Ming raised a finger, almost like he was still planning to finish his sentence, but he just sighed and accepted the situation. "So, where are we?" he asked, shifting his attention to the massive pavilion before him.

Su Yan placed her hand on the door and answered…

"This is the Scripture Pavilion of the Ancient Script Mountain. It's where we keep all the cultivation techniques for Outer and Inner Sect disciples, as well as special disciples. I think the techniques for special disciples are usually kept in a separate space here."

She then tried to push the door open, but it didn't budge.

However, she wasn't really trying to open it; she was showing Liu Ming the current situation of the sect.

"Like I said before, certain areas and peaks in the sect have been sealed off since Sect Father's mysterious departure."

Her face showed a hint of sadness, but she quickly masked it with her usual expressionless look.

"Hrmm…" Liu Ming rubbed his chin as he approached the large, ornate wooden doors of the Scripture Pavilion and placed his hand on them. At that moment, the Sacred Cloud Seal on his belt resonated with the building, and the doors parted open.

"I-, it opened…" Liu Ming said, surprised.

Su Yan was also shocked but maintained her composure. "I honestly didn't believe you'd be able to break the seal on it, but now we've confirmed it worked," she said with a small smile.

Liu Ming placed a hand on the Sacred Cloud Seal.

"This really is the most important thing belonging to our sect…"

After a quick glance at the ornate jade pendant on Liu Ming's belt, Su Yan said, "Patriarch, now that we've unsealed the Scripture Pavilion, do you want to go in and explore some of our great sect's techniques? You might find something useful to improve your cultivation level."

"Oho~? That sounds interesting…" Liu Ming smiled with satisfaction.