Mo Suyin*

As the first light of dawn broke, Jianyu, having spent the entire night immersed in cultivation, opened his eyes. He rose from his abode and gracefully picked up his sword.

Although Jianyu had made significant progress in his cultivation, having reached the Foundation Establishment realm, he found himself facing an unexpected obstacle. It wasn't in the realm of cultivation itself, for that was progressing smoothly. The challenge lay in his comprehension of the profound Dao laws.

The root of this difficulty stemmed from his relatively low cultivation level. As a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, his connection with the profound laws of the world was tenuous at best. It was a minor miracle that he had managed to grasp even a single concept at his current level.

However, Jianyu's ego as a former ancestor rivaled the size of an abyssal elephant dragon, a being about thousand times larger than your average elephant (Which can be considered quite modest), refused to accept such limitations.

He muttered in a somewhat frustrated tone, "Sigh... this is starting to get a bit monotonous."

His eyes lowered, focusing on the sword in his hand. With a sly grin, he added, "Well, at least I'll have some new toy- friends today."

With his characteristic wicked smile, befitting his villainous personality, Jianyu embarked on his daily sword practice.

As was his routine, he experimented with various sword arts, each tied to a different elemental affinity. He attempted to convert one elemental qi into another, a complex and challenging feat. However, his inability to manipulate fire qi techniques hindered his progress. His most viable options were techniques rooted in water or wood elemental qi.

Jianyu assumed his stance, sword in hand, and centered his focus on the weapon. The blade began to emit a faint yellowish glow.

"Earth bears metal..." he intoned, the yellowish tint transforming into a silvery-white radiance.

"Metal collects water..." The white light deepened into a vibrant blue.

"And water nourishes wood." Finally, the glow turned an even brighter green, and Jianyu unleashed a sword slash.

But as he executed the move, the qi dispersed from his blade, proving to be as ineffective as teaching a three-month-old to perform a backflip – utterly inefficient.

[AN- don't try this, it doesn't work]

"Urggh... let's just continue..."

...

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...

Jianyu persevered with his sword arts, practicing diligently for an hour past dawn. He punctuated his training with moments of meditation to replenish his qi. After completing his daily regimen, he decided to prepare for his anticipated guests, starting with a refreshing bath and a change of attire.

"Hmm... perhaps I should select some of my finest tea leaves," he mused aloud. "First impressions are of utmost importance. Those skilled in tea brewing and calligraphy are often considered refined gentlemen, which should help me appear more amicable, right?"

As he relaxed in a medicinal bath infused with herbs known to enhance one's physique, Jianyu pondered the significance of brewing and the elegance it symbolized.

"Indeed, those proficient in the art of brewing are considered more elegant than others, young master," a soft voice chimed in.

Startled, Jianyu nearly leaped out of the bath, letting out a voice akin to a cougar's unexpected mating call.

"Heek! L-lei Qiang?! Since when were you here?!"

His voice quivered with surprise, embarrassment, and a hint of anger.

"From the very beginning, young master," Lei Qiang replied, her tone suggesting that watching someone bathe was the most natural thing in the world (though perhaps it was, in her world).

"W-who stands in a corner, silently watching someone take a bath?" Jianyu protested, his face flushing crimson.

"But I have been doing so, since the very beginning..."

Finally, Lei Qiang revealed her persistent presence, leaving Jianyu flustered.

"J-just leave! Get out of the room!"

"But I must assist young master in any situation..."

"Get out right now!"

"But..."

"Get out!"

Lei Qiang acquiesced and exited the room, yet Jianyu couldn't relish his victory. Instead, he felt as if he had lost something important.

…

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...

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, nearing noon, Jianyu meticulously arranged his tea leaves within a gazebo nestled in the garden of weeping willows. The red gazebo stood in stark contrast to the bluish-white foliage of the willows, creating an ethereal, untainted beauty akin to untouched snow.

'Alright, everything is ready... Now, I just need to keep an eye out for their arrival at the foot of the mountain.'

"Umm... young master?" Lei Qiang's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What?" Jianyu responded, his tone still carrying a hint of grumpiness.

"Mo Suyin has arrived at the peak."

"Is that so? I should prepare the tea, then."

...

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...

Mo Suyin had endured a series of hardships since the disappearance of her parents when she was just five years old. Her life had been a gradual descent into despair, marked by the loss of her parents, the growing coldness of her relatives, her close confidants stripped her of her wealth, and the her cultivation stagnated, never surpassing 1st layer of qi condensation. Her happiness seemed like a fragile flower, its petals plucked one by one until nothing remained.

However, even amidst such despairing events, yet another worry emerged when she received a summons to visit Lunar Frost Yin Peak, delivered by one of Jianyu's subordinates from the Xin family.

"Tsk, even if I have to starve to death, I won't become a plaything for some silkpants!"

Mo Suyin muttered in disdain as she made her way towards the foot of the mountain. As she approached, a figure cloaked in black emerged from the shadows to greet her.

"Welcome, Miss Mo. I shall guide you to your destination."

…

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