Chapter 9 - Kouxuan’s Return and the Differences Between Men and Women

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Qingming Sect.

A magnificent pavilion stood tall, with a sign that bore the two characters, "Mystic Essence" in bold, flowing calligraphy.

The Mystic Essence Pavilion was the place where Qingming Sect disciples took on various missions. Located on Sword Trial Peak, one of the thirty-six peaks, it differed from the other peaks in that it had no peak master. Instead, a pavilion master and several elder stewards presided over it.

Typically, the elder stewards seldom showed themselves, leaving most affairs to disciples from other peaks who took on these responsibilities part-time.

At the moment, it was midday, and the pavilion bustled with disciples dressed in varied attire, coming and going.

Suddenly, a flash of green descended from the sky.

Disciples nearby turned their heads.

A striking woman floated down from her sword. She had an exquisite beauty, her face cold and detached, projecting an air that kept others at a distance.

In the instant they saw her, nearly every disciple was entranced. Even the normally busy disciples manning the pavilion raised their heads, stealing glances at this icy beauty.

"Senior Brother, that senior sister is so beautiful!"

"Which peak is she from? Does she have any admirers? I'd really like to meet her!"

"Are you kidding? She's the first disciple of Purple Cloud Peak—Yuan Kuoxuan. She possesses an unblemished sword heart. Of course she has admirers, but who among us doesn't want to meet her?"

"So, has anyone succeeded in winning her favor, maybe even—"

"Winning her favor? Look at the sword in her hand. A few years back, she chopped off an arm of the peak master from Introspection Peak. Last year, she almost turned an elder's grandson into a daughter. This year, she even crippled a direct disciple of a sect leader with a single strike!"

"That… that's terrifying."

"Believe it or not, you can try your luck with Senior Sister Yuan. Let's see if you have more lives to spare."

"On second thought, I think I'll pass. I'm not even in the Foundation Establishment realm. One swing of her sword, and it's lights out for me."

"If only everyone had your sense, Junior Brother. Senior Sister Yuan's heart is set on the path of the sword. She has no room for frivolous romantic interests. It's a shame that many people don't get it—or pretend not to. They assume their outstanding talent and charm will sway her, but they're just clowns."

"Uh, Senior Brother, if you're going to get beaten up, please don't mention that you know me. I don't want your blood splashing on me…"

Noticing the unfriendly glares from a few disciples nearby, the junior brother stepped protectively in front of his senior, melting into the crowd.

…

Yuan Kuoxuan, overhearing the whispers around her, frowned. Her gaze swept coldly across the crowd, a surge of sharp sword intent radiating from her. Instantly, the noisy disciples fell silent, not daring to say another word.

She sheathed her sword and entered Mystic Essence Pavilion, making her way to an elder's private room before knocking and entering.

"Elder Zhou, the serpent in Eagle's Sorrow Ravine has been eliminated. Here is the proof."

She was direct, placing the demon core on the table.

"Ah, Yuan. Just three days ago, you accepted this mission, and already you've returned. Seems things went smoothly!"

An elder with a portly frame and a kindly face examined the demon core and nodded approvingly. "Without a doubt, this is the demon core of the serpent. Yuan, you truly live up to your reputation as the chief disciple of Purple Cloud Peak. At this rate, it won't be long before you're capable of establishing a peak of your own within Qingming Sect."

"Elder Zhou, please don't joke. I've no desire other than to remain by my master's side, never to part."

Yuan Kuoxuan's face was resolute.

"Your Master Xu truly is fortunate, to have such a loyal disciple," Elder Zhou remarked with admiration.

"No, it is my fortune to have been accepted as his disciple."

Her words were solemn, spoken with deep sincerity.

Elder Zhou found himself at a loss for words. Raising his hand, he produced a storage ring and handed it to her.

"Here, Yuan. The mission rewards are inside. Please check them."

Yuan Kuoxuan received the ring, and her spirit sense swept over it. Spotting her master's cherished sword, she smiled brightly. "Thank you, Elder Zhou. I'll take my leave now, as I'm eager to pay respects to my master."

"Go on." Elder Zhou waved her off.

Without wasting a moment, Yuan Kuoxuan offered a polite bow and hurried out, her steps quick as she all but vanished from sight.

Watching her rush to see her master, Elder Zhou couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Compared to Yuan Kuoxuan, his own disciples seemed mediocre at best or downright troublesome. The stress they caused would surely cut his life short by a couple of centuries.

"Ugh, I need to find a disciple to vent my frustrations on," Elder Zhou grumbled as he vanished from his room.

…

Purple Cloud Peak.

At the main hall atop the peak.

A feminine silhouette flew down from the sky, gracefully landing outside the hall.

"Master, I've returned!"

Yuan Kuoxuan's chest swelled with eagerness as she hurried inside, holding the storage ring in her hand. Her steps were quick, her robes fluttering with her movements.

If any disciples from the other peaks saw her like this, they would've been stunned.

The usually aloof, ethereal Yuan Kuoxuan, who seemed to ignore mortal concerns, now seemed like a lovestruck young woman, eager to see her beloved.

"Master?" she called out as she entered the hall.

But her master was nowhere in sight.

"Could he be in the back chamber?"

Her eyes flickered.

The rear hall was where her master resided, a private area she had never dared to enter out of respect for him.

But at this moment—

She gazed at the closed door, hesitated briefly, then bit her lip, seemingly resolving something within herself. "I'm just here to find my master, not to intrude on his privacy."

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, calling out, "Master, Disciple Kuoxuan is here to—"

Her voice trailed off as she looked around, finding no one in sight.

"Where did Master go?"

Her eyes roamed the room, occasionally sniffing the air as if to pick up some trace of his presence.

The room was simple and neatly organized, with a pleasant fragrance lingering in the air. It seemed like a place she could easily envision herself living in.

Her gaze fell on a robe draped over the bed, apparently recently worn by her master.

"As his disciple, it's my duty to wash his robe," she reasoned.

Without another thought, she picked it up, but a flicker of curiosity arose as she held it.

What exactly was the difference between men's and women's inner garments?

Being a woman, she knew her own attire well enough.

Her undergarments had straps that tied at the neck—she didn't use them much since they weren't really needed for her fit. Then there were two ties at the waist to keep it from falling, and it formed a triangular shape at the bottom…

As for her master's?

Yuan Kuoxuan held it up to her face, examining it carefully.

It was a simple, rectangular piece of fabric, quite different from her own…

To read 219 chapters of the book I wrote, patreon.com/Guts02