Chapter 28: CH-28: Learning from the fierce tigress?

Next day.

As Gu Changsheng and Dong Mulan were getting ready to go to the Sword Arena again today, a disciple came running to their doorstep.

Just as they opened the door to leave, they were quite surprised by the disciple going for a jumpscare.

"Elder Jian has requested your presence, along with the others, at her private residence."

Though the couple was a bit surprised, they didn’t think much of it, just thinking that it was related to their training program.

...

As they reached Elder Jian’s residence, along with the others, which was much deeper and followed an intriguing path, they couldn’t help but notice that her residence wasn’t as spartan as the guest quarters.

It was a single, imposing structure carved from black volcanic rock, its sharp angles cutting into the earth.

A single, narrow door was set into the face of the building, flanked by two statues of armored warriors, their faces obscured by visors.

It was more like a fortress and less like a home.

The Sword Sect disciple who had summoned them knocked three times on the door, a systematic pattern, it appeared.

The door slowly opened, revealing the interior, along with Elder Jian.

She was dressed in a simple black robe, her hair unbound, falling like a waterfall of midnight silk around her shoulders. Without the severe topknot, her face seemed softer, more beautiful, though the scar was still a stark, pale line against her skin.

"Let’s talk inside!"

She said calmly, her voice still clipped. She also ordered the Sword Sect disciple to leave.

They stepped inside, into a large, circular room. The walls were lined with weapon racks, each holding a different kind of blade.

Futons were placed beforehand, and Elder Jian took a foremost one, gesturing for them to sit facing her.

Everyone quickly took their seats, waiting for her to speak out the purpose of requesting them here.

"Someone thinks my methods are too harsh, huh?"

Elder Jian started, not on the topic but taunting them instead. Clearly, she was displeased with their little gossip.

The one who was scared the most was Dong Mulan, worried if she had added trouble to their platter.

Seeing that no one was responding, she continued on, the topic of conversation taking a completely different turn.

"But I didn’t hear any denial of its effectiveness, did I? So, how will you lots react if I were to train you?"

This wasn’t a suggestion, nor was it an opportunity. It was the punishment for speaking their thoughts out blindly.

Ning Rongrong, who was also the one who had spoken out her mind, was now sweating bullets.

"W-we are sorry i-if we have offended you, Elder Jian! I—"

Elder Jian raised a hand, silencing her.

"Offend? You can’t offend me. You simply aren’t WORTHY!!"

The last part erupted like a volcano, causing silence to fall over the room. It seemed Gu Changsheng’s guess of a complicated backstory was more likely correct, as hinted by her reaction.

Though Ning Rongrong felt a bit offended by her comment, she did not dare to utter a single word, not even a squeak of defiance.

"Pathetic!"

Elder Jian scoffed, not even trying to hide her disdain.

Her gaze then landed on Gu Changsheng, Su Mingyue, and Ye Che, who had been quiet throughout the exchange. Elder Jian asked them, her anger ceasing slightly.

"You, do you believe strength is built in gardens, or in seclusions?"

Gu Changsheng replied, stepping inside the firepoint, his voice trembling slightly. Still, he tried to meet Elder Jian’s gaze without fear.

"Strength is built through trial and error, through relentless pursuit, and through moving forward in the face of various hardships."

But inwardly, he thought otherwise. If not for seclusions, how did she build her cultivation, with that ’warrior’ brain of hers?

If a stronger cultivator attacked him, could he defeat him by the power of courage or unyielding will?

The answer was a big NO.

Meanwhile, Elder Jian’s lips curved into a rare, almost imperceptible smile. Her gaze shifted to the others one by one.

"At least one of you has some spine. What about you lots?"

The others quickly bobbed their heads in agreement, Ning Rongrong and Dong Mulan almost burying their heads in the ground.

Elder Jian turned to the weapon rack, taking a sword from it.

She didn’t throw it at any of them, not like they expected. Instead, she examined it herself. The sword was cracked from multiple angles, but the surface still reflected its sharpness.

"This sword has been with me since I was a mere mortal, named ’Whisperer’."

Her fingers traced the flat of the blade, a gesture that was almost tender.

"It has tasted blood, has broken, and has been reforged a dozen times. Each scar on its blade is a lesson learned, each imperfection tells a horror I survived."

"You may find me stupid, stubborn even, but this is who I am. For I am... A sword cultivator."

A sword cultivator!!

A sword cultivator was one who didn’t merely wield a sword, but became one with it, merging their very essence with the blade until there was no distinction between the two.

Though their personalities are rather... Extraordinary, to say politely.

[A/N: A chicken is heavier! (ง✧‿✧)ง]

There was a heavy silence, each word from Elder Jian carrying the weight of a mountain.

She finally looked up, her gaze sweeping across the group. Though the moment felt like she wanted the Best Motivational Speaker Award, she just uttered a single word.

"Leave!"

And that was the dam breaker, causing all to disperse, almost running on four limbs, terrified that the volcano might erupt upon them the next moment.

Elder Jian looked at them go, then turned towards a certain direction, facing the wall and muttering crazily.

"You also think I am heartless, too ruthless, don’t you?!"

But no answer came from the walls, as it only had ears but no mouth. Her intense gaze, however, wanted to go beyond the wall and question someone she could never reach.

"Hehehe! Hahahaha!!"

Finally, the last string of remaining sanity snapped, and she began to laugh madly. As she did so, tears began to roll down her face.