CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 8: STRICTNESS

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

On the morning of going to the first peak, Gu Qingqing got up early. Over the past few days, she hadn’t learned many words from Wen Guiyun, so she relied mostly on gestures to communicate with others. Si Lin personally came to the first peak to pick her up.

Gu Qingqing wore a pink and white scholar’s dress with her hair styled into two little buns, wrapped with matching ribbons. Tassels hung on both sides beneath the ribbons and swayed lightly as she walked. After these days of recuperation, her complexion had significantly improved. Her skin, already fair, now had a healthy glow. With her big eyes and rosy lips, she looked extremely adorable.

"Little Qingqing, with your senior brother it’s just like being on the main peak, don’t feel constrained. If your senior brother bullies you, come back and tell Master; Master will stand up for you." Wen Guiyun squatted down, adjusting the tassels on Gu Qingqing’s head, and advised her softly.

Gu Qingqing glanced at Si Lin and, seeing the same expressionless face as before, felt a bit scared. She retracted her gaze and nodded to Wen Guiyun.

Wen Guiyun smiled with satisfaction, stood up, and looked at his eldest disciple.

"Si Lin, Little Qingqing is still young, don’t be too harsh on her." He hadn’t forgotten how Si Lin trained Rong Ye and the others, literally beating them to the ground. But Gu Qingqing was different; not only was she a girl, she was only five years old. She couldn’t be treated like Rong Ye and the others!

Si Lin glanced at Gu Qingqing standing beside Wen Guiyun and nodded unemotionally.

"That’s good, I’ll leave Little Qingqing in your hands. You may go." Wen Guiyun handed Gu Qingqing over to Si Lin and gestured for them to leave.

"Disciple takes his leave." Si Lin cupped his hands and saluted Wen Guiyun.

After Wen Guiyun turned away, he bent down to pick up Gu Qingqing. Feeling the soft sensation in his arms, Si Lin paused, then with a brief movement of his toes, carried Gu Qingqing off the main peak.

...

Back when Wen Guiyun arranged for the senior and junior brothers to teach Gu Qingqing, Si Lin had instructed the puppets to tidy up the room where Gu Qingqing would stay once she was brought back. Upon learning this, Rong Ye ran to the main peak, disregarded Si Lin’s cold demeanor, organized Gu Qingqing’s room, and then left satisfied.

After Si Lin brought Gu Qingqing over, they first went to the room where she would be living.

The room was even more lavishly decorated than before. Previously, the drapes and such were mainly dark, but now they were pink and white. There was a new vanity, and the jewelry box contained many age-appropriate accessories for Gu Qingqing, along with a new wardrobe full of suitable clothes. The room closely resembled the one Gu Qingqing had on the main peak, thoroughly considering her preferences and habits.

Gu Qingqing was very pleased upon seeing it and used gestures to thank Si Lin.

"These were all set up by that fellow Rong Ye. I’m glad you like it." To his junior sister, Si Lin wasn’t overly friendly but not too cold either; he explained calmly.

Gu Qingqing was even happier after hearing this. Perhaps because she was brought back by Rong Ye and they had gone through life-and-death situations together, among her five senior brothers, Gu Qingqing felt closest to Rong Ye. Rong Ye was very attentive to Gu Qingqing’s affairs, treating her like his own little sister.

When she smiled, her eyes turned into crescent moons and sparkled, softening even Si Lin, who only had a sword in his heart, making his expression less cold.

"Put your things away, and let’s go to the Martial Arts Arena." Si Lin instructed Gu Qingqing, then took the lead out the door.

Hearing this, Gu Qingqing quickly put her things away and jogged to catch up with Si Lin.

The Martial Arts Arena was not far from where Gu Qingqing lived, and they arrived soon enough. On the first peak, only Si Lin was a master; the rest were puppets. The arena was built large to serve Si Lin, with numerous swords on the weapon rack beside it.

Si Lin glanced at Gu Qingqing and led her to stand in the middle of the Martial Arts Arena, standing face-to-face with her.

"Master says I should teach you. After breakfast every morning, you’ll squat in a horse stance for a quarter-hour. After resting for half a quarter, you’ll start practicing basic swordsmanship, and in the afternoon, I’ll teach you artifact refining. How much you can learn depends on yourself." Si Lin went straight to the point, telling Gu Qingqing his plans.

Gu Qingqing was taken aback for a moment, nodding to indicate she understood.

"Very good, let’s start now with the horse stance." Seeing Gu Qingqing not refuse, Si Lin felt a trace of satisfaction and spoke unrelentingly.

Over the past few days, Wen Guiyun had also had Gu Qingqing practice the horse stance, and she had already learned it. Without hesitating, she got into position.

Seeing this, Si Lin was even more pleased.

He said no more, walked over to sit on a stone bench, and took out a Sword Manual from his Qiankun Ring, slowly reading it.

Though Gu Qingqing had also practiced the horse stance with Wen Guiyun, he felt sorry for her and only made her do it for half the time. Therefore, after half a quarter-hour, Gu Qingqing’s body began to falter slightly, starting to sway.

"No swaying." As soon as her body moved, Si Lin’s voice rang out.

Though reading, Si Lin had been keeping an eye on Gu Qingqing’s performance. When he spoke, Gu Qingqing paused and steadied herself again. Turning his head, he saw that Gu Qingqing’s expression wasn’t very good; her face was covered in sweat and had turned pale, but her eyes were determined, surprising and satisfying Si Lin.

As a cultivation fanatic, Si Lin cared little for other matters, except cultivation and sword training. To him, no matter the schemes, they’re all paper tigers in the face of absolute strength, which is why he was so strict with Rong Ye and the others.

Though Gu Qingqing was a girl, Si Lin did not want to be too lenient with her. In his view, there were no genders in the path of cultivation. Gu Qingqing couldn’t stay in Spirit Hidden Mountain forever nor always remain by their side. She would eventually venture outside. If her cultivation was strong, no one could harm her. His strictness was for her own good.

However, if Gu Qingqing did not wish to become stronger, Si Lin wouldn’t push her but would be disappointed. He would still be good to her out of fellow discipleship.

Fortunately, Gu Qingqing didn’t seem to be the easily discouraged type and impressively persevered!

A quarter-hour passed, and when Si Lin announced time’s up, Gu Qingqing’s body swayed and nearly fell, but Si Lin quickly caught her.

Seeing Gu Qingqing in obvious discomfort, Si Lin hesitated, then lifted her legs and carried her to her room.

"Rest for half a quarter; here’s the Sword Manual. Look it over, and after half a quarter-hour, meet me at the Martial Arts Arena." Si Lin placed the Sword Manual he had been reading beside Gu Qingqing’s bed and instructed her.

Gu Qingqing rubbed her legs, glanced at the Sword Manual, and looked up to nod at Si Lin.

After Si Lin left, she massaged her legs while flipping through the Sword Manual.

Si Lin had given her a basic Sword Manual, something quite commonplace. However, since Gu Qingqing hadn’t practiced swordsmanship before, she was quite curious.

Half a quarter-hour later, Gu Qingqing was back in the Martial Arts Arena. When Si Lin saw her, a slight satisfied smile flickered in his eyes, despite his outwardly indifferent expression.

While training with swords, Si Lin was even stricter than before. By the end of the morning, Gu Qingqing had only managed to practice one move, and even then, her arms almost gave out.

To Gu Qingqing, Si Lin had upgraded directly to Great Demon King Level.

Despite her stubborn nature, she managed to cling onto Si Lin.

Every morning, before Si Lin could call her, Gu Qingqing would head to the Martial Arts Arena and squat in the horse stance, even though Si Lin often had to carry her back without hearing any complaints from her.

On the afternoon of the third day, after their lessons, Rong Ye suddenly came to the first peak.