Giving you the best

Upon reaching the street, Mù Qīngyǔ noticed Xǔ Tiānlí was restless.

He constantly circled her, occasionally asking, “Where are we going now?” It was clear he was eager to begin his next lesson.

Truth be told, Mù Qīngyǔ herself had no idea where they were headed.

She had only brought Xǔ Tiānlí out because he had grown increasingly boisterous lately.

If she continued to placate him with vague answers, she feared he might catch a glimpse of her true nature.

Even if Xǔ Tiānlí didn’t discover Mù Qīngyǔ’s true identity, he would likely turn on her immediately if he realized his master was merely a pretender.

Considering Xǔ Tiānlí’s father had connections within the Heaven’s Will Bureau, it was highly probable he would join directly, especially since he was now a First-tier Spirit Wielder, possessing the necessary qualifications.

With the formidable Heaven’s Will Bureau as a barrier, Mù Qīngyǔ would find it difficult to interact with him again.

Her only option would be to seek out her scoundrel of a father and have him arrange an identity as a Heaven’s Will Bureau member for her.

However, doing so would only arouse suspicion from her scoundrel father, bringing greater danger to both her and Xǔ Tiānlí.

Based on the incomplete memories of the original host in Mù Qīngyǔ’s mind, her scoundrel father was an extremely arrogant and headstrong individual.

Any threat that appeared in his eyes would not be tolerated until it was completely eradicated.

Caught between the rapidly progressing Xǔ Tiānlí and her psychologically warped father, Mù Qīngyǔ frequently felt immense pressure.

Though her inner complaints wouldn’t directly show on her face, they would cause her expression to stiffen, becoming as cold as frost.

As she passed a blacksmith’s shop, her gaze lingered for a moment.

She couldn’t help but wish she could grab a cleaver and cut down everything, carving a path from the southern reaches of the Sacred Dynasty all the way to the north, directly assaulting the Four Sacred Courts’ stronghold.

Meanwhile, Xǔ Tiānlí, noticing the shift in his master’s expression, obediently fell silent.

He worried if he had displeased her again.

‘She hasn’t answered my question.’

‘Could she want me to find the answer myself?’

Yet, since leaving the orphanage, Mù Qīngyǔ had only led him aimlessly around, offering no clues.

How was he supposed to guess?

‘No, perhaps Master has already given me a hint?’

Xǔ Tiānlí followed her gaze, which rested on the blacksmith’s shop.

Inside, a bare-chested owner, rippling with muscle, was rhythmically hammering away at iron.

Though such shops appeared primitive, their business was never poor.

Low-tier Spirit Wielders, unable to wield powerful weapons, often sought sturdy, practical ones.

‘Master seems to be staring at the blades hanging on the wall?’

Xǔ Tiānlí pondered this for a moment and suddenly understood.

“Master, are we going to buy a blade today?”

“Ah?” Mù Qīngyǔ was taken aback.

“Master, you brought me out today to tell me that mere physical strength is far from enough.”

“If I continue to fight bare-handed, I’ll be at a distinct disadvantage against armed enemies.”

Xǔ Tiānlí completely grasped Qín Yuè’s intention.

Indeed, the older ginger is spicier.

Without her reminder, he wouldn’t have thought to acquire a suitable weapon in time.

Observing his self-satisfied expression, Mù Qīngyǔ’s mouth twitched.

‘What has this kid imagined now?’

‘However, this does remind me.’

Mù Qīngyǔ instantly found her next course of action.

She no longer needed to prolong their time by aimlessly wandering; she had nearly spent an entire afternoon dragging him around the city.

“Your idea is quite good, but it’s not entirely correct,” Mù Qīngyǔ stated solemnly.

“We didn’t come out today to get you a weapon.”

“Ah?” This time, it was Xǔ Tiānlí who was stunned.

“As a master, I only give my students the best.”

“Those scraps of metal don’t even warrant a glance from me,” Mù Qīngyǔ continued.

“But you are too weak right now.”

“Even if I gave you something excellent, you couldn’t use it.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“I see.”

“I was too impatient.”

Master truly lives up to her name.

Xǔ Tiānlí thought she was on the second layer, but in reality, she was on the fifth!

“Then, Master, are we going to…?”

“We’re not rushing the weapon matter for now.”

“We’re going to a martial arts hall.”

Upon hearing the words ‘martial arts hall,’ Xǔ Tiānlí roughly understood what his master intended.

Among the Spirit Wielder factions, two unique entities exist.

Unlike ordinary forces that frequently combat otherworldly demons, these two approach the path to enhancing Spirit Wielder strength from different angles.

One, originating from the Sacred Dynasty itself, is the Martial Alliance.

They refine various magical abilities usable by Spirit Wielders and compile them into martial arts manuals.

They not only summarize the experiences of their predecessors but also sell these manuals to the public, thus combating otherworldly demons in a peculiar way.

The other faction is the Alchemical Pact, which came from overseas.

Although rapidly developing, its scale within the country has yet to surpass that of the Martial Alliance.

The Martial Alliance boasts a long history, establishing martial arts halls in cities large and small across the nation.

These halls not only offer manuals for sale but also provide dedicated sparring grounds.

Even after arriving at the entrance of the Wufeng City Martial Arts Hall, Xǔ Tiānlí remained somewhat bewildered.

“Master, have we got this backward?”

Shouldn’t he acquire a weapon first, then learn appropriate blade or sword techniques?

Why had Mù Qīngyǔ brought him directly to such a place?

“What, you can’t practice without one, or are you underestimating my abilities?”

Since his master had spoken, Xǔ Tiānlí could only trust her and enter the martial arts hall with her.

As soon as they stepped inside, a beautiful female attendant approached to inquire about their needs.

Mù Qīngyǔ didn’t hesitate, immediately presenting her martial arts hall VIP card.

“A Diamond-tier esteemed guest!”

“My apologies, please follow me.” The attendant instantly became deferential.

“No need.”

“Just tell me where the highest-grade manual storage area is; I’ll choose myself.”

“Certainly.”

‘As expected, Master’s background is not simple.’

‘She lives deep in the mountains yet possesses the highest-grade VIP card.’

‘Could Master be an old acquaintance of the Martial Alliance’s higher-ups?’

Xǔ Tiānlí’s astonishment and confusion were plainly written on his face, which Mù Qīngyǔ observed.

‘It seems he isn’t suspicious.’

Although a Diamond VIP card wasn’t something one could obtain simply by throwing money around, as a young lady who had been highly regarded since childhood, receiving some special treatment was only natural.

Having just declared she would give her student the best, Mù Qīngyǔ couldn’t possibly turn around and pick a pile of useless items for Xǔ Tiānlí from the lowest-grade storage area.

“Wait here.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

Xǔ Tiānlí sat on a sofa in the lobby, watching his master’s flowing black hair disappear around the corner as she turned.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: ‘She truly is a responsible teacher to her student.’

Following the attendant’s directions, Mù Qīngyǔ, after taking two wrong turns, finally arrived at the highest-grade storage area.

Swiping her card, the door opened, revealing two entirely different scenes inside and outside the corridor.

It truly deserved its reputation as the highest-grade storage area.

It was arranged like a library that had accumulated knowledge for millennia.

An incense burner at the entrance diffused a pleasant, calming aroma, allowing every esteemed guest who entered to quietly select what they desired.

However, there was someone else here besides Mù Qīngyǔ.

The person wore casual clothes, facing sideways with a hood covering their face, obscuring their appearance.

A pair of long, pale legs protruded from beneath their shorts, twitching to a certain rhythm.

‘Is that someone’s young lady?’

Mù Qīngyǔ could tell at a glance that this person was not much older than herself.

‘Never mind them, I should focus on the task at hand.’

Despite this thought, Mù Qīngyǔ browsed several manuals, only to give them a cursory glance before shaking her head and returning them.

Her actions caused the other guest to quietly turn, their eyes narrowing behind their sunglasses as they observed her.

“No.”

“This one won’t do either.”

“Still no.”

The Wufeng City Martial Arts Hall was not large, but this was its highest-grade storage area.

To be so particular even here, if an attendant had been present, they would likely be flustered, asking where their service fell short.

If that were the case, Mù Qīngyǔ’s answer would be the same as her current murmur: “They’re all mediocre; none are what I’m looking for.”

The reason these manuals weren’t what she desired was simple: with the mysterious palace in existence, anything Xǔ Tiānlí learned, she could learn too, even improving upon it and directly surpassing him.

Rather than fobbing him off with low-grade manuals, it would be better to leverage his abnormal talent to help herself grow stronger.

Mù Qīngyǔ thought this.

However, Mù Qīngyǔ couldn’t remain completely uninvolved.

She had to at least teach him a beginning, lest her complete idleness arouse suspicion.

She genuinely liked many of these high-grade manuals, but their content was either too obscure or their prices exceeded her means, forcing her to reluctantly give up on them.

‘Must I really go to a lower-grade area?’

Just as Mù Qīngyǔ was contemplating this, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching her.

“Miss, are you having trouble finding what you’re looking for?”

“You are…?”

“First time meeting, you can call me… uh, Qiao Yíng.”

Despite the sunglasses and mask, her voice carried the sweetness of a young girl.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

“To be frank, I have a special manual here.”

“What do you think of it?”

‘So, it’s a staff member,’ Mù Qīngyǔ eased her guard slightly.

“…Why are you trying to sell me something no one else wants?”

“Because its content still looks too childish,” Qiao Yíng said, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

‘Childish?’

Mù Qīngyǔ’s interest was piqued.

“If you’d like it, Miss, how about a fifty percent discount as a favor?”

“Oh, so generous?”

Seeing Mù Qīngyǔ didn’t refuse, Qiao Yíng led her to the innermost part of the storage room and retrieved a manual from an inconspicuous corner.

The listed price indeed showed it was the cheapest.

Mù Qīngyǔ took the manual, her eyes widening slightly at first glance.

《Return to the Void One-Strike Decapitation》

She flipped to the first page: ‘There’s nothing in this world that one blade can’t solve.’

‘If there is, then run.’

‘How simple and crude.’

‘I like it.’