Chapter 15 - Danger

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  In no time, Gu Xuan had reached the start of the coiled path and started climbing at a speed unseeable to most lower district disciples. Even if they could see him, the most they would see was a shadow, they might even think that they are hallucinating because of their inferior senses.

  Soon, Gu Xuan was rapidly approaching the gates of the Central District.

  In front of the gate stood Zhong Wenling and Yu Wencheng.

  Drawing the swords hanging from their waists, they yelled simultaneously, “Who’s there?! State your business!”

  Gu Xuan stopped in his tracks a few meters away from them and greeted with a fist palm gesture, his head slightly bowing, “Long time no see, Senior Brother Ling, and Senior Brother Cheng.”

  Zhong Wenling, still cautious, asked in confusion, “Long time no see?”

  Yu Wencheng just stared at Gu Xuan then was surprised for a moment before asking, “You… you’re Junior Brother Gu Xuan who climbed a year ago but didn’t come back upon going down the mountain?”

  Gu Xuan affirmed with a nod and explained in embarrassment as he scratched the back of his head, “Well, I kind of got lost in training… hahaha…”

  Zhong Wenling sheathed his sword and approached Gu Xuan in a hurried manner.

  Gu Xuan was slightly on guard but Zhong Wenling had already put away his weapon so he didn’t think of it much.

  Zhong Wenling suddenly wrapped his arm around Gu Xuan’s neck and laughed heartily, “Junior Brother! What was that just now?! I thought a master was approaching! You had me panicking, hahaha!”

  Yu Wencheng also put away his sword and asked as well, “That’s right, what was that just now? Was it the martial arts technique you got from the Martial Arts Library? But, shouldn’t you give it back after a month? Why are you only bringing it back now?”

  “Yes, Senior Brother Ling, it’s a martial arts technique I learned called “Silent Step Footwork.” And to answer Senior Brother Cheng’s question, Elder Yan gave me an exception. He said that the books I took aren't something that most Central District disciples were interested in so I could bring it back in a year… but, I’m a little delayed for a month, will he get angry?” Gu Xuan couldn’t help but ask with a bit of worry.

  Yu Wencheng then smiled, “Since Elder Yan already gave you a year, what’s a month more but you should report as soon as possible.”

  Zhong Wenling then patted Gu Xuan’s back, “Go ahead inside, and report your failure to bring back a book on time in the Martial Arts Library.”

  “Then, I’ll catch up with you later, Senior Brothers.”

  “Sure! Let’s have food and drinks later at night in the Mess Hall. We’ll wait for you, we’ll be done with our duty in a couple of hours.”

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  “Food and drinks?” Gu Xuan couldn’t help but gulp, he hadn’t had good food in a while. “Yes, I’ll definitely be there.”

  Gu Xuan waved his hand in goodbye towards them before walking in the direction of the Martial Arts Library.

  Because Gu Xuan deliberately headed to the Martial Arts Library first, he reached the place within a minute or two.

  And as he stepped forward, he saw Elder Yan sitting on his desk looking in his direction.

  Gu Xuan hurriedly greeted, “Disciple Gu Xuan greets Elder Yan.”

  Elder Yan nodded quietly and asked, “You’re a month late. Why are you late?”

  Gu Xuan then began to explain, “I haven’t reached the second level of the “Silent Step Footwork” a month ago so I took a little bit more time to reach it.”

  “The second level?” Elder Yan was quite surprised and nodded in satisfaction but he scolded, “It’s good that you trained the martial arts technique but couldn’t you report first in the Martial Arts Library?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry for not going back sooner.”

  “Just put the—” Elder Yan suddenly froze and stood up in a rush, and cupped his fist near Gu Xuan, “The 4th Elder, Yan Wen, greets the Sect Leader, Han Qiao.”

  ‘Sect Leader…’ Gu Xuan thought in shock as he slowly turned his gaze to his side, the direction wherein Elder Yan was paying respects to.

  An old man… no, a middle-aged man in terms of appearance but with long white hair tied into a ponytail, stared at him, a few inches away from his face.

  Goosebumps couldn’t help but arise from Gu Xuan’s skin. Meanwhile, Sect Leader Han ignored Elder Yan’s greeting and asked, “4th Elder, who’s this kid?”

  “Yes, this is a disciple who’s climbed the Central District a year and a month ago after breaking through the 1st Layer at the age of 14.”

  “1st Layer?” Sect Leader Han questioned and his eyes glowed a faint blue light and asked Gu Xuan seriously, his face still a few inches away from Gu Xuan’s shocked face. “You tell me, did you reach the 1st Layer a year ago?”

  Gu Xuan felt as if a thousand ants were crawling through his skin, the pressure brought by the Sect Leader was immense, as if he was standing before a wild beast emitting killing intent.

  He could also tell… the sect leader sees through his cultivation.

  So he also cupped his fist in respect and answered truthfully, “Disciple Gu Xuan greets the Sect Leader, Han Qiao. I had reported that I had broken through a year ago but due to my age, I have been mistaken to have recently broken through the 1st Layer so I just went with the flow but truthfully, I broke through the 3rd Layer a year ago.”

  Elder Yan on the side was momentarily stunned, then as he realized what had just come out of Gu Xuan’s mouth, he was dumbfounded, “3rd Layer? A year ago?”

  Gu Xuan knew that there was no use getting nervous so he met Sect Leader Han’s eyes with no fear.

  He was slightly nervous, but right now, there was nothing else he could do, he was the weaker party.

  Sect Leader Han pulled his face away and nodded whilst asking, “Why did you lie?”

  “I didn’t lie, Sect Leader. I simply didn’t tell the truth.”

  Sect Leader was taken aback by Gu Xuan’s reply and then laughed out loud.

  As he was laughing out loud, Gu Xuan’s muscles tensed because although he was laughing, he was emitting quite a pressure filled with danger.

  Before he could realize it, Sect Leader Han was already patting his hair with a gentle smile on his face, “What an interesting disciple. You’re quite cautious and that’s good. The only way to survive in this world is to think about ourselves first before others. You’re not wrong.”

  “This…” Gu Xuan was dumbfounded, not only because he couldn’t see the sect leader move but because he also didn’t expect the sect leader to be so kind because of prior pressure he exuded.

  Sect Leader Han took back his hand on the nervous child and asked, “What are your plans after this?”

  Gu Xuan calmed himself down and replied, “Reporting to the sect leader, my current plans are to go out and do missions to accumulate sect points and exchange for medicinal herbs to hasten my cultivation as well as to gain combat experience in the mortal world. It took me 2 years to break through from 1st Layer to 2nd Layer, and 4 years from 2nd to 3rd. I assume that 3rd to 4th will be 8 years but then, I’ll be much older. I don’t plan on stopping in the 4th layer, I want to aim higher.”

  “Is that so?” Sect Leader Han turned to Gu Xuan thoughtfully then said, “Then go. When you come back, tell any elders to bring you to my quarters, you can cultivate there when you come back. Starting today, you’re my disciple.”

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