Closing the book, Jiang Yun placed it back on the shelf, intending to find something to eat first. As he descended from the third floor, he noticed the old man still resting on the first floor, leaning against the table with one hand supporting his head and his eyes closed, just like when Jiang Yun had first arrived.
"Senior, is there any food available here?" Jiang Yun asked straightforwardly. The distance to the Tianjian Sect's dining hall was quite far, and considering the time of day, even if he went there, there might not be much food left.
The old man raised his head upon hearing Jiang Yun's voice, opened his eyes, and glanced at Jiang Yun. He replied, "Yes, from here, count three rows of bookshelves and look behind them. There's a small door. Go in, and you'll find food. But it's all raw. You'll have to cook it yourself."
Following the old man's instructions, Jiang Yun quickly found the kitchen. Surprisingly, there was a wide variety of ingredients available, a good mix of both meat and vegetables.
Rolling up his sleeves, Jiang Yun swiftly prepared a hearty dinner. However, he didn't intend to eat alone. Instead, he carried the food out and planned to share it with the old man.
As the aroma of the food reached the old man's nose, he immediately shed his previous laziness and his eyes lit up.
Picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite of meat, the old man smacked his lips a few times and then his attitude toward Jiang Yun underwent a significant change.
"This pork belly is done well. The ratio of fat to lean meat is just right, and it's tender to chew. Not bad."
Perhaps it was the allure of the food, but the old man began to talk more, engaging in a conversation with Jiang Yun.
After chatting with the old man for quite some time, Jiang Yun learned that the old man had been guarding the library for decades. This revelation surprised him.
To guard a library day in and day out for decades was not something an ordinary person could do. Jiang Yun felt a bit sympathetic and asked, "Senior, did you violate any rules within the sect? Why have you been guarding the library for so long?"
The old man contemplated for a moment before replying, "No, I just enjoy the tranquility here."
Jiang Yun found this hard to believe. Who would stay in such a place for decades without a good reason? Even if someone enjoyed tranquility, it seemed unlikely they would want to spend so many years in a place devoid of human activity.
However, since the old man didn't want to elaborate, Jiang Yun didn't press further. Everyone had their stories, and it wasn't always necessary to dig deep into them.
"By the way, Senior, this morning when I was cleaning, I accidentally went up to the third floor to take a look. I hope I didn't violate any rules?" Jiang Yun recalled his earlier excursion to the third floor without notifying the old man first. After all, it seemed like the contents on the third floor were related to many things within the sect.
"There's no violation. Since you're going to stay here for three months, feel free to explore. It's fine. Otherwise, Hu Qing wouldn't have sent you here."
Jiang Yun gave the old man a curious look. The old man's direct address of the sect master's name indicated that he likely held a high rank. Jiang Yun asked, "By the way, Senior, I still don't know how to address you."
Jiang Yun realized that he didn't even know the old man's name. If he wanted to learn about the old man's identity, he should at least know what to call him.
The old man gave Jiang Yun a deep look and chuckled, "You young folks these days, just say what's on your mind. Don't beat around the bush with me. Getting old, it's easy to get confused by all the twists and turns, you know?"
Seeing his intentions exposed, Jiang Yun gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Well, I didn't want things to be awkward between us since we'll be spending three months here. It would sound strange if I kept addressing you as 'Senior.' And I wasn't sure about your rank, so calling you 'Senior' didn't feel quite right."
Taking a bite of food with his chopsticks, the old man continued, "But my identity isn't some big secret, and there's nothing to hide. According to your seniority, you can call me 'Shizu' (师祖), which means 'grandmaster.' You're an outer disciple now, so it's not that strict. Calling me 'Senior' isn't wrong either."
"Shizu?" Jiang Yun had suspected that the old man's rank might be on par with the Grandmaster of the Azure Sun Martial Monarch. It turned out to be true.
"As for a name, it's been so long since anyone called me that, I've almost forgotten." The old man paused his chopsticks briefly when mentioning his name, appearing somewhat forlorn. But then he quickly continued, "A long time ago, people used to call me Qing Shi."
"Qing Shi? Does Shizu know the Azure Sun Martial Monarch?" Jiang Yun realized that the old man's title and the connection to the Azure Sun Martial Monarch couldn't be trivial. He was curious about the relationship between Shizu and the Martial Monarch since his Qing Yang Sword Art had been inherited from the latter. Respect seemed appropriate.
"We know each other."
The old man said casually. Afterward, he asked Jiang Yun, "Your Sword Intent comes from the Qing Yang Sword Art, right? But it seems there are significant differences."
Of course, there were differences. Jiang Yun's Sword Intent, although derived from the Qing Yang Sword Art, had undergone substantial changes after merging with the Yi Jin Jing.
"Shizu has a discerning eye indeed, you saw through it at a glance. My Sword Intent is indeed quite different from the Qing Yang Sword Art."
Jiang Yun knew that the old man was far from ordinary. His strength and cultivation might have reached a level beyond his reach, which was why he seemed so unassuming.
Given the presence of this enigmatic expert, Jiang Yun seized the opportunity to seek advice. He recounted how his Sword Power had formed and asked Shizu whether it was good or bad.
"Sword Power? That's quite an interesting term. However, your Sword Power seems to be even more condensed than Sword Intent. It's probably the most suitable for you. Don't worry too much about it."
The old man casually glanced at Jiang Yun's dantian, dispelling his concerns about Sword Power. He then continued, "Your current weakness lies in your shallow understanding of Sword Intent. The books on the third floor should be of great help to you. You can spend more time there reading."
"Yes, Shizu is right. I'll make sure to study them thoroughly." Jiang Yun responded humbly.
After finishing his meal, the old man put down his chopsticks and said, "No need for thanks. I just noticed you cook well, so I gave you some pointers. I hope it helps you save some unnecessary detours. Remember, while a teacher can guide you through the door, personal cultivation depends on yourself. No one can do it for you."
Once the old man finished, Jiang Yun quickly polished off the food in his bowl. Afterward, he tidied up the remaining food and dishes, then returned to the front area.
"There's only one bed here, and that's for me, the old man. You can rest on the third floor."
Seeing Jiang Yun approaching, the old man arranged for Jiang Yun to stay on the third floor. Jiang Yun gladly accepted the offer, exchanged a few words with the old man, and then headed back to the third floor.