Loneliness, sadness, and relief all had their place. However, since that was the choice of his junior sister, Qu Buping had no right to intervene. Moreover, he had spent so much time with that person and knew that he was trustworthy. Amidst his sorrow, Qu Buping could only silently wish his junior sister and that person a favorable outcome.
Sadly, fate often had other plans. The news of his junior sister being with that person soon reached the sect. While it wasn't unusual for disciples within the sect to form relationships, the situation took a different turn when it was revealed that the person was the heir of the Wicked Sect. The revelation caused shockwaves within the Sword Sect, a righteous and honorable faction that couldn't possibly allow a union between their disciple and a scion of the Wicked Sect.
The Sect Master personally ordered the dismissal of this marriage proposal. However, his junior sister was a person willing to sacrifice everything for love. Despite learning about that person's affiliation with the dark arts, she chose to remain by his side. This decision incited the Sect Master's fury. Her junior sister was confined within the sect's confines, and that person was expelled from the mountain. The only reason he wasn't harmed further was the mutual non-aggression pact between the righteous and dark factions.
Trapped within the sect, his junior sister reached out to Qu Buping once more. She implored him to help her escape and find that person. Unable to bear his junior sister's desperate pleas, Qu Buping agreed to her request. He successfully brought her down the mountain and located that person. Qu Buping handed his junior sister over to him and returned to the sect, facing the punishment that awaited him.
The Sect Master berated Qu Buping for his actions and revealed that the reason for not permitting his junior sister's marriage was the imminent attack on the Wicked Sect, which had been planned for a month. Qu Buping endured his punishment within the sect for a month. As foretold, the righteous sects united and attacked the Wicked Sect, which crumbled under the assault. News of his junior sister and that person gradually faded after the fall of the Wicked Sect. Qu Buping's attempts to inquire about them yielded no results.
Since the Wicked Sect's downfall, Qu Buping never saw his junior sister or that person again. He occasionally heard rumors that the heir of the Wicked Sect hadn't been present during its destruction. Upon learning there was a possibility that his junior sister might still be alive, Qu Buping felt a weight lifted from his heart. He devoted many years to searching throughout the land, but found no trace of them. Over time, he buried these memories deep within himself.
After spending around a decade outside the sect, Qu Buping returned, his spirit broken by the lack of information about his junior sister and that person. He secluded himself in the library for decades. If not for Jiang Yun discovering the letter his junior sister had written, he might have forgotten these events entirely.
Qu Buping's voice grew increasingly somber as he recounted the tale, ending with a heavy sigh. A profound sense of melancholy hung in the air, and both of them remained silent for a while.
Jiang Yun couldn't help but wonder if Qu Buping regretted refusing his junior sister back then.
"Are you still unable to forget her?" Jiang Yun asked.
Without lifting his eyes, Qu Buping replied, "I've forgotten, but even if I can't forget, what difference does it make? I pursued my cultivation excessively back then and missed her. Regretting it afterward won't change anything. When I went to find her later, it was only to see how she was doing."
Even though Qu Buping didn't explicitly admit it, Jiang Yun could see that he had strong feelings for his junior sister. Otherwise, he wouldn't have locked himself in the library for decades, all alone.
"I used to believe that having cultivation was enough for me, that I didn't need unnecessary emotions. But it wasn't until I lost her that I realized some things. When something is by your side, you often fail to cherish it. It's only when you lose it that you feel overwhelming regret. But by then, everything has changed," Qu Buping concluded his story with a heavy sigh, capturing his experiences over the years in a single sentence. His demeanor shifted once more as his eyes gleamed with intensity. Suddenly, he asked, "Kid, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Jiang Yun found the situation somewhat amusing. Were all the people from the Sword Sect like this?
However, Qu Buping was different from Feng Lun. At least he wasn't using his authority to pressure him. Besides, Jiang Yun had developed some feelings for Qu Buping, so he didn't particularly resist the idea of becoming his disciple. He simply nodded.
"Actually, Senior, you've already been half my master with all the guidance you've given me in these past few months."
Qu Buping seemed a bit dissatisfied. "Still calling me Senior?"
"Master."
Qu Buping was known for his unpredictable nature. The moment Jiang Yun addressed him as "Master," he flipped the script. Suddenly, the chopsticks in his hand flew toward Jiang Yun's shoulders.
Jiang Yun furrowed his brows, perplexed by Qu Buping's actions. However, the chopsticks were already airborne, leaving him little time to contemplate. Instinctively, he utilized the body movement technique, the Four Directions Steps, attempting to evade the chopsticks' attack.
Yet, before he knew it, Jiang Yun was left flabbergasted. Although the chopsticks weren't fast, he couldn't dodge them with the Four Directions Steps—a technique he had hardly ever failed to use effectively since arriving in the Spirit and Martial Continent. The chopsticks tapped acupoints on his shoulders, immobilizing him instantly.
Qu Buping rose from his chair, advancing slowly toward Jiang Yun. With a serious tone, he said, "Guard your mental focus."
After his instructions, Qu Buping's hands began to move over Jiang Yun's body. Soon, Jiang Yun sensed a warmth emanating from his dantian. A tremendous surge of true qi flowed from an acupoint on his back, entering his body. As the true qi coursed through him, it drew and coalesced the spiritual energy within him.
The spiritual energy condensed into a sphere, enshrouded by true qi, compressing it. The sphere's size diminished while its solidity grew. Jiang Yun realized Qu Buping was assisting him. Though his cultivation level wasn't increasing, the purity of his spiritual energy was improving significantly. This refinement would greatly aid his future breakthrough into the True Martial Realm.
Following Qu Buping's instructions, Jiang Yun immersed his mental focus, silently sensing the transformation of spiritual energy from gaseous to liquid within his body. Soon, he became completely engrossed, cutting off external distractions and entering a state of profound meditation.