015: The Master and Disciple Day
For Wendy, this week is a wonderful time for her.
Her master didn't go into seclusion but accompanied her in the front yard. While she practiced swordsmanship, her master sat in the pavilion making talismans.
Sometimes, her master will give her pointers that enlighten her thinking about her sword skill. And so, her progress peaked. Last week, she just advanced her skill mastery into early Lesser Mastery. Now, her Lesser Mastery has improved quickly and it doesn't look like she just reached Lesser Mastery of [Starlight Wrath Sword Skill].
Her cultivation also improved, but not as much as her sword skill. She finally entered Low-Stage of the Energy Refinement Realm.
With one final slash on a stone border, she finally stopped while breathing heavily and sweaty back. Ruminating the last slash, she felt like she grasped something but couldn't clearly catch the fleeting thought.
Just as she was frustrated, she heard an elegant and graceful voice behind her. "Little Wendy, come here and rest for a while."
It was her master.
The veiled lady wearing a light green dress similar to her today beckoned to Wendy, making her forget the frustration she was reeling in and happily trot to her master.
Zemirah saw her little disciple smile again and laughed lightly.
"I saw your last slash earlier, it almost reached the threshold of Peak Lesser Mastery," Zemirah spoke as she packed up the newly made talisman in a wooden box.
Wendy sheathed her sword and helped her master prepare a new set of talisman materials. She nodded at her master's words, "That right, master. It's just that I've been stuck at this part. I feel something but I can't find the opportunity to grasp it. It's been making me frustrated."
Zemirah smiled and shook her head, "Don't be impatient. Rashness will not lead you to a good end."
Wendy understood as she calmed her emotions.
Seeing this, Zemirah thought for a moment before deciding, "Since you've been stuck at your swordsmanship of [Starlight Wrath Sword Skill], why don't I teach you a footwork technique to practice aside from the sword technique."
Wendy paused and blinked at Zemirah. "Really, Master?"
Zemirah liked seeing her cute look and pinched her somewhat chubby cheeks, "Yes after I make this talisman."
Wendy pouted but waited beside her master. She also observed her master's work but didn't really understand it. She just knew that the way her master made a talisman was a feast to the eyes.
Her master's beauty is unparalleled to the world, her temperament noble and her character is generous and unambiguous.
The way she moved her talisman brush is like the way she swung her sword, graceful and sharp. It is like the most beautiful performance out there and Wendy feels lucky to be able to see it every day.
It didn't take long for Zemirah to finish a Supreme-Quality talisman.
Wendy watched amazedly at how her master easily made a talisman with such a high-quality many people outside would fight for.
It was another part that she felt proud of. Her master is a genius talisman master. However, she feels quite sad that she doesn't have the talent for it.
Especially since Wendy is currently the only disciple of her master. And in the future, she'll be the eldest disciple yet she can't carry her master's banner.
"Well, that's about it." Zemirah lifted her talisman brush and stared at the finished talisman. The talisman is Supreme-Quality just as she expected.
She was a bit disappointed since her progress to making Celestial quality is stagnant. But she didn't have much expectation so she's only a bit disappointed but not discouraged.
Wendy watched her master store the last talisman while she waited on the side. She asked, "This is the last talisman of this batch, master?"
Zemirah nodded, "Yeah, it can be given to the Town Lord's people tomorrow."
Wendy curiously asked, "How many talismans did you make, master?"
Zemirah's eyes narrowed mischievously and said, "Of course, I made 145 talismans from the 150 talisman papers."
She added, "And the most important is that I can make Supreme-Quality using Common-Quality talisman paper."
Wendy had seen it and was still amazed at the fact, "Master, you're so amazing."
Zemirah isn't humble as she agreed, "I know."
"I'm trying to control the quality to not be always Rare or Supreme-Quality. Otherwise, I will probably not have any peace if it came out." Zemirah sighed to herself.
"Give this wooden box to the Town Lord's people. There are 30 Uncommon-Quality and 70 Outstanding-Quality Late-Stage Grade 1 talisman."
Wendy nodded and kept the wooden box, "You didn't give any supreme or rare quality, master?"
Zemirah explained, "Although I want many people to know my awesomeness, your master will attract unnecessary attention that may harm us."
Wendy was puzzled and didn't understand what she said which Zemirah noticed at a glance. She just smiled and said to her little disciple, "Just know that some people will come and take away your master which is not a good thing."
Wendy understood that and was quite scared. She feared the thought of her master leaving her and being taken away by bad guys such as the Demonic Cultivators.
She didn't want to be left alone again.
"Then don't show them good things, Master," Wendy said in a hurry.
Zemirah laughed, "Well, I won't. Only to people I trust."
"Like me and Aunt Riya?" Wendy asked cutely.
Zemirah nodded, "Yeah, like you and Aunt Riya."
Wendy was delighted to hear her words.
"Now, let's talk about the footwork technique I'll teach you."
Wendy became serious at that. She sat straight and stared at her master.
"This footwork technique is called [Blink Star Technique]. It is best in an instant burst of speed, the higher the mastery skill, the more times the blink can be done."
"This is especially good to use in combat, to confuse the enemy, or to escape. Now, I'll give you the [Blink Star Footwork Manual] then I'll demonstrate it to you after."
Zemirah copied the manual on a jade slip and handed it to Wendy. Wendy took the jade slip with a serious face and thanked her master. After that, she read the contents inside for a few minutes and then started to comprehend them.
Most of the Cultivation Techniques given to Wendy by her master are related to the stars. That is why Wendy can immediately start comprehending the Footwork Technique. She knew where to start and could ask her master about her doubts.
The stars are quite complicated, they are not the original elements of Azar like Water, Fire, Earth, and Wood. Stars are mostly associated with Divination, another type of profession that is well respected with high requirements to start.
"I'll demonstrate the first step of [Blink Star Footwork] to you. Watch carefully then show me your progress next week."
Zemirah stood up from her seat. Then she walked toward a wider space to show clearly the footwork to her disciple.
Wendy nodded obediently and stared at her master.
Zemirah didn't dally and started using the first step of [Blink Star Footwork]. The first step is quite simple since it can only allow a person to blink once.
Wendy stared at her master's footwork. She just saw her master disappearing from one place to another. She didn't even see how it happened.
Zemirah saw her puzzled look and had an idea. Her disciple is a sword genius, so when teaching, she should include swordsmanship.
Unsheathing her sword artifact, Zemirah's aura changed slightly from her playful one to a more serious one. She started using her footwork while using her sword technique, they didn't hinder each other but complement one another perfectly.
Wendy's eyes widened as she felt something in her mind clear. She didn't even blink as she focused completely on the scene in front of her.
Zemirah saw it and didn't stop, she even enjoyed the feeling of freely showing her attainments to her disciple.
Ever since arriving in this world, she never fought anyone.
Her talismans and skills are all stored within her, improving every day.
Yet her combat experience is zero.
She didn't know where to vent her energy, or where to use her hard-earned skills.
She didn't want to find trouble just to test her skills, so she obediently stayed in her courtyard with Wendy.
Making talismans and cultivating to advance to higher cultivation. She thinks she did well because she is now a Late-Stage Energy Refinement Realm cultivator from Mid-Stage before.
Zemirah closed her eyes and just let her body move.
A graceful figure moved along the sword in the middle of the garden. Like a star hiding and teasing her audience or her prey, she mesmerized them.
The master and disciple talked for half a day. Each gains something from the interaction.
Zemirah remembered something in the middle, she took out a mirror artifact and handed it to Wendy.
"Take this mirror, it's quite good." Zemirah didn't say much as she handed the mirror.
Wendy was also used to her master's random gifts and happily accepted them.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 6,000-fold back and getting a Celestial-Quality Low-Stage Grade 2 [Thousand Miles Memory Mirror]
Zemirah sipped on her spiritual tea as her eyes narrowed in satisfaction. The voice continued in her mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering an 8,000 fold back and getting a Black-Grade Celestial-Quality [Flickering Stars Footwork Technique]
Details: Flickering Stars deceive the enemy's eyes and senses.
The technique was because of gifting Wendy another cultivation technique. Now, she has a better one that she can practice.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 4,000-fold back and getting a [40 Years of Sword Technique Experience]
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 3,000-fold back and getting a [30 Years of Footwork Technique Experience]
Zemirah spoke to Sia in her mind, 'Sia, can you tell me if there are other relationships other than master-disciple that will trigger a bigger fold back?'
She had long been curious about this topic, only now did Zemirah remember to ask her system.
[Ding! Apart from the master and disciple relationship, there is also lovers and family relationship.]
She was somewhat tempted to find a lover right now to try the fold-back at lovers since family is quite impossible to find.
This body she transmigrated is an orphan.
However, the problem that will surface when finding a lover doused her enthusiasm. Zemirah is quite picky about her future partner, her heart is also hidden away by her to protect it from heartbreak.
In short, she's quite afraid of falling in love,
If falling in love is so easy why would she be still single on Modern Earth before transmigrating to Azar?
These thoughts occupied her mind as she sighed in her heart.
She cried, 'I will surely not still be single forever in Azar, right?'
A knock sounded from the gate, which interrupted Zemirah's thoughts. The master and disciple glanced at the gate and vaguely saw a pair of town guards outside.
"Must be the Town Lord's people," Zemirah muttered before ordering Wendy, "Wendy, go and greet the guests."
Wendy said yes and went to welcome the soldiers. She led them to the pavilion where Zemirah was sitting.
The Town Guards saluted first before saying their purpose, "My lady, we are here under the order of the Town Lord to collect the items."
The guards have no idea what they are going to collect. Zemirah understood this so she nodded and said, "Wendy, hand the space pouch."
The Town Soldiers didn't check the items inside and bid farewell.
Zemirah was in a good mood at the thought that her garden will finally have spiritual plants to décor when someone knocked on the gate again.
Zemirah was quite puzzled at who is looking for her since she only expects the Town Lord's people.
Wendy went to welcome people again, and this time, she saw a familiar face.
"Thea?"