019: Wendy's Swordsmanship
When Zemirah came out of her room after her three-day seclusion, she went to look for Wendy. As usual, her disciple is diligently practicing her swordsmanship while Thea is standing a few steps away, watching and waiting.
Zemirah was used to this scene so she quietly stood on the side to observe her disciple training. Zemirah noticed that Wendy's swordsmanship had subtly changed.
It was not the usual resilient and tough intent she felt. There is something mixed, it was like... killing intent.
Though Wendy's sword intent is only in its infancy and not yet formed, Zemirah can vaguely see the path she'll be taking.
It is tough like the Earth would not be easily destroyed by any storm and resilient like the Woods that will always face the storm without backing down.
Now, a killing intent is mixed.
Murderous, only by being bathed with blood will one be reborn.
Just how did this happen? Zemirah frowned in confusion.
Wendy was doing her sword steps when she saw someone from the corner of her eyes and recognized it as her master. She quickly ended her practice and exclaimed, "Master!"
Zemirah smiled at the excited and surprised girl. "How are you little Wendy?"
"I've been a good girl while you're in seclusion. Master," Wendy said.
"That's good, let's sit in the pavilion to talk." Zemirah patted Wendy's head as she gestured to Thea to ready the tea set and snacks.
Thea has been watching at the side so she quickly saw Zemirah's order. She smiled and went to the kitchen.
Zemirah and Wendy sat on the pavilion, she saw that the chair and table were unfamiliar but she recognized the material used.
It was the furniture she entrusted to the spiritual craftsman. She didn't expect that it's already here.
"Where are the other two furniture?" Zemirah asked curiously as she observed the new furniture. It was made from a spiritual wood and crafted by a spiritual craftsman, as she explored the item, she felt its special effect.
It can speed up spiritual energy recovery and emit a refreshing smell. It's good for resting. Though not particularly amazing, it is a good thing.
Wendy answered, "The other furniture is here, Master." Wendy was about to untie the space pouch in her waist when Zemirah waved her hand.
"No need to give it to me, you can place the bed in your room while the chaise lounge can be placed in your room or the living room. It's yours."
Wendy's smiled and thanked her master, happy to receive another gift.
After a few little talks, Thea arrived with the tea set and snacks. Zemirah let Thea brew tea for them. Seeing that Wendy is relaxed, she asks the question she's been curious about.
"Little Wendy, tell your Master. What happened to your swordsmanship?" Zemirah's voice was serious as she observed her little disciple's expression.
Wendy paused before she answered truthfully. "I- I realized the thing that has been missing in my sword."
"And that is?" Zemirah knew the answer but she still decided to ask.
"Killing intent," Wendy murmured.
"What happened? You don't have that before I entered seclusion."
Wendy saw that her master wasn't mad so she spoke what she thought these past few days, "I've been training my sword to become stronger from the start. But only after feeling the threat of death did I remember that my sword has another will, and that is to kill my enemies to protect myself and my loved ones."
Zemirah was surprised at her answer.
"Master, you know that I escaped death at the hands of Demonic Cultivators. I've seen killing and death so many times that day and it was hard not to remember. Only when I met you that those nightmares fade away. I wanted to forget the bad memories including the mass killing. But what happened three days ago made me remember the feeling of being an inch away from death. The feeling of being powerless, not being able to resist."
"I want to grow without holding vengeance in my heart as you said that you want me to be worry-free. But Master, my sword needs to kill. Only then can I find my path to protect my loved ones like the tough Earth and tread my path with resilience like the Wood."
Zemirah listened in amazement at her disciple's words.
She knew the importance of knowing your goal and understanding yourself.
What she did in her seclusion made her heart more determined and her mind clearer. Her disciple also gained something from that ordeal. She managed to find her path at such a young age.
Proud and happy, she smiled at her disciple as she embraced Wendy in her arms. Wendy released the words in her heart and felt the warm embrace of her master.
She became silent as she hugged her master and enjoyed the soft warmth.
Zemirah caressed Wendy's hair and said, "That's good. You only need to know that your master will always support you behind your back. You only need to look ahead your path."
Wendy nodded.
"Master is proud of you."
***
After that, Wendy and Zemirah talked about the happenings when she was in seclusion such as the reason that the Old Cultivator found them.
Wendy and Thea told her about their guess, making Zemirah sigh, "I should've known better. Having a treasure but not having the strength to protect it is a sin."
Zemirah was quite ashamed of making the low-level mistake. She knew this long ago even in Modern Earth. Humans are greedy, they tend to bully the weak and fear the strong.
She almost caused a disaster for Thea and her family with her inadvertent action. That was the time when she just arrived in Azar. She didn't carefully consider the consequences and only thought of getting the reward from giving gifts.
Zemirah took out a few talismans and gave them to Thea, "Take this for you and your parents. My compensation for what happened."
Thea was about to refuse thinking that it wasn't the Lady's fault at all. It was because they were careless and didn't think their previous master would reveal that transaction.
Zemirah waved her hand and said, "No need to refuse, just take it as additional security. I have more on me so rest assured.
Zemirah listened to Sia's notification on her mind as she sipped on her tea.
She got another higher quality talisman and furniture.
"Let's go to your Aunt Riya, our pill stocks are dwindling." Zemirah thought of the pills in Sia's inventory space, she'll give them to her disciple next time.
"By the way, Wendy. Take this Array Disk with you." It was the first array formation she got from the system, the [Starry Guard Array] a Supreme-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 1 Array Disk.
Wendy saw that it was the array formation her master used to seriously injure the Old Cultivator who attacked three days ago. She knew that it must be a treasure many people would want and its power was something that could even deter Foundation Building realm cultivators.
Zemirah saw her expression and smiled, "Take it, your master has more."
Only then did Wendy let go of her worries and happily kept the array disk. Thea watched in amazement the whole scene and didn't speak much. She can see that the lady really likes Wendy as her disciple. Wendy was showered with love, care, and resources.
It was something many can only dream of.
"Let's go to your Aunt Riya. I haven't seen her for quite a while."
Wendy laughed at her master's words, it's only a few days yet her master spoke like it's been years.
Zemirah knocked on Wendy's head playfully as she said, "Dare to laugh at your master."
Zemirah brought Wendy with her to Riya's residence. Using the ring on the gate to knock, Zemirah waited for the gate to open.
It didn't take long before she saw Riya behind the gate. The woman still has her silver mask on, her hair is tied in a bun and Zemirah can smell the rich medicinal scent on her.
'She must 've spent the past few days refining medicinal pills.' Zemirah thought.
Riya smiled when she saw the visitors, "Come inside. You just finished your seclusion?"
"Yeah, I gained quite a bit and my cultivation stabilized more," Zemirah said with a smile.
Riya led the master and disciple inside her residence.
"That was dangerous, the Old Man Blood Rust is known for plundering resources from lower-level cultivators. I heard that even mortal families weren't let off from his hands."
Zemirah recalled the feeling she had at that time and agreed, "I don't like killing, I probably wouldn't have killed him that day if he did not target my disciple."
Riya saw her expression and knew she meant what she said. She also felt that Zemirah doesn't seem to have blood in her hands. Her actions and ideals are innocent, it can even be said to be naïve. Like how she easily made friends, being generous to everyone not thinking it might arouse greedy hearts.
It was also this character of hers that made her allow Mirah to be close to her.
"Just make sure not to go out frequently, you've scared off many people from your performance. The array formation you used is quite powerful." Riya laughed lightly.
Zemirah smiled at her words, "They better be. I'm not even afraid of the Foundation Building realm, I just want to quietly cultivate yet those people just came to my door."
Riya laughed happily at how her words meant literally and figuratively. The Old Man Blood Rust really sent himself to death's door.
"By the way, thank you for the spiritual plants you sent. Take this as my thanks." Riya took out a small long wooden box from her space ring and handed it to Zemirah.
Zemirah didn't refuse since she also likes having gifts. Friendship is a two-way road, you give and I give. It's not only receiving without boundaries. That would wear away the feeling of friendship over time.
"What is this?" Zemirah happily opened the wooden box and saw a different color of incense.
Riya introduced, "I made this incense, I named them Berry Fruit Incense series that has special effects aside from their fragrance. There are 5 types, red is to repel insects, green to leave a good impression to little animals, blue to clear the mind, purple to slightly raise the resistance to illusion, and yellow to repel evil spirits"
Riya saw Zemirah's eyes widen in delight and excitedly told her, "I've long wanted to buy one and always forget! Thank you, Riya."
Riya was also infected with her glee and smiled. "No thanks, I was also interested in making incense this past few days aside from making medicinal pills."
"Oh, speaking of medicinal pills. I want to buy some for daily cultivation." Zemirah finally remembered the reason she came here with her disciple.
"Tell me what you need. I have some stocks on me."
Zemirah handed a list to Riya who immediately took bottles of medicinal pills she needed. Zemirah then paid Riya with a talisman and some gold coins.
"By the way, do you know any spiritual planters? My garden of spiritual plants can't always rely on talisman and array formation, I think they need someone to take care of them hands-on."
Riya thought for a moment before she answered, "There are many spiritual planters in Wintea City but they all work for some cultivation family or sects. I know a spiritual planter family that is owned by spiritual planter Twins. They own the Rudd Village."
"Rudd Village?"
"Yeah, it was on the other side of Teal River under the jurisdiction of Boreal Town. You can try to recruit an apprentice there who can take care of your garden. I heard that they trained quite a lot of apprentices from mortal families."
"I'll take note of that."
"Are you going? I'll write a letter for you and can you help me buy some things in Rudd Village." Riya didn't ask for the specific details and only asked if Mirah would go to help her with an errand.
Zemirah didn't mind and agreed, "Give me a list then."
After that, Zemirah took her disciple to go home. Wendy was silently eating the snacks Riya prepared and listened silently to their talk without intruding. She understood her position and knew the etiquette of not joining the conversation of adults.
"Did you like Aunt Riya's snacks, Wendy?" Zemirah teased Wendy who held the cloth package that held snacks Riya packed for Wendy.
Wendy wasn't shy and nodded, "Aunt Riya cooks deliciously."
"I know, we should come often to taste her dishes, okay?" Zemirah agreed and coaxed her disciple to come often to Riya.
Wendy hadn't thought of that so her eyes widened in surprise.
"Will it be okay with Aunt Riya?"
Zemirah smirked, "Of course, Aunt Riya doesn't mind if it's not too much."
'Besides, I can just bring ingredients and gifts.'
Zemirah happily planned in her heart.