Lu Qingyun immediately protested to Elder Ouyang and even to Elder Mu, "This isn't my fault. I think this sword is a little brittle after many unused years."
"I've just checked this sword only yesterday and it is in a fine looking condition. Moreover, it is also a high grade mortal-step precious sword. Young man, are you pulling tricks on me?" Elder Mu was angry that his earnest effort of giving Lu Qingyun a good sword was destroyed by him just like this.
Then he added angrily, "I don't know what profound arts that you have used but you are certainly trying to play punk with me. You may be the core protégé of our acting sect leader but in this place, I am the master. So, out you go!"
Just like this Lu Qingyun was driven out by Elder Mu and this also included Elder Ouyang as well as Elder Mu angrily slammed the door as he kicked them out.
Elder Ouyang said weakly to him, "Don't mind his top tempered old man. He will be alright in a few days. But you shouldn't have destroyed his well-meaning gift for you. In a cultivation sect, maintaining a friendly relation with all the elders is also an important thing even if you are a core protégé."
Lu Qingyun felt awkward as he did not know what to say.
When a sword was in his hand, there was a chance that it would break anything. The problem was, he didn't know the exactly when as the time taken for each sword to shatter was quite random.
Elder Ouyang said to him, "Let me take you to your abode now."
Along the way, Elder Ouyang told him. "The name of the middle peak is called the Heavens Cloud Peak. It is divided into the outer and inner sanctuary. The outer sanctuary is where the ordinary protégés are. As for the inner sanctuary, it is further divided into the inner and the center sanctuary. The inner sanctuary is where most elders are staying. I am taking you to the inner sanctuary. As for the center sanctuary, it is forbidden to enter unless you have the permission of our cultivation sect leader. That place is where Celestial Qin is staying."
Along the way, many of the ordinary protégés were greeting Lu Qingyun as their senior brother; it seemed that the news of a new senior protégé brother had reached the ears of everyone fairly quickly.
There were even many ordinary protégés that were purposely trying to bump into Lu Qingyun, especially the female protégés just to greet him.
But because Elder Ouyang was around, none of them dared to stay for long.
Elder Ouyang began to curse softly, "The hallway seems very crowded today."
In a short while, he was taken to another place in the inner sanctuary where his abode was located.
After that, Elder Ouyang said to him. "Take a good rest tonight."
Then he smiled mysteriously to Lu Qingyun. "Tomorrow when you wake up, it will be an interesting day."
Lu Qingyun: ???
As it was quite late now, Lu Qingyun took a quick look around his spacious abode before he undressed his robe to sleep for the night.
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The next morning.
Lu Qingyun had just got up of bed.
His new quarter was spacious and even his bed was sewed with heavenly silk. It was so comfortable that he did not even want to wake up.
Everything had seemed like a dream to him.
It was only yesterday that he had been made a direct disciple of the sect leader and suddenly the clan protégés were now greeting him senior brother all of a sudden. He was overwhelmed all of a sudden.
He had never expected that Qin Keqin would actually be the acting sect leader and that she would actually intervene to make him her direct disciple.
He was happy to see her again but he was also saddened at the same time. It was because he was secretly in love with her and he harboured a dream to be with her. But now she was his master, this type of relationship was frowned upon and discouraged in the celestial fraternity.
"That's alright since I got to see her. It is impossible for us to be together anyway. After all, she is a fifth realm celestial expert while I am just a lowly good-for-nothing first realm cultivator…"
All of a sudden he was startled for he had suddenly noticed that there was a pretty maiden that was standing next to him.
"Senior Brother, you've woke up?" This pretty maiden was smiling at him. "Then you should wash up."
Lu Qingyun looked at the pretty maiden. There was something familiar about her. All of a sudden, he recalled that she was also the same pretty protégé that had brought him to the examination hall yesterday.
He muttered awkwardly, "About that just now…"
The pretty maiden smiled shyly, "Senior Brother, I didn't hear anything at all. In the future, your maidservant Lie Xingyuan will only hear what you wish me to hear and say."
So her name was Lie Xingyuan? What a lovely name. But he asked curiously, "Why are you my maidservant? Aren't you a clan protégé?"
Lie Xingyuan smiled shyly, "All the core protégés are assigned a maidservant who is also an ordinary protégé to attend to their daily needs so that they can better focus on their cultivation. This is considered to be a prestige of being a core protégé. I am…just lucky to be assigned to you. I hope that Senior Brother will not despise me and keep me with you."
Lu Qingyun muttered, "I will never despise you. You are good. Very good."
Lie Xingyuan was very happy when she had heard him, "Thank you Senior Brother for your praises. Xingyuan is very happy to have received your praises." Then she paused for a while as though she wanted to say something but she seemed to have hesitated for a long while without saying anything.
Lu Qingyun asked curiously as he looked at her shy countenance, "What's the matter? You are free to speak."
Lie Xingyuan lowered her glances shyly, "Even if Senior Brother needs me for company at night, I will be most willing. All the core disciples are free to engage with their maidservants with no questions asked."
Lu Qingyun was startled by her bold suggestion but before he could say anything, she had shyly run off.
It was only when he had finished washing up and changed to a new set of clothing that Lie Xingyuan had stepped into his room again.
She was smiling, "Senior Brother, are you done?"
Lu Qingyun smiled at her, "Yea." Then he asked, "Did Qin…I mean did my protégé master says she has any instructions for me?"
Lie Xingyuan shook her head, "I do not know. I only know that you are supposed to meet Elder Ouyang at the teahouse this afternoon."
Lu Qingyun was startled, "The teahouse? Isn't it in the city?"
Lie Xingyuan smiled, "That's right."
Lu Qingyun thought that this was strange, "We can't meet inside the cultivation sect? What if my protégé master comes looking for me?"
Lie Xingyuan whispered, "This is pertaining to something personal. That is why Elder Ouyang wants to meet you outside the Heavens Ridge Villa."
Lu Qingyun blinked his eyes as he looked at her, "Oh?"
Lie Xingyuan continued, "Your protégé master will only see you in a few days but it won't be today. All newly initiated protégés are supposed to have a week break so that they can settle their personal stuff first. Even that Tang Bufan will be returning to his residence in the city for a week before coming back."
She smiled shyly, "I wonder if you have a family in the city? Maybe I can also go and visit your family? That is, if Senior Brother does not mind if I come."
Lu Qingyun smiled awkwardly, "Actually, I don't have a family in the city. So I will be staying put here. As for Elder Ouyang invitation, I don't see any issue in accepting his invitation."
After all, Elder Ouyang was the first elder that he had met and he had made him a protégé of the Heavens Ridge Villa on behalf of Qin Keqin. It was possible that he may find out more about Qin Keqin from him.
Still, he could not resist asking Lie Xingyuan. "Do you think that I can pay my protégé master a visit first?"
Lie Xingyuan smiled weakly, "This is a little problematic. I've heard that she is meditating in the forbidden ground of the clan. Usually, ordinary protégés and even core protégés are not allowed to go there. Even the six martial hall masters are not able to enter there freely without permission."
Lu Qingyun smiled weakly, "It seems that even if I got a protégé master, it is going to be difficult to even speak to her."
Lie Xingyuan giggled, "Usually the protégés will try to avoid their masters lest they get extra chores or scolding."
Lu Qingyun smiled, "It is only proper that I should receive some specific instructions. After all, I am now my master's disciple."
Lie Xingyuan nodded and said, "Senior Brother, yesterday I was really stunned when I saw you with the Golden Roc Flame. You must be a monstrous genius in order to have such a high grade spirit entity. This is something that won't happen to me."
Lu Qingyun smiled bitterly, "Actually I am not much better than you are. In fact, I am sure that you can tell that my cultivation level is also quite low…"
Suddenly he had thought of something and asked, "Xingyuan, is it possible for you to share with me your cultivation level? I will do the same too."
Lie Xingyuan chuckled, "Senior Brother, you are too polite. I am only at the initial master practitioner level."
Lu Qingyun was startled, "You are a second realm expert?"
Lie Xingyuan replied shyly, "I know it is low. Please do not laugh at me…"
Lu Qingyun said awkwardly, "Actually I am only at the intermediate practitioner level. I'm only a first realm expert."
Lie Xingyuan stared blankly at him, "What?!"
Lu Qingyun was smiling most bitterly, "It is true." He found it ridiculous that even his assigned maidservant was a realm higher than him…
He could feel the burning flush of his ears as he chuckled softly, "As you can see, my talent isn't great at all."
Lie Xingyuan was stunned as she stared at him in disbelief. She had thought that this Senior Brother was at least a third realm expert or even a monstrous genius fourth realm expert.
She could be heard muttering, "I'm screwed…"