Li Xiu Yun glanced skeptically at Samuel. Her sharp, dark eyes took him in from head to toe, her expression unreadable. Turning to her best friend, she asked with mock seriousness, "Hey, Mei Ling, who's this 'important person' you've brought here?"
There was a playfulness to her tone, and Samuel could sense she was itching to make fun of her friend if this so-called important person turned out to be unremarkable. After all, why would anyone important come to the slums? People who mattered didn't waste their time in places like this.
Before Samuel could answer, Mei Ling cut in, her face a picture of calm confidence.
"He's Samuel," she said simply, her voice steady but warm as she gestured toward him. "He's started a sect recently and is looking for disciples. He heard someone very talented was working in this bakery and decided to come see for himself. Strange, right? Since no one here can cultivate. But…" Mei Ling gave Samuel a quick, appraising glance, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "He seems trustworthy."
Mei Ling's smile was subtle, just wide enough to seem casual, but Samuel could see the spark of hope that flickered beneath it.
"So, Samuel," she continued, her tone light but her words pointed, "is she the super-talented, extra-special person you've been searching for? Or have you got the wrong bakery?"
Samuel chuckled, his demeanor relaxed yet earnest. "Actually, yes. It's this beauty, Li Xiu Yun, that I came to find. But before we proceed, I'd like to ask you something, Miss Xiu Yun. Why are you considered incapable of cultivation? If it's not too personal, that is."
His warm smile had a disarming effect, softening his direct words. For a moment, both women seemed caught off guard by pure charisma, though they quickly composed themselves.
Instead of answering, Xiu Yun turned away and called out loudly, "MOM!"
The shout echoed through the small bakery, and after a brief moment, the sound of footsteps on creaking wood grew louder. Xiu Yun's mother soon appeared from the staircase that led to their living quarters above the shop.
She was a plump, middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a warm smile that seemed to light up the room. Her presence was calm and steady, like the comforting aroma of the fresh bread that filled the bakery.
"Yes, sweetie?" her mother asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. Her daughter rarely called for her during work hours unless it was something important.
"Could you take over the shop for a bit? This gentleman has… an interesting offer for me, and I'd like to talk it over somewhere private," Xiu Yun said, her voice quieter now but carrying an edge of urgency.
Her mother's lips curled into a teasing smile. "Oh my, my daughter wants to spend time alone with a handsome man? This is a day I never thought I'd see." She waved her hand dismissively, still chuckling. "Go ahead, sweetie. I'll keep an eye on the store."
Blushing furiously, Xiu Yun motioned for Samuel to follow her, her pace brisk as she headed for the staircase. Mei Ling trailed behind, her presence as natural as if she belonged there. Samuel didn't care much if she followed, after all he would not be in this realm for very long so he didn't have many secrets that could not be shared.
The trio moved through the modest home above the bakery. They passed through the kitchen, where the air still carried the faint aroma of freshly baked pastries, and a small, cozy dining room. Xiu Yun didn't stop until they reached a secluded room at the far end of the hallway.
The room was striking in its simplicity. The walls and furniture were painted white, creating an almost clinical atmosphere. However, the gold colored accents on the furnishings added a touch of elegance, making the room feel refined rather than sterile.
Samuel's eyes lingered on the decor, curiosity flickering across his face. Sensing his gaze, Xiu Yun offered a faint smile.
"What? Not everyone in the slums is so poor they're starving. Our family is doing well for slum standards. We just stay here because our clientele is here. Moving would mean starting over." Her words were calm but carried a hint of defiance, as if daring him to judge.
"Apologies," Samuel said gently. "I didn't mean anything by it." He paused for a moment before shifting his tone to something more serious. "But let's get to the point. Could you tell me why you're seen as a lost cause in cultivation?"
Xiu Yun's expression shifted, her usual confidence giving way to something heavier. She sighed and sat down, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
"It's not a long story," she began, her voice quieter now. "I have what's called a single-type spiritual root. It's considered crippled because I'd cultivate at about a quarter of the speed of someone with a common quad-elemental spiritual root."
Her words were steady, but her eyes betrayed a deep sense of resignation. "All I can hope for now is to find someone kind enough to take in a cripple. I know I'm pretty enough to be a pretty attendant anyone would be proud of, and I bake a mean loaf of bread." She added the last part with a forced, bright smile, though the longing in her gaze betrayed her true feelings for cultivation.
Samuel nodded thoughtfully, his gaze steady. "I see. But I think you've been misled. You're far from a cripple, Miss Xiu Yun. A single-element spiritual root isn't a disadvantage—it's a specialization. You just need the right cultivation manual tailored to your element."
His words were spoken with calm confidence but, Xiu Yun's brows furrowed in suspicion.
"A different cultivation manual?" she repeated. "Everyone uses The Roots of Ancient Blossom. It's the only manual there is. What you're saying is impossible."
Her tone grew sharp, her earlier politeness slipping away. "You're just another conman, aren't you?"
Before she could storm out, Mei Ling stepped in, gently placing a hand on Xiu Yun's shoulder.
"Wait," she said softly. "Don't be so quick to judge, Xiu Yun. I think he's telling the truth."
Turning to Samuel, Mei Ling's expression grew more serious. "You're not from this realm, are you?"
Her question hung in the air, startling Samuel. It was rare for anyone in a place like this to even know about the existence of other realms, let alone be bold enough to call it out.
"How do you know that?" he asked, his voice calm but his eyes sharp.
"I had my suspicions," Mei Ling admitted, smiling faintly. "Your name is foreign, and starting a sect in this realm isn't something just anyone can do. Here, you'd have to be at least in the Nascent Soul realm to avoid offending the existing sects. A normal mortal couldn't tell your cultivation base but I can, and I can tell you're much weaker than the Nascent Soul realm."
Samuel nodded slowly, still processing her insight. So the next thing Mei Ling did shocked him to his core.
Mei Ling knelt before him, bowing her head low. "Please, when you take Xiu Yun to your sect, take me with you."
Samuel hesitated, studying her carefully. "I don't mind taking you, but I need to know—how are you different from the normal mortals of this realm? Are you a danger to my sect?"
Mei Ling grimaced, as though the question hit a painful nerve. "I was once a cultivator at the Nascent Soul realm, the sect master of the Scarlet Flame Sect. But I was betrayed by my closest confidant—my lover. My body destroyed, and my soul injured. I managed to rebuild this body, but it's flawed in appearance and build. My meridians have been ruined, and I can't cultivate anymore."
Her voice cracked slightly as she continued. "The Scarlet Flame Sect has been hunting me ever since. Their new leader—my ex—is closing in on this city. If they find me, I won't survive."
Samuel's expression softened, though his tone remained firm. "Alright. I'll take you both with me. But before we proceed, you should know one thing. My sect isn't a traditional sect. It's a Dual Cultivation Sect. If you join, you'll also become my cultivation partners—my wives. If you're okay with that, you're welcome to join."
Mei Ling laughed, the sound light and almost disbelieving. "So, you're saying I can leave this realm and gain a hot husband? If you don't mind someone used and broken like me, then of course, I'll join."
Samuel smiled warmly. "I don't care about the past. As long as you're loyal from now on, there's no issue. And as for your injuries, I have ways to heal soul damage. I'll need to break through to the Qi Refinement realm, but it's possible."
Mei Ling's eyes lit up, her gratitude almost overwhelming.
Xiu Yun, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "Alright. I'll join too. If I can cultivate, marrying someone I just met isn't that big a deal. Besides, if you're willing to accept Mei Ling, you can't be that bad."
And just like that, Samuel gathered not one but two new disciples, the beginnings of his sect starting to take shape.