In the dimly lit room, the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the walls, mingling with the sweet, heady aroma of honeyed beeswax and the faint trails of white smoke.

Li Rong's slender fingers fidgeted nervously as she stood before her Master, hesitation etched on her delicate features.

Finally, after a weighted pause, she parted her lips and began to narrate the tale.

The story unfolded with Li Rong secretly following Ji Wuye, as per her Master's request. However, on that first night, she was shocked by the presence of actual intruders.

"Master is right," she began. "There was actually a group of people secretly trailing Junior Brother. But strangely, they kept fleeing, never once engaging or fighting back when I confronted them." Her eyes glazed over, the memories vivid as she recounted catching fleeting glimpses of them in the night forest, their movements furtive and slippery like scurrying mice.

Not only that, Li Rong's brow furrowed slightly as she recalled the need to conceal her own trail from her Junior Brother.

On the other hand, Elder Qiao's piercing gaze narrowed with keen interest, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as she drew a long, pensive drag from her ivory pipe. "Did you observe their clothing? Their faces? Any distinguishing details?" she probed, exhaling a wispy plume of smoke.

Li Rong's head tilted slightly, her fingers rubbing together as she pondered the question. "It was dark, but I noticed they made no attempt to conceal themselves," she recalled. "Instead, they were strangely garbed in tattered, ragged clothes." A pause hung in the air as she searched her memory, her gaze finally settling on her Master once more. "Please forgive me, Master, but that is the only detail I can recall with certainty."

With a gentle wave of her hand, Elder Qiao's eyes gleamed meaningfully, signaling for Li Rong to continue her narration.

And so, the tale wove onward, as Li Rong described the moment her Junior Brother finally halted in Baiyun village, only to her surprise, depart empty-handed as the horse-carriage pressed forward.

The story progressed, and Li Rong's expression grew tinged with bewilderment as she recounted the inexplicable sight of her Junior Brother effortlessly kicking aside a... gigantic wolf.

The incredulous tale Li Rong wove proved so intriguing that even the two Inner Disciples seated at either side of the dimly lit room slowly opened their eyes wider, their expressions etched with interest. However, it was an abrupt peal of laughter that brought Li Rong's narration to a halt.

"Pfftaa, haha." The soft, enchanting laughter emanated from Elder Qiao herself, her whole body trembling with mirth until she was forced to pause, coughing as she exhaled a puff of white smoke. "That's a funny joke, Sister Rong," one of the Inner Disciples spoke up, her voice hushed as she covered her mouth with the flowing sleeve of her martial robe, squinting skeptically at Li Rong.

"Even if it's true, there is no way Junior Brother Ji possesses such power," the other Inner Disciple chimed in, her slender fingers resting on her lips, eyebrows raised in doubt.

Li Rong's expression grew uncharacteristically animated, a rarity for the typically cold and indifferent disciple.

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Beads of sweat formed on her brow as she tried to explain herself, fear of being called a liar evident in her furrowed features. "I'm not joking, Master. I couldn't believe it myself when I witnessed this absurd scene." Her voice wavered ever so slightly, laden with an urgency to be believed.

"I know, I know, but it's true," Elder Qiao replied. As her laughter subsided, a bewildered silence descended upon the room. Even the two Inner Disciples seated on the lower level turned their gazes toward their Master, curiosity piqued.

Only Li Rong managed a small, confident smile, secure in the knowledge that her eyes and judgment had not deceived her. Ever since her Junior Brother had single-handedly slain those goblins and shattered her jian, she had harbored a suspicion that he was concealing something extraordinary.

What lingered in her mind, clouded in uncertainty, was how her Junior Brother could possess such capabilities.

Meanwhile, sipping from her long-stemmed ivory pipe, Elder Qiao exhaled a wispy trail of white smoke into the air, keenly observing the doubtful stares from her two Inner Disciples in contrast with Li Rong's steadfast conviction. Finally, her plump red lips parted, "Then, let's switch the perspective."

Elder Qiao's piercing gaze settled on one of the two Inner Disciples seated to her right. "Yi'er, if you were in that situation, could you do the same thing?" The back of her long-stemmed ivory pipe gestured toward the young woman, another of Qiao's disciples like Li Rong, whose striking looks were no less captivating.

Yi'er, or Su Xinyi as she was known, possessed flowing brown silk hair that framed her delicate features. Lowering her fingers from her lips, where they had rested moments ago, she cupped her hands and replied, her response measured and clever.

"Without the use of any martial arts or Qi, I could only rely on the skills I got from the Tower. But even so, it would be basically impossible for me to accomplish the same feat." Her answer covered all possible scenarios that might have occurred, leaving no room for doubt.

A contemplative expression crossed her face as she continued, "There is the case where Junior Ji might have used some forbidden arts, but seeing there is no visible effect on his body nor any glaring changes, it seems unlikely.

Not to mention, Elder Xia has already confirmed otherwise." Yi'er's gaze briefly flickered toward the painting behind her Master before returning to meet her eyes steadily. "Unless he wielded the same strange skill that Junior Ji used against that Official Disciple?"

Her black eyes dilated and narrowed, doubt and confusion evident as she struggled to reconcile her Master's assertion that Li Rong's account was fact, not merely a jest.

As if to strengthen her logic, the other Inner Disciple nodded in agreement, while Li Rong's gaze settled on Yi'er with a complicated expression.

Unlike her clever Sisters before her, Li Rong had not inherited the same cunning from their Master, a fact she was keenly aware of as she observed the two disciples, her Master's metaphorical hands.

"Then, what about you, Xun'er?" Elder Qiao shifted her gaze to the other Inner Disciple, the one who had laughed and covered her mouth before, awaiting her response.

Xun'er, or Wei Xun, may have possessed features less striking than Li Rong and Su Xinyi, but her plump, attractive figure was one that caught the wandering eyes of many men. Her raven tresses were styled half up, allowing the rest to flow freely down her back as she immediately cupped her hands in response.

"My answer aligns closely with Sister Xinyi's, Master. It is highly unlikely for Junior Brother Ji to wield such extraordinary power," she stated. "But I believe it would be wise to hear the rest of the story, wouldn't you agree, Sister Rong?"

"Of course!" Li Rong replied eagerly, as if she had been awaiting this very moment.

With an approving nod from the amusedly observant Elder Qiao, the tale continued to unfold.

However, rather than shedding light on the origin of Ji Wuye's abilities, the expressions of those gathered in the dimly lit room grew increasingly troubled. Wrinkles furrowed their brows and temples as the narrative progressed.

...

Meanwhile, as Ji Wuye stepped into the familiar confines of the herb shop, the same scents greeted him - an intoxicating mélange of earthy, herbal, and floral bouquets intertwined with zesty hints of exotic spices and pungent medicinal undertones.

Behind the wooden counter stood the lanky young man - the shopkeeper's assistant and the sole individual present, dutifully guarding the shop and awaiting customers.

"Greetings, Brother. Where is Big Brother?" Ji Wuye asked casually, a warm smile playing on his lips. He and the shopkeeper had an ongoing trade arrangement, fostering a familiarity between them. Naturally, the lanky assistant recognized him.

"Good morning, Young Master. The Master is currently away on a trade. Do you wish to wait? I shall prepare the room," the assistant replied, returning Ji Wuye's smile. This deal benefited not only the shopkeeper but his staff as well.

Now, seeing Ji Wuye was akin to seeing his Master. Because of the deal, not only had the greeting changed from "hero/warrior of Kunlun" to "Young Master,"

"It must be a lucrative trade, huh? Then, I will wait," Ji Wuye replied with a faint, knowing smile. As the lanky young man emerged from behind the wooden counter to make preparations, the main door to the shop swung open, admitting an unexpected visitor.

It was not unusual for customers to come and go, but the sight of this particular patron caused her eyes to widen upon landing on Ji Wuye's figure.

"Big Brother Ji..." The familiar tone, the way she called his name, was used by only one girl he had known in both his lives.

"Mu Lan Rou..." Ji Wuye murmured, the faint smile slowly fading from his lips as his previously squinted, pensive eyes turned indifferent upon meeting her gaze.

"Young Lady Mu..." On the other hand, the shopkeeper's lanky assistant found himself surprised, immediately recognizing the genius disciple of Kunlun, Mu Lan Rou.