"You are just nobody," Elder Qiao's words lingered heavily in the air, tinged with a melancholic sadness that briefly flickered across her elegant features. But then, suddenly, the pity that had previously clouded her gaze melted away, replaced by a sly smile that curved her lips like a crescent moon.
"But, this 'nobody' surely has something..." she mused, her smile hinting at a cryptic double meaning as she squinted her eyes appraisingly at Ji Wuye's outwardly calm and impassive demeanor.
However, after scrutinizing him intently for a moment and observing no change or ripple in his stoic expression, her shoulders slumped imperceptibly. A slight crease furrowed her brow as disappointment flitted across her delicate features, her eyes dimming.
"You don't seem curious at all, Little Brother?" she prodded, arching one sculpted eyebrow inquisitively.
Rather than answer immediately, Ji Wuye brought the ceramic cup to his lips, inhaling the earthy aroma of the green tea before taking a measured sip. The faint sound of him swallowing punctuated the silence, aside from the susurrant whispers of the wind rustling outside the room's open windows.
After savoring the tea, he replied with an inscrutable smile playing about his lips, "It would be a lie to say I'm not curious, Big Sister. But you have already made the arrangements. This little one will simply follow them."
Elder Qiao rolled her eyes dramatically, her robe fluttering with the exaggerated motion. Plucking up the long ivory pipe once more, she remarked drolly, "Boring." Her inky tresses swayed unknowingly, shrouding the small ceramic cup of tea on the table.
She brought the pipe to her lips, puffing out fragrant streams of smoke as she turned her body sideways. Through the open window, two more heads could now be glimpsed beside Li Rong's outside. Elder Qiao's eyes slid sideways, raking over Ji Wuye once more from the corners before rolling expressively. "That's all. You can go now," she dismissed with a negligent wave of her hand before adding, "But it looks like you have something to say to me?"
Meanwhile, Ji Wuye remained outwardly impassive, his sharp eyes observing every nuance – from the way Elder Qiao gazed at her disciples outside, to the studied nonchalance in her tone and the relaxed cant of her body.
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Without wasting any further time, Ji Wuye once again cupped his palms together and inclined his head in a deferential gesture. "Big Sister, could you please grant this little one access to the knowledge of Sword Aura?" he requested politely.
The suddenness of the off-topic query caused Elder Qiao to freeze momentarily, her eyes flicking towards Ji Wuye from their corners as confusion flickered across her delicate features.
Unknowingly, she inhaled a deep draught of fragrant smoke, prompting a violent coughing fit that had her disciples rushing inside in alarm to assist her.
...
After a brief interlude during which Elder Qiao regained her composure, sipping water offered by her two flustered Inner Disciples who had just been sternly reprimanded and dismissed, she narrowed her gaze appraisingly at the still outwardly composed Ji Wuye.
Tension was evident in the prominent veins bulging at her temples as the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Little Brother..." she began in that same melodious, enchanting tone, though Ji Wuye could detect an undercurrent of irritation lacing her words now. "Why, all of a sudden, do you wish to learn the Sword Aura?"
Her finely arched brows climbed her forehead as her eyes narrowed further in contemplation. The muscles of her slender neck tensed as she seemed to distance herself infinitesimally from Ji Wuye, her fingers toying unconsciously with her plump lower lip.
"You are just a 3rd realm martial artist. You have not yet opened your Upper Dantian, so there is no point in attempting to manifest a sword aura," she mused aloud, studying him shrewdly.
"I'm sure someone as intelligent as yourself is well aware of this. And yet here you are, requesting knowledge on manifesting a Sword Aura despite that fact. Is that correct?"
Instead of answering Elder Qiao's question immediately, Ji Wuye raised his head and withdrew his cupped hands, first of all, his sharp eyes noting that the two Inner Disciples who had previously been kicked out by Elder Qiao were now once again seated at the lower level, regarding him with narrowed, evaluating gazes.
Of course, he betrayed no outward reaction, fully aware that their earlier harsh behavior was merely a calculated part of Elder Qiao's designs. There was no way all of her disciples could be as naive and pure as his Senior Sister Li Rong.
Only after observing them impassively for a moment, Ji Wuye's gaze shifted to Elder Qiao, who was now scrutinizing him with doubtful eyes. "No real reason, just curiosity," he replied evenly. "But I know this request might be too much to ask in exchange for merely repaying a favor, so I have something of equal value."
His words immediately captured Elder Qiao's full attention, the doubt in her eyes fading as her pupils dilated slightly and she leaned forward with piqued interest. "Interesting. Then tell me," she urged, a slight, secretive smile playing about her lips.
However, she noticed Ji Wuye's eyes flicking briefly towards her two disciples seated lower and he made a subtle gesture in their direction. "They're fine. Are you really doubting your Senior Sisters?" Elder Qiao added smoothly, her faint smile taking on a sly, conspiratorial edge as she covered her mouth demurely with one palm.
Ji Wuye, of course, recognized her little game. "Of course not, Senior Sisters," he replied directly to the two Inner Disciples, who were already regarding him with affected airs of nonchalance, though their eyes remained cold and venomous, silently demanding explanation.
Then, without further hesitation, Ji Wuye began speaking, yet his following words sliced through the charged air like arrows in a storm, freezing everyone present as they heard every steely syllable.
"I have information regarding the upcoming attack against the Kunlun gathering. The secret passage the attackers will use to infiltrate Kunlun. And rough information about the attackers themselves."