4: Accepting disciples, the immortal-grade "Nine Revolutions Nirvana Scripture", Phoenix True Flame!

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Revered Master Yun Mengli (without outer robe version)

The three men in black turned their heads in unison, their gazes slicing over like knives.

The leader sized Lu Yu up. He looked young, dressed in the simple green robes of an ordinary Cultivator, with fluctuating Qi.

Hmm? A bit difficult to see through.

But the feeling wasn't very high; he was likely just some naive hothead from a small School out on a journey who didn't know the meaning of death.

"Kid, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business."

The leading man in black spoke with a raspy voice, laced with threats. "Some things, if you know them, you won't live long."

Lu Yu ignored him, his gaze falling upon the little beggar.

Looking closer, it was even more miserable!

The exposed arms were covered in bruises and abrasions, and the tattered shoes on her feet were so worn that her frostbitten, red toes were visible. She was clutching something tightly to her chest, her knuckles white from the grip.

Yet, those eyes were locked onto the men in black, the burning hatred within them almost ready to erupt.

"Gentlemen."

Lu Yu smiled, his tone sounding quite polite. "Out here in the middle of nowhere, bullying a child isn't appropriate, is it? How about you give me some Face and let it go?"

"Give you Face? Who the hell do you think you are? Get lost! Talk any more nonsense and we'll slaughter you too!"

The hot-tempered man in black on the left spat.

Lu Yu sighed and shook his head. "So, there's no room for negotiation then."

Before the words had even faded, he moved.

There were no flashy moves; he simply took a step, his speed so fast that he left a faint afterimage where he had stood.

The pupils of the three men in black constricted sharply. They instinctively tried to draw their blades or circulate their Qi to defend, but they only managed to start the movement.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three muffled thuds sounded, almost simultaneously.

The three men felt as if their chests had been struck by a stampeding rhinoceros. Their vision went black, a sweet taste filled their throats, and their bodies flew backward uncontrollably, crashing through a dilapidated mud wall behind them and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lu Yu stood where he was, shaking his hand as if he had just casually swatted away a few flies.

He hadn't even used much Qi just now; it was purely the strength of his Physical Body from the Nine Yang Haori Body, combined with overwhelming speed.

As the dust slowly settled, the three men in black lay slumped in the pile of rubble, groaning, unable to get up for the time being.

Lu Yu walked over and squatted in front of the leader. He reached out and tore off the man's mask, revealing a plain, unremarkable Face currently etched with terror.

"From Black Wind Fortress?"

Lu Yu, having heard the System prompt earlier, asked casually.

The man's eyes darted in panic. He neither admitted nor denied it, only pleaded, "Se-Senior, spare us! We were just following orders... This, this girl has something our Fortress Lord wants."

"What thing?"

"It, it seems to be a jade pendant. I'm not really sure about the specifics!"

The man was on the verge of tears. The young man before him looked amiable but struck with ruthless efficiency. The three of them were at the second level of the Golden Core Stage and couldn't even withstand a single blow. The opponent's strength was unfathomable; he was definitely someone they couldn't afford to provoke.

Lu Yu looked back at the little beggar still huddled in the corner, watching him with wary, uncertain eyes, then turned back. "What is your Fortress Lord's cultivation level?"

"Nascent Soul, fourth level..."

"Oh." Lu Yu nodded and stood up. "Alright, understood."

He walked up to the little beggar, trying to soften his tone as much as possible. "It's alright now. They won't be getting up for a while."

The little beggar, Lin Wanqiu, pursed her lips tightly. Her body was still trembling slightly, but the fear in her eyes had receded somewhat, replaced by a deeper wariness.

She didn't speak, only hugged the item in her arms tighter and shrank back.

Lu Yu didn't mind; anyone would be wary after seeing his display of skill just now.

He sat down a few paces away from her and pulled a waterskin and a piece of still-warm meat pie wrapped in oil paper from his Storage Pouch.

"Drink some water and have something to eat first." He held the items out to her.

Lin Wanqiu stared at the waterskin and the meat pie, her throat visibly bobbing, but she didn't move.

"It's not poisoned." Lu Yu unscrewed the waterskin, took a drink, and then broke off a small piece of meat pie to pop into his own mouth. "If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."

This seemed to have some effect. Lin Wanqiu struggled for a few more seconds, but ultimately, the instinct for hunger and survival won out.

She cautiously reached out, snatched the waterskin and meat pie, took a small sip of water, and then began to devour the food. She ate too quickly and choked, coughing until her Face turned bright red.

Lu Yu didn't rush her. Only after she had eaten enough did he slowly speak. "Lin Wanqiu?"

The girl jerked her head up, like a startled fawn, her hand covered in crumbs immediately reaching for her chest again.

Lu Yu waved his hand. "Don't be nervous. I'm not with Black Wind Fortress. I can roughly guess what happened to your family—a vendetta for the destruction of your clan, right?"

Lin Wanqiu's eyes turned red instantly, tears welling up, but she bit her lip hard to keep them from falling, only nodding forcefully.

"Do you want revenge?"

The girl nodded heavily, the hatred in her eyes almost tangible.

"Relying on yourself?" Lu Yu looked at her. "In your current state, you can't even handle these few Foundation Establishment Stage small fry. The Black Wind Fortress Lord is at the Nascent Soul Stage, and he has many underlings. What will you use to get revenge?"

Lin Wanqiu's eyes dimmed. She lowered her head, her fingers digging deeply into the meat pie.

She knew Lu Yu was stating facts. These past three days of hiding and fleeing like a rat had made the hope of revenge seem so slim it filled her with despair.

Lu Yu looked at her. "I have a proposal: take me as your Revered Master."

Lin Wanqiu looked up abruptly, her Face full of astonishment.

"I will teach you cultivation, provide you with resources, and help you become stronger." Lu Yu's tone was flat, as if he were saying the weather was nice today.

"When you have the ability, I will take you to Black Wind Fortress to resolve this Karma. You will exact your revenge with your own hands; I will only be responsible for giving you the opportunity and protecting you."

"Wh...why?" Lin Wanqiu finally spoke, her voice raspy and dry, laced with deep suspicion.

Pies don't fall from the sky; she had understood this principle since she was three years old. After her family was destroyed, this truth was carved into her very bones.

"Why, you ask..." Lu Yu rubbed his chin. He couldn't exactly say, "I see you as a stock with potential, and the System told me to invest in you."

He thought for a moment and changed his phrasing. "First, I find you agreeable. Second, you have a certain drive in your eyes that I appreciate. Third... I'm in need of a Disciple and think you are suitable. Is that reason enough?"

Lin Wanqiu was silent.

She didn't believe him—at least, not entirely—but she knew better than anyone that she had no other choice. This person before her was currently her only lifeline.

If she didn't grasp it, she might not even live until tomorrow, let alone get revenge.

She looked at the groaning men in black in the distance, then at Lu Yu's calm Face. Finally, she put down the waterskin and the remaining meat pie, struggled to stand up, walked to Lu Yu, and knelt down with a thud.

"Disciple... Lin Wanqiu, pays respects to Revered Master."

Her voice was very low, trembling, as she kowtowed once.

The action was done, the formalities observed, but Lu Yu could feel that behind that respect and obedience lay a thick layer of wariness and distance.

This girl, the string in her heart was still wound tight.

"Rise." Lu Yu accepted the bow, officially establishing their relationship.

The System prompt rang out immediately.

[The protagonist has forcibly intercepted Lin Wanqiu, the future Disciple and Dao Companion of the son of destiny Lu Yu, who is also a Daughter of Destiny, causing the son of destiny Lu Yu to suffer a great loss!]

[Reward for the protagonist: Immortal Grade Cultivation Technique "Nine Revolutions Nirvana Scripture", Phoenix True Flame!]

[Successfully plundered the son of destiny Lu Yu's destiny...]

[Detected an attack from an unknown System, initiating active defense!]

[Plundering of Lu Yu's destiny failed, beginning to gather the Luck of Heaven and Earth!]

[Congratulations to the protagonist for obtaining: Luck + 300, Luck Gold Coins + 1000!]

Zhao Xuan was stunned. What was this? The System's left brain fighting its right brain? And then the brain broke?

However, Zhao Xuan hadn't expected that without even needing to "persuade" Lin Wanqiu, just by taking her as a Disciple, he could gain such rewards!

Though, he had only taken her as a Disciple with the intention of raising her to eventually become his Dao Companion.

After all, she was still young, only fifteen! A growing girlfriend?

He reached out and pulled the girl up.

"Since you have taken me as your Revered Master, you are one of my own from now on. Let's go, leave this place first, find a spot to settle down, and get your injuries treated."

He raised his hand and pointed into the air toward the three men in black. Three faint wisps of Haoyang True Fire silently submerged into their Dantian.

The screams stopped abruptly, and the bodies of the three were instantly incinerated into nothingness!

Lin Wanqiu watched this scene, her pupils contracting, but she didn't speak, merely following silently behind Lu Yu, maintaining a distance of one step.

Lu Yu summoned his Flying Boat and gestured for her to get on. Lin Wanqiu hesitated for a moment but climbed on, curling up in a corner of the cabin like a small beast forcing itself to stay calm after being frightened.

The Flying Boat ascended into the sky, flying toward the nearest market where Cultivators gathered. The cabin was very quiet, with only the slight sound of the Flying Boat cutting through the wind.

Lu Yu closed his eyes to rest, but was actually studying the newly obtained "Nine Revolutions Nirvana Scripture".

Lin Wanqiu hugged her knees, her gaze occasionally drifting to the passing clouds outside, and occasionally stealing a glance at Lu Yu's back, her expression complex.

Trust? Nowhere near that yet.

But a faint sliver of hope, one she hadn't even realized herself, had perhaps already planted a tiny seed within the ashes of despair.