Chapter 2: Naming
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Su Cheng was dumbfounded. Had this Ye Chenmeng lost her mind?
【No way, Lady, are you trying to kill me?】
【Master Cheng has spoken so kindly to you. Why won't you listen? Serving me? If you become my disciple, do you think that bastard will spare us?】
【Sweetheart, he might spare you, but he'll definitely kill me!】
【No way, no way! We absolutely can't show mercy. That guy is cold-blooded and ruthless! He might kill you too!】
Su Cheng had made up his mind not to get up, so naturally, no one could rouse him.
Ye Chenmeng froze. This guy… actually worried about her for a moment?
Cheng Liang was equally bewildered. His face now burned with embarrassment—he'd extended an invitation, only to be rejected?
Where was his face as the head of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion supposed to go now?
"Look at him!"
Cheng Liang grabbed Su Cheng's clothes and shook him violently, but Su Cheng lay there like a dead dog, feigning sleep.
"Didn't you see? He just doesn't want to take you in! Can't you tell? You think this is some kind of test?"
Cheng Liang stared at the breathtakingly beautiful woman before him, utterly baffled. How could she be so incredibly foolish?
Cheng Liang kicked Su Cheng's chair. Su Cheng, still sprawled across the table, didn't notice and toppled over with the chair, crashing onto the floor.
Like a bullied child too scared to fight back, Su Cheng meekly picked up the desk and chair, then resumed pretending to sleep.
Ye Chenmeng clenched her teeth, a vague ache welling up inside her—indescribable, inexplicable.
【Chenmeng, as you see, I'm useless. I can't protect you.】
【If it were just me, I could endure this. But how can I claim to be your master if I take you as my disciple?】
If you dislike him, then change sects. There are so many sects; surely there's one you'll like.
Ye Chenmeng desperately wanted to stand up and tell him to stay away from her master!
But she hadn't even been formally accepted yet. Such an outburst would only cause trouble for Su Cheng. If that happened, Su Cheng would likely refuse to take her as a disciple altogether.
"Stubborn as a mule, a block of rotten wood impossible to carve."
Seeing Ye Chenmeng remain unmoved, Cheng Liang thought, "Let her bang her head against a brick wall. Su Cheng has no cultivation to offer her guidance. Sooner or later, she'll be mine!"
With that thought, Cheng Liang turned and left. The surrounding crowd began to jeer.
"Master Cheng offered kind advice, yet she shows no gratitude!"
"Exactly! She thinks a little talent gives her the right to get cocky!"
"I agree. She's cut from the same cloth as that Su Cheng. Truly, birds of a feather flock together!"
The area gradually quieted down. Su Cheng, who hadn't slept all night, had fallen into a deep slumber at some point.
When he awoke again, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon…
Su Cheng lifted his head dazedly, looking ahead…
[She… What should I do? Pretending to sleep clearly won't work now…]
Su Cheng sat up, taking his first proper look at Ye Chenmeng before him.
Ye Chenmeng had been lost in thought, but upon hearing Su Cheng's inner voice, she snapped back to reality. Master had awakened!
She slowly straightened her kneeling posture. Though her legs had lost all sensation, she knelt with perfect composure.
"What is your name?"
"Ye Chenmeng."
Only then did Su Cheng scrutinize Ye Chenmeng before him. She was truly breathtakingly beautiful.
As a member of Cheng Liang's harem, Su Cheng had never given her a proper glance.
【Born with a seductive bone, blood of the Fox Demon King—taking her in would be like inviting fire to burn oneself.】
"Rise. You've knelt long enough."
"Yes." Ye Chenmeng slowly rose to her feet, feeling as though her legs wouldn't straighten. Standing felt worse than kneeling…
Hearing Su Cheng's inner thoughts only deepened her sense of injustice. Was it her fault she possessed innate allure? Why was she always treated like a femme fatale?
"With so many sects here, why did you choose to apprentice under me?" This was something Su Cheng never understood. Why?
Any sane person would never choose him!
A sly gleam flashed in Ye Chenmeng's beautiful eyes. She wasn't one to lie, but when it came to dealing with Su Cheng, she felt it came naturally.
"Because Chenmeng believes Lingxian Hall suits me best. I need a master who cares about Chenmeng. Lingxian Hall has only me, and my master's eyes will see only me. I needn't worry about others and can cultivate with peace of mind."
She chose to skirt the issue, yet Ye Chenmeng hadn't lied. Lies would eventually show cracks, but by not speaking, she left room for maneuver.
This point was equally crucial. She didn't want to compete for favor with other disciples, nor did she wish to expend energy securing rare treasures needed for cultivation.
At Lingxian Hall, she was the sole disciple. What belonged to the Master belonged to her. Lingxian Hall was undoubtedly the best choice.
"You witnessed today's events. If you follow me, this will become the norm."
Su Cheng now understood. Ye Chenmeng hadn't impulsively chosen to become his disciple.
Moreover, she had knelt all day—her sincerity was evident.
Sighing deeply, Su Cheng said solemnly, "I'll give you a chance. Do you want to try?"
"Chenmeng is willing to try."
Ye Chenmeng nodded her small head, her face aglow with excitement. Those nearby stared dumbfounded, unable to fathom what was so thrilling about becoming a disciple of such a master.
But Ye Chenmeng already knew what Su Cheng meant by "opportunity" through her reading—a先天至宝 (innate treasure)!
"This is my sword, named Frostsweeping. If you can master it, I will take you as my disciple. How does that sound?"
[Let fate decide. If she can master Ling Shuang, then it is fate's will that I take her as my disciple.]
Only when Su Cheng held Ling Shuang before her eyes did Ye Chenmeng realize—this black, unassuming blade was truly Ling Shuang?
But upon hearing Su Cheng's inner thoughts, panic began to grip her. No one could lie within their own mind!
This Frostsword looked like nothing more than a burial artifact from some ancient tomb, as if it had been buried underground for millennia. Even the scabbard was rusted through.
Ye Chenmeng took the sword with a dazed yet cautious expression, while the crowd gathered around them.
"Heh, heeding advice pays off. Don't you understand such a simple truth?"
"Taking on a disciple and giving them this piece of junk? You're lucky you can even pull it out of the scabbard!"
"Thank goodness I joined the Heavenly Dao Pavilion. Even ordinary disciples get a mid-grade earth-tier flying sword!"
Ye Chenmeng couldn't be bothered to respond, and Su Cheng couldn't care less.
[Ye Chenmeng, Dust Dream… This name paired with his fate… He truly is a pitiful child…]
Ye Chenmeng glanced at the sword in his hand, then at Su Cheng. He shook his head, refusing to dwell on it.
The long sword slowly slid from its sheath. Though its exterior appeared battered and broken, the blade concealed within glinted with a cold, piercing light. An invisible sword qi seemed to protect it, shielding it from the ravages of time.
Indeed! His guess had been correct! He hadn't deceived himself—this truly was a divine sword. Just holding it in her hand, she could feel it!
However, Ye Chenmeng had never wielded a divine sword before. Even if this wasn't a先天至宝 (innate treasure), it was undoubtedly a top-tier divine-grade artifact!
Whether she could master it, however, remained an unknown.
Ye Chenmeng was utterly certain now: standing before this man and receiving this opportunity was already a colossal stroke of luck.
Now, it all depended on whether she could seize it!
"This Ling Shuang Sword has a stubborn temperament. You must be extremely cautious. It seems only I can truly master it. Even if you cannot control it, do not force yourself. Do not injure yourself."
Ye Chenmeng thought to himself that today, even if it cost him his life, he would tame this sword!
But aloud, he replied, "Understood."
With a gentle flick of her sleeves, Ye Chenmeng tossed the sword high into the air. Instantly, she cast a spell to control it, suspending the Frostsword mid-air.
This sight startled Ye Chenmeng even more. He couldn't help but think: This is a先天至宝! An enhanced version!
It wasn't Ye Chenmeng controlling the Ling Frost Sword—the sword obeyed her perfectly! It felt tailor-made for her, actively cooperating with her every move.
The Ling Frost Sword gradually shed the dust covering its surface, revealing its inherently noble essence. The snow-white scabbard bore the characters "Ling Frost" in gold-embossed script.
It was as if a sword buried in snow for ten thousand years had finally seen sunlight, like a lost traveler reborn!
This was the sword of his dreams!
As a sword cultivator, Ye Chenmeng had long dreamed of possessing a divine sword!
Ye Chenmeng was overcome with emotion, nearly weeping! This wasn't just any ordinary immortal-grade blade—it was a genuine, innate treasure!
A divine weapon existing only in legend!
What sect could possibly offer her such extraordinary favor?
Which sect leader would part with it?
Only Su Cheng! Only her great master!
【Huh? So that's how it's supposed to work? No wonder I couldn't use it!】
【I'll have to try it myself when I get back!】
Ye Chenmeng was still feeling moved when Ling Shuang Sword hovered mid-air, and she heard Su Cheng's inner thoughts!
"You possess innate brilliance and truly have the aptitude to become…" Su Cheng intended to praise Ye Chenmeng further, but was abruptly interrupted.
Seeing she had mastered the Frostblade, Ye Chenmeng swiftly withdrew it, cradling it in her arms as she knelt upright.
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this sword!"
Su Cheng froze, his outstretched hand grasping at thin air before snapping back in full view of everyone…
【Damn it! That's my personal sword! When did I say I was giving it to you? With all these people watching, you're practically snatching it!】
【Damn it, this guy tricked me! Oh well, it's just a useless stick in my hands anyway. Besides, the Frostblade can suppress her innate seductive aura.】
"From this moment on, you are my direct disciple, Su Cheng, and the foremost disciple of Lingxian Hall."
The onlookers now understood the scheme: Ye Chenmeng had only joined Lingxian Hall to obtain Su Cheng's sword!
With her talent, plus that sword that looked at least Heaven-grade, did she even need a master's guidance?
The onlookers now even harbored a hint of regret—why wasn't it them?
Joining the Heavenly Dao Pavilion meant being just another overlooked disciple, but joining Lingxian Hall meant becoming the sole favored disciple of an entire sect!
"Chenmeng! I shall never dishonor the name of Lingxian Hall or my master."
Seeing Ye Chenmeng kneel before him, Su Cheng finally grasped the true meaning of becoming a disciple.
Ye Chenmeng was no ordinary person. Though outwardly docile and gentle, Su Cheng knew full well that in her eyes, humans were no different from livestock.
Having been alone since childhood, her heart held nothing but a blood-soaked vendetta. One moment of carelessness, and this girl could unleash utter disaster.
Pitying her was undoubtedly a form of cruelty Su Cheng inflicted upon himself, yet he accepted her nonetheless.
Su Cheng didn't know why, but he wanted to try. He'd long since grown weary of this life.
Snapping back to reality, he met Ye Qinghan's fox-like eyes. Now that she had formally become his disciple, Ye Chenmeng was his student.
[I must change this poor girl's name. Otherwise, with her fate, even if she doesn't go to save that Cheng Liang, she won't live to become the Demon Emperor…]
"I dislike Chenmeng. Having observed your destiny, I bestow upon you the name Qinghan. Do you like it?"
【Even for a single day as your master, I shall never fail you. Though fate is predetermined, I shall bear all burdens for you.】
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this name!" She heard every word clearly, but since Su Cheng didn't speak, Ye Chenmeng didn't ask.
Ye… Qinghan—this name was bestowed by the Master, who defied Heaven's decree to rewrite her future!
From afar, Cheng Liang witnessed this scene and finally understood—Ye Qinghan had placed herself at Su Cheng's side solely for that sword!
He resolved within himself: he would save her!
Such a fine girl must not fall into Su Cheng's hands!
He himself possessed only a handful of Heavenly Grade artifacts, and certainly no Heavenly Grade, High-Quality Immortal Sword. But now that Ye Qinghan had obtained the Frost-Piercing Sword, he doubted she had any reason left to refuse him.
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