A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

The soft noise disturbed the guest. Chen Yu was about to look out the window when the gray-robed man was already close enough to see him.

It was like a raging wind, the tiles outside the window shook as if scales were being scraped off, and dust swirled and swirled everywhere.

"Yu'er".

"Master."

Separated by a window, Chen Yu looked at Miejue, who stood on the blue tiles and whose emotions were on full display, and his expression was moved.

"Good, good, it really is Yu'er. Thank goodness, you are really alive."

"Master, please come in."

Extinction took a step and landed in the guest room.

Chen Yu leaned over and saw that not far from the inn, Ji Xiaofu was crying tears of joy, Bei Jinyi and Su Mengqing were waving and smiling, and even Li Mingxia was raising her arm.

Yang An held the sword in his right hand, his knuckles turning white from gripping it so tightly.

Zhou Zhiruo looked up, her expression joyful.

Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart. When it comes to the internal atmosphere, among all the sects and factions in the martial arts world, apart from Wudang, only Emei stands out.

"Senior Sister Ji, Senior Sister Su, Senior Sister Bei, Junior Brother..."

Ding Minjun's heart was in turmoil, and only one thought filled her mind: Chen Yu is actually alive?

"Senior Sister Ding."

Suddenly, Chen Yu's warm greeting came, and Ding Minjun exclaimed "Ah!" and waved her arm stiffly.

……

Summer sunlight streamed in through the window, transforming into a pillar of light and floating dust. Only Chen Yu and Miejue were in the guest room, and the light fell precisely between them. As Miejue spoke, the dust motes playfully danced around.

"Yu'er, tell me quickly, what happened?"

From the next room came the voices of Su Mengqing and Bei Jinyi asking Zhou Zhiruo. Chen Yu carefully chose his words and began to speak slowly and deliberately: "This disciple and that weasel-faced man fell off a cliff..."

"It was Wei Yixiao, the Green-Winged Bat King of the Demonic Sect." Miejue interrupted Chen Yu's words, "Yu'er, to protect others, you actually perished together with that demon. This courage and benevolence is truly admirable and has moved your master. Well done."

Miejue did not explicitly state that she was trying to protect herself. In her mind, in that desperate situation, all Emei disciples should have done the same. If she were in her shoes, she would have made the same choice.

Chen Yu, knowing that the mind was extinguished, nodded: "That was also what I thought at the time."

"I'm not afraid of being crushed to pieces, good. And then what happened?"

"Wei Yixiao is truly formidable. He shook off my arms, struck me with a palm, and used the force to leap onto the cliff. I heard Master calling out as I fell." "I arrived a step too late."

"My disciple fell into a pool, and the undercurrent carried him to another paradise. He practiced the Emei Nine Yang Skill to remove the poison and heal his wounds. After recovering, he sneaked back into the valley and saw the rope. He knew it must have been left by his master. He climbed up and inquired about information along the way. He learned that Bai Guishou was heading towards the Han River. Thinking that his master would also come, he arrived at the Immortal's Ferry."

"Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune."

"Master was right."

"What do you mean?"

"It turns out that a remarkable person named Little Dragon Girl once lived in that Peach Garden. I accidentally memorized the sword techniques that were carved out."

Upon hearing the name of Little Dragon Girl, Miejue's body trembled, and he muttered to himself, "Little Dragon Girl is a descendant of the Ancient Tomb Sect, and she does have some connection with our sect."

In her mind, Miejue couldn't help but say, "Grandmaster and the Condor Hero have an even deeper connection. It must be Grandmaster's blessing that Yu'er is able to carry forward the Emei Sect. Otherwise, how could there be such an incredible opportunity?"

"Disciple, please demonstrate your swordsmanship to your master."

Miejue smiled and said, "Opportunities are preordained by Heaven, and others should not force them. When Yu'er takes charge of the sect one day, she will integrate the martial arts of various schools like her grandmaster and transform them into the Emei Kung Fu."

"They want to establish me as their successor," Chen Yu thought to himself.

"And then what?"

"Master, please have some tea."

As Chen Yu poured tea, Miejue felt a familiar sensation returning—the feeling of being served by Chen Yu all the way from Hengyang to Emei.

After taking a sip, Chen Yu continued, "When I arrived at Immortal Ferry, I happened to encounter Bai Guishou, the Maitreya Sect of Jiangxi, the Tartar troops, and the Five Poisons Sect. After a battle, Bai Guishou was captured by the Five Poisons Sect."

Upon hearing this, Miejue felt as if she had found a way out of a seemingly hopeless situation. She had already learned about the Five Poisons Sect from Ji Xiaofu and others. Now, she only needed to return to Emei and follow the clues. Thinking this way, she felt more and more that fate was guiding Chen Yu.

After thinking it over, Miejue said, "There is something I want to tell you."

Could it be the secret of the Heaven-Slaying Sword and the Dragon-Slaying Saber? Chen Yu wondered to himself.

Miejue said, "I once said that Yu'er's grandfather was one of the master craftsmen who forged the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword."

"Yes, disciple remembers."

"Your grandfather forged swords, and you became a disciple of the Emei Sect. This was all guided by our master in the darkness. Now I will tell you this secret." Miejue's voice was soft. "Listen carefully."

"Your disciple is all ears."

"The founder of this sect, Lady Guo, was the youngest daughter of the great hero Guo who defended Xiangyang. The great hero Guo's martial arts skills were unparalleled throughout history, and his wife Huang Rong was exceptionally intelligent. When they saw that the Yuan army was too powerful and Xiangyang could not be defended, they were determined to die for their country. So they hired master craftsmen to forge the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword using the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword of the Condor Hero and Western refined gold."

"So that's how it is."

"Yes, the Condor Hero is the husband of the Little Dragon Girl whom Yu'er met in the Peach Blossom Spring in the valley."

Chen Yu tactfully poured tea for Miejue, making sure not to show any surprise.

"That's why I said it's all predestined." Miejue took a small sip of tea and got back to the point. "Within the swords and sabers are hidden the military strategies and martial arts essentials written by Master Guo and his wife. The sword contains the Nine Yin Manual and the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. The saber contains the Wumu Legacy. Obtaining the former will allow one to master the techniques and dominate the martial arts world. A good general who obtains military strategies will master them and be invincible in battle. Now that Yu'er has found the Heaven-Slaying Sword, if she also obtains the Dragon-Slaying Saber, she can use her internal energy to clash the swords and sabers together and obtain the martial arts manuals and secret military treatises."

"Wouldn't that ruin the precious swords?"

"Yes, but what's a little sacrifice to drive out the Tartars and strengthen Emei?"

"Is there no other way?"

Extinction shook his head: "When I wielded the Heaven-Slaying Sword, I also examined it in every possible way, but I could not obtain it."

"What if we find other craftsmen who have forged swords?"

This was a reverse deduction. Miejue was taken aback, then her eyes lit up: "Yu'er is intelligent, perhaps we can give it a try, but how do we find the descendants of master craftsmen?"

"The Five Poisons Sect might know."

"A single word awakens one from a dream." Miejue's eyebrows danced with excitement, then her expression turned solemn: "This concerns the survival of Emei and the fate of China. Yu'er, you must remember to keep your mouth shut."

"It must not be passed on to more than six people."

Miejue smiled slightly: "That's right. Actually, when Yu'er found the Heaven-Slaying Sword, I thought about telling you this secret, but I was afraid of disturbing your mind and affecting your training. I never expected that this time when Yu'er went down the mountain, she not only found out the whereabouts of Bai Guishou, but also had an opportunity and developed the ability and temperament to stand on her own. So I told you. From now on, you and I, master and disciple, will work together to show off our strength at Emei and drive out the Tartars."

"Your disciple will heed your teachings."

"Alright, alright." Miejue changed the subject abruptly, "Who is that girl?"

"A boatman left behind his daughter at the Immortal's Ferry." Chen Yu succinctly recounted Zhou Zhiruo's life and the scene of the incident that day.

"This girl has a pitiful background, but she is clever and quick-witted. If she hadn't recognized us, how could we, master and disciple, have met again here?" Miejue sighed.

"Indeed."

"Since she is all alone and yet there is a connection between us, I will accept her into the Emei sect."

"It's entirely up to Master. I'll bring her here."

"Um."

Chen Yu returned and took Zhou Zhiruo to the guest room. He examined her closely and found that although she was delicate and timid, her eyes were clear and bright, and she possessed inner spirituality. She was gentle yet strong. The more he looked at her, the more satisfied he became.

"Let me ask you, are you willing to join the Emei sect?"

Zhou Zhiruo looked at Chen Yu.

He nodded with a smile.

"willing."

"Junior Sister greets Sect Leader."

Zhou Zhiruo obediently knelt and bowed: "Disciple greets Sect Leader."

"well."

Miejue pulled her up, "When you come with me to Emei and pay homage to the founder, you will be a proper disciple of Emei. Practicing martial arts is a process of tempering one's character, a difficult task that requires perseverance and hard work. I hope you can be self-respecting, diligent and hardworking."

"I will remember this in my heart."

Zhou Zhiruo's gaze passed through the window, and she thought of the Emei cloud sea and white apes in the mountains that Chen Yu had once mentioned.

"I am now a disciple of Emei, and I can practice martial arts with Brother Chen Yu."

Zhou Zhiruo's confusion vanished, replaced by a sense of boundless freedom and a feeling of having something to rely on, like a floating duckweed. She smiled as she watched the sunset paint the evening glow.