In the dead-end alley.

The steamed bun shop owner was panting and leaning on his knees, looking at the little beggar in front of him, "Run! Weren't you good at running? Keep running!"

The little beggar knew she couldn't escape anymore. She unwrapped the dirty cloth and wolfed down the steamed buns.

She could only eat one bite at a time.

"You're still eating, huh? Watch me break your legs."

The steamed bun shop owner strode forward.

The closer he got, the faster the little beggar ate.

Gripping the rolling pin, the steamed bun shop owner swung it hard toward the little beggar's head.

The little beggar tightly closed her eyes and curled up her body but contrary to the little beggar's expectations, the pain never came.

The little beggar opened her eyes and saw a nicely dressed big brother holding the steamed bun shop owner's large hand.

Xiao Mo looked at the thin little beggar trembling in front of him and asked, "What happened to her?"

"Who are you? Mind your own business! She stole my steamed buns! And it's been several times! I'm going to teach her a lesson!" the steamed bun shop owner said angrily.

Xiao Mo released the owner's hand and tossed several pieces of broken silver into his arms, "Is this enough?"

The steamed bun shop owner was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded, "Enough, enough, more than enough."

"Little brat, consider yourself lucky!" The steamed bun shop owner cursed a few times and left the alley.

The little beggar looked at the young man standing in front of her, swallowed, and hugged her small hands tightly to her chest.

Xiao Mo squatted down and asked with a smile, "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. What's your name?"

"Jiang... Jiang Qingyi," the girl answered timidly.

"Mm, that's a good name. Do you want to come with me?"

"Come with you?"

"That's right. I want to take on a disciple. I think you're not bad. If you come with me, you can eat your fill every day. How about it? Want to consider it?"

The girl looked at the remaining half steamed bun in her hand, as if thinking.

Finally, the girl raised her head and looked at Xiao Mo seriously, "I... I'll go with you!"

"Good." Xiao Mo smiled and nodded, "My name is Xiao Mo. From now on, I am your master. Call out to hear how it sounds."

"Master."

"Mm."

After bringing Jiang Qingyi up the mountain, Xiao Mo took her to get a disciple token and female attire from the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Returning to his own peak, Xiao Mo had Jiang Qingyi take a bath and change into clean clothes.

When Jiang Qingyi stood in front of Xiao Mo again, his eyes couldn't help but brighten.

Previously, Jiang Qingyi was like a tomboy with short hair and covered in mud and dust but after Jiang Qingyi washed herself clean and changed into a dress, she indeed had some appearance.

Xiao Mo tossed a wooden sword to Jiang Qingyi, "Starting today, you'll learn swordsmanship with me. The sword technique I'm teaching you is called 'Grass Character Sword Formula.' Sword techniques require practicing both the formula and the moves together. During the day you'll practice sword moves, and at night I'll teach you to read and recite the sword formula. You cannot slack off. Do you understand clearly?"

The "Grass Character Sword Formula" was the sword technique that the "avatar Xiao Mo" practiced, and every move was imprinted in Xiao Mo's mind.

Xiao Mo even wondered whether he could also practice the "Grass Character Sword Formula" in the real world after he left.

Jiang Qingyi tightly hugged the wooden sword, "Yes, Master."

"Follow me and learn, the first form."

In the following half month, Xiao Mo taught Jiang Qingyi swordsmanship every morning at dawn.

Jiang Qingyi studied very seriously and worked very hard but because she lacked an innate sword bone, Jiang Qingyi learned very, very slowly. Her aptitude could already be described as "poor."

After another half month, Jiang Qingyi still hadn't learned the first form of the Grass Character Sword Formula.

"Master... am I very stupid?"

One day, Jiang Qingyi said dejectedly while holding her wooden sword.

"Who said you're stupid?" Xiao Mo sat in the courtyard drinking tea.

Jiang Qingyi quickly shook her head, "No... no one told this disciple that."

Xiao Mo gazed at Jiang Qingyi and spoke lightly, "Come here."

Jiang Qingyi swallowed and slowly walked to her master's side.

"Qingyi, you're not stupid at all," Xiao Mo gently patted Jiang Qingyi's head, "There's a saying that goes, 'All beginnings are difficult.' We're not in a hurry, let's take it slowly. You don't need to think about anything else, just do your own thing well. Do you understand?"

"Mm-hmm!" Jiang Qingyi nodded.

With her master's encouragement, the girl regained some confidence.

In the time that followed, Xiao Mo often bought the blood and flesh of spirit beasts for Jiang Qingyi to eat.

Jiang Qingyi's progress was still very slow.

A full month and a half had passed, and Jiang Qingyi hadn't even reached the first level of Qi Refinement, the threshold for cultivation!

One day when Xiao Mo went down the mountain to buy wine, he couldn't help but hear several outer sect disciples discussing, "That disciple Elder Xiao took on has no foundation at all. I don't know why Elder Xiao wanted to take her as a disciple."

"It's been a month and a half, and she still hasn't entered the first level of Qi Refinement."

"Damn, isn't my talent higher than that Jiang Qingyi? I haven't become an elder's disciple!"

"Hahaha, Xiao Mo usually looks down on people. I want to see how that girl gets beaten up at the Dragon Spring Sword Sect's new blood martial competition a year from now!"

Just as the several people were drinking and discussing, Xiao Mo walked in front of them.

"Fellow Daoist, what's wrong? Is there something?" A burly man saw Xiao Mo and turned around to ask.

"Nothing much, I just feel uncomfortable hearing you talk about my disciple like that."

After speaking, Xiao Mo kicked them in the stomach, and the burly man flew ten meters away.

After teaching these people a lesson, Xiao Mo returned to his Lingqian Peak as if nothing had happened.

When Xiao Mo returned to the mountaintop, it was already late at night.

Under the moonlight, a girl was still practicing swordsmanship.

Her movements were so clumsy, yet so earnest.

"Qingyi." Xiao Mo softly called the girl's name.

"Master." Jiang Qingyi put away her wooden sword and ran over to her master.

"You haven't slept yet?" Xiao Mo patted her head.

"Master, Qingyi couldn't sleep and wanted to practice some more," Jiang Qingyi said softly.

Xiao Mo smiled, "Working hard is good, but you also need to balance work and rest."

Jiang Qingyi shook her head vigorously, "It's okay, Master. I'm not tired."

Looking at the girl, Xiao Mo's eyes held some complexity, but he didn't stop her, "Alright, practice for at most one more incense stick's time, then go to sleep. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Master. Master should also rest well," Jiang Qingyi nodded.

Xiao Mo turned and walked back to his wooden hut.

Looking at her master's back, Jiang Qingyi pressed her small lips together and tightly gripped the long sword in her hand.

Just as her master was about to enter the door, Jiang Qingyi softly called out, "Master."

"Mm?" Xiao Mo turned around.

Under the moonlight, the girl's eyes were like ripples on a clear spring, clear and gentle, "I definitely won't disappoint Master at the sect's new blood martial competition!"

Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curved up. He nodded and smiled, "Good."