Splendour Translations.
Pledge on Patreon to get rewarded with Advance chapters.
Chapter 24: What Is Gentleness?:
(In the Howling Wind Valley)
Leng Youran stood at the peak, her gaze fixed on the distant, mist-shrouded mountains.
Her maid, Xiao Qing, stood by her side, watching her master exude an aura of coldness that seemed to chill the vibrant view before them.
At the moment, Leng Youran, standing there, looked like a 'goddess' who ruled the entire mystical realm.
Xiao Qing's eyes flashed with admiration and longing. The sect master truly was a woman of unparalleled dignity and supremacy.
Which woman in the world wouldn't see the sect master as a role model?
When such a noble and aloof person looked at this magnificent scenery, what could she be thinking?
Surely, she must be contemplating how to conquer the whole world and achieve unparalleled dominance, right?
Truly befitting the title of the Supreme Ruthless.
Leng Youran stood with her hands behind her back, her expressionless face gazing at the distant clouds in the mountain valleys.
She was lost in thought.
'What is gentleness supposed to be like?'
This question swirled in her mind like the clouds around the mountains.
Leng Youran didn't know how to define 'gentleness.'
From the day she was born, her environment had never included 'gentleness.' The cultivation world was filled with dangers, where only the strong survived.
Good people couldn't survive in such a world. Gentleness would only become an obstacle to becoming stronger. So, she had abandoned all emotions without hesitation. Gentleness was also discarded along with them.
But now, when she wanted to reclaim 'gentleness,' she realized she had no concept of what it meant.
What was gentleness?
Leng Youran glanced at Xiao Qing, who was lost in her own thoughts.
She remembered that this girl had always been obedient since childhood. She never fought back when beaten, never retorted when scolded, and did whatever she was asked to do.
Was that gentleness?
No, that didn't seem to be it.
Should she ask about it?
"Hmm..."
"What's the matter, Sect Master?" Xiao Qing blinked and asked.
"Nothing..." The words Leng Youran intended to ask got stuck in her throat. No, as the sect master, the head of the Heavenly Dark Sect, and the top powerhouse in the profound realm, the Supreme Ruthless, she couldn't ask a mere maid what gentleness was. If such a thing got out, her reputation in the world would be ruined!
She needed to ask someone else, someone she trusted.
"Xiao Qing, you may leave. I want to be alone for a while."
"Yes, Sect Master!" Xiao Qing responded immediately and obediently left.
Watching her leave, Leng Youran coughed into her hand, and several shadows appeared around her.
Three men and three women all in black robes stood there. These six were the elite shadow guards of the Heavenly Dark Sect, trained by Leng Youran herself and utterly loyal to her.
"Your orders, Sect Master."
The six knelt on one knee, their voices cold and emotionless, like machines devoid of feelings.
"Do you know what gentleness is supposed to be like?" Leng Youran asked with her hands behind her back.
The six fell silent simultaneously.
They had been trained to be loyal 'weapons' from a young age, and their understanding of such concepts was likely no better than Leng Youran's.
"Hmph, the Great Sect Conference is approaching. You have three days to find the answer for me!" Leng Youran ordered coldly, her sleeve flicking.
"Yes!" The six responded in unison and disappeared behind Leng Youran. They couldn't understand the sect master's thoughts, but orders were orders. To them, it was either complete the order or face death. There was no other choice.
...
(In the Holy Son's residence)
Xu Ze sat by the bed, looking at the three rewards from the system.
5,000 task points, a sixth-grade Longevity Pill, and an unidentified ancient divine weapon.
Xu Ze knew how to use the task points.
The Longevity Pill was a versatile medicine that could heal injuries, enhance physical fitness, and increase mystical power. A sixth-grade Longevity Pill was worth as much as a small kingdom, so Xu Ze couldn't use it casually.
The other reward was an unidentified ancient divine weapon.
Taking the divine weapon out of the system, Xu Ze examined the ancient weapon sealed within a thick stone slab, stroking his chin with a look of helplessness.
From the appearance, he couldn't see through the stone slab to determine what kind of weapon it was.
He wasn't a professional weapon appraiser, and randomly breaking the stone could damage the ancient divine weapon. Before the divine weapon's spirit form was confirmed, it was extremely fragile.
"I need to find a professional appraiser..." Xu Ze muttered. "But the Heavenly Dark Sect isn't specialized in such things, and there aren't any weapon appraisers here. This is really troublesome."
Scratching his head in frustration, Xu Ze sighed. "I can only wait until the Great Sect Conference and go to Donghuang with my master to find an appraiser."
When he put the stone slab back into the system's storage, Xu Ze suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching.
"Holy Son! Holy Son!" Xiao Lan's voice rang out urgently. "I know how to find the thief who broke into the room last night!"
-To be continued!