Chapter 3: I Need a Sword
Big White was a master at winning women's hearts.
Thanks to Jiang Li's years of training, the cat knew that cozying up to Bai Sheng meant extra dried fish later. So it worked hard, rubbing against her with an adorably clueless expression. Bai Sheng crouched down, her delicate hand gently stroking the cat's back.
Big White, clearly enjoying itself, flopped onto the grass, exposing its round belly.
Bai Sheng glanced around, spotting only Jiang Li, who was focused on painting. Not wanting to disturb him, she played with the cat for a while, never growing bored. When Jiang Li finally set down his brush, he flashed a warm smile. "You can hold it, junior sister."
Bai Sheng looked up at him, hesitating for a second or two before softly asking, "Are you… Senior Brother Jiang Li?"
Jiang Li froze.
Trouble.
For an innocent, unworldly girl like her, there were two strategies. The first was to play the gentleman—attentive, caring, making her genuinely feel your affection until she grew dependent on you.
But Jiang Li's "gentleman" persona was long gone.
His reputation in Xuantian Daoji Sect was… complicated, to put it mildly.
"How does Junior Sister Bai Sheng know me?" he asked, keeping his composure.
Now it was Bai Sheng's turn to pause. Meeting his gaze, she instinctively looked away, mumbling, "I've heard other senior sisters mention you…"
"I see." Jiang Li nodded, smoothly changing the subject. "Its name's Big White. Call it, and it'll jump right into your arms."
"Really?"
"Give it a try."
Bai Sheng softly called "Big White." The cat sprang up, leaping into her arms, nuzzling her chest and wagging its tail—utterly adorable.
Bai Sheng smiled at the cat, but when she looked up, she caught Jiang Li watching her, his eyes warm and unyielding. Flustered, she averted her gaze.
"Why's Senior Brother Jiang Li looking at me?" Her voice was clear, like tinkling bells.
"Can't I?" he countered confidently.
Bai Sheng grew nervous, shaking her head, stumbling over her words. "No, it's not…"
"You just came out of seclusion yesterday, right?" Jiang Li shifted topics, noticing her tension.
"How'd you know?" She looked up, surprised.
"I wanted to paint a portrait for you a while back, but I heard you were in seclusion—such a pity."
Bai Sheng glanced at the cat in her arms, her eyes wary. "You wanted to paint… me?"
"Yep. Before I mastered painting, I vowed to paint a hundred gentle, lovely women. I've found ninety-nine so far, and you, Junior Sister Bai Sheng, are my final choice."
Jiang Li knew he had to clean up his reputation with those ninety-nine sisters, or her guard would stay up, costing him more time.
"I see…" Bai Sheng nodded slightly. "But there are so many prettier senior sisters in the sect."
Her innocent eyes weren't feigning modesty—she truly believed it.
Watching her avoid his gaze, Jiang Li mentally tagged her as insecure.
Insecure girls were tough to woo. Insecurity often came paired with pride.
"There may be many pretty senior sisters, but gentle junior sisters are rare. May I paint you, Junior Sister Bai Sheng?"
She bit her lip, hesitating—likely about to refuse.
"I'm heading into three days of seclusion soon, but no one's around to care for Big White. It seems to like you. Could I trade a painting for you watching it for three days?"
Jiang Li dangled the bait. Big White, ever cooperative, brushed its tail against her arm, soft and ticklish. Bai Sheng looked at the adorable cat, wavering.
She clearly recalled Mu Bingning warning her at least fifty times that Jiang Li was a jerk, a scumbag, a rat.
Yet the Jiang Li before her smiled so warmly, his eyes clear and kind. Was he really the same person Mu Bingning described?
People's hearts were hard to read—maybe it was all an act.
But… he raised a cat. Cat-loving cultivators must be gentle, right? Big White was chubby, well-tempered, with sleek fur—surely happy with him.
Bai Sheng wavered until Big White unleashed its ultimate move: wrapping its front paws around her neck and planting a kiss on her cheek.
Her heart melted.
After much hesitation, she nodded softly. "Then I'll trouble you, Senior Brother Jiang Li."
"No trouble—I've already painted it."
"Huh?!"
Jiang Li stood, picking up the canvas and stepping closer. Bai Sheng stared, stunned, at the painting: herself crouching, petting the cat, a gentle smile on her lips, her eyes sparkling like stars.
"Thanks for helping, Junior Sister. Let's meet here again in three days at this time—sound good?"
"Why… the painting…"
"When I first saw you, I knew you were kind. I figured you wouldn't mind, so I painted you without asking. Your gentle eyes were too captivating to miss—passing that up would've been a shame."
Bai Sheng stepped back, sensing a fleeting danger in his gaze.
She couldn't place the feeling.
Her heart raced, her breathing grew tight, though Jiang Li stood at a distance. Hesitantly, she took the painting, his earlier words echoing in her ears.
After a few seconds, she whispered, "Is Senior Brother Jiang Li a gentle person?"
Her voice held a hint of hope, but she instantly felt the question was odd, making her fidget, fingers clutching her skirt.
"Me?" Jiang Li pointed to himself, pondering. "I used to want to be gentle, but sadly, gentleness is often seen as weakness, something to exploit. To others, it's foolish, naive. I don't care what they think, but I'm done with it—it's too much hassle."
"But I admire those who stay truly gentle. I hope they find happiness."
He reached out, lightly tapping Big White's head. Looking up, his eyes met hers.
Petals drifted under the peach tree, light and shadow dancing across her lashes. Bai Sheng's eyes held confusion and innocence. Jiang Li said nothing, holding her gaze for two seconds.
"Big White's in your hands. I'm off to seclusion. Thanks, Junior Sister."
He turned and left decisively. Bai Sheng, clutching Big White, stared at his fading figure, then looked down at the cat, lost in thought.
Jiang Li returned to his home.
His residence was on Hidden Sword Peak. Years ago, he'd had a cave mansion at the main gate, complete with flowers, trees, fields, and a lake. But after his ranking plummeted from second to thirty-seventh, he was driven out like a stray dog. Now he lived in a bamboo hut he'd built halfway up the mountain, in a quiet bamboo grove rarely visited.
Thankfully, a river nearby let him fish or grill in peace—a tranquil life, undisturbed.
He'd always preferred solitude. He had no friends on Hidden Sword Peak, having isolated everyone. Even the elder who once mentored him gave up, frustrated by his laziness, leaving him to fend for himself. If his ranking fell out of the top fifty, he'd face outer disciples in a trial—lose, and he'd become one.
He was a sword cultivator, but swordless, so he couldn't practice.
He was an alchemist, but lacked materials to refine pills.
He was an array master, but couldn't afford beast blood or spirit stones to draw arrays.
He was a music cultivator, but after playing for countless sisters, he was sick of it.
Still, Jiang Xiao Li didn't think he was slacking.
A month from now was Hidden Sword Peak's grand competition. He needed a sword—only with one could he compete.
His old sword, a reward for placing fourth in the sect's competition, was given to a sister. Sent gifts don't come back.
So he urgently needed a sword.
Not too strong, lest it draw envy; not too weak, or it'd shatter on impact.
After much thought, he decided to visit an old friend.
That friend likely had the sword he needed.
Checking his system inventory, he had twenty-three spirit stones left. He hoped his friend wouldn't fleece him.