619: Do What You Can

Do What You Can

After a pleasant dinner, Ming Yue chatted with Rou'er, talking to her about her time at the Eternal Blade Sect before proceeding into a spar between the two. 

"I know that you're strong but it's not like I haven't grown either!" 

Rou'er had a confident look on her face as she said this to which Ming Yue chuckled. 

"Alright, we can have a quick one in the courtyard", she said. 

"Yes! I'll take you there!"

The young girl's face lit up after Ming Yue accepted, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the back of the shop into a small but open courtyard. There wasn't too much there, just a few bushes to harvest tea leaves from.

Standing face to face with one another, Rou'er brought out a practice sword while Ming Yue stood there, waiting. Off to the side was Elder Fei watched with interest, curious as to how far she had grown. 

"Mm, you can just use your sword, it'd be better that way", she told her. 

"O-oh... then what will you be using?" 

Rou'er was slightly taken aback by the comment, feeling somewhat confused now. 

"I can just use that." 

Ming Yue looked down at the wooden sword, holding her hand out to get it. Hesitantly, the girl handed over the practice sword before taking out her personal blade. 

It was a beautiful sword, not too long and not too short. A balanced weapon with a jade handle and a tassel tied at the end of it, holding what seemed to be a good luck charm. It was three coins that were tied together with a red string that also tied them to the pommel of the sword. 

Rou'er held it with a certain grace, one that comes from training and constant usage. She knew how to handle a weapon, that was for certain. 

But to Ming Yue's eyes, it was nothing.

As the both of them took a stance, the young woman looked at Rou'er, giving her the first move. 

"Please." 

It was then that Rou'er moved, lunging forward to thrust. She was quick, covering the distance between them in seconds though Ming Yue had seen through it. Waving the practice sword, the girl's attack was easily parried but that was just the beginning. 

Narrowing her eyes, Rou'er concentrated as she spun with the momentum. Her arm was pulled back with the sword behind her and it came around like a whip. In fact, there was a snap before a flash of light followed. 

But just like before, Ming Yue merely waved the wooden sword and brushed off the attack. \

It continued in the same fashion as she stood there and defended while Rou'er used one technique after the other, move after move until a thousand moves were exchanged. 

By then, she was beginning to slow down, her breathing was ragged as sweat began to form on her head. 

On the other side, Ming Yue seemed perfectly fine, just waiting for Rou'er's next attack. But it seemed that she could barely muster another one. 

"Haah, haah, haah, you barely moved at all! How far have you gone into the Earth Realm?" 

Breathing hard, she looked at Ming Yue in awe. 

The young woman glanced over at Elder Fei, who gave a small smile as if knowing just how strong she was. He then looked at Rou'er, asking her a question. 

"If she was able to deal with the Three Fiends, all of whom were at the Earth Realm, where do you think she is?" 

The girl grew silent, thinking as she straightened up. Her breath soon steadied as her mind began to piece things together. Her eyes slowly widened as she suddenly stared at Ming Yue. 

"Is it... the Sky Realm?" 

Her words came out quietly. almost a whisper but not quite. It was loud enough for Ming Yue to hear. And the woman looked at her and nodded, confirming her thoughts. 

At that moment, Rou'er's jaw practically dropped. She was unmoving, just stuck in that state of shock. As for Elder Fei, there was a proud look on his face as he stepped forward, standing beside his stepdaughter.

"Heh, I was right, you are in the Sky Realm."

He spoke with a grin on his face, excitement welling up inside of him. 

"Was it obvious?" Ming Yue asked, "I've been thinking of trying to hide my strength for the time being."

"Mm, the surprise Redmist Sanctuary, I assume? Not at the start but for you to deal with three Earth Realm Cultivators meant that you must either be close to the Sky Realm or there already. But there was also one more thing", he said.

"What is it?" 

"It's your presence, although you aren't going to attract much attention, those who do take notice may realize. Personally, you reminded me of the Sect Leader of Clear Spring Mountain. When she reached the Sky Realm, the feeling that you exude is similar to her." 

Hearing this, Ming Yue looked down at herself, studying closely. 

"Mm, don't try to sense it. Since you've reached a new realm, you've long gotten used to it, it would be difficult to find that particular feeling and change it. Rather, if you want to hide your strength, it would be better to pay attention to your meridians than your external body", Elder Fei explained. 

Closing her eyes, she looked inwardly, sensing the meridians within and the power that connected them all. 

"If you diminish the power coursing through your meridians and instead push it into your core, you will appear weaker and it will be much harder for experts to see your true strength."

Doing as Elder Fei said, she began to pull the energy within her meridians away, drawing it back into her core. Moments later, she succeeded, opening her eyes once more. 

"Now it looks like I've just stepped into the Earth Realm", she noted. 

"Yes, it does", said Elder Fei,"This method is simple and pretty effective though hard to perfect. Of course, not many actually try to hide their own cultivation, their ego wouldn't allow it." 

"Mm, thank you. Even now I'm still learning things from you." 

Ming Yue cupped her fists and bowed to which, Elder Fei quickly lifted her up.

"Please, I am not a cultivator anymore, just an ordinary man. You, however, are a genius and a hero, a person that values hard work. There are few, perhaps none in your generation that can match your feats", he told her. 

The woman just smiled and looked down. 

"It doesn't feel that way, I know that I am strong but sometimes, I feel powerless", she replied to him. 

Elder Fei placed a hand on her shoulder, looking into her eyes sincerely. 

"That is a feeling that every person with a good heart has felt. No one is perfect, there isn't always a solution, and not everyone can be saved, you have to accept that fact. The only comfort is knowing that you will help someone, perhaps a hundred, perhaps one. But then, even saving one person can mean everything", he said to her. 

He took a step forward, leaning closer to her. 

"I know that you want to take care of Redmist Sanctuary. You should know that there are others who are doing what they can to deal with them. So just do what you can do."

Ming Yue was quiet, nodding at his words. 

Elder Fei smiled, moving his hand away. 

"Now then, I'll get you that information soon. You should rest for tonight, I'm sure that you and Rou'er must be tired, right?"

He turned to look at his stepdaughter, who was still frozen in shock. 

"Er...Rou'er?"

Both the elder and Ming Yue looked at the girl, seeing her open jaw and her eyes just widened. 

"Sk- sky- sky realm?" 

That was all she could muster. 2

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