Dual Cultivation In Martial Peak - Chapter 4: Xia Ning Chang

Chapter 4- Xia Ning Chang

After dropping Hu Mei’er back, Su Mu went back to the High Heaven Pavilion and submitted a leave application before heading back to his living quarters.

At a distance from Su Mu, a young lady was sitting at the top of a tree branch while staring at Su Mu. She had an otherworldly beauty, which couldn’t be hidden even after covering her face with a veil. In her hands, she had a diary with various entries written on it.

[Ordinary Disciple Su Mu refused to fight in a challenge for no clear reason.]

In the High Heaven Pavilion, a disciple must challenge someone to a fight every five days, Su Mu was no exception. But he still dared to refuse every challenge that came to him within these days, making the young lady personally come to keep an eye on him.

Suddenly, she noticed that Su Mu turned in her direction and smiled, which surprised her. She watched as Su Mu calmly walked behind a tree and never came out from the other side of the tree. Before she could go and check, she felt someone’s hand gripping her neck, but she was sure that nothing was touching her neck.

“It’s rude to spy on someone, isn’t it? Now, would you be kind enough to tell me what you’re doing here?” A gentle voice came from behind her as she slowly turned around, only to find Su Mu was looking at her with a smile.

“I…” The young lady couldn’t speak as she looked at Su Mu, who was looking at her with a smile. There were no evil intentions in his eyes while he looked at her, unlike most disciples.

‘It’s Xia Ning Chang, huh?’ Su Mu thought, remembering the best Alchemist to exist in the 3000 worlds who possessed the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body.

“Let’s do that again.” Su Mu said, moving his right hand and grabbing Xia Ning Chang’s chin between his index finger and thumb. “What’s your name?”

For some reason, Xia Ning Chang couldn’t move as Su Mu held her chin, which confused her because of their difference in cultivation. As far as she knew, Su Mu should be at the 9th Stage of Tempered Body Realm while she was at the 9th Stage of Separation And Reunion Realm. The difference between their cultivation wasn’t something that could be closed with sheer talent.

But she could feel that Su Mu won’t harm her, so she didn’t do anything rash. His Grandfather was the Second Elder of the High Heaven Pavilion, so she couldn’t do anything idiotic and bring her Master trouble.

“I am Xia Ning Chang, a Disciple of the Dark Hall, Young Master Su.” Xia Ning Chang introduced herself.

“A Dark Hall Disciple, huh?” Su Mu muttered, bringing his face closer to Xia Ning Chang.

She could feel Su Mu’s breath hitting against her veil as she was blushing so hard that her ears turned pink.

“Why were you following me?” Su Mu asked.

“Because Young Master Su didn’t challenge a Disciple as per Sect Rules.” Xia Ning Chang replied.

“Don’t worry about it. I have already submitted my leave application for secluded cultivation.” Su Mu replied, looking at her for a good few seconds.

“Oh? You possess the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body?” Su Mu muttered, visibly surprised as he looked Xia Ning Chang in the eyes.

As she heard his words, the blush on her face disappeared, replaced by a serious expression as she frowned. She had never told anyone about her Special Physique, so how could Su Mu know even though it was the first time they’d met?

Could it be that he realised her Special Physique just by looking at her for a few minutes? But that wasn’t something even her Master could do. At this realization, Xia Ning Chang was shocked beyond belief.

“Young Master Su, how?” That was all Xia Ning Chang could mutter in shock.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your Special Physique.” Su Mu said as he smiled at her, making Xia Ning Chang forget that she was supposed to be on guard against him.

He let go of her face. “Well, I’ll be going then. Until next time.” Jumping off the tree, Su Mu walked inside his living quarters, leaving a baffled Xia Ning Chang behind.

After that, he went to the Contribution Hall to pick up some supplies for his secluded cultivation.

Entering the Contribution Hall, he greeted the Old Man sitting behind the desk. “Greetings, Treasurer Meng.”

“Oh, is there anything you wish to exchange for Contribution Points, Disciple Su Mu?” Meng Wuya asked.

‘This old man. Immortal Ascension 9th Stage? No.’ Su Mu looked at Meng Wuya for a few seconds.

‘His cultivation is sealed, huh? His actual cultivation should be 3rd Order Saint Realm.’ Su Mu concluded that Treasurer Meng was no simple character, possessing Cultivation that should be impossible to achieve in this world can only mean one thing, that he was from another world.

“I would like to take some supplies for my secluded cultivation.” Su Mu replied. After taking whatever he wanted and paying for it, Su Mu left the Contribution Hall.

Outside, he noticed someone very interesting. “Senior Sister Xia, are you sure that you’re not following me around?” He said, surprising the girl who was trying to sneak inside the Contribution Hall without him noticing.

“I-My Master is the Treasurer of the High Heaven Pavilion.” Xia Ning Chang blurted out without realising what she was saying in embarrassment.

“I am just joking, Senior Sister Xia. There’s no need for you to explain yourself.” Su Mu said with a chuckle, taking his leave as he directly went into secluded cultivation for a whole week.

After confirming that he left, Xia Ning Chang entered the Contribution Hall and greeted Meng Wuya. “Master, how is your injury?”

“Don’t worry about your master. I’ve managed for so long so it’s not that big of a hindrance.” Meng Wuya replied before noticing something. “My dear Disciple, is something wrong?”

“Master, actually…” Xia Ning Chang explained everything about what happened between her and Su Mu, making Meng Wuya furious.

“That brat, he dares to flirt with this Old Man’s Disciple, I shall personally teach that lecherous brat a lesson.” Meng Wuya said, hitting the desk with his hand.

“Um. Master, what about my Special Physique?” Xia Ning Chang asked again, forcing Meng Wuya to focus on the main topic.

“Do you have any idea how he figured that out?” He asked.

Xia Ning Chang simply shook her head.

“As far as I could tell, he cultivates a Yang Attribute Secret Art and he knows about your Special Physique too. And his foundation is extremely solid. What do you think about him doing that for you?” Meng Wuya asked.

“I don’t know, Master.” Xia Ning Chang replied in a nervous voice, turning away.

“Then how about you observe him for a while? Since he already knows you, it shouldn’t be a problem.” Meng Wuya proposed, wanting his Disciple to choose someone to help her so that her cultivation would start progressing again.

“I will do as Master says.” Xia Ning Chang replied, cupping her fists before she left the Contribution Hall.

Watching Xia Ning Chang leave, Meng Wuya sighed. If possible, he would’ve helped her himself if he could do so, but alas, the path of cultivation wasn’t as easy as one would expect it to be.

“His name was Su Mu, wasn’t it.” Meng Wuya muttered, deciding to keep an eye on the young man named Su Mu. His impression of Su Mu wasn’t anything special. Although talented, his talent paled in comparison to his older sister and the strongest disciple in the High Heaven Pavilion, Su Yan.

As for Su Mu’s character, even though he acted all high and mighty thanks to his Grandfather’s name, Meng Wuya knew that he wasn’t a bad person. He was more like a spoiled child. But for some reason, Su Mu today felt like a completely different being. Be it his demeanour, glare or the way he moved, it was completely different from the Su Mu he was familiar with.

‘People can indeed change a lot.’ Meng Wuya thought.

—

Inside his living quarters, Su Mu was lying on the bed with his back facing the ceiling as he wondered about what he should do for the next week.

As for Secluded Cultivation, why would he do that? If someone of his status was required to Cultivate in such a meagre cultivation realm, he would be a disgrace to all Open Heaven Cultivators.

If he wished to, he could easily summon this world’s Grand Martial Dao Tone or the Grand Alchemy Dao Tone. There’s no way that he’d need something like Secluded Cultivation before Dao Source Realm unless he was cultivating one of the Secret Techniques that he used in the past.

With everything done, all Su Mu had to do was wait until Hu Mei’er completes the task that he gave her. He wasn’t worried about Hu Mei’er betraying him since he was sure that she had already fallen in love with him.