First came martial training.
Qiu Yunru handed Li Chenyuan a practice sword with a gentle smile.
"Don't be nervous; I'm sure Li-shidi will be a quick learner."
As soon as sparring drills began, Qiu Yunru's eyes nearly burst out of his skull.
He had paired himself up with Li Chenyuan to avoid letting his shidi fall into the clutches of Lei Ruolan, who had been eyeing him. Lei Ruolan had a bad habit of testing out the skills of people she hadn't yet sparred with and leaving them in tears.
He had expected Li Chenyuan to fight hard because of his disposition, but he hadn't expected...this!
Li Chenyuan's movements were graceful and skilled, flowing like a river. Whenever Qiu Yunru struck, Li Chenyuan blocked his blows with ease. Whenever Qiu Yunru blocked, Li Chenyuan would switch his strike, causing Qiu Yunru to just barely manage to avoid being hit.
Qiu Yunru was sweating profusely after their first match, which had ended in a draw. He stared at Li Chenyuan's back, dumbfounded.
What kind of disciple who had joined a sect for only a day can fight with a sword like they've been training for years?!
Li Chenyuan caught him staring and raised an eyebrow, turning away.
"What? Why are you--why is Qiu-shixiong looking at me like that?"
"Ah--this shixiong is just impressed by your skills. Where did you learn to sword fight...?"
Li Chenyuan tightened his sash, his expression flat. "On my own."
On his own?!
Qiu Yunru wanted to spit out a small stream of blood.
How talented and hardworking would someone have to be, to learn how to use a sword so well on their own, without even someone to guide them?
What's more...
Li Chenyuan fought with the grace and strength of a body that had most definitely already achieved Qi Condensation. It was possible that he'd gone even further than that! Qiu Yunru had his suspicions, and he kept a close eye on Li Chenyuan when it came time for meditative cultivation.
He sat Li Chenyuan down at the end of the training grounds and showed him how to sit.
"The best position is with your hands on your knees and your legs crossed. Yes, good..."
Li Chenyuan obediently followed his instructions.
"All right. If I'm not mistaken, Li-shidi has already achieved Qi Condensation. If you would circulate your qi and allow me to sense it..."
Qiu Yunru placed a hand on Li Chenyuan's back. Li Chenyuan stiffened, but obeyed, closing his eyes and circulating his qi steadily through his meridians.
Qiu Yunru choked.
"What is it?" Li Chenyuan frowned, opening his eyes irritatedly.
"Ah..." Qiu Yunru coughed, taking his hand off Li Chenyuan's back. "How is it that you've already achieved Foundation Establishment...?"
Li Chenyuan seemed unimpressed.
"On my own."
"On your own?!" This time, he couldn't keep it in, and the words slipped out, filled with incredulity.
Of course it was hard to believe this--cultivation was a difficult process that required close guidance and mediation. If one practiced and learned in a setting that was too solitary, it was highly likely they would experience a qi deviation and die!
"Didn't you hear me the first time?" Li Chenyuan snapped. "That's what I said."
"But how...?"
"I read some books."
Qiu Yunru wanted to cry a little bit.
If it was possible to just read some books and learn cultivation to this extent in this world, perhaps he had been wasting all his time here, when he could have been living a solitary life of cultivation practice already!
"All right...if Li-shidi says so. But you really shouldn't cultivate on your own anymore. It's easy to suffer a qi deviation in this manner."
Li Chenyuan grumbled. What a grumpy kid! "I know. That's...why I came to this sect."
This made sense to Qiu Yunru.
Though it was almost impossible and highly dangerous, someone with great talent might be able to cultivate to the lower levels of cultivation status on their own. However, at a certain point, the risk of qi deviation skyrocketed, meaning that it was practically a death sentence to try to form a full golden core without the guidance of a master.
It was also making sense now why Li Chenyuan had been admitted to the sect.
A sectless young nobleman with astounding sword skills and Foundation Establishment achieved had showed up to the recruitment tournament and blown everyone away. How could one not recruit him after that? (Not to mention the added bonus of having a person with a noble title in the sect. Money is money!).
At dinner, Qiu Yunru sat together with Li Chenyuan, Pan Fa, Lei Ruolan, Fu Jia, and Fang Hai. The table had been growing consistently over time, and now it was a little overcrowded--especially with everyone peppering Li Chenyuan with questions.
"Where did Li-shidi learn to cultivate so well?" Pan Fa yelped. "I haven't even reached Foundation Establishment!"
"On my own."
"How can you learn this kind of thing on your own?" Fang Hai muttered. "Isn't it extremely dangerous."
Li Chenyuan shrugged.
"What a mysterious guy," Fu Jia whispered to Lei Ruolan, giggling.
Lei Ruolan shot a glare at Li Chenyuan. "Why did you come here if you're so good at cultivating on your own?"
"Be kind, Lei-shijie," Qiu Yunru interjected. He was truly forever relegated to a mediator! "Qi deviations are much more likely once Foundation Establishment is achieved and one tries to form a golden core. Of course Li-shidi would seek out a sect at this time."
Li Chenyuan seemed unbothered. He ate his food, ignoring most of the conversation around him and only giving answers of up to three words.
"The food isn't as good as I've heard," He said flatly.
"You ungrateful--!" Fang Hai started. He caught himself quickly, face flushing. He'd almost really lost it on this stuck-up rich kid. This was the kind of person he hated most: someone who came from wealth and only knew the best of everything. Even though Qiu Yunru had pulled him aside and told him that this kid had had a difficult past, and to not be too hard on him, his carelessness still made Fang Hai's blood boil! "You...Be grateful for the food provided. Shizun is generous that no one needs to pay anything while here."
Qiu Yunru wept a little more in his heart as he ate the cooked pheasant.
Already, Li Chenyuan didn't get along with Fang Hai or Lei Ruolan! As a person who loved solitude and a quiet atmosphere, the arrival of this kid seemed like it was really going to be a thorn pricking his back!