Emei, one of the six major immortal sects in China, has long been famous among the many dynasties and sects across the country. With thousands of inner disciples and countless outer disciples, it has stood in China for thousands of years as a supreme paradise for cultivators.
In the vast expanse of land, ten towering mountain peaks form a ring that pierces the heavens and penetrates the earth. The peaks are wrapped in clouds, shooting straight up into the sky. Peculiarly, from midway up each peak to the summit is covered completely in snow, looking like ten snow-capped mountains. Yet from midway down to the base, verdant forests thrive without any influence from the snow above, brimming with vitality. Looking from afar, the upper white and lower green resemble an ethereal mirage.
This is the domain of the immortal Emei Sect.
At this moment, amidst the northernmost majestic peak, a blazing rainbow arcs across the sky before diving into the mid-level of a mountain. Within the rainbow, Li Mingru brings Lin Xiaolu and the Xiao Yuer siblings down from the heavens, landing swiftly in an antique courtyard. As soon as they touch down, the clear cries of Lin Xiaolu can be heard.
He is scared witless, having never been so frightened in his young life. Flying all this way, the seven-year-old saw endless rivers and seas, mountains and exotic lands passing beneath his feet. He was so terrified he nearly wet himself, only able to cover his sister's eyes while screaming the entire journey here.
Xiao Yuer looks curiously at her bawling brother, somewhat puzzled why he is crying so tragically when she saw nothing scary after having her eyes covered the whole trip. She did not feel too afraid.
Not long after the three landed, a girl with chubby cheeks dressed in a yellow skirt hurriedly runs up to Li Mingru and pays her respects.
After greeting Li Mingru, the girl curiously looks at Lin Xiaolu and Xiao Yuer. Her rosy cheeks reveal surprise as she says, "Master, you are truly amazing to have already accepted disciples after just half an hour!"
Li Mingru nods indifferently with his hands behind his back, "Miaoxin, from now on these two children are your junior brothers and sister. I'll leave them in your care to guide them properly."
Hearing this, the girl called Miaoxin's face lights up with joy. She quickly affirms, "Master, don't worry. I know junior brothers and sister must be outstanding saplings handpicked by you. I will earnestly teach them and never disgrace our Pluck Star lineage's reputation."
Hearing the girl's words, Li Mingru's old face turns red as he awkwardly coughs, then glares at the still bawling Lin Xiaolu.
"That's enough, haven't you cried enough yet? The bully of Winter Melon Village?"
The boy trembles, sobbing disjointedly for a while longer before stopping. With tears in his eyes he defiantly asks, "Where is this place?"
Li Mingru ignores him and directly instructs, "From now on you two will live here, following your senior sister to cultivate diligently. Don't cause trouble, or I won't let you off easy."
Having said that, he turns to leave and report to the sect master, eager to get back to watching erotic books in his cave abode.
Left in the quaint courtyard are only the chubby girl and the two siblings. By now, Lin Xiaolu has calmed down somewhat, holding his sister's hand while looking at the girl before them.
The girl is also curiously sizing them up, brightness in her charming face and delight in her voice as she coaxes like speaking to little kids, "Junior brothers, junior sister, I'm Li Miaoxin of the Pluck Star lineage. From now on I'm your senior sister. What are your names?"
"Hello sister, I'm called Lin Xiaoyu," Xiao Yuer crisply responds, blinking her big eyes curiously at the girl. She feels this sister is so pretty, more beautiful than all the village sisters combined.
Li Miaoxin is utterly charmed by Xiao Yuer's cuteness, extremely happy in her heart. After rubbing the girl's round little head, she turns her bright eyes to Lin Xiaolu.
"Junior brother, what's your name?"
Lin Xiaolu now feels not too scared. Looking at the girl who seems fifteen or sixteen, he tilts his head arrogantly and snorts, "Woman, you have no right to ask me questions!"
Li Miaoxin is startled, showing a brief silly cute expression on her face. Then she exclaims, "Ah~ So cute!" She immediately hugs Lin Xiaolu and rubs him fiercely, rubbing until the boy wails loudly.
"Haha." The girl happily takes a child in each hand and leads them out of the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, corridors and pavilions line the way with green flagstones underfoot and fragrant flowers all around, like a fairyland. This wondrous scene somewhat captivates the siblings, alleviating some of their tension and unease.
"Junior brothers and sister, you must be very tired after traveling all this way. Senior sister will first take you to the refectory to eat, then to collect some living necessities."
Upon hearing the word "eat", the siblings' eyes immediately brighten.
Being led by Li Miaoxin, Lin Xiaolu takes in the beautiful scenery all around. He feels this place doesn't seem too bad. Much better than the village. At least they can eat here.
But strangely, the place appears empty everywhere they go, despite the pleasing environment. Not a single person can be seen all along the way.
"Woman, why isn't there anyone here?" He tugs Li Miaoxin's hand and voices his puzzlement.
Li Miaoxin purses her red lips and smiles, "Junior brother, you should call me senior sister."
Lin Xiaolu turns his face away, unwilling. But Li Miaoxin amiably says, "If you don't call me senior sister, I'll ignore you." Having said so, she also turns her head away coquettishly, imitating the boy.
This angers Lin Xiaolu greatly. He tries with all his might to break free of Li Miaoxin's grip, but can't loosen it one bit.
Left without recourse, and unwilling to suffer losses right before his eyes, he reluctantly grunts, "Senior sister."
"Mm-hmm~" Only then does Li Miaoxin holding his hand agree. Happily she explains, "We're the Pluck Star lineage of Emei. This entire Pluck Star Peak belongs to us. But because our Master is too lazy, always hiding in his abode and not coming out, plus not liking to accept disciples, coupled with how our lineage is special to begin with, that's why there are only two disciples in all of Pluck Star - senior brother who's in secluded cultivation, and me your senior sister. Of course now there's you two as well."
Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu sneers. It seems the master he and his sister have accepted is rather unreliable.
The village storyteller said the most important thing when going out into the world is to follow the right person. It looks like in the future he'll have to take his sister to find a better master.
He continues asking, "Now that my sister and I have come here, what will we need to do every day?"
"For now you don't need to do anything," Li Miaoxin explains. "You two are still young. First go to the sect's literacy hall to learn reading and writing, then you'll learn some basic cultivation theories. Occasionally you'll need to do some odd jobs within your capability.
"Big sister, will we be learning from you?" little Xiao Yuer in her bellyband asks curiously.
The girl tenderly pinches Xiao Yuer's cheeks and says with a smile, "No."
"Literacy and cultivation theories are learned together with other inner sect disciples from the various lineages. Only after you reach the Qi Condensation Realm will Senior Sister pass down our Pluck Star lineage's martial arts to you."
"I see. It's just like going to the village schoolhouse," Lin Xiaolu strokes his beard sagely with a nod.
"Mm..." Li Miaoxin thinks for a bit then slowly nods. "What junior brother said is also right. The early period is quite similar to attending school."