The days in the Bamboo Grove passed slowly but unpredictably. Ye Ping's "training" with Elder Tian Mu was anything but ordinary. Every session was a strange blend of accidental breakthroughs and spectacular disasters, leaving the sect disciples torn between awe and disbelief.
One afternoon, as a gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, Tian Mu sat cross-legged beneath a towering stalk. Ye Ping sat opposite him, gripping his half-broken bamboo staff, face serious but utterly clueless.
"Master Tian Mu, how do I know if I'm really cultivating Qi or just… daydreaming?" Ye Ping asked, scratching his head.
Tian Mu stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"The flow of Qi is subtle. You must feel it in your pulse, your breath, and even the slightest warmth in your palms."
Ye Ping looked at his hands and then rubbed them together.
"No warmth. Just a bit of sticky sweat."
Nearby, Ling Xue and a few other disciples watched, whispering.
"Do you think the Elder knows the truth?"
"Of course not. Ye Ping's ability is beyond reason."
Ye Ping overheard this and smiled innocently.
"Uh… what's beyond reason mean?"
**
Determined to prove his "genius," Ye Ping suggested practicing sword techniques in front of the disciples.
Tian Mu raised an eyebrow.
"Very well. Show us your Pathless Sword Dao."
Ye Ping nodded eagerly, standing at the center of the training ground. He raised his wooden sword and took a deep breath.
The first swing was awkward and slow — the sword barely moved. But as he swung again, something unexpected happened.
A faint afterimage trailed his sword, like a shimmering ghost blade, slicing through the air with surprising precision.
The disciples gasped, and whispers filled the crowd.
"Is this a secret technique?"
"His form is strange, but so elegant!"
Ye Ping blinked.
"Uh… I just swung and hoped for the best."
Tian Mu's eyes narrowed with interest.
"This is no accident. Your body instinctively channels the Qi."
Encouraged, Ye Ping swung again, this time more confidently. The afterimages multiplied, creating a dazzling dance of light that captivated everyone watching.
Even the usually stoic Ling Xue smiled with admiration.
"Perhaps he really is a genius."
**
That evening, Ye Ping returned to the Bamboo Grove with Tian Mu. The elder seemed unusually thoughtful.
"Ye Ping, there is one more thing you must understand."
Ye Ping tilted his head.
"What's that?"
"Your path is different from other cultivators. You may never follow the traditional way, but that does not make you weak."
Ye Ping frowned.
"I don't understand."
Tian Mu smiled gently.
"You have the power of pure spirit — unburdened by rules, expectations, or pride. This is a rare gift."
Ye Ping's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"So, I'm special because I don't know what I'm doing?"
Tian Mu laughed.
"In a way, yes."
**
Suddenly, a loud clang echoed from the nearby training hall.
Ye Ping's face froze.
"Uh oh… That sounded like trouble."
They hurried toward the noise to find Ling Xue and several disciples gathered around a strange visitor.
A tall young man with flowing robes and a sword at his hip stood confidently, eyes locked on Ye Ping.
"Ye Ping, I am Mu Chen, disciple of the Azure Sky Sect. I have come to challenge the so-called 'Pathless Genius' to prove his worth."
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
Tian Mu stepped forward calmly.
"Mu Chen, you are welcome. But remember, strength is not measured only by swordsmanship."
Mu Chen sneered.
"Words are cheap. Let the sword decide."
**
Ye Ping blinked, confused.
"Uh… do I have to fight?"
Tian Mu nodded.
"This is your chance to show your true strength."
Ye Ping gulped, then raised his wooden sword with an awkward grip.
The duel began.
Mu Chen attacked swiftly, a blur of steel and skill. Ye Ping dodged clumsily, more by accident than intent. Yet, with every swing, Ye Ping's body responded in strange ways — a sudden burst of energy here, a shield of invisible force there.
Mu Chen's eyes widened.
"What sort of technique is this?"
Ye Ping sneezed mid-dodge, accidentally kicking a nearby rock that ricocheted and tripped Mu Chen.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Mu Chen scowled but regained his footing.
"You're lucky."
Ye Ping smiled sheepishly.
"Uh… I guess so."
**
After the duel, Mu Chen approached Tian Mu quietly.
"This boy is not like others. His power is strange."
Tian Mu nodded.
"Indeed. The 'Pathless Genius' walks a path none understand."
Ye Ping overheard but was too busy trying to find his lost shoe.
"Uh… I think I lost one again."
The sect erupted in laughter.
**
As night fell, Ye Ping lay beneath the stars, wondering about his strange journey.
"Maybe being a genius means not knowing you're one."
And somewhere deep in the sect, the wind whispered a secret.
Ye Ping's story was only just beginning.