Fairy, don't let your golden finger chase after me!

Chapter 8: The Loser's Childhood Sweetheart - Love Practice of the Tranquil Sword Technique!

Since the path to conquering the Purple Nether Sword is becoming increasingly narrow, Dong Mo has no choice but to explore other avenues and see if he can find other targets to conquer.

The problem is that he has also tried using the system on other cultivators around him these past few days.

However, the system did not react to them, their magical artifacts, or their cultivation techniques.

So far, the only victims who have triggered the system's strategy conditions are Xiao Bai and Dong Yueying.

Other cultivators, no matter how high their cultivation level or how powerful their magical artifacts, are not even bothered by the system pop-up window.

Dong Mo speculated that those chosen as victims were mostly key characters with significant roles in the game.

Sigh... Since no new victim can be found, I guess I'll just have to make Xiao Bai suffer a little longer.

Thinking of this, Dong Mo quickly determined his next target: the Xiao family's ancestral sword technique—the Tranquil Mind Sword Art.

Based on the experience Dong Mo has gained these past few days, his strategic actions will not cause any substantial harm to the victim.

Even the Supreme Bone, who caused such a ruckus back then, was eventually appeased by him and obediently returned with Dong Yueying.

After making up his mind, Dong Mo called Xiao Bai, who was waiting outside the door, in.

Xiao Bai was about to bow when he entered the room, but suddenly froze.

Looking at Dong Mo inside the room, Xiao Bai vaguely felt that the young master Dong Mo seemed somewhat different from before...

His features seemed even more refined, and his demeanor had become increasingly gentle and scholarly...

Is it just my imagination? I have this feeling that the young master looks even better than before...

"Young master, what can I do for you?"

Xiao Bai snapped out of her daze and quickly lowered her head, a blush creeping onto her fair ears.

Dong Mo handed the Purple Nether Sword to her.

"I've finished using the sword, here you go."

Xiao Bai did not immediately accept it, but shook his head and then said seriously.

"Young master, there's no need to rush to return it to me. I will always remember your kindness in nurturing the Purple Nether Sword for me... You can use it for as long as you like."

Xiao Bai's eyes were clear and open, filled with trust and gratitude for Dong Mo.

Looking at her like this, Dong Mo suddenly felt a strange sense of guilt.

He was clearly trying to undermine her, but Xiao Bai treated him like a benefactor. Even with his thick skin, Dong Mo couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.

But he quickly suppressed his guilt. In order to avoid his fate of destruction and to successfully form his core and live on, he...

She could only suffer for Xiao Bai a little longer. At worst, she could treat her better in the future, as compensation.

"Xiao Bai, I have something I'd like to ask you."

Faced with Dong Mo's request, Xiao Bai answered without hesitation.

"Please speak, young master. You saved my life. I will do anything for you, no matter what."

"Um...it's not that serious~"

Dong Mo coughed lightly, "Ahem... I'm quite interested in that Tranquil Mind Sword Technique you practice. Could you teach it to me?"

Upon hearing Dong Mo's words, Xiao Bai's already flushed face turned bright red, reaching her ears.

The Tranquil Mind Sword Technique is an ancestral skill of the Xiao family. The family rules clearly stipulate that it can only be passed down to the bloodline of the Xiao family. If outsiders wish to learn it, they must become Daoist partners with a descendant of the Xiao family.

Young Master Dong Mo said he wanted to learn the Tranquil Mind Sword Technique.

Wouldn't that mean...?

Xiao Bai felt his cheeks burning hot, and even his breathing became a little rapid.

Has Young Master Dong Mo taken a liking to me? But how could someone as noble as him be interested in a powerless and destitute maid like me?

As Xiao Bai thought about this, the memories of her time with Dong Mo over the past few days flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.

That day, in front of Miss Yueying, Young Master Dong Mo said, "My Xiao Bai is not for sale"...

After I became a maid, the young master gave me a pill to help me achieve the Golden Core stage...

And these past few days, the young master's focused expression as he tirelessly nurtured the Purple Nether Sword...

.........

Recalling these past experiences, Xiao Bai's heart was filled with emotion, rippling with waves of emotion.

Going back further, on the day the young master rescued her and her father from their enemies, he could have stood by and watched, but in the end, he chose to lend a helping hand.

Xiao Bai suddenly felt that he was being very foolish.

Since Young Master Dong Mo saved me, he must have taken a liking to me long ago. Otherwise, why would he be willing to do all this for me when we're not even related?

I'm so slow. How come it only just dawned on me...?

Xiao Bai took a deep breath, his eyes glistening with tears, and after moving his lips for a long time, he finally spoke, his face flushed.

"If you wish to learn, young master... this servant is willing to teach you."

.........

Two incense sticks later, inside the guest room of the spirit boat.

"Our Xiao family's ancestral Tranquil Mind Sword Technique emphasizes calming the mind and focusing the spirit, achieving oneness with the sword. It then uses stillness to control movement, thereby achieving the effect of striking first after the opponent has moved..."

Inside the airship cabin, Xiao Bai, his shyness having subsided, was patiently explaining the Tranquil Mind Sword Technique to Dong Mo.

"I understand, Master."

Dong Mo sat on the couch, deliberately drawing out his words with a mischievous smile on his lips.

Upon seeing Dong Mo's teasing smile, the blush that had just faded from Xiao Bai's face instantly returned, and her voice even stammered, "Young...Young Master...this is against the rules! I am merely your maid, how can I be your master..."

Looking at Xiao Bai's embarrassed appearance, Dong Mo suddenly felt a mischievous urge to tease him.

"Hey~ You can't say that. The one who is skilled is my teacher, right? Since you've come to teach me sword techniques, then naturally you are my master."

Xiao Bai's face turned even redder, like a boiled shrimp, and even his neck was tinged with pink.

Hmm... Young Master wants to learn the Tranquil Mind Sword Technique from me, isn't it because you want to become my Daoist partner?

But why... does he want to become my disciple again?

Xiao Bai's mind was buzzing when suddenly a brilliant idea struck him.

That's right! I heard it mentioned in those storybooks. Recently, this has become popular in the cultivation world, it's called... Master-disciple romance!

Oh right! The young master definitely wants something exciting, so he wants to try this too!

Thinking of this, Xiao Bai felt his mouth go dry and his head was burning hot.

"Then... then young master, please continue your cultivation on your own. If you encounter anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me..."

"Okay, sure."

Dong Mo nodded, watching Xiao Bai flee the cabin like a startled deer with the Purple Nether Sword in his arms.

He then lowered his head and carefully examined the system pop-up window that appeared in front of him.

[Strategy Objective: Tranquil Mind Sword Technique]

[The victim: Xiao Bai]

[Personality: Tsundere, competitive, tough on the outside but soft on the inside]

[Status: Childhood sweethearts, potential loser]

[Assessment of the aggrieved party, Xiao Bai: Slow-witted and cowardly. However, she is also somewhat afraid that as Xiao Bai's strength increases, she will fall behind her childhood sweetheart and be abandoned by him.]

[Suggested strategy: Cultivate sword techniques to get closer to Xiao Bai under the guise of helping him improve his swordsmanship.]

Current favorability rating: Indifferent

[Strategy Progress: 0%]

[Attitude towards the host: Disdain]

Don't misunderstand! If it weren't for Xiao Bai's sake, I wouldn't have let you cultivate!

Dong Mo stared at the panel, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.

"I see... so that's how it unfolds."

He then closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and tried to communicate with the Tranquil Mind Sword Technique.

[Tranquil Sword Technique: Give up! I will not submit like that shameless bastard, Purple Nether Sword!]

Dong Mo laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in you."

"Actually, I think the same way you do; I also want Xiao Bai to become stronger."

"After all, Xiao Bai is my bodyguard now. The stronger she becomes, the safer I am!"

So... what do you want to do?

Dong Mo patiently persuaded, "As you know, my double pupils can see through all the loopholes and flaws in the world. Since my eyes can help the Purple Nether Sword, they can naturally help you too!"

"You only need to let me learn your sword techniques, and I will use my double pupils to improve them. Xiao Bai's strength will naturally improve as well."

[Ding? Considering Xiao Bai's future, the Tranquil Sword Technique agrees to your unreasonable request. However, she wants to establish two rules with you.]

First, you can't treat her like you would the Purple Nether Sword, casually touching her. Second, Xiao Bai must be present every time you practice swordsmanship.

Dong Mo chuckled inwardly; this sword technique was so easy to fool.

Hehehe... Once the practice really starts, you won't have a choice anymore...

Um... but come to think of it, this kind of strategy guide seems a bit familiar...

Holy crap... Isn't this exactly the kind of romantic practice scenario you see in hentai manga?

Pretending to be a dating practice, and then gradually falling completely in love...

Tsk... Not bad! Haji Tun, you've got some serious tricks up your sleeve! Your sense of humor is getting increasingly perverse...

Having determined the direction of the subsequent strategy, Dong Mo immediately pushed open the cabin door and found Xiao Bai.

Upon seeing her young master emerge from the door, Xiao Bai, who had just regained her composure while waiting at the door, blushed slightly.

"Ah! Young Master... why are you out here?"

Dong Mo said gently, "It's nothing, I've just figured out the basic routines and wanted you to give me some pointers."

Xiao Bai looked around and frowned slightly: "This place is too small to practice. If you want to practice your sword, young master, you should go to the deck."

"Okay, sure."

Dong Mo nodded and followed Xiao Bai onto the deck. To avoid being seen by the Dong family's spies, Dong Mo deliberately did not travel on the spirit boat he had stolen from the Dong family, but instead took a passenger spirit boat and mingled among the other independent cultivators sharing the boat.

Even so, the Dong family's spies still followed him and Xiao Bai onto the spirit boat.

Dong Mo didn't bother with it. After all, the one-month agreement he made with his father hadn't been fulfilled yet, and the Dong family's retainers wouldn't dare to do anything to him.