Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 237: Born to Be a Sage

A few days later, Hong Nian Niang left silently. Anji did not have a chance to bid her goodbye, but the Vermillion Bird Leader left a gift behind. It was a long red ribbon.

At first, Anji was confused. The ribbon was not long enough to be a hair accessory. However, when Yan Ping pointed out she was already eight years old and adding another ribbon was only right, Anji realised it was a gift to be added to her longevity locket.

Everything else about her special locket was silver and white. Only one ribbon stood out like a lotus in the muddy pond. The single strand of red ribbon swayed in Anji’s hair proudly, reminding her of the cinders that Hong Nian Niang would rise from again.

Without other matters to settle, Anji called home one last time to inform her family that she would now undergo serious successor training and would no longer contact them regularly, if at all, until she was ready. Although the Zhaos were sad, they wished their youngest daughter all the best.

"We will pray for you daily," Zhao Wanting held back sniffles. "Take all the time you need. Don’t rush."

Anji smiled widely. She made a promise that she would be ready in two years. This time, she would keep it.

"I’ll see you again in a few years," she promised. "By that time, I will need new measurements for clothing and two more ribbons for my longevity locket."

Showing off Hong Nian Niang’s ribbon, Anji did not explain further and ended the communication spell abruptly. If she maintained the communication spell any longer, her parents would start becoming dramatic. After all, they were the third in line to give her ribbons. It was not intentional to leave them out, but Anji promised they would be the last people she accepted ribbons from. Apart from those who had already gifted her ribbons, Anji would not accept them from anyone else.

Yan Ping waited patiently. Anji had grown bolder since her time in isolated training. No other children would have the gall to hang up on their parents. Anji was something else.

"Are you sure that’s ok?" she asked.

Anji nodded, looking slightly guilty. Thankfully, Yan Ping could not see it, or she would have teased her successor about being unfilial.

"Father and Mother are people who cling onto even the smallest fragment of hope to get through the darkest times," she explained. "I merely gave them enough fuel to last until I finish what I promised to do."

Well said. Yan Ping swelled with pride at how much Anji had grown. Adversity makes one stronger, and Anji proved herself worthy. If her disciple wanted to complete successor training and attempt the trial in two years, who was she to stop her?

"Get ready then," she told Anji. "We begin training today. Change into your training robes and meet me in the forbidden library after lunch."

Saluting, Anji excused herself to get ready. During the successor training, Anji had to move in with her shifu. Normally, they would move to an isolated cave full of natural qi. However, this was a period of war. Yan Ping had many duties to fulfil. Hence, they were going to occupy the forbidden library and its secret underground chamber for special training.

The afternoon rolled by, and Anji barely made it on time. She did not have much to pack with her. However, cleaning up the small cabin and saying goodbye to the many people in the sect took up much of her time.

Settling her nerves outside the door, Anji took a deep breath and exhaled. Then, she raised her hand to knock on the door.

"Shifu, Anji has arrived."

"Come in."

Pushing open the doors, Anji stepped inside the dimly lit room and closed the doors behind her, noticing the many spells to protect this place. Were there originally this many spells, or did her teacher add a few new ones? Anji could not tell.

"Sit down," Yan Ping pointed to the seat across from her. "We will revise the theory aspect today. It is a critical foundation for your future training."

Anji followed instructions and crossed her legs in front of her teacher. On the table, there were several books. Some of them looked familiar to her. However, others were new. Anji had no idea why she had to study a historical book of sages, but she knew better than to doubt her shifu.

Beginning with the introduction to successor training, Yan Ping once again explained how the Mystical Qilin Sect’s leader was the only person who must master the art of clairvoyance.

"Apart from fine energy control like you have been doing, the successor must also be able to acquire wisdom from several lifetimes to interpret the visions correctly. Of course, having the right type of eyes for clairvoyance was the selection criterion, but without good techniques, no matter how good the blade, it will still chip and break." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The Heart Sutra, which Anji had only partially understood, was now something she had to master. In addition to that, Anji must now study the lives and history of sages to borrow their wisdom to understand how visions were interpreted.

"Many sages were born and not made," Yan Ping explained after giving Anji her homework.

Karma accumulates throughout many lifetimes. Many who were chosen to be sages have worked for it over several lifetimes. Anji was one such soul. Unfortunately, she had chosen a difficult path to walk, being born as the unlucky fourth child to a prestigious clan.

"Against all odds, you were meant to succeed. The powerful golden core you were born with, along with the Heavenly Eyes, is evidence. Your meeting with me is not a coincidence. I read the signs and had a premonition to participate in the last Murim War, not because we needed to become involved in mortal affairs. However, the next successor would be born from that war."

Instead of feeling betrayed that her shifu only helped with the war and her health because she had foreseen Anji’s existence as the Mystical Qilin Sect’s successor, she only had one question.

"Will I also see the next successor for the sect when the time is right?"

Yan Ping smiled.

"Who knows?"