Success
After this first meeting, Ai came by often, almost everyday in fact, and her presence was perhaps the greatest thing Xiao had gotten to experience since coming to this world, he, who had sorely lacked any sort of affection from the opposite gender, even from his own mother, this was a most novel experience, and despite his shortcomings in that department once upon a time, he wasn't dense enough not to notice the monumental hints she was just dropping on him every time.
The emerald ghost seemed to agree with this sentiment, and was trying to push his disciple to take some actions already, but Xiao felt that this should not be rushed so much.
Ai was an inner disciple that was training diligently under the supervision of Elder Xun, Gang and Xun just so happened to share a floor, and this was what had led the girl to take notice of Xiao, a young man she might have never actually run into any other way, as he was an outer disciple, the living areas of the two groups were not physically far apart, but everyone mostly stayed in their own spaces.
Truthfully, it was a bit strange for an inner disciple to take an interest into an outer disciple like this, but Xiao was well-informed thanks to having read the story, and also thanks to Chengzhe's explanations of how things worked, it might not be the case over the whole continent, but amongst the inner circle that was cultivation, strength and power were a trait equally, if not more, desirable than looks and personality.
It certainly helped to not be bad-looking and not have the personality of a chihuahua, but strength was incredible enough that if you were very powerful, you could afford to be incredibly ugly.
Xiao was pretty good-looking himself, but his master was fairly certain that Ai had gotten her interest piqued by watching him train diligently and make impressive progress, he wasn't certain how impressive his progress and sword skill were as of current, but they must be very good as Ai was constantly coming over to talk with him and acting all caring by bringing him water and snacks.
Being that she was an inner disciple, and not one that had been promoted recently, she was most certainly stronger than him with much advance in cultivation, so the norms would dictate that she shouldn't bother being so attentionate.
But in any case, all they did was take their breaks together and discuss swordplay, footwork and the likes without stop, Ai dual wielded wodaos, she had demonstrated a few times and Xiao was mesmerised, not quite certain if he was just really into dual wielding, or if his hormones were seizing control of his brain.
"By the way… The girls in my dormitory will be gone all day tomorrow, wanna swing by after we're done with our practises?"
Xiao looked blurry.
"Say yes" the ghost spoke without hesitation.
'Master Chengzhe- Isn't this progressing too fast?! We didn't even hold hands or-'
The old man shook his head.
"What world do you live in? The cute stuff comes after the bed-wrestling, listen, she had her sights on you, so she naturally wants to mark territory, and let other women know that this is her turf"
'I-Is that so?'
"Absolutely! Well, at least my experience is telling me that she is the sort that does not like to share, now hurry and agree!"
"Sure" simply responded Xiao, maintaining a most normal expression despite the inner turmoil raging like a thunderstorm.
"Great, I can't wait!" she chuckled and winked at him before leaving the training room.
'Is that how relationships normally progress?' he asked.
"Mmh… Honestly, this on the slower end"
'This is slow?! It hasn't even been a whole week since I first met her!'
"Yeah, usually it takes less than that- Maybe the average has changed since my time, but let me tell you, back when I was a young man, the girls that were in the same sect as me would latch onto the boy they fancied like without a shred of hesitation, and the same in reverse! You go up to the one you like the most, introduce yourself and if it works out, within the day-"
The ancient spectre tapped his fist against his palm in place of words.
"-Long winded romance is not in our culture, well, it is only in some books, I suppose… Not that I read that sort of things, obviously"
'Well, I better start training again… This is getting me too pumped up' Xiao stood up and stretched a bit before raising his sword, he was barely even thinking about the storyline and how it dictated that the protagonist was supposed to get a harem, and that Ai had never been mentioned in the story, he honestly didn't care that much anymore.
He hadn't even bothered to try and see what the harem member within the sect, Yin, looked like, he might have been curious before, but the part of his brain that focused on paying attention to the opposite sex was only thinking about Ai now…
"I see that my disciple is successful in something other than training"
"Indeed- Master Gang?!" Xiao jumped back, not having noticed the old man sneak up on him at all, even with the mirror standing right there.
"There is nothing wrong about being absorbed by thought because of women, it is a sign of good health in fact- But do remember to pay attention to your surroundings"
"Yes, Master"
Elder Gang, who challenged the mental image of the old master in long flowing robes and with long beards by being bulky and lacking in all manners of facial hair on top of being completely bald, formed a sly grin, the same sort that Chengzhe would often have.
"Ai, huh? She's a promising one, not that far behind Yin amongst the inner disciples… But as a word of advice, Xun treats her like she's his daughter, so be very careful"
Xiao feigned a cough in his fist.
"Aherm… I'll keep that in mind… By the way, I have heard a lot about this Yin, is she a big shot or something?" he desperately attempted to change the subject.
"Big shot? I guess, I am confident she'll manage to qualify as a core disciple, at least, I believe she has the strength and talent necessary to qualify, I am not sure about the others, but they shouldn't be against it" the old man was successfully thrown onto another subject.
"But anyways, raise that sword, Xiao! Let me see how much you progressed on your own!"