Naked Sword Art

Chapter 385 385: Innate Comprehension

A few hours later...

The sky outside had begun to dim, casting long shadows across the stone courtyard of Xiao Fang's residence. Within, the chamber remained bathed in a tranquil soul light, Xiao Fang now seated in silent meditation, having long since mastered the [ Soul Heal ] technique. His breathing was steady, his aura calm—but alive with newfound vitality.

Luo Biya sat nearby, quietly sipping a warm cup of tea, her gaze fixed on Xiao Fang with an unreadable expression. She could see it clearly now—he was no longer merely healing his soul, he was strengthening it. Fortifying it. Pushing it beyond its previous limits.

"It seems he's already taking the first steps toward the [ Soul Suppression ] technique… This boy is incredible."

The [ Soul Heal ] technique might've only been a foundation realm technique, but it wasn't something anyone could easily master in a few days, much less a few hours. Sure, having learned even more difficult Soul techniques might've made it much easier for him to learn it, even so, his innate comprehension ability was undeniable.

A soft knock at the door broke the stillness.

Luo Biya didn't need to ask who it was. She set her cup down and stood with a composed grace.

"I'm coming," she said.

As she opened the door, her eyes fell upon a young woman standing just outside—tall, poised, and strikingly beautiful. Luo Biya's expression softened with warmth.

"Yue'r… so you've finally returned."

The young woman wore a long white and crimson robe, its silk threads glimmering faintly in the evening light. The crest of the Luo Clan sat proudly over her heart. When she saw her grandmother, her poised demeanor cracked just enough for a wide, genuine smile to bloom across her face.

"Grandmother," she greeted with a graceful bow, her voice tinged with relief and affection.

Luo Biya stepped forward, reaching out to gently clasp her granddaughter's hand.

"You've grown stronger," she said, eyes narrowing with pride. "Your soul burns with clarity. I can feel it."

Luo Yue straightened, her smile becoming sheepish. "No, I think I'm just happy to be home. I still have a long way to go. But…" Her gaze steadied, growing firm. "I'm ready. This time, I want to master the [ Soul Devouring ] method, no matter what it takes."

Luo Biya studied her for a long, quiet moment, then gave a single approving nod.

"Good. Then there's someone I want you to meet."

Luo Yue gave her grandmother a curious glance, then followed her gaze toward the center of the room. That's when her eyes landed on him—seated in quiet meditation, still and composed, his figure wreathed in a soft, shimmering mist of soul energy. His back was to her, long black hair tied loosely at the nape, the strands gently swaying with each subtle breath. Though he remained motionless, there was something about his presence—calm, but carrying an unfathomable depth—that made her breath catch ever so slightly.

"Grandmother… who—"

"You know him," Luo Biya said.

Xiao Fang's eyes opened.

He didn't look back right away. He simply remained where he sat, as if aware of her presence the moment she stepped through the door.

Then, with practiced calm, he turned his head, and their eyes met.

The world seemed to still, and even the ambient hum of soul energy faded into silence. Luo Yue's breath caught slightly as she stared into his eyes—deep, violet, calm like a still lake, yet unfathomably vast beneath the surface.

"It's nice to see you again, Luo Yue," Xiao Fang said, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Your grandmother speaks highly of you."

Luo Yue blinked, uncertainty flickering in her expression.

"I… I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've met," she replied politely. "Are you sure you're not mistaking me for someone else?"

She tried to keep her voice respectful, not wanting to offend her grandmother's guest. But the more she looked at him—his face, his voice, his presence—the more she was certain. If they had met before, she would've remembered.

"We encountered each other once," Xiao Fang said. "Though you didn't really have the chance to see me."

Before she could respond, something strange began to happen—an ethereal ripple of energy spread from Xiao Fang's body, and a second presence began to form behind him.

A soul emerged.

It stretched and shifted, twisting into a vaguely humanoid shape, then expanding further. Horns curved upward from its head, muscles bulging, and a familiar, monstrous aura filled the room.

Luo Yue staggered back a step, eyes widened as she began to recognize it.

The nearly 3 meter tall figure fully formed—and there was no mistaking it.

Cannibal Abnormal Beast.

"You…!" she breathed, voice trembling with memory and realization. "You're the one that attacked us."

The beast tilted its head slightly to look down at her, its expression unreadable but subdued.

"You… tamed it?"

Luo Yue's heart was still thudding in her chest, her gaze locked on the towering soul beast that now loomed behind Xiao Fang.

"You… tamed it," she whispered again, this time more to herself than anyone else.

"I faced it, conquered it, and gave it purpose," Xiao Fang replied calmly.

The soul beast faded, its towering form melting back into Xiao Fang's body like mist drawn into a vessel. The moment it vanished, the room felt noticeably calmer—though a lingering tension still coiled in Luo Yue's chest.

Luo Biya stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her granddaughter's shoulder.

"He's not the threat you think he is," she said softly. "The reason I brought you here… is because I want the two of you to train together."

Luo Yue blinked, her gaze shifting sharply between her grandmother and Xiao Fang. "You want me to train with him?"

"I do," Luo Biya said without hesitation. "You're both exceptional cultivators, with incredible talents in comprehension. There's no one more suited to match your growth—or challenge it. As fate would have it, he's also chosen to pursue the [ Soul Merge ] technique. And, as you know, that is not something one can master alone."

Luo Yue's expression tightened. "Grandmother…" Her voice wavered, the conflict rising in her chest. She was still struggling with what she'd just witnessed.

Xiao Fang had tamed the Cannibal Abnormal Beast—the very creature that had escaped her grasp, and the scar Xiao Fang left on her back still hadn't faded. Part of her resented him for it. Another part feared him. And yet, she couldn't deny the strength he now possessed.

"How do I know he won't attack me again?" she asked quietly.

"He won't," Luo Biya said, her voice cutting through the doubt like a blade. "Not as he is now."

Luo Yue hesitated. Her instincts screamed caution, but her grandmother's certainty was absolute. There was no hesitation in her gaze, no fear. Just trust.

She looked once more at Xiao Fang, seated calmly in meditation, completely unfazed by their conversation—as if this moment didn't surprise him at all.

"Alright," Luo Yue said at last, her voice low but resolute. "I'll do it. I'll train with him."

The words brought a faint, approving smile to Luo Biya's lips.

Luo Yue crossed her arms, shifting her gaze toward Xiao Fang. "Hey, you—looks like we'll be working together from now on. Try not to slow me down, got it?"

Xiao Fang didn't respond. He remained in quiet meditation, seemingly indifferent to her challenge. He wasn't here to make friends, he was simply using this clan to help him navigate through the Chaos sect. This [ Soul Merge ] technique only interested him because he knew it would be a useful skill for infiltration or extraction if he ever needed it.

Luo Yue blinked, a bit thrown by the silence. She wasn't sure if she was being ignored or if he was just that focused on his training—but either way, it unsettled her.

Then a thought struck her. She turned to her grandmother with a puzzled look.

"Wait… how are we supposed to train together?" she asked. "He only just started practicing our method, right? To even begin practicing the [ Soul Merge ] technique, he'd need to cultivate our method to the Core Realm. That will take years."

Luo Biya gave her a knowing smile. "That boy has already reached the Core Realm with our method."

"…He did?"

Luo Yue looked at Xiao Fang again—really looked this time. At the very most, he couldn't have been much older than twenty. Even if he started cultivating the [ Soul Devouring ] method the moment he turned 18, reaching the Core Realm in just a couple of years was… insane.

'It took me seven years,' she thought. 'And they called me a genius for it.'

No one in the history of their sect had ever cultivated the method faster than her. And yet, here he was.

Her expression shifted into something unreadable. Curiosity. Doubt. Maybe even a hint of prideful resentment.

'Who is this guy?'

Luo Biya's voice cut through her thoughts. "Yue'r, go get some rest. The two of you can begin your training in the courtyard tomorrow."

Luo Yue gave a respectful bow, turning without argument. But instead of heading home, she veered toward the Clan's Main Hall. Her mind was far from settled. There were too many questions swirling in her head.