Naked Sword Art-Chapter 398: Matriarch Yu An

The kitchen was always busiest in the early hours of the morning. Steam rose from iron pots, the smell of roasted herbs and sizzling meat permeated the air, and the soft chatter of servant girls filled the stone-walled chamber. It was here, amidst the clatter of cookware and whispered conversations, that rumors thrived.

"Did you see her last week?" one of the older servant girls whispered, her hands deftly kneading dough. "I was bringing fresh linen up to her chambers, and the door cracked open just a bit. I only caught a glimpse...but gods, even after all these years, she's still as beautiful as they say."

A younger girl, barely sixteen, leaned in with wide eyes. "Who are you talking about?"

"Lady Yu An, of course," the older woman replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

The younger girl's eyes grew even wider. "Is she really as pretty as they say? I heard she was the most beautiful woman in the country."

"Not just beautiful, love," another servant chimed in, balancing a tray of porcelain cups. "She was powerful. One of the most talented Dual Cultivators our clan had ever seen. They say she reached the Divine Realm in Dual Cultivation by the time she was twenty-three, and by twenty-five she was already seducing Patriarchs of every major sect."

The younger girl gasped. "All thirteen?"

The servant girls nodded with near reverence. "Mhm. And she almost took us overseas. We would have had a new beginning if—"

"Shh," the eldest servant suddenly hushed them, her expression growing somber. The others followed suit, faces clouding over with unspoken memories.

The young disciple looked around, confused. "What happened?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, dear," one of them finally said, patting the girl's shoulder. "Now, go on and bring that tea up to Lady Yu An. And don't dawdle."

The younger girl hesitated, sensing the shift in the mood but knowing better than to press. She took the tray of tea and hurried out of the kitchen, her footsteps echoing down the stone hallways.

When she reached Yu An's chambers, she paused before the large, ornately carved doors. Taking a deep breath, she knocked gently. The sound barely echoed before the door cracked open just enough for Chun Hua's familiar face to peek out.

"Ah, the tea. Thank you," Chun Hua said warmly, taking the tray before the young disciple could step forward.

The girl tried to peer past Chun Hua's shoulder, curiosity brimming in her eyes to see the elusive Lady Yu An everyone in the clan was talking about, but Chun Hua's hand shifted slightly, closing the gap just a bit more. All the young disciple could glimpse was the silhouette of Yu An seated by the window, her long hair flowing down her back, bathed in soft light. It was enough to render the girl speechless, her heart pounding in her chest. Ethereal was the only word that came to mind.

"Lady Yu An—" the young girl started to say, but Chun Hua blocked the way with a gentle smile.

"She's busy at the moment. But thank you for the tea." And with that, the door shut quietly, leaving the young disciple standing alone in the hallway, still brimming with questions that no one seemed willing to answer.

She rushed back down to the kitchen, nearly stumbling over her own feet. "I saw her, I saw her!" she exclaimed breathlessly.

"Really!? What did you think? She's pretty, right?" one of the servant girls asked eagerly.

"Ethereal," the young disciple replied, her voice hushed as if speaking any louder would ruin the memory.

"Ohh, seeing her really did a number on you," the eldest woman said with a chuckle.

"What was she doing?" another asked.

"She was just sitting by the window, writing something," the young disciple replied.

"She's at it again," one of the servant girls murmured, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"At what again? What was she writing?" the young disciple asked curiously.

The older woman dusted her hands off on her apron. "They say she cultivated the Dual Cultivation method all the way to the Divine Realm."

A gasp rippled through the small circle. "Divine Realm? That's impossible. The Dual Cultivation method only goes up to the Core Realm. Everyone knows that."

"That's because the method is incomplete," the woman replied, glancing around as if sharing a dangerous secret. "The original Dual Cultivation book was destroyed long ago. Only fragments of it remain, just enough to reach the Profound Realm. Our Elders all used to have a copy of the complete method, but amongst them, Lady Yu An is the only living Dual Cultivator who reached the Divine Realm and had mastered nearly every Dual Cultivation technique one could learn. They say she's been trying to recreate it from memory ever since."

The younger girl's hands stilled, her gaze fixed on the woman. "From memory?"

The older one nodded gravely. "She's been locked away, meditating and writing, trying to piece it back together. Some say she's getting closer, but… well, no one really knows."

"Do you think she can do it?" another asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling as if she could see the Matriarch through the stone and wood. "If anyone can do it, it would be her."

…

Meanwhile, in Yu An's Chambers.

Chun Hua set the tea down gently on the wooden table, the porcelain cups clinking softly against the lacquered surface. She poured two cups and handed one to Yu An, whose gaze lingered on the window as if her thoughts were trapped somewhere far away.

"It's been weeks now," Chun Hua began, her voice soft and tentative. "They only want to see their new Matriarch."

"They named me their Matriarch… but I have nothing to show for it. I have no achievements, only failures. I don't deserve to be their Matriarch," Yu An replied, her tone laced with melancholy.

Chun Hua sipped her tea thoughtfully. "These people are lost, they need someone to lead them. They believe in you. That should be enough. You being here is giving them something to believe in."

Yu An let out a breath, one that seemed to carry the weight of ages. "The last time I led them… I sent them to their deaths. Some of the Elders still look at me with those eyes. I'm not sure I'm ready to face that again."

The room fell silent, only the soft crackling of lantern flames filling the air. Chun Hua reached out, placing a gentle hand on Yu An's. "You were young and inexperienced back then. You're not the same person you used to be. They need to see that. Maybe… you need to start believing it too."

Yu An looked down at their hands, then back up into Chun Hua's eyes. A fragile smile touched her lips. "Perhaps… perhaps you're right."

Chun Hua poured them both another cup of tea, the air between them warming with a sense of unspoken understanding. "One step at a time."

Yu An nodded, taking a sip. "One step at a time."

Looking down at Chun Hua's stomach, Yu An smiled then asked, "Now, about your baby..."

Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed against the door. Chun Hua stood and answered it, revealing an Elder with a stern expression. He bowed low, his voice steady. "Matriarch, Yin Fei has returned with guests from the Soul Devouring Clan. They request an audience."

Yu An's brows furrowed. 'The Soul Devouring Clan? What could they possibly want?'

Chun Hua gave her a reassuring nod, then Yu An steeled her expression before replying, "Gather the Elders. We'll see what they have to say."

The Elder bowed once more and vanished, leaving Chun Hua and Yu An alone in the room.

Chun Hua smiled encouragingly. "It seems your time in hiding is over."

Yu An took a deep breath and straightened her robes. "Then I suppose it's time to meet our guests."

.

.

.

The room Yin Fei had led them to was modest but elegant. Soft violet lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a gentle glow across the polished wooden floors. Silk cushions lined the floor, and the faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air. Despite its simplicity, there was an understated grace to the room—a reflection of the Dual Cultivation Clan's taste.

Luo Yue paced back and forth, her brows furrowed with impatience. "How long are they going to make us wait?" she asked, her voice edged with irritation.

Elder Luo sat cross-legged on one of the silk cushions, his eyes closed as if meditating, though the slight twitch of his brow gave away his restlessness. "Patience," he murmured. "We are guests here. Barging into their affairs with impatience would only reflect poorly on us."

"Besides, we didn't come here for ourselves. We came to fulfill our end of the agreement."

Elder Luo's eyes cracked open, and he glanced sideways at Luo Yue, a sharp glint of expectation in his gaze. "Fang… how should we proceed?"

In response, Xiao Fang emerged from Luo Yue's soul sea, his ethereal form solidifying beside her until he stood there in the flesh, his presence unmistakably real.

"Wait here. I'll be back," Xiao Fang said before stepping out of the room.

Luo Yue glanced over at her grandfather, but he merely closed his eyes and resumed meditating, unbothered and serene, as if Xiao Fang's sudden departure was of no consequence.