【Qingran, the essence of the Qinglian Sword Canon is reciting poetry, merging the poetic spirit into the sword moves. Each word represents a sword strike, and the words can empower the sword techniques with greater strength.】
“I understand, Master.”
Li Qingran stared intently at the figure in white carrying a sword, her heart growing more certain about one thing—her master must be an unparalleled swordmaster.
In this way, her master’s identity was further confirmed, surely being the Sword Pavilion’s Grand Elder. The cultivators of the Sword Pavilion carried a sharp aura, some like newly sharpened swords, brimming with vigor; others like unsheathed swords, their sharpness fully exposed; some like swords hidden within, not yet revealed; and there were also those like the Pavilion Leader, as steady as a mountain.
But no cultivator’s aura could compare to that of her master.
That was a heaven-opening sword, possessing unparalleled sharpness!
Such a sharp heaven-opening sword would undoubtedly require a sheath that matches its quality.
She wanted to become such a sheath.
However, she still lacked so much now.
…
It took Li Qingran a full six hours to barely master the first twelve chapters of the Qinglian Sword Canon.
She had never seen such exquisite sword techniques.
These seemingly simple basic movements only became apparent how difficult they were when performed in sequence. Just trying to execute each movement correctly drained most of her spiritual energy.
The lack of spiritual energy and physical fatigue made her sway, her mind foggy, wishing she could just lie down on the bed, sleeping under her master’s warm and authoritative gaze…
Wait, Master?!
Li Qingran bit her tongue hard.
‘No sleeping, hold on!’
Her master was currently teaching her sword techniques!
How could she be foolish?
【Qingran, demonstrate the entire sequence for me again, then we’ll stop for today. Tomorrow I will teach you the first sword stance, “Long Wind Breaking Waves.”】
“Yes, Master.”
Li Qingran steadied herself, silently encouraging herself, stood up, and began practicing the sword dance.
Chen Huaian put a handful of peanuts in his mouth, watching the screen with rapture.
Actually, Li Qingran’s first twelve chapters of the Sword Canon were already a preliminary understanding.
He just wanted to watch the sword dance again.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh! The young girl on the screen held a plain string, stood up with a crane-like posture, her steps light and graceful. Her hands gracefully formed several sword flowers, and the flickering sword light resembled the first snowfall, drifting and uncertain.
Chen Huaian was entranced, losing track of time.
He didn’t notice the fatigue on the girl’s face.
After completing the twelve chapters, Li Qingran was drenched in sweat. Her thin, transparent nightgown made Chen Huaian’s eyes widen.
“Master, Qingran, how was my sword move?”
Li Qingran sheathed her sword, supporting the hilt with her right hand and holding her skirt with her left to hide the sword from view. She tried to maintain composure, but her rapid breathing and flushed face betrayed her.
A drop of sweat slid from her brow to her delicate nose and then to her lips, tickling her. She quickly licked it away.
She knew she looked disheveled.
All her spiritual energy was completely depleted, and the last two movements were deformed. She had endured her body’s discomfort and completed them by sheer willpower.
Li Qingran gazed longingly at the ceiling.
She knew her master was looking at her, she could feel it.
Why wasn’t her master saying anything?
Was it because she did a poor job?
Outside, Chen Huaian calmed his inner agitation.
【Not bad, keep it up!】
Hearing her master’s praise, Li Qingran’s eyes curved into a smile, feeling sweeter than honey.
Most of her fatigue seemed to dissipate.
Wasn’t this what she had been waiting for?
Nothing compared to her master’s approval.
“Master, your disciple is slow-witted, it took six hours to get a basic understanding. If it were you, it would probably take just half an hour,” Li Qingran leaned lightly against the plain string, her fingers crossed in front of her chest, her lowered eyes hiding a hint of pride.
She didn’t want to let go of Chen Huaian, so she found something to talk about.
Ha, look at the words she said.
Chen Huaian felt embarrassed.
He had practiced the Qinglian Sword Canon for a long time.
If not for the helmet that helped him remember the basic moves, he estimated it would have taken him at least a week to reach the teaching level.
【Cough, cough, disciple need not be modest. Being able to grasp the basics in six hours pleases me.]
“So, how long did Master take?”
【Well… Cough, cough… Half a moment.]
“Wow, Master is truly a Master. Your disciple needs to strive to match your standards!”
Seeing Li Qingran’s adoring gaze, Chen Huaian felt his face burn.
He chatted with Li Qingran for a while before hastily leaving, having practiced several sets of movements and feeling famished.
Li Qingran didn’t persist with Chen Huaian.
Instead, she went to wash and change clothes nearby. Not choosing to rest, she immediately sat cross-legged to recover her depleted spiritual energy.
…
Meanwhile, throughout Sunset Peak—
“Hey! Did you hear? The new junior sister built a beautiful house and ten pieces of spiritual farmland in half a day!”
“What?!”
“Did you hear? The new junior sister came with a beautiful house and fifty pieces of spiritual farmland!”
“Big news! The new junior sister opened a hundred pieces of spiritual farmland and built a fairy palace in half a stick of incense!”
“Woah, did you know? The new junior sister has a cloud palace, a hundred acres of spiritual farmland, and even caught two blue dragons as pets!”
“What? That can’t be true!”
“Come on, let’s go check it out!”
…
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of flying swords echoed outside the window.
Li Qingran jumped in fright.
She hurriedly got up to open the window and check.
Outside, countless sword cultivators flew in the sky, their robes fluttering as they rode colorful flying swords, surrounding the top of Sunset Peak. They were all disciples of the Sword Pavilion, including the Pavilion Leader and elders.
“What, what, what… What are they doing?” Li Qingran’s face turned pale, her mind blank, instinctively closing the window and crouching against the wall, covering her head.
“Qingran Junior Sister, don’t hide, we’ve seen everything!” Outside, Senior Sister Yue Qianchi’s voice rang out.
What did they see?
Li Qingran’s mind was even more confused, blank.
Did they see her master giving her private lessons?
She was still wearing her nightgown in front of her master?
Her nightgown had little frogs and lotuses on it?
She hadn’t even put on stockings, just walking around barefoot?
Ah… Master, how embarrassing!
“You can’t hide anymore, your house and spiritual farmland won’t go away. Come out!”
“Oh…” Li Qingran breathed a slight sigh of relief.
But her heart immediately rose again.
What were these people doing outside?!
Considering the domineering style of the Sword Pavilion disciples…
She nervously opened the door, her hands pressed against it like a small crab protecting its shell, looking at the sword pavilion disciples floating above her head, already anticipating what might happen next.
Shouldn’t all the disciples of Sunset Peak be here?
No, they wouldn’t really try to take her house, would they?!
…
