Chu Feng looked at the exquisite face so close to him. Zi Xin’er leaned in slightly, pinching his cheek. Because she was wearing a strapless palace dress, his peripheral vision naturally caught sight of her fair, deep cleavage. It was an alluring sight that could easily sway the heart.
Chu Feng subtly leaned back. This was really testing his limits!
After getting her fill of pinching, Zi Xin’er finally let go of his cheek and asked, “Little one, since you took Xiyue as your master, what kind of sword path are you following?”
“Aunt Zi, I follow the same path as my master.”
“Oh? But that day, little one, you used a different sword intent.”
“Well… I’m not too sure about that either.”
At that time, it had just emerged on its own. As soon as he struck, he unleashed a different sword intent.
He was puzzled too. Wasn’t it said that a person could only master one type of sword intent?
Zi Xin’er pondered for a moment and said, “If that’s the case, perhaps it’s due to your talent, little one.”
Then she asked, “Little one, do you know how to practice soft-style sword techniques?”
At those words, Chu Feng’s expression stiffened. Truthfully, he didn’t.
Whether it was his master or Senior Sister Yuyan, they had only taught him hard/aggressive sword techniques. The moves he used against Lin Ruo were even self-invented.
Seeing the look on Chu Feng’s face, Zi Xin’er immediately knew the answer was “no”. She picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and said, “In that case, how about you train with me for a while, little one? I also know a bit about swordsmanship. Specifically, soft-style sword techniques.”
As soon as she said this, everyone present except Zi Xin’er wore looks of surprise.
“No way!”
Liu Xueyao was the first to react, jumping up emotionally. If her husband stayed with the Holy Master, wouldn’t that mean she wouldn’t see him for quite some time?
“Xueyao, you can stay here too. I also have medicinal herbs that can dispel the cold yin energy in your body.”
Zi Xin’er said with a smile.
Hearing Zi Xin’er’s words, Liu Xueyao slowly sat back down.
“All right.”
As long as she could see her husband, the location didn’t matter.
Zi Xin’er then looked at Liu Shijing, who had remained silent the whole time. Though she said nothing, her eyes said a lot. Zi Xin’er had previously sensed that Liu Shijing had lost her primordial yin, and she’d assumed it was to some powerful figure from a major faction.
But after seeing Chu Feng, she sensed traces of Liu Shijing’s aura on him and suddenly understood.
Still, since Liu Shijing wasn’t saying anything, Zi Xin’er wouldn’t pry further.
“If Elder Liu doesn’t feel at ease leaving Xueyao here, you may stay and accompany her as well.”
Originally, Liu Shijing had been feeling a bit down, but after hearing Zi Xin’er’s words, her mood improved significantly. However, her gaze became slightly evasive as she said, “Since it’s the Holy Master’s invitation, I’ll respectfully accept.”
Zi Yuejun, on the other hand, was visibly displeased. Puffing out her cheeks, she protested, “Mother, you’re supposed to be quietly cultivating right now! How can you let others disturb you? I don’t agree!”
Zi Xin’er gently ruffled Zi Yuejun’s hair and said,
“Yuejun, Mother has already made up her mind on this matter. How’s your cultivation going?”
At the mention of cultivation, Zi Yuejun’s expression immediately changed, and she lowered her head.
Zi Xin’er looked around and grew satisfied, “Since everyone agrees, then come with me. My cultivation cave is quite spacious. Enough to accommodate all of you.”
Just then, a pair of small hands was raised.
“Um, Aunt Zi, shouldn’t you ask me if I agree to this?”
Chu Feng didn’t even know what to say anymore. Everyone had been asked for their opinion except the person directly involved.
Seriously, wasn’t he the one who should’ve been asked first about this whole thing?!
***
Meanwhile, in a dark cave somewhere, Lin Ruo took out a jade pendant. It emitted a faint glow, and along with it, a weak voice could be heard.
“Lin Ruo, in order to help you escape, my soul was severely damaged. I’ll need to go into slumber for a while.”
The voice was feeble and fading.
Lin Ruo’s face was filled with panic. Elder Li was his greatest trump card. If he fell into slumber, what would he do?
“Elder Li, the Profound Sword Pavilion and the Yaochi Holy Land are both hunting me. If you fall asleep, I fear I’ll never see you again.”
“Lin Ruo, don’t panic. Take my jade pendant and seek out Ghost Nether Venerable. He is an old friend of mine and will help you.”
With those final words, the jade pendant completely lost its glow.
Lin Ruo gripped the pendant tightly. This was the second time he had ever been in such a sorry state. The first was when he was expelled from the Lin family.
“Chu Feng! I, Lin Ruo, will definitely kill you to vent the rage in my heart!”
***
Yaochi Holy Land, core region, inside the main hall.
Chu Feng hadn’t expected to enter the grand hall again.
However, this time there wasn’t any large bathing pool like before. Instead, there was a lake.
A few immortal cranes flew across the sky, letting out cries as they passed.
In the center of the lake, on a small island, sat a modest cottage. Chu Feng was now alone in the same room with Zi Xin’er.
He glanced around and saw that the place was filled with bookshelves stacked with books. It looked like a study.
In front of them was a small table with two floor cushions. He and Zi Xin’er each knelt on one.
Zi Xin’er picked up a teapot, poured two cups of tea, and said gently, “Little one, give it a try.”
Chu Feng picked up the teacup and took a small sip, immediately feeling a refreshing sensation wash over him.
“Mm, good tea.”
He didn’t really understand the art of tea and didn’t know how to describe it. All he could say was “good tea”.
In any case, as the dignified Holy Master of the Yaochi Holy Land, there was no way she’d serve bad tea.
“Little one, how do you view the sword?”
Zi Xin’er also took a sip of tea and asked softly.
How do I view it? I look at it with my eyes.
—Of course, that kind of answer definitely couldn’t be said to someone of her stature.
Chu Feng took a moment to think and carefully chose his words.
“The sword is the weapon of a gentleman. I think… wielding a sword means taking the world’s burdens as my own.”
Zi Xin’er put down her teacup and looked at Chu Feng with a smile.
“Little one, there’s no one else around. Just speak your true thoughts.”
Chu Feng’s expression stiffened awkwardly. After a pause, he finally said,
“Swords are cool. Super cool.”
“And what about sword intent? How do you see that, little one?”
Zi Xin’er asked next.
Chu Feng frowned slightly. Now that was a question he truly didn’t know how to answer.
Zi Xin’er gently dipped her fair finger into the tea. A drop of tea landed on the table and transformed into a sword. She spoke slowly:
“Sword intent is generally divided into two types, and swordsmanship itself also falls into two broad categories. But because everyone is different, every sword cultivator’s style is also unique.
If you want to master the sword, you must understand your own heart.
Why do you practice the sword?
And what kind of sword do you wish to practice?
If you don’t figure these out, your path in swordsmanship will be limited, and you’ll eventually find yourself stuck in place.”
After listening to Zi Xin’er’s explanation, Chu Feng felt as though knowledge had flowed through his mind… but left no trace behind.
Did he finish listening? Yes.
Did he understand it? Not at all.
It was like… hearing nothing.
Seeing the confusion all over Chu Feng’s face, Zi Xin’er waved her hand, and a book landed in front of him.
“Little one, if you don’t understand, take a look at this book. It might help resolve your inner doubts.”
Chu Feng: “……”
At that moment, he suddenly felt like a eunuch visiting a brothel. He was holding a manual (the courtesan) all dolled up, calling to him, “Come play, my lord!”
And yet, all he could do was look and touch but never truly… enter the path.
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