“Come.”
Hua Yan didn’t dare to expose the martial arts of the Zhengyi Sect, so she had to secretly learn from the sword techniques she had observed in the past few days.
Although she had a good memory, she hadn’t systematically learned the techniques, nor did she know the internal energy methods. The power was greatly reduced. After just a few moves, Lu Chengsha’s tree branch was already pointed at Hua Yan’s vital points.
Then Lu Chengsha withdrew the branch and said, “Again.”
After that, nothing unexpected happened.
“Again.”
“Again.”
“Again.”
In no time, Hua Yan was covered in sweat. Although Lu Chengsha was going easy on her as if he were flooding a dam, she still couldn’t beat him!
Or rather, how could she possibly beat him!
She had practiced martial arts. Even if she hadn’t, she had at least read martial arts legends and novels. Who teaches martial arts like this!
Hua Yan never wronged herself. After thinking it over, she spoke up immediately.
Lu Chengsha, holding the branch, paused, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes. “Isn’t it supposed to be like this?”
Seeing this, Hua Yan asked, “… Is this how you learned martial arts?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “Yes.”
Hua Yan was puzzled. “??? Who do you usually spar with?”
Lu Chengsha answered, “My grandfather.” He seemed afraid she wouldn’t recognize the name, so he added, “Lu Zhenxing.”
Alright then.
The seventy-year-old old master of Tingjian Manor, Lu Zhenxing.
A man universally acknowledged as the strongest in the martial world twenty years ago, one of the protagonists of the battle at the summit of Qingcheng Mountain, the old madman who had caused chaos in their Tiancan Sect back then—this last comment came from Elder Qu of their sect.
Hua Yan rubbed her head, not knowing what to say. “But there must have been someone teaching you the martial arts techniques and internal energy methods.”
Lu Chengsha’s eyes showed a trace of confusion again. He thought for a while and then asked, “What do you want to learn?”
Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “What can you teach?”
Lu Chengsha said, “Anything.”
“Anything, as in…?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “All sects.”
Hua Yan: “???” Didn’t he only practice the three sets of sword techniques from the Lu family? How could he suddenly know all sects’ techniques? She was a bit confused and casually said, “How about Qingcheng Sect’s Chasing Cloud Sword Technique?”
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Lu Chengsha had already started wielding his sword—or rather, the tree branch.
Not treating Hua Yan as his opponent, he chose a rockery as his target. Using the branch as a sword, his body moved swiftly, striking the rockery rapidly. It was evident he didn’t use internal energy, yet the power was undiminished.
Hua Yan had seen Mu Xuelang use this sword technique, but it felt completely different. Mu Xuelang was using a sword, while Lu Chengsha was killing people.
In no time, Lu Chengsha stopped.
The rockery shattered instantly into small pieces.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but clap enthusiastically.
Lu Chengsha turned to look at her, not even slightly out of breath. “Did you learn it?”
Hua Yan was stunned. “…You’re done teaching?”
Lu Chengsha nodded.
… She had been so focused on watching Lu Chengsha that she didn’t pay attention to the techniques he used!
“Can…” Hua Yan felt a bit embarrassed, “you do it again?”
Lu Chengsha blinked, seemingly a bit surprised, but he found another rockery and demonstrated once more.
This time, Hua Yan managed to remember the general idea.
Before she started practicing, she couldn’t help but ask, “Can you remember after watching just once?”
“Yes.”
“You learned all the other sects’ sword techniques this way too?”
“Yes.” Lu Chengsha noticed Hua Yan’s hesitation and seemed to want to comfort her, so he patted her head.
Hua Yan allowed him to pat her head and sighed, “…Thank you.”
Lu Chengsha really seemed unsure of what to do next.
So, he picked up the tree branch and demonstrated once more.
Pity the three rockeries in the background—they were soon all reduced to rubble.
In truth, Hua Yan was already considered quite talented in martial arts. When she was practicing, whether it was her mother or the elders in the sect, they often praised her, saying she was perceptive, gifted, and quick to learn. However, later she encountered their sect leader.
And now, meeting Lu Chengsha, if Xie Yingxian were not locked up in the dungeon of Dangshan, Hua Yan would really want to know who between the two had greater talent.
Xie Yingxian was the kind of prodigy who could casually flip through martial arts manuals, practice inconsistently, and seemingly waste his days, but in crucial moments, he could effortlessly defeat opponents. Hua Yan originally thought he was unique in this regard.
Back then, the previous sect leader left abruptly, leaving Xie Yingxian and the previous leader’s wife as a lone mother and child, plunging the sect into chaos.
Xie Yingxian was only about ten years old, and many didn’t accept him and wanted to take his position. Their Zhengyi Sect was never a place for reasoning. The previous leader’s wife, in her desperation, sought help from Hua Yan’s mother. Her mother, also in a bind, promised to protect the mother and son at all costs. Unexpectedly, Xie Yingxian simply sat lazily on the sect leader’s throne, defeating every challenger, forcibly securing his position as sect leader.
It was also Xie Yingxian’s usual low profile that led no one to know how strong he was.
Their left protector, Qi Xiusi, was the most famous genius youth in the sect back then. With his face as beautiful as a woman’s, his martial arts progress was swift. Everyone believed he would take the sect leader position from Xie Yingxian; perhaps even Qi Xiusi thought so himself.
Then he was defeated by Xie Yingxian.
Afterward, he became Xie Yingxian’s number one supporter, obeying his every word, including dressing in women’s clothing.
Before that, he hated it when people said he looked like a woman.
Hua Yan found it fascinating and specifically asked Qi Xiusi about it.
Qi Xiusi, with his golden hair and blue eyes, wore an oversized dress, his face even more beautiful than Shui Se’s, his green eyes calm as he said, “Because he’s strong.”
“What if one day you become stronger than him?”
Qi Xiusi replied indifferently, “Then I’ll kill him.”
Hua Yan: “…”
Xie Yingxian, lounging nearby with disheveled clothes, laughed heartily, “Is this the first day you’ve known him? He’s always been that stubborn. Miss, come over, I’ll have him change into a couple more dresses for you to see.”
Remembering something she had always wanted to do, Hua Yan immediately grew bold, “Then can I put some makeup on him and add some accessories?”
Xie Yingxian laughed, “Sure.”
Qi Xiusi: “…”
In the end, it was Yu Ye who arrived in time, stopping their antics with a face full of helplessness.
Hua Yan felt a sense of nostalgia, now thinking of Yu Ye as if it were a lifetime ago.
For a long time, she even believed she would marry him.
People are not heartless; it’s impossible to have no feelings at all. However, seeing him deceive Shui Se, and even getting intimate with her, made Hua Yan feel utterly nauseated.
—
“What’s wrong?”
Hua Yan snapped back to reality, seeing Lu Chengsha looking at her. Hesitantly, he asked, “Again?”
“???”
Hua Yan glanced around and saw that the ground was covered with small stones, with no fourth rockery left to destroy.
“No need!” Hua Yan quickly called it off.
This was wasting too many rockeries!
She hurriedly cleared her mind of other thoughts, gripped her sword, and said, “Let me perform it once for you.”
“Alright.”
Whether it was her imagination or not, Lu Chengsha seemed to sigh in relief.
Hua Yan imitated Lu Chengsha’s earlier moves, performing the sword technique in the air. Lu Chengsha’s clear eyes watched her intently.
Wanting to prove she wasn’t a fool, Hua Yan intentionally tried to replicate Lu Chengsha’s actions precisely. While Lu Chengsha’s moves were filled with killing intent, Hua Yan’s interpretation of the Chasing Cloud Sword Technique was light and graceful, embodying its original form.
If there were others present, they would likely be amazed. Such talent in martial arts would be considered exceptional in any sect.
But now, Hua Yan only hoped Lu Chengsha wouldn’t think she was too stupid.
After completing the set, Hua Yan panted lightly, turned proudly to Lu Chengsha, and asked, “How was it?”
If she were in her sect, she would have been praised to the skies by now.
Lu Chengsha nodded, “It’s good.”
Before Hua Yan could relish the praise, Lu Chengsha raised his tree branch and said, “Let’s spar.”
Hua Yan’s face fell, “Do we really have to fight?”
Why! She couldn’t beat him!
Lu Chengsha hadn’t expected her reaction. He blinked his long eyelashes, pondering for a moment, then threw away the branch and stood still, saying, “Hit me.”
Hua Yan: “???”
Sighing, Hua Yan said, “…Forget it, let’s spar.”
—
Sparring with Lu Chengsha indeed helped her improve significantly, but it was also incredibly exhausting.
Hua Yan felt that even practicing martial arts for an entire day in the past had never left her as exhausted as sparring with Lu Chengsha for half an hour. Although Lu Chengsha neither used internal energy nor frequently launched attacks, primarily responding to her moves, she had to concentrate all her mental and physical efforts to counter his techniques.
One set of the Chasing Cloud Sword Technique was soon insufficient. Lu Chengsha demonstrated two more sets of sword techniques from other sects. Hua Yan struggled to memorize them while continuing to spar, until she just wanted to collapse and become a salted fish.
Rushing for quick results was not the way to go!
She should work on regaining her internal energy soon.
Seeing her tired, Lu Chengsha didn’t push further.
Hua Yan sat on a stone platform, leaning on her sword and panting, “…Do you always train like this?”
Lu Chengsha: “Yes.”
Hua Yan understood why he was so powerful now!
“Your grandfather treats you well, practicing with you like this every day,” Hua Yan remarked, pausing as she didn’t quite know how to put it. Although Lu Chengsha was part of the same sect, he always seemed distant from the other disciples of Tingjian Manor.
Lu Chengsha lowered his eyes slightly.
Usually, he exuded a strong killing intent and a cold, hard demeanor, but with his eyes downcast, he suddenly seemed fragile.
A kind of fragility that kept others at a distance.
Hua Yan instinctively reached out her hand.
Then she heard Lu Chengsha say, “We’ll practice more later.”
Hua Yan’s hand froze in mid-air.
“You will become stronger,” he added, as if encouraging her.
Hua Yan: “…”
Oh no! She was already starting to regret this!