Chapter 264: The Canxin is Practicing Repaying a Favor (Part 1)
In the afternoon training ground, the killer sat under the statue, tapping the bamboo sword with his knuckles.
"This is the best point to apply force," he said. "The knife needs to be longer. A short knife won't be enough."
"What should we do if the attack happens within an inch of our distance?" Qing Ye asked.
"To get this close is to die."
"How extreme..."
"This is the most extreme knife technique in the world." The killer stood up with the knife in hand, "Try it again."
“Please advise!”
The training bamboo sword swung and clashed, sweat streaming down Qingye's face. He slashed, thrust, dodged, and then tried Iai. He was hit. He tried again, and this time the first slash was successful. The third time, the fourth time...
On the seventh strike, she used her swift sword to block the blade's hilt, preventing the slashing blow in advance. Chu Hengkong released the hilt and pointed it at his wrist. Qingye threw the knife to block it, then launched a kick towards Chu Hengkong's lower body. Chu Hengkong slid sideways to avoid the sweeping kick, but Qingye slapped the ground with her backhand and kicked forward. As she kicked, she changed her tactics again, wrapping her long thigh around Chu Hengkong's neck and twisting her waist to throw him.
However, the joint attack had no effect. Chu Hengkong maintained his balance with his powerful core strength, standing still. He turned and grabbed Qingye's waist. Qingye quickly loosened her legs and turned to retreat. Chu Hengkong saw the opportunity and pressed forward, his forearm restraining Qingye's neck and pinning her to the ground.
The distance between the two sides became extremely close, and Qingye felt like she was stuck to the other person like a sack. She quickly closed her eyes and knocked on the ground three times: "Surrender! Surrender!"
"Using a throw against an opponent who's stronger than you?" Chu Hengkong didn't relax at all. "I think you really need to deepen your failure education."
"I came up with a new trick and wanted to try it out..." Qing Ye covered his eyes.
"If I were three times bigger than I am now, would you use this fighting method?"
"I will honestly use the knife." Qing Ye admitted, "Abandoning the knife and using fists is the worst option."
"You didn't use this kind of fighting method before. It's because your overgrown body gave you the illusion of being stronger." Chu Hengkong relaxed his strength, "So I told you to adjust."
"I want to be an adult for a while longer..." Qingye said softly.
She still covered her face with her hands, her cheeks slightly flushed beneath them. Her sense of touch had become more sensitive as her body grew, and when she was restricted by the joint technique, she felt like she was being pinned down by the killer, with only a thin layer of combat uniform between them.
Chu Hengkong noticed her strange behavior and stood up and patted her head: "You are just imagining nonsense."
"It's not nice of Mr. Chu to use his sleeping skills on a girl!" Qing Ye said angrily.
"If you're so concerned, then use less joint techniques and hold your knife tight." Chu Hengkong said, "Look, it's over if we get within an inch."
Today's sparring session concluded. Chu Hengkong put down his bamboo sword and walked out of the arena. Qingye lay spread-eagle in the center of the arena, then after a long moment, he lowered his hands and sighed softly.
"I'm being taken care of again..."
After returning to Huilong City, Chu Hengkong actually began teaching her the Huangtian Style. The Master's swordsmanship wasn't something they could fully explain, but observing and understanding it would greatly benefit her understanding of martial arts. Even though she was only practicing the three swords, Qingye felt her swordsmanship was far more powerful than before. Even if she returned to Shura Island, she was confident she could surpass those young people who weren't geniuses.
But these were not all due to her efforts. Whether it was Lord Ye Xing or Lord Chong Ming, she was always looked after by her seniors on her adventures. And the one who looked after her the most was undoubtedly Chu Hengkong. Without him, Guang Shi Qing Ye would have died on the battlefield long ago.
Qingye found it difficult to define her relationship with Chu Hengkong. They were certainly comrades, but also like senior and junior, friends, yet more than just pure friendship. If they were just friends, she wouldn't have made those jokes... Was it because she admired Mr. Chu, or was it something else...
She hasn't dared to joke around much lately, because the last time she did, she was actually hugged... and in the painting, she was completely exposed...
"Ah, really! Don't overthink it, Miss Qingye!"
Qingye rolled on the ground for a while, then sat up with a somersault, slapping his face vigorously: "After receiving so much care from you, I must repay you. I can think about these trivial things later!"
A grudge must be avenged, a favor must be repaid. Whether it's a friend or a senior, if someone has taken care of you, you must repay them, and doubly so. This is the true heart of a sect!
There was no time to delay; once an idea came to her, she had to act as quickly as possible. Qing Ye hurried to the cafeteria to buy a lunch box and brought it back to her single room. She tied a red headscarf around her head, took out a pen and paper, and resolved to complete her plan of repaying her gratitude within the afternoon.
When it comes to repaying a favor, it's usually just giving the other person something they like, or doing something for them. Speaking of Mr. Chu's favorite thing...
"It should be martial arts..." Qingye said to himself.
Just like Mr. Ye Xing's teachings, swordsmanship is always the best solution for any problem. Mr. Chu taught her the Huangtian Style, so it was only natural for her to return the favor by offering the family-inherited Wuxiang Nixin Style. Even the head of the family would have approved of this. However, Qingye still had a doubt in her heart.
——Has he learned it already?
After all, he was Chu Hengkong... a genius who could learn to draw a sword with a reverse blade just by looking at him... They had fought side by side many times, and had even practiced sparring quite often recently. It seemed that he had learned almost everything quietly, but it was useless for him to worry about her face.
Qingye summoned a shadow clone and began to simulate the scene of gifting the sword. Shadow Qingye leaned against the wall, putting on the killer's signature nonchalant expression. Qingye walked over and bowed deeply: "Mr. Chu, as a token of gratitude, please allow me to teach you the sword. Please!"
Shadow Qingye raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled: "Thank you very much. I am very interested in the dual-sword style, please teach me the Double Wind Kill."
Qingye slumped over on the bed, letting out silent screams.
As expected! Absolutely! After a moment's deliberation, he'd pick a less essential move, pretending to learn it a few times and saying, "I know it, thank you, Qingye"—but that move must have been secretly learned long ago, and he'd only picked it up now as a courtesy. That guy was definitely capable of this!
Shadow Qingye continued to imitate, lowering his voice to mimic the killer's inner voice: "Actually, I'd rather learn the Slaughter Sword or the Reincarnation Blade... But since they are Qingye's secret swords, it's better not to mention them now."
"Don't be so considerate of other people's feelings in a situation like this. It's so annoying!"
Qingye angrily threw the pillow. Shadow Qingye grabbed it with one hand, mimicking the killer's chuckle. Qingye grabbed his own clone and rubbed it, "No, no, absolutely not. Mr. Chu, after all, is not one to take advantage of others for nothing... I need a more 'light' gift in return, but one he can't refuse..."
"How about chocolate or handmade bento?" Shadow Qingye suggested.
This... is a good idea!
Qingye clenched his fist and clapped his hands. On Shura Island, the female students gave chocolates to their relatives and friends every year, and the clever girls would also help make handmade bento, explosive bombs, shurikens, and prosthetics.
Gifts aren't just given to boyfriends; they can also be given to seniors, teachers, friends, and other relatives. Because this isn't directly related to love, but rather a way to express gratitude, it's actually a very healthy and psychologically responsible custom!
"This is it. If we start making chocolate now, we can have it ready tomorrow morning." Qing Ye rolled up his sleeves. "Go buy me the ingredients and the crafting book."
"Running errands is no problem, but will Mr. Chu really like our chocolate?" Shadow Qingye pondered, "Is his daily food pretty good?"
Qingye suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning.
Yes, yes.
Mr. Chu was originally from that strange island called "Earth," and his material comforts probably surpassed 99% of the places in the Shendong Realm... He also lived a first-rate life in Huilong City, and used to go on dates to high-end restaurants without blinking an eye. Giving such a man these rustic handmade chocolates...
Shadow Qingye pinched out a ball of shadow to act as chocolate and offered it with both hands: "Well, Mr. Chu! To express my gratitude, I made chocolate. Although the shape is ordinary, it is full of my heart... Please accept it!"
A look of confusion and helplessness flashed across Qingye's eyes. She took the "chocolate", took a bite, and smiled, "Thanks, Qingye, it's delicious."
"This is totally not okay!!"
“It’s become a social interaction that I can’t refuse out of courtesy!”
Qingye and Shadow Qingye collapsed onto the bed simultaneously, like two stranded miniature dolphins. Their thinking was still too limited. If they tried to repay the favor with this attitude, they would definitely be embarrassed. So, what other options were there? Something that didn't involve combat power or material gifts, but could truly repay the favor and maximize their own strengths...
"...Yi, pledge yourself to me?" Qing Ye screamed.
"No, no, Miss Qingye, I'm not such a frivolous woman!" Shadow Qingye protested in a low voice.
"Not that kind! I'm talking about the kind you see in anime... that one..." Qing Ye raised a finger, "The part where you have to kill someone to repay a favor!"
Yingzi Qingye gasped: "Maid outfit? Sailor uniform? School swimsuit?"
"That's too perverted!"
"But if you don't realize this, you won't be able to repay your kindness, Miss Qingye!"
"Wouldn't it be even worse if you were so self-righteous and prepared only to find yourself stepping into a minefield on the other side, Miss Qingye?"
The two Qingyes were in a mess. They looked at each other and made the same decision.
"Looking for an off-field assist—!"
Two minutes later, while flipping through a magazine with gusto, Vander suddenly felt his vision go blank. He blinked and found himself sitting on a specially made toy chair, a small cup of iced milk tea beside him. Qingye and Shadow Qingye sat across the table, their chins propped up in their hands, their expressions gloomy.
"You have a really strange mind. You practiced the Zanshinjutsu that accelerates time and then used it to kidnap people." Vander said.
"Fander, I have an important question to ask you. Please do me a favor." Qingye emphasized his tone.
"Oh, this is really awesome! This is the first time I've seen someone asking for help and kidnapping at the same time." Vander swaggered and took a sip of milk tea. "Tell me, you've come to the right person. I know everything!"
Qingye nodded gratefully, then stammered, "That's it... that... I've been trying to think of a way to thank Mr. Chu for his kindness these past two days... This is purely a repayment, and has nothing to do with personal feelings..."
"Keep talking, I'm listening."
Qing Ye pursed her lips nervously. "That is to say... after all, this is very much about personal preference... and it's, you know, a very personal matter. So I'd like to ask you, what kind of people does Mr. Chu like privately?"
Finder stared at the shy and timid girl, finding it hard to connect her with the mad killer of the heretics. He savored Qingye's words, pondering the source of this dissonance.
Repaying a favor... Qing Ye?... This involves a very personal topic, and she is from Shura Island...
So that's it.
Vander immediately understood.
——She must want to make a handmade bento.
This was a well-known custom on Shura Island, and as a native, Qingye was no exception. However, as a young lady from a wealthy family, she'd never had to cook before, so she felt uneasy about cooking. So, she'd gone out of her way to research the other person's preferred ingredients, which was truly commendable.
The girl is so serious, we have to help her!
Fander's eyes curved into a smile, and he said confidently, "You've finally asked the right person! I know exactly what his relationship with him is and what he likes to eat."
"Oh, I didn't expect that you, Vander, even knew this..." Qingye exclaimed.
Vander recalled every moment he spent with his buddies and came to a conclusion that was absolutely correct.
"In my opinion, although he has a wide range of tastes, his favorite is seafood."
Qingye stood up quickly, his little face pale with shock.
"—He likes fish?!"
(End of this chapter)
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