Chapter 653 Breakthrough
When fighting He Xiu, Song Chunxue was more excited than ever before.
For the first time, she experienced what it meant to meet a worthy opponent and a worthy strategist; it was truly exhilarating to spar with him.
Her moves became faster and more urgent, her blood was boiling, and she wished she could keep fighting like this forever.
"Alright, alright, that's enough. I know how good you are, okay?"
After nearly half an hour, He Xiu lost his temper.
Although he was not incapable of defeating Song Chunxue, he dared not go all out, since the weapon in her hand could easily pierce him.
"Again!"
Song Chunxue had finally found a sparring partner, so how could she let her go?
"Don't you like watching? Wouldn't it be better to have Wuyou play with you?"
He Xiu sighed helplessly, "But I didn't eat much today..."
"I'll let you eat your fill later, then we'll fight for half an hour, or I'll have Wuyou puncture your wounds," Song Chunxue said coldly. "And you'd better show me your real skills. If you don't let me learn from you, I won't let you peek at Wuyou."
"But... ouch, you're ruthless, woman! Fine, I'll hit you!"
Half an hour later.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Clang clang clang!"
The fluid swordplay continued, and sweat beaded on He Xiu's forehead.
"Master Song, Sister Song, can we take a break?" He Xiu was starting to lose his grip. "My wound has reopened."
Song Chunxue stopped, held Wuyou behind her back, and turned to look at Zhou Yunli, who was watching from the side.
"Come here."
Zhou Yunli took out his longsword. "Alright, please give me your guidance, Daoist Master."
"It's not a matter of giving pointers; I've been practicing entirely according to the sword manual. You should be the one giving me pointers." Song Chunxue raised her hand to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead, a hearty smile spreading across her face. "I might practice for a long time, maybe an hour."
Then, he looked at Xie Zheng and Xie Lingyun not far away and said, "You two go eat, don't wait for us, I'm not hungry."
Xie Zheng handed over the snow-white handkerchief, "Okay, don't practice too hard, or you'll be sore all over tomorrow."
"No, I felt like that was just an appetizer, I wasn't quite there yet." With that, Song Chunxue flipped her wrist and smiled, "Here you go!"
"Good!" Zhou Yunli watched with envy and made his move quickly.
The swordplay was dazzling, and He Xiu stood aside wiping his sweat and panting heavily.
"Lord Xie, this woman is too ruthless. How can she beat someone for so long without even turning red or out of breath? Could she have been a blacksmith before?"
This was said in a somewhat joking tone.
Xie Zheng's gaze followed Song Chunxue, a smile playing on his lips as he answered earnestly, "She's a farmer who raised five children on her own. She used to be very strong and capable."
He Xiu nodded, looking at Song Chunxue with admiration.
"No wonder, she's a formidable woman. No wonder she impressed you." He glanced towards the front yard. "Aren't you going to have lunch?"
Xie Zheng then looked at him, his eyes filled with displeasure.
"You ruined my first chance to drink alone with her since I came to Beijing, and you still have the nerve to eat at my house?" Xie Zheng gritted his teeth. "What's your face made of?"
He Xiu rubbed his burning arm and pointed to his wound. "Sigh, I did accompany your sweetheart for an hour, it must have been tiring. I was wrong that day, I apologize to you, sir."
Xie Zheng looked at him, remaining silent for a long time.
This person is a bit despicable, but at least he's sincere.
"Let's go, please come with me to the front yard for lunch, Daoist Master." Xie Zheng looked at his daughter, "You can have lunch too."
Just as He Xiu turned around and followed Xie Zheng, about to leave the courtyard, he suddenly felt a pair of eyes staring at him from behind!
He quickly turned around.
In this world, he is the only one who secretly watches others; no one has ever secretly watched him.
"Something's not right. I'll go check it out. Lord Xie, you go ahead first, I'll follow shortly."
"What's wrong?" Xie Zheng asked curiously. "Is someone there?"
He Xiu's eyes quickly scanned the surrounding walls, then keenly noticed a particular wall.
“I suspect there are others eyeing your lover’s short sword. Anyone who has seen that sword knows it’s a valuable item; even ordinary people would be envious,” He Xiu said, turning to leave. “I’m going to teach them a lesson.”
"Alas, Daoist Master..."
"I'll be back when it's time to eat."
As soon as he finished speaking, He Xiu disappeared from his spot and reappeared on the wall to his left in the blink of an eye.
There were sounds of fighting, followed by the sound of tiles being trampled off and people hitting the ground.
Song Chunxue and Zhou Yunli ran over when they heard the commotion.
"Speak! Who sent you here? And why are you here?" He Xiu pointed a silver needle at the masked man's eyes, his voice booming in a frightening tone.
“Her sword…” The man whose neck was being gripped pointed with difficulty at Song Chunxue’s sword, “A beggar paid me to come here.”
"roll!"
He Xiu kicked the man, then turned to look at Song Chunxue with concern, "Why don't you visit Baiyun Temple more often in the future? Otherwise, even more people will be eyeing you. But if you go to Baiyun Temple, the only one eyeing your precious sword will be me."
Song Chunxue seized the opportunity to ask, "Can you teach me a couple of moves?"
He Xiu was taken aback. "Of course, I'd be more than happy to, if you'd like him to spar with me for a couple of moves."
"Deal!" Song Chunxue raised her hand and pressed down on Wuyou, who was about to resist. "The more you learn, the better I can protect you."
Wuyou then stopped.
"Let's go back and continue."
Zhou Yunli laughed and said, "I'd risk my life to accompany you, sir."
...
An hour and a half later, Song Chunxue was still exchanging blows with Zhou Yunli.
He Xiu was picking his teeth, while Xie Zheng brewed buckwheat tea, which could be drunk even when it cooled down.
“Poor Yunli, can you handle someone like that?” He Xiu said seriously. “She’s treating Yunli like a cow. You’re nowhere near as good as a cow.”
"..." Xie Zheng stared at him. "What do you mean?"
He Xiu quickly shook his head and looked over there, "I didn't mean anything by it, I was just asking casually."
"Can you teach me swordsmanship? I want to go to Baiyun Temple with her to learn from her."
He Xiu looked Xie Zheng up and down with an indescribable expression.
"Yes, it's never too late, but I need to receive a gift."
"Your Taoist temple doesn't allow drinking, so here are two jars of pear blossom liquor."
He Xiu's face lit up with joy. "Deal!"
As they were talking, Song Chunxue finally stopped and went straight back to her room. Xie Zheng had someone bring hot water to her room, and she looked like she had sweated a lot.
Zhou Yunli was drenched in sweat. He threw himself against the railing of the pavilion and stared blankly at the high roof.
"Uncle-Master, my wrist is about to cramp up. How can that Taoist priest have so much energy? I'm young and vigorous, how come I'm so easily defeated?" he said weakly. "I'm clearly not weak, so why can't I beat Taoist Priest Song?"
He Xiu smiled faintly, sat down next to him, and sighed.
“If I told you that while she was practicing with you just now, she quietly broke through to the level of a swordsman and surpassed you,” he stroked his gray beard, “I would have to admit that although we started cultivating earlier, we are not as talented as her, nor as diligent, nor as hardworking as her.”
"A swordsman?" Xie Zheng asked, puzzled. "What level is that? Is it very powerful?"
P.S.: I went home to deliver winter clothes, so I missed one chapter these past two days. There will be a big update on the 3rd!
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