54. The Sea of Hatred (Part Two)
◎Taking apprentices? ◎
Ran Qinghe suddenly felt a lump in her throat. Even though she knew Lou Tinglan didn't want her involved in this troublesome matter, hearing that address still made her heart go blank for a moment.
She suppressed her emotions and tried to advise in a more rational tone: "But you've already tried many methods to enter this tower prison, and none of them have worked, have they?"
She wasn't that selfless; Lou Tinglan had healed her wounds, and she was simply doing something to repay his kindness.
She smiled faintly and said, "You probably don't know, but this was just a small favor for me. If you feel bad about it, just consider it a thank you gift for healing my wounds."
Lou Tinglan pursed his lips, his anger barely concealed in his eyes and brows, yet he still tried his best to speak in a calm tone: "Ran Qinghe, what do you take yourself for, a vessel? You so casually hold both spiritual energy and resentment?"
"Besides, I do everything willingly. Or is it that you only need to draw such a clear and distinct line between yourself and others once you've found someone you like?"
Seeing his reaction, Ran Qinghe could easily understand that the "person he favored" he mentioned was Hua Jin, and the "other person" naturally referred to himself.
She laughed in exasperation, unwilling to argue with him, and said sarcastically, "I was overthinking it. How could Senior Brother Lou have a problem he can't solve? Even if he did, it's not my place to interfere, right?"
She thought angrily, "What a case of biting the hand that feeds you! My good intentions have been wasted!" She didn't care about his vengeful spirits or anything like that.
"Farewell." She said this and left the tower prison without looking back.
Lou Tinglan realized that she hadn't denied the person he mentioned he liked, so she truly liked Hua Jin, which was why she deliberately kept her distance from him.
Perhaps because he had consumed too much spiritual energy while healing, he felt a burning sensation in his mind.
As he followed the corridors inside the tower out of the tower, he suddenly saw a familiar figure: Lou Guan.
She seemed to have been waiting outside the tower for a long time. When she saw him come out of the tower, she turned around and smiled, "Tinglan, you came here so late at night. What's wrong? Are you on night patrol?"
She had already prepared a reason for him: "Tonight, the elders happened to be having a meeting in the council hall. Your uncle saw you rushing here and didn't have time to ask you anything."
These words were a warning to him on how to deal with Lou Yi's questioning later.
He arrived in a hurry and did not pay attention to his surroundings, but unexpectedly, he was spotted by Lou Yi.
He nodded and replied, "Thank you, Second Elder."
After a pause, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Second Elder, won't you ask why Tinglan entered the tower so late at night?"
Lou Guan stepped forward, smoothed the messy hair on his shoulder, and patted him on the shoulder like a calm and dignified elder, advising, "Sometimes the truth doesn't need to be investigated too much. Investigating too much may not be a good thing, don't you think?"
Her words seemed to subtly hint at something.
Lou Tinglan nodded slightly, but did not agree. Lou Guan had said all she wanted to say and did not intend to interfere further. She changed the subject:
“Tomorrow the academy will have a practical lesson on the Azure Sky Sword Technique. According to tradition, it should be taught by your maternal grandfather,” she said with a hint of helplessness. “You know your maternal grandfather’s temperament. He has always been used to doing whatever he wants. Although he has accepted our visiting cards, he may not come.”
"So, if he doesn't come tomorrow, could you temporarily fill in for the swordplay class?"
The Qingxiao Sword Technique is considered the best in the world, and Qian Zhong is the number one master of the Qingxiao Sword Technique. Lou Tinglan received his careful instruction at Qingxiao when he was young, and it can be said that he has mastered the essence of the Qingxiao Sword Technique perfectly. It is most appropriate for him to temporarily take over the teaching.
But he didn't agree immediately. He had a gut feeling that he had spoken too harshly tonight, and Ran Qinghe might not want to see him again.
But then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, he realized that perhaps he should offer some advice during the swordsmanship class.
*
The next day, dawn broke over the training ground.
The disciples stared intently at the stage, their eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry. It was said that the lesson was originally supposed to be taught by the Qingxiao Sect Leader, Qian Zhong, but instead, a tall and aloof figure stood on the stage: Lou Tinglan.
Today, he wore a white, narrow-sleeved training uniform, which accentuated his slender figure. His hair was tied up with a jade crown, and his eyes and brows appeared even more aloof and cold than usual. As expected, Sect Leader Qianzhong stood him up again, so Lou Tinglan would temporarily take over the class.
His gaze swept casually across the audience, pausing almost imperceptibly for a moment when it landed on a certain corner, before casually looking away.
Ran Qinghe stood at the very back, deliberately avoiding his gaze, her face expressionless, as if the argument in the tower prison the previous night had never happened.
Standing beside her was Hua Jin, whose eyes and brows were smiling.
"The Azure Sky Sword Technique emphasizes intent over form and mind over moves. It focuses on drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to transform into sword energy rather than relying on external force to control it."
Lou Tinglan's deep voice clearly reached the ears of each disciple. As he explained the key points of the sword technique, he demonstrated the basic moves, his movements flowing smoothly and gracefully, with spiritual energy circulating around him.
Even though Ran Qinghe was still feeling frustrated, she had to admit that, in terms of swordsmanship, she was indeed far inferior to him.
After the demonstration, it was time for group practice.
Lou Tinglan slowly said, "There are five disciples present, so one disciple will need to spar with me."
Mingyu drew his sword and said loudly, "Then I'll spar with you. We brothers haven't fought for many years, and I'm really itching to do it."
However, Lou Tinglan said, "Since we are both familiar with the Qingxiao Sword Technique, we should practice separately. I will practice with Junior Brother Hua, you with Junior Sister Shui, and Junior Sister Ran with Junior Brother Fu."
Mingyu glanced at Ran Qinghe, then suddenly looked completely at ease. He said, "So Lou Tinglan didn't teach anything else, but instead showed off the most elegant and decisive move from the Qingxiao Sword Technique. It turns out his real intention wasn't what he was talking about."
But why did Lou Tinglan choose Hua Jin? Shouldn't he have chosen Ran Qinghe?
Hua Jin's eyes flickered slightly, and his smile faded a little: "Senior Brother Lou, please give me your guidance."
Lou Tinglan stepped forward, picked up another wooden sword from the weapon rack next to her, and said to Hua Jin, "You attack me."
Before the words were even finished, Hua Jin's sword was already like a serpent emerging from its hole, the tip of the sword trembling. The sword moves seemed light and airy, but in fact, they were guided and controlled at every turn.
Lou Tinglan calmly drew her sword to defend: "Junior Brother Hua's control technique is indeed exquisite. It can subtly guide the opponent and gain the upper hand."
Hua Jin smiled slightly: "Senior brother, you flatter me. My skills are mere trifles, not even a fraction as good as your swordsmanship."
Lou Tinglan's swordplay suddenly accelerated, with each strike—pointing, stabbing, slashing, or flicking—appearing precisely where Hua Jin's old strength had been exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated.
After a few rounds, Hua Jin felt sluggish all over. His original sense of control was completely disrupted, and his rhythm was completely drawn into Lou Tinglan's rhythm. It was as if he was trapped in an invisible net, and the more he struggled, the tighter the restraint became.
With a soft thud of a wooden sword striking flesh, Lou Tinglan's sword tip gently touched Hua Jin's wrist. If it were a real sword, Hua Jin's wrist would be crippled.
Lou Tinglan sheathed her sword, looked at Hua Jin whose expression had changed slightly, and spoke in a calm tone, yet every word struck the other's heart: "Junior Brother Hua must have practiced beast taming since childhood, which is why he is exceptionally proficient in sword control techniques."
"But the power of control can be used, but not relied upon. Excessive control, while limiting the opponent, also binds oneself. The sword technique loses its agility and change, and once it encounters a situation that cannot be controlled, it will instantly fall into a passive position."
Hua Jin tightened his grip on the sword, and the usual smile on his face began to falter. He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, and forced a smile, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."
Lou Tinglan's eyes seemed to glance unintentionally in Ran Qinghe's direction, and her voice grew colder, "Excessive control can suffocate those around you. In relationships, sincerity is more important than control. Sometimes, being too controlling is not a good thing."
Lou Tinglan thought that Hua Jin was restricting Ran Qinghe's interactions with others, which was why he was giving such advice. However, when these words were directed at Hua Jin, he was completely confused and didn't understand why.
Just then, a loud and unrestrained voice came from afar, breaking the delicate atmosphere in the martial arts arena.
"Not bad, Yunya Academy has taken in some good students this time."
An elderly man with white hair appeared at the edge of the training ground as if by teleportation. He was not particularly burly, but he gave people a sense of profound and imposing presence.
This person is none other than Qian Zhong.
Lou Tinglan quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Sect Leader Qian." All the disciples also bowed in unison.
After scanning the room, Qian Zhong's gaze settled on Ran Qinghe, who was standing at the far side. He asked, "Are you Xi Shu's disciple, Ran Qinghe?"
Ran Qinghe found the title rather jarring, so she simply replied, "This disciple is Ran Qinghe."
He stroked his beard and pondered, "Xi Shu told me that you have exceptional talent. I didn't believe it at first, but now that I've seen your swordsmanship, I'm starting to believe it a little more."
He looked at Ran Qinghe, his eyes revealing a hint of approval after scrutiny: "My disciples now consist of only Mingyu and Tinglan. I intend to take you as my last disciple. What do you say?"
Ran Qinghe was stunned. She had thought that Qian Zhong and Xi Shu were on good terms and that he had long been dissatisfied with her because of her destroying the spiritual vein. She thought that his visit would definitely be troublesome. But unexpectedly, he suddenly brought up the matter of taking on a disciple.
"Sect Leader Qian, please wait." A gentle female voice rang out.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Second Elder walking gracefully towards them. She was dressed in an elegant long robe, and her face showed just the right amount of gentleness.
"I admire Master Qian's love for talent," she said respectfully, bowing to Qian Zhong before changing the subject. "However, Qinghe is a disciple selected by my Yunya Academy. Her training arrangements must follow the academy's rules. If the Master wants to accept her as a disciple, it will be appropriate to wait until she graduates."
Lou Guan casually deflected Qian Zhong's sudden offer to take him as a disciple. Their eyes met, seemingly exchanging a silent exchange.
Qian Zhongfu then looked at Ran Qinghe, "In that case, let's remember this for now. After all, no one would want to miss such a talent."
Ran Qinghe's heart skipped a beat. She had an unspoken feeling that Qian Zhong seemed to be implying something.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
