Chapter 82 Chapter 82 The Fifth Wish
The lotus seed could only survive if nurtured by Hongzhu, so Hongzhu said she had nothing else to do for the time being, so she and He Shile would go back to Xiancao Gate. Lan Xin pulled her over, and the two sisters chatted in a corner for a while. When they returned, Lan Xin decided to join them.
This huge surprise stunned He Shile. Hong Zhu asked him, "Of course, if you mind..."
He Shile quickly shook his head. Of course he didn't mind. He was still thinking about how to persuade Hongzhu to go with him so that he could teach her the new "Sword Technique of Life and Death". He didn't expect Hongzhu to take the initiative to bring it up.
From their current location to the Immortal Grass Gate, at their speed, it would take about two months. He Shile produced a flying artifact, a wooden boat powered by spiritual energy. The interior was vast, encompassing mountains and water. The boat was so conspicuous that a concealment formation was engraved on its exterior, making it invisible to ordinary cultivators. He Shile and the other two could cultivate without worry.
The journey back to Xiancao Gate was very peaceful. He Shile entered his own sea of consciousness, and Chen Mu handed him the revised "Sword Technique of Life and Death".
He Shile held the sword technique and did not leave. He sat there for a while and suddenly asked, "Senior, do you think... is there a possibility that Hongzhu also has feelings for me?"
"Just because she went back to Xiancao Sect with you?" Chen Mu raised his chin and looked at him with pity. "I think this only proves that she is a good person."
He Shile lowered his head sadly.
When he went to find Hongzhu with his swordsmanship, Lan Xin happened to be with her. The two of them were sitting side by side in the house, talking about something. Seeing He Shile, Lan Xin smiled and whispered something in Hongzhu's ear. Hongzhu laughed and let He Shile in.
"Is there anything wrong?" Hongzhu asked.
He Shile handed her the sword technique. Hongzhu looked down at it for a few seconds, initially nonchalant, but then her expression grew increasingly serious. After flipping through it, she handed it to Lan Xin, who read it carefully, her head bowed in thought.
"This sword technique is..." Lan Xin was so shocked that even her fingers were shaking slightly.
Although she had never wielded a sword, she had studied with Hongzhu before, and she could tell at a glance that what He Shile had given them was the "Life and Death Sword Technique." However, a closer look revealed some subtle differences. Chen Mu hadn't left them any sword techniques or manuals. What Hongzhu was learning was actually a compilation of their own memories of watching Chen Mu wield a sword.
The sword technique that He Shile provided them was different from the one they had compiled themselves, but it was obviously more complete than theirs. The logic was clearer, the understanding of the sword was deeper and broader, and the details were comprehensive, even to the point of being intimate, as if someone was whispering in their ears, patiently pointing out every profound point.
This is a complete sword technique. It is so impressive that Hongzhu only took a look at it and suddenly understood some of the doubts she had when practicing sword before.
"Where did this come from?" asked Hongzhu.
He Shile brought out the speech he had prepared long ago: "After seeing you practice sword last time, I felt that you looked familiar. I think I've seen it before. So I paid attention to it. Later, I found this complete sword technique in the family inventory... You said before that the sword technique was incomplete. I hope this can help you."
"This sword technique looks a little different..." But Hongzhu wasn't sure her compilation was correct. She and Lanxin exchanged a glance, and even without words, the two sisters understood each other's thoughts. Putting aside the possibility of errors in their memories over the past century, their understanding of sword techniques was inherently shallow, and their recordings even cruder. Born as twin lotuses, they possessed an exceptional aptitude for wood and water elements, but only superficial proficiency with swordsmanship. Consequently, they were unable to discern the subtlest nuances and fundamental differences within this sword technique.
He Shile looked at them nervously. Lan Xin asked again about the origin of this sword technique. He Shile added some details, trying to make his reasons more credible.
Should I change to this sword technique? This was not a decision that could be made right now. Hong Zhu returned the sword technique to He Shile and whispered, "Thank you for your kindness, Daoist friend. I still..."
Lan Xin held her hand.
Hongzhu turned her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly. The two looked at each other for a long time. Lan Xin said to He Shile, "We accept this sword technique. We are grateful for your kindness and will repay you handsomely in the future."
"No, no need! This is a thank you gift to you." He Shile said quickly. He noticed that the atmosphere between the two sisters had changed, as if the oppressive dark clouds were gathering before a storm. It was no longer suitable for him to stay here. He Shile looked at Hongzhu worriedly, turned around and left, leaving the space to the two sisters.
As soon as he left, Lan Xin and Hong Zhu started arguing. They cast a barrier so that He Shile couldn't hear anything. He Shile felt heavy in his heart. He didn't expect that this sword technique would cause a dispute between the two sisters.
Chen Mu comforted him, "Just wait for the result."
About a week later, Hongzhu began practicing the revised "Life and Death Sword Technique." This sword technique was designed specifically for her, perfectly suiting her spiritual roots and talents. However, because it was different from the previous one, it would take time to change some of her old habits.
Lan Xin was forging a sword. She wanted to forge a more suitable sword for Hongzhu and this sword technique. She had a portable forging table and furnace. That day, He Shile was practicing in the house when he heard footsteps outside, followed by a knock on the door.
He Shile opened the door and saw Lan Xin standing outside. She bowed slightly and said, "Sorry to bother you."
"Is there something wrong?" He Shile was always a little nervous when facing Lan Xin. She was Hongzhu's only relative, and in a sense, she was also Hongzhu's guardian.
"I'm missing a material for forging a sword, Lantrite Ore. Does anyone have any here?"
He Shile searched around in the mustard seed space, confirmed that there was nothing called Lan Cui Mine, and shook his head.
Lan Xin said regretfully, "The Lan Cui Mine is located in Zhongyun Province. I think I'll pass by here on my way back to Xiancao Gate. Can I stop here for a while? I want to collect some materials."
"Of course." He Shile said, "If there are any other materials you're missing, please let me know."
Lan Xin smiled slightly: "Thank you."
Before she left, He Shile asked, "How is Hongzhu..."
Lan Xin said, "She just couldn't figure it out before."
He Shile babbled incoherently: "I'm just an outsider, I don't understand what's going on between you two... But no matter what, there's nothing you two sisters can't solve through a good discussion... I'm sorry, I offended her, I just don't want... uh... I hope she's not unhappy."
Lan Xin stared at him for a moment, then slowly raised the corners of her mouth. She waited patiently for him to finish before saying, "Actually, our conflict over this matter has been going on for a long time."
Lan Xin and Hong Zhu were determined from the outset to inherit Chen Mu's swordsmanship, but neither possessed the natural talent. Ultimately, at Hong Zhu's insistence, she took on the swordsmanship while Lan Xin studied swordsmithing, hoping to craft a sword more suited to her. Later, as Hong Zhu's understanding of the swordsmanship deepened, the inherent properties of the technique conflicted with her natural talent, causing her increasing harm, a fact both Hong Zhu and Lan Xin were well aware of. Lan Xin once again urged Hong Zhu to stop and inherit the swordsmanship, but she refused. Their dispute over this topic had been long-standing, and the swordsmanship manual He Shile had given her reignited the conflict.
Hongzhu was skeptical of the sword technique He Shile had given her. Both intuitively and on second thought, she resisted practicing it. Lan Xin, on the other hand, saw it as beneficial to Hongzhu, and even though it differed from her memories, she preferred to let her practice it. The two argued for two days, but Hongzhu finally relented. This compromise was also due to the fact that they had finally buried Chen Mu's remains. Freed from the burden, Hongzhu no longer felt so attached.
"Don't be fooled by her cheerful demeanor. In fact, the sorrow and obsession she carries are even greater than mine." Lan Xin lowered her head and whispered, "Hongzhu is sentimental and always takes other people's feelings very seriously. She always quietly considers others' feelings... I hope she can think more about herself."
He Shile's heart was pulled by a huge gravitational force, and he was worried about Hongzhu's past and present. Hongzhu's image in his heart became deeper and clearer. He only felt that the layer of glass between him and Hongzhu became clearer, and it also reflected his feelings more.
Hongzhu was unaware of this conversation. She was still practicing sword, but she noticed that He Shile often came to watch her. The ship belonged to He Shile, and the place where she practiced sword was a public place, so she naturally didn't care what He Shile thought.
Hongzhu was very dedicated, and the sword technique suited her perfectly, so she felt at home. However, the technique was ultimately quite profound, and even with the most detailed annotations, there were still some parts she couldn't understand. When she and Lan Xin discussed it, Lan Xin pondered for a moment and told her to go find He Shile and try.
He Shile didn't use a sword, so how could he help her solve the problem? But Lan Xin insisted that she go and ask, so Hongzhu went to ask.
He Shile held the sword technique, his expression slightly stiff. He told Hongzhu to wait for him to think about it, then turned and entered the sea of consciousness to seek help from Chen Mu. Chen Mu already knew what had happened and tried his best to explain and guide him, even demonstrating with the sword to ensure He Shile fully understood. Once He Shile had learned it, he would go to help Hongzhu solve the problem.
"You really can do it." Hongzhu dragged her chin: "Did you figure it out on your own? Then you have quite a talent for swordsmanship."
He Shile didn't dare to take credit for it, so he avoided the topic and said, "If you still have questions, you can ask me. I'm always available."
As expected, Hongzhu came back to ask him again. He Shile still consulted Chen Mu, who then taught him. This process was extremely cumbersome and inefficient. System 05 noticed this and asked, "Why don't you show up and teach Hongzhu yourself? They would be very happy."
Chen Mu was silent for a while, then said, "After the mission is completed, I will follow you out of this world. They finally made it out, why should I show up and make them experience separation again?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
