Yanqing: Is It for Me?

"You're awake, sis."

It was Aventurine. Nothing to worry about, then.

"Breakfast is already on the table. Don't forget to eat before you leave."

That brother related to her by blood, who belonged buried in the ground, wasn't fit to be compared to Aventurine. Aventurine was so much better and cuter. He was practically a cat.

Did anyone know how impressive it was that, in the story's trip to Penacony, he completed the mission without a single subordinate dying?!!

No, wait. She was no longer related to that trash by blood. That was wonderful.

Once Bai Tang had eaten and drunk her fill, she picked out what she wanted, told Aventurine, activated a Realm Anchor there, and returned to the Xianzhou. The Express was still parked there; once the A Foxian Tale of the Haunted mission was over, it would be time to go to Penacony.

No, there was still A Fool's Troubles.

It was time to visit the Herta Space Station and tell Herta her decision.

"Martial aunt, look at this move I just learned."

Jingliu had only taught Yanqing once, and traces of his grandmaster's style were already visible in his moves. He truly was a swordsmanship prodigy.

The beginnings of it had been there when he fought Blade, but now he looked even more like Jingliu.

"Not bad. Let's have a match."

Bai Tang took out Blessing and pointed it at Yanqing. "Let's see how much you can learn."

She stopped using Illumination of All Rivers so Yanqing could learn the moves she knew.

But when she used one sword, her fighting style still bore some resemblance to Jingliu's. Anyone could tell whose student she was from her opening move. With two swords, that wasn't an issue; the moves and motions were completely different.

After years of experience, it was only natural that the moves she used with two swords had changed considerably. Jingliu used a one-handed sword, after all.

"All right, martial aunt, here I come."

Yanqing was eager to try. Before, he had been beaten down; now he was receiving instruction, so he could learn more.

Since she was instructing him, Bai Tang relied purely on swordsmanship for their sparring match. But she was strong, and how light could a sword from Yingxing possibly be? Ordinary people might not even be able to lift it, and if it fell on an average person, it might crush them to death.

Though the sword she held wasn't a heavy sword, it looked much like the Shard Sword and didn't seem heavy, the exact opposite of Bai Tang's weight.

Yanqing, on the other hand, used a light sword, not some amazing sword forged by Yingxing. It could easily break, so Bai Tang had to hold back when she fought him.

While she instructed him, Jing Yuan sat watching, leisurely enjoying a pot of fine tea.

During a break, Bai Tang sat down beside Jing Yuan, snatched the tea he had brewed, and took a sip. She smacked her lips. It was bitter. Oh, there was a bit of sweetness afterward. As for anything else, she couldn't taste it.

"Teaching is more tiring after all."

When she had instructed Yanqing back then, she hadn't used the sword Brother Yingxing had given her. There had been no need to hold back; if the swords broke, they could break together.

Now that she was using Brother Yingxing's sword, she'd be in trouble if she didn't hold back. It had smashed hundreds of swords without suffering the slightest damage itself. The Shard Sword deserved a special mention here: it was already broken to pieces, yet it could still be used despite being covered in cracks.

"If you don't hold back, other weapons can't stand up to the ones Yingxing forged."

Jing Yuan didn't mind Bai Tang casually wasting his fine tea. Instead, he smiled with a hint of indulgence, picked up the teapot again, and slowly filled her cup to the brim.

Seeing this, Bai Tang said nothing. She tipped her head back and drained the steaming cup in one gulp, finishing it without tasting a thing.

"I've prepared Yanqing's gift."

Bai Tang took a sword out of her backpack. It was blue all over, with a pale yellow sword tassel hanging from the hilt.

Bai Tang took a sword out of her backpack. The entire sword was a sky-like azure. Its blade was smooth as a mirror, flashing with a cold light that showed off its exceptional material.

A pale yellow sword tassel was intricately wrapped around the hilt, eye-catching yet elegant. A delicate red knot was tied to the end of the tassel, adding a touch of liveliness to the sword.

"Yingxing... Blade helped make it too?"

No matter how closely Bai Tang's methods resembled Yingxing's, she had her own understanding. Besides, she hadn't had time to learn everything, and her own style showed in the details.

But some of the details on this sword bore Yingxing's customary touch.

"Yes. He helped me forge it."

Blade had originally lacked inspiration, but Bai Tang had annoyed him into finding it. She had assisted him, and together they forged the sword.

Blade used the sword to teach Bai Tang the things she didn't know. The moment it was finished, Blade was so angry that he went home, while Bai Tang got her gift for Yanqing.

It was for Yanqing, after all, and he was Jing Yuan's disciple. Whatever else, Yingxing had to forge it himself.

As for whether she would seek Blade out again, well, she had actually learned how by the time he finished forging it. She had only pretended otherwise so she could trick him into coming over.

Blade had probably realized it by now, but that didn't mean she couldn't find another way to trick him.

[Stelle: I joined the Ghost-Hunting Squad]

[Stelle: I've decided to help capture the Heliobi!]

[Stelle: The Galactic Baseballer never admits defeat!]

[Bai Tang: Good luck.]

[Stelle: Bai Tang, where's the general? He isn't at the Divination Commission today]

[Stelle: I asked the general]

[Stelle: The general has disappeared!]

Normally, Jing Yuan was at the Divination Commission, and he had been there at this point in the story too. He wasn't there today because he had come to watch her instruct Yanqing.

Bai Tang glanced at Jing Yuan beside her, who was watching Yanqing practice with rapt attention. The corners of her mouth rose slightly as she quickly shoved her phone in front of his face, nearly touching the tip of his nose:

"Should I tell Stelle you're here?"

Jing Yuan leaned back and read the words on the screen. He took out his own phone, and sure enough, Stelle had just sent him a message too. Unfortunately, he hadn't picked up his phone to notice it.

"Go on with your business, Yanqing."

[Bai Tang: The general will message you himself]

Bai Tang replied to Stelle and called out to Yanqing.

Yanqing answered, put away his sword, and walked over to Bai Tang. The sword beside her caught his eye at once.

"A sword I prepared for you. I forged it together with a certain unmatched Hundred Forgers. Do you like it?"

General Huaiyan was a general, so he didn't count.

"Is it for me? Thank you, martial aunt!"

Yanqing absolutely loved it. He carefully gripped the hilt and swung it with all his might. The sword seemed to come alive in his hand, its blade reflecting a cold gleam. Every swing brought a sharp rush of wind, and he could even feel the faint tremor as the edge sliced through the air.

It was the first time Yanqing had received a sword of such craftsmanship, and he blurted out, "What a fine sword!"

Bai Tang was immensely pleased with herself. Yingxing had forged it—oh, no, he was Blade now:

"Of course it's a fine sword. He forged it, after all. I helped this time, though. Do you know which of his weapons are the most famous?"

Yanqing asked curiously, "I don't, martial aunt."

He adored this sword so much that its maker shouldn't have been unknown.

Bai Tang gestured to Jing Yuan beside her, asking him to bring out Stonefire Dreambody.

Jing Yuan smiled helplessly and played along with the two children's antics, summoning his signature weapon, the Formation Saber, for Yanqing to see.