At dusk, vast swathes of flaming clouds filled the sky. A river wound across the earth like a golden snake.
Three streaks of sword light trailed long fireflies behind them. Wherever they passed, the sea of clouds rumbled like muffled thunder.
Deng Jianping learned the circulation method of the Eighteen Stops of Sword Qi neither quickly nor slowly. Not quickly, compared with that batch of outstanding sword Dao prodigies from the Sword Qi Great Wall; not slowly, perhaps because Chen Ping'an of years past set the baseline rather low.
Chen Ping'an did not treat Xie Gou as an outsider. She was also the sort who understood the moment she heard something and mastered it once she understood it. After practicing it a few times, her sword qi flowed without the slightest obstruction.
When it came to talent for practicing the sword, Ning Yao and Xie Gou truly stood alone even among geniuses.
Having mastered the technique, Xie Gou praised the Sword Qi Great Wall's deep foundations a few times. That put pressure on Deng Jianping, who felt he had not truly grasped its essence yet, and he privately asked Chen Ping'an whether his aptitude was not good enough. Chen Ping'an was speechless for a moment. Of all people to compare talent with, why insist on comparing himself to Second Seat Xie? He comforted this newly accepted disciple with a few words, saying only that there was no need to rush. He should proceed step by step, like deploying troops: establish each foothold firmly and fight each battle steadily.
While flying on the wind, Xie Gou eyed the Green Bamboo Staff greedily. "Mountain Lord, give me a walking stick too, will you? We're both people who write travelogues of mountains and rivers every day now."
Chen Ping'an politely refused. "No need.