Flower Too Fragrant

Huang Rong's arrangement naturally had Lu Chen's full approval.

However, he did offer a small suggestion:

"Rong'er, you see, I've only just begun cultivating Internal Energy, and my skill is still too shallow. How about we take a few days to let me accumulate more Internal Energy before we go out for real combat training?"

Huang Rong had originally planned to spar with him as much as possible before he truly grew strong, to rack up more "victories." Hearing this, she nodded agreeably and smiled sweetly:

"Mm, alright. Let's take seven days, then. After seven days, we'll set out."

The plan was settled. That evening, Lu Chen feasted on a lavish meal cooked by Huang Rong, chatted with her over a game of chess, and then seized the momentum to continue practicing his swordplay, accumulating True Energy.

The True Energy cultivated through "Sword One" was far more powerful than the Internal Energy gained from Maiden of Yue Swordplay.

As the True Energy circulated through his body, Lu Chen could clearly feel his movements and footwork becoming lighter and quicker, his senses sharper, and the strength and speed of his strikes noticeably enhanced.

However, channeling True Energy came at a cost. With his meager reserves, he couldn't sustain it for long. If he went all out, his True Energy would be depleted in at most five minutes.

Of course, as a novice who had only just begun cultivating True Energy, such limited endurance was perfectly normal.

To improve his stamina, he simply had to train diligently and accumulate steadily.

Over the next seven days, Lu Chen practiced "Half-Move Sword One" daily, building up his True Energy.

Though accumulating True Energy strand by strand was a painstaking process, he could feel his skill improving bit by bit each day, his strength growing incrementally, and his endurance noticeably increasing with each passing day.

This kind of clear positive feedback made Lu Chen, already focused and determined, train with even greater zeal, tirelessly and full of drive.

Besides his daily sword practice and True Energy accumulation, Huang Rong also sparred with him every day during these seven days.

Because Lu Chen's swordsmanship changed day by day and his skill steadily improved, Huang Rong could no longer rely solely on Maiden of Yue Swordplay to maintain her winning streak.

She had to go all out with her Movement Technique, Falling Blossom Swordplay, Jade Flute Swordplay, and even Peach Blossom Island's fist techniques, palm techniques, and Orchid Point Striking Hand—only by using all her skills could she keep absolute dominance over Lu Chen, who only knew the "Maiden of Yue Swordplay" set.

Lu Chen improved so rapidly that whenever Huang Rong unveiled a new technique, it would catch him off guard at first. But after one or two uses, even if he couldn't easily counter or dismantle it, he was no longer left floundering in confusion.

In fact, as his swordsmanship and combat experience grew, even when Huang Rong suddenly used a technique he had never seen before, Lu Chen already knew how to handle it.

He would simply guard his stance firmly, ensure he didn't lose ground, and then figure out how to parry and counter.

If all else failed, he would just do his own thing.

"I don't care if I understand your techniques or not. I only know that my sword can still threaten you. So I'll attack you head-on, and we'll see whose moves are faster and more refined."

With such rapid progress, by the seventh day of sparring, Huang Rong and Lu Chen fought fiercely for over three hundred exchanges. In the end, unable to overcome him with technique alone, she relied on her superior skill to drain his True Energy dry before finally subduing him.

When the sparring ended, Lu Chen was drenched in sweat, his energy spent, and his stamina nearly exhausted. He had to prop himself up with his wooden sword, panting like a bellows. Huang Rong, too, had flushed cheeks like smeared rouge, and her budding chest rose and fell steadily.

She planted one hand on her slender waist, wiped the sweat from her brow with the other, and said, slightly out of breath:

"Your skills are good enough now. Tomorrow, we'll challenge the various martial arts schools."

Lu Chen nodded, breathing heavily:

"Alright."

"Don't train tonight. Get a good rest."

"Mm."

"Tell me a story tonight."

"No problem."

"I want to hear a song too. A new one."

"Fine."

Night.

The moon hung high, and stars dotted the sky.

Lu Chen sat on the ridge of the main house, enjoying the evening breeze, telling stories to Huang Rong, who sat beside him.

They sat close together.

Their shoulders were less than half a foot apart.

Huang Rong could feel Lu Chen's radiating warmth, and Lu Chen could catch the refreshing, flower-like fragrance that emanated from her.

But neither of them had any stray thoughts.

After more than twenty days of relentless training, from dawn to midnight without a single day's rest, Lu Chen was finally taking a rare evening off. The alluring scent of the young girl made him feel as if he were standing in a flower field still wet with morning dew—his mind clear and peaceful, with not a trace of impure thoughts that might defile this beautiful moment.

As for Huang Rong, she was still young, innocent, and carefree, her mind not cluttered with such distractions.

She simply enjoyed listening to Lu Chen's pleasant voice narrate a captivating story, her emotions deeply immersed in the tale—now joyful, now downcast, now laughing freely, now sorrowful...

After finishing the story, Lu Chen sang her a new song.

"Laugh at the world, when will grudges ever end? Dusk nears the sunset, walking alone without care... Too carefree, ask not the world's hatred light as tea. One word from the martial world, walk upright and fear no evil..."

Huang Rong rested her chin on her hand, her star-bright, lively eyes fixed on Lu Chen's profile. After hearing it once, she memorized the melody and began humming along softly:

"Graceful and elegant, leaving fragrance everywhere, moonlight in the mountains softly glows, evening breeze blows sorrow like ocean waves... Come, come, bitter wine fills the cup, don't anyone block the way, drink and sing loud and free... The flowers are too fragrant..."

The song ended.

They exchanged a smile. Huang Rong stood up, clapped her hands, and laughed:

"It sounds nice, but I feel like it doesn't quite suit our age. Tomorrow, sing me something more bold and heroic. Alright, story's over, song's done, time to rest. No sneaky extra practice tonight, get to bed early and conserve your energy!"

With that, she flashed Lu Chen another big smile, then leaped up and floated lightly off the rooftop.

Watching Huang Rong's graceful, ethereal figure—like a startled swan in flight—Lu Chen suddenly realized a serious problem:

I think...

I don't actually know proper Movement Technique?

Swordplay generally came with matching footwork, but that was just "positioning" technique to coordinate with moves—advancing, retreating, dodging, and shifting. Its application was limited and didn't count as real Movement Technique.

So, even though Lu Chen had built up some skill with true qi over seven days of accumulation, enough to last over three hundred exchanges against Huang Rong, he truly didn't know how to leap and soar.

He'd learn slowly later.

For now, there was still a ladder propped against the eaves, so getting down wasn't a problem...

The next morning.

Lu Chen put on a black fitted outfit, fastened his belt, donned a bamboo hat, and picked up the real sword Huang Rong had bought him, styling himself as a cold-hearted swordsman. He pushed open the door and stepped out.

In the courtyard, Huang Rong was already waiting for him.

Today, she wore a silver-white brocade outfit in men's style, her hair tied up in a male bun secured by a small jade crown. In her hand, she held a folding fan with a sheep-fat jade pendant hanging from the handle, looking just like an exquisite, handsome young master from a noble family.

Unfortunately, she was too delicate and pretty—anyone who wasn't blind could tell at a glance she was a woman in disguise.

Seeing Lu Chen come out, she snapped the fan open with a shua, swaggered it a couple of times, and waved her little hand:

"March forth!"

Mo Family Martial Arts School.

Master Mo had assumed that Miss Huang hadn't shown up for over twenty days, meaning she'd given up on learning the sword entirely and he'd never collect the fifty-string final payment. But to his surprise, early this morning, Miss Huang—dressed as a handsome young gentleman—had arrived again, accompanied by her unfathomably skilled swordsman guard.

Upon hearing the news from his disciple, Master Mo hurried out to greet them, clasping his hands in a bow:

"Miss Huang, you're a busy person, it's been a while. Your esteemed presence today brings great honor to this humble school!"

"Heh, it has been a while. I'm here today to settle the final payment."

Since Master Mo had taught genuine skills, no matter how mediocre this school's Maiden of Yue Swordplay might be, Huang Rong wouldn't stiff him on the balance. She immediately signaled Lu Chen to pay.

Lu Chen counted out fifty strings of Huizi and handed them to Master Mo, whose grin stretched ear to ear as he praised Miss Huang's generosity. At the same time, he wondered:

Miss Huang only studied for one day... no, she didn't even last a full day—she just watched the sword forms once and listened to the breathing techniques twice. Did she really learn the swordplay?

That couldn't be that ridiculous, could it?

Just as he was puzzling over it, he saw Miss Huang take another stack of Huizi from her swordsman guard, fan it open with a brush, and say with a grin:

"I've come today for another matter too. I'd like to invite Master Mo to spar with my Brother Lu here. If Master Mo wins, this hundred strings are yours. Even if you lose, you'll still get ten strings. What does Master Mo think?"