Flower Too Fragrant

Huang Rong naturally agreed with Lu Chen's arrangement.

However, he also offered a small suggestion:

"Rong'er, I've only just cultivated Internal Energy, and my foundation is still too shallow. How about we wait a few days? Let me accumulate some more Internal Energy first, then we can spar in real combat."

Huang Rong had originally thought that, while he had yet to truly grow strong, she should practice with him more and rack up more "victories." Hearing this, she readily nodded and smiled sweetly.

"Mm, all right. Then we'll wait seven days. Seven days from now, we'll set out."

With the plan settled, Lu Chen celebrated that evening with a lavish meal Huang Rong had made. After chatting and playing chess with her for a while that night, he struck while the iron was hot and continued practicing his swordsmanship, accumulating true qi.

The true qi cultivated through Sword One was indeed far more powerful than the Internal Energy cultivated through Maiden of Yue Swordplay.

Whenever his true qi circulated through his body, Lu Chen could clearly feel his movements and footwork becoming lighter and swifter, his senses growing sharper, and both the strength and speed of his sword strikes improving considerably.

However, true qi consumption came with its own cost. With the meager amount Lu Chen currently possessed, he could not sustain it for long. If he enhanced himself fully, his true qi would be exhausted in five minutes at most.

Of course, for a novice who had only cultivated true qi on his first day, such endurance was perfectly normal.

To improve his endurance, all he could do was cultivate diligently and accumulate more.

Over the next seven days, Lu Chen practiced Half-Move Sword One every day, building up his true qi.

Though accumulating true qi thread by thread was rather grueling, every day he could feel his cultivation improve bit by bit, his strength steadily increase, and his endurance grow noticeably stronger.

This cultivation, with its clear positive feedback, made the already focused and resolute Lu Chen even more tireless and driven in his training.

Besides his daily sword practice and true qi accumulation, Huang Rong also sparred with him every day during those seven days.

Because Lu Chen's swordsmanship changed by the day and his cultivation steadily improved, Huang Rong could no longer maintain her winning record against him by using only Maiden of Yue Swordplay.

She not only used her Movement Technique to the fullest, but also displayed Falling Blossom Swordplay, Jade Flute Swordplay, and even Peach Blossom Island's fist techniques, palm techniques, Orchid Point Striking Hand, and other skills one after another. Only then could she ensure absolute dominance over Lu Chen, who knew only Maiden of Yue Swordplay—

Lu Chen improved far too quickly. Whenever Huang Rong brought out a new technique, she could initially catch him off guard, but after using it once or twice, even if he could not easily dismantle and counter it, he would no longer be left at a loss.

As his swordsmanship and combat ability continuously improved, even when Huang Rong suddenly used a new technique she had never shown before, Lu Chen already knew how to respond.

When faced with an unfamiliar technique, he would first guard himself carefully and remain undefeated, then consider how to block and dismantle it.

If that truly did not work, then she could fight her way, and he could fight his.

He did not care whether he could understand her technique. He only knew that his sword could threaten her all the same. He would attack her head-on and see whose moves were faster and more masterful.

With such rapid improvement, by the seventh day of sparring, Huang Rong and Lu Chen fought fiercely for more than three hundred exchanges. In the end, when her techniques could no longer do anything to him, she relied on her superior cultivation to forcibly drain all of Lu Chen's true qi before finally defeating him.

When the spar ended, Lu Chen's clothes were soaked through with sweat, his cultivation exhausted and his strength nearly spent. He could only prop himself up with his Wooden Sword and gasp like a bellows. Yet Huang Rong's lovely face was also flushed like rouge, and her budding breasts rose and fell continuously.

With one hand on her slim waist and the other wiping sweat from her forehead, she said somewhat breathlessly:

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

Lu Chen nodded as he panted heavily.

"All right."

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

"Mm."

"Tell me a story tonight."

"No problem."

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

"All right."

Night fell.

The moon hung high, and stars dotted the sky.

Lu Chen sat atop the ridge of the main house, enjoying the cool night breeze as he told a story to Huang Rong beside him.

They sat very close together.

Their shoulders were less than half a foot apart.

Huang Rong could feel Lu Chen's scorching body heat, while Lu Chen could smell the faint, refreshing fragrance lingering about her, like the scent of flowers.

Yet neither harbored any improper thoughts.

After more than twenty days of continuous hard training, practicing from dawn until midnight every day without a single day of rest, Lu Chen was finally relaxing for one rare evening. Huang Rong's captivating youthful fragrance made him feel as though he were standing in a sea of flowers still beaded with morning dew at daybreak. His heart was utterly clear and peaceful, without the slightest stray or improper thought that might defile such beauty.

Huang Rong, meanwhile, was too young and innocent to have so many complicated thoughts in her heart.

At that moment, she simply enjoyed Lu Chen's pleasant voice as he told the wonderful story. Her emotions became deeply immersed in it, rising and falling with its development—sometimes delighted, sometimes downcast, sometimes laughing freely, sometimes sorrowful...

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

"Laugh at the world—when will its grudges and debts ever cease? Evening draws near, the sunset glows; I walk alone, free of attachments... So carefree, asking not of worldly hatred, light as tea. One word in the martial world: walk upright, and fear neither good nor evil..."

Huang Rong rested her delicate chin on her hand. Her lively, star-like eyes stared unblinkingly at Lu Chen's profile. After hearing it once and remembering the melody, she softly hummed along:

"The graceful beauty leaves fragrance everywhere she goes, moonlight glimmers faintly in the mountains, evening winds blow sorrow~ like ocean waves... Come, come, fill the bitter wine to the brim, no one try to stand in my way, drink wildly and sing aloud~ sing with abandon... Flowers are too fragrant..."

When the song ended.

The two exchanged smiles. Huang Rong rose to her feet, clapped her little hands, and said with a smile:

"It sounds nice, but I feel it doesn't quite suit people our age. Tomorrow, sing me something bolder and more grand. All right, the story's over, and the song is sung. Time to rest. You're not allowed to secretly train tonight. Go to bed early and conserve your energy!"

After saying that, she gave Lu Chen a broad smile, then leaped up and floated lightly off the roof.

Watching Huang Rong's light and graceful figure, elegant as a startled swan, Lu Chen suddenly realized a serious problem:

It seemed like...

I still didn't know any proper Movement Technique?

Swordsmanship generally came with corresponding footwork, but swordsmanship footwork was meant to coordinate with techniques—positioning for attack, defense, advance, retreat, shifting, and evasion. Its applications were limited, and it could not be considered proper Movement Technique.

So even though Lu Chen had accumulated enough true qi over seven days to hold out for some three hundred exchanges against Huang Rong, he truly did not know the art of lightening his body and leaping through the air.

He could learn it gradually later.

As for now, there was still a ladder propped against the eaves over there, so getting down from the roof would not be a problem...

Early the next morning.

Lu Chen put on a black fitted outfit, tightened his belt, donned a bamboo hat, and picked up the real sword Huang Rong had bought for him. Dressed like a cold, aloof swordsman, he pushed open the door and stepped outside.

Huang Rong was already waiting in the courtyard.

Today, she wore a silver-white brocade men's outfit, her hair tied in a male-style topknot and secured with a small jade crown. She held a folding fan with a white jade pendant hanging from its handle, looking exactly like a refined and handsome young nobleman.

Unfortunately, she was far too pretty and delicate. Anyone who was not blind could tell at a glance that she was a girl disguised as a boy.

When she saw Lu Chen emerge, she snapped open her folding fan, waved it twice with great flair, then waved her small hand.

"Set out!"

Mo Family Martial Arts School.

Master Mo had thought that, since Miss Huang had not come for more than twenty days, she had completely given up on learning swordsmanship and he would never receive the remaining fifty strings of cash. Yet early this morning, Miss Huang—dressed as a handsome young gentleman—had come to his door again with her unfathomable swordsman guard.

After one of his disciples informed him, Master Mo hurried out to welcome them, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Miss Huang is a busy person of importance and has not visited in quite some time. Your presence today brings great honor to this humble school!"

"Hehe, it has indeed been a while. I came today to settle the remaining payment."

Since Master Mo had taught genuine skills, Huang Rong would not withhold the remaining payment no matter how ordinary his school's Maiden of Yue Swordplay might be. She immediately signaled Lu Chen to pay him.

Lu Chen counted out fifty strings of Huizi and handed them to Master Mo. Master Mo smiled so broadly that he could barely close his mouth, repeatedly praising Miss Huang's generosity, though inwardly he was puzzled:

Miss Huang had studied for only one day... No, not even a full day. She had merely watched the sword forms once and heard the breathing method twice. Could she have already learned the swordsmanship?

That could not possibly be so absurd, could it?

While he was still wondering, he saw Miss Huang accept another stack of Huizi from her swordsman guard. She flicked them open with a swish and said with a grin:

"I came today for another matter as well. I would like to invite Master Mo to spar with my Brother Lu. If Master Mo wins, these one hundred strings will be yours. Even if you lose, you will still receive ten strings. What does Master Mo think?"