Shaoxing Prefecture City.
Lu Chen, dressed in a fitted black outfit, carried a long sword in a black scabbard and wore a bamboo hat that concealed half his face, revealing only the part below his nose. He walked silently at Huang Rong's side.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a straight back. Paired with his current swordsman's attire, he really looked quite intimidating as long as he did not make a move.
At least as they walked down the streets of the prefectural city, even with a delicate young beauty like Huang Rong beside him—enough to astonish anyone at first glance—not a single rogue or idler who failed to see through Lu Chen's true abilities dared come over and harass them.
Huang Rong wore white as pure as snow, her hair bound with a golden ring. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked about, and her steps were light and lively. She was even softly humming a tune. Listening closely, it was the very song Lu Chen had sung for her, "Laugh of the Jianghu."
After strolling through the streets for a while, Huang Rong spotted a martial arts school and immediately led Lu Chen over.
Two disciples were chatting at the entrance. When they saw such an incomparably radiant and charming young woman approach, their eyes lit up, and they hurried forward with smiles all over their faces.
"Miss, what brings you to our school?"
Huang Rong did not waste words and asked directly.
"Does your martial arts school teach Maiden of Yue Swordplay?"
"Zhao Maiden Swordplay? Well..." One disciple said helplessly, "Our master teaches Grand Ancestor Long Fist and Coiling Dragon Staff Technique."
Seeing Huang Rong's bored expression as she turned to leave, the other disciple quickly tried to stop her.
"Please wait, Miss. Our master's Grand Ancestor Long Fist and Coiling Dragon Staff Technique are different from those commonly found in the martial world. Our master has unique skills..."
Unique skills?
Could they possibly compare to the unique skills of the Five Greats of the World?
Huang Rong curled her lips. Too lazy to say more, she led Lu Chen away, leaving the two gatekeeping disciples full of regret.
It did not matter that this one was unsuitable. Huang Rong soon found another martial arts school with Lu Chen. After asking the disciple at the gate, she learned that this school specialized in teaching Maiden of Yue Swordplay.
Huang Rong then brought Lu Chen inside to see for herself just how good this school's swordsmanship was.
When the master of the school heard from his disciple that a young lady of extraordinary bearing, seemingly the daughter of some noble household, had come calling with a profound and unfathomable-looking swordsman guard, he hurried out to greet them. From several steps away, he cupped his hands and smiled.
"I am Mo Huaiyuan, the unworthy master of the Mo Family Martial Arts School. Forgive me for failing to welcome such distinguished guests from afar. May I ask this young lady's honored surname? What guidance do you seek from our humble school?"
Huang Rong clasped her hands behind her back and raised her chin slightly, looking thoroughly pleased with herself as she answered in a clear voice.
"My surname is Huang. My companion's surname is Lu. We're here to learn swordsmanship."
Learn swordsmanship?
Master Mo looked at the black-clad Lu Chen beside Huang Rong, holding a long sword and wearing a bamboo hat, his aura "cold and aloof." You already have a sword-wielding guard who looks like a great master. Do you really need to come to a tiny private martial arts school like ours to learn swordsmanship?
Still, pampered young ladies from wealthy families often had wild fancies and did whatever occurred to them. It was perfectly normal for them to behave differently from ordinary people. Take the famed and brilliant Layman Yi'an, for example—had she not enjoyed drinking herself senseless, playing mahjong, and even trading insults with others?
So it was not impossible for a wealthy young lady to ignore the profound swordsmanship of her household guards and come to learn the common Maiden of Yue Swordplay.
After all, although the Maiden of Yue Swordplay now circulating in the martial world had become commonplace, legend had it that its origins were extraordinary. It was said to be a peerless Divine Sword bestowed by Heaven through the hands of a divine ape upon the Founding Master of Maiden of Yue Sword.
Perhaps this young lady had heard the legend of the Maiden of Yue Sword and thought so highly of herself that she believed she could reconstruct the true form of that Divine Sword?
Master Mo immediately said with a beaming smile.
"So it is Miss Huang and Mister Lu. A pleasure, a pleasure. It is our school's honor that Miss Huang thinks highly of our swordsmanship..."
"Hold on!"
Huang Rong raised a hand to stop Master Mo and said with a grin.
"There are many branches of Maiden of Yue Swordplay, some good and some poor. Though we wish to learn swordsmanship, we are not willing to learn just anyone's swordplay. How much of the real thing does your school's Maiden of Yue Swordplay possess?"
Master Mo chuckled.
"Let me tell you, Miss Huang. Though I am not particularly capable, I have a junior martial sister who is quite renowned throughout Jiangnan. Has Miss Huang heard of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan? Han Xiaoying, the 'Maiden of Yue Sword' among the Seven Heroes, is my junior martial sister."
"Oh?"
Huang Rong lifted her delicate brows, the corners of her lips curling upward slightly. She felt that this fellow was probably borrowing a tiger's hide to boast.
After all, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan were said to have vanished from the martial world over a decade ago, and no one knew where they were now. Even if this fellow was lying, Han Xiaoying, the "Maiden of Yue Sword," could not possibly come expose him.
Of course, Huang Rong could not be bothered to expose him either.
Lu Chen had no particular requirements for the rank of a sword technique. As long as it was swordsmanship capable of cultivating Internal Energy from the outside in, it would do. So she said leisurely.
"Since Master Mo is a fellow disciple of Han Xiaoying, the Maiden of Yue Sword, your swordsmanship must be quite impressive."
Master Mo said shamefacedly.
"I am ashamed. My aptitude is lacking, and my martial arts are far inferior to Junior Sister Han's. However, Miss Huang may rest assured. Though my martial arts are nothing special, I learned all of my school's swordsmanship. If my skill is poor, it is only because I am dull-witted and failed to achieve what Junior Sister Han did. But when it comes to teaching disciples, I dare guarantee that in all of Shaoxing Prefecture City, my standard of instruction is absolutely second to none."
Huang Rong smiled faintly.
"In that case, could Master Mo have one of your disciples demonstrate some swordsmanship for us? Let us broaden our horizons."
Since distinguished guests wished to observe a disciple's ability and verify the school's teaching standard, it was only proper. Master Mo naturally did not refuse and immediately ordered the school's senior disciple to demonstrate.
The senior disciple was a young man in his twenties. After receiving his master's order, he stepped forward with a wooden sword and began practicing with utmost seriousness.
Although Maiden of Yue Swordplay was widespread and had countless practitioners, only Han Xiaoying had ever made a name for herself with it.
And even then, she had made that name together with the other six freaks.
This showed that the Maiden of Yue Swordplay passed down today was truly lacking.
At least in Huang Rong's eyes, Master Mo's prized senior disciple's swordsmanship was utterly ordinary. She could easily knock him down with one hand tied behind her back and no weapon at all.
The only thing worth praising was that his swordsmanship fundamentals were fairly solid, and his footwork was barely passable. He also had a corresponding breathing and meditation method, which could indeed cultivate Internal Energy.
Still, with such mediocre swordsmanship, one could not expect the Internal Energy cultivated from the outside in to be particularly powerful. Ten years of hard work would probably not compare to a single year of her Peach Blossom Island Internal Cultivation.
Of course, this was actually the general standard of Maiden of Yue Swordplay, so there was no point expecting too much—Han Xiaoying could be considered an anomaly among its many practitioners. Perhaps her talent for martial arts was genuinely excellent, or perhaps the Maiden of Yue Swordplay her master had taught her had already been refined and improved, differing from the widely circulated common version. That was why she had been able to make a name for herself with it.
Huang Rong quietly asked Lu Chen.
"Do you want to learn this school's Maiden of Yue Swordplay?"
Lu Chen said, "Can this school's Maiden of Yue Swordplay cultivate Internal Energy?"
"Mm. The swordsmanship itself is legitimate. It has footwork and breathing techniques too, but it's far too ordinary."
"That's fine. As long as it can cultivate Internal Energy."
"Then we'll learn this school's swordsmanship?"
"That works."
Lu Chen nodded, and Huang Rong stopped being picky. She said to Master Mo.
"How much is the tuition for learning your school's swordsmanship?"
Master Mo replied with a beaming smile.
"For swordsmanship alone, it is only one string of cash per month. If you wish to learn the breathing method as well, that will be another ten strings. In addition, our school has an ancestral medicinal broth for strengthening the sinews and bones and replenishing vitality and blood. Its medicinal toxicity is extremely mild. You may drink three bowls daily, and each bowl costs only two hundred copper coins."
Although Huang Rong never cared much about money, she would not let anyone treat her like a fat sheep. She immediately frowned.
"If you deliberately delay and refuse to teach the swordsmanship and breathing method in full, wouldn't I waste several years without ever learning the entire art?"
Master Mo smiled.
"Miss Huang worries too much. I have run a school in this prefectural city for many years, and my teaching ethics are well known. How could I do something that would ruin my own reputation? If Miss Huang is concerned, then how about this? One hundred strings of cash—only one hundred strings. That includes both swordsmanship and the breathing method. Miss Huang may study for as long as she wishes, until she has mastered them. Hmm, you may pay fifty strings first and the remaining fifty after you have learned them."
Only then did Huang Rong nod in satisfaction and make the decision on the spot.
"Then we'll take the one-hundred-string option!"
What a generous customer!
Just as expected of a wealthy family's daughter!
Master Mo was instantly filled with respect. Cupping his hands, he said.
"Miss Huang, rest assured. When I teach swordsmanship, I will certainly hold nothing back."
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