Disappointed Mistress; Ashamed Mistress

The icicles on the eaves reflected tiny golden rays in the morning light, You Su leaned against the corridor pillar, gazing at the white-clad figure practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.

Today, He Shutong wore her hair in a high bun, giving her an even more capable air than usual. The frost-colored sword tassel flowed with the sword's movement, trailing a clear, cool arc of light on the snow.

You Su unconsciously stroked the scabbed wound on her left rib, the scent of medicine mixed with lotus fragrance seemingly still lingering on her fingertips.

Although his Mistress remained dignified as usual these past two days, the slight trembling of her fingertips when handing him medicine, and the faint red smudges behind his ears when bandaging him, were like fine snow falling into a charcoal brazier, stirring a secret joy in his heart.

"Mistress."

He Shutong's sword tip curled into a frost-like pattern, and as she turned, her wide sleeves billowed like crane wings. "Can I get a place to stay now?"

"It was clearly my Mistress who wouldn't let me go down," You Su said playfully, walking closer through the snow, the crisp sound of her boots crushing ice crystals mixed with a hint of joy.

In reality, You Su would never dare to tease He Shutong with such a sarcastic tone, for he was afraid of doing anything out of line that would damage his image in his Mistress's eyes.

Only in dreams where the two are intimate can he say slightly disrespectful things and do slightly irreverent things, like a truly immature boy. In reality, it is You Su testing the boundaries of their relationship.

Such cautious probing was He Shutong couldn't refuse, and it always reminded her of the poor blind boy who stood blankly outside the door trying to get closer to her. She had already coldly rejected him so many times, how could she bear to shut him out again? Besides, she You Su's occasional jokes and coquettishness quite amusing, and secretly felt delighted.

"Since I told you not to get out of bed, why did you still run out?" He Shutong asked knowingly. Of course, she knew why You Su was in such a hurry to get out of bed, and that was why she deliberately delayed...

"It was while I was lying in bed meditating that I gained some new insights into the method of fusing sword intent, which is why I couldn't wait to show it to my Mistress."

You Su was clear. He knew that his Mistress was reserved and gentle by nature. He could never directly say that he wanted to practice swordsmanship with Mistress, as that would only arouse Mistress suspicion. This indirect approach was the best way.

As expected, He Shutong raised her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this. She actually wanted to delay a little longer, but hearing the young man say that he had new insights, she couldn't help but waver.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. How can we rely on mere speculation without helping him verify things?

"You've gained new insights in such a short time?"

"Yes! I also find it incredible. It must be because my Mistress is by my side. Being influenced by her sword immortal Mistress has allowed me to develop a clear sword heart."

He Shutong felt slightly embarrassed upon hearing this, and was secretly annoyed that the young man himself had exceptional swordsmanship, yet he insisted on saying that it was because of her good teaching. She knew at once that these words were flattery, but for some reason, she, who was usually quiet and elegant, would feel happy because of these flattering words, and even greedily wanted to hear more.

"You're so talkative," she muttered under her breath, then straightened her face and adopted the demeanor of an elder. "Young people should avoid being overly ambitious. Answer three questions for me first. If you answer them all correctly, then I'll believe that your understanding is reasonable and well-founded. If you don't answer them correctly, then go and solidify your foundation and put this idea aside for now."

"Please ask, Mistress!" You Su knew that his Mistress would not easily grant his wish, so he patted his chest and made a solemn vow.

Looking at the sparkle in the boy's eyes, He Shutong suddenly remembered something that both embarrassed and delighted her—yesterday, when she briefly regained consciousness, she found herself in front of the snake sisters, listening to the still unconscious boy repeatedly murmuring 'Mistress'...

Her fingertips unconsciously curled beneath her wide sleeves, but her face remained calm and composed.

"For the first question, recite the annotations for Chapter Seven of the Lotus Birth Sword Manual to me. All you need to do is..."

Before the words were even finished, You Su had already spoken up:

"The sword is made of black iron, with the soul of a pure lotus. The seventh chapter, 'Snow Mud Swan's Footprints,' draws inspiration from snow falling into a cold pool and wild geese flying without a trace. The sword's momentum is like icicles falling to the ground in three layers: first, shattering into dust; second, splitting into frost; and third, transforming into spring water..."

He Shutong's beautiful eyes widened slightly, feeling surprised. She had only explained the main text of the Sword Manual to You Su four or five times, but what she asked You Su to memorize was not the main text of the Sword Manual, but the annotations below it. Her original intention was just to have the boy express the meaning of the key points, but who knew that the boy would recite it word for word.

Even though You Su had cultivated the ability to remember everything he heard since childhood, he must have put in a lot of effort behind the scenes to achieve such a level. However, his hard work behind the scenes should not be underestimated. On the contrary, He Shutong felt that the boy genuinely wanted to learn the Swordsmanship she was so proud of.

It was precisely because he valued it that he worked so hard. He Shutong felt a warm glow in her heart and wanted to teach him all her skills without reservation.

You Su recited fluently, he caught a glimpse of his Mistress's eyes flickering slightly out of the corner of his eye, and he knew that his efforts had not been in vain.

"Mistress, is there any mistake or omission?"

He Shutong tilted her head slightly, gazing at the swaying golden light on the icicle, and the strict teacher's demeanor she had just adopted softened again:

"It seems you're really taking this to heart. I was worried you wouldn't be able to memorize all this tedious text. But being able to recite it perfectly doesn't mean you've truly understood it. Look at this morning light reflecting off the snow; how about we cut it down like 'Snow Mud Swan's Footprints'?"

You Su seized the opportunity to take a half-step closer. "Is this the second question?"

He Shutong was taken aback, and her tone was surprisingly coquettish, something she rarely showed. "Does your Mistress have to measure things to test you?"

You Su scratched his head and chuckled, "If Mistress wants to test me, I'm willing to answer even ten thousand questions."

He took his Wooden Sword, and as he took a half-step forward, the ice crystals crushed by the soles of his boots perfectly echoed the sword's momentum, "The first strike should be a powerful burst of energy to cut through its golden light, the second to shred the snow shadows, and the final strike..."

Seeing this, He Shutong nodded slightly, once again marveling at the boy's exceptional talent. He not only put his heart into it, but he had also truly grasped its essence.

Before You Su could even ask for praise, He Shutong subtly retreated to the old tree and picked up a red calyx that had fallen on her shoulder.

You Su was somewhat taken aback, wondering what his Mistress intended to do, when suddenly he heard the Fairy's clear voice:

"The third test."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly pointed her fingers together as a sword and thrust it towards You Su's brow, her penetrating aura condensing into a tangible frost.

You Su neither dodged nor evaded; instead, the Wooden Sword slid half an inch out of his sleeve—he met the attack with the hilt.

With a clear clang, the frost shattered into stardust upon touching the hilt of the sword.

Looking at the boy's tense jawline, He Shutong felt an overwhelming sense of guilt welling up inside her.

Why not draw your sword?

"Why did You Su draw his sword against his Mistress?" the young man asked rhetorically, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Even I could kill you. If you don't draw your sword, you'll be at my mercy."

"If my Mistress wants my life, then it must be for something. If so, Mistress please take it."

Snowflakes accumulated on the eaves fell in a soft rustling sound. He Shutong gazed at the boy's profile, gilded by the morning sun, and suddenly felt lost in thought.

So not only did he not dodge, but he also offered up the hilt of his sword...?

She bit her lower lip lightly, and for a moment, she couldn't tell whether the boy was doing this on purpose because he had seen through her thoughts, or whether he really thought that way.

Or perhaps... it's a combination of both.

He Shutong fell silent for a moment, unsure how to explain his third test question.

Her original intention was to test You Su's reaction because the two people practicing the Mandarin Duck Sword together needed to have complete trust in each other.

But actually... she already knew there was no need to test him, because if he wouldn't hide from her in his Dream-Eating Ghost form, how could he possibly hide from her real self?

But You Su's willingness to not only not dodge but also offer herself up for him to kill truly exceeded her expectations. This level of trust made her ask herself—if he wanted her life, would she willingly give it to him?

The delicate fragrance of lotus blossoms suddenly intensified, He Shutong certainly had her own answer.

"Go and fetch the sword."

When the two swords clashed for the first time, You Su finally understood what the Mandarin Duck Sword.

He Shutong's Sword Qi was like a cold pool under the moon. As soon as he got close, it stirred up thousands of ripples, but when the swords clashed, it turned into lingering threads, leading his sword intent to fall into the deeper pool.

"Lift your wrist three inches higher." He Shutong suddenly gripped the sword hilt against his back, her frosty shawl sweeping across his neck. "This move, 'Twin Fish Branches,' requires entrusting your life force to it. If you flinch..."

Warm breath brushed against his ear, You Su almost lost his grip on the sword hilt. The fragrance of the person he had been longing for was so close that he could smell it up close. He could clearly feel the fullness of his Mistress's body through the light gauze, like a spark of fire wrapped in ice and snow being thrown into his heart. Only then did he understand why the word 'Warm Snow' existed in the world.

Looking at the boy's reddened ear tips, He Shutong also felt shy.

She knew it would turn out like this...

The young man danced with her using the Mandarin Duck Sword, his movements completely unlike the leisurely ease he displayed when wielding Mandarin Sword alone. But if they couldn't even execute a single swordplay routine together properly, how could they possibly achieve a fusion of their sword intent?

The Mandarin Duck Sword dao companion Swords, are practiced by dao companion who are naturally intimate and inseparable. What distinguishes them from individual swordsmanship is the interaction between the two swords, with affection subtly embedded in the swordplay. Even if two people without feelings for each other are proficient in the Mandarin Duck Swords, they will not achieve any effect by practicing together. Therefore, it is most suitable for dao companion to cultivate together.

Although she and You Su could not be called dao companion, there was still a teacher-student bond between them. They trusted each other completely, and since they were both very skilled in swordsmanship, it was impossible for them to perform the Mandarin Duck Sword Technique so flawedly.

But He Shutong also knew that the problem lay precisely there.

If they were truly dao companion, You Su wouldn't be so unsettled by his sweet interactions with Lingruo and Wangshu. On the contrary, it's precisely because she isn't You Su's dao companion, but rather the master's Mistress he secretly covets... that the young man's Qi and Blood rushes to his head and he becomes overly excited by this excessive intimacy, causing him to lose his way.

He Shutong felt increasingly embarrassed and annoyed. She had already agreed to dance with him, yet he was only focused on things unrelated to swordsmanship...

Suddenly, she felt a pang of resentment. With a flick of her sleeves, she deliberately twirled with You Su, their black hair intertwining in the Sword Qi, like ink spreading on rice paper.

As her sword move moved towards "Only Envy Mandarin Ducks," the tip of her sword "accidentally" grazed the jade belt at his waist, and she was pleased to see the young man's swordplay completely disrupted for a moment.

"Concentrate."

She stepped back half a step and gently scolded him, hiding her shame and guilt very well, truly embodying the demeanor of a strict teacher.

You Su hurriedly grabbed his undone trousers and, blushing, fastened them back up. His slight bowing posture, however, betrayed his intention to draw his second sword.

He Shutong's sword strike was so exquisite that the ashamed young man would surely have assumed it was due to his own careless movement, unaware that the woman's sword tip had also slipped half an inch.

"If you can't concentrate, then calm down and try again." He Shutong looked at the young man seriously.

You Su gazed at the woman's snow-white skirt fluttering in the cold wind, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and twirled his sword.

"Please don't be offended, Master's Mistress. It was my failure to concentrate that disappointed Mistress."

You Su was sincere and made a gesture of apology. The female immortal knew that she was partly responsible for the young man's complete embarrassment, so she quickly helped him up. Otherwise, if the young man had only been half a beat slower in drawing his sword, his belt wouldn't have been ripped open.

He Shutong stepped forward and gently placed her hand on You Su's head, stroking it lightly. This was a common, affectionate gesture for the two in the dream, He Shutong suddenly realized that she hadn't done it to him since guessing that You Su was the real person.

"Silly child, it's not as serious as you make it out to be. I'll let you rest well, and you can practice again when you're feeling refreshed. Your Mistress is always here, she won't leave."

Her tone was gentle and without reproach, merely suggesting that the boy calm down and try again.

However, You Su stepped back half a step, making He Shutong was enjoying her disciple's obedience, inexplicably feel a sense of emptiness in her hands, which also reached her heart.

"Mistress, I am now clear-headed and full of energy," the young man said confidently, bowing with his hands clasped.

He Shutong was slightly taken aback at first, then felt a faint sense of embarrassment and annoyance.

She felt ashamed and only wanted to help him comprehend the sword intent, but the boy was unreliable and distracted. She didn't even take the opportunity to cut off their joint training, but told him to think it over before coming back. However, he ignored her advice and only wanted to be intimate with her.

This left the female immortal feeling disheartened. Of course, she knew that the young man harbored desires for her, and that she had agreed to train with him under such circumstances because she felt that he needed her help. That little bit of inappropriate contact was nothing more than a helpless yet natural bonus.

But the boy's behavior at this moment wasn't even putting the cart before the horse; it was truly abandoning the essential for the trivial. Did he perhaps have absolutely no desire to learn swordsmanship, and merely want his coveted elder to swallow his shyness and pretend to be his dao companion?

"Who can be feeling groggy one minute and then suddenly claim to be perfectly alert the next? At the very least, you should go wash your face."

He Shutong felt a little disappointed in the boy for the first time, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh to him. She patiently tried to dissuade him and was willing to give him a chance to correct his mistakes.

"Mistress, I'm serious." You Su suddenly drew his sword to his chest. "I was distracted because I was influenced by Mistress sword spirit when Mistress were practicing together just now. I suddenly felt that my newly acquired insights were sprouting again, and my mind was filled with many thoughts, which is why I couldn't keep up with Mistress Swordsmanship. Please believe me, Mistress's wife, my mind is clear now, and I will definitely be able to concentrate without any distractions!"

The young man spoke each word with certainty, which made He Shutong's beautiful eyes widen slightly, and she felt deeply ashamed.

She then realized that she had misunderstood the boy based on preconceived notions.

He wasn't focused on the thrill of their inappropriate interaction; he was contemplating the deeper meaning of swordsmanship.

He was also tainted by his Mistress's sword heart...

He Shutong felt that these words were so ironic, like a bright mirror reflecting her cold-heartedness.

She recalled the rehearsal earlier; although the boy was a beat slower due to distraction, the result was still unsatisfactory. Didn't she bear any responsibility whatsoever?

She dared not get any closer, dared not press herself any more tightly, dared not let him smell her scent...

The one who's been bothered by these intimate moments isn't him, but herself...

I shouldn't have stopped here, but I really can't finish writing anymore. I've been working overtime lately, sob sob.