Gift Exchange, Poor at Swordsmanship

"This won't do."

Mao Ruoyu sighed, clutching her forehead, her face haggard.

"That scholar must have boundless energy and full yang. If this continues, I'll be the one running out of steam. I need to find a different approach."

Knock, knock.

The mansion gate was suddenly knocked upon.

Mao Ruoyu quickly patted her cheeks to clear her head and hurried out, lifting her skirt.

"Who is--"

As she slowly pulled open the gate, the gentle smile that had just bloomed on her face froze.

"Madam Mao, good morning."

Lin Tianlu, still in his clean white robe, cupped his hands with a refreshed smile. "Yesterday, Madam kindly gifted me some pastries. After enjoying them, I found them truly unforgettable – cool and smooth, soft and delicious. Truly the work of a master."

"So this morning, I specifically went to the market to purchase some household necessities. I've brought them to return your kindness, as a token of neighborly friendship."

"Ah... Thank, thank you!" Mao Ruoyu stiffly accepted the several bags of gifts handed to her.

The weight in her hands startled her. "Mister, why are these sacks so heavy? What's inside..."

"I am but a scholar and truly unskilled in the kitchen," Lin Tianlu said with a smile. "Yesterday, I heard Madam had children to care for, so I took the liberty of buying some provisions and silk. Madam can then sew some well-fitting clothes for the children in the future."

"There are also a few books on the imperial examinations, which you can preview. As the saying goes, 'Five Years of Imperial Exams, Three Years of Practice.' If I have free time in the future, I will certainly tailor some practice question sets for Madam and her children, guaranteeing top quality. The children will praise them on the spot!"

"Prac, practice question sets?!"

Mao Ruoyu's expression flickered slightly. She suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and quickly shook her head. "This grand gift is truly too valuable. Mister, you mustn't..."

"Eh! It's nothing!" Lin Tianlu waved his hand. "These are all I can afford to give at the moment. Madam, please accept them with peace of mind."

Seeing Lin Tianlu's firm attitude, Mao Ruoyu could only reluctantly agree.

After a moment's hesitation, she gritted her teeth. "Mister, please wait here for a moment. This humble one will prepare some pastries for you in return. Otherwise, this humble one truly cannot rest easy!"

"This... Alright."

Lin Tianlu chuckled and cupped his hands. "Then I can only trouble Madam. However, the pastries Madam makes are indeed exceptionally delicious, worth a thousand gold pieces to me."

"Mister is too kind."

Mao Ruoyu, carrying the silk, turned towards the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she quickly returned with an exquisite wooden box.

"Mister, please accept this."

"Madam's speed in making pastries is truly..."

"I just happened to wake up early today and made a little extra," Mao Ruoyu said with a light smile. "I hope Mister will still like them."

Lin Tianlu smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, Madam. Then I shall not intrude further and will go greet the other neighbors."

"Alright, Mister. Please take care."

Watching Lin Tianlu's retreating figure, Mao Ruoyu's smile gradually faded until she closed the gate expressionlessly.

"This guy..."

She took a deep breath, stomped her foot hard, and shouted with a face full of shame and indignation, "He actually took my Heart-Enchanting Pastry for a delicious dessert! And he said it was cool and smooth... He ate it all night, and you're supposed to make me sleep early!"

"This stinking scholar, making up 'Five Years of Imperial Exams, Three Years of Practice' – where did he get such nonsense!"

"Damn it, I doubled the amount of Heart-Enchanting Pastry this time. I don't believe you can stay awake again!"

Lin Tianlu was in a rather good mood today.

After greeting and exchanging pleasantries with all the neighborhood residents, he returned home contentedly.

"It feels good to talk to people. It seems I haven't communicated with anyone for half a month, but my mouth hasn't rusted or become clumsy."

There were no strange eccentrics among the neighbors; most were quite friendly.

The market prices were low, the variety of goods was abundant, and life was very convenient.

Truly wonderful.

Creeeak--

As he pushed open the gate, Lin Tianlu's brow twitched slightly upon seeing the scene inside the mansion.

A beautiful and graceful young woman was wielding a long sword with abandon, her movements like a beautiful dance. Sword light flowed, rippling like brilliant waves in the sunlight.

It was Hua Shuya.

Unlike the sword dance moves from when they were in the deep mountains, she was now wearing a set of light, casual clothing, which made her figure appear even more alluring and flexible. Her swordsmanship was gentle. As she continuously thrust her sword, the sound of breaking air echoed. Her black hair and the hem of her skirt danced wildly, creating a picturesque and graceful, beautiful sight.

"Hoo--"

As she finished practicing her sword forms, she held the sword hilt in reverse and let out a long sigh. Crisp applause soon rang out.

"Miss Hua, practicing swordsmanship so early in the morning, you are indeed quite diligent."

"Senior!"

Hua Shuya turned her head and her face immediately bloomed into a charming smile. "You're back!"

Lin Tianlu said with a smile, "Are you done with your business?"

"That roving bandit has been captured by me and sent to the government office." Hua Shuya sheathed her long sword and approached him with quick steps, her beautiful eyes blinking curiously. "Senior, where did you just go? The main door was only slightly ajar..."

"I went to visit a few neighbors."

Lin Tianlu lifted the pastry box in his hand. "One of the women's cooking skills is truly excellent. You should try some of these pastries later."

"Mmm! For Senior to praise her so highly, her skills must be astonishing!"

Hua Shuya tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled lightly, her elegance shining.

However, she soon noticed Lin Tianlu's gaze drifting towards her sword, and said in surprise, "Senior, are you interested in my sword?"

"It's not exactly interest, I'm just quite curious." Lin Tianlu walked into the main hall, gently placed the pastry box down, and turned back to say, "After all, I've never held a real sword before."

"Senior is too modest."

Hua Shuya smiled charmingly and handed him her long sword.

"Thank you."

Lin Tianlu grasped the hilt and gently drew the sword from its sheath, examining its sharp edge. His eyes flickered.

This sword was indeed a good sword. Even a layman like him could tell that the blade was sharp.

However, holding the sword in his hand, he felt no strange sensation.

Perhaps his spiritual energy had nothing to do with swordsmanship?

Hua Shuya, standing beside him, suddenly her eyes brightened. "Senior, could you give me some pointers on my sword forms?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Tianlu was taken aback. "You want me to guide you?"

"That's right." Hua Shuya nodded repeatedly and said seriously, "Senior's strength is extraordinary. Even if you are not skilled in swordsmanship, your martial arts realm must be far above mine. Just a little guidance from Senior would be a great gain for me!"

"I don't mind trying. But--"

Lin Tianlu chuckled, put down the sword, and quickly walked out to the courtyard. He pulled two branches from the flowerbed by the corner of the wall, broke off some twigs, and handed them to the young woman.

"Let's skip the real swords. Since it's just a sparring session... let's use branches instead, to avoid accidentally injuring each other."

"Senior is right."

Hua Shuya took the branches and pursed her lips into a reserved smile.

Senior is so considerate of me, truly thoughtful and gentle, she thought.

But after taking a deep breath, her expression suddenly changed, becoming sharp and menacing like a drawn sword, her killing intent fully revealed. Even though she held nothing but dry branches, her aura was extraordinary at that moment.

Seeing her imposing aura, Lin Tianlu's heart skipped a beat. He felt as if he was about to be overwhelmed.

Although he had defeated a lone ghost in the deep mountains back then, it was with the help of the spiritual energy within him. This power might be effective against those evil spirits, but against ordinary humans... it should be similar to common internal energy, right?

Moreover, with his current weak cultivation, he didn't know how much spiritual energy he could mobilize.

If he were to truly fight Hua Shuya, this sword prodigy, he would likely be easily suppressed.

Lin Tianlu gestured with the branches a couple of times before finally bracing himself and adopting a wobbly stance.

"...Let's begin. Cough... Miss Hua, please hold back a little later."

"Yes! Senior!"

Since Senior wants to go easy on me and show me mercy, I cannot be intimidated! I must let Senior see all my skills and abilities!

The young woman suddenly let out a low cry, her aura surging as she charged forward head-on, channeling all her strength.

Lin Tianlu's mouth twitched at the sight, and he hurriedly tried to block the attack.

The branches of both parties suddenly clashed.

"Huh?"

Lin Tianlu's expression was slightly stunned.

Looking at the branch that fell to the ground, he almost didn't react.

The branch had fallen from Hua Shuya's hand.

He thought for a moment and immediately understood.

Then, he chuckled and bent down to pick up the branch.

"Miss Hua, your acting skills are still lacking. If you want to amuse me, shouldn't you spar a few more rounds before deliberately dropping your branch?"

"I, I..."

Hua Shuya opened her mouth, wanting to speak but stopping, her posture stiff and her expression becoming somewhat complicated.