Sword Heart, Still Water.

Su Qing'an stood in front of the kitchen sink wearing an apron, his sleeves carefully folded up, revealing a section of his arm.

The boy's gaze fell on the bowls and plates submerged in foam, and a fleeting smile inadvertently flickered in his eyes.

After tacitly handing the girl a second bowl of rice, she resigned herself to her fate and revealed her true appetite.

In Su Qing'an's eyes, this was naturally a perfectly reasonable appetite.

This applies to all martial arts practitioners. If they master the correct training methods to improve their health, their energy consumption will naturally be much higher than that of an average person.

The most obvious external result is a change in food intake.

But in Fu Hua's eyes, who was still a young girl, this was somewhat contrary to a girl's modesty. She would usually try to hide this when eating out, but today Su Qing'an saw it clearly, which made the shy girl feel a little ashamed.

Fu Hua is now sitting obediently at the dining table, which has been cleaned by Su Qing'an.

She held a vocabulary study book in her hand, her blue eyes intently focused on the textbook, her delicate white fingertips occasionally lingering on a word or phrase, or turning the page.

Amidst the gentle patter of running water, the little girl is studying diligently.

This is her little habit of accumulating necessary course knowledge every day.

In the past, when her father was not around, the girl would memorize complicated vocabulary all by herself. She would deliberately turn on the TV in the living room, and the lively sounds would make her feel less lonely.

Although this approach may sometimes feel more lonely, it's still better than a desolate environment.

Her mother passed away a long time ago.

In some dysfunctional single-parent families, it is not uncommon for fathers to drink to drown their sorrows and resort to violence to vent their emotions on their children.

Fu Hua's father is a powerful martial artist who has reached the realm of Mind's Eye's Eye. He possesses a high degree of emotional self-control, abstains from alcohol, and has an upright character. These matters are undoubtedly unrelated to him.

The man and the girl's relationship is close to that of a normal father and daughter, but their tendency to be taciturn is unavoidable. Neither of them is good at finding topics to talk about, which makes their daily questions and answers always stick to a fixed set of topics.

Perhaps that's why his words to Fu Hua that day were so touching.

The regularity of vocabulary was disrupted by the sudden surge of random thoughts in her mind. The girl stared blankly at the neatly arranged words on the paper and thought to herself.

But if what his father said is true, what else can he do if he doesn't inherit the martial arts school?

Even the current studies are to ensure that I don't fall behind in my future courses in Canghai City.

As for the impact of this act of learning on the girl's future, she herself has no idea.

She doesn't seem to have many things she particularly likes.

Whether it's entertainment or hobbies, these are all dispensable to her; Fu Hua rarely makes decisions on her own to accept new things.

That's precisely why she, who isn't good at communicating with people, finds it even harder to make friends.

Without common ground, there's no conversation; without conversation, it's hard to connect.

Or rather, even if there is interaction, it is not easy to develop a friendly relationship.

She had no friends at school and was so withdrawn that she was practically invisible.

So perhaps even without those inexplicable feelings of goodwill today, as long as Fu Hua noticed the effect that [Hidden] had on the boy, she would have felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Yes.

It was like looking at another version of myself, a tiny blade of grass submerged in a sea of people, unknown and unanswered.

But that was all the loneliness she felt; it wasn't even strong enough to make the girl stand out. It was more like a kind of ailment that everyone occasionally experiences during puberty.

You always think that being alone is something to be proud of, and you always think that you are very lonely, so you fall into a moment of feeling that you are unique.

But that's just an illusion.

The girl wasn't that lonely; she was just too ordinary.

Not having friends is not normal, but her neighbors all like her very much.

It's not normal to not have a mother, but a father also has his own silent love.

Fu Hua was not much different from her peers until she met Su Qing'an today, when she inexplicably felt the sound of a scroll being torn apart.

It might sound a bit cheesy, but perhaps the title of that painting is simply "Ordinary".

[Void Sword Qi]

Fu Hua felt a sense of wonder whenever she recalled the four words the boy had just uttered.

In truth, she didn't expect any extraordinary martial prowess. Her father, being a martial artist, might have been more interested in such things, but for Fu Hua, they were insignificant.

Compared to that, her cooking skills might be even more appealing to her.

To put it bluntly, it's more about the feelings you get after learning it.

The girl values the uniqueness of these items, which clearly give her a reason to choose them.

She herself may not fully understand this, but breaking free from the original rules and principles and experiencing the novelty and wonder of the world is what propels Fu Hua down this path.

But is being ordinary really so bad?

Not necessarily.

Even if you asked Fu Hua herself now, she wouldn't get such an answer.

If the Previous Civilization had been a peaceful era, Su Qing'an might not have had the intention of teaching Fu Hua the Void Sword Qi.

But unfortunately, the reality is quite the opposite.

The Void Sword Qi is not a fun toy; it is a helpless measure that Su Qing'an could think of to protect the girl to the greatest extent possible, given that she was destined to embark on the path of Asura.

Fu Hua quietly put down her textbook. Her study time had been disrupted by her chaotic thoughts, and she couldn't concentrate on memorizing vocabulary. Her gaze lingered on the cover of the textbook, but her eyes were unfocused and she was clearly daydreaming.

The girl's posture was very proper; her back was straight, her knees were together, and a large gap between her slender thighs allowed a glimpse of the chair's surface.

But compared to the boring wood grain on the surface of the chair, the snow-white thighs hidden under the trousers are obviously more interesting. Even if the skin that is firmly covered cannot be seen, the straight lines and curves that are vaguely outlined by the jeans are very youthful and have the potential to attract attention.

Her feet, encased in white socks, were clad in slippers with a bear pattern. The arches of her feet curved slightly, and her toes pressed intimately against the plastic upper and the delicate fabric.

The girl, somewhat bored and restrained, repeated this meaningless act to pass the time.

For this usually quiet girl, this leisurely act of slacking off was quite unusual.

Of course, if you only look at her on the surface, you can only see that she has a very serious demeanor.

The sound of rushing water was quite noticeable at this moment, making Fu Hua, who was idly standing to the side, feel a sense of shame mixed with a bit of self-righteousness.

He promised to do the housework himself!

So I don't consider myself lazy.

However, the girl was not used to being idle and not doing housework, and eventually she couldn't help but secretly glance at the kitchen on the side.

From Fu Hua's perspective, the boy's quiet act of washing dishes seemed quite ordinary. The sight of him diligently soaking and scrubbing the dishes with dish soap seemed too commonplace compared to the series of magical experiences that had been unfolding before him that day, leaving Fu Hua somewhat at a loss for words to describe her feelings.

But as her gaze continued to linger, she captured details that were enough to shatter this mundane routine.

The scars on the boy's exposed arm, spreading out like branches, were quite striking. They looked like drops of blood on white paper, and the stark contrast in color gave a chilling crimson impression.

It made her feel strangely uncomfortable.

Compared to the Void Sword Qi, cooking skills, or extraordinary power—things that could significantly change her future—the origin of these scars was what concerned her most.

She strained to glance away, fixing her gaze on the dark night sky beyond the window in the distance.

Even if she cared, Fu Hua wouldn't choose to ask.

She felt that Su Qing'an was a complete stranger.

Hmm. A stranger who might be a bit strange.

In short, the girl felt that their relationship hadn't reached the point where they could ask each other about their past.

Moreover, this is a past that is clearly not something that can be touched casually.

However, Fu Hua's discreet gaze did not escape Su Qing'an's notice. Having just emerged from a long and intense life-or-death battle less than a day ago, his body was still in its most sensitive state.

Following the direction where their gazes had converged, the boy looked in that direction.

Curious about this?

Glancing at the scars on his arm, Su Qing'an was speechless; they were the result of the aftershocks of the Spear of Longinus.

Actually, his palms were the more noticeable area, but he had always chosen to cover them with slightly loose long sleeves so as not to let the other person notice.

That was the right hand that once held the Spear of Longinus directly.

It was as if the outer layer of strange petals had been wantonly peeled away, revealing the original skin color. The deep red patterns were marks given by the gods. The bizarre beauty and the ferocious feeling collided to create an indescribable scene.

If you run your finger over them, you'll find that these so-called scars don't have any uneven texture; instead, they're as smooth as perfectly normal skin, like simple, meaningless tattoos.

Su Qing'an understood the reason for these marks; the original injury should have been to the point where he had melted away his flesh, leaving only bones.

But after the restoration, the gods replaced everything with these tattoo-like scars.

The left hand remained spotless, forming a stark contrast with the right hand.

Su Qing'an whispered:

"This is the price for once holding the Holy Spear."

His voice, mingled with the clatter of bowls and chopsticks and the clear, refreshing sound of flowing water, reached Fu Hua's ears.

The girl was taken aback, but immediately realized that this was answering a question that had been buried deep in her heart.

"The Holy Spear?" she repeated the word in bewilderment.

Su Qing'an would not hide anything from Fu Hua, which was already evident from the fact that he had made it clear from the beginning.

He explained:

"Have you heard of myths and legends? The so-called Holy Spear is a weapon named after a myth."

The myths of Previous Civilization and modern myths are undoubtedly very different. The seeds of civilization in Shenzhou were spread by Chi Yuan, Dan Zhu, and Cang Xuan.

However, the myth of the Spear of Longinus is clearly not the myth they left behind. Su Qing'an herself is not very clear about where it originated, whether it was an import from Previous Civilization or a local derivative.

So he chose to explain it in a way that the girl could understand.

Fu Hua glanced furtively at the scar on the boy's arm. To be honest, she couldn't quite understand how he knew her thoughts. The feeling of being completely seen through was truly strange.

"That sounds dangerous," she said casually, but the slight bend in her arch was actually a subtle way of increasing the pressure.

Su Qing'an said softly:

"Fortunately, it's not very dangerous."

"I survived without losing any limbs, which is pretty good."

The boy tried to downplay the incident with a purely consequentialist approach, hoping to stop the girl from overthinking, but his consistent ineptitude in speaking made it impossible to ignore these obvious details.

Fu Hua was speechless; she realized that such dangerous places existed in this world.

News on television and information online—those glamorous images of peace filled every corner of the city.

While you're agonizing over how to reach the minimum spending requirement for discounts and make the most of coupons when ordering takeout today, someone else is facing a war in the dead of night, prepared to die.

The flashing blades and bloodshed seemed so abrupt and chilling compared to the discounts at the pizza shop and the new products in the coffee shop, as if they existed in two different worlds.

Perhaps, just like in some movies and TV shows, the seemingly peaceful world is actually rife with undercurrents, and a group of people are waging a terrifying war in an unknown underworld. They may be fighting for certain interests, or they may be united to face the crisis facing humanity.

Su Qing'an came from that world and unintentionally arrived in a city that maintained superficial order, where she eventually met Fu Hua.

This actually aligns well with the worldview that young people expect.

And the people she meets later will teach her amazing skills, which sounds like the standard treatment for a protagonist.

Starting with a close-combat expert who combines the elements of a fighter, a master, and a handsome young man, plus a seemingly cheat-like Void Sword Qi, is simply the most quintessential game.

But Fu Hua sensed that she was unhappy.

She couldn't easily imagine the potentially brutal battles that might occur, but just imagining the large patches of blood on the boy's body coming into view made the remaining emotional remnants in her heart begin to stir with resentment.

They were telling Fu Hua that she should be sad, but she didn't feel much sadness.

This is perfectly reasonable; why should she be sad for a stranger?

She was just a little unhappy, but that was all.

But when she realized that she wasn't feeling sad at all, for some reason, Fu Hua began to feel sad about this fact.

The idea that I wouldn't feel sad because of this sadness is a really convoluted, awkward, and nonsensical emotion.

It was so bizarre that she couldn't figure it out.

"Why fight?" The girl blurted out the question unintentionally, her mood gradually turning to frustration.

A smile, difficult to decipher, crept onto the boy's lips. He swallowed the words, letting them escape his throat, a mixture of emotions swirling within him.

"You'll understand, Hua."

"But if possible, I absolutely don't want you to ever have to understand this."

The girl didn't know how to understand the ethereal and heavy tone in Su Qing'an's voice. She instinctively realized that there was a gleaming dagger hidden within it, and that as long as Fu Hua took it out, she could tear apart the surface of the world and see another absurd and ridiculous world that she could hardly imagine now.

"I want to learn the Void Sword Qi," she said abruptly, as if the Void Sword Qi were the dagger that could reveal the truth.

Su Qing'an did not object; this was exactly the outcome he had hoped for. He turned off the tap and, while wiping the wet porcelain bowl with a clean cloth, replied:

"You can sit on the sofa first. I'll teach you the Sword Heart Technique in a bit."

"Sword Heart Technique?" the girl murmured, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Su Qing'an explained:

"This is considered an introductory chapter to the Void Sword Qi. I don't know how long it will take you to master it, but for you, it should be quite fast."

Fu Hua walked step by step to the sofa, sat down obediently, and asked:

"Why do you think I'll learn quickly? Does it have anything to do with my aptitude for martial arts?"

Su Qing'an thought for a moment before answering:

"These are also reasons."

But the real reason he didn't say was simply because he was going to teach Fu Hua, so he subconsciously felt that she wouldn't cultivate too slowly.

Su Qing'an neatly placed the bowls and chopsticks in the cupboard and stepped out of the kitchen. He deliberately sat a distance away from Fu Hua to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.

Then he said seriously:

"The Void Sword Qi is divided into five elements, and the Heart Essence is the first element among them. The so-called Sword Heart Technique is a method of cultivating the Heart Essence."

"And cultivating a sword heart is the original purpose of practicing the Sword Heart Technique."

The girl asked:

What is Kenshin?

"Like the Mind's Eye that martial artists talk about?"

Su Qing'an nodded in agreement:

"Similar, yet subtly different."

The so-called "sword heart" is, in layman's terms, a method for getting the body into a competitive state. It is a way to completely empty oneself and feel every bit of one's own power. Theoretically, martial artists who have reached the state of "Mind's Eye's eye" in martial arts can do the exact same thing.

The Sword Heart Technique Su Qing'an is about to teach Fu Hua is a strange and inexplicable syllable, consisting of 462 notes. Its mystery lies in the fact that reciting, silently chanting, and listening to it can temper the mind.

It has no written record and can only be passed down through personal instruction and teaching.

At that time, Su Qing'an could recite and learn the Sword Heart Technique by silently chanting those so-called simulated words, and even master the Sword Heart Stillness Technique in a few hours. Most of the reason for this was due to the intervention of the gods.

Otherwise, normally speaking, without any guidance, the uncorrected Sword Heart Technique would have been enough to block Su Qing'an's initial path.

This is also the fundamental reason why Otto, Rita, and even Fu Hua found it unbelievable that Su Qing'an could master the Void Sword Qi.

The Sword Heart Technique that Su Qing'an is now teaching Fu Hua is the Sword Heart Technique that he later learned from Fu Hua herself. Although the syllable arrangement is exactly the same, only in this way could he feel at ease at that time.

In today's context, this is yet another strange Karma.

"What's the difference?" Fu Hua asked.

Su Qing'an said:

"The difference lies in the Void Sword Qi itself. Those who cultivate the Sword Heart can see the heavens and earth as their dantian and transform their physical body into meridians. The Qi, which is regarded as the origin of martial arts, no longer needs to be hidden."

"What is Qi?" she asked, wondering, but in her heart she guessed that it was like the ether or magic in some fantasy world, and that Su Qing'an's physical qualities might be related to this so-called Qi.

The boy's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the girl's face, as if trying to conceal the chill within them. He said:

"For now, just think of Qi as an unknowable substance floating between heaven and earth. As for the rest, you'll understand later."

"Afterwards, I will recite some musical scales. You just need to clear your mind and try to silently repeat these scales along with me."

"Um."

The girl responded and sat up straight.

She placed her two small hands neatly on her knees, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes closed earnestly, preparing to listen to the mysterious musical scale that was about to appear.

"--...-...--..."

It was a wondrous musical scale that defied description with onomatopoeia. It's no wonder that it wasn't recorded in writing. Even if Su Qing'an was a genius, without divine intervention, he wouldn't have been able to recite the Sword Heart Technique at first.

Logically speaking, if such a strange and obscure musical scale were to exist, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to learn and recite it silently, let alone use the Sword Heart Technique to cultivate a sword heart.

Simply listening was a form of torture, but after the girl completely let go of herself, the boy's words were like a gradually rising tide, stirring up a sense of empathy that made her ignore these strange and obscure feelings.

As if guided by divine inspiration, she naturally began to recite the corresponding musical scales in accordance with Su Qing'an's words.

"--...-...--..."

The two voices blended together in the small room, gradually becoming indistinguishable and completely merging onto the same channel.

Fu Hua had already entered a meditative state. She remained in that proper sitting posture, her hands placed obediently, which made her look somewhat cute.

But deep down, some changes are already happening quietly and gradually.

A fiery sensation surged through my body in an instant, but then a few drops of rain extinguished all the burning heat. The invisible tides from the outside world, like a boundless ocean, cooled the lingering heat.

The rhythmic notes of the Sword Heart Technique rose and fell in the room.

In the originally pitch-black consciousness, droplets of water appeared and fell upon the darkness, revealing the order that came from nothing.

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Amidst this continuous sound, a Mind Lake slowly settled here.

In just one hour, Fu Hua's sword heart entered State of Still Water.

The sound of the Sword Heart Technique no longer echoed. Su Qing'an smiled and looked at the girl who had opened her eyes in a daze, and said:

"You learn very quickly indeed. Congratulations on reaching the first level of Sword Heart, Shisui."

Fu Hua murmured, somewhat dazed:

"It seems a little different."

The girl waved her hand subconsciously, and a gentle breeze swept by but then lingered and settled in her palm.

She clenched her fist, and the silent, invisible, and fragile charm vanished into nothingness.

"Is this Qi?"

Su Qing'an's gaze at this scene was complex. Her Honkai Energy aptitude was indeed exceptional from birth. She had only just entered the realm of sword heart and was already able to instinctively control a small amount of Honkai Energy?

She truly deserves to be granted immortality and to bear the responsibility of passing on civilization.

He responded calmly:

"This is Qi."

Hopefully... this action will lead to a better future.