A Brief Respite
After selling out a huge wholesale batch of the Evil-Warding Sword Manual, the Drunken Immortal Inn on West Zhimen Street in Fuzhou gradually returned to peace over the next few days.
Likewise, Yue Lingshan and Lu Dayou finally had some free time at the inn and resumed their morning and evening sword practice.
But unlike when they were at Mount Hua, they could eat, drink, and have fun during their free time, while the kitchen staff and shop assistants took care of everything. It had been a rather pleasant stretch of days.
By rights, they should have returned to Mount Hua, but their leader, Yue Buqun, had sent word not long ago that his party had already set out and would arrive in Fuzhou soon. He told the two to wait for a while; once the others arrived and settled their affairs, they could all return together.
So, feeling anxious and uneasy, the two stayed there for the time being.
As for today—
In the inn's back courtyard, the afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves of the enormous parasol tree and dappled the flagstones. Yue Lingshan and Lu Dayou were practicing their swords in the shade, as usual.
Meanwhile, a certain troublesome little rascal sat on the vermilion railing, swinging her short legs. She held two glistening candied hawthorns, taking a bite from one and then the other.
"..."
(￣~￣) Chomp!
Crack!
Each time she bit into one, the candy shell shattered with a particularly crisp sound in the quiet courtyard.
Fortunately, Yue Lingshan and Lu Dayou were both focused on their practice, so the tiny noises didn't distract them.
Whoosh—!
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Whoosh—!
Two different flashes of sword light crossed through the courtyard. Yue Lingshan wielded her paired swords like swimming dragons: the Huashan sword technique