Senior Brother's Lesson

Song Zhizhi:?

Song Zhizhi's left eyelid twitched. She looked outside and saw a young man in white standing with his back to her amid the flowerbeds beneath the parasol tree.

A breeze swept past, lifting his ink-black, silky long hair. He had changed into a fitted outfit today, a white jade belt cinched around his lean, upright waist, making him look like a dashing young gentleman of the martial world.

When he turned to look at Song Zhizhi, his cool, aloof features diluted that martial-world air. Instead, he resembled an immortal untouched by mortal dust, devoid of the seven emotions and six desires, yet capable of throwing a maiden's heart into utter turmoil.

Song Zhizhi slammed the door shut, her heart beating a little fast. It had to be because she had not slept well last night and her eyes were playing tricks on her. Otherwise, how could she have seen Xie Xiuji?

Sword Venerable Mingxiao looked at the wooden door that had been shut in his face, a slight frown forming between his brows. He walked over and knocked on it with his slender fingers. His clear, mellow voice passed through the crack in the door. "Song Zhizhi, come out. Stop hiding."

Song Zhizhi placed one hand on her forehead and lightly pinched the soft flesh of her thigh with the other. She hissed in pain. She could feel pain—it was not a dream, nor was it an illusion.

Xie Xiuji really was outside!

"Song Zhizhi." Sword Venerable Mingxiao knocked again.

Song Zhizhi took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and opened the door. The first thing she saw was Sword Venerable Mingxiao standing beside it.

"You..." Song Zhizhi began, but she had no idea what to say to him, nor what sort of attitude she ought to take.

Her relationship with Xie Xiuji was truly awkward. They had gone from strangers who had shared a one-night stand, to senior brother and junior sister of the same sect, and now to the parents of an unborn child.

"Did you come to teach me swordsmanship?" After turning it over and over in her mind, Song Zhizhi asked something entirely unrelated to what troubled her.

Sword Venerable Mingxiao gave a slight nod. "Naturally. I cannot decline what Martial Uncle has entrusted to me."

Song Zhizhi looked up at the man, her delicate brows knitting slightly. Was it her imagination? Xie Xiuji seemed to have changed somewhat. He had not been this cold before, nor had he spoken in such an antiquated, bookish manner.

Could it be that he wanted to draw a clear line between them?

Song Zhizhi lightly bit her lower lip, somewhat annoyed. Yesterday, he had brought her a blanket and invited her to Red Cloud Peak. Today, he was acting so strictly businesslike. He changed faces faster than turning the pages of a book.

Since Xie Xiuji was not being warm, Song Zhizhi naturally would not press her warm face against his cold backside just to reminisce. Besides, she and Xie Xiuji had no past worth reminiscing about.

Since he wanted to keep things businesslike, Song Zhizhi became polite as well.

Song Zhizhi let out a breath and gave the man a junior's salute. "Then I shall trouble Sword Venerable."

Hearing that distant, courteous form of address, the man's brows creased faintly. However, he said nothing more and only said, "Practice the Heavenly Profound Sword Art once more."

Song Zhizhi took out the standard-issue spirit sword she had collected from the steward yesterday. Recalling the sword moves she had seen within the Heart-Trial Stone, her body began to move in accordance with the images in her mind.

Song Zhizhi had learned the Heavenly Profound Sword Art in the Heart-Trial Stone, but she had studied it for only a short time. Though she remembered every move, she had not yet formed muscle memory or reached the point where she could wield it at will. Thus, she was especially serious now.

Chop, sweep, point, thrust, lift. She was a little unfamiliar with them at first, but before long, an ordinary spirit sword came alive in Song Zhizhi's hands. The leaves of the parasol tree rustled, and a few golden leaves drifted down. Sword Venerable Mingxiao froze for an instant. Her sword moves...

After completing the set, Song Zhizhi sheathed her sword with a slight pant. Within the Heart-Trial Stone, she had only been a projection of divine sense and could not feel fatigue. Outside, however, it was different. After one round of this sword art, more than half the spiritual energy in her body had already been consumed.

Still, Song Zhizhi was very happy. She had not made any mistakes in her sword moves—at least, not in front of Xie Xiuji.

She turned to look at the man, her expression a little smug. Her bright almond eyes seemed to say: Praise me, quickly.

Xie Xiuji lightly rubbed the index finger and thumb of his right hand at his side. Meeting Song Zhizhi's gaze, he awkwardly looked away and let his eyes settle atop her head. His thin lips parted as he praised, "Not bad."

Song Zhizhi's little face wrinkled. His icy expression looked perfunctory no matter how she saw it. There was not a hint of sincerity in it. Hmph!

Sword Venerable Mingxiao sensed Song Zhizhi's mood plummet in an instant, and a trace of confusion flashed through his pale eyes. Why did she seem somewhat unhappy? Was she dissatisfied with his assessment just now?

Sword Venerable Mingxiao reviewed Song Zhizhi's moves once more, carefully turning his words over in his mind before saying, "Though you did not use the wrong sword moves, your strength still lacks refinement, and the transitions between your moves are not smooth enough."

"Starting today, you must swing your sword ten thousand times every day and practice the Heavenly Profound Sword Art for two hours."

Ten thousand sword swings, two hours of sword practice...

Song Zhizhi seemed to see the painful days of cultivation awaiting her. The hand holding her sword trembled slightly.

Seeing the expression on Song Zhizhi's face, Sword Venerable Mingxiao patiently explained, "Your foundation is not solid enough. If you wish to learn other sword arts, you must first lay a firm foundation. Every disciple in the sect has gone through this."

Song Zhizhi took a deep breath. She understood that Xie Xiuji's arrangements were not wrong. There was no shortcut to ascending the heavens in a single step through cultivation. If she wanted to grow stronger, she had to start by building her foundation.

She lowered her eyes and clasped her hands in salute toward Xie Xiuji. "This disciple understands. Many thanks for Sword Venerable's guidance."

"Mm, then begin." Sword Venerable Mingxiao gave a slight nod. Yet when Song Zhizhi could not see, he frowned. For the first time, he felt that the title Sword Venerable did not sound very pleasant.

Author's Note:

Author: Is it the form of address that is the problem? I do not even want to talk about you!

Senior Brother's Lesson

Though Song Zhizhi feared pain and hardship, she did not cry tired or complain once during the morning's ten thousand sword swings. By the end, the hand holding her sword could barely lift it, but she still did her best to ensure that none of her movements became distorted.

A trace of approval appeared in Sword Venerable Mingxiao's eyes. Song Zhizhi did not lack talent, and she possessed perseverance as well. She would walk far upon the path of the sword.

After the ten thousand swings were finished, Song Zhizhi was drenched in sweat and collapsed straight onto the ground from exhaustion. Her right hand was sore and aching. She panted heavily, not even wanting to move a single finger.

Rankings

Transmigrated into a Book

Sweet Romance

Transmigration and Rebirth Romance

Tu Yanyan

Amnesia Trope