"Then which one do you most enjoy learning?"
"... Most enjoy?"
"Yes... I remember when we first met, weren't you utterly absorbed in that newly learned move, [Clouded Sky Obscures Eyes, Lost Feathers]? You got out of your reclining chair in the middle of the night to practice it, unable to put it down."
Pei Ye remembered that first meeting and lowered his head with a strained smile. "You must have found me laughable, Miss Ming."
"I didn't." The woman looked at him gently. "But now, how has it become a matter of 'can learn,' 'must hurry to learn,' and 'useful to learn'?"
"..."
"Whichever you like, we'll use it to build your Sword Ladder." The woman turned back, her voice even. "Of course, if you insist on pursuing what's 'most useful,' that's fine too."
"What I like..." Pei Ye was momentarily stunned. Indeed, at some point, this had become a somewhat unfamiliar question. "I... let me think about it some more, Miss Ming."
Ming Qitian nodded. "There's no hurry. You have excellent talent yourself, and this past month has already demonstrated it fully. My guidance in your Sword Dao amounts to nothing more than 'teaching methods' and 'pointing the way.' As for the rest, whatever sword art you study now, I'll watch over it all and help you learn a little faster."
"... Mm." Pei Ye answered somewhat distractedly.
They rode on in silence until the sky began to darken and the sun leaned westward.
They left the forest path, crossing many rises and winding stretches, until Bowang City was no longer visible behind them. It was on this open, level ground beyond the forest that the distant silhouette of a mountain appeared, its deep green hidden in mist.
It stood beneath the horizon, veiled behind the gathering dusk,