"I found the Jade Shadow you used this morning rather stirring too, miss. Or rather, I'd like to see all the sword arts of your Emerald Feather Sword Sect," Pei Ye said honestly.
"That makes things easier." Li Piaoqing nodded. "To be frank, I don't want to show this sword art to others lightly. Could we spar using 'Finger Sword' first? If we really gain something, we can explore it further; if not, we can stop early without revealing our trump cards to each other."
The idea sounded good, but-
"What is 'Finger Sword,' Miss Li?"
"Huh? You've never played it?"
"I haven't."
"It's like this." Li Piaoqing held out a hand and spread her fingers before Pei Ye. "'The hand channels the heart's intent; the five fingers are like five limbs.' In principle, any sword art we've practiced with our bodies can be expressed in another way through our hands, without losing its essential character. It's a common game among sword cultivators, and a way to spar without overstepping."
"Oh." Pei Ye nodded repeatedly. "That's really good."
"So you don't know how to play?" Li Piaoqing looked a little disappointed.
"I can learn."
"It isn't that quick. Your hand needs time to familiarize itself before it can draw out the sword arts within your body." The girl smiled rather helplessly.
"It's fine. I learn things quickly. Teach me."
"All right, then." As the girl considered another way to carry out their sparring session, her hand had already unfastened a little bronze strip from her waist.
Pei Ye looked closely. It was a miniature sword.
Then he looked again at its shape...
"Look, this is the first move of 'Jade Shadow.'" The girl suddenly turned her fingers, spinning a beautiful flourish across them, then hooked the hilt with her little