Qian Renxue stepped forward.
Her wooden sword went straight for the side of Qian Daoliu's shoulder.
She remembered yesterday's reminder and deliberately kept her shoulder down instead of raising her arm first.
But just as she thrust the tip forward, her grandfather's wooden sword settled against her blade.
He guided it half an inch to the side.
Her sword tip veered aside with it.
The other Wooden Sword had already stopped in front of her wrist.
Qian Renxue immediately withdrew her hand.
Qian Daoliu did not pursue.
"Again."
She steadied her stance again and aimed her second thrust at his waist.
This time, she left herself room to withdraw her sword.
The moment the two wooden swords touched, she turned her wrist, trying to circle around her grandfather's blade.
Qian Daoliu took a step forward.
His sword hilt pressed lightly against her forearm.
Before her sword could circle past, her arm was blocked in front of her.
Qian Renxue stopped.
Two attacks.
She had not even touched her grandfather's sleeve.
Qian Daoliu withdrew his wooden sword.
"You only watched my sword, not where I was standing."
She lowered her head to look at their feet.
He had taken only one step.
And the distance she had left herself was gone.
Before her wooden sword could turn, her forearm had reached him first.
"Should I have retreated first?"
"You could retreat, or you could change your position."
Qian Daoliu returned to his original spot and held his wooden sword level.
"Your turn to receive the attack."
Qian Renxue settled her stance.
The wooden sword came straight toward her.
She instinctively raised her sword to block.
Qian Daoliu stopped before the blades met.
"You're preparing to meet it head-on again."
She glanced at her blade.
Sure enough, she was holding it too