Swallow Dock, Canhe Manor.
Madam Wang set down her bowl and chopsticks and looked across at Murong Bo, who was drinking porridge. "How is Brother Gang coming along with his martial arts?"
Murong Bo shook his head and said vaguely, "I'm not sure. I gave him a sword manual yesterday and told him to practice it for now."
Seeing Madam Wang's displeasure, Murong Bo explained, "Young men lack resolve. I told him to swing his sword a thousand times a day. If he retreats before the difficulty, we'll leave it at that. If he still insists on learning, I'll teach him properly!"
"If you don't want to teach him, just say so. Why make things difficult for my little brother? He's never practiced martial arts before. How could he possibly swing a sword a thousand times?"
Madam Wang was furious. Though she knew no martial arts, she had been married to Murong Bo for years and had picked up some knowledge of martial training through constant exposure.
Never mind anyone else-even when Murong Fu first learned swordsmanship, he had only swung his sword two hundred times, and Murong Bo had praised his tenacity in private.
"Of course I knew he couldn't do it." Murong Bo hurriedly set down his bowl and chopsticks and gave her an appeasing smile. "I only wanted him to understand the hardships of learning martial arts and give him a scare, so he wouldn't grow arrogant. If he can thrust his sword two hundred times, I'll teach him!"
Madam Wang frowned and said hesitantly, "Isn't two hundred a bit too many as well? Brother Gang has spent his childhood studying. He's always been frail."
The corner of Murong Bo's eye twitched. He was about to speak when a maid's startled cry came from outside. He went out and saw a maid in green holding Wang Gang's arm, her eyes full of distress.
"A Qing, what are you doing?" Murong Bo barked. "All this tugging and touching-where's your propriety?"
"Ah! Master, the young master's uncle seems to have broken his arm. It hurts terribly!" A Qing hastily let go, but, worried that Wang Gang's arm would hurt, reached back to support it gently.
"Little Qingqing, if you're willing to pay attention to me, it doesn't hurt anymore!" Wang Gang said aggrievedly. "If you ignore me, my heart will hurt a thousand, ten thousand times more than my arm!"
The girl's cheeks flushed scarlet. She silently resented Wang Gang for speaking without regard for the occasion. The master was still watching!
Murong Bo glared darkly at Wang Gang. He had even started flirting with a maid from his own household. What a scoundrel!
"What happened? Who broke an arm? Brother Gang, what happened to your arm?" Madam Wang rushed out of the room, her face full of anxiety as she looked at Wang Gang's dangling arm.
"It's nothing. I just practiced a thousand sword swings yesterday, so it's a little sore and swollen!" Wang Gang waved his hand nonchalantly to show that he was fine.
"That's good, that's good..." Madam Wang patted her chest repeatedly and let out a long breath.
A Qing huffed, flung Wang Gang's arm away, and glared at him indignantly.
"If nothing's wrong, what are you doing here?" Murong Bo looked at Wang Gang in displeasure. "Go back and keep practicing your sword!"
Wang Gang laughed heartily, straightened his back, and rested his hand on his sword hilt. "While practicing yesterday, I gained a little insight. I have a sword move to put to Mr. Murong!"
Madam Wang covered her mouth and chuckled, encouragement in her eyes, then glared at Murong Bo, plainly conveying that if he dared forget to hold back, she would never let him hear the end of it. Murong Bo looked utterly helpless.
"Sword, come!"
Wang Gang shouted, drew his longsword, and thrust straight at him. His footwork was nimble, his movements swift, and his sword tip flickered high and low through countless variations.
Murong Bo neither dodged nor evaded. He curled a finger and flicked it squarely against the blade.
Clang!
The sword rang out. Wang Gang felt his hand go numb, as though an electric current had passed through it, and could no longer hold on.
Clatter!
The longsword fell to the ground!
That was it?
Wang Gang felt rather dejected. He had planned to catch Murong Bo off guard and hit him with something big!
Seeing this, Madam Wang hastily comforted him. "You only started practicing yesterday. This is already very good! Practice a few more days, and your brother-in-law definitely won't be a match for you!"
As she spoke, she shot Murong Bo another fierce glare.
But Murong Bo's expression was grave. "How can you perform this sword style? And how did you develop internal power?"
"I learned it by reading the book!" Wang Gang put on a bewildered expression. "As for internal power, doesn't it come as soon as you practice? Isn't that how it works for everyone?"
Murong Bo said in astonishment, "How is that possible? Everyone has to temper themselves through years upon years of practice! How could you..."
Before he finished, he realized that the brat was putting on an act!
Sure enough, Wang Gang scratched his head bashfully and said modestly, "Perhaps I'm exceptionally gifted, born with knowledge!"
The corner of Murong Bo's eye twitched. He really wanted to hit someone!
Madam Wang, however, was delighted and praised him over and over, as though Wang Gang were already a peerless master who could punch Murong Bo and kick Ding Chunqiu.
"Enough! Since you've already learned this sword style, I have nothing more to teach you! Just go back and practice your sword fundamentals!" With that, Murong Bo swept his sleeve and left.
"Don't mind him!" Madam Wang glared at Murong Bo's retreating back and told Wang Gang, "He's just jealous of your talent! Brother Gang is such an excellent scholar, and so gifted at martial arts too. You'll bring glory to our Wang family's ancestors one day!"
Wang Gang laughed along a few times, then said, "Sister, I've nothing else to do here, so I'd like to go home today!"
"Ah! Why leave so soon? Stay a few more days!" Madam Wang was reluctant to let him go.
Wang Gang smiled. "We live so close anyway. Whenever I miss you, I'll come over. If I stay too long, I'm afraid you'll get tired of me like you used to!"
"You mischievous monkey, I'm tired of seeing you every day! If you want to leave, then go. Just make sure you come visit often!"
As she spoke, Madam Wang headed inside. "I noticed you liked that fruit, so I'll have them pack some for you. I also had two sets of winter clothes made for you. Take those along. The weather's getting colder and colder..."
Unwilling to listen to his sister's endless nagging, Wang Gang sidled up to A Qing, took out a bracelet, and offered it to her.
A Qing glanced at it and snorted. "So you remembered me once everyone else had picked through them!"
"How could this be something left over?" Wang Gang said with an appeasing smile. "Look, it's green-qing-and the dragonflies carved on it are qingting, with the same qing sound. I found this especially for you!"
"How thoughtful of you, preparing a gift for everyone!"
"I originally only intended to give one to A Qing! But then I thought, if A Qing alone got one, the others would inevitably tease and bully her, so I grabbed some other things at random. I never expected to end up making A Qing angry instead!"
"Was it really only meant for me?"
"Of course. We've known each other for ten years. Surely that makes us closer than I am with them!"
"You'd better not be sweet-talking me!" A Qing's lips curved slightly. She gave him a sidelong glance, took the bracelet, and put it on.
"Why would I sweet-talk you over this?" Wang Gang chuckled softly. "If I were going to sweet-talk you, it would be into coming home with me as one of my wives!"
"Ah! You..." A Qing's pretty face flushed scarlet. She stamped her foot and scolded, "Nonsense! I'll tear that mouth of yours!"
Wang Gang jumped backward, and A Qing chased him. The two began romping through the garden, one chasing and the other fleeing.
Madam Wang glanced at them, shook her head, and sighed. "So grown-up, yet still a child at heart!"
Before long, the boat was ready. Laden with bundles large and small, Wang Gang headed home with a full load.
The Murong household gathered to see him off. Before boarding, Wang Gang whispered to Murong Bo, "Spring Breeze Pavilion. Coming?"
Murong Bo's expression stirred. Before he could speak, Murong Fu overheard and asked, "Uncle, where are you going?"
Wang Gang's expression did not change in the slightest. He raised his head and declared, "Your uncle is going to the demon cave to slay demons and vanquish evil!"
Murong Fu's eyes lit up. He was about to speak when Murong Bo gave him a pat. "You're still too young. You can't go!"
The light in Murong Fu's eyes immediately dimmed.
Wang Gang smiled. "Those demons are experts at using sorcery to harm people. Though your skills aren't bad, your mind isn't steady enough yet. You'd fall under their spell! Stay home, practice hard, and temper your mind. In a few years, I'll take you along!"
"All right!" Murong Fu waved a fist. "You can't kill all the demons!"
"Don't worry. That demon cave grows new demons!"
Listening beside them, Murong Bo trembled with alarm, his eyes flicking toward Madam Wang from time to time. Seeing that the two were talking without end, he hurriedly interrupted and waved his hand. "Get going, get going!"