Early the next morning, a graceful figure stood in the center of the Martial Hall, his ink-black hair loosely pinned with a green jade hairpin, his brows like distant mountains, his eyes like cold stars, and a natural hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth. When Tang Yao arrived and their eyes met, he greeted her with a smile. "Hi~"
Hi, my ass!
For a moment, Tang Yao wondered whether she was still half asleep. Wasn't this that Ji Yu from yesterday??
Was this what he meant by fate bringing us together?
Wasn't fate working a little too fast?!
Before Tang Yao could finish being dumbfounded, several voices sounded beside her.
"It's actually Junior Martial Uncle teaching today. I caught a glimpse of him from afar in the sect's main hall back then and thought he was a senior brother."
"Exactly. He looks good from a distance, but up close, he's so beautiful he could be a celestial..."
"What's so good-looking about him? He just formed his core early..." a male voice said sourly. The two female disciples glanced at him, neither bothering to respond. After a dismissive "Tch," they continued discussing Ji Yu.
The male disciple: ...
"My main purpose today is to teach you movement techniques." Ji Yu went straight to the point. As his clear, gentle voice rang out, the Martial Hall instantly fell silent. The disciples grew solemn and respectful, no longer whispering among themselves. After looking around, Ji Yu seemed quite satisfied and curled his lips. "Good. Follow me to the bamboo grove nearby."
The crowd followed in Ji Yu's footsteps like a surging tide.
The morning mist had yet to disperse. Leaf shadows swayed amid the bamboo, wreathed in mist, rustling as the breeze brushed past. A little light filtered through. Walking at the rear of the group, Tang Yao noticed that Tang Xin was walking even more slowly than she was.
Tang Yao stopped and turned back, putting on the air of an elder brother. "Why are you so unenthusiastic? Hurry up and get to the front."
Tang Xin: ... Aren't you doing the same thing?
But Tang Xin did not voice her objection to Tang Yao. She answered in agreement, then quickened her pace and went ahead.
Her elder brother seemed to have a hole in her brain.
Once everyone reached the center of the bamboo grove, they saw Ji Yu up above.
"The Flowing Cloud Instruction is one of the Azure Cloud Sect's movement techniques. Learn it well, and you can not only pursue enemies but also save your life." Smiling, Ji Yu stood atop a bamboo shoot with his hands behind his back, the tips of his toes resting lightly as he hovered like a fallen feather over the leaf tips, without sinking in the slightest.
"Watch closely."
Before his words had faded, Ji Yu's figure abruptly vanished.
In the next instant, nine afterimages appeared simultaneously throughout the bamboo grove, each seeming both real and illusory.
He stepped on bamboo joints for leverage and rode the wind's momentum. Amid fluttering bamboo leaves, he tore through the air like a roaming dragon, yet remained as light as curling smoke, untouched by a speck of dust.
"I've always heard that Junior Martial Uncle's lightness skill is exceptional. A hundred tales really can't compare to seeing it once..."
"If I learn this, even if I can't beat someone, surely I can outrun them!"
"Exactly!"
"I only knew that Junior Martial Uncle taught personal disciples before. I never thought we'd get him teaching us inner disciples in person today!"
"..."
Everyone watched without blinking. Even the male disciple who had spoken sourly earlier had quieted down considerably.
"When using the Flowing Cloud Instruction to pursue an enemy, follow them like their shadow. When using it to escape, be as formless as water." Ji Yu's voice echoed through the bamboo grove, coming first from the left, then from the right, impossible to pin down. "The fastest route isn't necessarily a straight line."
A moment later, Ji Yu returned to his original bamboo tip, all smiles.
"Remember, more haste means less speed. Now, why don't you try?"
The disciples exchanged looks, hesitating to step forward.
In the end, Mu Shixue was the one who stepped forward. She thought over Ji Yu's posture from earlier, and her opening stance was fairly perfect.
When she tried to borrow momentum, the bamboo leaves beneath her feet were somewhat unstable and showed signs of slipping away, but overall, she did fairly well.
Ji Yu nodded. "For a beginner, reaching Mu Shixue's level is already quite good."
Somewhat delighted, Mu Shixue lowered her head slightly and tucked her hair behind her ear. The surrounding disciples applauded. "As expected of Senior Sister Mu..."
Meng Qi grinned foolishly in the crowd, seemingly even happier than Mu Shixue herself, and did not forget to nod along with the disciples praising Senior Sister Mu.
With Mu Shixue taking the lead, the disciples after her stopped shrinking back, all eager to try. Some lost their balance and fell instantly; others had barely stepped onto a stalk of green bamboo when it suddenly bent, lashing toward them like a whip and forcing them to dodge in a fluster.
Tang Yao did not move. Instead, she closed her eyes and focused, sensing the rhythm of the swaying bamboo leaves in the grove and how Ji Yu had borrowed momentum earlier.
Suddenly, she darted out like a swallow, taking seven consecutive steps among the bamboo and leaving behind a flash of azure as she stepped across the swaying leaves. The disciples felt only a sudden gust sweep past. Though she lacked Ji Yu's effortless grace, she had already glimpsed the threshold.
At the sight, Ji Yu's eyes brightened slightly, and he blurted out instinctively, "Good..."
Tang Yao seemed to have quite a talent.
"He's grasped it well. You can seek out your Senior Brother Tang when you practice." Ji Yu's soft voice echoed through the bamboo grove.
Tang Yao: "?"
Wait, had she said she would teach?
Tang Yao looked over, only to receive a beaming smile in return.
Damn it...
The disciples who heard this were secretly delighted. Even without Ji Yu saying so, they were no fools. Tang Yao's performance had clearly been much smoother than Mu Shixue's.
At this point, anyone who continued opposing Tang Yao was clearly an idiot. They might even get beaten up by him.
Given Tang Yao's personality, that was hardly beyond her...
The disciples crowded around Tang Yao, some even smiling fawningly. They knew their martial uncle could not come teach them personally every day. If Tang Yao could offer them a few pointers toward understanding in the future, that would be excellent too.
Watching all this, Mu Shixue lightly clenched her back teeth. As everyone around her gradually left, she could only plant one hand on her hip and avoid looking toward Tang Yao. But one person had not gone over.
After the crowd dispersed, Meng Qi alone remained. He looked at Mu Shixue with aching sympathy and comforted her.
"Senior Sister, you're already very impressive."
Mu Shixue gave this junior brother a complicated look, then frowned. "Go away. I don't need comforting."
Meng Qi stiffened and lowered his head slightly, not daring to look at her. "All right."
Mu Shixue had no time to spare for this junior brother. She clenched her delicate fingers. She absolutely could not slack off. No matter what, she had to train hard. Tang Yao was almost becoming her heart demon. But then another thought struck her, and she suddenly smiled brilliantly.
With that person around, they would surely help her.