The Goddess of War's Other Side

Indeed, the serene and independent figure before me, as pure and elegant as a snow lotus, is none other than Lu Qingxue.

It was the Goddess of War who pulled him into the Kendo Club through twenty Magma Fruit!

But what Mu Fan found most unbelievable at this moment was why Lu Qingxue, who was famous for her swordsmanship, would appear on the Green Mountain Peak in the early morning when there was almost no one around.

Moreover, he is depicted as a bow-wielder.

If it weren't for this climb, he probably wouldn't have known that Lu Xuejie could use a bow and arrow, and judging from her posture when she held the bow just now, she probably hadn't been practicing for just a day or two.

Under Lu Qingxue's calm gaze, Mu Fan, radiating heat, ran up to her and stood still.

Despite the intense training, my breathing remained rapid.

Lu Qingxue's large bow remained lowered. Her cold gaze first swept over Mu Fan, and after noticing the crisscrossing wounds, her pupils showed a subtle change. Then she looked at the boulder that Mu Fan had placed a hundred meters away.

She gently raised a finger behind her and softly parted her lips. "You carried... it, to the top of the mountain?"

Mu Fan glanced back and grinned, "Yeah, but I jumped up, a crouch jump."

Lu Qingxue didn't care at all about the boy in front of her being shirtless, while Mu Fan, full of doubts and lacking in social awareness, didn't seem to feel any disharmony as the two faced each other.

But if others saw this scene, it would probably be the headline on campus the next day.

Because until now, no boy has ever appeared in front of the Goddess of War like that.

Looking at Lu Qingxue, who had returned her bright and clear eyes to him after asking his question, Mu Fan couldn't suppress his doubts and asked, "Senior, what are you doing here?"

Lu Qingxue looked at him, tilted her head slightly to one side, a gesture that was inexplicably adorable.

Well, maybe "cute" isn't the right word, but Mu Fan couldn't think of a better one for the moment.

"I am practicing spiritual cultivation, and I am here every day."

Oh dear, this is awkward...

Mu Fan scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?"

Lu Qingxue's tone also carried a hint of curiosity.

"I'm training, I want to become stronger!"

Speaking of this, Mu Fan's tone was filled with high spirits.

Seeing the slightly childlike expression on the face of the muscular boy covered in scars, Lu Qingxue surprisingly put on a faint smile.

Even a slight smile at the corner of her mouth when facing a member of the opposite sex was something Lu Qingxue had never shown before.

"You're already strong enough, why do you still need to pursue anything?" Lu Qingxue asked a question that Mu Fan had been pondering for half a day.

However, this problem no longer exists.

Mu Fan's gaze swept past the picturesque woman before him, reaching towards the distant sky, his face gleaming with a light of will and conviction. "Because the path of the strong has no end!"

After listening, Lu Qingxue gazed at Mu Fan quietly and nodded gently. "I have learned something."

Seeing her like this, Mu Fan smiled sheepishly, then pointed to the large bow with its antique wooden grain in Lu Qingxue's hand. "Lu Xuejie, haven't you always..."

"To demonstrate through kendo?"

Mu Fan nodded.

"Cultivating the sword path leads to a profound sword intent, which can enlighten the mind and reveal one's true nature." Lu Qingxue gripped her longbow, her eyes calmly fixed on the bow, her voice like jade beads:

"Way of the Bow is a form of mental cultivation, where one forgets oneself and the external world, and experiences one's true inner pursuit."

Mu Fan was completely bewildered. These words, imbued with a Zen-like philosophy, were far too profound for Mu Fan. All he could do was... stare at Lu Qingxue and grin foolishly.

His understanding was simple: for the Goddess of War, swords and arrows were merely a form of training.

Seeing Mu Fan like this, Lu Qingxue showed no surprise, as if she had just stated something. She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked, "Will you have to carry that boulder down again later?"

"Kindness!"

"Why are you working so hard? Becoming stronger also requires a goal."

Lu Qingxue seemed to remember something, a hint of confusion flashing in her cool eyes.

"For what? To survive, of course!"

Mu Fan answered almost without thinking. Why ask why such a simple question?

In order to... survive!?

The last three words caused Lu Qingxue to fall into a long period of contemplation, until Mu Fan, who was opposite her, sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off and coughed imperceptibly, which brought her back to her senses.

"Senior, why do you keep engaging in these training practices?"

"I have no idea."

Lu Qingxue slowly shook her head, giving Mu Fan such an answer.

This was something he absolutely couldn't believe. The Kendo Club, the Goddess of War of Sadakawa, was telling him at this moment that she didn't know why she was doing these training exercises.

However, it was only for a moment before Lu Qingxue regained her aloof expression, though her voice lacked that coldness.

"It was a pleasant conversation with you today. I should go back now; my meditation for today is over."

"Just drawing the bow but not shooting arrows?"

Mu Fan muttered to himself, but Lu Qingxue heard him.

The aloof girl didn't speak. She raised her longbow, turned around, and drew the bowstring taut like a full moon with her right hand.

An unremarkable arrow rested on his left thumb, the mountain breeze gently ruffling his black hair. In an instant, he transformed from stillness to motion, a moment that appeared in Mu Fan's eyes.

The image of Lu Qingxue holding a bow was far more visually striking than the image of her holding a sword.

It seems that this is how she was supposed to be!

He suddenly released the three fingers of his right hand.

As the bowstring vibrated, the arrow flew off the string, and the sound of it cutting through the air hidden in the mountain wind was almost imperceptible unless one listened carefully.

A soft "ding" sounded, Mu Fan saw the arrow embedded in a boulder shaped like a reclining ox.

However, he didn't notice that the spot from before was a touch of rouge.

The Wooden Arrow pierced the stone.

Lu Qingxue sheathed her bow and slowly walked to the side, where a rectangular, silver-white metal box lay quietly on the ground.

Slowly kneel on the ground, grip the sides with your fingers and gently apply force; the box will automatically spring open.

The ancient black longbow flipped in Lu Qingxue's hand, and then, with her fingertips pressing on the bow tip, she precisely placed it into the groove as she rotated it.

Then came the quiver, containing only one arrow, which she placed into the slot under her solemn gaze.

Then take off the chest piece and place it inside.

Each step and movement was executed with indescribable focus and grace.

Mu Fan's gaze involuntarily lingered on Lu Qingxue's expression, which seemed to carry a certain faith.

Even when wielding a sword, my senior had never been in such a state.

Lu Xuejie, Way of the Bow really just a means for you to cultivate your mind...?

With her delicate hands, she picked up a black coat folded on the other side of the box and slowly draped it over her shoulders.

The flowing robes were covered by this black overcoat, which resembled a trench coat, revealing only her snow-white calves and ankles.

As Lu Qingxue closed the metal box, Mu Fan suddenly spoke up, "Senior, I have this feeling that you care more about bows than swords."

Her hands paused for a brief moment, then Lu Qingxue, head bowed, said softly, "Really?"

It might just be my imagination.

Mu Fan quickly shook his head and said, "No!"

At this moment, Lu Qingxue had already stood up and was calmly looking at him.

"I hope you can become Dingchuan Pillar in the future."

He then carried the alloy box to the other side of the mountaintop platform.

The aloof figure gradually disappeared from Mu Fan's sight.

At this moment, Mu Fan seemed to see another side of the Goddess of War.

The senior student doesn't seem as unapproachable as rumored...

**

P. S.: These two chapters are crucial; I won't say much more about the others.