Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Eight: A Dead Horse is Treated Like a Living Horse
Chun Lan continued to practice her sword beside the pavilion.
Young Master Sang kept sipping his tea, silently watching her without saying a word.
These two sisters had a pretty good relationship.
The older sister took care of the younger one, and the younger one worried about the older.
The only pity was that both of them hid their thoughts deep inside, unwilling to express them to each other.
“I really don’t understand you humans.”
Nian Nian leaned against his chair, crossing her delicate arms as she murmured to herself: “Those two sisters could clear everything up with just a word, maybe then they wouldn’t have to keep pretending every day.”
“They’re clearly family, they can clearly talk it out. Why are they always keeping everything to themselves?”
Hearing this, Young Master Sang sighed quietly.
“Perhaps, it’s because they are family.”
Nian Nian’s beautiful eyes furrowed in confusion as she looked at him.
“Humans are sometimes a very awkward species.”
“We often show our best side to strangers, yet we reserve the worst for those closest to us.”
“The reason is simple: strangers can’t tolerate your unreasonable tantrums, only those close to you can. So, all the pressure you feel outside gets vented on the people you care about.”
“It sounds sad, and in fact, it really is sad.”
“Sometimes, the lack of communication even comes from good intentions. The closer you are to someone, the more you only want to share the good news, not the bad, simply because you’re afraid they’ll see through your struggles.”
“The same must apply to those two sisters.” Young Master Sang shifted his gaze, becoming lost in thought.
Nian Nian looked at him suddenly falling silent and couldn’t help but ask quietly, “Host… was it like this for you too?”
“Maybe.” Young Master Sang took a quiet sip of tea. “I forgot.”
Nian Nian pouted.
Her host always brushed aside his own matters with a casual joke.
“Anyway, let’s think of something good.”
Young Master Sang suddenly set his tea down, crossed his legs, and said, “There’s a gap between those sisters, and since they don’t want to communicate properly, I can create an opportunity for them.”
“Oh, since when did you become so kind-hearted?” Nian Nian scoffed, giving him a dismissive glance.
“I don’t have any grudge against them.” Young Master Sang shrugged. “I only need to court them for the sake of the Earth Concealing Immortal Iron.”
“If I can help ease their relationship, then that counts as good karma, right?”
“You call that good karma?” Nian Nian shot him an incredulous look.
“Simple.”
Young Master Sang looked toward the clothes placed behind the screen.
Those were Chun Lan’s casual clothes that she had changed out of. Since she came to practice sword play with Young Master Sang, Chun Lan always brought an extra outfit for training.
Her own clothes were hidden behind the screen, waiting for her to change back after training.
While Chun Lan was still red-faced, feeling the sword intent from the cultivating jade, he quietly approached the screen and rummaged through her clothes.
Sure enough, he found Chun Lan’s communication device.
Nian Nian watched as Young Master Sang’s face broke into a mischievous grin when he found the contact under the name Qiu Ju and clicked to dial.
“Wait.”
“Host, didn’t you just let Qiu Ju take the cultivating jade to practice sword play next door before Chun Lan arrived?”
“Yeah.”
Young Master Sang eagerly awaited the connection of the communication device and immediately yelled into the courtyard:
“Miss Chun Lan! Someone’s calling you! I’ll answer for you!”
“…Eh?! Wait—”
Chun Lan, still caught up in the overwhelming sword intent from the cultivating jade, felt dazed and her face flushed as she heard Young Master Sang.
Immediately, she panicked.
Because she knew that the only one who could contact her through the device was her sister Qiu Ju.
But at that moment, she hadn’t snapped out of it yet, and had no idea how to face her sister.
To avoid revealing her dilemma to Qiu Ju, she had to force herself to answer the call and stammered in a flustered manner:
“Ah… Qiu, Qiu Ju… ah❤ I’m sorry… I might be late getting back❤ later… I’m, I’m just practicing my sword here… um❤ for a while longer…”
On the other end of the line, Qiu Ju’s voice came through,
“Uh… is that so❤… Sorry, sister, I’m also practicing my sword here at the square… ah, I can’t take it anymore, practicing sword is so enjoyable…”
Chun Lan: “?”
Qiu Ju: “?”
Nian Nian remained silent for a long time before turning to give Young Master Sang a disdainful look.
“…You call that good karma?”
Ahem.
Satisfying his own bad taste could also be considered good karma, right?
Young Master Sang cleared his throat, ignoring her, and continued to enjoy watching the sisters desperately try to hide their true feelings from each other.
This was just so satisfying.
——
——
In the evening, when Chun Lan returned home.
It seemed that Qiu Ju had just stepped in moments before, having changed clothes as she came out from her room.
“I’m back.”
Seeing Chun Lan walk past her in a daze, Qiu Ju bit her lip and asked softly,
“Did you practice sword at the training ground today?”
Chun Lan’s body trembled slightly, feigning calmness. “Yeah.”
“But, but when I passed by the training ground, I didn’t see you.”
“…Maybe we just missed each other. Weren’t you practicing sword at the square? I didn’t see you there either when I passed by.”
Qiu Ju fell silent, lowering her head.
The two of them remained silent.
The atmosphere felt somewhat awkward, and it was Chun Lan who spoke first, “In a couple of days, it’s the Sword Palace’s big competition.”
“Last time, we tied in the end.”
“This time, I will definitely win against you.”
Qiu Ju bit her lip and said softly, “I won’t lose to my sister!”
Seeing Qiu Ju speak with such determination, Chun Lan was taken aback for a moment but couldn’t help but scoff, “You can’t do it. You’re so gentle; you won’t have enough strength to wield a sword.”
“I’ve made a lot of progress during this time; you can’t beat me. The younger one should just obediently hide behind the elder sister.”
“No!” Qiu Ju’s beautiful eyes suddenly filled with tears, and she murmured pitifully, “Why must I definitely lose to my sister?”
“I-I have also improved a lot during this time!”
“You’re so annoying!” Chun Lan suddenly snapped, “You have no idea what I’ve been through in this time!”
“You don’t know the cost I’ve paid to improve my swordsmanship…” Her voice grew softer, her expression complex.
Qiu Ju trembled violently.
Her beautiful eyes welled up with sorrow, and she bit her lip tightly.
“So… what Young Master Sang said was true…” she murmured incomprehensibly.
“What?”
Chun Lan didn’t catch her words.
But Qiu Ju suddenly burst into tears, looking at Chun Lan with heartbreak and resolve, then she quickly covered her mouth and fled back into her room.
“Chun Lan is such a fool!”
“Hey, Qiu Ju—”
Chun Lan couldn’t stop her.
She could only watch as her sister ran into the house.
She felt a bit guilty and scared, wondering if she had upset her sister.
But if she thought about it further, she felt wronged.
Why couldn’t her sister understand her goodwill?
I’ve clearly given so much just to become stronger and protect you.
Why can’t you be a bit more considerate?
Grinding her teeth, Chun Lan ultimately did not go to apologize to Qiu Ju.
She stubbornly returned to her own room.
In her room, Qiu Ju also wrapped herself in the blanket, weeping with grievance.
…Sister is such a fool.
I’m clearly not a child anymore.
I clearly don’t need to go so far just for me.
Why didn’t you tell me about the serious matter of secretly learning forbidden techniques?
Is it worth it to risk being expelled from the palace for me?
After sobbing quietly for a long time, Qiu Ju silently wiped her eyes, a glimmer of determination flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Sword Palace’s big competition.
No matter what, I must win against my sister.
I’ll let her know that I’m no longer that coward who only hides behind her.
As long as I win against my sister, she’ll give up on practicing forbidden techniques…
Thus, the two sisters each went to bed with their own thoughts.
Awaiting the arrival of the ultimate competition in two days.
——
——
The day before the competition.
Gu Yingmian was sitting in the main hall of the Sword Flower Palace.
In her arms lay the Dream Jun Sword.
The strange feelings from the Dream Jun Sword had been growing more pronounced recently.
At first, it only felt less responsive than before, which she could accept.
But in the last few tries, when Gu Yingmian attempted to use the Dream Jun Sword, she even felt a hint of fatigue and resistance.
This left Gu Yingmian greatly puzzled.
This situation had never occurred with the Dream Jun Sword before.
“Lady Palace Master~”
At that moment, Young Master Sang’s voice echoed from the entrance: “I’ve come to find you to practice swordplay, what are you doing?”
“Ah, Young Master Sang.”
Gu Yingmian stroked her beloved sword on her lap, a hint of worry appearing in her beautiful eyes: “I’m currently diagnosing the Dream Jun Sword.”
“I don’t know why, but it seems the Dream Jun Sword has some issues lately, and it’s not as easy to maneuver.”
Young Master Sang was shocked, immediately prostrating on the ground, pleading: “It’s broken! Did I accidentally damage the Palace Master’s sword again? Please punish me!”
“There’s no need for that, it shouldn’t be Young Master Sang’s fault.”
Gu Yingmian wasn’t certain in her heart.
The Dream Jun Sword was the palace’s legendary weapon passed down for generations. When her master bequeathed the Dream Jun Sword, its rank was already half-step immortal weapon.
If half-step immortal weapons could be damaged, then Young Master Sang should be far beyond his current unimpressive cultivation and instead probably more powerful than her!
Only a true immortal could cause such damage.
Thus, Gu Yingmian didn’t believe it was Young Master Sang’s issue. However, she couldn’t find the exact problem herself.
Seeing Gu Yingmian’s worried expression, Young Master Sang tentatively asked:
“Palace Master. My father has immersed himself in sword mastery for years and has some understanding of the world’s divine weapons. I’ve also absorbed plenty of knowledge related to swords by his side.”
“Perhaps… let me see if I can find any problems and adjust it. It might help!”
Gu Yingmian raised her gaze to look at him.
To be honest, she didn’t think someone who couldn’t solve her problem could help.
But his skills in swordsmanship did surprise her, so letting him take a look seemed like it wouldn’t hurt.
Better a dead horse than a living horse.
“Then I’ll trouble Young Master Sang.” Gu Yingmian handed over the sword.
As the Dream Jun Sword was about to touch Young Master Sang’s hand, the sword itself trembled fiercely, as if trying to escape.
But Young Master Sang just smiled as he received the sword.
“Please rest assured, Palace Master.”
“I will definitely do my best.”
(There’s still one more update, these last two are extra versions.)
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