Chapter 151: Dare-Testing Race
They ended up wandering for an entire afternoon.
Dresses, hair accessories, candy, pastries, grilled skewers, and street performers.
Sang Zhe felt like a big grump, utterly exhausted as he dragged Gu Yingmian around the entire town.
It wasn’t until the lanterns were lit that Gu Yingmian finally sat down in a tavern, absentmindedly nibbling on her food.
While Sang Zhe slumped over the table, utterly drained.
…As expected.
Women’s shopping is a born passive skill.
A skill point that men could never touch.
“Palace Master, it’s getting late. After we finish eating, let’s head back to the palace?”
Gu Yingmian nodded, but her beautiful eyes remained lost in thought, gazing out the window.
“Young Master Sang.”
“Hmm?”
“Why is your ‘Peaceful Floating Life Sword’ named that?”
Still thinking about my ‘Peaceful Floating Life Sword’?
Sang Zhe felt a bit speechless but slowly explained:
“It’s not that profound.”
“To live a life of peace and pleasure, to be worry-free, is already a luxury for many.”
“Sometimes, we get so focused on one thing that we gradually forget and neglect other things that are actually very important to us.”
Sang Zhe spoke earnestly: “I find that quite unfortunate.”
Just like that brash kid from his previous life.
Every young child hides a peerless hero in their heart.
Hidden is a world of swift vengeance and tender affection.
That brash kid was like a younger version of Sang Zhe himself, full of ambition and longing for the world. Just give him a legendary skill, and he could become an unbeatable hero.
…Yet in the end, he arranged a tragic death for him.
Because Sang Zhe knew that all heroes eventually die in stories.
As he grew up, Sang Zhe’s hopes for that brash kid changed; he no longer wished for him to become a legendary hero with unmatched martial arts.
He hoped instead that the kid could find an ordinary girl to love.
Simple meals, plain clothes. Living a modest, floating life.
Worrying about daily necessities, rent, and utilities.
Even if an ordinary life is filled with countless ups and downs, arguments, and disappointments.
But the long flow of life could be like fine gravel, gradually sifting through to find tiny glittering gold nuggets; that too is a form of happiness.
That was the most romantic fairy tale in Sang Zhe’s heart.
“Thus, the ‘Peaceful Floating Life Sword’ is never about killing.”
Sang Zhe continued: “It’s about preventing the opponent from killing.”
“Making someone lose the will to kill is harder than defeating their sword.”
“But it’s far more effective.”
Gu Yingmian listened quietly to Sang Zhe’s words.
She realized that, as a sword cultivator too, many of Sang Zhe’s views on swordsmanship were things she’d never heard before.
Like how, when competing in sword techniques, he told her not to focus on the sword but on the person.
Like what he was saying now.
Not to defeat the opponent’s sword.
But to make the opponent no longer draw their sword against you.
In the past, she focused solely on sword techniques, believing that mastering the sword path meant completely discarding oneself, merging with the sword.
But Sang Zhe told her.
No matter how powerful the sword, it is wielded by a person.
A sword without a person can’t be called the sword path.
Could it be… Have I really taken the wrong path? A flicker of confusion passed through Gu Yingmian’s beautiful eyes.
“Palace Master Gu, hurry up and eat; if you don’t, it’ll go cold.”
Sang Zhe asked tentatively.
Gu Yingmian froze for a moment, then chuckled lightly.
“Mm.”
——
——
After finishing dinner, Gu Yingmian finally stopped pestering Sang Zhe.
On the way back to the Sword Flower Palace, Gu Yingmian saw Sang Zhe to the door and said softly:
“Thank you, Young Master Sang, for accompanying me today.”
“I’m honored,” Sang Zhe bowed respectfully.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yingmian shook her head: “No need to be so distant in the future; stop calling me Palace Master, and don’t always refer to yourself as junior.”
“Just call me Sister Gu.”
Sang Zhe: “…Huh?”
“Is that wrong?”
Gu Yingmian blinked innocently: “I see the couples down the mountain calling each other like this.”
“Uh, it’s not exactly wrong, but it does feel a bit presumptuous…”
Seeing Sang Zhe’s awkward expression, Gu Yingmian seriously shook her head, then gracefully bowed:
“Your insights on swordsmanship are unique and enlightening; I’ve learned a lot.”
“To me, Young Master Sang is both a mentor and a friend, so we don’t need to get tangled up in formalities.”
…Mentor and friend?
What qualifications does a mere Foundation Establishment have to be friends with a great Sword Immortal at the Transcendental Stage?
Even a drunk guy wouldn’t dare boast like that.
But seeing Gu Yingmian’s sincere expression, it didn’t seem like a joke, so Sang Zhe could only reluctantly nod in agreement.
“Alright… Sister Gu.”
Just then, Gu Yingmian’s face lit up with a childlike joy.
“Mm. Good boy.”
In that moment.
Sang Zhe felt like the generational hierarchy was as tangled as a pair of earbuds in his pocket.
“You’re tired today; get some rest early.”
“And,” before leaving, Gu Yingmian smiled gently at him, “Thanks for the cotton candy today, little brother.”
Sang Zhe blanked out for a moment.
He didn’t come to his senses until Gu Yingmian left with a charming smile, and he shook his head, forcing himself to calm down.
No, Sang Zhe.
You must not be bewitched by a woman!
She’s getting close to you not because she has feelings, but because she covets your sword intent!
You must not let her succeed!
——
——
At the same time, over at Chun Lan and Qiu Ju’s place, they had just returned home as well.
“Absolutely infuriating.”
Chun Lan slammed the table and angrily said, “It’s now clear that this scoundrel Sang Ce has indeed hooked up with the Palace Master, and has her dizzy with love.”
“No wonder these days, the Palace Master has been sneaking off with him in the back courtyard, forgetting to even guide us in sword practice.”
“This shameless person has even used his looks to seduce the Palace Master, trying to mess up her heart.”
“We absolutely cannot allow this!”
After saying that, she resentfully shot a glance at Qiu Ju.
Qiu Ju, however, was still quietly munching on cotton candy.
“…Why haven’t you finished eating yet?”
“Because it’s really delicious. Sister, do you want to try some?”
She sweetly offered Chun Lan a stick of cotton candy.
“You!” Chun Lan was nearly furious, snatching the cotton candy away, “What time is it, and you’re still focused on eating!”
“Wake up! The Palace Master is about to be snatched away!”
“But I think the Palace Master and Young Master Sang make a good couple.”
Qiu Ju licked her cotton candy with her little tongue and blinked, pouting, “They’re both talented and skilled in swordsmanship; why can’t they be together?”
Chun Lan, blushing as she secretly nibbled on her cotton candy, stammered for a long time before managing to say:
“Just… just because!”
“What if the Palace Master gets taken away by a man?”
“Sister, why not just follow the Palace Master to stick with Young Master Sang?” Qiu Ju said softly.
Chun Lan: “?”
“Anyway, Young Master Sang doesn’t seem like a bad person. Besides, if even the Palace Master chooses him, what do we have to say?” Qiu Ju seemed to think it was natural.
“But, but what if the Palace Master really ends up with Sang Ce…”
Chun Lan hesitated for a long time and finally murmured, “Then what will you do…”
“Me?”
Qiu Ju blinked in confusion: “I could always keep following the Palace Master.”
“I don’t eat that much, and I can work too. Young Master Sang and the Palace Master shouldn’t mind me, right?”
Upon hearing this, Chun Lan was deeply shocked.
What?
Her silly sister has actually… lowered herself to just wanting to be a maid?
No, that’s unacceptable!
At the very least, she should be a concubine!
Otherwise, if that man ends up marrying another woman, Qiu Ju’s nature would get her bullied again.
No way. Chun Lan shook her head vigorously.
Her silly younger sister was too soft-hearted; it wouldn’t do to send her alone.
Looks like they must have a serious discussion with Sang Ce about this.
At least, she needed to fight for a concubine position for her sister.
Even if that scumbag uses it as an excuse to bully and humiliate her…
For her sister, it’s worth it!
Thinking this, Chun Lan patted Qiu Ju’s shoulder dramatically.
“Don’t worry, little sister.”
“This matter, leave it to your sister!”
Qiu Ju: “?”
——
——
After a day of shopping, Sang Zhe returned home and practically collapsed into bed, skipping even a bath.
He slept through to the next morning, only stirring when the sun shone bright.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Nian Nian’s slender, alluring legs in black tights, dangling in front of him.
“Good morning, Nian Nian.”
“I’m doing just fine,” Nian Nian shot an annoyed glare at Sang Zhe, who was staring at her feet, “But your well-being is questionable.”
“…Huh?” Sang Zhe looked totally perplexed.
“Two bad pieces of news.”
Nian Nian adjusted her glasses, speaking sweetly: “Gu Yingmian’s swordsmanship is about to reach great heights.”
“What?”
That one sentence jolted Sang Zhe awake.
“She’s leveled up too fast, hasn’t she?” His expression was one of disbelief.
…And isn’t that thanks to you, the host? Nian Nian rolled her eyes at Sang Zhe.
“What’s the second bad piece of news?”
“The second bad news is…” Nian Nian hesitated a moment before whispering, “Her progress with the strategy has reached 65%.”
Sang Zhe: “? When did it get that high?”
“Wait, isn’t that actually good news?”
“…If I say it’s bad news, then it’s bad news.” Nian Nian instinctively looked away.
“What do we do?”
Sang Zhe gazed at Nian Nian eagerly: “If Gu Yingmian’s swordsmanship fully develops, won’t my ‘Peaceful Floating Life Sword’ be no match for her? Does that mean I’m doomed?”
“Currently, yes.”
“Then am I just waiting to die?”
“There’s another way.”
Sang Zhe’s eyes sparkled, excited, as he lunged toward Nian Nian: “Nian Nian mommy, please save my life!”
“…Gross, let go.”
Nian Nian sighed deeply, rubbing her aching temples.
“There’s still some time before her swordsmanship is completely perfected.”
“We can use this opportunity for a dare-testing race.”
“Let’s see if she perfects her sword first…”
“Or if you can successfully win her over first.”
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