Wu Changqing stroked his beard as he watched Wang Anfeng immersed in cultivation and uttered softly,
"Anfeng, why have you recently been practicing even more diligently?"
"But that's good. In just a few days, you will definitely break through to the Ninth Grade."
Seeming to recall something, he nodded in satisfaction and remarked, "Such a student is indeed teachable."
Meanwhile, the wooden sword in Wang Anfeng's hand whistled lightly, its nine sword shadows merging into a single thrust, creating a fierce sound as it cleaved through the air. The vigorous Qi tangled continuously, stretching a few inches from the sword body before dissipating swiftly. Had the force been condensed a bit more, it nearly possessed the makings of true Sword Qi.
The young man exhaled, feeling much better internally.
Xue Qinshuang, in fact, had rejected him.
Yet he had stupidly returned home before finally realizing the young girl's intentions.
Love and courtship must come after overpowering the experts of this world.
And the condition to consider was to surpass her.
It was simply an insoluble problem.
Several days had passed since that day. Baili Feng and Teacher Ni often brought some food to share, shamelessly enjoying their meals and laughter, while Xue Qinshuang had noticeably distanced herself from Wang Anfeng.
If they met, she would greet him as usual, with a clear and open expression, but she no longer engaged in long conversations as in the past, nor did she seek him out proactively.
Since she had refused, it meant she had refused.
Just like the girl's boxing technique—decisive and straightforward. Though it stopped at a touch, it left him no chance to turn the situation around.
The young man held the wooden sword with his right hand upside down and sighed, his garments fluttering slightly.
Consider it a good dream then...
His eyes partly closed, he cleared his distracted thoughts, his breathing gradually becoming calm.
Yet, he saw again the maiden under the moonlight and those iridescent brown pupils, stirring up his calm heart once more, rarely granting him peace.
Atop the solitary peak, the sharp sound of the sword edge splitting the air suddenly intensified.
The scholar in green robes, standing on the roof ridge of the great hall, looked down upon the young man almost fully immersed in his swordsmanship, aiming to forget his stray thoughts. He uttered softly and threw his original thoughts down Shaoshi Mountain.
"It seems... , it's also quite alright."
His voice paused slightly, observing the increasingly adept swordsmanship, he nodded again and said,
"No, it is very good, extremely good."
Wu Changqing, leaning on a walking stick, stepped up behind Mr. Ying, frowning as he said,
"Mr., do you know... what's with Anfeng? Why has he suddenly become obsessed with practicing martial arts?"
The scholar's lips curled up as he watched the young man below and said,
"Heh... he's poisoned."
The girl used the alias "Mr. Xue Shuang," gradually becoming well-known in Fufeng Academy.
Born with a refined air, and high in martial arts, she once, during a lesson, sparred with a Mo Family female scholar. She merely touched the scholar's wrist with her technique, causing her to drop her sword. Although her martial arts were high, she was not inclined to seek fame by causing trouble, and only showed willingness to engage in martial discourse with masters and teachers.
Regrettably, her nature seemed aloof. Though a student, she did not reside in the academy and kept her distance from both young men and women, able to engage in light talk but not close interaction. A mere nodding acquaintance, she seemed like a pure white sword lily, admired from afar—approaching her seemed utterly impossible.
Perhaps it was because of this untouchable allure that even more female students found themselves infatuated.
According to legend, after the defeat of the lady teacher, she couldn't think of food all day from lovesickness and frustration. She owned a portrait of Young Master Xue Shuang, which captured one-third of his divine charm, and it circulated within her private chambers.
Inside the Fufeng Academy.
A figure in moon-white garments slowly walked forward but suddenly vanished at an intersection.
From somewhere came several soft cries; a few beautiful young girls hurried from behind, following to the place where the figure had disappeared. They looked around but couldn't find any trace, their faces showing colors of frustration and loss. After a moment, they sighed and left.
It was at this time that the figure reappeared from a blind spot, dressed in moon-white robes, with clear and beautiful features—it was Qinshuang. Only now did she slowly release the breath she had been holding, carefully touching her chest, her pale forehead now showing a sheen of sweat.
She had never stayed at a place like an academy before.
Little did she know, these delicate young girls could sometimes be more formidable than any punches or swords.
Carefully lifting her eyes to look around and confirming no one was near, her heart finally settled, slightly relieved.
Fortunately, due to that incident, she had noted that the people around her were growing older and were at the age when young love begins; she had distanced herself just in time, otherwise, it might have been even more severe...
At this thought, she couldn't help but recall that ordinary-looking young boy and the naive questions he had asked that day.
Since her youth, she had dressed as a boy, and that day in Wangxian County, when she saw Wang Anfeng eating and drinking tea, she noticed him unintentionally using too much force, deducing that he hadn't been learning martial arts for long. However, he already had such cultivation; his talents must be good. Just a few days later upon meeting him again, he had already improved.
His boxing style now carried a hint of the grandmaster's imposing aura. She was thrilled.
This was undoubtedly a worthy opponent for the future!
A good opponent, a good rival, should be treated with sincerity, thus, she resumed wearing women's clothing and presented a dagger to him, signifying a friendship formed through martial arts, a clash of weapons.
But she hadn't expected it to cause such trouble.
She remembered the young man whose black hair shone with a fiery glow and those clear eyes, and the girl just felt a headache coming on.
Isn't simply making friends through martial arts enough?
Dispirited for a while, she suddenly remembered that today was Zhao Zheng's eightieth birthday. With nothing else to do, she decided to go out to clear her mind and to see for herself what Zhao Zheng, highly praised by her uncle as "just below a grandmaster, at the peak of Horizontal Training Divine Skills," was really like.
She nodded slightly, just about to step forward, but then she thought of Wang Anfeng and hesitated slightly.
Zhao Zheng and Wang Anfeng, no matter what, they didn't mix well. From what she knew of Wang Anfeng, he wouldn't be interested in other martial artists, but for some reason, she hesitated now.
What if he was there?
The legendary incessant bother.
Meeting now would be so awkward...
While hesitating, the girl suddenly felt a chill in her heart, her body stiffened slightly, and slowly turning her head, she saw at the entrance of that alley, five or six girls whom she thought had left. They stood there with gleaming eyes and a sweet yet chilling smile, just quietly watching her, making her scalp tingle.
Then, reflected in those clear young eyes was the stiff smile of 'Young Master Xue Shuang,' as well as the somewhat embarrassing display of qinggong. She, in a moon-white robe, like an immortal descending to the mortal world, stepped swiftly and directly jumped out of the Fufeng Academy.
These academy girls were far more dangerous than Wang Anfeng...
It was like the difference between a hungry tiger and a kitten.
If he dared to pester her, she would let him learn what happened when boundaries were exceeded!
The girl gritted her teeth and made a fierce expression for herself.
Friends were not to be made.
Landing outside the academy, and hearing those girls' soft voices, a chill went through her, and she hastened her steps towards Zhao's residence.
Meanwhile, at Wang Anfeng's wooden hut, someone knocked loudly.
A young man from a Military Family, carrying a Mo Blade, shouted:
"Come on, it's time for a feast!"
PS: Thanks to Baili Feng for the generous rewards... A longer chapter this afternoon; updates will continue after going live, probably in about two more weeks. Please generously then, thank you!