Chapter 78 – Lecture on Martial Arts (III)
“Thinking alone is not enough. The most important thing in practicing martial arts is perseverance.”
Situ Mutou’s words awakened the people from their pensive state.
“Go back and practice diligently.”
After leaving this sentence behind, Situ Mu strode away.
When he reached the edge of the stage, he suddenly slapped himself on the forehead and turned back.
“The new disciples can stay here and practice. I will watch and guide them. The others go back first. If you encounter any problems, you can ask questions at the end of the next lecture.”
The words are so rigid that it feels like they were scripted. But the underlying meaning conveys Situ Mutou’s unique intention.
Disregarding the reaction of the crowd, he got off the stage calmly.
When they heard Situ Mutou’s words, some of the disciples left directly, and some left after a brief discussion.
After a while, the square was almost empty.
Less than 30 people remained in the square, none of which are over 20 years old. They all look quite young. Xue Qilin and Shui Yuner are among them.
Those who stayed are all new disciples.
Staying either by themselves or in small groups, they unsheathed their practice swords and started practicing according to the swordsmanship Situ Mutou has just demonstrated.
“… The Nangong siblings are over there.”
Xue Qilin who came to the edge of the square has just unsheathed her sword, when Shui Yuner suddenly pointed her chin in a certain direction.
There, Xue Qilin saw the Nangong siblings.
They are dressed in temple clothes and hold practice swords.
Are they here to attend the lecture on martial arts as well? Xue Qilin speculated.
Perhaps she sensed that there are eyes focused on her, Nangong Mingming suddenly turned around and discovered the two. She gave Nangong Mingye a jab with the elbow, and then walked over with him.
“Older Sister Shui…” Nangong Mingming greeted.
Hiding behind his sister, Nangong Mingye looks sulky. Even the words “hello, beautiful older sisters” sounded listless.
What’s up with him? Was he bullied? Xue Qilin raised her eyebrows in surprise. She wanted to ask the other party what’s wrong, but before she could, Nangong Mingming spoke first.
“Little Senior Disciple Sister, you really… stayed in outer temple?”
“This…”
Xue Qilin used the same explanation she gave Shui Yuner yesterday.
“So ah…” Nangong Mingming nodded her head heavily, “I understand. I promise to keep my mouth shut.”
In fact, there is no need to keep this level of secrecy. Anyway, the identity of “Xue Jiujiu” is fake. Xue Qilin laughed secretly.
Then, she lowered her eyes slightly and looked at Nangong Mingye, “That said, what’s wrong, little fellow? Why are you sulking?”
Nangong Mingming reveled a troubled expression and glanced at her brother.
“He wants to live with me, but… there is the question of boys and girls… and the rules in the Merak Temple in place…”
“It doesn’t need to be you, Older Sister Mingming, Older Sister Shui is also fine! I’m not too demanding. As long as it is a beautiful lady, I can accept it!”
This little lecher! Xue Qilin rolled her eyes.
Shui Yuner who has been listening covered her mouth and chuckled twice.
“Little Mingye, you’re so young yet you want to find a wife already.”
“Wife?” Nangong Mingye waved his hand dismissively, “No! My sister will do just fine as my wife.”
Nangong Mingming’s face flushed from anger, and she flicked the boy’s forehead.
“Nangong Mingye, do you have any shame?!”
Nangong Mingye didn’t cry in pain as always, but instead gave a soft sound of surprise.
“That uncle is looking over!”
After leaving the stage, Situ Mutou didn’t leave immediately, but stayed in a corner of the square with his arms crossed and spectated the practice.
He is looking over here – strictly speaking, his eyes only fell on Xue Qilin.
Xue Qilin moved aside nimbly. As if glued to her, Situ Mutou’s gaze followed her.
“…”
He’s really looking at me! The lass felt helpless.
What if someone notices? Xue Qilin glared at Situ Mutou and hinted for him to look away.
Situ Mutou didn’t withdraw his gaze.
This guy! The lass stomped her feet, ticked off.
However, what made her even more angry is yet to come.
Suddenly, Xue Qilin saw Situ Mutou approach quickly, and then stop in front of her.
Towering above her, he gazed at her who has the corners of her eyes twitching.
“… Can I help you, Elder of Martial Guidance?”
The girl asked with a smile. Situ Mutou made a “mhm” sound.
“I’ll be your opponent. Let’s spar.”
With that, everyone on the scene showed looks of surprise.
This guy must have more than one screw lose! He the Elder of Martial Guidance actually invited an outer temple disciple to spar with him? There’s such a wide gap in realm! Xue Qilin nearly passed out.
“So?”
To expect Situ Mutou to read the atmosphere must be just wishful thinking.
“This is inappropriate, Elder Situ.” Xue Qilin raised her pitch.
“I won’t use true qi. We’ll just have a spar of techniques.”
Is there something wrong with your head? Your techniques are much more refined than mine! Xue Qilin resisted the urge to scold the other party.
Calm down, calm down! She exhaled softly.
“Elder of Martial Guidance, you have no sword, do you?” Xue Qilin glanced at the sword on his waist, “Or do you want to fight a disciple with that sharpened weapon?”
“Hmm, you got a point.” Situ Mutou nodded in agreement.
Sigh, I finally convinced this blockhead! Xue Qilin exhaled, weary.
However, it seems like she celebrated prematurely.
There are several trees planted in the square. Xue Qilin watched in astonishment as Situ Mutou walked up to a big tree, jumped up, broke off a branch, and returned.
“I’ll use this.”
“…”
Xue Qilin rolled her eyes, and then fell backwards.
If possible, she wants to pass out just like that. But Situ Mutou reacted quickly. The moment the lass’s body began to lean, he reached out to support her.
“Be careful, don’t trip again.”
“Did I trip?!”
Xue Qilin really wants to punch that bear-like face.
“Hmm? You didn’t? Never mind, let’s get started.”
Situ Mutou let go of the lass’s arm, untied Heavenly Rock, and positioned himself with the branch in hand.
Helpless, Xue Qilin turned to look at Shu Yuner and asked for help with her eyes.
Under Xue Qilin’s expectant gaze, Shui Yuner blinked several times.
After a few breaths of time, she showed a look of sudden understanding and responded “I understand” with her eyes.
“Mingming, Mingye, let’s go over there to practice. If we stay here, Elder and Senior Sister may have to pull their punches.”
Seeing Shui Yuner misunderstand her intention, Xue Qilin felt like weeping.
When the Nangong siblings agreed, Shui Yuner looked at Situ Mutou.
“Elder Situ, we’ll take our leave first.”
Situ Mutou nodded with a “mhm”.
“Wait!” Xue Qilin called quickly.
“Little Senior Disciple Sister, you were a good person.” Shui Yuner winked, and a naughty smile crept onto her face.
What does she mean with that? The girl’s words left Xue Qilin in a daze.
Without explaining herself, Shui Yuner took the Nangong siblings to another corner of the square.
As for Xue Qilin, she is still pondering over the words left by Shui Yuner.
Why did Little Yun’s expression just now seem so mischievous? Xue Qilin looked doubtfully at the back of the girl and found that her shoulders are shaking.
“Ah! Little Yun, you did this on purpose!”
Bright laughter sounded immediately.
You traitor! Xue Qilin clenched her white teeth secretly.
“We should begin!”
“Wait…”
There is a strong wind.
A lightning-like slash suddenly cut through the air. Making a sharp noise, it hurried towards Xue Qilin.
The lass hugged her head and squatted at once.
The strong wind brought by the branch swept overhead, and Xue Qilin couldn’t help complaining in a low voice, “Situ Mutou, you are bullying your senior!”
“Young Ancestor, you’re just an ordinary outer temple disciples now.”
The slash clearly isn’t over just yet. The branch stopped strangely in midair, then fell straight down towards the lass’s head.
Although it is only a slash with a branch, but Xue Qilin can clearly feel that it contains ample power.
If it hits me, it won’t just hurt and itch a little. Realizing this, Xue Qilin clenched her teeth and rolled to the side, not caring about the sorry figure she is cutting.
“Moreover, the Temple Master instructed me to take care of you, Young Ancestor.”
“Is this what you call taking care of someone?!”
At the same time, the branch crashed into the ground.
Under Xue Qilin’s shocked gaze, the place hit by the branch cracked.
“Come on, really?” Xue Qilin groaned.
Judging by the state of the ground, there’s no way he’s being lenient.
“Of course!”
The branch left the ground, and then swept over.
“Oh…!”
Xue Qilin quickly calculated the attack trajectory in her mind, and then drew her sword and faced the attack.
According to her expectations, the branch and her sword should collide and bounce off.
At the moment when the two were about to touch, Situ Mutou suddenly pressed his wrist down, and the branch immediately tilted down and stabbed towards the ground.
Then…
“Heavenly Dragon Lifts Head!”
The former half of the branch suddenly bent upwards unnaturally and missed Xue Qilin’s long sword.
“What!”
Caught off guard by this illogical blow, a momentary gap emerged in Xue Qilin’s thinking.
“Ah!” The lass cried out in pain and dropped the long sword.
Her wrist was whipped mercilessly, and the fair skin immediately showed a red bruise.
However, this is just the beginning.
