With a sword drawn, he laughs proudly, his martial prowess dominating the heavens!

Chapter 7 Junior Sister Visits the Set

The clanging of swords echoed from the Cliff of Contemplation; the two had been locked in combat for a quarter of an hour.

Ying Bailu was struggling to keep up, repeatedly using the "Phoenix Comes to Court" move, and was already covered in sweat.

In contrast, Li Che's swordplay was unorthodox; he relied solely on his eyesight and agility to block or thrust, handling the situation with ease.

His sword strikes were dangerous and swift, yet measured.

At first, Ying Bailuo was flustered, his sword flashing and its cold light gleaming.

The most dangerous move was when the blade grazed his wrist. If he had pressed down even slightly, his wrist would have been severed. He was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

But after exchanging seven or eight moves, he figured out the trick. When he thrust his sword forward again, he lowered his wrist by half a point. Li Che's sword tip followed by a half-point downward. After three more moves, the sword tip finally left his wrist and turned to his left shoulder.

Ying Bailuo was grateful: "So it turns out that my junior brother intended to correct my sword moves. This way of practicing swordsmanship is indeed more effective than practicing alone in silence."

Li Che shared the same idea.

Old Yue always taught his disciples moves in a very methodical way, teaching them one move at a time until they mastered it.

However, sword moves are not like mathematical formulas of later generations. A single sword move has several variations, and it is difficult to memorize them accurately by rote memorization.

If a change is made by half a point, a sword move will be executed by an inch.

Other disciples are fine; with time and a few corrections and refinements, they can be recruited. But Ying Bailuo is a beginner, and even with monthly tests and corrections, it still takes a long time.

Although Lao Yue arranged for his senior brother Linghu Chong to instruct his junior brother in swordsmanship, Linghu Chong was a lazy and undisciplined person. He was a good senior brother, but not a good teacher.

Li Che used "danger" to deepen Ying Bailuo's memory. After more than ten moves, Ying Bailuo was already performing the Phoenix Arrives move quite well.

However, this training method requires the person feeding the moves to be much stronger than the opponent; otherwise, if there is even the slightest mistake, Ying Bailuo might end up bleeding on the Cliff of Repentance.

"Whoosh—whoosh—!"

Ying Bailuo planted his longsword on the ground, bent over and panted like a bellows, then wiped his face haphazardly with his left sleeve, which was already soaked with sweat.

Li Che couldn't help but smile. "Senior brother, you seem a little weak."

The latter chuckled sheepishly, not minding at all. He clasped his hands in a respectful bow, "Junior brother, thank you. I have to go now; if I linger too long and disturb your seclusion, I'm afraid I'll get a scolding."

Since there's still time, it's a good opportunity to go back and consolidate our knowledge.

Seeing him run to the cliff monument with a bamboo basket in one hand and a long sword in the other, then stop and turn around with a simple smile, he said, "I'll come back at noon, then junior brother can see if I've improved."

Li Che watched him leave, then turned and gazed intently at the mountain peak behind him.

The South Peak is high and steep, piercing the clouds. In the morning, the fog is heavy, and the distant mountains and forests are somewhat hazy.

He stared at it for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the wind whistling and birds chirping in his ears, but there was no other sound.

After a moment, Li Che withdrew his gaze, thinking to himself, "That old guy's pretty good at hiding it!"

He had barely entered the cave when a figure emerged from behind a cedar tree several dozen feet above his head, a tree so large it would take two people to encircle it. "The little guy is quite perceptive!"

......

Five more days passed, and Li Che had learned all the Five Sacred Mountains Sword Techniques and the Demonic Sect's counter-moves from the cave.

Ying Bailu and Lei would go to the cliff every morning, noon, and evening without fail, and the morning sword-sparring between the two had become a fixed routine.

Besides the arrival of the phoenix, the silly senior brother has also been granted the title of Heavenly Gentleman Upside Down. For this, Ying Bailuo was overjoyed for several days in a row.

But Li Che knew that, given Yue Fei's personality, if his foolish senior brother's internal strength didn't improve, his sword skills would probably stagnate for the time being.

This matter naturally did not escape Lao Yue's notice, but he only said "we cannot stay long" and then left it at that.

One morning, Li Che sat cross-legged on the edge of the cliff and slowly finished his practice.

Thinking to myself, "It's time to give Lao Yue a surprise!"

His left ear twitched slightly. The footsteps behind him were light and quick. When they got closer, the other person deliberately slowed down and approached quietly.

Li Che's playful nature was aroused. He pretended not to know anything and remained motionless, but secretly he was laughing to himself.

After a few breaths, he suddenly turned around and let out a strange cry.

"Wow--!"

"ah--!"

The shout stopped abruptly, and the boy and girl looked at each other, their noses almost touching. The girl's eyes were wide open, and her pupils reflected Li Che's mischievous expression.

The two froze simultaneously. The girl's unique, faint fragrance wafted into their nostrils, and a blush visibly crept up her fair neck and cheeks. A hint of panic appeared in her bright eyes.

Li Che wondered, "What is this girl up to?"

"You! You! You!"

Yue Lingshan finally realized what was happening, quickly took two steps back, and hurriedly wiped her nose with her sleeve, as if trying to erase the masculine aura that had just made her blush.

"What?! You're trying to ambush me?!"

"You! You're the one who accused me first! It was clearly you..."

"What about me? There's a cliff just three feet in front of me. Who told you to get so close to scare me? Did you expect me to jump off a cliff to avoid it?"

He had already spotted the lunchbox on the ground. The brat sauntered up behind him, a tactic he, Li, was all too familiar with.

"You bastard! I... I was just afraid of disturbing your practice," Yue Lingshan said somewhat insincerely.

She hadn't gotten revenge for the last time when she "shed tears," and instead, she was taken advantage of again. The more she thought about it, the angrier and more aggrieved she became.

"You, you're bullying me!"

"It's Senior Brother Li!"

Seeing that the girl had tears in her eyes and was about to cry from anger, Li Che turned and asked, "Where is Eighth Senior Brother? Why is it Junior Sister who brought the meal today?"

I heard that my senior brother's injuries haven't healed yet. Why are you here instead of taking care of him?

"Master and Mistress, have you gotten up yet? I happen to have something to report, so let's head down the mountain now."

His rapid-fire questions successfully diverted the girl's attention.

"Hmph!" Yue Lingshan glared at him. "What could you possibly do while you were living like a wild man on the Cliff of Contemplation? Your parents came down the mountain yesterday, they don't have time to deal with you!"

Senior Brother... pfft~

Yue Lingshan chuckled, leaving Li Che completely bewildered. He had no idea that Young Master Linghu had created such a unique skill as the "Indestructible Divine Hips".

"My senior brother is much better now. He's such a big guy, he doesn't need me to take care of him every day."

Eighth Senior Brother... Oh right, Senior Brother Li...

Li Che, who was eating, paused, glanced at the girl, and knew that something was amiss. The words "Senior Brother Li" were sure to indicate trouble.

She was furious just a moment ago, but now she's all smiles and trying to please. That brat changes her face so quickly!

"what?"

"Hey, what kind of attitude is this? I don't even blame you for what you did earlier... earlier... you're such a petty man."

Li Che finished his meal in a few bites, put down the empty bowl, and said, "If you have something to say, say it; if not, come home early."

Yue Lingshan smiled and leaned closer, habitually tugging at his sleeve. "Junior sister heard that Eighth Senior Brother has been improving rapidly thanks to Senior Brother Li's training. Senior Brother, can I get some training too?"

Li Che: ? ? ?

"I'm busy!"

"Hey, I've begged you so much, why won't you help me?"

Yue Lingshan puffed out her cheeks in a cute and endearing way, looking absolutely adorable.

But Li is a man of strong character; how could he be seduced by beauty!

After looking at him for a while, he said, "Isn't Senior Brother healed? Wouldn't it be more convenient for you to go find him? You might even be able to improve your Spirit Climbing Sword Technique."

"What Spirit-Piercing Sword Technique?" Yue Lingshan was taken aback, then suddenly remembered something, her face flushed red, and she said angrily, "Fine, I won't teach you then! Who wants to listen to your nonsense!"

After saying that, she flung his sleeve away, turned around, and left.

......