Chapter 31: Roaming Dragon, Phantom Steps
Morning arrived.
Hua Shuya finished her sword practice and walked over to Lin Tianlu, a puzzled look on her face. “Senior, what happened to Madam Mao? Yesterday, she was so worried and anxious, but today she seems so cheerful and full of energy.”
She even felt that Mao Ruoyu’s complexion and skin had improved, as if she had undergone a transformation.
Her mature beauty was even more captivating now.
“Madam Mao possesses a unique ability. She’s not an ordinary person.”
Lin Tianlu put down his book and chuckled softly. “She was acting reserved yesterday because she was afraid we would see her as inauspicious. That’s why she was so cautious. I had a chat with her last night and explained that neither Miss Hua nor I are prejudiced. She has nothing to worry about.”
Hua Shuya suddenly understood.
“Madam Mao was worried about that? It seems I need to be more careful with my words.”
Lin Tianlu teased, “If you say nice things to her, she might even cook more for us.”
The girl blushed, unconsciously touching her flat stomach.
She practiced swordsmanship every day, so her appetite was naturally larger than that of ordinary people. And she loved Madam Mao’s cooking.
As if a bit embarrassed, she quickly coughed lightly.
“Senior, there’s something I don’t understand about martial arts. I hope you can enlighten me.”
“Martial arts?”
Lin Tianlu asked curiously, “Is it about your swordsmanship?”
“It’s about the Roaming Dragon Phantom Steps manual you gave me a few days ago.”
Hua Shuya took out the manual from her pocket, her face troubled. “I’ve been practicing according to the illustrations, but there are many things I don’t understand. My movements are still stiff and restricted.”
Lin Tianlu took the manual and flipped through it. “Why don’t you demonstrate it for me, Miss Hua?”
“Alright!”
Hua Shuya took a deep breath and stepped back into the courtyard.
Then, as if a gentle breeze was guiding her, she began to move, her graceful figure dancing and swirling, even leaping onto the roof, her movements light and agile.
Lin Tianlu stared, his jaw dropping.
What was this…
So cool and beautiful.
It was completely different from the geriatric disco he had practiced!
“Please excuse my clumsy display, Senior.”
Hua Shuya leaped down from the roof, landing gracefully, her robes fluttering like a celestial fairy.
Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin, his expression curious. “Miss Hua, what do you think is wrong with your technique?”
“It feels like my internal energy is blocked. Although my movements are much faster than before, it’s also more tiring. It contradicts the ‘uninterrupted flow of internal energy’ described in the manual.”
Hua Shuya frowned, her voice filled with frustration. “If the first level is already so difficult, I’m afraid I don’t have the talent to master the other four levels.”
“There’s no need to be so hard on yourself, Miss Hua. Everything takes time and practice.”
Lin Tianlu flipped through the manual again, his expression changing as he noticed something.
A few days ago, when he had skimmed through the manual, the cryptic formulas and instructions had been confusing.
But now, he could see the profound essence within them, a connection to the Confucian classics and poetry he had been studying.
He pondered for a moment, then said, “Miss Hua, attack me with your sword.”
Hua Shuya was stunned. “Senior, what do you mean…”
“I have a feeling about this. Let’s give it a try.” Lin Tianlu’s eyes remained fixed on the manual.
A feeling?!
Hua Shuya’s eyes widened in surprise, then her expression turned serious, and she drew her sword, thrusting it towards him.
“—Eh?”
She blinked in confusion.
The senior sitting before her had vanished, reappearing on her right side, still reading the manual.
“Did I… imagine that?”
She rubbed her eyes and tried again, her sword flashing.
But this time, Lin Tianlu’s figure dissolved like a mirage.
This strange and unpredictable scene made Hua Shuya realize the truth, her heart filled with shock.
“This is—”
The fifth level of the Roaming Dragon Phantom Steps… Mirror Image, Hidden Dragon?!
“This technique is quite interesting.”
Lin Tianlu’s voice suddenly came from behind her.
Hua Shuya quickly turned around.
“Senior?!”
“Miss Hua, this technique might seem profound at first, but it’s not that difficult. The key lies in understanding the core principles, which involve various schools of thought. You need to study them carefully.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled, closing the manual. “I’ll lend you some books later. Compare the principles and you’ll be able to master this technique.”
“B-books?”
Seeing her confused expression, Lin Tianlu joked, “As Bacon once said, knowledge is power. It wouldn’t hurt for you to read some books, Miss Hua.”
“I’ll keep your teachings in mind, Senior!”
Hua Shuya quickly sheathed her sword and bowed.
Lin Tianlu shook his head with a smile, deciding not to tease her any further.
“Miss Hua, perform the Roaming Dragon Phantom Steps again. I’ll point out any mistakes.”
“Alright!”
Hua Shuya quickly started practicing in the courtyard.
Lin Tianlu observed carefully, offering guidance and corrections from time to time…
Soon, her movements became faster, more agile and unpredictable, her progress evident.
And throughout this process, Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
His body, now infused with spiritual energy, seemed to have gained an extraordinary aptitude and comprehension for martial arts. The spiritual energy and the immortal mountain within him had truly brought about an incredible transformation.
“Could it be… that I’m really becoming the ‘master’ that this girl keeps talking about?”
He shook his head with a chuckle, his heart unmoved.
To him, happiness and freedom were far more important than worldly titles and recognition. And right now, he was more concerned about what delicious dishes Madam Mao would be making for lunch.
…
After a while…
Hua Shuya wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Thanks to Senior’s guidance, she had finally mastered the first level of the Roaming Dragon Phantom Steps. Although her mastery was still immature, she felt a sense of satisfaction… especially since she had achieved it under Senior’s tutelage. A small spark of joy flickered in her heart.
But Lin Tianlu, sitting in the pavilion, smiled and asked,
“Miss Hua, tell me, why do you practice this technique?”
Hua Shuya pondered for a moment. “To travel thousands of miles in an instant, to move like a phantom?”
Lin Tianlu chuckled.
That was a bit too dramatic.
“Simply put, it’s to dodge and escape more quickly. Otherwise, what’s the point of learning this technique?”
Hua Shuya was taken aback, but then she realized he was right.
“Actually, this technique is like your swordsmanship. If you focus too much on the precise movements and forms, you’ll miss the essence.”
Lin Tianlu picked up an autumn fruit from the basket beside him and tossed it towards her.
Hua Shuya caught it with a puzzled look. “Senior?”
“If this fruit was coated in poison, what would you do, Miss Hua?”
“…”
She tilted her head, her face scrunched up in thought. “Wash my hands first?”
Lin Tianlu coughed lightly. “Let’s just say it’s highly poisonous.”
“Oh, oh…”
“But think about it, Miss Hua. If this fruit is both poisonous and thrown at you with lightning speed, how would you use your movement technique to dodge it?”
Hua Shuya mentally recited the steps of the technique and said hesitantly, “Use the third form, ‘Roaming Dragon Turns Back,’ to shift my body, then combine it with the sixth form, ‘Silent Steps,’ to dodge the poisonous fruit?”
Lin Tianlu smiled helplessly. “There’s no need to be so complicated. Just take a step to the side, and the fruit will hit the wall.”
Hua Shuya blinked, her eyes wide.
He… he was right?
“How about this, Miss Hua. The best way to master a technique quickly is through practical application.”
Lin Tianlu picked up the basket. “I’ll wash these fruit pits and use them as projectiles. You just need to dodge them using your movement technique.”
Hua Shuya nodded eagerly. “Let me help you wash the pits, Senior.”
…
A while later…
Lin Tianlu held a small basket of clean fruit pits, smiling at the girl standing in the courtyard, a nervous look on her face.
“Don’t worry, Miss Hua. I’m not very strong. You just need to dodge symbolically.”
He tossed a fruit pit in the air, feeling a wave of nostalgia.
It reminded him of his elementary school days, playing dodgeball with his classmates and teachers. He had been quite good at it back then, a dodgeball champion.
But he never imagined he would be helping this beautiful swordswoman practice her movement technique…
“Let’s begin, Senior!”
Hua Shuya’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
As Lin Tianlu picked up a fruit pit, she focused her gaze, channeling her internal energy, ready to unleash the technique she had just learned.
She wouldn’t be careless or underestimate him…
This was a training session with Senior, and she would do her best to dodge, not letting him down!
—Here it comes!
Hua Shuya’s pupils constricted, and she bent her knees slightly.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
She cried out in surprise, clutching her forehead as she stumbled back.
Lin Tianlu was dumbfounded.
He had seen her assuming a perfect stance, ready to move.
Why was she standing there like a statue, completely still?
Where were her Roaming Dragon Phantom Steps?
“I-I’m sorry! Senior… I-I wasn’t ready. Please continue!” Hua Shuya’s face flushed red as she quickly said, “I’ll definitely dodge next time.”
Lin Tianlu picked up two more fruit pits and chuckled awkwardly. “You have to try harder, Miss Hua.”
He deliberately threw the fruit pits gently.
Thud, thud!
Hua Shuya, who was about to dodge, was hit squarely on the nose.
“Mmm—”
The girl clutched her nose and crouched down, tears welling up in her eyes.
Lin Tianlu fell silent.
Why did it feel like he was bullying a little girl?
Or… was she an Oscar-worthy actress?
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