Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 20 Instructions on Swordsmanship
It's quiet at night.

The preaching hall was still brightly lit. Gu Pingsheng flicked his hand, and the green bamboo disappeared. He walked up to the top and addressed the crowd, saying, "Today's lesson is over. Tomorrow will still be a swordsmanship class. Meet at Chaoyang Peak Square and don't be late."

The moment they heard the words "kendo class," everyone's legs trembled, and they felt utterly miserable.

They only started discussing it after Gu Pingsheng's figure disappeared outside the preaching hall.

"The cultivation ends at midnight, and we have to gather at Chaoyang Peak Square at 7:45 AM. We only get two and a half hours of sleep. This is too tiring!"

"I have a feeling that Master Gu will make us run laps again tomorrow."

"The outer plaza of Chaoyang Peak is too big. Ten laps around it would be exhausting. I really don't know how I managed to run those hundred laps during the day."

"I came to the Sword Sect because I wanted to become a sword cultivator and slay demons with my sword, but according to Master Gu's requirements, when will I be able to touch a sword?"

A male disciple shook his head and said helplessly, "I asked the senior brothers in the sect. The Xuan Tie Sword of the Nanxing Sword Sect weighs thirty catties. With our current physique, we can't hold it with one hand."

As for wielding a sword, that's even more impossible.

He guessed that Master Gu would only let them wield swords after they had cultivated their inner energy and gained some level of cultivation.

The figures gradually parted ways as people walked towards their own courtyards.

After a long day, all they want to do is lie in bed and do nothing.

"You said it's past midnight, is the dining hall still open?" A young man rubbed his stomach. "I'm a little hungry."

His companion put his arm around the young man's shoulder and said, "Why don't we go and see? I'm hungry too, I really can't sleep if I don't eat my fill."

Another male disciple chimed in, "The food in the Southern Star Sword Sect's dining hall is delicious, but it's a pity that it costs too many spirit stones. Basically, the spirit stones given out each month are just enough to eat."

The young man said, "I've heard that cultivators don't need to eat so frequently as they progress in their cultivation, and they can save their spirit stones then. For now, let's not think about that too much; being full is the most important thing."

"It makes sense."

The three of them set off together towards the dining hall.

After leaving the preaching hall, Ruan Sanniang followed Ning Fusang's footsteps. She hesitated for a long time before Ning Fusang lazily said, "The dining hall is still open at this time."

Ruan San Niang obediently replied "Oh," and then asked, "Senior Sister Ning, is there anything I can help you bring?"

Ruan San Niang was going to the dining hall, not because she was hungry, but because she thought that Wuyuan was already remote, and it would be a waste of time to go to the dining hall to buy food in the morning.

Why not buy it now, put it in the house, and eat it tomorrow morning so I can sleep a little longer?

If it's kendo class again tomorrow, I won't have the stamina if I don't eat.

Ning Fusang possessed cultivation, and without exercise, she could go several days without food. Thinking it over, she realized she still had half a spirit stone on her, so she simply took it out and gave it to Ruan Sanniang.

"Transfer pears."

Remembering what Ning Fusang wanted, Ruan Sanniang headed towards the dining hall.

Back at Wuyuan, Ning Fusang used her spiritual power to heat water and took a bath. She knew cleansing techniques, but she enjoyed the feeling of her pores opening and her muscles relaxing while soaking in hot water.

Ning Fusang quietly soaked in the bathtub. After the water was heated three times, she got up and was getting dressed when she heard Ruan Sanniang's voice from outside.

"Senior Sister Ning, I've bought the pears for you. Is it convenient for you to carry them?"

The door was suddenly opened, and a misty fog filled the air. The girl, dressed only in her undergarments, stood by the door, extending a hand that looked older than her age and was covered in calluses.

Ruan San Niang quickly handed her the pear.

Without any response, the door was closed.

*
The next morning.

Just after dawn, Ruan San Niang dressed and went out.

As she was about to fetch water to wash her face, she noticed a copper basin next to the water vat, the water in which steam was rising. Ruan Sanniang glanced around, then reached out to touch the water; the hot water enveloped her fingers, feeling incredibly warm.

"There's nowhere to start a fire in Wuyuan, so where did Senior Sister Ning get the hot water?"

Ruan San Niang muttered to herself, "Although Senior Sister Ning appears cold on the surface, she is actually quite gentle inside."

Little did she know that her understanding of Ning Fusang was completely wrong.

Chaoyang Peak Square.

As soon as Ning Fusang took the Xuan Tie sword, Gu Pingsheng lightly raised his hand, gesturing for her to come over.

"Master Gu".

Ning Fusang bowed with her sword in her hands. Gu Pingsheng put his hands behind his back, nodded slightly, and looked up at her.

Gu Pingsheng brought his hand, which had been hidden behind his back, to the front, his index and middle fingers together, hooking an iron ring.

The solid iron ring, in his hand, seemed as light as a straw ring, with no discernible weight.

Ning Fusang's eyes were glistening with tears. She spread her hands, and Gu Pingsheng handed her the iron ring around her wrist, saying, "There's still more than half an hour before dawn. Show me two sword moves."

These words implied that he was going to give her some pointers on swordsmanship. Ning Fusang's heart stirred slightly, and she immediately replied, "Yes."

Taking two steps back, the Xuan Tie sword suddenly thrust out, the sword wind whipping up snow, a chilling aura rushing towards them. Ning Fusang lightly touched the ground with his feet, leaping into the air, his longsword flicking, and thrusting diagonally to the right, the air whistling.

With a few leaps and bounds, the sword energy drifted gracefully, and Ning Fusang's white robes billowed like a lotus flower spinning rapidly, her beauty unparalleled.

"His basic skills are very solid, and his sword techniques can be described as masterful," Gu Pingsheng commented.

Ning Fusang did not show any joy at being praised.

She entered the sect three years ago and only studied swordsmanship in the outer sect for two months, so her swordsmanship was certainly not good.

Gu Pingsheng then added, "If you could study swordsmanship under Elder Yu for three years, your swordsmanship would be quite good enough to earn you a place in the outer sect."

He changed the subject: "Although you have wasted three years, in my opinion, it is not entirely a bad thing. At your age, it is not too late to start learning swordsmanship, but rather very appropriate."

Ning Fusang is now fourteen years old, tall and slender with strong wrists. In Gu Pingsheng's view, most importantly, her character has been tempered. Learning swordsmanship requires perseverance, and he undoubtedly sees this quality in Ning Fusang.

When the word "suitable" was mentioned, Gu Pingsheng felt a surge of emotion. He thought of the other students he had taught, especially the girl named Jiang Xin. She was the youngest and not very tall. The Xuan Tie swords of the Nanxing Sword Sect were generally three to four feet long, with the shortest being two feet five inches. None of them were suitable for her.

Gu Pingsheng temporarily suppressed these thoughts, and after giving Ning Fusang some pointers on swordsmanship, it was already seven quarters past the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) that he had requested.

Ning Fusang returned the sword.

Seeing that Ning Fusang was covered in sweat, Ruan Sanniang knew that Ning Fusang had left early and had already finished her morning exercise.

She thought to herself, "Although Senior Sister Ning is young, she is really diligent."

"Once Master Gu teaches us swordsmanship, I will definitely get up early every day to practice!"

Gu Pingsheng finished his speech within a quarter of an hour, just as Chenshi (7-9 AM).

"Except for Ning Fusang, who completed 150 laps, everyone else will continue as usual."

Ruan San Niang's lips parted slightly, her eyes quickly sweeping over Gu Pingsheng before looking at Ning Fusang.

Gu Pingsheng originally only wanted to add twenty laps for Ning Fusang, but she took the initiative to ask for one hundred and fifty laps.

Upon hearing this request, Gu Pingsheng's eyes twitched slightly, thinking to himself that the joke she had told him yesterday might actually be what she was thinking.

Since she took the initiative to ask, Gu Pingsheng had no reason not to allow it.

(End of this chapter)