10: Chapter 10: Sparring Martial Arts, Zhao Hongling is Displeased

Chen Xuan stood at the doorway, the tips of his toes touching the threshold, looking left and right. On the table to the left, medicinal porridge steamed with heat, while on the right, pancakes sizzled in the pan.

He swallowed, not out of hunger, but because this setup was more intimidating than going up the mountain to hunt a tiger.

"How about..." he began, but Zhao Hongling immediately glared at him: "Don't think you can have it both ways! Pick one!"

Leng Shuang lowered her head and stirred the porridge, her voice as cold as well water: "As you wish."

Chen Xuan slapped his forehead, thinking that if he could really swallow both meals in one gulp, it would indeed simplify things.

But reality was, he could only eat food, not gunpowder.

He took a step back, spreading his hands: "No one argue today, I have other plans."

"What?" Zhao Hongling frowned.

"Training," Chen Xuan flexed his wrist, "My True Qi has been flowing smoothly these past few days, perfect for testing my skills. Leng Shuang, care to lend a hand?"

Leng Shuang looked up at him, her gaze flickering slightly. Without a word, she stood up, drew her sword, lightly tapped the ground with its tip, tracing an arc in the air as she retreated to the center of the courtyard's open space.

Zhao Hongling was stunned: "Wait, you two are going to spar? Then what about me?"

"You watch from the side," Chen Xuan chuckled as he took off his outer robe and casually draped it over a bamboo pole, "Learn something, broaden your horizons."

"Who wants to learn from your biased horizons!" she gritted her teeth, but still sat down on the stone bench under the corridor, crossing her arms and lifting her chin high.

Chen Xuan ignored her, walking to stand opposite Leng Shuang, and cupped his hands in salute: "After you."

Leng Shuang nodded, flicked her wrist, and sword light scattered like snowflakes,

The first move, "Frozen River Reflecting Shadows," aimed straight for his center.

Chen Xuan sidestepped, his foot sliding, and he smoothly circled to her right side. He ran a finger past the tip of his nose and grinned: "Half a beat too slow."

Leng Shuang remained silent. Her sword's momentum shifted, and the second move, "Lone Swan Skimming Waves," swept horizontally, the blade bringing with it a gust of cool wind.

Chen Xuan ducked under it, flipped into the air, and lightly flicked the flat of the blade with his fingertip, producing a clear *clang*.

"Good strength!" he praised, landing and rolling to avoid the third move, "Thousand Mountains Frozen Snow." Seizing the chance, he pushed out a palm strike in the air, forcing Leng Shuang back half a step.

They went back and forth, sword shadows dancing. Chen Xuan never drew a weapon, relying solely on footwork and reflexes to maneuver.

His movements were nimble, and he occasionally teased: "Not a bad move, but the finish is too hasty."

"Oof, almost got me. Be faster next time."

Leng Shuang grew more focused, her swordplay increasingly fierce.

When she executed the fourth move, "Glacial River Breaks Waves," the Sword Qi actually left shallow cracks on the ground.

Chen Xuan leaped into a backflip, almost skimming the ground, startling Zhao Hongling into a gasp before she quickly covered her mouth.

"Not bad, Leng Shuang!" Chen Xuan steadied himself upon landing and clapped his hands, "That sword set is practiced viciously. Who taught you?"

"An old legacy from my sect," she said flatly, the tip of her sword lowering slightly, her breathing steady.

"No wonder," Chen Xuan rubbed his hands together, "Another round? This time, I won't dodge."

Before the words fully left his mouth, he charged forward, palm wind aiming straight for her face. Leng Shuang's eyes sharpened, her sword stance shifting to defend. In an instant, they were engaged in close-quarters combat.

Chen Xuan's palms moved like a swimming Dragon, targeting openings; Leng Shuang's sword was like a cold serpent, defending flawlessly. For a moment, light dust stirred in the courtyard, their footsteps crisscrossing.

Zhao Hongling sat under the corridor, her fingers unconsciously picking at the edge of the stone bench.

She had originally thought this sparring was just a formality, but now, the two of them moved with tacit understanding, an indescribable harmony in their offense and defense.

What made her feel even more stifled was the way Chen Xuan looked at Leng Shuang—his eyes were bright, piercingly so.

The admiration in his tone when he'd just exclaimed, "What a fine 'Frozen River Lone Shadow'!" was something she'd never heard when she made pancakes.

The more she thought about it, the more stifled she felt, as if a stone were pressing on her chest.

Suddenly, Chen Xuan leaped and dodged again, laughing as he called out: "Marvelous! This Sword Intent is almost condensing into frost flowers!"

*Crash!*

Zhao Hongling abruptly stood up, her sleeve sweeping a teacup off the table. The porcelain cup shattered into pieces on the ground, tea splattering everywhere.

The courtyard instantly fell silent.

Leng Shuang sheathed her sword, looked at the broken shards, frowned slightly, and seemed about to speak but stopped herself.

Chen Xuan also halted his movements, panting as he looked over, beads of sweat on his forehead.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Zhao Hongling didn't answer. She turned and walked away, her steps heavy and hurried, kicking small stones to scatter on the ground.

"Hey!" Chen Xuan chased after her for a couple of steps, "Where are you going?"

She didn't look back, tossing over her shoulder: "I'm not interested in watching you two perform a duet!"

With that, she pushed open the courtyard gate and strode out.

Chen Xuan stood where he was, scratched his head, and sighed. He turned to look at Leng Shuang and said quietly, "You head back first. I'll go find her."

Leng Shuang pressed her lips together, nodded, picked up her sword, turned, and disappeared through the door of the left wing room.

Chen Xuan took a deep breath and strode out the gate after her. In the alley, the slanted sunlight baked the bluestone pavement pale.

He quickened his pace and finally caught sight of Zhao Hongling's back at the alley's corner.

She wasn't walking slowly. Her red skirt swayed in the wind like a flame about to be extinguished.

"Hey!" he called out.

She didn't stop.

He chased a few more steps, reaching out to block her path: "Don't walk so fast. Can't I even say a word?"

Zhao Hongling stopped. Her profile was tense, arms crossed over her chest. She stared at a clump of weeds by the base of the wall, refusing to look at him.

Chen Xuan wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned: "That sparring just now, I really didn't mean to neglect you."

"Oh?" she sneered, "So you were intentionally warming up to her?"

"I was trying to ease the tension," he spread his hands, "Can't spend every morning agonizing over two tables, can I? Whichever I choose offends someone. Might as well do something productive."

"Productive?" She glared up at him, "You two were fighting so intimately I should have applauded and cheered?"

"There was no intimacy!" Chen Xuan was torn between laughter and tears, "She was trying to nail me to the wall with her sword. If I'd truly been sentimental, I'd be lying flat already."

Zhao Hongling snorted, turning her head to look at the old locust tree outside the wall, its leaves rustling loudly in the wind.

Seeing she wouldn't respond, Chen Xuan softened his tone: "I know what you're thinking.

But you have to understand, there's really nothing special between me and Leng Shuang.

She helped stabilize my Realm, I helped protect her Meridians. It's just a mutual exchange."

"Then why do you always praise her?" she suddenly turned, fire in her eyes, "She performs an ordinary sword move, and you shout like you've found treasure. I cook you a meal, and you just say 'not bad, pretty fragrant' and that's it?"

Chen Xuan was taken aback, not expecting her to remember so clearly.

He was silent for two seconds, then scratched his chin: "So what do you want me to say? 'Zhao Hongling's pancakes could rank among the top three in the Immortal Realm's imperial kitchen'?"

She snorted, the corner of her mouth twitching before she forced it stiff again: "Stop joking! I mean, can't you... pay a bit more attention to me?"

The words out, her own face flushed red first. She quickly lowered her head, the tip of her shoe scuffing the gravel on the ground.

Chen Xuan's heart softened, his tone lowering too: "When have I not looked at you? You wear a new dress, I notice immediately; your hair is crooked in the morning, I know that too.

It's just... I don't say it often."

"Did you say it today?" She looked up, her gaze fixed directly on him.

Chen Xuan opened his mouth, but before he could answer, the distant cry of a tofu seller drifted into the alley, long and drawn-out.

The wind lifted a strand of her hair, brushing against the back of his hand, a little ticklish.

He suddenly smiled: "How about this: tomorrow, I'll let you be my opponent. We'll have a match too, let you beat me until I'm picking my teeth off the ground, okay?"

"Who wants to fight you!" She stamped her foot but didn't step back again.

Chen Xuan reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear: "Don't be angry. Any angrier and your face will puff up like a steamed bun."

Zhao Hongling raised her hand to swat his away, calling him annoying, but a hint of a smile finally appeared on her face.