36: Chapter 36: Three's Company

When Yang Yuan woke up, the sky was not yet bright.

He habitually wanted to get out of bed to practice his blade work. Just as he sat up, Cheng Ying turned over.

"It's still early..." she said in a daze.

"You keep sleeping." Yang Yuan tucked the corner of the quilt in for her. "I'm going to practice that Move again."

Cheng Ying gave a hum of acknowledgment and fell back asleep.

Yang Yuan tiptoed out of the room.

The courtyard still held the chill of the night, and there was dew on the peach blossoms.

He picked up his single-blade sword and went through the Move "Jade Sea Tide Rises" from beginning to end.

Starting stance, channeling Qi, executing the Move.

Going through it in one breath, it felt much smoother than last night.

Although it was a wooden stick, that bit of force could already be carried onto the blade.

He practiced it two more times, and only when a thin layer of sweat broke out on his body did he put the blade away.

At breakfast, the three of them sat around a small table.

Cheng Ying held her bowl and glanced at Lu Wushuang: "Is your leg injury feeling any better?"

"Much better," Lu Wushuang said. "Cousin, your bandaging was good."

"Then join in for practice this afternoon," Cheng Ying said. "Your foundation is better than mine; don't let it go to waste."

Lu Wushuang was stunned for a moment.

She glanced at Yang Yuan, then at Cheng Ying, and nodded: "Okay."

In the afternoon, the stage was set in the courtyard.

Yang Yuan taught Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang to practice the Yue Maiden Sword Technique.

Two blades, one on the left and one on the right, slashed out simultaneously.

Lu Wushuang learned very quickly; after a few tries, she could already mimic the general movements.

However, her legs were inconvenient, and she couldn't execute some of the Moves that required flexible positioning, making her stomp her feet in frustration.

Cheng Ying watched from the side and said softly: "You don't need to rush, take your time."

Lu Wushuang was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

She took a deep breath, reset her stance, and practiced it again, following Yang Yuan's movements.

This time it was much steadier.

Yang Yuan stood in the middle, watching the two of them slash out with their blades from left and right, the blade light flashing and intersecting in the afternoon sun.

He suddenly felt that days like this were not bad at all.

The relationship between Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying had slowly become more harmonious since their initial reunion.

Although Lu Wushuang was stubborn, it was clear that she quite liked little Xue Jian.

Little Xue Jian liked her too; every time she saw her, she would giggle and reach out to be held.

Yang Yuan stood to the side watching, feeling a sense of relief in his heart.

Cheng Ying saw it all, but didn't say anything.

It was just that sometimes when Lu Wushuang was holding little Xue Jian and teasing her, Cheng Ying would sit to the side, weaving straw rope in her hands, occasionally looking up with a faint smile on her lips.

After practicing for half an hour, Lu Wushuang was a bit tired and sat on the steps to rest her feet.

Yang Yuan walked over and handed her a bowl of water: "How is it? Can you still hold on?"

"It's fine." Lu Wushuang took the water and took a sip. "It's just that my legs are a bit sore."

"That's normal; you haven't practiced properly for too long." Yang Yuan sat down beside her. "Later, I'll teach you a method for channeling Qi that can make your Internal Energy rotate within the blade. Once you master it, the power of a single strike can double."

Lu Wushuang turned her head to look at him: "Rotate? How do you rotate it?"

"Use your Internal Energy to circle within the blade, like twisting a rope." Yang Yuan gestured. "At first, it's hard to find the feeling, but after practicing more, it will become smooth."

After listening, Lu Wushuang was silent for a moment.

"Teach me," she said.

Yang Yuan stood up and picked up her blade: "Watch closely."

He gripped the hilt and slowly poured his Internal Energy into it.

The blade vibrated slightly, emitting a low hum.

He handed the blade back to her: "You try."

Lu Wushuang took the blade, closed her eyes, and tried to make her Internal Energy rotate within the blade.

The first time, it didn't rotate.

The second time, it didn't rotate either.

By the third time, the Internal Energy dissipated just as it entered the blade.

She was anxious and covered in sweat.

Yang Yuan walked behind her: "Don't rush, I'll help you find the feeling."

He reached out and held the hand she was using to grip the blade.

Lu Wushuang's entire body stiffened.

Yang Yuan didn't notice, only focusing on guiding her Internal Energy to rotate within the blade: "Right, that's the direction, try to maintain this feeling."

Lu Wushuang bit her lip, her ears turning bright red.

She didn't speak, but followed the pressure of his hand, sensing the direction of that Internal Energy bit by bit.

After a good while, the blade suddenly made a soft sound.

The Internal Energy began to slowly rotate within the blade.

Lu Wushuang opened her eyes and looked at the blade in her hand: "I... I found it?"

"Yes, that's the feeling." Yang Yuan let go of her hand. "Practice a few more times, and once you're familiar with it, it'll be fine."

Lu Wushuang lowered her head to look at the blade in her hand and didn't speak.

She gripped the blade and practiced several more times. Although it was intermittent, it was already much better than before.

Cheng Ying sat at the doorway, holding little Xue Jian in her arms, watching the two of them practice with the blades.

She held a bamboo flute in her hand, occasionally playing a note to interrupt their rhythm.

Lu Wushuang was interrupted by the flute sound several times and stomped her feet in anger: "Sister Cheng! You did that on purpose!"

Cheng Ying said with a smile: "Yes. I did it on purpose."

Yang Yuan stood in the middle, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

In the evening, the three of them sat in the courtyard eating.

The sea breeze blew from afar, carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms.

Cheng Ying put down her chopsticks and suddenly said: "Tomorrow, you two should go out to sea to fish."

Yang Yuan was stunned: "Go out to sea?"

"There isn't much grain left on the island," Cheng Ying said. "We can't just gnaw on dry rations every day."

"Alright." Yang Yuan thought for a moment and nodded. "Wushuang and I will go tomorrow."

Lu Wushuang didn't speak, effectively agreeing.

Cheng Ying picked up her chopsticks, picked up a mouthful of vegetables, and placed them into Lu Wushuang's bowl, her tone flat and calm: "Eat more; only by healing your injury will you have the strength to practice."

Lu Wushuang lowered her head to look at the vegetables in her bowl and didn't speak.

But she ate that mouthful of vegetables, bite by bite.

Yang Yuan sat to the side, drinking porridge, without making a sound.

He knew clearly in his heart that Cheng Ying was slowly accepting Lu Wushuang.

Although it wasn't that fast, it was already changing.

At nightfall, Yang Yuan sat by the seaside meditating.

The moonlight fell on the sea, shimmering, and the sea breeze was cool.

He closed his eyes, and his Internal Energy flowed slowly along his Meridians.

The Realm of the fifth layer had already completely stabilized.

Next was to continue accumulating and prepare to push for the sixth layer.

Just as he was thinking this, a line of text slowly appeared in his mind—

Yang Yuan didn't think too much about it, opened his eyes, and stood up.

Today's practice progress was not bad; going out to sea tomorrow to get some fresh air was also a good thing.

He turned around and walked back.

The lights in the courtyard were still on, and the voices of Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang drifted out from the room.

The voices were not loud, and it was unclear what they were saying.

But the tone sounded very peaceful, like two sisters who had been separated for a long time talking about intimate matters.

Yang Yuan didn't walk in.

He leaned against the peach tree outside the courtyard and stood for a while.

The night wind passed through the Peach Forest, bringing up a rustling sound.

How much longer the days on this island could pass in peace, he didn't know.

But at least tonight, everything was fine.

(Chapter 36 End)