Chapter 76 - Lecture on Martial Arts (I)
76 – Lecture on Martial Arts (I)
“You still don’t understand…” Gazing at Xue Qilin’s figure getting further away, Qi Qiqi dropped her gaze, “What is known as ‘loss’…”
The charming figure standing alone in front of the door is inexplicably stained with bleakness and loneliness.
But even more so sorrow.
A night wind ran trough the girl’s hair.
She raised her head, and deep red eyes filled with reminiscence gazed straight into the empty night.
“Father, what say you?”
Soft words escaped the lush lips and wandered in the night.
Because…
There is no place for the words to reach.
*
The next morning…
The square in outer temple is full of people.
In the center of the originally empty square was erected a wooden stage, and most of the people in the square are gathered around the stage.
Although it was built as a venue for assembly activities, but it is still very rare for the square to look like this.
The outer temple adopts a non-interference policy and doesn’t compel disciples to participate in non-essential activities. For those who aim to become a qualified martial practitioner, instead of wasting time on these activities, it’s better to use the time to practice martial arts.
As a result, virtually all non-essential assemblies and activities always have disciples absent, and the number of absences depends on the content of the assembly.
However, no matter the assembly or activity, it is difficult to gather so many people as there are now.
The only exception is…
“There are so many people…” Standing among the crowd a little further away from the stage, Xue Qilin looked around and sighed.
As far as the eye can see, there are young people dressed in the Merak Temple’s temple clothes. There are probably at least 600 people here.
The square that usually feels quite empty is now this crowded because of them.
But Xue Qilin is also among them.
Today she is attending this assembly as an an outer temple disciple.
As a matter of course, she is wearing the Merak Temple’s temple clothes she got yesterday.
Empyrean Universe that is usually on her back has also been replaced by a light and easy to use long sword.
It is a practice sword produced by the Merak Temple.
The sword hasn’t been sharpened yet. Strictly speaking, it isn’t a real sword, but something that only looks like a sword. Xue Qilin studied it carefully yesterday.
“After all, it is a ‘lecture on martial arts’.” In a matter of course tone, Shui Yuner standing beside Xue Qilin spoke with a smile.
Today, she is no longer wearing her water-blue dress, but the Merak Temple’s temple clothes.
In the past, the long water-colored hair has been scattered randomly, but it has also changed slightly today. The hair that usually covered the forehead and touched the eyebrows was combed back and fixed with a hair clip, exposing the smooth forehead.
Hidden behind strands of hair that adorn the outline of the face from both sides is a pair of drop-shaped crystal earrings hanging from the earlobes, and they reflect the light of dawn.
The pipa that was often kept in her hands has also disappeared.
It has been replaced by a Merak Temple’s standard practice sword identical to Xue Qilin’s.
Incidentally, when Shui Yuner appeared before Xue Qilin just now with this new look, the lass didn’t recognize the girl suddenly.
Shui Yuner doesn’t look much different from the past.
However, the feeling she gives off changed slightly.
Perhaps it is because of the hair style, but Shui Yuner seems more gentle and delicate.
But the sword in her hand gives her an awe-inspiring, steady aura.
It is the contrast caused by this imbalance that gave Xue Qilin the misconception that Shui Yuner has become someone else.
Xue Qilin expressed surprise regarding this.
Can girls feel entirely different just by changing a little?
“Moreover, the Elder of Martial Guidance is here personally today. I reckon that this is what attracted so many people to participate.”
“Really, this…” Xue Qilin’s rolled her eyes in thought and said perfunctorily, “However, I wasn’t talking about this…”
“Huh?” Shui Yuner was a little surprised, “You weren’t referring to the number of people, little Senior Disciple Sister?”
“…”
When she heard Shui Yuner’s question, Xue Qilin’s expression suddenly became strange.
She is really surprised that there are so many people in the Merak Temple. Just in outer temple, the are this many people.
But should she express this thought?
Shui Yuner once asked Xue Qilin why she became an outer temple disciple like her. At that time, Xue Qilin gave the answer she has prepared earlier – “Teacher asked me to practice kung fu.”
Therefore, in Shui Yuner’s eyes, Xue Jiujiu is a disciple of the Merak Temple’s Young Ancestor who came to outer temple from inner temple to practice kung fu. But how can such a person be surprised by the number of people there are in the Merak Temple?
Since this is the case, Xue Qilin has now to come up with an excuse to come out of this bind.
In the end, she thought of the words “Elder of Martial Guidance”.
“Anyway, I still don’t know who the Elder of Martial Guidance is. Shui Yuner, do you know?”
“Hmm, even you don’t know, little Senior Disciple Sister?”
“Well, after all, it’s a new appointment. I haven’t made inquiries yet.”
Not that I ever will – Xue Qilin added in her heart.
“I see. I heard that the position of Elder of Martial Guidance has been vacant for a long time. It seems to be true… ”
I didn’t even know that there is such a position in the Merak Temple – Xue Qilin mocked herself silently.
In fact, Qi Qiqi should have mentioned something about Elder of Martial Guidance. At the time, the lass was a little impressed, but she doesn’t remember anymore.
“Speaking of which, it seems that you only learned about the appointment of the Elder of Martial Guidance yesterday, little Senior Disciple Sister. I heard you talk about this yesterday with Elder Xia.”
So she heard us – Xue Qilin glanced at Shui Yuner.
“Well, something like that.”
“However…” Shui Yuner’s eyes showed a look of curiosity, “Don’t you have any leads, little Senior Disciple Sister? I mean regarding candidates for the position of Elder of Martial Guidance?”
“Hmm…”
To be called an Elder, their cultivation base must have reached the Earth Realm. So they must be from inner temple. Thus, 90% of people are eliminated. On the other hand, the Elders can also be eliminated.
There are about 10 candidates left. The Elder of Martial Guidance is probably one of them.
But who is it? Xue Qilin ha no clue. She cannot infer the most likely person or people to be chosen as the new Elder of Martial Guidance.
This isn’t surprising.
Even if it is just inner temple’s Earth Realm experts, she isn’t familiar with many. She only exchanged a few words with most of them.
Since she doesn’t understand the ability and character of those people, it’s difficult to make any judgement.
Ultimately, I’m still not familiar enough with this “home”… Suddenly, Xue Qilin felt that Qi Qiqi’s critique of her is quite reasonable.
Be that as it may, the lass has no intention to change.
Let’s nature take it’s course – she mused.
“I’m not too…”
The second half of the answer was stuck in her throat.
Xue Qilin felt a certain aura approach and enter the square.
It is this change that caused her to hold back the second half of the answer.
Like a moving cliff, a rich aura approached gradually.
Judging by the aura, although the person hasn’t reached Heaven Realm, but they are already very close.
… There is only one person who meets this criteria.
“So it’s him…” Xue Qilin narrowed her eyes and looked in the direction of the aura.
The crowd parted gradually.
On the cleared path, he is walking towards the stage.
The tall and robust figure is like a giant bear deep in the mountains.
Sharp square face, broad and sturdy shoulders, and bulging muscles all over the body – in terms of physical appearance alone, he gives people a feeling of power.
In contrast, his expression seems wooden.
That’s probably because his eyes are a little dull.
However, in the lass’s memory, those eyes erupt with astonishing fanaticism.
Nonetheless, what impressed the lass the most is the sword hanging from his waist.
The sword’s length and width are both astonishing.
That is not a greatsword.
In terms of style, it is still a long sword, but its size is scary.
In the Merak Temple, only one sword matches the description above. It is a sword that once sneak-attacked Xue Qilin.
Long sword – “Heavenly Rock”.
The owner is…
“Little Senior Disciple Sister, do you recognize this Elder?” Taking note of the lass’s sudden change in expression, Shui Yuner asked.
“Of course, who doesn’t know him!” Xue Qilin withdrew her gaze and wrinkled her nose.
“It’s our vice-Temple Master’s beloved disciple, the current chief disciple of inner temple – Situ Mutou”
Well, for Situ Mutou to take the position of the Elder of Martial Guidance is right and proper. After all, even Qi Qiqi had to shake her head, sigh, and assess him as a “martial maniac”… Xue Qilin mused.
It terms of passion for martial arts, Situ Mu won’t lose to anyone.