Chapter 5, Bullying

Lin Xiyan quickly replied: "I can endure hardship"

Si Tian said in astonishment: "I see. Senior sister knows so much. The senior brother said that if there is anything unclear, we should ask senior sister."

At this moment, the sky is bright, and in front of the Shengxia Terrace lies a cliff. Beyond the sea of clouds are several green peaks, with the morning sun hanging atop the peaks, casting brilliant rays of light upon the high terrace. The mountain breeze blows gently, increasingly giving one a feeling of being on the verge of toppling over.

She had never practiced martial arts, and her physique was rather slender. As a result, within the span of a single incense stick, she fell from the wooden post six times. Lin Xiyan, having some foundation in martial arts, was stronger than her and only fell once.

She sat down on the long couch by the window, with the afternoon sunlight perfectly illuminating her. She began to contemplate how to spend the one thousand taels of silver. She could buy a lot of bird's nest soup and also invite the best doctor in the capital.

Shang Yu raised his long sword and laughed, saying: "Qi Yang, when I grow old, you will still have three more years before you start aging slower than me"

Having just arrived at a new place, Si Tian slept very restlessly. Fearing that she might miss the appointed time, she spent her first night in the Zhuque Courtyard in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness

Si Tian responded in a flustered manner. How unfortunate, the monthly letter arrived at this moment. She replied and hurriedly tidied herself up

She couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips. Three years is actually not a long time at all. She has lived in the capital for three years, and now it seems like just a fleeting moment. However, some fragments of time, due to their uniqueness, are infinitely elongated in memory, making her feel like it has been a long time whenever she recalls them. Therefore, the length of time should be measured by the number of memories that remain in the heart.

He was completely different from when I saw him in the morning, the whole person exuded an indescribable aura

She has only a small bundle, which is placed on the table in front of the window, containing just a few changes of clothes

Indeed. I heard Qi Yang call him Senior Brother.

Shang Yu walked ahead with his hands behind his back. Upon reaching the plum blossom stakes, he raised his long sword and struck at the outermost wooden stake. In an instant, the stake sank down, as if he exerted no effort at all, effortlessly driving twenty stakes several feet into the ground. Compared to the other stakes, it was reduced by more than half.

At this moment, Lin Xiyan shouted in the courtyard: "Hurry up, Si Tian"

Yes

After sitting for a while, she heard Lin Xiyan calling her from outside the door. She quickly got up and went to the courtyard. Lin Xiyan said, "I will take you to see somewhere else"

Shang Yu pointed to the western corner of the platform and said, "Today we will first stand on the plum blossom stakes"

Lin Xiyan uttered an "en" and looked at Si Tian, saying: "I thought Master only accepted one female disciple, but I didn't expect another one like you to come. However, it's good; we can keep each other company."

After a while, the two stopped their engagement in combat

Qi Yang covered his forehead and shouted while running: "Senior Brother, you do not understand how to cherish and protect the delicate and beautiful; be careful, or you may not find a wife in the future"

Lin Xiyan, however, did not mention her birthday, only saying: "Then you should call me Senior Sister."

Si Tian was left dumbfounded, filled with lingering fear. When he had just slapped his own palm, he probably only used a fraction of his strength, didn't he? Should he be grateful for his mercy?

Si Tian lowered her head apologetically and obediently said, "Senior Brother, I am sorry. I am late."

Shang Yu's gaze sharpened, and the hand that was behind his back came to the front, revealing a long sword. The sword was still in its sheath, and he lifted it, lightly tapping it a few times in his hand, and said coldly: "Extend your hand"

Half an hour later, Shang Yu appeared from somewhere, as if returning from a leisurely spring outing, with a long sword hanging at his waist and a willow branch casually held in his hand

"A strict teacher produces outstanding students, do you know what that means?" With that, Shang Yu raised his hand and gave Qi Yang a sharp rap on the head.

The wooden stake beneath Lin Xiyan's feet was not spared either

Qi Yang chuckled lightly, holding something shiny in his hand, and rushed forward, enveloping Shang Yu's treasured sword. Shang Yu's sword moved so swiftly that the gestures were nearly invisible, with light and shadow swirling around, like a sudden flash of lightning, a fleeting moment. Si Tian wobbled unsteadily on the wooden post, only hearing the crisp clinking sound akin to raindrops falling from the eaves onto the empty steps, sometimes dense and sometimes sparse, not resembling a duel, but rather sounding like flowing water brushing against a zither string.

He slowly walked to a spot not far from the wooden post and, frowning, asked: "How many times have you fallen again?"

Si Tian did not understand martial arts, but she could see that Lin Xiyan's knife strikes were devoid of any technique; each slash was wild and erratic, yet filled with fierce momentum and a chilling aura. She was unaware that Lin Xiyan actually possessed some martial skills, as she assumed that Lin was merely familiar with medical principles like herself

Qiyang grinned and said: "Senior Brother, this move of yours is too cruel, these are two girls."

Shang Yu chuckled twice and said, "I never said that, you might not be old after all."

Si Tian cheerfully called out "Senior Sister," smiling with respect. Lin Xiyan's expression immediately improved somewhat

Sister Tian said: "Are the senior brothers here? Is Qi Yang also a senior brother?"

A moment later, Lin Xiyan shouted again in the courtyard: "You are too slow, I am leaving first. If I am late, the senior brother will punish me"

Si Tian repeatedly expressed her gratitude

Sigh, Qi Yang is one month younger than me, I have to call him Third Senior Brother, how awkward it is. This was the first time Lin Xiyan showed a hint of bashfulness typical of a little girl

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened, and a person emerged; it was Shang Yu. A white silk shirt was casually worn on her body, with the waist belt loosely tied. The collar was slightly obscured, and a patch of skin at her collarbone glistened like honey in the sunlight. Her freshly washed hair was loose, casually tied back with a hairband.

Exiting the Zhuque Courtyard, there is a small door next to the Xuanwu Courtyard. Lin Xiyan led the way in front, walking along the corridor for a dozen steps, and arrived at another courtyard. To her surprise, in this small courtyard, there was a small pond made of blue bricks, with one or two eager green lotus leaves poking their heads out of the water. If it were summer, the courtyard would surely be filled with the fragrance of lotus.

Lin Xiyan is inherently proud, yet she is still a fifteen-year-old girl. She feels quite pleased when addressed as "senior sister" a few times, and her attitude has softened considerably.

Shang Yu looked at the two people covered in mud, raising an eyebrow with a smile that was neither here nor there: "Indeed, there has been progress"

Si Tian was moved by Shao Pei's taste; even the place where the servants lived was arranged so elegantly. She followed Lin Xiyan, passing by the kitchen and then the pharmacy. She felt a surge of excitement in her heart, as her master had mentioned that Zhuque specialized in medical theory. If she applied herself to learning, perhaps in the future she could manage to treat her mother's illness.

She walked into her room and took a careful look around. The room was clean and tidy, with simple furnishings, few utensils, yet exquisite and elegant, of considerable value. The bed was covered with a new quilt, made of fine silk satin embroidered with hibiscus flowers.

Lin Xiyan pointed to a small door next to the armory and said, "If you go out from here and walk straight, you will reach the place where the senior brothers practice their skills"

When she fell from the wooden stake for the seventh time, Shang Yu's expression was quite unpleasant, as he coldly gazed at her against the backdrop of the twilight glow

Indeed, it is Shang Yu, Qi Yang, and Lin Xiyan.

Si Tian wanted to laugh, but did not dare to lose focus. The foul smell beneath her feet made her anxious, and she could not bear to imagine what would happen if she fell down. Thus, she was exceedingly cautious.

As night falls, the mountains are enveloped in profound silence and tranquility. The clear and translucent moonlight streams through the window, moistening the night within the room like water, dividing the scene into two halves of light and shadow, akin to the sunset reflected in the water, half shimmering blue and half glowing red.

Si Tianhan smiled and asked, "Is it only us few disciples at the Seven Forces Gate?"

Si Tian smiled and said, "Then let's just call him Qi Yang in private." She also felt that Qi Yang looked like a child, his expression resembling that of Xiao An.

Hai Li collapsed beneath the plum blossom stake. The young man named Hai Li brought over the basket, and a foul odor immediately made one want to retch. Si Tian, both anxious and startled, watched helplessly as the sludge poured out around the feet of the wooden stakes. She felt a wave of nausea and nearly fell into the sludge.

Sister Si Tian said softly: "What the senior brother taught me is correct. I will not do it again in the future"

Si Tian's heart stirred ... could it be that she is also ...

Shang Yu casually pointed to a half-buried wooden stake and said to the two girls behind her: "Today is the first day, so stand for half an hour first"

Shang Yuheng glanced at him and said, "Go quickly."

Shang Yu turned and walked five zhang away, a cold light gleaming in his hand as he drew his treasured sword. A silver light surged forth like a dragon rising from the sea of clouds

Lin Xiyan nodded, her face seemingly displaying a fleeting hint of shyness, before she turned and entered the room

After exiting the small door, the man pointed to a mountain path on the east side. Si Tian expressed her gratitude and hurriedly ran towards the mountain path. After running for about several dozen zhang, she saw a wide platform and vaguely noticed a few figures. She felt a surge of joy in her heart and quickly ran forward.

... ...

Qiyang lamented: "Are you implying that I can only compare to you because I am old?"

She hurriedly asked, "Excuse me, sir, how do I get to Shengxiatai?"

Si Tian bit her lip, the pain in her palm seemed to surge upward along the meridians, converging at her heart and lungs, causing waves of convulsions.

The first time you emphasize the key points, only then will you be able to remember them clearly

Lin Xiyan coldly remarked: "This little skill cannot be considered as mastery. To be able to kill and not be killed, that is what true mastery is."

Her words were both direct and sharp, as if a handful of chili powder had been thrown at her. Si Tian smiled awkwardly. She was already aware that she did not resemble a typical fourteen-year-old girl, while Lin Xiyan seemed even more sullen, appearing somewhat difficult to get along with

Lin Xiyan wielded a long knife in the courtyard, swinging it up and down

Shang Yushi casually passed by the two, his gaze not even glancing sideways, a refreshing aura brushed past like a wisp of wind. Upon reaching the entrance, he tossed out a remark: "Wait for me at Shengxia Terrace at the hour of the rabbit tomorrow. If you are late, don't blame me for being impolite." Before the words had even faded, his white-clad figure flashed, and he was already outside the door. The tone was truly arrogant and stern, with the demeanor of a senior brother fully displayed, surpassing that of the master.

Lin Xiyan caught sight of her at once and immediately sheathed her knife. Her gaze was cold and proud, yet her complexion was slightly flushed, displaying a bit more of the youthful brightness than when they had met in the morning

While Haili was busy bringing a basket of silt, Si Tian fell down once again

Upon returning to Zhuque Courtyard, Si Tian was momentarily taken aback as she entered.

Of course not! There are many people under the Seven Forces Gate, but they never come to Lanzhou Mountain. This place is actually a residence of the master. Only a few of his closest disciples live here. The location is remote, and the heavenly ladder is so steep that it is a struggle to ascend; usually, few people come here.

Si Tian felt shy and embarrassed, unable to look at him. However, she truly tried her best. If it weren't for Lin Xiyan being so "outstanding" beside her, perhaps she wouldn't appear so clumsy

The man remained silent, merely gesturing with his hands a couple of times. Si Tian, feeling anxious, asked again. The man gestured a few more times. This time, Si Tian understood; the man was mute. It was truly a case of misfortune coming in waves. She was so anxious that she began to stamp her feet. The man seemed to notice her distress, set down the firewood he was holding, stood up, and came to the courtyard, beckoning her to follow him.

Unfortunately, standing on the plum blossom stakes cannot be achieved merely by being careful and focused

At dawn, she faintly heard that Lin Xiyan next door had already gotten up, with the faint sound of a copper basin clinking, presumably while washing her face

Suddenly, he turned his head and looked at Si Tian, catching her just as she fell from the wooden post. Si Tian felt a rush of heat to her face and quickly climbed back onto the post, swaying as she tried to steady herself.

Si Tian lowered her head and said softly: "Five times"

Lin Xiyan and Si Tian responded in unison. When they raised their heads, they found that they both had faces flushed with embarrassment

Lin Xiyan first said: "Once"

Si Tian smiled sweetly and said, "Senior sister arrived earlier than I did, so I hope you will take care of me more in the future"

Sister, where is Shengxia Terrace

She quickly got up and put on her clothes. Suddenly, she felt some discomfort in her lower body, and her stomach also hurt a bit. She brought the candlestick to the bed to take a look, and indeed saw a small dark red stain on the bedsheet, which made her exclaim inwardly that it was bad. She hurriedly took off her lower garment and opened her bundle, hastily changing her clothes.

Si Tian and Lin Xi Yan exchanged a glance, both eyes filled with fear, and they steeled themselves to stand on the wooden stumps.

Qi Yang, go and ask Hai Li to bring a basket of the silt from the lotus pond over here

Shang Yu chuckled softly, then struck heavily in the palm of her hand. Si Tian felt a sharp pain in her leg, causing it to weaken, yet she gritted her teeth and did not withdraw her hand.

Shang Yu's face darkened, and he drew his sword to pursue Qi Yang. Qi Yang ran away from the west side of the Shengxia Terrace, howling loudly.

Are you referring to Shang Yu

Shang Yu glanced at her, then looked at Lin Xiyan, and said: "The master said he will be away for a month and asked me to teach you first. In fact, the master's intention is to see if you can endure hardship. If you find it too difficult to persevere within this month, you should leave early and not waste the master's time."

Si Tian had no choice but to continue smiling and strike up a conversation with her: "My birthday is on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, I just turned fourteen, how about you?"

Lin Xiyan softly called out "Senior Brother", her face also flushed

Qi Yang hurriedly mediated the situation: "Senior Brother, alright, alright, let's go easy on Junior Sister since it's her first mistake."

Si Tian looked and saw dozens of plum blossom stakes standing there, each more than one zhang high. She secretly groaned, not even considering how long she could stand; the question was how to get up on such high wooden stakes.

Shang Yu stood at a distance with her arms crossed, her complexion much better than before. Feeling quite pleased, she clapped her hands and raised her eyebrows, saying proudly: "Qi Yang, my method is quite good, isn't it"

Qi Yang hurriedly ran away

Si Tian timidly extended her hand, is he really going to punish her? How will he punish her

Si Tian smiled kindly and said, "So you know martial arts."

Shang Yu's expression grew even worse. She was already too embarrassed to look at his face and consciously lowered her head

Si Tian hurriedly tidied herself up, not even taking the time to wash her face before rushing out the door. Outside, the dawn had not yet broken, and only the outlines of the road and shadows of people were faintly visible. Following the directions given by Lin Xiyan yesterday, she quickly ran to the small door next to the armory, which was ajar, indicating that Lin Xiyan had just passed through. Upon exiting the corridor, she inwardly exclaimed that it was a disaster. On the open ground, two mountain paths wound their way, but which direction should she take? She hurriedly turned back into the courtyard and immediately noticed the kitchen light was on. She ran inside and saw a middle-aged man tending to the fire.

Qi Yang ran over in a daze, scratching his head: "Senior Brother, what is this for?"

This is the dormitory, where several miscellaneous workers and cooks reside. That is the kitchen, that is the pharmacy, that is the bathroom, and that is the armory. Lin Xiyan pointed out each one, maintaining a very dignified demeanor as a senior sister

He suddenly appeared in her line of sight. Si Tian merely glanced at him out of instinct, but her face instantly flushed. Although he was neatly dressed, it felt as if she had glimpsed something she should not have seen, leaving her feeling both embarrassed and flustered

Qiyang said somewhat frustrated: "Senior Brother, this is unfair. You have practiced for three more years than I have. I make progress, and so do you. Does that mean I will never be able to catch up with you?"

Si Tian smiled and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister"

Before she could clearly see his movements, a cold flash of light appeared before her eyes, and her palm was already pierced with a sharp pain. She had no time to cry out in pain, nor did she dare to withdraw her hand, as his sword came crashing down again. The sword sheath struck her palm a total of 7 times. He was merciless in his actions, quick and fierce, causing her palm to burn and swell immediately.

"Qiyang, come here."