NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 251: Martial Arts Training
"Speaking of which, Miss Li Sushang, judging by your attire, you must come from an esteemed sect, right?"
As they walked side-by-side down the street after leaving the arcade, Ren held the broken half of the candied hawthorn stick, asking casually.
He looked up at the sky. It was the final hour before dawn, and the pre-dawn darkness felt particularly profound.
A damp, cold wind swept through the streets, making him shiver. He subconsciously wondered if Kiana, whom he had left under an awning, would catch a cold.
He quickly snapped back to reality, chuckling self-deprecatingly. She's a Herrscher; how could she catch a cold from a little chill?
"Just call me Sushang." Li Sushang was busy gathering her long hair, attempting to tie it back into its original twin tails, oblivious to his fleeting thoughts.
However, the loose strands reached almost to the ground, making it difficult to manage. She held the jade hairpin between her lips, instinctively glancing at Ren.
Meeting the girl's gaze, Ren paused, understanding her unspoken request. He reached out, gently gathering the stray strands of hair in his fingers.
They stood together on the deserted street, their shadows elongated by the hazy moonlight. Ren's movements were practiced and efficient. The light brown hair wasn't silver, and he harbored no ulterior motives.
With Ren's assistance, Li Sushang quickly tidied her hair, retrieving the hairpin from her lips.
She inserted the slightly saliva-coated hairpin into her bun, securing her hair firmly.
"Thank you." Exhaling softly, Li Sushang expressed her gratitude. Only then did she realize it was the first time she had let a boy help her with her hair, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Her petite stature, barely reaching five feet, made her appear even younger than the average girl, especially with her current bashful demeanor, adding to her cuteness.
However, Ren merely nodded with a gentle smile, unfazed by the girl's charming display.
"The Supreme Freedom Sect. That's the name of my sect, although it's probably long forgotten by now."
Resuming their walk, continuing their previous conversation, Li Sushang explained softly, "My master founded this sect. It only consisted of her and me. But Master was very strong. Even with just the two of us, no one in the dared to underestimate us."
"Supreme Divine Sword, Unfettered Heart. Even when I was just starting out, I had already heard tales of her fame circulating in The Martial World. I used to think, if I could reach her level, no one would dare offend me."
"A truly simple wish," Ren acknowledged with a nod.
"But, in the end, I wasn't good enough. When I was 15, Master sent me to the desert to test my swordsmanship. Back then, I was obsessed with martial arts novels, wanting to emulate the protagonists' methods to defeat my enemies. I never expected to be betrayed and suffer a great loss."
Although she spoke of suffering a loss, Li Sushang showed no sign of regret. She was about to continue, recounting her story with the Luocha people, but the memories of her time with Otto surfaced, and she instinctively stopped.
For some reason, she didn't feel like sharing the rest of the story with Ren, so she abruptly changed the subject.
"I started growing my hair long from then on. To celebrate my coming-of-age, Master even gave me one of her jade hairpins."
Li Sushang's clumsy attempt to change the topic didn't escape Ren's notice, but he didn't press the matter. Instead, he said thoughtfully, "Fifteen, the age of ji li1, considered adulthood in ancient times. But in this era, eighteen is the age of majority. And judging by your speech, Miss Sushang, you seem somewhat unaccustomed to modern life. Could it be that you're not from this era?"
"Ah, well…" Caught off guard, Li Sushang almost revealed her true origins. She fidgeted, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, her eyes darting around.
Honest and straightforward, Li Sushang wasn't skilled at lying. She glanced at Ren nervously, her heart pounding when she saw him looking at her.
Such a gullible girl, Ren thought, then smoothly rescued her from the awkward situation. "That's understandable. Martial arts novels do have a unique charm, but this is a society ruled by law. Perhaps you shouldn't be too engrossed in tales of chivalry, Miss Sushang."
"Ah, yes, that's right!" Relieved to have an escape route, Li Sushang beamed, completely unaware that Ren had steered the conversation.
As if suddenly remembering something, Ren hesitated. Li Sushang, noticing his expression, prompted, "If you have something to say, please speak freely."
With her encouragement, Ren asked, "Since you come from a martial arts sect, Miss Sushang, could you perhaps teach me a few moves? I know it's a bold request, but to survive in this city, I'd like to have some means of self-defense."
Immediately after, he shook his head, as if reconsidering. "No, never mind. Secret martial arts techniques are a sect's most treasured secrets. I was being presumptuous."
Seeing Ren's hesitant demeanor, Li Sushang, who already had a favorable impression of him, quickly responded, "Not at all! The rule against teaching outsiders applies to others, but I'm the only one left from the Supreme Freedom Sect now. There's no such rule against sharing Taixu Sword Qi. I don't mind teaching you."
"Really?"
"Of course. If you don't believe me, I can start teaching you right now. Let's find a more open space."
Under the moonlight, they soon found a quiet plaza.
"I'll teach you some basic movements first. I'll demonstrate, and you can follow along."
In the plaza, they practiced the basic movements, one after the other. To Li Sushang's surprise, Ren learned incredibly quickly. After just one demonstration, he had grasped the movements almost perfectly, replicating them with precision.
Noticing this, Li Sushang was delighted. Could it be that I've stumbled upon a martial arts prodigy?
"Taixu Sword Qi is a bit difficult for beginners. I'll teach you my family's martial arts style first."
The first style Li Sushang had learned was the "Recalling Heart Sword Manual", taught to her by her father when she was only a year old, barely more than a toddler. Her memories of that time were hazy, but even then, she had memorized the twelve stances of the Recalling Heart Sword Manual perfectly.
While not a top-tier martial art, it wasn't something ordinary people could easily master.
As expected, Ren's movements were initially stiff, but with Li Sushang's close guidance and adjustments, he gradually improved.
Seeing Ren's movements become more fluid, Li Sushang felt a sense of pride. Master must have felt this way too.
She leaned against a lamppost at the edge of the plaza, a playful glint in her eyes. She mischievously took out the remaining half of Ren's candied haws and began to eat it in front of him.
Ren was speechless. Still a child at heart, huh?
Since Ren didn't possess True Qi yet, he could only practice the forms. During a break, he asked, "Is it really alright to teach your family's martial arts to an outsider like me?"
Li Sushang's movements stopped, and her eyes dimmed slightly.