"I believe you can win the Martial Decree Ceremony."
Because he believed, she could.
"Can you win? From the very beginning, there was never any possibility of you losing."
After all, the phrase 'If it's me, I can do it' is built on absolute self-confidence.
"You can choose not to believe in yourself."
"But you must believe in me, believe in the me that believes in you. What others can't do, I can."
Feixiao was momentarily stunned.
Then, the corners of her mouth curved into a smile, and she said:
"Trust?"
"You really think I can take the championship? Well then, I can't let that trust down!"
Feixiao's Foxian ears twitched as she spoke happily.
She decided she had to fight for the position of Arbiter-General, no matter what!
Even if not for herself, for Leon's sake, she had to win!
"So I was missing a believing heart..."
Listening from the side, Sushang nodded repeatedly, taking Leon's lesson to heart, looking as if she completely agreed with his words.
No wonder she couldn't beat her mother. This was the problem!
She had never even considered the possibility of landing a hit on her mother, so naturally, she didn't believe she had the ability to.
So it was a matter of mindset all along.
In other words, she had to change her perspective.
Stop seeing her mother as a superior, and instead, see her as an equal.
As long as she changed her mindset and then believed she could do it.
Then she would definitely be able to do it.
Sushang felt that this eighth Arbiter-General would never deceive a child. His words were logical and well-founded, so she decided to meticulously study his methods.
She had never been so serious, not even in class, and was already starting to imagine a triumphant comeback.
She fantasized so much that, in the midst of her daydreaming... her mother's figure suddenly appeared before her eyes.
"Sushang."
The calm female voice spoke, that all-too-familiar face uttering her name.
It was the real person.
Sushang froze, realizing it wasn't a hallucination.
"Mother."
Sushang replied subconsciously, "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?"
Qin Suyi said, shifting her gaze to the two who had just finished sparring. "If I didn't come, was I supposed to just watch you cause trouble for Yaoqing's distinguished guests?"
As she was sizing him up, Leon was also sizing her up.
She was a woman dressed in a light purple chest-high ruqun, with brown, arm-length hair. From her appearance alone, she looked as if she wouldn't have the strength to truss a chicken.
If not for the conspicuous golden sword on her back, most people would have truly mistaken her for an ordinary, respectable woman upon first glance.
Two chi and one cun long, it was unusually large.
Its appearance was ancient, yet its edges were as thin as a cicada's wings, sharp enough to sever a hair blown against it. Any passerby who saw this divine weapon would surely turn their heads in amazement.
"I wasn't causing any trouble..."
Sushang giggled, sounding rather defiant.
"They came here to spar. What are you doing joining in the fun?"
Qin Suyi stepped forward and pinched her ear.
"I wasn't just joining in!"
Sushang defended herself, "I was here to learn!"
"Don't make your mother laugh..."
"When you've memorized the 'Sword Heart Chant,' then we can talk about learning other things."
Qin Suyi chuckled dryly.
"My daughter has caused you trouble."
Qin Suyi nodded to Leon as a greeting.
"It was nothing." Leon told her not to worry about it.
Qin Suyi's gaze lingered for a moment on the bow slung across his back.
"Arbiter-General Leon, if you need anything, feel free to find me."
Then she withdrew her gaze, nodded again, and Qin Suyi took her daughter's hand.
"Then we shall take our leave."
After speaking, the two of them left together.
Sushang was dazedly led away. When she came to her senses, she quickly turned and waved at the two:
"Goodbye, Arbiter-General Leon! Goodbye, Sister Feixiao!"
She didn't forget to say goodbye.
Seeing this, Leon and Feixiao both raised their hands and waved back in acknowledgment.
After the two had left.
"What's wrong?"
Leon asked, noticing March 7th staring absently at their retreating backs.
March 7th snapped back to reality, pulling her gaze away from the distance.
Hearing his voice, she tilted her head up slightly, meeting his questioning eyes.
Then, she shook her head in response to his question.
March 7th shifted her gaze back to the closed gate, but the mother and daughter were long gone.
Parents.
Those two words, to her, were easy-to-understand words, but also a tangible concept she could never experience.
She understood the surface but not the meaning.
She knew everyone had parents, but she didn't know what the existence called "parents" was really like.
March 7th was pondering a question.
She hadn't thought about it much before, but now that she considered it, what exactly was her relationship with Leon?
Father and daughter? Or maybe a guardian and his adopted child?
Was Leon her father?
If so, then she now knew what it felt like to have a parent.
Judging from his attitude towards her, it did seem to lean more towards that kind of affection.
But what were her feelings for him?
March 7th had never thought about this question.
What kind of attitude should she adopt to face these feelings?
March 7th didn't know the answer.
She didn't even know if it was really necessary to figure these things out so clearly.
Because no matter what their relationship was, Leon would never harm her.
But...
March 7th subconsciously raised her hand to her chest, asking herself.
Should she remain in this state of ignorant uncertainty, continuing to accept his kindness and maintain this guardian-like relationship?
Was this really what she wanted?
March 7th couldn't find an answer in her heart.
But the thought of not finding an answer, of having to maintain their current relationship forever... with no further progress possible, caused a strange feeling to sprout in her heart.
This feeling was complex.
There was frustration that maintaining the status quo would lead to an unchanging future, and also a panic at the thought that someone else might get to him first.
But when it all came down to it, it was still one fundamental question.
Returning to the source of the question, she found the answer she was looking for.
She didn't want to maintain this kind of relationship, and she certainly didn't want to be seen as a daughter by him forever.
So, what was it that she truly wanted?
March 7th glanced sideways, her eyes falling upon Feixiao.
She thought of Feixiao's actions, and the fighting spirit she had just shown for her goal.
Yes, just like her.
She also wanted to get closer to him.
Although the current March 7th didn't know how to take that next step, at the very least, like Feixiao, she was facing her own feelings.
She tore away the false surface of that peculiar emotion disguised as dependence on an elder.
At this moment, the two of them had truly begun to compete fairly.
"Maybe she was interested in that sword."
Feixiao offered her own guess as to why March 7th had been spacing out.
"Honestly, I also like Lady Suyi's sword, 'Xuanyuan.' I heard it was once wielded by a marshal. Just thinking about it makes it feel so prestigious."
Feixiao said with a smile, then added as something occurred to her.
"Oh, right, Miss March, if you're interested, you could go learn swordsmanship from Lady Suyi."
Feixiao thought this was a good idea.
"Leon isn't participating in the Martial Decree Ceremony, but you can! You're already here, and it's happening right now. How could you not join in on the excitement?"
Feixiao suggested.
Haha, it would be amusing if she lost to March 7th in the Martial Decree Ceremony.
Although the Martial Decree Ceremony is limited to locals with Yaoqing household registration, and outsiders are indeed not qualified to participate.
After all, letting someone with no connections whatsoever lead a Xianzhou would be disastrous, wouldn't it?
But March 7th didn't need to worry about that.
She, like that little girl named Rapa, was considered a semi-direct family member of Leon's.
Leon's people were, by extension, people of the Xianzhou.
There would naturally be a place for them in the Alliance; they could in no way be considered outsiders.
Think of it as a universal household registration.
If she really participated and Feixiao lost, she would definitely accept it.
Not winning the championship would mean she wasn't the strongest of the new generation.
And if she wasn't the strongest, she naturally wouldn't be qualified to take the position of Arbiter-General and lead Yaoqing, the martial Xianzhou.
If things really turned out that way, it would mean Feixiao still needed more time to temper and hone her skills.
If she couldn't even defeat a young girl who had been learning the sword for less than half a month, then there really was nothing to say.
"Swordsmanship has always been an enduring art in the Xianzhou, a skill passed down through generations. Even if you don't compete, it'd be great to experience the local culture."
Feixiao continued.
"Just watching is too boring. Miss March, you can train with me."
There was still a week until the Martial Decree Ceremony officially began.
During this week, if nothing unexpected happened.
She would be immersed in fighting with Leon, so focused that she'd lose track of the world.
She would hone her skills and then, at the Martial Decree Ceremony, ascend to a peak unknown to all!
For this purpose, Feixiao probably wouldn't have much time to show the two of them around Yaoqing for leisure.
Leon wouldn't be idle, but March 7th certainly would be.
Watching fights all the time is so boring. Even storytellers don't just talk about fighting.
There was the option of having Yueyu accompany March 7th.
But given how inseparable the two seemed, March 7th would likely be wherever Leon was.
If he didn't go, then there was no need for her to go either.
Feixiao thought about it and decided that having her prepare for the Martial Decree Ceremony just like herself was a good option.
"Umm..." March 7th looked hesitant.
Feixiao silently turned her gaze towards him, as if waiting for his opinion on the matter.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Seeing her expression, Leon couldn't help but wonder if he was some kind of control freak.
"If you're interested, then go learn. What's the big deal?"
After some thought, he found his answer.
This was like, you know, checking in with your parents before going out to play.
"Only with rich experiences can memories become rich."
Leon thought learning the sword was a great idea.
"The two must combine to achieve the richness of a person's existence."
Her main mission was always to see more, think more, and do more.
To recover 'memories,' one must first fill up on 'memories.'
And this mantra was the summary of how to fill up on 'memories.'
If you encounter something interesting, something that piques your curiosity... then go satisfy it. It's not a big deal.
March should fly free; he'd be her safety net.
"If you want to go, then go. Don't worry about anything else."
Although, having March 7th participate in the Martial Decree Ceremony did carry the suspicion of 'smurfing'.
But based on Leon's usual observations... she really didn't exude the same oppressive, constricting aura as 'Evernight'.
'Evernight'' had that kind of personality. Unless it was something on March 7th's list of concerns... otherwise, when she acted, she would leave no room for anyone.
Letting 'Evernight'' go would definitely be smurfing, but letting March 7th go was a matter of opinion.
In Leon's view, it was fifty-fifty.
Her latent power was undeniable; to say it wasn't smurfing would be a lie. Yet, to say she wouldn't dominate was also unlikely.
"But were you really interested in the sword just now?"
Leon had a 'then why didn't you just say so' look on his face.
March 7th nodded.
She herself wasn't entirely clear on the exact answer she had found when she'd questioned her heart earlier.
She didn't know how to describe it.
If she had to put it into words, it would be better to wait until she understood it herself.
Speaking of which, this was the first time March 7th had hidden something from him.
For some reason, this feeling... she wanted to figure it out slowly on her own, to comprehend it by herself.
It was the first time she'd had such a thought, because she felt that if she were to ask Leon for advice... the answer would lose its meaning.
"Shall we go then?"
Seeing that March 7th had agreed, Feixiao jerked her thumb back and said.
"Let's go," Leon nodded.
March 7th herself had no objections, so what objections could he have?
...
Yaoqing.
In a siheyuan courtyard with a pavilion.
A childish voice was confidently making a "I will win" declaration to her mother.
"Come on, Mother! I absolutely will not lose this time!"
Sushang said, full of confidence, gripping the hilt of her wooden sword with both hands.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Qin Suyi held a blade of grass between her fingers as if it were her sword.
The Xuanyuan on her back remained sheathed.
"What's gotten into you now?"
Has the child finally gone mad?
Honestly, Qin Suyi didn't really understand what her daughter was up to.
The moment she got home, she demanded a duel, constantly muttering that this time she would definitely win.
Anyone who didn't know better would think she had mastered the 'Sword Heart Chant.'
"Hmph, I've obtained the Flame Mantra!"
Sushang snorted proudly, with an expression that said, 'Now you're scared, aren't you?'
"Do as you wish."
Seeing her like this, Qin Suyi just sighed, deciding to let her do as she pleased.
She wasn't a doctor; she had no good solution for this kind of ailment.
But a good beating usually solved any problem with a child. That was a universal truth.
They'd behave after the beating.
She believed that by then, neither the ailment nor anything else would matter.
Sushang didn't say any more.
"Here I come!"
She came slashing with immense momentum, putting in even more effort than her usual all-out attempts.
Qin Suyi didn't move an inch, remaining right where she stood.
The moment her daughter attacked, her fingertips, holding the blade of grass, twitched slightly.
She made a simple forward flick.
The farce ended with a "thud!"
"Ah!"
Accompanied by a cry of surprise.
The Sushang who had just been declaring "I will win" was now splayed out on the ground like the character '大'.
Her wooden sword had also flown from her hand, landing a short distance away.
"How could this happen?"
Sushang stared up at the azure sky, muttering that this wasn't how it was supposed to end.
She had believed, and believed, and believed in herself.
One could say she was devout enough; any more believing and she'd probably enter a state of self-hypnosis.
But why, when she had done exactly as Leon said... logically, she should have become incredibly powerful, yet why hadn't this absolute confidence brought her any strength?
Where did the problem lie?
Sushang pondered this question.
The answer was actually simple. Just like how the Flame Mantra needed to be nourished by a special flame to truly level up.
Even if you have a confident heart, you must also have the corresponding capital to back it up.
Once you have that capital, a confident heart will make you invincible.
But anything before that is just the recklessness of a common brute.
A rash warrior.
Sushang was diligently searching for a breakthrough.
When a face blocked her view, including her source of light.
"Now can you tell me what happened?"
Qin Suyi tossed aside the blade of grass and walked over to her daughter, asking curiously.
The level of skill she'd just displayed was a bit higher than what she showed during normal training.
She had thought her daughter might have actually improved this time.
But the result was the same as the previous times. She had been holding onto an unrealistic fantasy.
"Ugh..."
Sushang sat up and dejectedly recounted Leon's words, detail for detail.
"I see."
After listening, Qin Suyi nodded. Now she understood what ailed her.
"Mother, was that Arbiter-General Leon tricking me?"
And to think Sushang had previously believed he would never deceive a child. She had completely misjudged him!
"He wasn't talking to you."
Qin Suyi pointed out her shamelessness.
"From your retelling, the Arbiter-General's guidance was always aimed at Yueyu's disciple."
Qin Suyi told her not to unfairly place the blame on Leon.
"What does any of this have to do with you? Even if it didn't work, isn't that to be expected?"
It was all because of her own unwarranted expectations.
"Guh..."
Sushang really couldn't find any words to refute that.
"I guess that's true?"
In the end, she could only scratch her head in frustration and mumble.
"Then will it work for Sister Feixiao?"
Sushang asked curiously, wanting to know if this method was effective at all.
Qin Suyi didn't answer directly, but asked instead:
"Sushang, do you remember what I once told you?"
"What did you say? 'A scholar who has been away for three days must be looked at with new eyes'?"
Hearing this question, Sushang immediately took out the little booklet she always carried, a long-treasured item.
She flipped through it page by page, searching for the words her mother had once said to her.
"It's 'looked at with new eyes'."
Qin Suyi sighed.
"For a swordsman, it's not just the person and the sword that are important; the state of mind during the process of comprehension is also crucial."
She felt that her daughter not only had poor talent for martial arts but also terrible talent for world literature.
Skilled in both literature and martial arts—she possessed neither!
"Mother, what you mean is?"
Sushang waited for her mother to continue, to spell it out for her.
It seemed like she kind of understood, but it was also clearly impossible that she understood.
"You ask if this thing is useful, and I can tell you that it definitely is."
In Qin Suyi's view, it was a form of mental cultivation technique.
"It's just useless for you."
It's even a mental cultivation technique specialized for a specific person, with absolutely no transferability to speak of.
____
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