Ling Xiao returned to his residence and was greeted by a tantalizing aroma that seemed to awaken the deepest pangs of hunger. He couldn't help but swallow hard as he glanced toward the kitchen.
Just then, the maid Chunlan emerged, carrying a tray of pastries. Lost in thought, she wore a happy smile. The sudden sight of Ling Xiao startled her, and her grip slackened. The tray started to plummet toward the floor. Even though a thick carpet covered the ground, the pastries would surely be ruined if they fell.
Before Chunlan could scream, Ling Xiao moved like a blur, darting forward at incredible speed. He managed to catch the tray just an instant before it hit the floor. Miraculously, not a single pastry had fallen out.
Chunlan's face went pale with fright. She clutched at her ample chest, forgetting for a moment to even wonder how her young master, whose cultivation was weaker than her own, had suddenly acquired such an ability.
Ling Xiao plucked a pastry from the tray, popped it into his mouth, and after a couple of chews, exclaimed, "This is delicious!"
Chunlan finally snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushing crimson. "Young Master, you... you haven't washed your hands."
Ling Xiao smiled sheepishly. 'Perhaps,' he thought, 'it's the influence of the original Ling Xiao, but my personality seems to be gradually becoming more cheerful.' For instance, when he had accepted Wulan Tuo's challenge today... if the old Ling Xiao were still at Shushan, he would have sooner hidden in his shell than agree to it.
'What is dignity? Dignity is a manifestation of strength! Without strength... what dignity is there to speak of? But at the time, I agreed on impulse. Thinking back now, my irritation at Wulan Tuo's constant provocations was one reason, but deep in my bones, the unyielding soul of the original Ling Xiao must have been the more significant factor!'
Only now did Ling Xiao truly understand why he had been so easily manipulated by Xie Xiaoyan. It was because the original Ling Xiao had been deeply in love with her. Even knowing she had set him up, he had chosen to go home heartbroken without a word. As for his father Ling Tianxiao's furious blow... it wasn't so much that Ling Tianxiao had lost control in his rage, but rather that the utterly disheartened Ling Xiao had been seeking death.
After washing his hands, Ling Xiao learned that Chunlan and Qiuyue had heard about his duel with Wulan Tuo the next day. They had specially prepared a sumptuous dinner for him as their way of cheering him on.
Being a maid in a noble family, especially a personal maid like Chunlan and Qiuyue, was not a role just anyone could fill. They had to be exceptionally talented girls who began their training at a young age. From the four arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting to personal character and martial arts, from astronomy and geography down to cooking and menial chores—while they couldn't claim mastery in all, they were at least presentable in every area.
The vast majority of these personal maids eventually became their master's concubines. That was why many maids from great noble houses were far more outstanding than the young ladies of ordinary wealthy families.
After dinner, seeing that Ling Xiao was in good spirits, Chunlan asked cautiously, "Young Master, about tomorrow... you're dueling that Wulan Tuo, right?"
Ling Xiao nodded. Chunlan continued, "Qiuyue and I are both Tier Nine Sword Attendants. Perhaps... we could spar with you, Young Master? It might help you feel more prepared for tomorrow's match."
Qiuyue, standing beside her, also nodded at Ling Xiao. Clearly, neither of the two girls was optimistic about the upcoming match. The gap between a Tier Nine and a Tier Five Sword Attendant was significant, especially since they had heard Wulan Tuo already had one foot in the Sword Master realm.
Chunlan's gaze suddenly fell upon the sword Ling Xiao had brought back, and her eyes lit up. She said in pleasant surprise, "Young Master, where did you get this Enchanted Weapon? This is wonderful! With it, in tomorrow's battle, even if... uh." Realizing she had misspoken, Chunlan quickly clapped a hand over her mouth and looked at Ling Xiao cautiously.
Ling Xiao waved a hand. "I'm not that fragile. From now on, the two of you don't need to be so guarded when you speak. All right?"
"You are too kind, Young Master!" Chunlan and Qiuyue stood up together and bowed to Ling Xiao, the rims of their eyes turning red. After serving their young master wholeheartedly for so many years, they had finally earned such a considerate word from him. Both Chunlan and Qiuyue felt that if they were asked to die for Ling Xiao right now, they would do so without hesitation.
Young masters from noble houses as benevolent as Ling Xiao were a rare sight. Typically, even those who didn't beat or curse their personal maids would at least uphold their aristocratic dignity; they would never say something like Ling Xiao just had.
Why else would so many wealthy and powerful people fight desperately to obtain a noble title? Nobility wasn't just a reflection of honor; it was a social class that possessed very real privileges!
Just then, Qiuyue added in a gentle voice, "This Enchanted Longsword of yours seems to be of a high tier, Young Master! Chunlan, look, this Crystal Core must be Tier Two, wouldn't you say?" As she spoke, she pointed to a pale red Magic Beast Crystal Core firmly embedded in the handguard.
Chunlan leaned closer and nodded. "It should be. This sword looks..." She trailed off, exchanging a knowing glance with Qiuyue. The two shared a silent, understanding smile. From the decorations on the Sword Scabbard, they could both tell it was a sword meant for a woman. 'Our young master is just so exceptional!' they thought. 'Xie Xiaoyan was blind. Of course other girls would fall for the young master.'
Ling Xiao had never actually fought against anyone from this world, so when Chunlan offered to spar, he readily agreed. The three of them went out into the courtyard. The evening sky had grown dim, and stars were beginning to flicker into view. In the yard, several lamps powered by Magic Beast Crystal Cores cast a gentle light.
Chunlan stood in the center of the courtyard holding a wooden practice sword, a bright smile on her face as she looked at Ling Xiao. She would never have had such a bold opportunity in the past. Seeing that their young master had seemingly emerged from the shadow of that turmoil, both Chunlan and Qiuyue felt their spirits lift.
Chunlan brought her hands together, resting the wooden sword in her palms with its tip pointing upward. She bowed slightly to Ling Xiao, performing the customary salute between Martial Artists before a spar.
Ling Xiao returned the gesture in kind.
In that instant, Chunlan's entire demeanor transformed. The gentle, cheerful maid vanished, replaced by a solemn-faced swordswoman radiating a faint killing intent.
Knowing the young master would not attack first, Chunlan gave a sharp cry, "Be careful, Young Master!" The wooden sword let out a WHOOSH as it sliced through the air, thrusting straight for Ling Xiao's chest.
Ling Xiao could tell from her opening stance that she was using the family's heirloom technique, Hurricane Break. Although Chunlan was only a Tier Nine Sword Attendant, a swordsmanship technique at the Middle Tier of the Celestial Level was indeed extraordinary. The wooden sword left a trail of afterimages, making it look as though a thousand blades were stabbing at Ling Xiao's body simultaneously.
Watching from the sidelines, Qiuyue grew nervous. Her fair, slender hands clenched unconsciously, and she bit her lower lip, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the two in the center of the yard.
"Well met!" Ling Xiao shouted. With an upward flick of his own wooden sword, he accurately parried Chunlan's attack. Then, with a speed that surpassed hers, he slid his blade down along hers, aiming a cut at her hand.
A brilliant light flashed in Chunlan's eyes. "Nice!" she exclaimed. With incredible agility, she twisted to her left, disengaging from Ling Xiao's blade. She pivoted to his side and, with a backhand motion, swiped the wooden sword toward his neck.
Beside them, Qiuyue's mouth fell slightly agape, so nervous she was about to cry out.
Ling Xiao's expression didn't change. He blocked with his wooden sword, but the immense force of the blow sent him staggering back. Immediately, Chunlan's sword moved like a leaf caught in a gale, thrusting toward Ling Xiao's abdomen from an unpredictable angle!
This was the true essence of Hurricane Break. Why else would it be called a Celestial-level Technique? Chunlan and Qiuyue's innate martial talent was only average, and their tiers were not considered high, but after so many years of diligent practice, their strength was not to be underestimated.
In fact, if not for a freak like Ling Xiao, whose mind was filled with countless Swordsmanship techniques, even a Tier One Sword Master cultivating a technique below the Celestial level might not have been able to gain an advantage against the two maids.
Ling Xiao let out a long laugh. Using the momentum from Chunlan's blow, he retreated several large steps. He was about to crash into the courtyard wall, but Chunlan's sword pursued him like the wind, thrusting forward in a flash.
Qiuyue was watching with extreme tension. She almost opened her mouth to warn Chunlan, but just then...
Ling Xiao actually planted his feet against the high courtyard wall as he fell back, taking three or four upright steps along its surface. Qiuyue stared, dumbfounded. Launching off the wall, Ling Xiao dove down toward Chunlan like a great bird of prey, carrying an unstoppable momentum as his wooden sword whistled down toward her head.
Chunlan's forward momentum was too great; it was already too late to pull back. Startled by the ferocious, twisted expression on Ling Xiao's face as he dove down, her eyes squeezed shut instinctively. Even a wooden sword could knock a person out if it connected solidly.
After a long moment, she heard Qiuyue's delighted voice. "Wow, Young Master, you're so amazing!"
Chunlan quickly opened her eyes, only to see the wooden sword hovering just above her head. It was only then that she realized she had broken out in a cold sweat. Her entire back was soaked through, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
Looking at the calm smile on Ling Xiao's face, Chunlan began to wonder if her eyes had deceived her. 'That last move was like a stroke of divine genius... did the young master really pull that off?'
Ling Xiao lowered the wooden sword and took a towel from Qiuyue, wiping the sweat from his face. He let out a long sigh, thinking to himself, 'If it weren't for the foundation of all those Cultivation Techniques from Shushan, combined with Chunlan's lack of real combat experience, there's no way I would have been her opponent.'
'It seems the Swordsmanship of this world isn't as poor as I imagined; it has its own merits. I've been underestimating people. If I hadn't sparred with Chunlan today, I might have really been in for a nasty surprise against Wulan Tuo tomorrow.'
As Ling Xiao thought this, a wry smile touched his lips. 'It looks like I need to accelerate my Swordsmanship training.'
Chunlan returned after changing her clothes, her face still flushed from the exertion. She gazed at Ling Xiao and said, "Young Master, the sword techniques and Cultivation Technique you used today... I have never seen them before..."
Seeing the hopeful looks on Chunlan and Qiuyue's faces, Ling Xiao knew what they were thinking. He smiled and said, "You two should just focus on practicing Hurricane Break. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Are you saying a swordsmanship technique at the Middle Tier of the Celestial Level isn't good enough for you? As for a new Cultivation Technique... when I have some time, I can pass one on to you. I believe that with it, it won't be long before you can break through to the Sword Master realm!"
"Ah... That's wonderful!" Chunlan exclaimed with delight. Then she and Qiuyue bowed gracefully. "Thank you, Young Master! We know you will be victorious in your duel tomorrow!"
Although both maids were curious about where their young master had learned these strange techniques, they understood what questions were appropriate to ask and which were not. As Ling Xiao's personal maids, all that mattered was that their young master was still their young master, and that he was good to them. That was enough.