Because Taohua had gotten up late, she had no idea about the undercurrents that had surged through the sect at dawn.
After breakfast, she went back to the same training ground as yesterday to continue practicing that Flying Dragon Sword Technique.
With Guan Fusha’s guidance, Taohua’s sword work had indeed improved compared to yesterday, though it was still a bit stiff. Before long, a fine sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead, her cheeks flushed. It was obvious she was putting her whole heart into it.
She slid the sword back into its scabbard, then walked over to sit and rest under the shade of a tree. The trunk still bore the marks she had carved into it yesterday with her sword qi.
Tilting her head back, she gulped down a few mouthfuls of cold water, dabbed the sweat from her face with a kerchief, and stared at the row of weapon racks opposite her as her thoughts began to drift.
Counting carefully, she had already been in the Night God Sect for almost half a month. So why hadn’t “that event” happened yet?
She still remembered: the very first chapter of this novel had used “that event” as the entry point for the plot, then the male and female leads met afterward… Wait a second!
Could it be that she had accidentally butterfly‑effected the entire plot, so “that person” still hadn’t shown up?
But that didn’t make sense either. “That person” wasn’t from the Night God Sect, and she hadn’t met him before entering the sect. There was no way she could have butterfly‑effected that part of the story!
The sun climbed higher and higher. By noon, it was blazing overhead, but Taohua sat under the willow tree, utterly oblivious, brow furrowed as she struggled to think it through.
Xiaozhu knew Taohua’s body was delicate. Seeing this scene, she hurried over.
“Protector, why are you resting out here?”
Afraid Taohua would get sunburned, Xiaozhu quickly lifted her sleeve to block the vicious sunlight for her. The few sparse willow leaves overhead barely cast any shade at all.
“…Huh?”
Only then did Taohua come back to herself. She glanced up at the blazing sun above.
“Oh. I just got too caught up in my thoughts.”
They walked together to the eaves to stand in the shade. Only then did Taohua ask:
“Right, did you come looking for me about something?”
Prompted by her question, Xiaozhu remembered her purpose.
“Yes, Protector. Protector Guan invites you to Furong Courtyard to have lunch with her.”
Taohua squinted against the blinding glare of the sun hanging high in the sky. So it was already noon…
She had been in ancient times this long, and she still hadn’t figured out how to tell time by the sun.
“Alright, I’ll head over now.”
When she reached Furong Courtyard, she saw that Guan Fusha had already been waiting for some time.
“Senior Sister.”
“Junior Sister, you’re here?”
Smiling, Guan Fusha rose to greet her, took Taohua’s hand, and pulled her to sit at her side.
“I’m really sorry for making Senior Sister wait so long.”
“It’s fine, the dishes were just brought out.”
Guan Fusha picked up a piece of chicken and placed it in Taohua’s bowl.
“You worked hard practicing today. Eat more.”
Taohua was a bit dazed. Why did it feel like Guan Fusha was especially enthusiastic today?
“Thank you, Senior Sister.”
She had barely picked up the chicken and taken a small bite when Guan Fusha immediately added more dishes to her bowl.
“Senior Sister, you don’t have to be so polite. I can help myself.”
Guan Fusha’s chopsticks paused. She put them down and smiled.
“Alright then. Help yourself. Take more of whatever you like.”
“Oh, right, there’s something else I wanted to tell you, Junior Sister.”
“What is it?”
Mouth full, Taohua’s words were a bit muffled.
“You’ve been living in that side residence for quite a while. If I made you move somewhere else, you definitely wouldn’t be used to it. So I’ve decided to rename it ‘Peach Garden.’ This afternoon I’ll have someone carve a plaque.”
Guan Fusha smiled as she spoke.
“Pff… cough, cough…”
Taohua suddenly choked and hurriedly grabbed her cup, gulping down several mouthfuls of water.
Peach Garden… as in that Peach Garden Oath from history?! She wasn’t some Liu, Guan, or Zhang founding a brotherhood!
Guan Fusha patted her back to help her catch her breath.
“What’s wrong? Why did you suddenly choke?”
“N‑nothing, I just got a little emotional. Thank you, Senior Sister, for thinking of me so much.”
Taohua forced a smile onto her face.
Guan Fusha blinked her beautiful eyes, as if she had seen right through Taohua’s little thoughts.
“Mhm. As long as you like it.”
They chatted idly as they ate, and the meal was over before long.
After lunch, Taohua went back to the side residence to take a short nap, then headed out again in the afternoon to continue practicing her sword.
Once she finished handling the sect’s affairs, Guan Fusha made a point of dropping by the training ground. Sure enough, she saw Taohua practicing.
Guan Fusha really did feel relieved by Taohua’s diligence. She truly hadn’t chosen the wrong junior sister.
Taohua was so focused on her practice that she didn’t even notice Guan Fusha’s presence.
Guan Fusha watched Taohua’s movements for a while, then suddenly spoke.
“Raise your arm a bit higher and keep it level with the sword. Only then can you bring out its full power.”
Taohua started, then turned and finally noticed her standing right behind her.
“Senior Sister? When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
Guan Fusha gave her a faint smile.
“Keep practicing.”
“…Oh.”
Taohua continued swinging her sword, but her gaze kept drifting toward Guan Fusha, making it hard to concentrate fully.
She couldn’t help it. The sensation from yesterday was still vivid in her mind… It had been, ahem, a bit too overwhelming.
Watching Taohua’s swordplay, Guan Fusha occasionally offered pointers.
“You have to imagine the sword as a part of your body. Only then can you move it freely.”
She wanted to step forward and teach her hand‑in‑hand, but Taohua’s resistant expression from yesterday kept flashing in her mind, stopping her in her tracks.
A beauty like a painting, one person wielding a long sword in graceful arcs, the other standing quietly like still water, patiently instructing—together they made a truly lovely scene.
…If only two old men hadn’t suddenly barged in.
“Protector!”
Qi Yong stormed into the training ground, with his disciple Guo Ping trailing behind him.
“Elder, calm down, calm down!”
Guo Ping followed at Qi Yong’s heels, repeating the same words over and over, yet making no move to actually stop him.
A trace of displeasure flickered through Guan Fusha’s eyes, but her face blossomed into a smile.
“Elder Qi? How come you’re so free today, coming all the way to the training ground?”
Qi Yong glared fiercely at Guan Fusha, fury burning in his chest.
If he hadn’t just happened to pass the training ground, he wouldn’t even have known that Guan Fusha had actually passed the Flying Dragon Sword Technique to that woman of unknown origin…
Wait!
He clearly remembered that woman didn’t know any martial arts. So why was she now…?
Could it be because of the Longevity Tonic Pill?!
The more he thought about it, the darker his expression became, as if his entire face had turned black with rage.
The Longevity Tonic Pill was an incredibly precious item. The entire Night God Sect only had five of them, and refining a single one took years of effort and no small amount of resources.
Back then, he had dropped obvious and not‑so‑obvious hints over and over, hoping to get one to strengthen his body. Guan Fusha never gave him one. And now she had actually let that woman take it?!
Qi Yong let out a heavy snort.
“Hmph! Of course the Protector wouldn’t want her subordinates coming to the training ground!”
“But of course not!”
“You…”
He hadn’t expected Guan Fusha to talk back to him like that. Qi Yong was so angry he could barely get the words out.
Guan Fusha kept smiling brilliantly.
“Your health isn’t good, Elder. The training ground is a place for hard labor. Naturally, I wouldn’t want you coming here.”
