Chapter Sixty-Four: Want to Learn the Sword from Me?

Early the next morning, bathed in the first rays of dawn, Ye Qiu stretched lazily as he walked out from the backyard, and immediately spotted Liu Jianchen sitting at the table, along with Fufeng and the others.

“Huh… you’re still here?”

Ye Qiu was surprised; he’d thought they would all be gone by now, but to his astonishment, they were still waiting.

Liu Jianchen, upon seeing Ye Qiu, rushed over excitedly. “Senior, you’re finally awake! I’ve waited for you all night…”

“Why are you waiting for me?”

Ye Qiu was taken aback, shooting him a sidelong glance, wondering if this kid had another issue. The memory of yesterday’s incident—when Liu Jianchen tried to sell him out—still made Ye Qiu furious.

He’d once believed Liu Jianchen was the protagonist, but who would’ve thought he’d be so spineless—what a disgrace…

“Hehe, of course I want to learn swordsmanship from you…”

Liu Jianchen grinned mischievously, his demeanor could be summed up in two words: sly and shameless.

Just from this behavior, Ye Qiu could tell he wasn’t protagonist material. How could a main character ever make such a shameless face? Not handsome in the least.

Wait, swordsmanship?

Ye Qiu hesitated, feeling bewildered.

Seriously? He wants to learn swordsmanship from me? Is he mad? I don’t even know how to handle a sword, and he wants to learn from me?

I can barely slaughter a chicken, and he wants to follow my lead—he’ll just end up useless.

Goodness, the renowned White-robed Sword Immortal coming to learn swordsmanship from someone who can’t even wield a blade—the legendary worst teacher instructing the greatest student, one daring to teach, the other daring to learn?

On second thought, Ye Qiu was amused.

“Well, well… I was just thinking about how to deal with you, and here you are, willingly offering yourself up? Good, you’re sensible. You want me to teach you, eh?

Hehe, if I mess you up, don’t blame me—it’s your own choice.”

Ye Qiu was secretly delighted—how considerate, the kid had delivered himself before Ye Qiu even figured out how to punish him.

Fine, I’ll teach…

Ye Qiu decided instantly, his smile turning wicked and growing more audacious.

Liu Jianchen shivered at the sight of Ye Qiu’s grin. “Strange, why do I feel a chill down my spine, like something bad is about to happen? Hmm… maybe my nerves are just too tense lately, and I’m imagining things.”

“Senior, we’ve lingered here for quite some time. Today we came specifically to bid you farewell…”

At this moment, Daoist Fufeng stepped forward respectfully.

Ye Qiu made no effort to stop them; he was all too eager for Daoist Fufeng and his party to leave, so he could finally close the doors and rest.

“Very well, you may go.”

With Ye Qiu’s permission, Daoist Fufeng and the others departed one after another, leaving only Liu Jianchen behind, unwilling to leave the tavern.

Once the others departed, Ye Qiu beamed, turning to Liu Jianchen. “You say you want to learn swordsmanship from me?”

“That’s right, Senior. If you hadn’t taught me that sword move years ago, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today. Yet I feel my sword path has reached its limits, so I wish to seek your guidance…”

Liu Jianchen spoke with utmost respect; in his heart, Ye Qiu was a god.

That Taibai Sword Dance painting from years ago had contained infinite sword intent, so Liu Jianchen had deduced that Ye Qiu must be a master of the sword.

“Alright! Since you’re sincerely seeking instruction, I can’t turn you away. But let me say this first: I can teach you, but whether you grasp the essence depends entirely on you…”

Ye Qiu grinned broadly. Sword comprehension? Please, I don’t even know how to use a sword—if I teach you, you’ll surely be ruined.

Serves you right for trying to sell me out—this time you’re doomed. Let’s see how I fool you.

Ye Qiu wasn’t skilled at many things, but he was definitely an expert at bluffing. Poor Liu Jianchen hadn’t yet realized Ye Qiu’s devious intent.

“Let me think… how should I teach you?”

Ye Qiu sat down, pondering deeply, then called out to Cao He, who was busy in the back. “Cao, bring out my scholar’s tools!”

“Huh? Aren’t you teaching swordsmanship? Why do you need those things?”

“Just do as I say, don’t talk so much…”

Ye Qiu snapped, and soon Cao He brought out the scholar’s implements. Ye Qiu was surprised to see Liu Jianchen’s expression change to one of astonishment at the sight of the brush.

Ye Qiu paused, wondering, “What’s with this kid? Why is he staring so intently at my brush?”

He weighed the judge’s brush in his hand, baffled—wasn’t it just a regular brush? No need to be so excited.

He had no idea that the brush in his hand was actually a rare treasure, enough to make Liu Jianchen’s eyes shine.

“My gods… an immortal brush? Why does this brush contain boundless sword intent? Could it be that the sword intent from that painting years ago originated from this brush?”

Liu Jianchen was inwardly shocked, unable to take his eyes off Ye Qiu’s brush, his excitement barely contained.

Ye Qiu glanced at him, still unable to fathom his obsession, but it hardly mattered.

“Alright! Since you wish to learn advanced swordsmanship, I’ll teach you today…”

With the brush in hand, Ye Qiu’s aura subtly shifted, manifesting the demeanor of an unrivaled sword immortal, his sword energy even more intimidating than Liu Jianchen’s.

He was oblivious to these changes, but Liu Jianchen was stunned.

“My gods… a true master! This is the real deal—just a brush, yet it emits such powerful sword intent, more frightening than my immortal sword.

Is this the legendary ultimate sword realm, where a single brush can shake the heavens and earth?”

Liu Jianchen was thoroughly awed, his face flushed under the pressure of Ye Qiu’s sword aura.

Unaware, Ye Qiu continued blathering, “Do you know what a sword is?”

“Uh? This one in my hand, isn’t it a sword?”

Liu Jianchen was bewildered; what kind of question was that?

Ye Qiu said nothing, only shook his head with disappointment, twirling the brush in the air.

“Sigh… honestly, I have no idea what I’m saying; I’m purely trying to mystify him, to bluff, and the kid’s taking it so seriously…”

Ye Qiu was secretly delighted—his very first question already left Liu Jianchen confused; how would he manage the rest?

Liu Jianchen couldn’t make sense of it, studying Ye Qiu’s expression and noticing his disappointed gaze, which made him panic…

Wait—a true master wouldn’t ask such mundane questions. Could it be… there’s a deeper meaning hidden in this?

Heavens… I nearly missed something crucial. Senior is deliberately enlightening me, and I thought he was just fooling around.

Liu Jianchen’s heart raced; after careful thought, he replied, “Senior, are you telling me that as long as there is a sword in one’s heart, anything can become a sword?”

Yes… that must be it! Wow, I, Liu Jianchen, am truly ingenious to have deduced this!

Ye Qiu was dumbfounded. “Huh? Is that it? Damn, this kid’s imagination is impressive—he can patch up my nonsense like this?”

Ye Qiu couldn’t help but admire him; truly, the powerful have vivid imaginations. I just fiddled with a brush, and he managed to connect it all.

“Quite so, quite so—you’re certainly perceptive…”

Ye Qiu said approvingly, determined to follow Liu Jianchen’s train of thought and continue bluffing.