Chapter 470

Throughout the previous years, he would leave quietly without saying goodbye. This time, he planned to take advantage of nightfall to leave, but then he thought, what if my apprentice comes knocking on my door to find me the next morning? Thinking of this, he stayed for an extra night. Only when he saw Lin Feilu the next morning did he let her know about his departure.

She asked him eagerly, "Then when will you come back, Master?"

Ji Liang said, "I will come back when you are proficient in the sword techniques that you have learned. You must not slack off— the most important thing in martial arts is perseverance."

Lin Feilu nodded quickly.

Ji Liang thought for a while and said, "When I come back, I will test your sword skills. If you don't improve, you will be punished."

Lin Feilu, "...Okay! Don't worry, Master! I will work hard, ouligei(1)!"

(T/N: Modern internet slang. It derives from 'gei li ou' which is a direct translation of 'giving you strength' but rearranged)

Ji Liang, "?"

Forget it, he already spoke a lot today, so it's time to go.

...

When Ji Liang was around, Lin Feilu naturally practised her skills with him. Now that Ji Liang left, she stopped for a few days before starting to pester Song Jinglan again. She felt that she had made great progress, and since she also finished the first part of the Jimo swordsmanship manual, surpassing the prodigy's progress, she couldn't wait to try it out for herself.

The autumn sun was shining brightly. Golden chrysanthemums were everywhere in the palace, and the fragrance of the flowers was overflowing, corresponding to the phrase 'the entire city is filled with golden armors'. Lin Feilu was also wearing a yellow dress, eager to exchange sword skills with him again, "Don't go easy on me, I want to know my real level!"

Song Jinglan smiled and said, "Okay."

She held her breath and lifted the sword. She concentrated on the match, looking forward to it with great excitement and earnestness.

After ten moves...

Lin Feilu, who was sitting on the ground, complained, "I don't want to learn the sword anymore; this is a dream with no future."

Song Jinglan couldn't help laughing as he leaned over to pull her, "Junior sister has made great progress."

Lin Feilu remained expressionless, "You need not pity me, senior brother, I understand where my current level is."

That being said, Song Jinglan tugged onto her but failed to get her to stand up. She remained slumped on the ground, her mouth pouting so much that it could hang a bucket.

He smiled silently as he put the sword in his hand aside. Then, he picked her up from the ground with both hands. Lin Feilu put her arms around his neck before burying her head into the crook of his neck, groaning.

Song Jinglan lowered his head and rubbed the tip of her nose, holding back a smile, "What's wrong?"

She was aggrieved, "I'm not happy."

Song Jinglan lightly pecked her forehead, "I'll take you out of the palace to play, alright?"

She sighed again, "I've done all the fun things already, so there's no use."

Song Jinglan had more ideas to offer but didn't say anything more. Instead, he carried her back to the Yong An Palace and proceeded to coax her on her bed for hours to the point where she didn't have the energy to be unhappy anymore.