Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Chapter 147 Another Sneak Attack

For Jiang Xiaochuan, life on Qingyun Mountain was a bittersweet experience.

What makes him happy is that he is always surrounded by "liveliness," although this liveliness often overwhelms him.

The painful thing was that Lu Xueqi was watching his cultivation very closely. He practiced the starting posture of the "Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique" a thousand times, but he could still only generate a weak current, which would crackle twice on the tip of the sword and then disappear. He was far from being able to summon the thunder of the heavens.

That afternoon, he practiced diligently again by the waterfall on the back mountain.

Lu Xueqi stood not far away, holding her sword, watching him with a cold expression that revealed neither joy nor anger, but Jiang Xiaochuan could still feel that invisible pressure.

In his nervousness, his spiritual energy circulation went awry, and the pitiful sparks on the Snow River Sword went out with a "sizzle," almost numbing his wrist.

"Your mind is unsettled, and your breathing is agitated." Lu Xueqi's voice came, not loud, but clearly penetrating the roar of the waterfall. "Practice it fifty more times."

Jiang Xiaochuan wore a bitter expression, not daring to refute, and could only concentrate again, raising the Xuechuan Sword.

Once, twice, three times... Sweat slid down his forehead, and his arms began to ache.

When he practiced for the thirtieth time, he became a little impatient. He turned around a bit too much and tripped on a wet pebble. He cried out in surprise and fell backward, and the Snow River Sword flew out of his hand.

Lu Xueqi flashed behind him, reached out and steadily supported his back, and with her other hand, she grabbed the flying Xuechuan Sword back into her hand.

"Th-thank you..." Jiang Xiaochuan was still in shock, leaning his back against Lu Xueqi's arm, feeling that her arm was slender yet contained a force that should not be underestimated.

He was about to stand up straight when Lu Xueqi released his grip and handed the Xuechuan Sword back to him.

"Focus." She said only two words, then took a step back, still looking at him.

Jiang Xiaochuan took the sword, gave an awkward reply, and continued practicing.

Perhaps it was because he had almost fallen and his heart was still racing, or perhaps it was because Lu Xueqi was standing not far behind him, her gaze almost tangible, but he felt somewhat uneasy and his movements were a little stiff.

After practicing more than ten times, Lu Xueqi suddenly said, "Stop."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He stopped what he was doing, wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, and looked at her.

Lu Xueqi stepped forward and took the Xuechuan Sword from his hand.

"Watch closely."

As she spoke, she casually twirled her sword, then pointed it at the sky. Her movements were fluid and graceful, a stark contrast to Jiang Xiaochuan's clumsy and hesitant manner just now.

Although she did not actually activate her inner power to summon divine lightning, the charm, posture, and the fierce aura she held back before unleashing it had already captivated Jiang Xiaochuan.

"Here, spiritual energy should flow like a stream into the sea, held back but not released, ready to be unleashed. Your spiritual energy surged too rapidly just now, and 30% of it dissipated before it even reached the tip of the sword."

As Lu Xueqi spoke, she slowly explained the key points, even reaching out to lightly press several acupoints on his wrist and neck, saying, "The Qi flows through Shaoyang, passes through Xuanji, and gathers at..."

She stood very close, the cool fragrance of plum blossoms wafting over him, her warm breath occasionally brushing against his ear as she spoke.

Jiang Xiaochuan listened attentively and subconsciously followed her instructions, raising his hand to gesture, trying to find that feeling of "drawing the bow but not releasing the arrow".

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice his elbow accidentally bumping against something as he raised his hand.

It's soft, bouncy, and has an amazing feel.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

The roar of the waterfall, the rustling of the bamboo leaves in the wind, and the faint chirping of birds in the distance all seemed to disappear at this moment.

Jiang Xiaochuan's mind went blank with a "buzz".

He stiffly turned his head little by little to look at his elbow, then slowly raised his eyes to look at Lu Xueqi, who was standing right in front of him.

Lu Xueqi's body also stiffened.

A thin blush quickly spread across her cool and beautiful face, spreading from her cheeks to her ears and even her neck.

Those usually calm and unwavering eyes were wide open at this moment, clearly reflecting Jiang Xiaochuan's stunned face, along with shock, panic, and a hint of disbelief.

Her breathing became almost imperceptibly erratic, and the fingers gripping the Tianya sword sheath tightened slightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan recoiled as if he had been burned, jerking back several steps and nearly tripping over himself.

"I'm so sorry, Xueqi! I didn't mean to! I really didn't mean to! I... I wasn't paying attention! I..." He stammered, his face flushed red, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

Oh no! Oh no! Where did he just bump into?

Is that a place you can just touch? Lu Xueqi won't just chop him in half with her sword, will she?

Lu Xueqi stood still, without moving or saying a word.

The blush on her face hadn't faded, but her eyes, which had initially been shocked and flustered, slowly became deep and unfathomable, as if something was churning in her eyes, which she then forcibly suppressed.

She watched as Jiang Xiaochuan stood there helplessly, his face flushed red as if it were about to bleed. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and then she slowly took a deep breath and exhaled.

"It's alright," she said, her voice a little hoarse, but she tried her best to remain calm. "Keep practicing."

"Huh? Still...still practicing?" Jiang Xiaochuan was dumbfounded. How could they practice after something like this happened?

"Practice." Lu Xueqi turned around, her back to him, leaving only a straight but slightly tense back view. "You are not allowed to go back until you finish practicing today."

Jiang Xiaochuan watched her aloof figure as she walked away, his heart pounding with anxiety. Was she angry or not?

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but didn't know what to say.

My mind is a mess, but the soft, bouncy touch I just accidentally made is still vividly imprinted on my senses and I can't shake it off.

A strange flutter suddenly welled up inside me; I felt a little flustered, a little confused, and a little... indescribable.

He shook his head, forcing himself to suppress those chaotic thoughts, picked up the Snow River Sword, and honestly continued practicing.

However, his movements became increasingly stiff, and he made numerous mistakes.

Lu Xueqi kept her back to him, neither correcting him nor turning around.

Only she knows what happened in that instant.

She closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again, finally managing to calm the turbulent emotions surging deep within them.

The redness at the base of her ears won't go down anytime soon.

Jiang Xiaochuan practiced absentmindedly, but the scene from earlier kept replaying in his mind, as well as... what she said on the flying sword last time, "Does an apology only need to be said with your mouth?", and that icy yet burning kiss.

As if possessed, he suddenly stopped what he was doing, turned around, and called out softly to Lu Xueqi's back, "Xueqi."

Lu Xueqi paused slightly, but didn't turn around. "What is it?"

Jiang Xiaochuan took a few steps forward, stopping when he was still two or three steps away from her.

His heart was pounding and his face was burning, but he still mustered his courage and whispered, "I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to."

After saying that, he quickly leaned over and gently touched her cheek.

It was very light and quick, like a feather brushing past.

Then, as if he had done something wrong, he turned and ran, forgetting even to take the Snow River Sword. He disappeared into the bamboo forest behind the mountain in a flash, leaving only the sound of his staggering footsteps.

Lu Xueqi froze on the spot.

The spot on her face where he had touched seemed to still retain the boy's warm, soft touch, a hint of sweat, and his unique scent of sunshine and grass.

The feeling was like a tiny electric current coursing through her cheeks and limbs, making her fingertips tingle slightly.

She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips gently touching the spot where she had just been kissed.

It seems a bit hot there.

Then, she turned around abruptly and looked in the direction where Jiang Xiaochuan had disappeared. Underneath her moon-white Taoist robe, her chest rose and fell slightly.

The blush that had just faded from her cool face suddenly surged back up, even more intense than before.

Those usually calm and unwavering eyes now clearly reflected panic, embarrassment, and a hint of... a suppressed, almost overflowing softness and trembling.

That little rascal!

He... he actually dared to launch a sneak attack!

And it ran so fast!

Lu Xueqi stood there, the mountain wind blowing her long hair and clothes, but she felt her face was burning hot and her heart was beating so fast that it was pounding against her eardrums.

With a mental age of several hundred years, she has seen all kinds of storms and experienced all kinds of intimacy.

But when faced with the repeated, unintentional or intentional flirting from this clueless, awkward boy, she would still blush and her heart would race like a little girl.

She bit her lower lip, forced herself to remain calm, walked over, and picked up the Xuechuan Sword that Jiang Xiaochuan had thrown on the ground.

His body heat and sweat seemed to still linger on the sword hilt.

We can't stay here any longer.

Lu Xueqi took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing the turbulent emotions in her heart. She gripped her two swords (Tianya and Xuechuan), turned around, and her figure transformed into a streak of light, quickly disappearing in the direction of Xiaozhu Peak.

His back remained straight and aloof, but his steps seemed faster than usual, tinged with a sense of haste.

She needs to go back and calm down.

Otherwise, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to resist chasing after him, catching that little rascal who ran off after flirting with her, and giving him a good "lesson" to let him know that some "apologies" can't be settled with just a kiss on the cheek.

Jiang Xiaochuan ran all the way back to his hut on Dazhu Peak, closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and gasped for breath.

My face was burning hot, and my heart was pounding as if it would jump out of my throat.

What did he just do?

He actually kissed Lu Xueqi!

Even though it's a face!

Although it wasn't intentional... well, it was intentional!

But he just... just acted impulsively!

I think apologizing verbally is more "sincere"!

Ruined!

Lu Xueqi is definitely angry!

She ignored him completely; she must be furious!

Will she never talk to him again?

Wouldn't you think he's a lecher?

He scratched his head in frustration and paced around the room a few times.

No, I have to find a way to apologize!

A simple kiss on the cheek is definitely not enough!

I need to send something... What should I send?

What does Lu Xueqi like?

It seems that she doesn't have any particular hobbies besides practicing swordsmanship.

Oh, right, she seems to really like plum blossoms?

There is a plum grove on the back mountain of Xiaozhu Peak, but it belongs to Master Shuiyue, so we can't pick the plums.

Sending a sword tassel? That's too ordinary.

……