Chapter 64: Azure Sparrow Sword Art, Hands-On Teaching

Father, where is my little sister?

Little sister? What little sister?

Shang Hongchen heard his father's words, his eyes narrowed as he stared fixedly.

That gaze seemed as if it wanted to eat his father.

Shang Yingnian was sweating profusely; he dared not meet his daughter's eyes, turning instead to look outside, where he happened to see his young son Shang Yue, and shouted loudly, "Shang Yue, come here!"

Shang Yue heard this and thought his father had something good for him; upon arriving, he saw his older sister's purplish face, that gaze too frightening, he involuntarily shuddered, turned around, and was about to leave.

Shang Yingnian acted even faster, grabbing him and pulling him into the middle.

Hongchen, you should ask Shang Yue about this; he knows.

Father still has matters to attend to; you siblings talk slowly.

He waved his hand and left, leaving the dumbstruck Shang Yue Thus we have Xiao Pangzi; Shang Yue also wanted to follow his father, but facing his older sister alone felt like a death sentence—he dared not defy her, nor dare… lie, for anything he said in front of her would be exposed.

His older sister was too smart; her eyes were overly frightening. Shang Yue had feared her since childhood, and even as he grew up, the fear remained—a psychological shadow etched deep into his blood.

Older older sister, um… I just remembered I have something to do, I…

Shang Hongchen crossed his arms and said coldly, "Come here."

Shang Yue still wanted to explain a bit, but seeing his older sister's gaze, he obediently walked over, already having cursed his father a hundred times in his heart; he knew his father summoning him boded no good, and indeed, his father was using him as a scapegoat.

No need to look; he was surely seeking the second sister.

The second sister isn't home, ah; he doesn't know how to explain this matter.

He had always avoided his older sister precisely to prevent this from happening, yet he never expected to be entrapped by his own father.

Entrapping his son, ah.

Speak, where did Hongxue go?

Don't try to deceive me; you say you didn't lie, but I know the truth inside out.

When did your second sister leave home? Has she returned? How did she leave? Please tell me Yi Yi Shi.

Shang Yue's scalp went numb; these questions were a matter of life and death.

Older sister indeed realized this; Shang Yue could only answer with a stiff scalp: "Um, older sister, the second sister has left home for two days; counting today, it's the third day."

"Three days?" Shang Hongchen's eyes narrowed, his pupils filled with killing intent.

This killing intent was directed at him.

Damn it, it's over; older sister is about to make a move.

"Shang Yue, didn't I order you to watch your second sister and not let her leave the Shang Clan? Is this how you handle things?"

Shang Yue silently thought, "Doomed, I'm really doomed this time; older sister is angry."

"Um, older sister, hear me out; this situation is a misunderstanding."

"The day before yesterday, I, the younger brother, had an epiphany and did a brief closed-door cultivation for a few hours; when the younger brother emerged from seclusion, the second sister was gone."

"At that time, the younger brother had already gone to chase the second sister, but the result was still that he couldn't catch her."

The reason immediately came to mind.

Coincidentally, over these past two days, Shang Yue's cultivation broke through.

This excuse was seamless.

Really?

Shang Yue lowered his head, not daring to meet his older sister's eyes.

"Older sister, for this matter you should ask father; he definitely knows."

"The second sister was let out by father; without his permission, do you think she could leave home?"

"Moreover, father even sent people to escort the second sister to Longshe Shan."

Father, I'm sorry; you lack benevolence, don't blame me for lacking righteousness.

I, the son, also cannot withstand older sister's anger; I can only wrong you.

Furthermore, what he said is all true; father plays an important role in this; without his help, the second sister could not have left the Shang Clan, meaning father consented to this.

Shang Hongchen heard this and fell silent.

She naturally knew father's thoughts, and also understood why she did this.

"Alright, you may go."

Shang Yue was overjoyed; unexpectedly, a twist of fate let him escape disaster.

"Yes, older sister."

Not daring to linger a moment, he only wanted to leave this place of right and wrong quickly.

It really was a matter of life and death.

Shang Yue hadn't run far when he bumped into his father, who smiled and pressed his hand on Shang Yue's shoulder.

"Son, you have great gall, daring to betray your father."

Shang Yue stared agape, fixing his gaze on his father.

This hateful father actually eavesdropped.

"Father, you…"

"Son, I don't recall ever offending you; why would you betray me?"

"Ah ah, father, don't hit me."

"Father, I was wrong."

"Father, no, no, no."

In the courtyard, a scene of deep father-son affection unfolded.

Shang Yue was beaten and ran all over, utterly miserable.

Shang Hongchen, who had come upon hearing the words, crossed his arms, having no intention to help.

Jiang Luolan also arrived, standing quietly at the side and watching.

The mother and daughter were still talking and laughing, yet no one went to rescue him.

After beating him for about half an hour, Shang Yingnian finally stopped, walking over while holding his son, whose face was bruised and swollen.

"Bang."

He was thrown straight to the ground; poor Shang Yue, lacking any status, ended up with a pig's head.

Feeling wronged, he sought help from his older sister.

Shang Hongchen pretended not to see him and ignored him.

Looking toward his mother Jiang Luolan, Jiang Luolan also couldn't ignore this son, so she spoke up: "Husband, you really are something, striking so hard—look at what you've done to our son, his face is a pig's head; how can he face people now?"

Shang Hongchen said coldly, "Just don't go out."

Shang Yue felt heartbroken.

Older sister, you're my own older sister—how could you treat me like this?

Shang Yingnian clapped his hands and said, "Who let this brat dare betray me? If I don't give him a beating, I won't feel satisfied."

Jiang Luolan asked with a smile, "Feeling satisfied now?"

"Not bad."

Shang Hongchen gave Shang Yue a sideways glance and said, "Father, I'm going to fetch my sister back; she can't stay on Longshe Shan forever."

With those words, the scene fell silent.

Jiang Luolan didn't speak, just gave Shang Yingnian a look, meaning "you handle it yourself."

Shang Yue lowered his head, not intervening in this matter.

"Alright, I'll go with you."

Shang Hongchen thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Alright."

"Shang Yue is coming along too."

Shang Yue really wanted to refuse, but seeing his father raise his fist in threat, he could only obediently follow along.

Jiang Luolan watched their retreating backs and sighed, "Ah, this matter isn't easy to handle."

"The Chen Clan is urging us anxiously."

"We can only wait until Hongchen leaves Longshe Cheng before we can settle things."

"Chen Chuyang would make a fine son-in-law."

……

On Longshe Shan.

Shang Hongxue held a wooden sword and was dancing.

Practicing the sword, her posture was light as a bird's.

Compared to her younger sister Chen Churan's sword technique, it had an extra touch of spirituality and grace.

The sword technique is called the Azure Sparrow Sword Art, transmitted to her by Chen Chuyang; it is a sword art that Chen Chuyang comprehended from the azure sparrows on the mountain, its power is not insignificant, and it matches Shang Hongxue very well in every respect.

Her bearing, that same spirituality, is exactly alike.

The strength of the sword technique depends on the practitioner; the better the match, the greater its power can be exerted.

Chen Chuyang clearly understands this principle; this sword technique is no inferior to the Azure Serpent Sword Art, and in fact is even more complete and a better match for his sister-in-law Shang Hongxue.

This sword technique also has the advantage of being relatively easy to pick up and gentle, without forcibly altering Shang Hongxue's innate spirituality.

"Chuyang brother, is it like this?"

"A bit off; your movements aren't quite standard—move a little to the left, yes, just like that."

Chen Chuyang personally instructed, lifting Shang Hongxue's hand and adjusting it into a proper sword-practicing posture.

"Continue."

"Mm." Blushing, Shang Hongxue eased herself a moment before beginning her sword practice.