Chapter 65: Mount Tai Returns?

Hand‑in‑hand teaching, heart‑to‑heart sword practice.

The two pressed together, able to hear each other's breathing; Shang Hongxue flushed, her mind a blank, forgetting the sword practice, her body swayed with Chen Chuyang's instruction, swinging the sword left and right, up and down, each motion slow as a snail, sluggish.

To make Shang Hongxue remember the sword moves, to let her feel the merit of this sword art up close, Chen Chuyang spared no effort, yet found the girl's mind was elsewhere, her motions soft and limp, as if she exerted no force.

After a few sword swings, Chen Chuyang looked down and saw Shang Hongxue's face flushed with shame, and couldn't help a sneer: "Girl, what are you thinking, so absorbed?"

"Ah." Startled, Shang Hongxue's cheeks reddened further, her heartbeat quickening like a frightened fawn.

Chen Chuyang could even hear her rapid thudding, the sound strong.

"No… no… nothing."

Shang Hongxue lowered her head shyly, too embarrassed; she wanted to crawl into a hole. In that instant, her body and mind forgot the sword practice, her thoughts centered on Chen Chuyang's hand‑in‑hand teaching, his scorching aura making her dizzy, her whole being feeling weightless. Their close‑up contact, never experienced before, made her heart race.

Her blood surged to a peak, uncontrollably; Shang Hongxue felt ashamed—wasn't it just hand‑in‑hand sword practice? Why so extreme?

But she truly couldn't stay calm; Chen Chuyang's face and voice filled her mind, leaving no room for anything else.

In that moment, she felt it was the most exhilarating, happiest day of her life.

Shang Hongxue thought herself unbelievably fortunate, that Chen Chuyang could treat her that way—treatment even his sister Chen Churan never received, nor his older sister; only she could have it. Others, … would not … be worthy of such affection from Chen Chuyang.

"When practicing sword, focus a bit more, don't be distracted."

"I know."

The little girl lowered her head, humbly accepting the admonition.

Chen Chuyang realized his words were a bit harsh; he said gently, "Sword cultivation requires focus; nothing may distract you. I'll teach you only once; after that you must practice on your own."

"Sword practice must be diligent; focus plus diligence gives you powerful sword art, making you stronger."

"Wanting to protect yourself isn't something you can achieve easily."

After speaking, he tapped her forehead, treating it as a punishment for her inattention.

Shang Hongxue froze, her small eyes furtively glancing at Chen Chuyang; seeing he wasn't angry, she lifted her head and gave a dumb smile.

"I'll be focused, Brother Chen."

"Very good, let's continue sword practice."

"Mm."

Shang Hongxue steadied herself, refusing to embarrass herself again.

Just now was truly too embarrassing—she'd actually… been distracted.

This time, she would strive to remember the sword moves, so Chen Chuyang wouldn't worry or admonish her.

"This time I must focus," Shang Hongxue told herself internally; she could not embarrass herself again.

The two kept practicing sword; this time, Shang Hongxue was focused, not thinking of anything else, nor being drawn off by Chen Chuyang, thus not distracted.

Chen Chuyang taught hand‑in‑hand; the Blue Sparrow Sword Technique is simple, with only a few sword moves, requiring much practice to master them, then to comprehend on one's own and develop new moves.

For Shang Hongxue, it was not difficult.

Below Longshe Shan.

Outside the Formation, three people were blocked by the Formation.

They dared not enter; without Shang Hongxue, they found they could not get into Longshe Shan. That Formation was strange; the Flowing Water Mist Formation blocked them. Shang Yingnian raised his hand, holding his eldest daughter Shang Hongchen's shoulder, reminding, "Hongchen, don't act recklessly; the Formation of Longshe Shan is dangerous. I heard Hongxue say not to force your way in."

Shang Hongchen scoffed, "Father, you've all been fooled by her. What high‑grade Formation could Longshe Shan possibly have?"

"Just a petty little Formation, it won't defeat me."

Shang Hongchen was brimming with confidence; she would not concede, even if she admitted it in her heart, her body could not.

Shang Yingnian watched his eldest daughter's disbelief, insisting on entering; helpless, he could only follow.

Thus we have Xiao Pangzi Shang Yue didn't want to go in, but he also didn't want to stay outside, which was still dangerous.

After thinking, he still went in with them.

The three passed through the Formation and entered the area of Longshe Shan.

The Third‑grade Formation, Flowing Water Mist Formation, activated; the mist sealed off the mountain.

It blocked their sight; the road ahead vanished.

Shang Yingnian frowned; after walking up the mountain for a while, they realized they had returned to the same spot.

Moreover, the true Qi within their bodies was draining rapidly, a loss terrifyingly beyond ordinary combat consumption.

Around them, some shoots sprouted; those newly‑planted trees, after intense infusion of spirit water and spirit energy, burst forth quickly, growing at a rate dozens of times faster than normal.

Within the Formation lay a terrifying attraction, causing them to lose their sense of direction.

"Hongchen, unfortunately, we're back at the starting point again."

"This Formation is strange; we've been confused."

Shang Yingnian searched for direction; the mist was too thick to see clearly or discern the correct path.

Their perception was muddled, unable… to find the summit's direction.

Shang Hongchen, angry, drew her sword, intending to destroy the surrounding vegetation.

"Don't do that, Hongchen, those are Chen Chuyang's belongings; if you destroy them you'll have to compensate."

Shang Yue, hearing the word 'compensate', lost his composure and hurriedly warned, "Big sister, don't act rashly. Chen Chuyang is a profiteer; for the same spirit tree he could charge you three to ten times the price, depending on the person. If it's you, it'd be ten‑fold compensation."

Having been ripped off before, he was keen on this; trapped by the Formation, any reckless move could bring unknown consequences.

Chen Chuyang is no pushover and won't… show them any mercy.

If sister's favor weren't there, perhaps…

"I don't believe he's afraid; it's just a Formation. Break these formation bases and the Formation will naturally collapse."

"Just a petty Formation dares to block my way, humph."

Shang Yingnian pressed her firmly, preventing her from acting rashly.

"Hongchen, listen, don't act recklessly; the Chen Clan isn't an enemy, don't be impulsive."

He certainly didn't want to destroy the spiritual medicines on Longshe Shan—they belonged to the Chen Clan, and if he really came to blows, he'd have to pay a heavy compensation.

Shang Yingnian didn't want to waste money, nor did he want to sour his relations with the Chen Clan.

He would definitely have to restrain Shang Hongchen; he couldn't let this daughter be willful any longer.

As for the formation before him, he also had to find a way to break it.

How to break it—well, he'd have to think of a way.

"In my view, this formation is mainly meant to confuse us, make us lose our direction, and it won't harm us; if we look more carefully, we should be able to find the way to the mountaintop."

"Exactly, big sister, if we're a bit more careful, we'll definitely be able to go up the mountain."

Shang Hongchen felt helpless, so he had to put away his sword and silently search for that path.