Chapter 73: Copying Books

Returning to their residence, the two had just entered the courtyard when they saw an old man carrying a sword sitting at the gate.

Their faces changed, and they turned to run.

"Stop, Yun Hua, Liu Qingqing, what are you two up to?"

Yun Hua's expression straightened: "Master, we went out to play."

Liu Qingqing widened her eyes, looking at Yun Hua.

Senior Brother, what nonsense are you spouting?

Don't you know Master's temperament?!

The old man opened his eyes, looking at Liu Qingqing: "Liu Qingqing, did you beg Senior Brother to take you out?"

"I... am." Liu Qingqing lowered her head, pouting with a dejected look.

"Go to the room and copy the Sword Scripture ten times; if you haven't finished by sunset, you don't get to eat!"

"Oh."

Liu Qingqing glanced at Master, then at Yun Hua beside her, her face full of discontent.

But what could be done about it?

Senior Brother was highly regarded by Master, and Master valued him more and more......

Seeing Liu Qingqing's state, the old man sighed and looked at Yun Hua: "Yun Hua, you also know your junior sister's temperament—she's very flighty, unable to calm down to practice martial arts. Even so, her internal strength is still above yours; although she can't beat you, it's only because she has no interest in martial arts at all, and now she's even beginning to resist."

Yun Hua nodded: "Master, my junior sister's talent far surpasses mine. You should pay more attention to her thoughts; you should punish me instead of her."

"Sigh! You blockhead, just go help her copy the Sword Scripture together."

"Huh?" Yun Hua froze.

Why?

The old man rolled his eyes: "You and your junior sister are disciples I took in since childhood; you have talent in swordsmanship, she has talent in internal arts. You two should naturally support each other to strengthen my Boundless Sword Sect; otherwise, why would I have brought you here this time?"

"Isn't it for tempering ourselves down the mountain?"

"This is just one of them; I wanted you to... never mind, did you encounter anything out there?" the old man asked.

Yun Hua thought for a moment and recounted how they had been extorted in the city.

"That rich person helped you out but asked for nothing in return, so you feel something's off?" After listening, the old man nodded and then asked.

"Well, merchants don't rise early without profit, yet this fellow spent his own money to settle our affairs, asking for nothing—too strange. Moreover... I always feel he's not a good person."

The old man's expression was complex; he understood this disciple Yun Hua quite well.

He often inexplicably says he feels someone has a problem; most of the time nothing shows, but sometimes he's spot on.

But now they've arrived at Shuibian Cheng; even if that rich person really had an issue, it's not their target, so they shouldn't stir up trouble.

"I know about this; go help your junior sister copy the Sword Scripture first—don't say I sent you! Also, remember the Sword Formula I taught you; practice it diligently!"

"Oh."

Yun Hua turned and left, looking strange.

He couldn't understand why he had to help his junior sister copy the Sword Scripture, since copying it was meant to temper one's disposition, which would keep his junior sister from being so impulsive.

Holding his doubts, Yun Hua went to his junior sister's quarters, saw her writing furiously, and immediately went over to say:

"Junior Sister, let me help you copy!"

"Huh? Senior Brother, you're so kind—come on, come on!" Liu Qingqing delighted, hurried over and scooted over to make space.

"Well, Junior Sister, don't just copy mindlessly; if you copy it wrong, we need to grasp the profundity of the Sword Scripture and strive to break through to Grandmaster soon." Yun Hua sat down, glanced at Liu Qingqing's copy of the Sword Scripture, furrowed his brows, and said.

Liu Qingqing's mouth twitched; she said nothing, burying her head to continue copying.

"Yay, finally finished! Have Senior Brother help me copy the rest; I'll take a nap."

"Hey, Junior Sister, don't...."

Seeing Liu Qingqing run to the bed, lie down, and start snoring, Yun Hua sighed and continued copying.

Until the sun set, Liu Qingqing yawned, sat up, and rubbed her eyes:

"Senior Brother, you've finished copying...."

She looked up and saw Master standing before her, his face dark as he stared at her.

Liu Qingqing's cheeks flushed; she immediately stood up, lowered her head, and said: "Master, I...."

"Liu Qingqing! Are you being too reckless? Making you copy the Sword Scripture is a minor punishment; I didn't say much when Senior Brother helped you copy, yet you actually had him copy the rest for you while you slept here!"

Liu Qingqing pouted and muttered: "Senior Brother doesn't mind copying the Sword Scripture, does he...."

"Still dare to talk back!"

Seeing this, Yun Hua knew Master was indeed angry and quickly said: "Master, don't be like this; my junior sister might just be resting poorly lately, so please don't be angry. I really do like the Sword Scripture—that's why I copied a few extra times."

The old man turned his head, widened his eyes, and stared at Yun Hua.

Yun Hua looked bewildered.

Liu Qingqing clenched her fists, raised her head, and spoke defiantly: "What's wrong with not liking to copy the Sword Scripture? Senior Brother is willing to copy, let him do it; Master, you've taught your secret manual to Senior Brother—do I, this disciple, even matter at all...."

Slap!

The old man, unable to contain his anger, raised his hand and slapped Liu Qingqing hard across the face. The blow was extremely strong, making her head ring and stars flash before her eyes. She widened her eyes, incredulously staring at the old man, her face full of shock and pain.

Liu Qingqing instinctively covered her slapped cheek, feeling a burning pain. Her formerly fair skin instantly turned red and swollen, a clear palm print blooming. Tears filled her eye sockets, pouring down her cheeks like a breached flood.

Yet Liu Qingqing did not cry out; she silently endured the humiliation and pain. She bit her lip, holding back her tears, but in the end she could not suppress her sorrow, and tears gushed forth like a spring, blurring her vision.

Liu Qingqing hesitated not at all; she wiped the tears from her eyes, turned, brushed past the two, and stumbled out of the room.

"Master, you've never hit my junior sister before—this...."

The old man gave Yun Hua a complex look and said: "Sigh, if I didn't know your nature wasn't like that, I would have slapped you instead."

Yun Hua:?

Did I say something wrong?

Why did you just go along with her and say all that nonsense? Do you think I don't know you're doing it on purpose to piss me off?

"Ah? I didn't!" Yun Hua widened her eyes, looking completely innocent.

"Sigh, I didn't expect that passing on the sword technique to you would upset Qing Qing this much; hurry up and follow her, and whatever you do, don't let her storm off in anger...." The old man sighed repeatedly.

"Oh, should I go console my junior sister then?"

"If you were sure, you wouldn't be asking such a question!"

The old man rolled his eyes, utterly speechless.