Cang Dongqing’s voice was gentle, her slender fingers resting lightly on the edge of the small table. The pale pink nail polish on her nails shimmered with a pearly luster in the sunlight.
Duan Xianxing paused his munching on a spirit fruit and turned to look at this direct disciple of the Sword Heart Sect who had suddenly sat down beside him.
She was wearing a moon-white long dress today, with a pale green silk sash tied around her waist that complemented her snow-white skin. However, Duan Xianxing noticed a string of dark red beads on her wrist that looked entirely out of place with her elegant attire.
"Does Fellow Daoist Cang have something to discuss?" Duan Xianxing paused his chewing and turned to look at this direct disciple of the Sword Heart Sect who had suddenly sat down beside him.
Cang Dongqing covered her lips and let out a light laugh. "Going back and forth with 'Fellow Daoist' is a bit too formal, don't you think?" Her eyes sparkled. "How about… I call you Senior Brother Xianxing?"
"Pfft—" Duan Xianxing sprayed a mouthful of spirit fruit, goosebumps breaking out all over his body. "No, no, no! We’re not that close!"
A flash of gloom crossed Cang Dongqing’s eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a hurt expression. "Is Fellow Daoist Duan disgusted by Dongqing?" She bit her lower lip slightly. "If we are to cultivate in the same sect in the future, we should have a proper way to address each other…"
Duan Xianxing rubbed the goosebumps on his arms. "Still, you can’t call me something so mushy!" His eyes darted around. "How about… you just call me Senior Brother Duan. I’m older than you, anyway."
A successful smile flickered in Cang Dongqing’s eyes. "Senior Brother Duan." She intentionally drawled out the words, her voice sickeningly sweet.
Duan Xianxing suppressed his discomfort and gave a forced laugh. "Hehe… Does Junior Sister Cang have something to discuss?"
"I just wanted to ask Senior Brother Duan for some insights on the Dao of the sword." Cang Dongqing leaned in slightly, a strand of hair falling beside her cheek. "I’ve heard that the Natural Sword Physique allows one to perceive the Dao of the sword far beyond ordinary people. I wonder how Senior Brother Duan usually practices?"
"Just like that, I guess." Duan Xianxing pulled out another spirit fruit. "I eat, sleep, and practice my sword. It’s about the same as you guys."
"Then… could Dongqing ask Senior Brother Duan for some insights on the Dao of the sword?"
"Oh?" Duan Xianxing’s eyes lit up. "You’re interested in the Dao of the sword too?"
"Naturally." Cang Dongqing leaned in slightly, a strand of hair falling beside her cheek. "The Sword Heart Sect was founded on the sword. Which of us disciples doesn't study it day and night? It’s just…" She sighed softly. "Compared to Senior Brother Duan’s Natural Sword Physique, my talent is lacking after all."
Duan Xianxing waved his hand. "Talent is something you can’t force. Look at my little junior sister; she doesn't have a Natural Sword Physique, but hasn't she practiced her swordplay quite well?"
Cang Dongqing’s smile stiffened for a moment. "Junior Sister Li is indeed… outstanding." She changed the subject. "Speaking of which, why did Senior Brother Duan choose to join the Sword Heart Sect? Was the Five Elements Dao Sect not good to you?"
"They were great!" Duan Xianxing answered without hesitation. "First Senior Brother taught me swordplay, Second Senior Brother played melodies for me, Third Senior Brother…"
"Then why…" A sharp light flashed in Cang Dongqing’s eyes.
Duan Xianxing grinned. "Because Sect Leader Zhao gave me way too much!"
Cang Dongqing: "…"
She took a sip of tea and adjusted her expression once more. "Senior Brother Duan must be joking. However…" She lowered her voice. "Sect Leader Zhao does indeed favor Senior Brother Duan exceptionally. Even we direct disciples have never enjoyed such treatment." She spoke with a perfectly measured tone of grievance. "Senior Sister Lin and the others all say… they are jealous to death."
Duan Xianxing’s eyes brightened. "Right? I also think Sect Leader Zhao has great taste! if you guys are jealous, then you should work harder. Look at me, I have the Natural Sword Physique and I’m so handsome and dashing…"
Cang Dongqing: "…"
A faint crack sounded from the teacup in Cang Dongqing’s hand as a tiny fissure appeared on its wall. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Fellow Daoist Duan is truly… confident."
"Just telling the truth." Duan Xianxing pulled out another spirit fruit. "Fellow Daoist Cang, you’re also quite good-looking, but the color of those beads doesn’t really match your clothes today."
Cang Dongqing subconsciously covered the beads on her wrist, her expression changing slightly. "This is… a protective magic tool bestowed by my master."
"Oh—" Duan Xianxing drawled. "Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao is quite good to you too, then."
She took a sip of tea and put on her smile again. "Speaking of which, there was a misunderstanding with Junior Sister Li of your sect before. I see that your relationship with her seems very good, Senior Brother Duan. I wonder if you could help Dongqing… explain things a little?"
As she finished, her eyes actually turned slightly red.
Duan Xianxing looked at Cang Dongqing’s reddening eyes and nearly choked on his spirit fruit. He quickly gulped down some tea, internally shouting that things were going south—this woman was actually trying to use his little junior sister as a talking point!
"What are you saying, Junior Sister Cang?" Duan Xianxing scratched his head. "My little junior sister is the most straightforward person. If she misunderstood something, then someone must have done something improper first."
Cang Dongqing pouted aggrievedly. "Is Senior Brother Duan blaming Dongqing?" She lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling slightly. "I was indeed a bit impatient that day, but it was for the sake of the sect’s reputation…"
"That’s even more incorrect!" Duan Xianxing slapped the table. "The fact that you think that way means you definitely don’t understand my little junior sister!"
"How so?" Cang Dongqing’s eyes brightened slightly.
"Listen to me, my little junior sister is amazing! Last time in the Blackwater Marsh…"
For the next half-cup of tea’s worth of time, Cang Dongqing was forced to listen to Li Nanzhu’s top ten virtues and twenty heroic deeds, though Duan Xianxing naturally picked only unimportant things.
Cang Dongqing had originally thought she could get some intelligence from him, but after listening for so long to nothing but useless chatter, her knuckles turned white as she gripped her teacup, and the smile on her face grew more and more rigid.
"…So you see, Little Junior Sister not only has great swordplay, but she can also draw talismans and is very smart…" Duan Xianxing went on and on.
"Senior Brother Duan!" Cang Dongqing finally couldn’t help but interrupt. "I wanted to ask… since your relationship as fellow disciples is so good, she must have been very sad when you left the Five Elements Dao Sect, right?"
Duan Xianxing blinked, then suddenly looked as if he had realized something. "Ah! I get it!" He lowered his voice. "Junior Sister Cang, do you like me? Is that why you’re so concerned about my relationship with Little Junior Sister?"
Cang Dongqing’s face flushed slightly. "Senior Brother Duan is exceptionally gifted, so Dongqing naturally admires…"
"It’s okay, it’s okay." Before she could finish, Duan Xianxing interrupted her, waving his hand magnanimously. "There are plenty of people who like me, one more doesn’t make a difference. But I have to make it clear first—my heart only belongs to the Dao of the sword!"
Cang Dongqing: "…"
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning fury in her chest, and squeezed out a smile. "Senior Brother Duan really knows how to joke. I was just… curious about the bond between fellow disciples in the Five Elements Dao Sect."
"Oh?" Duan Xianxing tilted his head. "Then is your relationship with Pei Ji and the others not good?"
"Of course not!" Cang Dongqing hastily denied. "Everyone in our Sword Heart Sect is of one mind…"
"Then why don’t you go ask them? Why do you have to ask me?" Duan Xianxing asked with a look of pure innocence.
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