Chapter 90: World Three [4]

Jing Ke didn’t answer right away, but she didn’t refuse Luo Yuezhu either. She simply told her in a calm tone, “Martial training is a very arduous thing. It requires long-term perseverance. It’s not something you can learn on a whim.”

“I know, but I also want the ability to protect myself.” Luo Yuezhu looked up at Jing Ke. “I’m not asking Heroine Jing to teach me forever. I only want to learn as much as I can from you during the three years you will be staying at the Luo household.”

Luo Yuezhu’s tone was sincere, and her gaze towards Jing Ke was extremely determined.

However, Luo Yuezhu was still only ten years old. Having been well-protected by her family, a hint of apprehension hid in the depths of her eyes. Her small hands, hidden within her sleeves, couldn’t help but clench tightly.

Luo Yuezhu hoped the person before her would agree to her somewhat presumptuous request, while simultaneously fearing rejection, worried it would cause Jing Ke to dislike her.

“Ordinary fist and foot techniques, I can teach you without compensation.” Jing Ke paused, then continued, “As for the rest, Miss Luo, you should know that every sect has its secret arts, right? Those are things only formal disciples can study. Outsiders are not permitted to even look at them.”

Jing Ke’s waist-length hair was tied back only with a single black ribbon, fully revealing her heroic features. She looked free-spirited, yet exceptionally capable and efficient.

Luo Yuezhu looked up at her like this. After a brief silence, she spoke again, her voice still hoarse.

“If I want to choose the latter, can I become your disciple?” Luo Yuezhu asked.

She hadn’t had much contact with the Jianghu, but Luo Yuezhu had read quite a few similar storybooks and could glean some basic principles from them.

“I will give you a chance.” A trace of hesitation colored Jing Ke’s tone. “If, for the next month, you can practice the horse stance for two shichen every day, I will accept you as my disciple after the month is up.”

“Of course, considering you are a beginner, I will allow you to rest whenever you get tired during the initial period. But if, on the final day, you cannot do the horse stance for two full shichen without stopping, it will mean we have no master-disciple destiny. I will only teach you some basic fist, foot, saber, and sword techniques.”

Jing Ke had spoken these words after careful consideration. Her relationship with Luo Yuezhu wasn’t solid enough yet. If she agreed immediately, the sensitive girl would likely overthink it.

It was better to simply treat her as the child left behind after a friend’s passing—there was some relationship, but nothing too deep.

“I understand. Starting tomorrow, I will practice in the courtyard every day. Heroine Jing can supervise me at any time. If my form is incorrect, I hope Heroine Jing will instruct me.” Luo Yuezhu agreed solemnly.

Jing Ke nodded. Looking at Luo Yuezhu, whose height barely reached her shoulder, she couldn’t resist reaching out and patting her head. “Don’t push yourself too hard. Not everyone is suited for martial arts.”

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m acting as a teacher. A month should be enough time to develop a reliable curriculum, right?

I’ll write down a few more cultivation methods later. Have her try each one; there’s bound to be a method suitable for Luo Yuezhu.

Although Luo Yuezhu hadn’t even passed the so-called test yet, Jing Ke was already contemplating how to turn her into a martial arts master. Preferably the Number One in the World.

That way, no one could bully Luo Yuezhu. She could do whatever she wanted. Even if some blind fool targeted her, she could simply retaliate directly.

That’s right. By now, Jing Ke could be certain of one thing: the System was deliberately targeting Luo Yuezhu.

Only this would explain why everyone who obtained a Fragment of her Origin Body specifically targeted a certain person, attempting to ruin their originally brilliant life.

However, knowing was one thing. What Jing Ke could do now was limited. She could only retrieve her Fragments of the Origin Body one world at a time, minimizing the influence brought by the System and the Fragments.

Once Jing Ke successfully retrieved most of the Fragments, she could completely break free from the System’s restrictions and influence. At that time, she should be able to learn the truth.

–

For a wealthy young miss doted on since childhood, practicing the horse stance for two shichen a day was no simple matter.

It had nothing to do with willpower. Purely speaking, Luo Yuezhu’s body lacked muscle. Having grown even thinner due to her family’s passing, she lasted less than half an incense stick’s time before plopping down onto the ground.

And that was after Jing Ke had helped correct her posture. Otherwise, Luo Yuezhu might not have even lasted half an incense stick.

On the first day, through continuous effort, Luo Yuezhu successfully completed the task of practicing the horse stance for two shichen by the afternoon.

But simultaneously, her legs were shaking uncontrollably. She needed her maid, Little Mu, to support her just to walk. Otherwise, she would stagger left and right, as if she might fall flat on the ground at any moment.

With Little Mu’s help, Luo Yuezhu barely managed to wash up and lay down smoothly on her bed.

But upon waking up the next day, the swelling pain and soreness in her legs made Luo Yuezhu grimace. She couldn’t even complete a simple action like getting out of bed and standing up.

Knock, knock—

A knocking sound came from outside. Judging by the force and timing, Luo Yuezhu deduced that the person outside wasn’t Little Mu.

Little Mu was currently the only old retainer left by Luo Yuezhu’s side, arguably the only person she fully trusted.

After successfully driving the Third Master of the Luo family out of the Luo Residence, Luo Yuezhu had Little Mu buy three servants to handle odd jobs. At this time, Little Mu should still be arranging their tasks.

Having eliminated the ones who wouldn’t be there, it wasn’t hard to guess who was knocking at the door.

“Heroine Jing, is something the matter?” Luo Yuezhu pulled the blanket over herself, avoiding an unseemly appearance before an outsider.

“Can your legs still move normally? If they’re too sore, I’m here to apply some medicine.” Jing Ke said from outside the door, holding a medicinal ointment she had concocted late into the previous night.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Luo Yuezhu’s heart, but recalling that her ultimate goal was to become Jing Ke’s disciple, she forcefully suppressed her initial embarrassment and shyness.

Picking up the outer garment placed nearby and draping it over her shoulders, Luo Yuezhu pulled the blanket up higher. “Heroine Jing, please come in. The door isn’t locked.”

“Alright, I’m coming in.” Jing Ke paused, then with a creak, pushed open the wooden door. Stepping over the threshold, she closed the door behind her.

Today, Jing Ke still wore a profound black outer robe. The style had subtle differences from before, but one couldn’t tell any distinction without a close look.

“This is a Blood-Activating Ointment. Apply it to the sore areas, then dissolve it with inner strength. It should take effect within half a shichen at most.” Jing Ke said, showing the ointment stored in a small porcelain bottle before walking towards Luo Yuezhu.

“Thank you, Heroine Jing.” Luo Yuezhu said, fighting the soreness from her legs. She struggled to sit up straight, reaching to take the ointment from Jing Ke’s hand.

“The medicinal effect needs inner strength to activate. Let me apply it for you; the effect can be directly triggered that way.” Jing Ke stopped only when she reached Luo Yuezhu’s bedside.

To prevent Luo Yuezhu from being afraid, Jing Ke even half-crouched down, bringing her line of sight level with Luo Yuezhu’s.

Both of Luo Yuezhu’s hands clutched the blanket tightly. Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, she silently lifted the blanket covering her.

“Do I need to expose my legs?” Luo Yuezhu asked, suppressing her shyness.

“Yes. The ointment needs to be applied directly to the skin, so you’ll need to bare your legs.” Jing Ke said. “Do you need my help?”

Jing Ke could swear that she currently had no other thoughts towards Luo Yuezhu. She purely wanted to help her, to make her stronger, faster.

After all, Luo Yuezhu was just a ten-year-old child. In Jing Ke’s eyes, anyone under eighteen was just a kid, belonging to a different generation entirely.

“N-no, no need. I can do it myself.” Luo Yuezhu said, her cheeks coloring with a faint pink. She quickly pulled her slightly loose sleep trousers up to just above her knees.

Jing Ke didn’t say anything, merely raising an eyebrow slightly. Her hands made no movement either.

Luo Yuezhu’s face grew even redder. She could clearly accept Little Mu helping her bathe, but for some reason, she felt exceptionally self-conscious facing Jing Ke.

Perhaps it’s because I’m not familiar enough with Jing Ke yet. Little Mu has been with me since I was five, Luo Yuezhu told herself.

After spending a moment mentally preparing herself, Luo Yuezhu pulled her sleep trousers up to her thighs, revealing a pair of exceptionally fair and smooth legs.

Jing Ke didn’t waste any time either. She quickly scooped the light brown ointment from the small porcelain bottle and spread it evenly across the skin’s surface.

The moment the ointment touched her skin, Luo Yuezhu’s grip on the bedding tightened considerably, her knuckles turning almost white.

“I’m going to use inner strength to activate the medicine’s properties, so you might feel a slight tingling and numbing sensation. Bear with it.” Jing Ke warned, then channeled inner strength onto her fingertips, applying the ointment and dissolving its properties simultaneously.

Even though forewarned, Luo Yuezhu couldn’t help but stifle a muffled groan when she felt the tingling numbness Jing Ke described. She had to clench her jaw tightly to prevent strange sounds from escaping her mouth.

Fortunately, Luo Yuezhu adapted well. After the ointment was evenly spread on her calves, she gradually got used to the sensation, even experiencing the illusion that she was soaking in a hot spring.

Jing Ke focused on her task. This ointment was concocted from a secret formula in her memory. Besides promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, it also strengthened the bones and sinews.

Moreover, since Jing Ke used inner strength to stimulate the medicinal properties, as Luo Yuezhu’s body absorbed the medicine, it would also absorb a bit of the attached inner strength.

The amount of inner strength wasn’t much, but the inner strength Jing Ke possessed was exceptionally pure. Therefore, even absorbing just a tiny bit was a good opportunity for someone like Luo Yuezhu, who had never practiced martial arts, to improve her physical constitution.

During the application process, Jing Ke also made some discoveries. For instance, although Luo Yuezhu looked somewhat thin and weak, her meridians were at least three times wider than an ordinary person’s.

Such a constitution was a rare find. If her comprehension was also superior, she would only need a decade of steady cultivation to become a First-rate Expert of the Jianghu.

What was the concept of a First-rate Expert in the Jianghu? As long as they didn’t face off against the elders and sect masters of major sects, First-rate Experts could walk sideways wherever they pleased.

Even the Four Seas Pavilion would give them face. So long as a First-rate Expert didn’t attempt to break into the Imperial Palace at night, they would turn a blind eye to their actions.

The application process took about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, roughly a quarter of a shichen.

“How do you feel now? Has the soreness subsided considerably?” Jing Ke put away the empty porcelain bottle. Standing up, she took a step back to prevent Miss Luo from blushing until she bled.

“Much better, thank you.” Luo Yuezhu said stiffly. “Do I just need to wait a little longer like this?”

“Mhm. Once it dries, you can wash it off. If—” Before Jing Ke could finish, knocking sounded from outside again.

“Miss, are you awake? I’ve brought you some hot water?” Little Mu’s voice came from outside.

“No, not yet. Go prepare bathwater for me first. I want to take a bath.” Luo Yuezhu instinctively refused to let Little Mu in.

“Miss wants to bathe? Okay, I’ll go prepare it right away.” Fortunately, Little Mu didn’t think much of it and quickly turned away to heat water.

“Once the ointment dries, you can pull your trouser legs back down. You should feel as normal as ever then.” Jing Ke reminded her, unsure whether it was more appropriate for her to leave now or wait until Luo Yuezhu could move.

“Alright. Thank you, Heroine Jing.” Luo Yuezhu glanced at her leg exposed to the air. She tentatively moved it and found the original soreness had faded significantly.

After a brief, somewhat awkward silence, Luo Yuezhu took the initiative to speak. “Have you eaten yet? Shall I have the kitchen prepare some food for you?”

“No rush. It’s only early chen hour now. We can dine together once Miss Luo has finished freshening up.” Jing Ke said.

To prevent the thin-skinned girl from staying perpetually red-faced, Jing Ke was now turned sideways to Luo Yuezhu, her gaze falling on a window not too far away.

“Okay. Th-then I must trouble Heroine Jing to wait a little longer for me.” Luo Yuezhu said.

Unable to think of a suitable topic for the moment, Luo Yuezhu could only continue clutching the bedding tightly, waiting for the ointment smeared on her legs to dry.

Once it did, she could pull her trousers down and regain her mobility.