Watching Su Changqing's excitement, Shu Han frowned tightly.
In his opinion, the little junior's talent in Confucianism could be compared to the reincarnation of the Literary Emperor and should focus solely on Confucian studies.
Studying while practicing sword techniques is simply neglecting one's proper duties!
"Junior Brother, listen to me, focus on studying well, don't mess with anything else!"
Shu Han looked at Su Changqing with a serious expression.
Stunned by his words, Su Changqing hadn't even spoken when Brother Er Niu, who had just arrived, was instantly displeased.
"Who are you? What do you mean by 'mess'?"
Brother Er Niu glanced sideways at Shu Han, "Chang Qing is learning swordsmanship, do you have any objections?"
"Of course, I have objections!"
Shu Han stood his ground, "Chang Qing has teachers for studying, does he have teachers for swordsmanship?"
("Not studying Confucianism properly and learning some awful swordsmanship—isn't this putting the cart before the horse!")
Chang Qing's talent in Confucianism was the strongest Shu Han had ever seen; he feared the other might take the wrong path, hence the sharp words.
("Putting the cart before the horse? It is putting the cart before the horse, in my opinion, Chang Qing should be learning swordsmanship!")
("Studying for so long, hasn't manifested righteous vigor yet.")
Equally furious, in his view, Chang Qing's talent in the Sword Dao could be described as terrifying.
Celestial Tier secret technique, forming a Lifebound Dao Seal in two days—wasn't this a born Sword Dao prodigy?
Yet he chose reading, a year passed without manifesting righteous vigor; in his view, this was a great waste of talent!
If he were the Patriarch, he would absolutely have Chang Qing specialize in the Sword Dao!
("Nonsense!")
Shu Han laughed in anger upon hearing this, "What do you know! Chang Qing's Confucian talent—can you even comprehend it?"
Righteous vigor? For the little junior brother, isn't it as easy as using his hands?
Brother Er Niu was equally aggressive, coldly laughing, "I don't understand Confucianism, but do you understand the Sword Dao?"
("Do you think Chang Qing's talent in the Sword Dao is lacking?")
Shu Han stepped forward, "I do think the Sword Dao is lacking! What?"
Brother Er Niu raised his brow, "Bookworm, shall we find a place to spar?"
Shu Han sneered, "Do you think I fear you?"
Both being of similar age and Fourth Realm Cultivation, neither background feared the other.
Now, with a few words of disagreement, it escalated from personal issues concerning Chang Qing to a dispute over doctrines.
Beside them, Su Changqing was left in bewilderment; how did a conversation turn into an argument?
Was studying or learning swordsmanship that important?
No time to think further, Su Changqing quickly grabbed Shu Han and Brother Er Niu, preventing them from leaving, and said:
("We're all adults, why act like children in a duel?")
Turning to Shu Han, he smiled bitterly:
("Little Senior Brother, you've lost your mind; you're a scholar, powerless, how could you possibly contend with Brother Er Niu?")
Brother Er Niu laughed immediately, crossing his arms and looking at Shu Han sideways,
("Heh, Chang Qing is right; I'll beat you to a pulp, bookworm.")
("I...") Seeing Brother Er Niu with an obnoxious expression, Shu Han was red-faced with anger.
But with Chang Qing beside him, he couldn't say a thing, rendering him frustrated to the point of death.
("Brother Er Niu.")
Su Changqing looked at Brother Er Niu helplessly: "He's my little senior brother; don't be disrespectful."
("I was thinking of having him write you a couple of poems; your sweetheart loves poetry, doesn't she?")
Shu Han exclaimed through clenched teeth, "Write poems? Cattle eating peonies—will he understand?"
Brother Er Niu sneered: "No one cares about your poems; a few from Chang Qing are more than enough."
Over this year, even though both were busy, Chang Qing still found time to send him a few poems.
But now he felt unnecessary, as Qing Qiu said it was sufficient and advised to wait for good news after the gambling duel.
("Alright, let's go; let's first see what kind of sword techniques there are, treat it as entertainment.")
Seeing signs of further argument, Su Changqing promptly grabbed one with each hand and headed straight for a small grove.
Brother Er Niu looked smugly at Shu Han, while Shu Han chomped his teeth, following behind.
He was absolutely determined to see how Brother Er Niu misguided the little junior brother!
...
Soon, the trio arrived at a quiet, expansive grove.
Su Changqing couldn't wait to say, "Brother Er Niu, does this sword technique have a Heart Technique?"
Back then, even sword techniques without heart techniques were remarkably powerful; if it were a complete sword technique, wouldn't it enable direct cultivation?
("None.")
Brother Er Niu shook his head nervously, "This sword technique was also discovered in that cave, but there's only sword technique, no Heart Technique."
At the side, Shu Han sneered, transmitting his voice: "Is this how you mislead Chang Qing?"
("Is this the sword technique you spoke of teaching Chang Qing?")
Sword techniques without Heart Techniques?
In Shu Han's lifetime, he had never seen such a thing, thinking that if one could practice this, it must be nonsense.
("You don't know anything, just quietly watch.")
Brother Er Niu replied, then eagerly looked at Chang Qing.
After acquiring this secret manual, he had toiled for a year, only then coming to find Chang Qing.
Because if he was ignorant, even with Chang Qing's guidance, he wouldn't be able to learn.
Now his sword technique was taking form; if he could have an esteemed teacher's guidance, his learning speed would greatly increase.
The rebuffed Shu Han bit his lip secretly, casting a sidelong glance at the secret manual.
And at a glance, he was surprised.
Although not practicing Sword Dao like Chang Qing, his observational skills were intact, instantly recognizing the extraordinariness of the secret manual.
("At least it's a low-grade Celestial Tier; if a Heart Technique is included, it would surely reach mid-grade Celestial Tier level.")
("Brother Er Niu brought out a mid-grade Celestial Tier incomplete manual for Junior Brother—can he understand it?")
Shu Han, full of doubts, looked at his little junior, who was reading seriously.
("This sword technique is strong, stronger than last time's Raging Waves Sword Technique!")
Su Changqing quickly glanced over it, then exclaimed excitedly:
("This sword technique can actually evoke the force of stars, not only includes sword moves but also footwork coordination and temporal bonuses.")
("In terms of difficulty, it far exceeds the previous manual.")
Relative to a year of studying where his strength saw no significant boost, Su Changqing favored practicing sword techniques.
Though incomplete and lacking teacher guidance, the feeling of breaking human limits enthralled him.
("How about it? Can it be practiced?") Brother Er Niu asked eagerly.
Beside him, Shu Han was bewildered.
("What do you mean, can it be practiced?")
Throwing a sword manual without any Heart Technique and expecting to start practicing?
("Utterly childish!")
("If this can be practiced, I'll rip up all my books!")
("If Sword Dao were so easy to cultivate, what would I read books for?")
Shu Han grumbled, shaking his head, walking aside to sit down, not wanting to see or vex himself.
Meanwhile, Su Changqing, unconcerned with the outside world, focused entirely on the sword manual in hand.
His hands occasionally waved in the air, footsteps haphazardly paced, even glancing at the sky sometimes.
This bizarre sword practicing almost made Shu Han laugh, shaking his head helplessly.
But he didn't see the growing realization in Su Changqing's eyes.
Upon reading the complete manual, he closed his eyes, contemplating for a long time, with the sword practicing figure in his mind moving faster and faster, flickers of starlight continually sparking.
When he opened his eyes again, Brother Er Niu immediately handed over a sharpened wooden sword.
Su Changqing took the long sword as if rehearsed countless times, stepping in a seven-star stance, the wooden sword dancing like a cunning snake.
("Buzz!")
Instantly, starlight shimmered upon the wooden sword, the sword techniques unleashed like a torrential downpour.
Su Changqing's footwork was incredibly mysterious, complementing his sword techniques beautifully; with the sword moves continuously stacking, sudden gusts arose in the area.
When the sword momentum reached its peak, Su Changqing followed the sword's path, shouting loudly,
("Starlight!")
("Hiss!")
As dusk fell, revealing stars and the moon.
But when Su Changqing delivered his final strike, several dozen stars emitted dazzling light, drawn by the wooden sword.
("Boom!")
Dozens of starry lights crisscrossed, suddenly descending from the sky.
A thunderous explosion boomed, the direction pointed by the wooden sword saw a tree as thick as a leg split from the middle.
While Brother Er Niu was still in shock, Shu Han suddenly jumped up from the ground.
He rubbed his eyes, glanced at the sky, and then looked at the snapped tree.
Then, with a trembling finger, he pointed at Su Changqing, basked in starlight, incredulously stuttering:
("This...you succeeded in practicing it?")