Practising

Chapter 09

"Are you trained in using a sword?" Su Maoxian asked Liu Ye. He came to visit Liu Ye's house. As he was injured, he couldn't help his father with fishing. 

"I can use it." Liu Ye said as he swung the sword. He was practising with an iron sword, covered in sweat from extensive training.

"Can you use it in a fight?"

"I learnt it to use it in a fight." 

"Have you ever fought anyone?"

"I did."

"Are you bullied? Have you cried?"

"No! What type of questions are you even asking?"

"You were sick until five days back. I swear my niece could have beaten you." Su Maoxian mocked Liu Ye. "And you are not a diligent person, you won't put efforts in practising with the sword."

"I can use the sword to kill a person. I am a skilled sword user."

"I can see that your sword is off balanced."

"Well, I am not an expert."

"I think I can defeat you."

"You are stronger than me!"

"With a sword."

"Maoxian, do you think I am playing with this sword, right now?" Liu Ye was frustrated and stopped swinging the sword.

"You were just swinging the sword from half an hour. Does practising with your sword, meant this? I am bored." Su Maoxian sneered.

"Hey! If you don't know anything about swordsmanship, keep quiet."

"During yearly city competition, I have seen people performing sword techniques and fighting with them in the arena. Their stance alone attracted my attention. They were fierce while using the sword. You look as if you have held a sword for the first time."

"Those people are dedicated to the way of sword. I am learning it so that I can use it when I had a need with a weapon. Don't compare me with them."

"You claimed to be a prodigy."

"I am not a prodigy in the way of swords."

"Let me guess, you learned using a sword because it is easier compare to other weapons."

"Yes."

"I knew it. You are too lazy to put effort into mastering a sword."

"You're too much, when I am practising, you are saying, I am not as good as the sword cultivators. And when I acknowledged that, you are saying, I chose the sword because I am lazy. You Pea-brain, do you even know how hard it is to master any weapon? Do you even know how hard it is to master a sword?" Liu Ye scolded, he was irritated.

"Sorry, Ye, if I hurt you."

"It's okay. If you don't know about something, you can remain silent."

"But I don't think I am wrong. You picked the sword because it is easier to get started. Swear on it, if I am wrong."

"Maoxian, why are you so adamant on this strange question? If you are bored, learn and try to understand the cultivation technique, brother Qin gave you."

"I am trying to verify my guess based on my observations about you."

"Do you want to taste my brain?"

"No, why are you asking?"

"If not, why is it important for you to learn about the reason I chose a sword?"

"There's no reason."

"Open the cultivation technique, read it, ask me if you have any questions about it. I know everything about that technique."

"I already read it."

"Repetition is important. So you can understand something new."

"Repetition is also important in sword practice."

"Come and practice in my stead."

"I am injured."

"Shut your ass and keep quiet."

.

.

After practising for another half an hour, Liu Ye put down his sword.

"Do you have any questions?" Liu Ye asked Su Maoxian, who was studying the cultivation technique.

"I don't have any doubts, when I have one, I will ask you." Su Maoxian replied while looking at the cultivation technique in his hand.

"Let me listen to what you have understood about this technique, I can know if you are in the right direction." Liu Ye suggested.

"Okay." Su Maoxian accepted Liu Ye's help.

After listening to Su Maoxian, Liu Ye helped him to correct small mistakes. He had a rest while reading a novel.

.

.

"Do you want to go somewhere? It is getting boring to stay like this everyday. At least, fishing wasn't this boring." Su Maoxian said with a dull face.

"Use a rod to fish, you can use your left hand. You won't feel bored."

"That's boring. And we can't catch many fish."

"Let's go into the forest, I have to get some herbs."

"Without brother Qin?"

"Then we'll wait until tomorrow."

"Where is brother Qin now?"

"Miss Lan commissioned for a spirit herb. He went to get it."

"What's it?"

"I don't know. I didn't speak with her."

"Hey, do you know what happened between the Su family and Miss Lan? I heard rumours about a dispute between them." Su Maoxian gossiped.

"I haven't heard anything about it. How did you know about it?"

"My elder brother heard from the servants of Miss Lan's residence. It seems the Su family demanded something from them."

"What did they demand?"

"I don't know."

"Then why are you spreading this rumour? Are you too bored?"

"But it is true that the Su family went to meet with Miss Lan."

"We can't infer anything useful from it."

"Do you think their visit has something to do with the robbery in your street?"

"Are there any chances?"

"The Su family didn't dispatch men to search for the culprit, instead their family head went to meet with Miss Lan and had a dispute. The guards also didn't take any action. Don't you think there is something wrong here?"

"I will try to ask her. Do you want to find the thief?"

"Of course, I do. I want to beat him."

"Can you beat him? He's stronger than you and capable of escaping the patrol guards."

"Can you ask brother Qin to beat him?"

"He is not a thug!"

"I will beat him when I become strong. So I at least need to know him."

"I will ask her if she knows the thief."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Don't rely on me. If she refuses to speak, I won't be able to get any information from her."

"I will be grateful, if you tried."