Chapter 5 Lantern Festival Part One

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed.

Lin Xin had been practicing swordsmanship in the mountains for nearly three months. In fact, compared to swordsmanship, he was more interested in the "Return to Origin" inner strength technique. However, he was disappointed to find that his physique was completely unsuitable for practicing this skill.

The "Return to Origin" technique required a very high quality of physique, and only a very few people could practice it. This was also a key reason for the decline of the Red Pine Sect.

Left with no other choice, he could only diligently practice the Red Pine Sword Technique.

Hiss!

A light mist enveloped the dojo at the mountain peak.

Dressed in a black Taoist robe, Lin Xin's long hair was tied up in a bun, and he thrust forward with a wooden sword in his hand, producing a piercing whooshing sound.

"Turn!"

He shouted lowly, and his wooden sword suddenly flashed to the left, causing another whooshing sound in the air.

The tip of the sword stabbed the same spot from a different angle.

"Not bad, you lad..." Bo Yunzi, standing not far away, widened his eyes with an incredulous look. "You started off so clumsy, how did you suddenly get it now?"

An Ying and the siblings Lu Yun were also nearby, hastily clapping their hands.

"As expected of the eldest senior brother, mastering the essence of the Pinesun Needle so quickly!"

An Ying loudly and shamelessly praised.

"Nonsense! It took this lad two months to master the Pinesun Needle, and you completed that sword technique in just a week. How can you even say that?!" Bo Yunzi said angrily.

Initially, this guy had left the sect, but deep down, he still held deep sentiments for the Red Pine Sect. He intended to return, take the secret technique, and leave; he didn't expect the sect to have dwindled to such a state. Eventually, he stayed and taught them martial arts.

He changed into a gray and white Taoist robe and came forward with a wooden sword.

"An Ying, you're up!"

"Yes." An Ying, having spent much time together, had figured out this uncle-master's tough exterior but soft heart, and she came forward with a smile, brandishing her sword.

The two took positions in the middle of the courtyard, facing each other.

Lin Xin moved aside to watch their practice.

"Watch carefully, this is the real Pinesun Needle!"

No sooner had Bo Yunzi finished speaking.

Hiss hiss hiss!!

With three crisp sounds, his wooden sword suddenly rose, splitting into three like lightning into shadows, all stabbing toward An Ying.

The three sword shadows, just before reaching An Ying, suddenly merged into one point.

Clang!!

An Ying's sword tip pushed upwards. It just reached the underside of the sword shadow, deflecting it upward and passing over her head.

"This move, Zhen Yang True! Well done!" Bo Yunzi seemed pleased and quickly withdrew and stabbed again with his sword.

This stab was extremely fast, aimed straight at An Ying's chest. It was so fast that almost no shadow could be seen.

"Uncle-master, you're picking on me!" An Ying shouted, hurriedly blocking with her wooden sword, which snapped with a crack. She also retreated several steps before managing to stabilize herself, her face briefly flushed.

"Return to Origin, third layer, haha, how's the explosive power?" Bo Yunzi shamelessly burst into laughter. "You've reached the second layer; just a bit more effort and you can be like me."

"Uncle~~~~!!" An Ying protested.

He sheathed his sword and looked toward the siblings Lu Yun.

"These two little ones, not so bright. How did the senior brother even take them up the mountain?"

Lin Xin was also speechless. The Lu siblings couldn't even get the basic steps of the Red Pine Sword Technique right, they were even worse than he had been initially. He really didn't know how they were admitted to the sect; perhaps the master had only taken them in as menial workers.

Bo Yunzi stroked his beard.

"In this world of Jianghu, there are hundreds of notable sects and thousands of gangs, and that's just the well-known ones. There are countless more unknown ones. An Ying, you are now considered third-rate among them."

"Uncle, there are so many people in the outside Jianghu world?" An Ying asked curiously, "I once heard master say that 200 li away there is a Hongying Sect, considered the most powerful experts around here. What level of expert do you think they are?"

Lin Xin also pricked up his ears to listen carefully.

This uncle-master had wandered outside for many years, and his experience was certainly much greater than that of their nominal master. It was the perfect opportunity to understand this world.

And the Lu Yun siblings were also very curious. In those days without much entertainment, tales and legends of Jianghu were the best pastime.

Bo Yunzi chuckled.

"Hongying Sect is nothing major, to be honest, in terms of experiences and what I have seen, no one in Red Pine City is stronger than me."

He paused for a moment.

"Our Red Pine City is situated next to the vast Seasonal Forest, in the Northwestern Region of the Great Yuan Dynasty. The nearest flourishing city is Yuchun City, one of the three major capitals of the Great Yuan's Northwestern regions. It is thousands of miles away from us. That is where the true prosperity lies... Other places, even near our Yuchun City, are filled with hundreds of towns like Red Pine City, scattered all over various counties and towns."

"What about the Jianghu sects?" Lin Xin interrupted to ask.

"The Jianghu sects? The greatest hero of the northwest is Yu Lin Dao Changchun, his sect is also the largest in our Northwestern Region. There are many large gangs and sects, but the closest to us is the Plum Blossom Sect, which governs five towns including Red Pine City. Even the government has to report to them for assistance when dealing with troublesome pirates," he explained.

At this point, Bo Yunzi's lips curled into a sardonic smile. He seemed quite displeased with the Plum Blossom Sect.

"So how exactly is this strength hierarchy determined?" Lin Xin pressed on.

"Strength hierarchy?" Bo Yunzi frowned. "What hierarchy? Strength is proven through combat, the more renowned your name, the stronger you are! Those who can't make a name for themselves are just weaklings."

"Ah?" Lin Xin had expected a more detailed classification, only to receive this response.

"What 'ah'? It's just like that. However, when talking about levels, we prefer to compare specific individuals. For example, someone might be considered at the level of the Plum Blossom Sect Leader, or so-and-so has fought so-and-so for several rounds without a clear winner," Bo Yunzi scoffed coldly. "In the Jianghu, no one cares about your classifications. Even if you're at the Third Layer of the 'Return to Origin' technique, if you face a ruthless person who hasn't trained in inner strength, you still have to prove yourself through fighting!"

"Well said!! Strength isn't about boasting, but about proving oneself through combat!"

Just then, a loud laugh suddenly came from outside the dojo, and a skinny man with a black headband darted through the gate, throwing out a small black object.

The black object sped towards Bo Yunzi.

"Bo Yunzi, time's up," the skinny man left these words, turned around, and briskly disappeared down the stone steps at the entrance of the gate.

Bo Yunzi caught the black object, which appeared to be a black dart with a white cloth tied around its end; he frowned slightly, pocketing the dart without a second glance.

"Alright, that's it for today. You all go back and rest, and prepare to cook," he said, leaving the words hanging before he went back to his room.

The remaining people looked at each other, curious about what was in the dart, but no one dared to inquire further since Bo Yunzi had a reputation for turning his face much too quickly.

Lin Xin had just gotten into it and was left unsatisfied by the abrupt interruption, feeling a bit itchy with curiosity.

"Senior brother, the Lantern Festival is just a few days away..." An Ying quietly approached him, whispering, her face blushing.

"Lantern Festival?" Lin Xin was momentarily startled; he remembered that he and his family had agreed he must return home every Lantern Festival.

"Senior brother... you promised to take me back with you..." An Ying's face reddened to her neck, her voice as faint as a mosquito's.

Lin Xin felt a headache coming on, Lantern Festival also known as Valentine's Day... During this time, many young ladies had the opportunity to go out, meet their lovers, where men and women had a chance to meet, much like a modern matchmaking festival, and with a not-so-small success rate.

Taking a girl home on Valentine's Day, it was obvious what would happen just by thinking with his bottom.

He secretly took another look at An Ying.

Tonight, she had changed into a white dress that highlighted her slender legs and made her skin appear even more delicate and smooth. Her hair was tied into two small buns connected by a white ribbon that cascaded down her back, reaching her waist.

Now, standing close, the outline of her delicate waist was slightly visible through the thin gauze.

With her refined face and her prominent chest, holding a Broken Wood Sword in hand, An Ying looked less like an illiterate girl from the hills and more like a heroine of righteousness in white, roaming the Jianghu.

"Pretty, right? My master's uncle gave it to me," sensing Lin Xin's examining gaze, An Ying promptly forgot her embarrassment and twirled around with her arms outstretched.

"Beautiful, you really look like a heroine," Lin Xin thought, his sense of beauty honed by modern exposure to cosmetics and photoshopped images; he found little to criticize. If it wasn't for the calluses on An Ying's hands from sword training, he might have mistaken her for a delicate, frail fairy.

"Yeah, master's uncle said it was given to him by a heroine," An Ying replied somewhat naively.

"I think he stole it..." Lin Xin thought to himself sarcastically. But he dared not voice this aloud, only pondered it silently. He had realized by now that Bo Yunzi's martial arts skills were clearly superior to those of the cheap master they had before, and having survived in the Jianghu for so long, his level was not low.

After resting a while, Lu Yun and Lu Yu had prepared the meal, and everyone gathered together to eat, only to realize that they couldn't find master's uncle, Bo Yunzi, anywhere inside the dojo.

Lin Xin had already brought his practice of the Red Pine Sword Technique, including the movements and sword strikes, to the most perfect level possible. With the help of attribute abilities, the mere chance of success was enough for him to remember that successful body memory and then turn it into a skill, which he could repeatedly practice.

This greatly accelerated his mastery of sword techniques, and in front of Bo Yunzi, he had held back at least fifty percent of his strength to avoid revealing his frighteningly rapid progress.

Just as they were about to eat and ask their master's uncle about practicing the Poisonous Sand Palm, in such a short time, Bo Yunzi was gone.

The four of them went to Bo Yunzi's room, only to see a piece of paper lying flat on the desk.

Only Lin Xin could read amongst them, so Lu Yu quickly picked up the paper and eagerly handed it to Lin Xin.

"Out on urgent business, will return in March, do not worry. — Uncle Master," Lin Xin read aloud, thinking back to the sudden appearance of the dart and the white cloth at its end. Clearly, something urgent had come up, causing Bo Yunzi to leave abruptly.

The four of them exchanged looks; they had just gotten used to having a reliable figure around, and now he had left again.

"Alright, don't worry, it's nothing. Uncle Master Bo Yunzi just went out temporarily, he'll be back in March. We just need to keep the dojo running smoothly," Lin Xin reassured them. Having been strictly trained by Bo Yunzi in swordsmanship, he was now fully accustomed to and had mastered Lin Xinru's elementary skills, gaining a wealth of combat experience.