Checking Everyone's Progress

A brilliant streak of blue flame from the northern horizon signaled the end of Chen Wentian's sojourn in the Martial Brilliance Continent. Ten Thousand Flower Valley rejoiced. His disciples rejoiced. Absence made hearts grow fonder. This was the case for everyone.

Chen Wentian descended to the main courtyard, Lin Qingcheng and Zhou Ziyun in tow. His other disciples stood to attention in a neat row. There was Wu Qianyu, her eyes clear and straight like a sword, never leaving him for an instant, simmering with quiet joy. He could feel every fiber of her sense on him. There was Li Yuechan, adorned with an uncontrollable, pure smile that rarely graced her normally stoic features. She wore her emotions on her sleeves and he could read her openly. There was Song Wushuang, Xu Lanyi, Su Xue, and Su Yue, all bubbling with joy as only a group of sisters could. And finally, there was Bei Yingluo, standing serenely at the end of the line, the last but definitely not the least.

"Everyone, I'm back." He declared.

"Welcome home, master!" They all said at the same time.

Their voices melded together in harmony; a beautiful song reserved only for him. He missed this, far more than he expected.

"Mmm, good! Has anything happened since Chengcheng and Ziyun left for the continent?" He asked.

Wu Qianyu stepped forward and bowed, "Reporting to master, things have been normal at the sect. Everyone has been diligently training for the upcoming Convocation of Swords and we are eagerly awaiting the start of that event."

"Good. We have a week or so to spare so let's not waste it. Since it's still early, you all can continue your usual training. I will go around and check everyone's progress. Qianyu, come with me, you're up first."

"Yes, master!"

The other dispersed around the large courtyard, pairing off to spar. Wu Qianyu walked up to Chen Wentian and waited for his instructions. But instead of saying anything, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.

"Master!" She muttered into his shoulder. "Everyone can see!"

He didn't let her go and held her against him, in full of the others. He didn't really care and savored the feeling of her softness against his chest. She said something else inaudible in protest before finally letting out a contented sigh and melting into him. She missed him just as much as he missed her.

His hug caused quite the distraction amongst his other disciples and he eventually had to stop. Faced with more than a few whispers and giggles from the audience, he let her go. She remained standing before him, head down to hide her blazing blush of a smile.

He coughed loudly which forced the other disciples to look away, "Qianyu, you wish to compete in the Convocation of Swords?"

"Mm!" She nodded.

"Okay. When I left you, you were just starting to develop the Sorrowful Sword Style. Show me how far you have come along during this time."

"Yes, master."

She took ten steps back and drew her Purple Jade Sword. Chen Wentian matched her and drew a similar slender sword.

"No need to hold back, show me what you've got."

She twirled her sword and held it above her head, pointing toward the sky, "This is the first sword, I have yet to name it."

With that, she somersaulted in the air, her sword flashing and creating purple arcs of light. Surges of sword energy swept out with every movement, mixed together with her unique aura and attribute.

The first attack was a straightforward downward slash, aimed at his head. He raised his sword horizontally to block.

Pang!

The two blades knocked against each other, neither giving way. At the moment of impact, their sword energies collided and clashed in an invisible realm. In terms of sword-attribute spiritual energy, her attack wasn't too remarkable. The basis of her power was still Dugu's Tenth Sword and her own contribution couldn't be measured.

However, a split second later, Chen Wentian felt a sharp pain all along his arm. It was unexpected and caused him to freeze. At that moment, Wu Qianyu followed with a second attack as her sword swung around for a side slash onto his left side.

He tried to move his sword to block but his hand felt numb and sluggish, the result of her unique spiritual energy within his body. If it was an ordinary cultivator at the Spirit Initiate Realm, they would have definitely found it difficult fighting against this strange spiritual energy. For an immortal at his level, it took nothing more than a mere thought for his vastly more powerful and plentiful spiritual energy to overwhelm hers.

Ka!

Their swords met again with a similar result, then again. After a few more exchanges, her attack pattern came to an end and she retreated diligently.

Wu Qianyu stowed her sword behind her back with a disappointed expression, "Master, I apologize. Disciple is incapable and hasn't developed the Sorrowful Sword Style properly."

Chen Wentian laughed, "Nonsense, your attack was quite surprising and powerful. I like it. It has a great surprise factor. But if your opponent expects it, then it has some downsides due to its simplicity. Let's work on that."

They continued sparring for a while. She showed off everything she had developed. He acted as the living practice dummy, letting her go all out to test the limits of her sword.

Wu Qianyu was an experienced swordswoman but she was far from being an expert. While Chen Wentian didn't specialize in swords, he knew enough from various high-level sword arts to guide her down the right path. He was far more qualified than even an average sword immortal as he had a deep spring of knowledge from the various souls he absorbed.

Pang! Pang!

Their swords met over and over. She hacked and slashed She twirled and pranced around him. He matched her movements, usually blocking but sometimes squeezing in a counterattack here or there.

Clad in a form-fitting white practice robe, she looked stunning as she gave him everything she had. His eyes were glued to her body, her swaying hips, her strong thighs, her heavy breasts that bounced up and down hypnotically. His thoughts couldn't help but wander as he imagined all the things he wanted to do to her.

Sha!

"Ow!" Wu Qianyu cried out suddenly and fell on her butt.

Her sword had expectedly been overwhelmed. In a moment of poor concentration, she didn't dodge in time and suffered a slash on her arm. Her practice robes suffered most of the damage and she was left with only the tiniest of cuts on her skin which drew a single drop of blood.

Chen Wentian quickly knelt beside her and held her close, "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

She looked up at him a little strangely. She knew she was okay and he should have too. Such small wounds would heal perfectly and were an expected part of sparring. But unbeknownst to her, he was thinking of other things already. The reason he had slipped up was also because of those thoughts.

"I should get that wound treated or else it could scar. Hang on." He said, lifting her into the air.

Against her soft complaints, he flew off with her towards her room, sent off by knowing smiles and giggles from the other disciples.