Yun Jialan looked suspiciously at Mu Yunjin, then lowered her head to examine the Phoenix Tail Whip closely before snorting, “This isn’t just an ordinary bracelet, is it?”
“If that’s what you say, then that’s what it is,” Mu Yunjin ignored Yun Jialan and covered the Phoenix Tail Whip with her sleeve.
Yun Jialan, pleased with herself for exposing Mu Yunjin’s trick, ran back to Chu Li’s side. “Prince Ning, yesterday you said you would teach me the Hunyuan Sword Technique and the Guyuan Sword Technique. Can we start now?”
Seeing Yun Jialan’s two-faced behavior, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, waiting to watch the show unfold.
She knew Chu Li’s temperament well; he would never willingly take on such tasks. Teaching sword techniques now probably meant he had something planned for Yun Jialan.
In any case, she only needed to sit back and enjoy the show.
“The Guyuan Sword Technique is simpler to learn than the Hunyuan Sword Technique, but it’s not as exquisite. Which one would you like to learn?” Chu Li glanced indifferently at Yun Jialan.
Yun Jialan answered without hesitation, “Naturally, the Hunyuan Sword Technique. I’m not afraid of hard work at all. Even before receiving the Mysterious Silver Sword, I had heard that the Hunyuan Sword Technique’s moves are incredibly exquisite, and only a few people in the world know it! I believe if I study diligently, I’ll master it!”
She paused briefly before continuing, “Whatever it takes, I must live up to the Mysterious Silver Sword that Father Emperor bestowed upon me. After all, this is a true divine weapon!”
…
…
Yun Jialan deliberately emphasized the words “true divine,” and after speaking, she glanced at Mu Yunjin with contempt on her face.
Upon hearing this, Chu Li suddenly gave Yun Jialan a faint smile. “The Tenth Princess is truly exceptional.”
This smile, along with the compliment, almost made Yun Jialan float with joy, and the hint of delight and admiration in her heart expanded countless times.
But in the next moment, Chu Li’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Yun Jialan’s head.
“This Prince has only practiced the Guyuan Sword Technique. Since the Princess wishes to learn the Hunyuan Sword Technique, let this Prince’s guard teach you instead!”
*Pfft…*
Mu Yunjin, who had been watching the show, laughed without any restraint.
Yun Jialan’s expression froze. She wanted to speak up and change her mind, but she had already boasted so much. If she now said she wanted to practice the Guyuan Sword Technique, wouldn’t that be slapping her face?
Was Chu Li deliberately making fun of her?
No, it didn’t seem like it. He had asked her which one she wanted to choose, and she was the one who said she wanted the Hunyuan Sword Technique.
Moreover, comparing the two sword techniques, the Hunyuan Sword Technique was indeed more powerful.
Chu Li hadn’t lied to her; she had misunderstood and chosen wrong…
The more Yun Jialan thought about it, the more vexed she became. Now she truly felt like she was riding a tiger and couldn’t get off.
Glancing sideways, she caught sight of the mocking smile on Mu Yunjin’s face, which was unbearable to look at. Yun Jialan silently resolved that she would study hard and perform well for Chu Li to see.
With this thought, Yun Jialan felt much better. She smiled politely at Ding Xian, “Then I’ll trouble Guard Ding.”
Ding Xian was also helpless; how had his lord shifted this mess onto him?
“Then would the Princess please follow me to practice over here?” Ding Xian moved to the side, walking to an open space.
Yun Jialan reluctantly followed.
Mu Yunjin leaned against a tree, and seeing Yun Jialan’s frustrated face, she felt extremely satisfied.
Chu Li approached Mu Yunjin and sat down beside her.
“Do you not know that Hunyuan Sword Technique?” Mu Yunjin leaned close to Chu Li and asked in a low voice.
“I was the one who taught it to Ding Xian.” Chu Li raised his eyebrows, with a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Mu Yunjin pursed her lips in a gentle laugh. “Why do you always attract such romantic entanglements? Mu Lingzhu, Qin Muyue, and now Yun Jialan…”
Hearing this, Chu Li rubbed his forehead with a headache. “This has nothing to do with me.”
“It’s all right. I’ll help you pluck them off one by one.” Mu Yunjin curled her lips into a smile, turning her gaze toward Yun Jialan.
Chu Li turned his head to look at Mu Yunjin, and seeing the faint smile on her face, the corners of his lips also curved into a shallow arc.
Under a tree, two figures sat quietly together, beautiful and harmonious.
…
“Guard Ding, why can’t I produce sword energy?”
“Why don’t I feel the internal energy flowing as you described?”
“Why…”
Half an hour later, from the open space came Yun Jialan’s surprised and excited voice repeatedly.
Mu Yunjin had originally begun to doze off on Chu Li’s shoulder, but now Yun Jialan’s series of sharp voices completely dispelled her sleepiness.
She had no choice but to open her eyes, her gaze falling on Yun Jialan. Seeing the moves Yun Jialan was executing, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “With such amateur skills, she dares to say she knows mystical arts?”
Even street performers were better than her!
“Guard Ding, do you even know how to teach? If you can’t teach, this Princess will go choose the Guyuan Sword Technique!” Yun Jialan withdrew her sword, folded her arms, and looked at Ding Xian with her chin raised.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Mu Yunjin and Chu Li leaning against each other, which made her feel as if her heart was full of thorns, extremely uncomfortable.
Ding Xian was also helpless. He had taught the most basic moves, but unexpectedly, Yun Jialan couldn’t produce sword energy at all, and she was even turning around to blame him for not knowing how to teach. She was truly a once-in-a-millennium rarity.
But he wasn’t worried. The Princess Consort was here now, and if Yun Jialan dared to set her sights on his lord, the Princess Consort would likely be the first to take action.
Before Ding Xian could respond, Yun Jialan had already run to Chu Li, crouched down, and blinked her eyes. “Prince Ning, your guard doesn’t know how to teach sword techniques. Why don’t you teach me the Guyuan Sword Technique instead?”
“Achoo!” Mu Yunjin suddenly sneezed and sniffled.
Yun Jialan frowned and looked at Mu Yunjin with disgust. “If you’re so delicate, you shouldn’t go outside. This Princess still has a long time to learn, don’t catch a cold.”
“Huh? A long time? You haven’t even learned those few moves yet?” Mu Yunjin looked surprised.
“Hmph, easy for you to say. What do you know? If everyone were like you and could learn just by watching a few times, wouldn’t everyone in the world be a martial arts master? You’re just a sheltered woman, if you don’t understand, don’t butt in!” Yun Jialan was irritated, her eyes full of disdain.
Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, her smile widening. “I’m sorry, but this sheltered woman does understand sword techniques.”
“You understand?” Yun Jialan felt as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. She turned to look at the palace maids and eunuchs beside her. “Did you hear that? She says she understands sword techniques!”
Behind her, the palace maids and eunuchs laughed in agreement.
Hearing the laughter, Chu Li’s face darkened, and he swept a sharp, cold glance at them. The laughter immediately ceased.
“Do you want to make a bet with me?” Mu Yunjin asked with a smile.
Hearing her words, Yun Jialan naturally refused to show weakness. “Bet on what?”
“If I can truly execute those sword techniques, in the future, when you see Chu Li, you must take a detour and not cling to him.” Mu Yunjin looked at Yun Jialan with a smile, but her eyes were incredibly firm.
Yun Jialan faltered, her eyes flickering. In this moment, meeting Mu Yunjin’s gaze, she felt a sense of guilt.
This woman spoke so confidently, could she have some skill?
But she appeared weak, barely able to walk steadily, how could she possibly know sword techniques?
This woman must be bluffing her; she couldn’t fall for it.
So, Yun Jialan resolutely replied to Mu Yunjin, “Fine, but what if you lose?”
“If I lose, I’ll accept whatever punishment you decide.” As Mu Yunjin finished speaking, she had already stood up.
She was half a head taller than Yun Jialan. Looking down at her, Yun Jialan felt a shiver in her heart, vaguely sensing waves of killing intent coming toward her.
Chu Li frowned, his gaze subtly sweeping over Mu Yunjin’s abdomen. His eyes turned cold as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside. “Don’t push yourself.”
Mu Yunjin thought Chu Li didn’t believe in her abilities, and she glared at him angrily. “Who’s pushing themselves? Do you believe I could split all the trees here with one palm strike?”
“I believe you.” Chu Li was exasperated; he was truly afraid for her.
“Hmph, get out of my way!” Mu Yunjin elbowed Chu Li, sidestepped him, and walked toward Yun Jialan.
Seeing her extremely arrogant demeanor, Chu Li raised his eyebrows and simply let her go, though his concern didn’t diminish at all. His entire body became alert, his gaze fixed firmly on Mu Yunjin.
Seeing that Mu Yunjin could be so unrestrained in front of Chu Li, Yun Jialan’s jealousy intensified again. What exactly did this woman have?
“Ding Xian, give me the sword.” Mu Yunjin pointed at the sword in Ding Xian’s hand.
Ding Xian hesitated briefly, but seeing that Chu Li had no objection, he stepped forward and handed the sword to Mu Yunjin. “Be careful, Princess Consort.”
Mu Yunjin took the sword, weighing it lightly in her hand, then activated her internal energy, and the sword flashed with light.
In the next moment, her graceful figure instantly merged with the sword energy. The complex and difficult sword techniques seemed to transform easily in her hands, flowing like water, intricate and ever-changing, causing those watching nearby to exclaim in admiration.
At first, Yun Jialan pursed her lips, watching this scene in disbelief. By the end, she was involuntarily gaping, finding it hard to connect the woman executing these clean and skillful sword techniques with the delicate, seemingly about-to-faint woman from earlier.
Was this the same person?
After completing the moves, Mu Yunjin withdrew her true energy and looked at Yun Jialan. “Tenth Princess, what do you think of my sword technique?”
“You didn’t learn this beforehand, did you?” Yun Jialan questioned.
“What, are you trying to renege on our bet?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow and asked in return.
Yun Jialan bit her lip and looked away. “This Princess keeps her word and won’t go back on it!”
“But you’re so despicable. You know martial arts, yet you said you didn’t!” Yun Jialan was frustrated.
Now it was Mu Yunjin’s turn to blink innocently at Yun Jialan. “I don’t think I ever said I didn’t know martial arts, did I? You thought I looked like I didn’t know martial arts, so you assumed I didn’t…”
“Mu Yunjin, you…” Yun Jialan wanted to speak but couldn’t find words to refute.
Mu Yunjin continued to smile at her.
“So your Phoenix Tail Whip is real too?” Yun Jialan stared at Mu Yunjin’s wrist.
Mu Yunjin extended her wrist, exerted a slight force, and in an instant, a golden light flashed, and a golden whip fell into her palm.
“Heavens, it is the Phoenix Tail Whip…”