Under the scorching sun, a cold bronze long sword hung in mid-air, its blade trembling as if held by a septuagenarian.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a septuagenarian holding the sword, but a valiant young lady. At this moment, her long hair was disheveled, her forehead covered in sweat, with beads occasionally sliding down her cheeks and falling into the sandy soil beneath her feet.
Not far from her, two old men sat under the eaves, playing chess and drinking tea, looking quite cheerful.
In the weather of August and September, although summer was almost over, it was still hot. Standing under the sun felt like one's skin was on fire, extremely uncomfortable.
"Forest!" Gu Nan gritted her teeth and swung the long sword out, the blade emitting a humming sound as it was thrust out, hovering in mid-air.
This morning, she had already thrust her sword thousands of times, and even with her extraordinary physical strength, she felt a bit overwhelmed.
Her hands felt like they were wrapped in dozens of pounds of rocks, too heavy to lift, let alone thrust the sword.
"The force is not enough, and the speed is also much worse. Do it again."
The old man in white, sitting in the cool shade, looked at the chessboard without lifting his head and said.
Just by hearing the hum of Gu Nan's sword thrust, he could tell how her sword thrust was.
He pursed his lips: "I say, Gu girl, you're getting worse with each thrust."
Try thrusting thousands of times yourself!
Hearing the old man's words, Gu Nan rolled her eyes.
But then she thought about it, he probably could do it.
So she didn't look for trouble, gritted her teeth, and lifted her already somewhat swollen wrists to continue thrusting the sword.
This old guy said he was teaching swordsmanship, but the first week only had Gu Nan practicing basic skills. Apart from that, she hadn't seen any swordsmanship or sword moves.
So, if it's just like this, can't I practice by myself? Why did you hire an old man to sit here all day!
No matter how much Gu Nan suffered in the courtyard.
Inside the house, Bai Qi and Ghost Valley sat together, one in white and the other in black.
Each holding a black and white piece, they leisurely played chess.
Bai Qi gently placed a piece into the game, looked up at Ghost Valley who was looking outside, and with a smile, he stroked his beard.
"Ghost Valley, how is my apprentice?"
Ghost Valley then turned his head, raised his eyebrows, looked at Bai Qi's complacent appearance, and shook his head helplessly, whispering, "A martial arts prodigy. Ordinary people, after thrusting a thousand times, can no longer continue, otherwise the sword edge will be powerless and may hurt their foundation."
"Your apprentice has already thrust thousands of times, and the sword edge is still sharp, with a fierce wind. It's just a lack of strength. Rare."
He said, placing a white piece on the board.
"I have observed these days, you teach her military strategy. Although still naive, she has the demeanor of a great master."
"Even if you choose a thousand times, it is hard to find such a good piece of wood."
He sighed and suspiciously looked at Bai Qi: "I say Bai Qi, this girl, is she really someone you casually picked up on the street last time?"
"Hey." Bai Qi immediately puffed out his beard: "What do you mean I picked her up? She willingly bowed to me as her master. Why, this is a gift from heaven, why do you say it so ugly."
After saying that, he placed a black piece.
"If it weren't for you being the first to step forward." Ghost Valley took another look at Gu Nan outside.
"I would say I must take her back to our Ghost Valley, where she can learn to govern and may be able to help the world in the future."
Hearing Ghost Valley say this, Bai Qi was not happy and quickly turned Ghost Valley's head.
"What are you looking at, what are you thinking? My apprentice! Old lecher."
"She will become a great general of our Qin in the future."
Ghost Valley resentfully turned his head, glanced at Bai Qi, and said, "Narrow-minded."
"Is the world big, or is Qin big?"
"Of course, our Qin can settle the world, and then Qin will be the world." Bai Qi smiled and said confidently.
Ghost Valley didn't reply, looked at Bai Qi, lowered his head, and started playing chess.
The room became quiet again, and the two were silent for a long time.
Ghost Valley then said again, "You are still stubborn."
Bai Qi still smiled.
"One person cannot settle the world, but one country can."
·
"You really think this Qin..."
Ghost Valley didn't finish, but Bai Qi had already waved his hand, interrupting him.
"It's not about what I think of Qin, but there must be a country to settle this chaotic world."
·
"Bai Qi, I still have to tell you, there are women in military affairs, but there are very few women as generals."
"I have my own plans."
Ghost Valley picked up a cup of tea next to the chessboard, took a sip, whether it was a sigh or a feeling.
He said quietly, "I hope so."
·
The sun outside the house was high, and Gu Nan was so tired that she was almost fainting, so she naturally couldn't hear what Bai Qi and Ghost were talking about in the house.
She just thrust her sword stiffly again and again.
At this time, Xiao Lu came in.
"Xiao Lu, Xiao Lu, save me, help me."
Gu Nan pressed her voice and called urgently.
Xiao Lu looked at her girl's sweaty appearance and smiled with her hand over her mouth: "Miss, Xiao Lu has no way, this is the master's order. Miss, you should just obey, the master is also for your own good."
"And, I'm here to report."
"Report?" Gu Nan was taken aback: "Report what, can there be guests in this house?"
Bai Qi's home could be considered desolate, and there might not be a guest in a month. What's there to report.
"I heard that it's the teacher for the young lady's horsemanship."
Xiao Lu said with a smile, and without waiting for Gu Nan's face to turn black, she left in a flash.
Gu Nan almost fell to the ground, her hands trembling.
Well, I can't handle this one yet, and here comes another one.
God, I don't want to fight a war, what's the use of learning these.
——
"Master, Mr. Wang Jian is here."
Xiao Lu bowed respectfully and stood beside Bai Qi, saying respectfully.
"Oh, he's here." Bai Qi stroked his beard and chuckled: "In the future, he doesn't need to report when he comes, it's troublesome, just come in directly."
"Yes, master." Xiao Lu smiled and pursed her lips. She originally said that her master didn't care about these things, but Mr. Wang Jian insisted on her reporting before he would come in.
Xiao Lu retreated, and before leaving, she also smiled mischievously at Gu Nan who was gritting her teeth.
I can't do it, I have to teach this girl a lesson later, or she will really not take me seriously.
Gu Nan raised her sword with trembling arms, but she didn't dare to put it down without Bai Qi's instruction.
Don't look at the old man, he always smiles, but when he is strict, his eyes, just looking fixedly like this, Gu Nan dare not speak at all.
Soon, a young man in a horse-riding suit came in.
Seeing Gu Nan standing in the yard practicing sword with sweat all over his head.
At this moment, Gu Nan's hair was a bit messy, sticking to her face with sweat, but it had a different kind of beauty.
He couldn't help but look at it fixedly.
Finding Wang Jian who was staring at himself in a daze, Gu Nan's face was already green.
Is this watching my joke, asshole!
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he smiled stiffly: "Mr. Wang Jian, you're here."