His words snapped Song Qingxing back to his senses. He realized that Song Changsheng was completely defenseless before him; with just a slight movent, the tip of his sword would pierce his heart.
But at this mont, he no longer had any desire to thrust the sword.
Watching Song Qingxing withdraw his Long Sword, Song Changsheng slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing his true features. He said softly, "I thought you’d be angry, but you’re calr than I imagined."
"What was that?" Sheathing his Long Sword, Song Qingxing quietly stared at Song Changsheng, his cold face devoid of any other emotion.
"Consider it a test. Your performance far exceeded my expectations, especially those last two sword strikes. One grazed my skin, and the other nearly pierced my heart. Did you co up with those yourself?"
Song Changsheng folded his arms and looked at him with curiosity. Although he had never practiced Swordsmanship himself, he had reviewed all of the family’s Swordsmanship techniques in order to guide Song Qingxing’s training and had never seen these two strikes.
"Yes," Song Qingxing replied coolly, seemingly accepting the explanation of it being a test.
"The first strike is called Sword One. What’s the na of the second one?
Compared to Sword One, the second strike is more powerful but less refined. It’s not perfected yet, is it?" Seeing him confirm his guess, a surge of intense interest welled up in Song Changsheng.
He wasn’t just talking baselessy; the only reason he had been able to counter the second strike was because it still had a flaw.
"Sword Two."
Song Qingxing was as terse as ever, and his naming convention was just as simple and direct. However, he didn’t answer Song Changsheng’s second question.
"Very good."
Song Changsheng didn’t press further, just nodding with a pleased expression.
At this mont, Song Qingxi finally snapped out of her fear. Just a mont ago, she had truly believed Song Qingxing was about to die, never expecting this outco.
Looking at Song Changsheng’s handso face, she felt the urge to punch it for the first ti in her life.
"Uncle, don’t you think you owe Xi’Er an explanation?" Song Qingxi’s small face wore a bright smile, and her voice was soft and gentle.
But for so reason, Song Changsheng felt a chill on his face. He said, feeling a bit guilty, "I just wanted to see if you two have been slacking off in your training. You’re both doing great, haha."
The mont he said that, the smile on Song Qingxi’s face vanished. She said angrily, "What kind of Elder are you? You went too far!"
"Er..." Song Changsheng gave an embarrassed laugh. "But no one got hurt, right?"
"Hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore!"
Song Qingxi stomped her foot in anger, then turned her back on Song Changsheng, summoned her Paper Kite, and flew off toward Little Cyan Mountain.
"Sigh, she seems really angry this ti." Song Changsheng couldn’t help but facepalm. ’I should’ve known to test him when she wasn’t around.’
Watching Song Qingxi’s departing figure, a ripple of emotion showed in Song Qingxing’s eyes. He glanced at Song Changsheng and said, "I will defeat you one day."
With that, he walked back into the waterfall, practicing his Swordsmanship while enduring the imnse pressure.
"I’ll be waiting for that day, but you’re still a long way off. When you’re done, hurry back. We’re leaving for the Celestial Sword Sect tomorrow."
Song Changsheng stretched, then flew off on his sword toward Little Cyan Mountain. ’I made this ss,’ he thought, ’so I have to be the one to clean it up...’
A sage once said that a woman’s heart is as fickle as the ocean.
Song Changsheng couldn’t agree more, just as he couldn’t figure out why Song Qingxi was so angry.
’I just hid my identity to test them a little. Was it really that big of a deal?’
’Song Qingxing only lost a strand of hair, while I got my shoulder pierced by his sword. If anything, I’m the victim here!’
Although his resentnt was enough to sustain an Evil Sword Immortal, Song Changsheng was still trying to figure out how to placate her. He had no choice; he had promised his elder brother he would take good care of her.
The thought of Song Changming sent a slight ripple through Song Changsheng’s heart. It had been ten years since they last parted ways.
According to the Grand Elder, he had accepted an external assignnt to guard a spirit stone mine, but he disappeared shortly after, vanishing into thin air without a trace.
The family had sent people to search for him but found no clues. If his Soul Lamp hadn’t still been lit, the family would have suspected he’d been eaten by a Demon Beast.
For now, all they could confirm was that he was still alive; they had no other leads.
Song Qingxi was only six years old when they received the news, and Song Changsheng hadn’t told her.
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed. The little girl had grown up. She had never asked him about it, but perhaps she had already sensed sothing, though she never let it show.
Song Changsheng suddenly understood sothing. Over the past decade, he had rarely had any free ti. The one who had always been there, living with her, was Song Qingxing. Two lonely souls had relied on each other to get through these ten years.
Though they were not blood siblings, the bond between them had long surpassed that of re relatives.
Today, in order to stimulate Song Qingxing’s potential to the fullest, his final strike had indeed carried killing intent. In the face of death, Song Qingxing had been terrifyingly calm.
But in the end, he still revealed a flicker of unusual emotion.
This proved that Song Qingxing wasn’t an emotionless machine; he had a "heart." This was good news for both him and the family.
His test had received a satisfactory answer at that mont.
But in the process, he had overlooked soone’s feelings.
His strike had not only made Song Qingxing feel the aura of death but had also made Song Qingxi feel despair—the despair of seeing her emotional pillar collapse.
After all, she was too lonely, and Song Qingxing was one of the few family mbers she had left.
’That’s probably why she was angry.’
After realizing this, Song Changsheng’s heart filled with guilt. ’I really did go too far this ti...’
Song Qingxi sat by the lake, hugging her knees. The cool moonlight spilled over her, stretching her shadow out long.
She stared at the lake’s surface, lost in a daze.
Song Changsheng walked over and sat down beside her.
She imdiately scooted away, turning her face to the side.
Song Changsheng placed a hand on her soft hair, ruffling it gently just as he did when she was a child. He said softly, "I was wrong this ti. I promise you, it won’t happen again.
Uncle has to apologize. I’ve been too busy these years and I’ve neglected you. I’m sorry."
Song Qingxi’s body trembled almost imperceptibly, but she stubbornly kept her face turned away and said nothing. Her eyes, however, began to sting.
"Don’t worry, it won’t happen again. Tomorrow, I’m taking Qingxing to the Celestial Sword Sect, and you’re coming with us. Go and pack your things. We won’t be coming back here. We’re moving back to Vast Mist Peak. Your great-aunt has been asking about you constantly."
Song Changsheng’s heart filled with pity. All these years, because of Song Qingxing, the number of tis she had returned to Vast Mist Peak could be counted on one hand. It was indeed too lonely for her here on Little Cyan Mountain.
’I should have thought of this sooner.’
"This place... is actually quite nice," Song Qingxi said in a low voice after a mont of silence.
"But Vast Mist Peak is your ho. There are many brothers and sisters there around your age. They’ll beco good friends with you.
Before, the family was worried that soone might try to harm you, so they placed you here. But things are different now. You have the strength to protect yourselves, and the family has enough power to protect you."
Song Qingxi turned her head back, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. She had been waiting to hear those words for a very, very long ti.
She was only eight when she arrived at Little Cyan Mountain. In this unfamiliar environnt, she had always been waiting for her uncle to co and take her away.
But he never ca, so she just kept waiting.
During that ti, the Fourth Elder who had been taking care of them also left. In the end, only the two of them remained, left alone here like two children abandoned by their family.
Seeing her crystalline tears, Song Changsheng felt a pang in his heart. He said in a pained voice, "I should have realized sooner. Forgive for being late. When we return from the Celestial Sword Sect, I’ll take you ho."
Song Qingxi couldn’t hold back any longer and threw herself into Song Changsheng’s arms, crying silently.
’Eight years,’ she thought. ’I can finally go ho...’
...
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