La lluvia primaveral es como el vino, los sauces son como el humo

Capítulo 4

Yichun nodded: "Yes, you're right."

Yang Shen turned his head away, his voice even softer: "So... don't cry."

Yichun wiped her wet cheeks and sighed, "No, it's just rainwater."

Yang Shen remained silent.

Something sticky and uncomfortable was on her hands. Yichun looked down and realized that her palms were red and white. It turned out to be the face powder she had applied earlier. Now it was all soaked by the rain, and she was afraid she would look like a ridiculous face.

She quickly wiped her face with her sleeve, only to find that the makeup had stained her new dress, making a huge mess. She sighed and gave a bitter laugh: "When you're down on your luck, even drinking cold water can cause problems. This is the first time I've worn this dress. My mother is going to scold me to death."

Yang Shen brushed his wet hair behind his back, touched his nose, and suddenly said, "Senior Sister looks great today, quite different from before."

Yichun looked at him incredulously. This young man rarely said such comforting words to girls. His ears turned red, and he turned his head away, pretending to be natural.

I really didn't expect that he would be the first person to compliment my outfit.

She stood there stunned for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter—this time, a genuine laugh.

Yang Shen turned and left. He should have known better than to say anything. What a terrible reaction!

Yichun quickly grabbed him and said with a smile, "Okay, thank you, Yangshen." She suddenly felt that this thin and short boy who always covered his face with his hair looked much more pleasing to the eye, so she added, "Yangshen, you're not bad either. You'll definitely be a handsome man in the future."

Yang Shen frowned as he looked at her, suddenly regretting that he had interfered and tried to comfort her. Her nerves were thicker than an old bamboo shoot; she wouldn't be hurt at all.

"It's Yang Shen! Yang Shen! What kidney-nourishing stuff! You're so proud of pronouncing someone else's name like that?!"

He couldn't hold back any longer and exploded.

Yichun quickly corrected herself: "I'm sorry, it's sheep kidney, I'll never mispronounce it again."

Her mother was from out of town and had an accent that no one knew. Yichun had grown up with it and didn't think much of it, but to outsiders, the accent did sound very rustic.

"I can't stand this guy..." Yang Shen muttered. "No practice today, I'm leaving. You should go home too."

Yichun shook her head, took off her wet hair bun, swept it all back, and tied it tightly with a ribbon: "No, let's practice swordsmanship together. I want to find something to do."

Yang Shen gripped the wooden sword at his waist, somewhat admiring her, and said, "Alright. But we won't learn the Willow Sword Technique today. I'll practice sword moves with you, as long as you want."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he felt a gust of wind rush towards his face. He hurriedly blocked it with his wooden sword and shouted, "We haven't even reached the Golden Platform yet! You're too fast!"

Yichun's long, wet hair drew a beautiful arc behind her as she said, "Catch it, I won't hold back!"

They spent an afternoon in the peach grove practicing sword moves in the rain, and as a result, both of them developed fevers and had to stay in bed for two or three days.

When the master came to visit Yichun, she was burning up with fever and seeing stars. She respectfully offered the incense burner to him as if it were tea.

The master sighed helplessly, "Go lie down and don't move around."

While her parents were working, only her younger sister, Erniu, was at home. Her legs went weak at the sight of the master, and she didn't dare to come in to serve him tea or water. So the master poured himself a cup of cold tea, took a sip, and then disgustedly threw it aside.

"Is your fever high?" He sat on the edge of the bed, wrung out a new handkerchief to cover her forehead, and tucked the blanket in.

Yichun had a severe stuffy nose and kept shaking her head: "It's okay, it's okay, Master, I can go up the mountain tomorrow, don't worry."

The master was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Yunqing came to me to ask me to arrange a marriage with Wenjing as soon as possible, and I have already agreed."

Yichun suddenly sneezed loudly, her face covered in snot, and quickly wiped it with a handkerchief: "Oh, good, good. There's wedding wine to eat."

Is he in such a rush? She confronted him the day before yesterday, and today she receives news that he's eager to marry Wenjing. She confessed her feelings to him; it's not like she's going to eat him alive. Why is she so upset?

Did you think she would pester you relentlessly?

Seeing her calm expression, the master was slightly relieved and said, "Wenjing is still young, only thirteen years old. I plan to arrange for them to get engaged first, and then have their formal wedding when she comes of age."

Yichun didn't know what to say, so she could only force a laugh.

"Yichun, you are a good child." Master suddenly said with emotion, "That's why Master's expectations for you are much higher than for others. I hope you can become a talent, inherit the Zhanchun Sword, and make Jianlan Manor famous throughout the martial arts world. Master doesn't want you to marry and have children when you reach a certain age like ordinary children and waste your life."

Yichun couldn't hold back and sneezed again, pinching her nose as she said, "I...I'm fine, Master, I know."

“You and Yang Shen are both very hardworking, and your master is very pleased. Yang Shen has not learned much yet and is still a bit inexperienced. My energy is limited, and I may sometimes be negligent. As your senior sister, you are also half a master to him. You can give him more guidance when you have time.”

"Of course," she nodded repeatedly.

The master paused, his expression suddenly turning serious: "Yichun, do you know what kind of trials are required to inherit the Zhanchun Sword?"

"……Know."

To inherit the sword of spring, one cannot simply rely on the master's approval.

Before his death, the master's master left behind a brocade pouch containing a secret plan, outlining one task that the successor to Zhan Chun must accomplish. Only the most outstanding disciples are fortunate enough to see the plan within the pouch, and whoever completes it first will obtain Zhan Chun.

When her master said this to her, it was as if he was telling her that she and Yang Shen were the disciples who were fortunate enough to see the secret strategy. In order to inherit Zhan Chun, they had to complete a task, and whoever completed it first would inherit the title.

Yichun coughed twice and said in a hoarse voice, "Master, are you about to decide who will inherit the Spring-Slaying Sword?"

She and Yang Shen are only fourteen years old. Isn't it too early for them to inherit the family business?

The master smiled and said, "Of course, I don't want you to inherit now. I want you to be ready to go out and try at any time. Although there are masters in the manor to teach you martial arts, experience and connections cannot be taught. While you are young, it is never a bad thing to explore more."

Yichun nodded. Her master patted her on the shoulder twice, stood up, and said, "You should rest well. Once you're better, you can go up the mountain. I'm going to start teaching you the Returning Swallow Sword Technique."

Yichun was overjoyed.

The Returning Swallow Sword Technique is the most exquisite martial art of Jianlan Manor. She has long coveted it and can't wait to jump back and start learning it.

He almost completely forgot about Mo Yunqing.