Une demi-vie de musique et de maquillage

Chapitre 26

Baili Liushang glanced at her. "I was the same age as you back then. What did you expect me to know?"

Jiang Shemi remained noncommittal, but gestured with his hand in an invitation, saying, "Your beloved disciple is inside. You may come in or leave as you please."

Baili Liushang nodded in greeting and strode inside. Seeing Tan Huan fast asleep, he smiled. His room was still stained with blood; he'd originally intended to ask her to clean it up. But then he thought, "Never mind, I won't tease her anymore. She looks quite sweet sleeping; I'll let her off this time." Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly heard her utter, "Baili Liushang..."

Baili Liushang stopped and couldn't help but look back. He saw that Tan Huan's brows were tightly furrowed, as if he was enduring something. He held his breath and waited for a while, and finally, that mouth opened again, "I hate it the most."

I hate Baili Liushang the most.

The great demon stood there for a long while, the air unusually silent. Suddenly, a sinister smile appeared on his lips. What a coincidence! If he had left a little earlier, he wouldn't have heard such amusing ramblings in his sleep. Such an honest disciple was too rare. How should he "reward" her? Wake her up to clean the room? No, no, that would be too easy on her.

He was racking his brains for a wicked idea when he saw Tan Huan's tightly furrowed brows slowly relax, his lips move slightly, and tears streamed straight down his cheeks. "I want to go home..."

Baili Liushang's smile vanished abruptly, and his gaze hardened.

"I want to go home..." The same words repeated in her sleep, tiny tear tracks spreading across the corners of her eyes, leaving a damp patch on the pillow. Tan Huan unconsciously clutched the blankets tightly, as if trying to hold onto something.

Baili Liushang sat on the edge of the bed and directly pressed her pressure points to knock her unconscious. Seeing her fall into a deep sleep without moving, he sighed deeply. What a troublesome disciple. Soon, Baili Liushang came to his senses. Why did he press her pressure points? Wasn't he supposed to wake her? He sighed again helplessly, too lazy to think about it anymore. He lifted the covers and lay down next to Tan Huan, pinching her chubby cheek. "You brat, how dare you say 'I hate you the most'?" Hmph, he had no problem with that. There were plenty of people in the world who disliked him; let alone such a simple word as "dislike," there were countless people who hated him. However, since he had overheard her saying bad things, she could only blame her bad luck.

As the night deepened, Tan Huan felt a warm, soft blanket beside her in her sleep. Her body unconsciously moved closer to the heat source, and she sighed contentedly. She stopped having nightmares and slept soundly.

Baili Liushang suddenly felt that this newly recruited apprentice resembled the cat he used to have—an adorable little white kitten that would occasionally show its claws and sometimes act cute… He had enjoyed playing with it for a long time, but unfortunately, it had fallen into the pond and drowned. Thinking of this, Baili Liushang glanced at Tan Huan. Now that he was raising a person, it shouldn't be so easy for him to die, right?

As sunlight streamed through the window in the early morning, Tanhuan's consciousness began to awaken, but her eyes remained reluctant to open. She hadn't slept this well in a long time, and she didn't want to get up. She hugged the blankets tightly to her chest, then was instantly shocked—

This...this feel? Tan Huan opened her eyes, trembling slightly, completely stunned and dumbfounded. "Master..."

Baili Liushang smiled broadly, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Tan Huan was startled and immediately let go after regaining her senses. She shook her head repeatedly to deny any involvement, "Master, I don't know what happened. I don't know why I was sleeping next to you! Really, I don't know anything!" She insisted that she knew nothing.

Baili Liushang was amused by her attitude. "Hehe, I'm the one sleeping next to you." He was very satisfied with her panicked attitude, reached out and patted her cheek, and said gently, "What are you afraid of?"

Tan Huan got goosebumps all over. She was afraid of his strange attitude. "Master, Master... how come you slept with me?" She was the one who was taken advantage of, so why was she begging for forgiveness?

"Oh, I came to see you yesterday, but I suddenly felt sleepy and just lay down," Baili Liushang said frankly. Halfway through his sentence, his eyes flashed as he slowly stared at Tan Huan. The hairs on this disciple's body stood on end. How amusing. "Speaking of which, you talked in your sleep yesterday. Do you know what you said?"

Did she curse him in her dream? Tan Huan asked cautiously, "Please enlighten me, Master."

Baili Liushang smiled and said, "You said you like me the most."

Tan Huan's expression froze, his instinct immediately kicking in, "Impossible!"

Why is it impossible?

Tan Huan stiffened even more. "I..." she lowered her eyes in pain and said against her will, "I have nothing but respect for my master. Liking him is too shallow and does not deserve my deep respect for him."

Baili Liushang laughed loudly, "Little liar." After a pause, he said slowly, "I was just talking nonsense, but you did talk in your sleep. You said you hate me the most."

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Tan Huan breathed a sigh of relief, but the second half immediately brought her breath back up. She was very likely to say that. What should she do? Admit it or deny it? She clearly remembered nothing, so why was she being tortured like this as soon as she woke up? "Master, don't take sleep talk seriously."

Baili Liushang looked at her with a half-smile, "What if I take it seriously?"

The more she avoided the topic, the happier he seemed to be. Tan Huan didn't want to be teased anymore. Considering she would be spending a very long time with Baili Liushang, continuing to be so timid wouldn't be good for her future. She abandoned her evasive approach, straightened her back, and asked directly, "What does Master intend to do?"

Baili Liushang chuckled lightly, "Of course I have to punish you. Disrespecting your master is a serious crime, but disrespecting me is an even more serious crime." His expression was cold as he slowly said, "Kneel down."

Tan Huan paused for a moment, then knelt down expressionlessly.

"Have you gotten bolder?" Baili Liushang looked down at her. "You dare to ask me that?"

Tan Huan said, "I'm not asking a question in return. I'm just asking for Master's opinion. It's only right for a master to punish his disciple. Let alone a mere punishment, even if Master wanted my life, I would have no complaints."

"What complaints can a dead person have?" Baili Liushang said calmly. "You didn't resist simply because you were afraid. You lacked the strength to resist, so you had no choice but to obey. That's all there is to it, nothing serious." He paused, then laughed. "Tell me, how should I punish you?"

"...Master can make the decision himself."

Baili Liushang really started to think about it carefully. "Why don't you start pulling out your own hair now, one strand at a time, until you've pulled it all out? Do it while kneeling down, and then stand up after you've pulled it all out."

Without batting an eye, Tan Huan began plucking her hair. Being bald wasn't so bad; hair would grow back. Pei Jin wasn't around anyway, so looking ugly didn't matter. However, it seemed she'd have to kneel for days and nights without sleep or food, which was much harder to endure. Her scalp ached like it was being pricked with needles.

Baili Liushang asked curiously, "Aren't you worried that being bald will look bad?"

Tan Huan said, "Compared to other matters, Master's orders should be carried out first. Isn't that what Master means?"

Baili Liushang raised an eyebrow and smiled, casually flicking his right hand. A powerful aura swept towards Tan Huan, freezing him in place. "Forget it, I don't want to see a bald guy running around in front of me every day, it'll make me sick. How about we change the punishment?"

Tan Huan was seething with anger, but had nowhere to vent it. Should she provoke this great demon before her? That would only lead to a more gruesome and swift death. "Master, what else do you want to do?"

Baili Liushang pondered, "How about I lock you in a room full of rats? Let's see if you can kill the rats faster, or if the rats can bite you faster?"

Tan Huan frowned in disgust. "Master keeps rats in Zhengyang Palace? And a whole room full of them?"

Baili Liushang laughed heartily, "You don't like rats? Then we can change to other things, cockroaches, poisonous snakes, centipedes, leeches, you choose one, Huan'er, which one do you like?"

Tan Huan honestly replied, "I don't like any of them."

"Master." Luo Yi's voice suddenly appeared outside the door, interrupting Baili Liushang's interest. "Excuse me, I came straight in." The door opened in response, and Luo Yi's beautiful purple eyes swept around the room before she spoke, "This morning, I couldn't find Master, and I didn't expect you to come to Lord Jiang's place. Master, if you're so willful, where will Lord Jiang sleep?"

"She keeps a bunch of male lovers; there are plenty of rooms for her to sleep in," Baili Liushang said nonchalantly. "What do you want from me?"

Luo Yi sighed and said helplessly, "It seems that Master has forgotten his promise to his disciple. You promised me last time that you would personally spar with me this morning. I have been looking forward to it for so long, shouldn't Master keep his promise?"

"It seems there is such a thing..." Baili Liushang murmured softly, then turned his gaze back to Tan Huan's face and smiled, "Huan'er, we are both disciples, I can't show favoritism. How about this, I'll release your pressure points first, and if you can exchange more than twenty moves with me, then I'll forget what you said in your sleep yesterday, how about it?"

Tan Huan's eyes lit up. "Okay."

"So, what if you can't even withstand twenty moves?" Baili Liushang said leisurely.

Tan Huan blinked. "That would be too embarrassing for Master. In order to restore Master's reputation, shouldn't you teach me more diligently? I will also practice martial arts more diligently."

Baili Liushang laughed, "You really are someone who never wants to suffer a loss." He raised his hand to release her pressure points, "If you can't withstand twenty moves, then you'll have to give your master a gift."

Tan Huan raised her eyes, "Is there anything Master wants?"

"Don't worry, I won't let you give it to me right now. With your current martial arts skills, you're not even qualified to die. At least we'll wait until you've improved your skills before we make this gift." Baili Liushang didn't keep us in suspense and said directly, "I've disliked the Pei family for a long time. In a few years, when you're strong enough, cut off a Pei family member's head and bring it back to me. Whether it's Pei Gumo or Pei Jin, you can choose one to take down."

Tan Huan's pupils contracted sharply, and he slowly lowered his head. "Why does Master need to use my hand? With Master's martial arts skills, you can do this yourself."

“But I’d much rather see you struggling while carrying out the plan than do it myself.” Baili Liushang chuckled maliciously. “In a few years, while you might not surpass Pei Gumo, you’ll still be qualified to go toe-to-toe with Pei Jin. Or, to be on the safe side, you could just pick any helper from Zhengyang Palace… Heh, in a few years, Pei Jin might already have a son. Perhaps it would be easier for you to target his son then…”

Tan Huan's face grew increasingly dark, his expression stiffening. "Master, have you had enough?"

“I’m serious.” Baili Liushang sneered. “Remember, I’m giving you twenty moves. Everything depends on your performance. It’s okay if you can’t do it. I’m not asking you to kill anyone right now. A few years is enough to temper your character. When the time comes, you won’t be in so much pain when you make a decision.”

Tan Huan took a deep breath. "If you really want to spar with me, shouldn't Master teach me something first?"

Baili Liushang said considerately, "That's right, it's time to teach you something." He reached out and gently stroked Tan Huan's eyes, a mocking glint in his eyes. "Can't you learn many martial arts techniques after seeing them only once? Fine! I'll spar with Luo Yi first, and you watch carefully from the side. Your teacher wants to see how much you can actually learn!"

Luo Yi's skills were exceptional; his solid foundation, agile and varied techniques, and abundant internal energy made him appear flawless. Tan Huan had to admit he was no match for his senior brother. With a light tap of his foot, Luo Yi leaped several meters into the air, his sword flashing, his attacks relentlessly focused and leaving no openings. This was no ordinary sparring match, nor was it any form of instruction; Luo Yi showed no mercy, attacking with all his might, targeting every vital point of his opponent.

However, from beginning to end, Baili Liushang's feet did not move once. He remained calm and composed, his breathing steady, and he deflected all the attacks with just his hands.

He held his breath, lost in pleasure.

Chapter Fourteen: Martial Arts Life

Although the demon before him was a twisted, vicious, capricious, and universally despised individual, his martial arts skills were undeniably flawless. Tan Huan stared intently at the fight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, overwhelmed with excitement. Everything has its pros and cons; living with such a person was less than ideal, but having him teach martial arts was a stroke of luck.

Baili Liushang suddenly increased his strength, and after knocking Luo Yi back with a palm strike, he frowned slightly. "Luo Yi, last time we fought, you couldn't make me move an inch. Why is it still the same this time?"

Luo Yi's hair was completely wet, and her purple eyes shone brightly in the sunlight. She smiled and said, "This shows that Master is progressing faster than his disciple."

Baili Liushang snorted, "Judging from your expression, I know you have a backup plan. Don't waste my time; I'm still waiting to spar with your junior sister."

Luo Yi glanced at Tan Huan and sighed, "Master, not everyone is as strong as me. You bully your newly accepted disciple like this. Aren't you afraid she won't be able to take it and will break down?"

Baili Liushang smiled meaningfully, "I have a lot of confidence in Huan'er. If you can handle it, how could she not?" He paused, "Stop talking nonsense and just make your move. Show me your strength."

Luo Yi smiled, put her hands at her sides to finish her stance, and casually wiped the sweat from her face. "Master, if I can help you move your feet this time, could you give me your treasured bamboo-patterned sword?"

Baili Liushang laughed, "I knew it! Why did you so readily challenge me to a duel? Luo Yi, have you been eyeing that sword for a long time?"

Luo Yi nodded frankly, "Yes." He smiled and said, "Actually, you can't blame me. Master, even though you didn't move your feet, your strength didn't seem to decrease much. Master, did you train specifically for this?"

Baili Liushang said, "I used to worry about going into qi deviation and crippling my legs while practicing, so I practiced how to make moves without moving my legs. I don't usually need to use it, but now I'll use it to undermine your confidence."

Luo Yi smiled wryly, leaning forward to lower his center of gravity. "Then, this disciple will not stand on ceremony." As soon as he finished speaking, he lunged diagonally towards Baili Liushang, his longsword sweeping across Baili Liushang's legs. Baili Liushang calmly struck down with a palm, the force of the blow causing Luo Yi's longsword to hum, and a murderous aura swirled in the courtyard, startling birds into flight.

Luo Yi was pinned down and couldn't move, his body retreating rapidly. He had lost in the same way last time they sparred. He had thought he could at least touch his master's body, but unexpectedly, his master's internal energy had become increasingly refined, and his palm strikes were far stronger than before.

Baili Liushang was getting impatient. "Luo Yi, I'll give you three more moves. If you can't make me move within three moves, then you can forget about that bamboo-patterned sword."

Tan Huan's blood boiled at the sight, and he couldn't resist trying it himself. As Luo Yi attacked again, Tan Huan subtly dodged, suddenly drawing his Lone Dust Sword and thrusting it towards Baili Liushang's crown. Suddenly attacked from both sides, Baili Liushang frowned, shifted his feet, and used the momentum to leap several dozen meters away. But before he could land, Tan Huan's Lone Dust Sword struck again, still aimed at his crown. Baili Liushang didn't dodge, but instead met the sword with his bare hands. He gripped the blade, Tan Huan gripped the hilt, neither willing to let go.

Baili Liushang's internal strength far surpassed Tan Huan's; with just a little effort, he caused blood to flow from Tan Huan's tiger's mouth. Just as he was about to snatch the Lonely Dust Sword, Luo Yi attacked from the side while he was distracted, her sword strike fierce. Baili Liushang sighed, forced to release his grip, his right hand slashing across his chest, the air itself seeming to pierce through, the force of his palm forcing both of them to retreat.

"You two are working together quite well; it's hard to believe this is your first time collaborating," Baili Liushang said with a half-smile. "But, is this considered cheating?"

“Of course not.” Luo Yi said matter-of-factly, “Master only asked me to move your feet, but he didn’t say I couldn’t ask for help.”

Baili Liushang glanced at Tan Huan with a smile, "Did you plan this?"

Tan Huan said slowly, "I think my senior brother and I have similar goals. He wants you to move your legs, while I want to withstand twenty moves from Master. One person can't do it alone, but the two of us have a good chance of winning if we work together. Since that's the case, I certainly can't waste such a good opportunity."

Baili Liushang laughed loudly, proudly saying, "As expected of my disciple, you are indeed extraordinary."

Luo Yi refused, saying, "Master is too kind."

Baili Liushang beckoned with his finger, "Then let's see. It's fine if the two of you attack at the same time. Let me see your strength. However, I won't hold back. Don't complain if you get hurt."

Tan Huan and Luo Yi exchanged a glance, then moved to Baili Liushang's side like two bolts of lightning. Their attacks were perfectly synchronized; one aimed for the neck, the other for the heart, and if one move wasn't enough, they'd strike again. Dust billowed on the ground, the clanging of swords trembled in the air. Baili Liushang's movements were methodical, maintaining the upper hand, but his expression was now much more serious, his eyes fixed intently on the two.

The sunlight was soft, and the leaves of the trees in the yard swayed gently.

Time flows slowly, leaving invisible and intangible marks on every move.

With a thud, the Lonely Dust Sword spun in mid-air before finally falling to the ground. Baili Liushang kicked the Lonely Dust Sword away from Tan Huan's hand and slapped Luo Yi's shoulder with his right palm. Looking at his two disciples' tattered appearance, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Not bad, you actually lasted for one hundred and two moves. Luo Yi, your skill has indeed improved. The Bamboo Pattern Sword is in my study, go and get it yourself."

Luo Yi lay helplessly on the ground, his internal energy in disarray. Baili Liushang had shown no mercy in that palm strike; he felt as if the bones in his shoulder were about to shatter. "I'm too weak now, I'll go later."

Baili Liushang's gaze shifted to Tan Huan's face, making her shudder. Looking wasn't enough; he slowly walked up to her, even crouching down to be at her eye level. "Huan'er, how much have you learned?"

Tan Huan said, "Master's moves are hard to learn just by watching." After a moment of silence, she added, "Master, you like to analyze moves, don't you?" Baili Liushang's moves had no discernible pattern; the previous movement was completely disconnected from the next, clearly two different techniques. Just like her, she and Baili Liushang both enjoyed analyzing moves.

Baili Liushang chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll teach you properly starting tomorrow. Consider today a win for now."

Tan Huan glanced at him, then slowly looked away, her tone slightly dissatisfied, "Just for the time being?" He clearly said it would only take twenty moves, but now it's already one hundred and two moves, and he still calls this a "just for the time being" victory?

Baili Liushang stared at her, his expression inscrutable. "Hmm?" He spoke with a light, nasal tone, his gaze fixed on her face. His voice was neither warm nor cold. "Say it again."

Tan Huan choked, lowered his head dejectedly, and muttered, "I didn't say anything..."

"Say it again," Baili Liushang repeated expressionlessly.