Chapter 262: Sword Technique

Chapter 262: Swordplay

Hearing the sound, Xie Shu asked, "What happened?"

He stood up and walked to the edge of the spring, his gaze sweeping briefly before lowering his eyes. Xiao Wu was pinned against the pool wall, most of his body exposed above the water. His cold, pale skin, soaked in the hot spring, had taken on a faint pink hue, glistening like polished jade.

His neck was slender, his collarbones and shoulder blades forming graceful, smooth curves. Further down, his lean, sculpted torso was fully visible.

"..."

The sound of water splashed as Xiao Wu, seemingly realizing the impropriety, slid deeper into the water, leaving only his head above the surface.

Xie Shu, still patient, asked again, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Wu lowered his eyes. "There was a sound on the opposite bank. I didn’t know what it was."

With Xie Shu standing behind him, Xiao Wu's sense of security returned, but embarrassment soon followed. Rustling in the wild was normal, wasn’t it? Hadn’t he heard plenty while living in his thatched cottage in the Shangling Sect? When the night wind rose, the bamboo grove would whisper, and the mountains would squeeze out sharp howls—wasn’t it all just spooky sounds? Why had he panicked and called him over so eagerly?

Then, the sound of rustling bamboo leaves reached his ears. Xie Shu took a step forward, strolling to the opposite bank before suddenly laughing.

He scooped something off the ground, chuckling as he said, "Is this what the Immortal Lord was referring to?"

—It was a bamboo rat.

The clueless rat had no idea what it did to piss off Lord Wuwang. Terrified, it flailed helplessly in his grasp, its fluffy fur standing on end as it let out pathetic squealing.

"..."

The big shot of the immortal world, the current leader of the Righteous Path, had actually been frightened by a mere bamboo rat during his medicinal bath!

Xiao Wu had nothing to say.

Xie Shu examined the little creature in his hand. "The Wuwang Palace is a blessed land, so the animals here grow larger than usual. But it’s still just a small bamboo rat—it shouldn’t be able to swim across the entire hot spring to bite the Immortal Lord, hmm?"

The last "hmm" was drawn out, laced with playful mockery.

Xiao Wu: "..."

His face burned scarlet, the tips of his ears turning red. He felt as if his entire body was on fire, wishing the ground would swallow him to escape this unbearable humiliation. Since the ground wasn’t an option, the hot spring was his only escape. For some reason, Xiao Wu instinctively shrunk deeper, submerging his nose in the water.

Holding his breath, he left only the top of his dark head visible to Xie Shu.

Xie Shu sighed. "Immortal Lord, don’t drown yourself."

He released the unfortunate bamboo rat, rinsed his hands downstream, and then said leisurely, "There, the bamboo rat is gone, and the noise is resolved."

Xiao Wu: "..."

Mortified, he wanted to snap, "Shut up," but it had been him who called Xie Chunshan over in the first place. After a long pause, he could only muster a mumbled, "Th-thank you, Pharmacist."

"It was nothing. No need for thanks." Xie Shu calculated the time. "You’ve got about a cup of tea’s time left to soak. Go ahead."

As he passed by Xiao Wu, he noticed the Immortal Lord hadn’t tied up his hair. The silky black strands floated in the water, the top of his head looking irresistibly touchable.

...This was the body he had personally chosen—even the hairstyle was his doing.

On impulse, Xie Shu reached out and scrunched Xiao Wu’s hair.

The Immortal Lord froze again, two bubbles rising to the surface. The offender sauntered off like it was nothing.

Twenty minutes later, the herbal bath was completed.

Xie Shu once again veiled his face with silk, took Xiao Wu's clothes from the stone stool, and handed them to him. Xiao Wu could tie the front ribbons himself, but the back ties proved impossible. After fumbling briefly, someone reached over and took over.

Lord Wuwang remarked coolly, "If the Immortal Lord has trouble tying them, just call me. Didn’t you call me earlier to catch the bamboo rat?"

After speaking, he crossed his arms and stood aside, enjoying the sight of Lord Pingwu’s face flushing and paling.

"..."

The Shangling Sect had strict rules, and Xiao Wu had been precociously mature since childhood. While his peers were still acting out, he had already adopted an air of refined elegance—calm, noble, and composed. But now, years of cultivated composure had gone to waste. Seething with humiliation, he only wanted to cover Xie Chunshan’s mouth and snap, "Stop talking!"

During the last Immortal-Demon Grand Tournament, how had Xiao Wu not realized that the leader of the demonic sect had such a cutting tongue?

He took a deep breath and ultimately bit back his words, summoning Lord Pingwu’s dignified demeanor. "Thank you, Pharmacist. If I need help next time, I’ll ask you... May I ask, after staying in your residence for so long, am I overstaying my welcome? When should I return to the Water Prison?"

Xiao Wu knew full well that the "Pharmacist" was Xie Chunshan, but since Xie Chunshan didn’t reveal himself, he wouldn’t expose him either. He only hinted subtly that, given the "Pharmacist’s" identity, keeping Lord Pingwu detained for too long would lead to trouble.

Xie Chunshan replied, "Just a couple more days."

In two days, the temple fair events would begin—Song Xiaoyu would return, followed by Xie Chunshan forcing Xiao Wu to sever his remaining meridians and throwing Song Xiaoyu off a cliff. Amid such a tight schedule, Xie Shu still had to pose as the Pharmacist and have Xiao Wu teach him a few sword techniques.

—The schedule was so packed it rivaled Xie Shu’s back-to-back meetings in his past life.

The lord sighed to himself, lamenting his misfortune.

Wu Buke’s herbal bath was indeed effective. After returning from the hot spring, Xiao Wu’s condition improved daily, returning to his pre-qi disruption state. Xie Shu then allowed him to return to the Si You Pavilion.

During this time, Xie Shu visited twice more posing as the Pharmacist. Unable to wield a sword, Xiao Wu improvised with a dry branch instead.

He didn’t quite understand why Xie Chunshan insisted on him demonstrating swordplay. Wuwang Palace’s sword techniques were no worse than Shangling Sect’s, and the two styles were polar opposites—Shangling Sect emphasized grace and fluidity, while Wuwang Palace focused on lightning-fast, thunderous strikes. It was impossible to master both.

Was Xie Chunshan trying to find flaws in Shangling Sect’s sword techniques?

But given Xie Chunshan’s talent, he could commit sword forms to memory instantly. Years ago, they had already faced off in the Immortal-Demon Grand Tournament, and Xie Chunshan had long since grasped most of it. What was the point now?

Giving up puzzling over it, Xiao Wu demonstrated some unimportant outer sect techniques.

After years of practice, the forms were practically engraved in his mind. As Xiao Wu executed the forms with the branch, his thoughts drifted: "What if Xie Chunshan insists on seeing the inner sect techniques?"

He would absolutely refuse.

What if Xie Chunshan lost his temper and withdrew all the kindness he had shown these past days?

He wouldn’t be surprised.

Yet by the time he concluded the form and lowered the branch, Xie Chunshan still hadn’t spoken.

Xiao Wu tilted his head in puzzlement. "Pharmacist?"

Xie Shu was silently memorizing.

At Xie Chunshan’s level, mastering one sword technique unlocked them all. Though Wuwang Palace’s style differed, the muscle movements and force application were similar. After watching once and cross-referencing the Sword Manual, he had grasped seventy to eighty percent.

Hearing Xiao Wu’s voice, Xie Shu said, "Could the Immortal Lord demonstrate it once more?"

Xiao Wu: "...Very well."

Xie Chunshan still showed no intention of asking for the inner sect techniques. Xiao Wu couldn’t fathom what Lord Wuwang was planning. The man’s gaze seemed to physically weigh on him, burning against his back, leaving him unsettled.

Xiao Wu took a deep breath, his wrist flicking swiftly as the branch stirred a fierce whistling wind, performing the same sequence again.

By the halfway point of the second round, Xie Shu had already grasped it, yet he didn’t call for a stop. Instead, he stood with arms crossed, purely enjoying the display.

During game development, character animations had always been a major headache. Though professional motion-capture actors were employed, it was still just acting—not the real thing. No one in the modern era truly knew what authentic immortal sect swordplay should look like. Xiao Wu’s motion-capture actor was already among the industry’s best, yet the final product still fell short of the real artistry. But Xiao Wu was different. Though he wielded only a withered branch within the confines of Siyou Pavilion, every thrust and sweep carried the grace of drifting clouds veiling the moon and swirling winds carrying snow [1]. Watching him, Xie Shu found himself unwilling to interrupt.

Compared to the polished product of the game’s later stages, this was the Xiao Wu he envisioned. If such movements could be faithfully recreated in the game, they would undoubtedly steal the show.

Lost in thought, Xie Shu barely noticed as Xiao Wu finally lowered the branch, asked awkwardly, “Is that enough?”

Xie Shu nodded. “Enough.”

He didn’t withhold praise, saying earnestly, “The Immortal Lord truly lives up to his title as the foremost of the immortal sects. Such agile and elegant swordsmanship is truly a delight to behold—absolutely mesmerizing.”

“……”

Xiao Wu pinched the branch between his fingers, almost crushing it.

…What game was Xie Chunshan playing?

As the foremost figure of the demonic sects, Lord Wuwang’s swordsmanship was no less formidable than his own. For all his pride, Xiao Wu could hardly believe Xie Chunshan would genuinely admire them. Moreover, he was still recovering from severe injuries—his movements were lacking strength. Shouldn’t Xie Chunshan be mocking him rather than praising him?

Making him demonstrate sword forms for no apparent reason—was it truly just because the moves were “a delight to behold”?

Once wasn’t enough—he even wanted a second round?

This whole thing was weird. Xie Chunshan was treating him like some court entertainer. Xiao Wu felt he ought to be furious, yet Xie Chunshan’s tone held no mockery or disrespect—only sincere admiration, as if he genuinely adored his swordplay.

Xiao Wu couldn’t stay mad.

He had spent years mastering the sword, yet no one had ever praised him before.

As an Inner Disciple of the world’s foremost sect, excellence was expected, and failure was punished. Xiao Wu had heard plenty of reprimands from his mentors, but never a word of praise.

Not even for making his forms look beautiful.

Xiao Wu lowered the branch, mouth set in a tight line. “You flatter me.”

Meanwhile, Xie Shu circled the courtyard, picking up another branch and trying out some moves. “Immortal Lord, could you teach me… hands-on?”

“……?”

Xiao Wu was at a complete loss.

Teaching was one thing, but hands-on teaching?

These were just the most basic foundational forms—what exactly did Xie Chunshan want to learn? Was he just toying with him?

Unaware of Xiao Wu’s inner turmoil, Xie Shu attempted a casual sword flourish, consulting him whenever he was uncertain.

Though thoroughly confused, Xiao Wu bit the bullet and corrected him anyway. Each time he adjusted Xie Chunshan’s posture, his fingers brushing against the other’s wrist or skin, he jerked back like he’d been burned before stiffly reaching out again.

“Here, here, and here—these parts need attention.”

As Xiao Wu’s fingertips traced the joints, Xie Shu adjusted slightly, getting the hang of it before easing up. With concern, he asked, “Immortal Lord, your voice seems off—are you unwell?”

“……”

*No.* [1] Chinese idiom describing ethereal beauty.

Here is the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

His throat grew even tighter.

Once Xie Shu had learned enough, he kindly released Xiao Wu from the lesson, smiling and saying, "In that case, Immortal Lord, please rest well. I'll come again tomorrow to check your pulse. If there's any discomfort, be sure to tell me."

Xiao Wu: "...Alright."

He sat back in his cell, running his fingers over the bedding only to find it had all been replaced—soft silk with dense weave, a pillow warm as if freshly sunned.

This was far beyond what any prisoner should expect.

*

He sat by the bed for a long time before pulling the covers over himself, yet he couldn't sleep at all.

A few days before Xiao Wu returned to the Silent Pavilion, Xie Shu had given the order, and Xue Sui had thoroughly cleaned and tidied the place.

Xue Sui wasn't a fool—the Palace Lord's regard for Lord Pingwu was plain to see. Though he couldn't fathom why the Palace Lord insisted on confining him to the Silent Pavilion—whether for his own amusement or some other purpose—it wasn't his place to question. All he could do was ensure the pavilion was spotless, with the finest, softest bedding, guaranteeing Lord Pingwu's comfort.

A group of demonic cultivators grumbled as they pulled weeds and changed the bedding, complaining, "Palace Lord, why must we take care of Lord Pingwu?" "Yeah, exactly!" Xue Sui silenced them with a glare. "Just do as you're told!"

Otherwise, it'll cost you half your lives!

The subordinates left sulkily.

Beyond daily cleaning, Xue Sui was also given a baffling task. Palace Lord Xie had rushed to a temple fair hundreds of miles away and picked up an assortment of curious items, ordering him to arrange for someone to carry them back to Wuwang Palace.

There were puzzle toys like Luban locks and nine-linked rings, snacks like candied hawthorns and sugar-roasted chestnuts, and inexplicable storybooks and miscellanies. Xue Sui scrutinized them from every angle, half-convinced men might bear children—was Lord Pingwu about to present the Demon Palace with a little heir?

Though riddled with confusion, he carried out the task dutifully. That very night, the ever-efficient Palace Lord Xie arrived at the Silent Pavilion's door, sugar-roasted chestnuts in hand and a Luban lock tucked under his arm.

"Immortal Lord?" The youth's clear voice rang out. "I've returned from the temple fair."

Author's Note: Palace Lord Xie is very busy.