Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 33 Ning Fusang Asks for Leave

Gu Pingsheng flicked his fingers, and the remaining Xuan Tie sword on the sword rack flew into his hand.

"I will demonstrate the Southern Star Sword Technique once. You can just watch casually. Don't expect to memorize all the sword moves at once. Of course, that's unrealistic."

Zheng!
With a flick of his longsword, Gu Pingsheng made a sound as it cut through the air. His movements were fluid and graceful, and the light from the Xuan Tie sword flowed together like twinkling stars.

The crowd's gazes followed the movement of the Xuan Tie Sword, unable to take it all in.

Every time Gu Pingsheng drew his sword, it was accompanied by a chilling sword aura. His sword moved like stars, which was very mysterious. After the demonstration, everyone realized that they had not remembered anything.

No wonder Master Gu gave that special instruction before demonstrating the swordsmanship.

He had a complete grasp of everyone's abilities.

The Southern Star Sword Technique is profound and mysterious. Even with proper training, it would be impossible to learn it completely in just three years of outer sect training. For someone who has never been exposed to swordsmanship to think that they can memorize the Southern Star Sword Technique just by watching someone else's demonstration once is simply wishful thinking.

"Today, we will first learn the basic sword moves." Gu Pingsheng faced the crowd and thrust his sword straight forward, instantly creating a whistling sound in the air.

Everyone imitated him, while Gu Pingsheng, carrying his sword on his back, walked back and forth, observing everyone's posture.

Suddenly, he frowned and stared at one of them, saying, "They've rebelled."

Zhao Hong exclaimed "Ah!" and glanced left and right. He realized that his sword strikes were in a different direction than everyone else's. He blushed with embarrassment and quickly adjusted his stance.

Gu Pingsheng shook his head, stepped forward, and placed his hand on his wrist: "Straighten it, make it a straight line with your arm, don't let it hang down."

Gu Pingsheng took a few steps back, and after he was basically satisfied, he switched hands to pick up the sword and put it back on the sword rack.

He produced a piece of green bamboo and tapped it on the wrists of several students whose movements were not up to standard: "Raise it, keep it up."

"Don't let your hands shake."

"Be careful not to drop the sword; always keep it at the same level as your arm."

"Although the hilt of your sword hasn't fallen off, look where the tip has gone. Raise it a bit."

Gu Pingsheng couldn't bear to watch any longer. Green Bamboo gently raised the sword upwards. "Remember this height?"

Everyone remained in that position, their hands feeling as if they were bound with huge rocks, barely able to lift them. Gu Pingsheng finally spoke:

"Alright, let's stab you a second time."

"When thrusting with a sword, focus your power on the tip of the blade." At this point, Gu Pingsheng added, "The same principle applies when using spiritual power in combat."

He paused, then struck the student's sword with the green bamboo stick, causing the sword to slip from the student's hand and fall to the ground with a clatter.

"You must grip your sword tightly." After saying this, Gu Pingsheng used the student as an example, saying, "If you don't grip your sword tightly like this, an enemy can easily knock it away with a flick or a shake. Does that sound good to others?"

No one dared to breathe loudly, and they gripped their black iron swords tightly in silence.

Gu Pingsheng looked at the student beside him, who then quickly said, "It doesn't sound good."

"..."

"Pick up the sword."

Only then did the student realize Gu Pingsheng's meaning, and he stepped forward, picked up the sword, and thrust it again.

"The sword strike wasn't powerful enough, thrust again."

Shi Zhouyun was puzzled and muttered under his breath, "Does Master Gu have eyes in the back of his head? How could he know this?" "I can still tell the force of a rapier's sound."

Without turning his head, Gu Pingsheng said this, which startled Shi Zhouyun so much that he immediately fell silent and stopped talking.

After an hour of repeated thrusting, a student called out, "Master Gu, my hand is cramping. Can you take a break?"

Seeing that everyone was exhausted and their swordplay was getting worse, Gu Pingsheng said, "Let's all rest for half an hour."

The group sat down cross-legged on the spot, placed their swords aside, and stretched out their left hands to pinch their aching and swollen right wrists.

Ning Fusang carried a sword on his back and walked towards Gu Pingsheng.

Gu Pingsheng looked at Ning Fusang in surprise: "They've just started using swords, and they're exhausted after a thousand thrusts, but for you, it's a piece of cake. What, are you also feeling tired? Or is there something else you need from me?"

Ning Fusang stopped, gave a sword salute, straightened up and said, "Master Gu, I would like to ask for a leave of absence for a while."

Gu Pingsheng gestured for her to continue.

Ning Fusang said very seriously, "According to Master Gu's teaching schedule, this stage of training will end around the beginning of autumn. Whether it is thrusting sword, splitting sword, cloud sword, or pointing sword, the students' foundation is very solid, so even if they do not participate in this stage of training, it will not have much of an impact."

Gu Pingsheng understood what she meant: "So you're planning to take three months off right now?"

He lifted his robe, sat down in the rocking chair, and poured himself a cup of tea: "Tell me, what do you want to do?"

"I accepted a mission from the sect," Ning Fusang said truthfully.

Gu Pingsheng glanced at her, then lowered his eyes again, blew on the hot tea, brought it to his lips, and the rich aroma of the tea spread between his lips and teeth. Only then did Gu Pingsheng slowly ask:
"What mission?"

Both outer and inner disciples of the Southern Star Sword Sect can go on missions, but outer disciples must be at least at the second level of cultivation to be eligible to accept missions.

The fact that Ning Fusang was able to accept sect missions means that she broke through from the peak of the first realm to the second realm in just three months.

Having been in the Southern Star Sword Sect for so many years, Gu Pingsheng had seen countless geniuses, so his heart was not greatly affected.

Moreover, with Ning Fusang's talent, she should have reached the second level long ago. It was the three years at the Sword Cleansing Pool that delayed her.

"There aren't enough people to harvest the shark silk at Qingbo Cave Lake this year. After receiving the letter, the sect has decided to send another batch of disciples there."

Qingbo Cave Lake is also a resource point for the Nanxing Sword Sect. It is guarded by elders of low rank within the sect. Every year, part of the fish silk harvested is sent to the sect, and the other part is sold to Zhongmiao Xingzhou.

The mission location was within the jurisdiction of the Southern Star Sword Sect. Apart from being a little tiring, there was no danger. After thinking about it, Gu Pingsheng nodded in agreement.

"Go early and return early."

He waved his hand, dismissing Ning Fusang. The young girl, as upright as bamboo, said, "We will depart tomorrow."

Gu Pingsheng gently put down his teacup and stood up: "Since you're not leaving today, then rejoin the team."

He cleared his throat and looked at the other students sitting on the ground: "If you've rested enough, get up and continue practicing your swordsmanship."

Everyone groaned in despair.

It wasn't until midday that Gu Pingsheng called a halt and taught everyone the essentials of sword-splitting.

"Like rapier practice, you'll practice on your own for two hours."

"Furthermore, from today onwards, you no longer need to attend classes at the Preaching Pavilion in the evenings. You have all learned how to cultivate according to the 'Refining Spirit Technique,' so you can cultivate on your own for the rest of the time. I will no longer personally supervise your cultivation. I hope that you will continue to be self-disciplined after you leave."

(End of this chapter)