The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

"but--"

She stretched out her finger and poked Wang Long's chest, saying each word clearly.

"If you dare to misbehave, I'll turn you into a eunuch right now!"

Wang Long was so frightened that he nodded hurriedly, his face full of sincerity.

"Don't worry, young lady, this old servant has only the way of the sword in his heart, and no other thoughts."

Qin Minglan snorted coldly, stood up straight again, her hands hanging at her sides, looking like she was at someone's mercy. However, her tense back and slightly reddened ears betrayed her nervousness.

Wang Long smiled and walked behind her, beginning his lesson.

The two were very close, so close that Wang Long could smell the faint fragrance of osmanthus in her hair.

Qin Minglan's breathing became noticeably more rapid, and her shoulders tensed slightly.

"Young Miss, relax."

Wang Long's voice rang in her ears, deep and peaceful.

"Holding a sword is like holding your heart; if your heart is not calm, your sword will not be steady."

Qin Minglan bit her lip, trying to relax.

Wang Long slowly reached out, his left hand around her waist, and his right hand holding her sword-wielding hand.

When his palm touched the fabric around Qin Minglan's waist, the rough texture came through the thin clothes, carrying an indescribable warmth.

"you--"

"Young Miss, don't move."

Wang Long's voice remained calm, as if he were doing something perfectly normal.

"The waist is the center of the body. When using a sword, the waist must be stable and not sway. This old servant is helping you stabilize your waist."

Qin Minglan bit her lip and remained silent.

She could feel his palm against her waist, his fingers slightly clenched, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy.

He held her firmly on the waist, his palms burning hot.

Their bodies were almost touching; she could feel the rise and fall of his chest and the warm breath he exhaled on her neck.

Qin Minglan's face turned even redder, the redness spreading from her neck all the way to her ears, and even the corners of her eyes were tinged with a blush.

She had never been so close to any man in her entire life.

Even those young noblemen who coveted her beauty, if they dared to come within three feet of her, were beaten to a pulp by her.

But now—

She was actually being held close to the waist by a dirty old stable boy, who was teaching her how to hold a sword.

If my sister-in-law finds out...

Qin Minglan shuddered and dared not think any further.

She secretly vowed in her heart: You old fool, you better actually teach me something!

If you dare to mess with me, I'll make you wish you were dead!

Wang Long seemed to sense her nervousness and gently patted her waist with his left hand.

"Young Miss, you're too nervous, you can't even hold the sword properly."

Qin Minglan trembled and almost jumped up.

"you--"

"Shhh."

Wang Long's voice remained calm.

"Feel the sword intent, and don't speak."

Qin Minglan took a deep breath and swallowed back the curse that was about to come out of her mouth.

She closed her eyes, trying to ignore the burning hand on her waist and the body pressed against her back, focusing on the branch in her hand.

Wang Long held her hand, slowly raised the branch, and drew an arc in the air.

"The sword is not about its sharpness, but about the heart of the sword."

His voice was deep and had a strange rhythm, like a dull knife being slowly sharpened on a stone.

"Where the heart is, the sword will follow; where the heart is not, even the sharpest sword is just scrap metal."

Qin Minglan closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his palm and the trajectory of the tree branch as it passed through the air.

She suddenly realized that the old stable boy's voice wasn't so bad after all.

Time passed little by little.

Qin Minglan gradually relaxed, her mind clearing away all distractions.

She felt a strange power coming from Wang Long's rough palm, flowing down the back of her hand, into her fingertips, and then up her arm, finally converging in her chest.

That force was very weak, yet it carried an indescribable sharpness.

Like a sword hidden in its sheath, slowly being drawn.

Qin Minglan's heart suddenly raced.

She felt that the power of the Azure Scale Spirit Vein within her body was resonating with this sharp intent.

The spiritual energy circulates on its own, flowing along the meridians at an increasingly faster and smoother pace.

Her fingers trembled slightly, not from nervousness, but because—

She sensed it.

That's sword energy.

Although faint, and only a barely perceptible sensation, it was indeed sword energy.

Qin Minglan suddenly opened her eyes, her almond-shaped eyes flashing with a sharp light!

With a flick of her wrist, the branch traced an arc in the air.

"laugh--!"

A faint sword aura shot out from the tip of a tree branch. Although it was as thin as a hair and disappeared after flying only a foot, it was indeed sword aura!

Qin Minglan was stunned.

She stared at the branch in her hand, at the wisp of spiritual energy that had not yet dissipated at the tip of the branch, and her whole body seemed to be frozen in place.

"I...I did it?"

She muttered to herself, her voice trembling.

"I actually... unleashed sword energy?!"

Qin Minglan turned her head and looked at Wang Long, her almond-shaped eyes filled with disbelief.

"Old man...did you see that? I just...just released sword energy!"

Wang Long nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Young Miss is exceptionally talented; this old servant has witnessed it."

Qin Minglan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly let out a cheer and jumped up like a happy little deer.

"Hahaha! I did it! I really did it!"

She was so excited that she danced around, her ponytail swinging behind her head, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents, and her smile radiant.

"Old man, did you see that?! Sword energy! It really is sword energy!"

Before Wang Long could speak, Qin Minglan pounced on him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I did it! I actually did it! Hahaha!"

The girl's body carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus.

Her cheeks flushed with excitement, and her almond-shaped eyes sparkled as if they were filled with stars.

Wang Long was stunned for a moment, then reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Qin Minglan was still excited and had no idea that she was being held close to the waist by an old stable boy.

Wang Long tightened his grip, pulling her into his arms.

Several breaths later.

"ah--!"

Qin Minglan finally came to her senses.

She sprang away like a startled rabbit.

"you--!"

Her face flushed red to her ears, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she was both ashamed and annoyed.

Qin Minglan raised her foot and lightly kicked Wang Long's shin. The force was not strong, but it was clearly arrogant.

"You old codger, you've got some nerve!"

Wang Long rubbed his calves, looking completely innocent.

"Young Miss, you were the one who pounced on me first, this old servant just..."

"Shut up!"

Qin Minglan interrupted him, crossed her arms, and raised her chin slightly, looking down at him with an air of superiority, but her bright red ears betrayed her.

"Since you taught me how to grasp the essence of swordsmanship, I'll forgive your rudeness!"

She paused, then added, her voice noticeably lower.

"This will not be repeated!"