Chapter 46: Treading the Waves and Crossing the Ripples

Mastering an advanced blade technique like the "Heaven-Concord Blade" required at least a few months just to get a grasp of the fundamentals. Not in any particular rush, Murong Liren nodded and said, "Study diligently. Once you figure out the training method, even if you haven't mastered it yet, this prince will still teach you the 'Dragon-Slaying Decree.' By the way, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to spar in qinggong. After studying Lu Jieyun's insights on lightness skills for a few days, what are your thoughts?"

Having just begun learning qinggong, Ye Jingtang had naturally not yet studied insights meant for grandmasters. He replied, "My experience in the pugilistic world is shallow, and I've never been exposed to profound martial arts. If you ask me for insights, I certainly wouldn't be able to articulate any. Why don't I spar with Your Highness to see what level my qinggong is currently at?"

Murong Liren found this somewhat amusing, but still maintained the poise expected of an expert and did not refuse. To make Ye Jingtang understand what the phrase "vast and boundless" truly meant, Murong Liren lightly tapped the grass with the tip of her foot, and her figure soared gracefully into the air, landing lightly upon a willow tree by the riverbank. Her form was ethereal and immortal-like.

Seeing this, Ye Jingtang stepped forward.

*Swish—*

His figure shot into the air, trailing a faint sound of tearing wind, and landed on a branch beside Murong Liren, causing the willow branches to sway back and forth.

*Creak, creak—*

A single glance revealed the vast difference in skill; a clear gap existed between him and Murong Liren.

Yet, a flash of surprise crossed Murong Liren's eyes: "You know qinggong?"

"I just learned it. I hope the Prince of Jing will forgive my clumsiness."

*Just learned it?*

Murong Liren felt a trace of doubt. Just a few days ago, she had explicitly confirmed that Ye Jingtang did not know qinggong. Could it be that her previous test was mistaken, and he had been concealing his true abilities?

Pondering this, Murong Liren spun off the willow branch and descended smoothly onto the clear surface of the river. Treading lightly upon the azure ripples like a dragonfly skimming the water, she headed upstream with an air of pure chivalry.

Ye Jingtang had never attempted the "treading waves" technique before, but according to the principles of qinggong, as long as there was a point of leverage, one could soar into the air even from a blade of grass.

After mulling it over, Ye Jingtang leaped down, plunging straight toward the river surface, and the result was...

*Plop—*

Water splashed everywhere, causing the bird perched nearby to shake its head in disappointment.

Treading waves was an extreme test of one's mastery over qinggong. A slight miscalculation would instantly turn one into a drenched chicken.

Murong Liren had anticipated this outcome and turned her head back with a hint of teasing in her gaze. However, before she could utter a word of mockery, her expression shifted into one of shock and disbelief.

To her astonishment, after plunging into the river, Ye Jingtang quickly burst back out of the water and began sprinting wildly across the river's surface.

*Stomp, stomp, stomp—*

Although his movements were ferocious, kicking up splashes taller than a person and looking utterly graceless, his sheer brute force made his speed astonishingly fast.

Before Murong Liren could even finish turning her head back, Ye Jingtang had already zoomed past her, hurtling upstream like a wild horse with a broken rein.

??

In all her life, Murong Liren had never witnessed such a bizarre display of qinggong. She couldn't help but ask, "Why are you running so fast?"

Ye Jingtang's reply was equally direct: "If I run too slow, I'll fall into the water. How does Your Highness find my qinggong?"

That was no qinggong at all!

Murong Liren didn't even know what to say to him. His running speed was genuinely terrifying, but the commotion he caused sounded like rolling thunder. What use was that for anything other than fleeing for one's life?

Though not a grandmaster herself, Murong Liren had learned her qinggong from the "White-Haired Listener" and possessed absolute first-rate skills. Being overtaken and left in the dust by a half-baked amateur left her somewhat displeased, so she immediately picked up the pace to give chase.

"The essence of qinggong lies in 'lightness.' Silent and swift is true speed... You!"

Murong Liren wanted to catch up and lecture him, but she discovered that this fellow before her was completely devoid of social tact. Upon noticing her pursuit, he actually ran even faster, as if intent on shaking her off completely.

*Stomp, stomp, stomp...*

A faint ripple traced across the clear river surface.

Two figures flew forward in tandem: one like a dragonfly skimming the water, carefree and handsome; the other resembling an unruly child skipping stones.

After chasing for a short distance, Murong Liren gradually realized something was amiss.

The speed at which Ye Jingtang traversed the water kept accelerating, growing so fast it defied common sense. If Huan Shangjianli were in her shoes, he would probably only manage a tie—she simply couldn't catch up to him!

"You!"

Murong Liren instantly grew irritated, suspecting that Ye Jingtang was deliberately playing the pig to eat the tiger and mocking her.

Yet, upon closer inspection of his footwork, she could tell he was truly just a half-baked novice—his running posture was simply too atrocious!

How could someone with such form manage to shake her off?

Murong Liren secretly gritted her teeth and accelerated to her absolute limit in an attempt to close the distance. Yet, after chasing for a long while, not only did she fail to gain ground, but the gap widened further. Realizing she could no longer catch him, she finally shouted, "Stop right there!"

Ye Jingtang was merely getting accustomed to the rhythm of treading water and finding leverage. As his technique grew smoother and more natural, his speed naturally increased. Hearing the call, he finally realized something was wrong, sprang upward from the river surface, and landed firmly on the bank.

*Stomp, stomp, stomp...*

The azure river ripples gently as Murong Liren, clad in her python robe, caught up in an instant and landed right before him, her willow-leaf brows raised in anger!

Realizing where the problem lay, Ye Jingtang offered an awkward explanation:

"I've only just learned qinggong and haven't quite mastered how to control my strength. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

Murong Liren's cheeks puffed up slightly in frustration. However, she was not a delicate woman; after casting a glance at Ye Jingtang, she managed to swallow her annoyance.

"To be able to run this fast having just learned qinggong shows your foundation is indeed extraordinary. In the future, you must hone your skills properly instead of merely chasing speed. An expert skilled in lightness skills can vanish without a trace from a hundred paces away. Someone like you running ten miles could easily be tracked by pursuers simply from the noise you make."

Aware of the flaws in his qinggong, Ye Jingtang nodded in agreement: "Lesson learned. I will certainly pay attention in the future."

Murong Liren had originally intended to discuss martial arts with Ye Jingtang, but after such a chaotic episode, she felt in no mood to converse further. Catching the bird on her shoulder, she turned around and said, "What you lack most right now is worldly experience. In the future, you should seek guidance more often from the experts of the Black Yamen and this prince. Even with a good foundation, you must walk the right path to truly achieve greatness."

Running and chasing one another, the two had covered roughly four or five miles along the river. They had long since left Yutan Manor behind and arrived near the Baima Academy in the outskirts of the city, as the sky slowly darkened.

Baima Academy was one of the four great academies of Yunzhou. Wealthy merchants and prominent families alike were eager to spend vast fortunes sending their scions here to "gild" themselves. Shao Luo, the young master of the Shao family, studied here; according to Chen彪, it had cost a considerable sum to get him enrolled.

Situated by the riverbank, the academy housed students who came from all four corners of the land and boarded on-site. Several small streets flanked the outside of the academy grounds.

However, the academy enforced extremely strict rules: students were required to return to their dormitories to complete their homework and prepare for sleep the moment night fell, and the shops on the outer streets had already shuttered their doors as well.

Having nearly driven herself to despair over their qinggong contest, Murong Liren had no desire to fly back with Ye Jingtang. Perching the bird on her shoulder, she walked with her hands clasped behind her back, observing the quiet academy.

"Have you ever studied books?"

"My family ran a security agency and was relatively well-off. I attended a private school for a few years, though I've never been to an academy as grand as this. I've read quite a few books, basically covering whatever is available in the marketplace."

"Oh?"

Murong Liren had already discovered that Ye Jingtang's talent for martial arts was somewhat terrifying, and his appearance was equally striking. If he were also proficient in both literature and martial arts, it would simply be unfair to ordinary mortals. She probed further, "How is your literary talent?"

"My handwriting is passable, I can keep accounts, and I'm completely clueless about everything else."

"What a pity. In the Great Liang Dynasty, the martial spirit is flourishing, and men skilled in martial arts are a dime a dozen, whereas true scholars are exceedingly rare. If you were capable of composing poetry and prose and made an appearance at literary gatherings, goodness knows how many families would proactively come knocking to recruit you as their son-in-law."

"Everyone has their own strengths. As for poetry and such..."

Ye Jingtang originally intended to casually show off a bit, but before he could recall any verses, his ear twitched slightly, and his gaze shifted toward the pitch-black alleyway ahead...