Looking at the man in front of her, who had a cheerful smile and looked like a sunny big boy, Li Yue Shu narrowed her eyes.
She sized up Xing He, as if pondering something.
Years of life-and-death battles had honed Xing He's intuition, making him sense danger, though he couldn't pinpoint its source.
As Xing He grew more confused, Li Yue Shu suddenly spoke, "Shen Wei told me you're the most skilled fighter under him?"
Upon hearing Shen Wei's name, Xing He froze for a moment.
Didn't she already know her master's identity?
Though puzzled, Xing He quickly dismissed the thought and nodded, a hint of pride in his expression. "Every time we spar, I manage to get a few moves ahead of Chai Yang. I've always been the number one under the master."
At this, a sharp glint flashed in Li Yue Shu's eyes. "Is that so? But I feel your skills are just average."
Xing He blinked in confusion and immediately retorted, "Madam, why do you say that? All my martial arts skills were forged on the battlefield through actual combat."
Li Yue Shu smiled faintly. "But the first time we met, you were subdued by me in just a few moves."
Xing He's expression stiffened, clearly recalling that past mishap.
He looked at Li Yue Shu, meeting her doubtful gaze. His competitive spirit flared, and he declared, "That was because I wasn't on guard. If we were to spar again, I surely wouldn't lose to you."
Xing He was quite confident about this, as he hadn't been prepared for Li Yue Shu last time.
"Alright, then let's spar!" Li Yue Shu's lips curved into a smile. "But I don't have internal energy. For fairness, I'll use hidden weapons, how about it?"
Shen Wei, who had been called by Chai Yang to rescue someone, happened to overhear this and his eyebrows twitched slightly.
Xing He, not noticing the newcomer, was somewhat surprised by her suggestion.
Hidden weapons primarily relied on internal energy. Without it, even a long saber would be more effective than hidden weapons.
While he was pondering this, Shen Wei's voice suddenly rang out, "Are you two going to spar?"
Xing He turned around, quickly bowing, "Master, I..."
"Yes," Li Yue Shu interjected directly. "Do you want to join in too?"
Shen Wei's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "You two just spar. I'll watch from the side."
Chai Yang cast a surprised glance at his master.
They knew how high Xing He's martial arts skill was. Wasn't their master afraid Xing He might accidentally injure her by agreeing so readily?
Since Shen Wei had said so, Xing He naturally had no more to say.
Li Yue Shu, on the other hand, pouted with a hint of regret.
She had wanted to teach Shen Wei a lesson, but Xing He had to get himself involved. She couldn't be blamed for what happened next!
Li Yue Shu patted the dust off her clothes and beckoned Xing He, "Follow me."
Xing He quickly followed, while Shen Wei and Chai Yang trailed behind. The group headed directly towards the back mountain.
Seeing Li Yue Shu intending to go further, Xing He quickly asked, "Madam, where are we going?"
Li Yue Shu stopped and slowly turned around. "Here will do!"
As Xing He was about to respond, Li Yue Shu suddenly produced a strange, dark object from her sleeve.
Shen Wei recognized it instantly. It was the mysterious hidden weapon Li Yue Shu had used when they encountered the masked man before.
Shen Wei glanced at Xing He with a hint of sympathy and then moved aside.
Chai Yang didn't understand why, but seeing his master move, he immediately followed suit.
Xing He, oblivious to their actions, looked at the object in Li Yue Shu's hand with confusion.
Li Yue Shu's eyebrows arched slightly as she asked, "If I attack you with this hidden weapon, how confident are you that you can dodge it?"
Xing He was surprised.
When the eldest young master had gotten into trouble before, he knew Li Yue Shu possessed a magical and peculiar hidden weapon, but he had never seen it in action.
Was this it?
Would he have the chance to witness it today?
Xing He suddenly felt eager, "Madam, please, feel free to attack. I also want to see it!"
The smile on Li Yue Shu's lips grew wider and more sinister. She aimed the firearm directly at Xing He's forehead.
Xing He was unaware of the firearm's power and didn't notice her expression. His eyes still gleamed with excitement.
"Are you ready?"
Xing He nodded, secretly channeling his internal energy, prepared to act at any moment.
Li Yue Shu looked at him and said again, "Then I'm firing."
Xing He nodded again, becoming even more alert.
Li Yue Shu followed her gun's sight towards Xing He's forehead. But in the next instant, she suddenly shifted the muzzle.
"Bang!"
A gunshot echoed. Xing He instinctively dodged, yet felt something graze his ear and hit the tree behind him.
"This..."
Xing He turned in shock to look at the hole in the large tree behind him, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
In that fleeting moment, he felt a primal sense of danger and his body reacted instinctively to evade.
But he knew that if Li Yue Shu hadn't suddenly shifted direction, he would have been unable to dodge it.
Such immense power and speed were utterly unheard of to him!
Xing He looked at Li Yue Shu with awe, more precisely, at the gun in her hand. "Madam, what kind of hidden weapon is this?"
Li Yue Shu's lips curved slightly. "This is called a gun."
Xing He looked astonished, and even the usually composed Chai Yang couldn't help but show surprise.
This hidden weapon, no larger than a palm, could unleash such power without any internal energy.
Xing He marveled, "Such an exquisite and ingenious hidden weapon, did Madam invent it?"
Li Yue Shu: "..."
Explaining this would truly be a considerable hassle.
She aimed the gun at Xing He again, changing the subject, "Let's not talk about that for now. Our spar isn't over yet!"
Xing He, whose shock had not yet subsided, was taken aback by her words.
Li Yue Shu gave him no chance, shouting loudly, "Right hand!"
Xing He instinctively raised his right hand. With a "bang," a bullet whizzed past where his right hand had been moments before.
Xing He was startled and was about to speak when Li Yue Shu's voice rang out again, "Left foot!"
"Bang!"
"Right foot!"
"Bang!"
"Waist!"
"Bang!"
"Left shoulder!"
"Bang!"
"Head!"
"Bang!"
"Right leg!"
"Left hand!"
...
Shen Wei and Chai Yang, who had been observing the entire scene: "..."
Should they remind Xing He that Ah Shu (Madam) had already put away the hidden weapon called a gun?
After an unknown period, Xing He finally realized, belatedly, that he hadn't heard the sound of "bang" anymore.
Xing He stopped, panting, and saw Li Yue Shu standing not far away, looking at him with a half-smile. The gun was nowhere to be seen in her hand.
Li Yue Shu was in a good mood; the frustration she had been holding back seemed to have dissipated.
Unfortunately, this gun could only hold seven bullets.
Li Yue Shu crossed her arms, looking at Xing He with a wide smile. "Your skills are good. We'll have another spar if there's a chance next time."
Her words were like a basin of cold water poured over Xing He's head, clearing his mind instantly.
"No, no, no! Madam's martial arts are superb. This subordinate is truly convinced and surrenders."
Li Yue Shu smiled. "That's a shame then."
Saying this, she turned her head to look at Shen Wei beside her, an idea sparking. "Your martial arts seem pretty good too. Would you like to spar?"