After class, Hua Qian Gu and Qing Shui returned to their room. Qing Shui showed off what she had made for Tang Bao: a jewelry box to sleep in, a small pillow, a small blanket and some small clothes.
At night, Qing Shui slept soundly while Hua Qian Gu stayed up to study like always. Time was not on her side as she tried her best to catch up to the other students.
When Tang Bao woke up from her slumber, Hua Qian Gu was still awake studying. She told Tang Bao that her eyesight and memory were better and wondered if this was because she had bathed in the Pool of Three Lives or Taoist priest Qing Xu had given her his internal energy. Tang Bao guessed probably both.
It took Hua Qian Gu practically ten days of no sleep before she memorized all the theories. Every night after that, she went into the woods behind the Hai quarters to practice.
Because she stayed up late and woke up early to study, Hua Qian Gu had trouble staying awake in class. Fortunately, Tang Bao was always in her ear and helped her deal with all types of situation, including whispering to her the answers. There were some teachers who disliked Hua Qian Gu and gave her a hard time by constantly picking on her to answer their questions. As a result, Hua Qian Gu unintentionally became infamous as a student with weak skills but had a deep knowledge.
The most important classes were based on the five elements of water, metal, fire, wood and earth. Xiu Mu Qing Liu was in charge of the water element. The punishment was to drink water so Hua Qian Gu usually left his class with a swollen stomach.
Qu Mu was in charge of the wood element and liked to torment Hua Qian Gu. He demanded her to cut down trees, split them into pieces and write on the wood pieces with her fingers. Her hands bled often from this and scars formed. Gradually, her hands became flexible and strong.
Hu Qing Qiu was in charge of the earth element. She was a disciple of Shi Zun Mo Yan and had a similar personality because she behaved like a serious, old woman. She favored the accomplished students such as Ni Man Tian and Shuo Feng. At the same time, she could not care less about the other students, especially the weak ones like Hua Qian Gu.
Wu Qing Luo was in charge of the metal element. Hua Qian Gu liked this class the most. Although Wu Qing Luo had a hot temper, she never acted like a teacher but more like a friend. Her lessons were straightforward and simple. Most of the students did well in the class, including Hua Qian Gu.
After five months, the students could use their swords to fly. Ni Man Tian and Shuo Feng could even control the clouds and the wind. Unfortunately for Hua Qian Gu, the most she could do was make her sword lift up no more than two meters from the ground, but the sword could never stay straight for more than three seconds.
That night, Hua Qian Gu was in the woods again to practice flying, she had tried so hard for the past six months but felt she needed to push herself more. Just thinking about the Xian Jian Games drawing nearer, she became increasingly anxious and impatient, constantly forcing herself, her mental and physical endurance must surpass her classmates.
Shuo Feng sat in a tall tree from far away and watched in curiosity as she fell over and over from her sword. The higher the sword flew, the more painful the fall. There were scars all over her body, her bones probably broke a few times, but she stubbornly refused to give up.
Tang Bao laid next to the leaves and cried quietly. For the past few months, Hua Qian Gu desperately pushed herself. She was stubborn like an ox and did not listen. She had fallen so many times that it could not bear to look anymore, it did not know why Hua Qian Gu was like this.
Hua Qian Gu fell again, although she had used her internal energy and Tang Bao also used its power to cushion the fall, she still hit the ground hard and could not move. Wiping blood from the corner of her mouth, she laid on the grass and looked up at the sky full of stars, looking also at Jue Qing Hall under the stars, she suddenly felt disheartened.
Abruptly, she heard Tang Bao’s distressed voice: “Gu Tou, do you remember why you went to Mount Mao? What was your original wish, is it necessary that Bai Zi Hua is our teacher?”
Hua Qian Gu froze for a moment, smiling weakly. Yes, in the beginning, she only wanted a simple life without any struggles, not being bothered by evil spirits, not bringing misfortune to people around her, have food to fill her stomach and warm clothes to wear. She did not know when it began, this aggression in wanting Bai Zi Hua to become her teacher. When did this obsession develop?
If her wish was like before, every day would probably be easy. She can live at Chang Liu, in happiness and leisure. She asked herself, she no longer wanted to lose to anyone, she wanted to be the best, she wanted everyone to envy her, is all of this not because so she can become good enough, would he be happy?
If she wanted something or to do something, she could not let go.
She wanted to be close to him, a little closer, just a little more. As long as she can often see him, be around him, she would be satisfied, at least she would not disappoint him because he had kindly brought her to Mount Chang Liu.
With this thought, she forced herself to stand up and continue to practice.
The next day was Luo Shi Yi’s class, Hua Qian Gu sat on the grass and looked upward at the other students flying across the sky, trying to see how they were balancing themselves.
Qing Shui was able to fly well now, standing on a sword, plunging towards Hua Qian Gu, then stopping lightly, holding out her hand.
“Qian Gu, I’ll take you for a spin.”
“It’s all right.” Hua Qian Gu waved quickly, “You just go on with your practice.”
“You still can’t control your sword? Aren’t you supposed to be powerful? Ha ha ha!” A burst of laughter rang out, Ni Man Tian flew over on a cloud.
“If you’re afraid a sword is too narrow, I’ll take you with me!” After saying this, she put out her hand and pulled Hua Qian Gu onto the cloud then zipped upward.
“Tang Bao!” Hua Qian Gu had not stabilized her body, Tang Bao was sleeping in her ear and slipped out, falling straight down, still asleep and unaware.
Luo Shi Yi was startled and flew up, catching it in his hands just in time. Tang Bao groggily woke up, as soon as it opened its eyes, it saw the cloud under Ni Man Tian’s feet dispersing. She was using the wind, she pretended to pull Hua Qian Gu along but this was not so, Hua Qian Gu also began to fall.
Luo Shi Yi had just caught Tang Bao so he could not save Hua Qian Gu, Qing Shui tried to fly over on her sword but was not fast enough.
Shuo Feng’s sword shook, he forced himself to stay still and not fly up to save Hua Qian Gu, he remained aloof on the sidelines.
Hua Qian Gu was so scared she forgot to use her internal energy, she fell from too high too fast, she hurriedly closed her eyes. She thought this was it, this was it, her arms and legs would surely be broken.
She suddenly felt herself stop falling, someone caught her in his arms.
The body was cold like ice, she did not feel anything in the embrace, but when she smelled a familiar fragrance, her brain stopped working.
After a long time, Hua Qian Gu dared to open her eyes, it was really Zun Shang, who had not been seen in six months.
Dressed in white, his face calm as he held her and slowly descended from the sky, thinking Hua Qian Gu must be so scared to tremble so much.
Bai Zi Hua gently put her down, Hua Qian Gu’s legs weakened, she sank down in front of him, afraid to look up.
Ni Man Tian quickly flew down, falling to her knees. Everyone else also began to act, clambering to kneel down, shouting in unison: “Paying respect to Zun Shang!”
Bai Zi Hua frowned lightly, a bit puzzled, he could have used his power to bring Hua Qian Gu down, he did not know why he felt afraid and forgot, he acted automatically by flying up to save her.
“I’m sorry, I wanted to teach Hua Qian Gu to fly on a sword, I was not paying attention, I made a mistake, please punish me!” Ni Man Tian did not expect Zun Shang to suddenly appear, her face was completely white.
Bai Zi Hua was displeased but did not say anything, he saw that Hua Qian Gu in front of him had grown taller, her messy hair was now in two cute buns, she looked more grown-up. Nevertheless, her face was pale and haggard, she was light like a feather in his arms, he discovered there were external and internal injuries all over her body. If he did not come here with someone else to look for her, would she not have another injury? Not to mention everything happened in front of this person, causing an embarrassment for Chang Liu.
“This disciple pays respect to Sect Leader!” Suddenly, someone knelt down but not in front of Bai Zi Hua. Everyone opened their eyes wide, surprised to see someone in a white robe, his demeanor handsome and intelligent, his face filled with excitement. However, he was kneeling in front of Hua Qian Gu, which was a bit funny.