Chapter 39: Secret Sword — Swallow in the Whirling Rain
Under Luo Xuan’s guidance, Zhou Yan picked up his sword with utmost seriousness.
Swish!
The moment he was ready, Luo Xuan’s figure blurred several meters ahead, and in the blink of an eye, she surged right in front of him.
Without hesitation, she leapt into the air, and with a sudden, forceful motion, brought her blade down in a heavy, direct slash.
Instinctively, Zhou Yan raised his sword to block.
Clang!
The metallic clash rang out as the fierce blow drove his blade downward; had Zhou Yan not prepared, the attack might well have knocked the weapon from his grasp.
Yet even more astonishing was what happened next.
After delivering that strike, Luo Xuan did not descend. Instead, relying on the force of their collision, she continued to glide through the air, using the momentum to unleash another swift attack at Zhou Yan!
Shocked, Zhou Yan kept defending with all his strength.
But again, after withstanding the heavy blow, he became the springboard for Luo Xuan’s next aerial assault.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang...
Luo Xuan, like a bird soaring through the sky, rained down a relentless barrage of slashes upon Zhou Yan—violent and unending, as if a storm had erupted.
Finally, after one particularly devastating strike, Zhou Yan’s defense crumbled entirely.
A moment later, a series of sharp blows echoed from his armor.
Luo Xuan flipped nimbly, gliding over Zhou Yan’s head and landing gracefully.
She did not look back, only saying softly, “That was the first form of the Southern Ming Secret Sword—”
“Swifts in the Rain!”
On the sidelines, Luo Ke watched with excitement, unable to contain herself. “Sis, it’s been ages since you used that secret technique! Still as cool as ever!”
Zhou Yan, still feeling the force of the blows throughout his body, turned to look at the girl who had landed. The astonishment in his left eye only deepened.
He recalled Luo Xuan’s breathtaking swordplay, and a legendary move’s name surfaced in his mind—‘Immortal Flying from Beyond.’
Dazzling and dangerous.
Elegant yet ruthless.
It was worthy of being called a ‘Secret Sword.’ If one lacked experience in facing it, the first encounter would likely end in instant defeat.
“How should I learn this secret technique?” Zhou Yan gazed intently at Luo Xuan’s back.
The girl turned, her voice calm. “It’s simple. Though called a secret sword, it was once merely the third sword form of the Southern Ming school, alongside ‘Eagle Strike’ and ‘Falcon Assault.’ For those with dull aptitude, this purely airborne style defied conventional sword principles and was difficult to master, so it was removed from the basic repertoire.”
She continued, “The essence of learning this secret technique is to change your perception—while attacking, you must skillfully use the rebound force to remain airborne, thus launching attacks from above and overwhelming your opponent.”
“You make it sound simple…” Zhou Yan smiled wryly. “But is there a more practical method for practitioners?”
“There is.” Luo Xuan nodded lightly, and Zhou Yan’s spirits lifted.
She explained calmly, “Even in midair, since targets are mostly below, the key sword moves are only a few. Master their power generation, then train repeatedly with a partner—from two consecutive airborne strikes to three, then four, then five—until you can maintain aerial attacks at will before exhausting yourself. That’s when you’ve truly mastered this secret sword.”
Luo Xuan thought for a moment and added, “It’s like learning to jump rope—from not knowing, to jumping once, then twice, and so on…”
‘I see, you mean that in your eyes, learning the so-called secret sword is no different from learning to jump rope.’
Luo Xuan, feeling Zhou Yan’s worshipful gaze, grew uneasy.
She glared at him, saying coldly, “Enough nonsense, let’s begin training immediately.”
“Alright.” Zhou Yan nodded obediently.
Luo Ke, who had been watching the fun, glanced at the time and exclaimed, “Sis, it’s already after ten! Stop teaching, it’s time for bed.”
Luo Xuan looked up and nodded calmly. “Very well, let’s leave it here for tonight. I’ll teach you the secret sword properly tomorrow morning.”
The two sisters seemed unusually committed to early sleep and rising.
Zhou Yan, itching to learn the move right away, knew it wasn’t urgent.
He nodded and smiled. “Alright, Xuan, Ke, good night.”
“Good night, Zhou Yan~” Luo Ke made a playful face at him, then pulled Luo Xuan toward the back door.
Luo Xuan glanced at him mildly and nodded.
Zhou Yan watched the sisters depart.
He took a deep breath, went to his room for some pants, and entered the communal bath.
Twenty minutes later, he emerged wearing shorts and bare-chested.
He found Luo Xuan waiting outside the bath.
Their eyes met, then both glanced downward.
Luo Xuan’s gaze trembled briefly, then steadied. She asked coolly, “Why… aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
Zhou Yan was bewildered.
He then apologized, somewhat embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t expect you’d come back. It’s just, the weather is hot, and I just finished sword practice…”
As he spoke, he took in Luo Xuan’s appearance.
She had evidently just bathed, dressed in a conservative, elegant set of pajamas, with only her slender neck and delicate face exposed, misted with steam.
Perhaps to keep her hair dry, her usual high ponytail was now styled into a bun, making her look rather playful.
Despite the simple attire, Luo Xuan’s figure was exceptional—long legs and a slim waist locked her proportions into an enviable form, and her well-developed chest made her modest pajamas bulge.
‘She must bind her chest most days…’
The thought flashed through Zhou Yan’s mind, and he inwardly scolded himself.
‘Come on, you’re just a guest here, and she’s been nothing but kind, yet you keep having these indecent thoughts! Shameful!’
After a brief self-reflection, Zhou Yan quickly regained composure.
He collected himself and asked, “Xuan, did you come to see me about something?”
“Yes.”
Luo Xuan replied, extending her right hand from behind her back. In her palm was a familiar black packet of medicine.
“This is for you. Now that you’re starting breath training, you mustn’t skip the supplements.”
Zhou Yan paused.
Then he reached out and accepted the packet.
He didn’t say much, only giving a simple promise.
“I won’t let you down.”
Luo Xuan nodded mildly, her gaze inadvertently dropping before quickly turning aside.
She turned away, saying softly, “After your breath training, rest early.”
With that, she briskly exited through the training hall’s back door.
Perhaps it was just a trick of the mind, but Zhou Yan thought her footsteps seemed a bit unsteady.
***