Qin Practice and Foundation Building
Han Shengyao had witnessed Du Shuang teasing musicians countless times, occasionally even catching her in the act. She found it utterly preposterous for two women to engage in such behavior and still harbored a sense of unease within her.
While she had no qualms with Du Shuang’s sexual orientation—after all, it was a matter of personal freedom—she could not fathom the thought of these techniques being employed on her own disciple, whom she had sworn to protect.
The look of satisfaction on Du Shuangchun’s face grated on Han Shengyao’s nerves, and she dared not meet Lin Qianshuang’s gaze. Her mind raced, consumed by the fear that her arduous efforts had been effortlessly undone. An inexplicable fire raged within her, threatening to extinguish her reason.
Without uttering a word, Han Shengyao teleported before Du Shuang and delivered a resounding slap to her face.
Caught off guard, Du Shuang was lifted off her feet and sent crashing into the table. The sound of splintering wood reverberated through the room as books tumbled to the floor, scattering in disarray.
Du Shuang wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and stood up, a nonchalant smile on her face, saying, “Holy Maiden, what has gotten into you? Why are you so angry? It’s just a pet…”
Before she could finish saying “pet,” Du Shuang’s body was struck down heavily by another palm. Du Shuang spat out a few mouthfuls of blood, and the smile on her face faltered. Han Shengyao’s palm just now was genuine, she was truly angry. If it weren’t for the sword energy protecting her body, she would have been killed long ago.
“Du Shuang, I entrusted you to teach my disciple, not to take her to bed!” Han Shengyao’s face was terrifyingly gloomy as she approached Du Shuang, her voice cold and seeping through her teeth. “She is my only personal disciple!”
Du Shuang was stunned for a moment. She covered her swollen face and looked at Han Shengyao, her demonic aura clearly surging as she raged.
Her heart fluttered in panic.
It’s over, she’s in big trouble!
Du Shuang never expected that Han Shengyao would take in an apprentice on a whim this time. Even though she remembered bringing her here before, she had assumed Han Shengyao would turn a blind eye to the way she had bullied and tossed her around.
At this point, what could she do? Her only refuge was the Yixiang Tower, and if she left, she had nowhere else to go.
Han Shengyao looked at Du Shuang’s flushed face with displeasure. The fire in her heart still burned, her anger still unsated. She raised her hand to strike her again, but her sleeve was suddenly tugged.
“Master, I’m fine. Master Du Shuang must have misunderstood. I… I still need to practice my breathing control.”
A thin, timid voice rang out, its owner seemingly shocked by the fight before her. Her words came out in halting shivers.
Han Shengyao turned her head to see her apprentice sitting on the ground, her expression bewildered as she looked up at her. Her azure blue eyes were clear and deep, her face pure and innocent as she tilted her head, as if she still didn’t understand what had just happened.
Those deep blue eyes seemed to have a magical calming effect.
Han Shengyao’s heart slowly regained its composure, and her rationality gradually returned. The terrifying demonic aura surrounding her slowly dissipated.
Lin Qianshuang blinked her innocent large eyes and looked at Han Shengyao. Seeing that her mood had stabilized, her heart was relieved. Her gaze shifted to Du Shuang on the ground.
Fortunately, Han Shengyao had not crippled her. Although lustful, Du Shuang was still a good introductory mentor. Her methods of teaching qin playing, listening to rhythm, and mastering breath were effective. While teaching Lin Qianshuang hand-in-hand, Du Shuang had also helped her grasp the basics of refining qi, though their lesson had been interrupted.
Du Shuang stood up unsteadily. It was her fault. She had promised to teach Han Shengyao’s disciple but had mistakenly treated Lin Qianshuang as a plaything.
Looking uncomfortably at Lin Qianshuang and Han Shengyao, Du Shuang forced a smile. “It’s my fault this time. I offended your disciple without thinking. Saint, I’ll accept any punishment you give me.”
Lin Qianshuang glanced at Han Shengyao, wondering why Du Shuang, a Sword Master, was so submissive before Han Shengyao. Was there something more between them?
She thought for a moment, if Du Shuang were to be beaten to death, how else could she establish her foundation.
“Master, Master Du Shuang has actually taught me a lot,” Lin Qianshuang said to Han Shengyao, her gaze sincere. “If you hurt her, I won’t be able to find anyone else to teach me for a while.”
Du Shuang glanced at Lin Qianshuang, a complex expression on her face. The person she had belittled was speaking up for her. Was this true innocence or a carefully crafted facade?
Han Shengyao stepped in front of Lin Qianshuang, her eyes on Du Shuang. “For my disciple’s sake, I will spare you this once. Teach her well, and I will keep an eye on you to ensure you don’t cause any more trouble.”
The study was in disarray, the tables and chairs shattered. At Du Shuang’s command, several maids entered and swiftly cleaned up the mess.
Du Shuang’s demeanor had changed. She taught Lin Qianshuang the intricate rhythms of the qin with great seriousness. Their progress was swift, and Lin Qianshuang quickly mastered the transitions and tempo of the music. She also gained insights into the rhythm of qi cultivation.
After completing one piece, Han Shengyao suggested they move on to the Demon Emperor’s favorite, the Flowing Fragrance Melody.
Du Shuang patiently guided Lin Qianshuang into the sect and promptly taught her a fundamental sword cultivation technique that introduced qi refining.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“Sword Master Du Shuang, there are visitors from the Penglai Immortal Sect requesting an audience.”
Du Shuang rose from Lin Qianshuang’s side, her expression briefly serious. She opened the door and addressed the person outside, “Please have them wait in the Bamboo Character Room. I will be there shortly.”
Penglai Immortal Sect. The mention of this sect’s name momentarily distracted Lin Qianshuang, causing her to pluck the wrong string and abruptly halt the melody.
Han Shengyao, who was meditating nearby, opened her closed eyes and cast a quick glance at Lin Qianshuang’s momentarily lost expression. She then closed her eyes again and returned to her meditation.
“Little apprentice, once you’ve established your foundation and comprehended the third layer of this sword technique, come find me again.”
Du Shuang tossed a book on sword cultivation into Lin Qianshuang’s arms and then addressed Han Shengyao, who was meditating beside her. “Holy Maiden, I must attend to a matter and will take my leave now. You may continue practicing with your apprentice for a while. The demonic energy here is abundant, and if you wish to spend the night, you are welcome to do so.”
With a gentle thud, the door closed behind Du Shuang as she swiftly departed from the study.
Lin Qianshuang picked up the sword technique secret script that Du Shuang had thrust into her arms and couldn’t help but ponder for a moment. The Floating Sword Technique was the advanced sword technique secret script of Penglai Immortal Sect.
Could it be that before Du Shuang became a demon cultivator, she was from Penglai Immortal Sect?
Han Shengyao had not heard the sound of Lin Qianshuang’s zither for a long time. She opened her eyes, rose, lifted the hem of her dress, and sat down beside Lin Qianshuang.
She noticed Lin Qianshuang’s motionless hands on the instrument and her dazed expression. “Shuang’er, have you encountered something you don’t understand?” she inquired.
Lin Qianshuang remained absorbed in her thoughts, unaware of her surroundings.
When she finally regained her senses, Han Shengyao realized that Lin Qianshuang was troubled but hesitant to speak. She moved behind her, gently covered her ten fingers with both hands, and played the notes one by one according to the score on the piano.
“This single note is the supporting finger, and the three notes are the hook finger. To lift the string, you must lift the hook. Touch the string with the palm of your hand, then lift the three notes after the jump. Use qi to condense, gather, disperse, and reunite, cycling in turn.”
As night descended, candles flickered beside the piano, casting dancing shadows upon the folding screens.
Han Shengyao’s mesmerizing voice flowed into Lin Qianshuang’s ear as their hands danced over the qin strings in unison, creating a harmonious melody.
With Han Shengyao’s guidance, Lin Qianshuang’s fingerwork became more fluid, and her string-twisting technique grew more refined. A faint demonic energy gathered in her dantian, circulating within her body—a sign of the initial stages of Foundation Establishment.
Observing Lin Qianshuang’s progress, Han Shengyao released her hand and rested her chin on Lin Qianshuang’s shoulder, her gaze drifting idly toward the piano. A veil of mist veiled her eyes, obscuring her thoughts.
“Master, it seems I’m going to establish a foundation.” Lin Qianshuang turned her head excitedly to look for Han Shengyao, but her body suddenly froze.
Warm and even breathing was close by, and a soft touch came from her lips.
Unintentionally, her lips brushed against Han Shengyao’s cheek, the friction of their skin sending a jolt through them both.
Lin Qianshuang’s heart fluttered with embarrassment, but her expression remained composed, as if nothing had occurred.
While instructing Lin Qianshuang on the piano, Han Shengyao had noticed the hickey on her neck.
“This little disciple is young and ignorant, perhaps she doesn’t even comprehend the implications of such actions. The current atmosphere is opportune for the disciple to gain understanding, so as to prevent future victimization.”
With this thought, Han Shengyao swiftly grasped Lin Qianshuang’s hand, pulling her turned body back.
Lin Qianshuang, assuming Han Shengyao was chiding her for her impudence, was about to apologize when a finger gently pressed against her lips.
“Shuang’er, has this been touched by Du Shuang?”
Knowing that Han Shengyao was a heterosexual woman, Lin Qianshuang looked at her with bewilderment.
Han Shengyao’s actions and words were very ambiguous. If she didn’t know that the other party was a straight person or someone who was very strict with her apprentices, Lin Qianshuang would have thought she was flirting with her.
Lin Qianshuang only had one experience of being maliciously flirted with by someone of the same sex, but she didn’t touch her lips as directly and straightforwardly like Han Shengyao did.
Although she thought so, Lin Qianshuang’s face showed a bewildered expression as she lowered her head and said, “Master, did I do something wrong? I felt uncomfortable, so I dodged at that moment.”
Han Shengyao put down the hand that held Lin Qianshuang’s lips and said to her with serious eyes, “That’s good, Shuang’er. You must remember that kissing should only be done with the person you like. If someone wants to do this to you, they are taking advantage of you and bullying you.”
Lin Qianshuang nodded obediently and said, “Master, I understand.”
Han Shengyao looked at Lin Qianshuang with satisfaction, but at this moment, time suddenly stopped for a moment.
“Host, in fact, before Han Shengyao came in, you had already unlocked all the acupoints in your body. In order to gain her pity and trust, you really have to go all out.”
The sound of the system suddenly rang out.
Lin Qianshuang remained indifferent for a moment and said with a hint of disdain, “Anyway, Du Shuang gains nothing from a simple kiss. If you want to kiss, just kiss. What can two women do?”
“Host, you… you are indeed hopelessly straight.”
“Actually, I have a suggestion to increase Han Shengyao’s favorability now. I don’t know if the host is willing or not.”
“How much favorability? If there is a favorability rating of 20 or higher, I will do it.”
Lin Qianshuang was already a bit anxious in her heart. From the appearance of Xiao Lanle’s strategy interface, she realized that the time left for her in the Demon Realm might not be much.
Ordinary devil cultivators cultivated for ten or twenty years, and it was just a blink of an eye, but for her, everything still had to go according to the plot.
According to the progress of the original text, in another five years, Xiao Lanle would be appointed by the Penglai Immortal Sect to marry Liang Jingxuan.
In other words, she must complete this task in the Demon Realm within at least five years.
“Host, as long as you recite the lines I give you, I can guarantee that Han Shengyao’s favorability can instantly increase by twenty-five.”
Upon hearing the increase of twenty-five, Lin Qianshuang said without hesitation, “What do you want me to read?”
A series of words appeared before her eyes.
Lin Qianshuang’s expression blanched for a moment, a bit embarrassed. “Are you asking me to seduce Han Shengyao?”
“Such a wonderful atmosphere, an impressive favorability rating of twenty-five. Host, you should consider it yourself.”
Time resumed flowing again.
Lin Qianshuang bit her lower lip, her heart hardened a bit. She raised her eyes again, with a hint of doubt and curiosity. Her fingers lightly touched the corner of her lips, revealing a thoughtful expression.
“Master, I saw the book that Du Shuang put in the study. The people in it didn’t seem to kiss like this, but rather…”
“But what?”
Han Shengyao was pondering how to teach her disciple meditation next when she casually responded. Suddenly, her lips were blocked by an inexperienced kiss, causing her previously languid gaze to transform instantly, her eyes darkening slightly.
“It seems to be… like this.”
Lin Qianshuang desperately tried to imagine a charmingly handsome man before her. She took a deep breath, mentally prepared herself, lifted Han Shengyao’s chin, tilted her face up, and pressed her lips heavily against the other woman’s pale ones. She moved her lips erratically, licking and biting, attempting to pry open Han Shengyao’s clenched teeth and delve deeper.