Two months passed in a blink.
The snow in the forest gradually melted, and tender green shoots emerged on the branches.
Su Jinxue sat cross-legged on a bluestone by the lake, her wooden sword resting horizontally on her lap.
Morning mist condensed into tiny water droplets on her hair, trembling slightly with her breath.
Two months of cultivation, coupled with Zhu Yu's daily feeding of various wild game, had made her thin face a bit rounder, and her complexion was no longer sickly pale.
She was already a budding beauty.
"The Sword Embryo is complete."
Zhu Yu's voice sounded from behind her.
Su Jinxue looked over in surprise, only to see her Master approaching with two plump pheasants in his hand.
"Ma-Master!" She jumped off the bluestone, her eyes sparkling, "Hunting must have been hard work!"
Zhu Yu tossed the pheasants aside and patted her head.
Su Jinxue comfortably narrowed her eyes, rubbing against his palm, a cat-like purr rumbling in her throat.
The little girl especially loved having her head patted by him.
Every time she performed well, she would ask for a head pat as a reward.
Tsk, why did it feel so familiar?
He seemed to have played a similar game in his previous life.
"Oh, oh, right, Master." The only thing she hadn't improved was her stutter, "You just… just said that your disciple's Sword, Sword Embryo is complete?"
"Yes." Zhu Yu reached out and placed his hand on her Dantian, "The Sword Embryo Realm is complete; you can now begin cultivating Sword Qi."
Zhu Yu felt a little emotional.
A Sword Saint is indeed a Sword Saint.
Her cultivation speed was far beyond what ordinary people could compare to.
For an average Sword Cultivator, it would take at least one or two years to go from the initial stage to the Sword Embryo Realm.
Three or four years wouldn't be surprising for many.
But her?
Two months!
Once her state of mind stabilized, her progress was incredibly fast!
No comparison, no comparison at all!
No wonder she was a Sword Saint.
Hearing Zhu Yu's words, Su Jinxue was so happy she almost jumped up.
For the past two months, she had strictly followed her Master's requirements, getting up before dawn every day to practice basic sword forms.
From the initial "stab," "chop," and "lift," to later water sword moves like "Flowing Blade" and "Stone Piercer."
Every movement had to be repeated thousands of times.
Of course, her Master emphasized cultivating the heart most of all.
The sword moves with the heart, and the heart is like still water.
"However." Zhu Yu's tone shifted, "Before I teach you Sword Qi, I'll test you first."
Su Jinxue immediately straightened her back, like a serious soldier.
"Recite the Seven Realms of Sword Cultivation."
"Sword Embryo, Sword Qi, Sword Aura, Sword Domain, Sword Soul, Heavenly Sword, and Saint Ascension!"
She recited it without a single mistake, looking expectantly at her Master.
Zhu Yu nodded: "What is the most important thing for a Sword Cultivator?"
"Mindset!" Su Jinxue answered without hesitation, "Cultivate the heart before cultivating the sword; if the heart is not righteous, the sword will be evil."
This answer brought a hint of gratification to Zhu Yu's eyes.
Over the past two months, he had taken time every day to talk with his little disciple, slowly guiding her through the knots in her heart.
Although hatred wouldn't easily dissipate, at least she had learned to control her emotions.
"Last question." Zhu Yu said with a smile, "If an enemy were to attack right now, what would you do?"
Su Jinxue pondered for a moment, then said loudly:
"First, first protect Master's roasted chicken!"
"Wrong! It's to protect yourself, then find an opportunity to take it down!"
"When a Sword Cultivator encounters an enemy, they should remain calm and act later to strike first."
Zhu Yu pinched her little face.
Whose playful nature did she pick up?
Where did his stern little Sword Saint go?
Su Jinxue's eyes curved into crescent moons, laughing with a "hoo-hoo-hoo."
She enjoyed her Master's half-reproachful, half-affectionate interaction.
"This disciple remembers!"
The bonfire by the lake crackled.
The aroma of roasted chicken wafted through the mountains and forest.
Su Jinxue secretly glanced at her Master, who was turning the pheasants over, her small hands constantly twisting the hem of her clothes.
"Ma-Master..." She mustered her courage and moved half a step closer, "Can... can I sit a little closer?"
Zhu Yu patted the grass beside him without lifting his head:
"Come."
The little girl immediately hopped over like a joyful deer, sitting closely beside him, her shoulder touching his arm.
Her childlike nature was unleashed.
The little wildcat from before had completely shed her initial wariness and become increasingly clingy.
"Here." Zhu Yu tore off a piece of the tenderest chicken wing meat and offered it to her mouth.
Su Jinxue, however, shook her head, her small hand pushing Zhu Yu's wrist: "Ma-Master, you eat first!"
Zhu Yu wanted to tease her:
"What, do you dislike Master's roasted chicken?"
"No, no!" Su Jinxue waved her hands frantically, her little face flushed red, "It's... it's because your disciple wants to show filial respect to Master!"
"Filial respect?" Zhu Yu couldn't help but laugh, pinching her slightly rounder cheek, "You little girl, your feathers aren't even fully grown yet, and you're already thinking about showing filial respect to Master?"
Su Jinxue puffed out her chest indignantly: "Your, your disciple is already a big girl!"
She counted on her fingers: "I can practice sword, I can make fire, and I can even hunt with Master!"
Zhu Yu looked at her serious expression, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes.
His little disciple had indeed grown a lot.
Not only had her swordsmanship improved rapidly, but she had also learned life skills quite well.
"Alright, alright, alright~" Zhu Yu ruffled her hair, "We'll talk about filial respect when you truly grow into a big girl. For now..."
He tore off a chicken leg and put it in her hand.
"First eat this chicken leg, growing tall is important."
Su Jinxue held the chicken leg, her small mouth pouting high:
"Your, your disciple will grow up quickly! When your disciple becomes the number one Sword Cultivator in the world, I'll let Master enjoy a peaceful life! I'll roast chicken for Master every day!"
The world of a child was so simple.
Her grand declaration made Zhu Yu chuckle:
"Then this Master will look forward to enjoying that."
Then he shook his head and sighed:
"But given your greedy nature, I'm afraid all the roasted chicken will end up in your own belly."
"No, no way!" Su Jinxue's face turned red, and she declared loudly, "Your, your disciple will definitely give Master the biggest chicken leg!"
Seeing her solemn pledge, a warm current surged in Zhu Yu's heart.
Over the past two months, this little girl, who was once filled with hatred, had gradually learned to care for others.
Although her speech was still halting, her innocent heart was pure and touching.
However, this was also due to this Master's proper education!
Hey, I really am a good teacher!
Those years as a teacher weren't in vain!
"Then this Master will wait and see." Zhu Yu said with a smile, tearing off another chicken leg, "Now, let's deal with these two pheasants first."
"Master, you eat! Your disciple already has one!"
The little girl was already putting her vow into practice.
Zhu Yu could no longer hide his smile and burst into hearty laughter.
A warm breeze brushed across the lake, and the laughter of the Master and disciple echoed through the mountains and forest.
Su Jinxue secretly nudged closer to Zhu Yu again.
Only when she was almost leaning into her Master's embrace did she contentedly gnaw on her chicken leg.
At this moment.
Zhu Yu suddenly wished that this game could be longer... much longer...