Chapter 139: The Li Sword and the Imperial Saber

Although the bed was not complete with the bedding nor was it covered in sheets, Qin Xiaoxi was still very comfortable and cozy lying on it.

She placed her hands behind her head and looked at the ceiling.

She wondered how her parents and sister were doing.

She had not seen them for half a month. She thought tp herself, I should find some time to write a letter and send it home.

Qin Xiaoxi yawned and took out a coat from her bag. She put it on and slowly closed her heavy eyelids.

She didn’t have much rest since she woke up early in the morning, which made Qin Xiaoxi a little tired. After a while, she slowly closed her eyes.

After nap time, it was time for the disciples of the Sakura Sect to practice their swordsmanship.

Qin Xiaoxi was woken up drowsily by He Hui’s voice outside the door.

“Xiaoxi, wake up.”

Qin Xiaoxi rubbed her eyes and sat on the bed in a daze for a while.

“Xiaoxi?”

“Coming.” Qin Xiaoxi shook her head, took her grandmother’s sword and opened the door.

He Hui was standing at the door.

“Let’s go. I’ll bring you to meet the junior and senior sisters of the Sakura Sect.” He Hui held Qin Xiaoxi’s arm with a smile and the two of them went out together.

They arrived at the place where the disciples of the Sakura Sect practiced their swordsmanship.

Qin Xiaoxi immediately felt refreshed.

The disciples of the Sakura Sect were divided into two groups. One group carried swords, while the other group carried the thin and long sabers that Qin Xiaoxi had seen at the door.

The disciples with sabers walked in the other direction.

“Why do they have two different weapons on them?”

“This is something you don’t know. Since ancient times, the Sakura Sect has been divided into two branches, namely the Imperial Saber faction and the Li Sword faction. They are led by Elder Xu and Elder Zhang respectively. The Li Sword faction is particular about the coordination of spiritual power and swordsmanship. Concentrate spiritual power between the blades, and fall cherry blossoms by the shadowless sword. The perfect combination of the two makes up for the lack of spiritual power, and also makes up for some mistakes in swordsmanship.”

Qin Xiaoxi nodded, but in reality, she didn’t understand it at all.

“Then this Imperial Saber…”

“The Imperial Saber… is not simple as well. The way of the Imperial Saber uses one’s own spiritual power to strengthen the weapon. In addition, the saber technique flexible with attacking, retreating and defending. Although the weapons are different, the spiritual power techniques of the Sakura Sect are all the same. It’s just a matter of how you use them.”

“I don’t quite understand.” Qin Xiaoxi scratched her head in embarrassment

“You’ve just arrived, so it’s normal that you don’t understand. I’m considered their senior sister. In the future, you can ask me if there’s something you don’t understand.” He Hui smiled.

“Then, Sister Hui, how come I’ve never seen the kind of saber they’re using before?”

“You mean this? This saber actually originated from a foreign land, and it was called a katana. After being modified by the Sakura Sect, it became like this. The modified katana was of moderate length and was suitable for women to use. Compared to other large sabers, it has the advantage of being light, sharp, and very solid. Moreover, in many cases, swordsmanship is also very flexible when used on this katana.”

Qin Xiaoxi nodded and turned her gaze to the sword in her hand.

“Your sword… is really beautiful.”

He Hui’s gaze fell on Qin Xiaoxi’s sword. It was apparent that she had been attracted by the patterns and decorations on Qin Xiaoxi’s scabbard.

“This has been passed down in my family,” Qin Xiaoxi replied.

He Hui nodded, her eyes filled with envy. At this moment, the Sakura Sect disciples in front had already started their training. The pace and speed of their sword swings were almost synchronized.

“Here take a look.”

“Sure.” He Hui nodded happily and then took Qin Xiaoxi’s sword.

She held the hilt with one hand and caressed the jade and patterns on the scabbard with the other.

In the next second, she pulled the sword out of the scabbard.

Then, a cold light flashed on her face.

“The sword is not out yet, but the cold light arrived first. It’s a good sword.” After He Hui finished admiring it, she put the sword back into the scabbard and handed it to Qin Xiaoxi. Then, she pulled out her own sword.

“You’ve just arrived, and your progress is different from theirs. Let me teach you some basics first.”

“Don’t we learn how to use spiritual power?” Qin Xiaoxi was a little puzzled.

“Haha…” He Hui laughed when she heard this, as if she had remembered something, she said, “When I first came here, I asked the same question. However, for the Sakura Sect, both swordsmanship and spiritual power are extremely important. Both are the basics.”

“I see.” Qin Xiaoxi nodded and took out the Yue Maiden Sword. “Then let’s begin, senior sister.”

“I’m still not used to you calling me senior sister… Forget it, watch carefully.” He Hui was a little embarrassed. “Watch carefully.”

“Swordsmanship focuses on the sword being light like the wind…”

He Hui had already begun to dance with the sword in her hand.

“Stab, point, lift, break…”

“Cut, wipe, pierce, and pick!”

He Hui’s dance was as smooth as flowing water.

“These are the most basic fundamentals of swordsmanship. All the complicated moves in the future evolved from them, no matter which sect or faction it is.”

He Hui raised her sword again. The rapidly dancing sword seemed to form a breeze around her. Clean whistling sounds were heard continuously.

Qin Xiaoxi also followed He Hui and brandished the Yue Maiden sword in her hand.

However, no matter how she did it, her movements just didn’t seem to be smooth.

After a while, Qin Xiaoxi’s forehead was already covered in sweat. At this time, He Hui no longer demonstrated for her. She just stood by the side and adjusted Qin Xiaoxi’s posture, helping her correct her mistakes.

The only thing she did not expect was that in just one day, Qin Xiaoxi was actually able to perform with certain accuracy the thirteen basic sword styles. He Hui could not help but marvel at Qin Xiaoxi’s learning speed. Although Qin Xiaoxi’s movements now were not as smooth as water, even He Hui herself had to practice for two weeks before she could roughly grasp it.

Judging from the way Qin Xiaoxi wielded her sword, it seemed that she always had her own characteristics.