He Yan had always thought that she was pretty good before she went to the Xianchang Dojo.
After entering the Xianchang Dojo, He Yan suspected that she had taken another step forward on her path every day.
Those who entered the Xianchang Dojo were all children of noble families. Not only were they rich and powerful, but their families were also rich. Nouveau riches or families who relied on nobility to survive could not compare to them. He Yuanliang would not have been able to get He Yan in through the back door if he did not maintain a personal relationship with the teacher.
On one hand, He Yan was very happy that she could enter the Xianchang Dojo. On the other hand, she was filled with pain every day she spent in the Xianchang Dojo.
The reason was none other than the fact that compared to the children here, her results were a little too horrible to look at.
The He family taught her to behave like a man outside, but she did not learn much about the inner workings. When she first arrived at the Xianchang Dojo, she did not know anything and often made a fool of herself. Even the teacher could do nothing about it.
If it was the liberal arts, she could read it a few more times, memorize it a few more times, and listen attentively during lectures. She could barely get into the middle class. However, when it came to the martial sciences, she failed miserably.
He Yan had snuck to the back of the mountain to help the monks carry water to practice their hand strength since she was young. She thought that she could do it now. However, the first time she did the martial sciences assessment in the Xianchang Dojo, she became the wonder of the Xianchang Dojo.
She did not pass any of the "bow, saber, and stone" tests. She fell off her horse when she galloped and missed when she shot arrows. Even the teacher shook his head and sighed. The youths around her pointed at her and laughed. Someone said, "He Rufei, are you a girl? Why don't you know anything? Do you usually learn embroidery at home? "
He Yan stood up from the ground in a panic and patted the dust off her body. She thought to herself, 'No, if this goes on, my identity will be discovered. Before my identity is discovered, Madam He will take me back and I will have to stay at home again.' It was better to study hard and practice hard. Only then could she safely stay in the Xianchang Dojo.
Therefore, He Yan began the path of "studying hard and practicing hard".
No one chiseled the wall to steal the light, no one danced when they heard the rooster, and there were also some who hung the beam and stabbed the buttocks. He Yan often scolded in his heart as he practiced. He practiced writing, riding, archery, and saber.
No matter how hard she tried, she could only struggle at the edge of the tail. Thus, those geniuses who didn't need to work hard and could easily take the lead were particularly eye-catching.
Xiao Jue was one of them, and he hated her the most.
This young man was born like Pan Lang, and his family background was so good that he was doted on. That was not all. He entered school on time every day, and was often late. Sometimes, he left early. Usually, he did not put in much effort, but he was always the first in all the arts and martial arts subjects. Even thunder could not shake him.
He Yan was very confused. God had given him beauty and a noble status. Why did he have to give him wisdom? Can't he share some with me?
God did not answer He Yan. She could only tearfully make up for her lack of talent.
Gradually, He Yan's "saber, horse, and bow" began to show results. Although he could not compare to those young men who grew up with their fathers and brothers at home, he did not always get last place. Sometimes, he could even fight for third place from the bottom.
He Yan felt satisfied. Hard work paid off.
At the end of the Xianchang Dojo, the martial arts subjects would divide the weapons. He Yan chose the sword among the sabers and swords. It was not for anything else, but because he felt that a sword was lighter than a saber, and it would not be so strenuous to wield.
However, her swordsmanship was also a mess.
The He Family did not invite a martial arts teacher to teach her in the residence. He Yan did not have any foundation. Even the horse stance was crooked. The swordsmanship teacher of the Xianchang Dojo did not have much hope for her. He only wanted her to look like this. Whether she could defend against the enemy was another matter. Which young master did not bring a few attendants with him when he went out? If there was really danger, the attendants could just go.
He Yan felt that this was not right.
Since she had chosen, she should practice the sword well. The students could only go home two days a month. The rest of the time, they lived in the Xianchang Dojo. She sneaked out at night in the dark and ran to the courtyard of the dojo to practice her swordsmanship.
The dojo was elegantly built. When the moonlight was good, the wind rustled the bamboo forest. A stretch of green meandered. There was the moon, the bamboo cypress, and the red carp in the pond swayed their tails. It was like heaven on earth, a fairyland in a painting. The master practiced her swordsmanship here, waiting for the world to change. She would appear when there was chaos.
He Yan practiced quite happily, if her shoddy swordsmanship was ignored.
She accidentally cut off a corner of her clothes, accidentally hit her head by the scabbard, accidentally tripped, accidentally …
She heard a soft laugh.
In the night, this soft laugh came inexplicably. He Yan got up nervously. Could it be that she saw a ghost?
She saw a person sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard. She did not know when, but someone was sitting there. She was wearing a white robe and embroidered shoes. Her eyes were bright and beautiful. It was the proud child who was favored by the heavens, Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue lowered her head to look at her. She put her hands behind her back and wiped the stains on her clothes. She said with a calm face: "What are you doing here?"
"Watching you practice your swordsmanship." The youth lazily replied.
"What, what is there to see?" She gathered her courage to answer. She never liked to talk to the youths in the Xianchang Dojo. They did not like her and always bullied her.
Xiao Jue looked at her for a while and suddenly stood up. She was caught off guard and the youth was already in front of her. She was a girl and was not as tall as a boy. She could only reach the youth's chest. She raised her head and could see the other party's clear jawline and beautiful eyes that were as gentle and cold as autumn water.
"I was just surprised … …" The youth lightly hooked his lips. He was born handsome and beautiful. When he smiled, the cool night in the courtyard paled in comparison. It was more moving than the moonlight. However, the words he spat out were filled with mockery: "There is actually someone who works so hard and is still a weakling."
He Yan: "… …"
She pushed Xiao Jue away, picked up her sword and ran away. She was angry. The heavens were fair. They gave this youth beauty and talent, but they did not give him a good heart.
This person was too annoying!
After that, He Yan still sneaked into the courtyard every night to practice her swordsmanship. Her thinking was simple. Hard work could make up for one's lack of talent. Hard work was always better than not working hard.
However, what made her angry was that from that day onwards, Xiao Jue also followed her out every night. When she practiced her swordsmanship, he would sit on the stone bench and read and drink tea by the candlelight. She fell until her nose was bruised and her face was swollen. Several pieces of her clothes were torn. He was like the moon and the breeze. His posture was elegant as he calmly watched her make a fool of herself.
She still worked hard to maintain her sprint from the last to the third from the last. He did it effortlessly and was the best at everything.
The hard work was still hard, the easy work was still easy. Spring passed and autumn came. Winter came and summer came. The youth had grown into a young man. The girl had changed her face. The white clouds changed. The sea turned into mulberry fields. The only thing that did not change was the night in the Xianchang Dojo and the crescent moon in the backyard.