Dongfang Huaizhu wriggled her body, trying to move her wrists to swing the sword, aiming to achieve seamless integration of herself and the sword in one go. However, fate was against her. This heavy sword seemed to have a mind of its own and just wouldn't follow her movements. The sword blade veered left and right, and together with Dongfang Huaizhu's peculiar posture, the scene was rather ridiculous.
Before long, she gave up all the fancy moves and decided to start from the most basic ones. Dongfang Huaizhu adjusted her mindset again, relaxed her body, and started anew. This time, it wasn't as difficult as before, but her unsmooth movements betrayed her inexperience.
As Dongfang Huaizhu continued to practice, her confidence waned. But she didn't give up. She knew that if her sword - dancing failed to catch Wangquan Baye's eye, the plot wouldn't develop as it should, which might lead to serious consequences. She practiced from evening until it was completely dark. She only stopped when Dongfang Qinlan, who had been out playing wildly for an afternoon, called out to her.
"Sister, what are you doing? Stop for a while. Look, your forehead is all sweaty!" Dongfang Qinlan's clear voice was urgent and full of concern.
Dongfang Huaizhu placed the sword in her hand on the stone table in the yard. After moving her sore wrists, she found that her whole body ached.
"I'm fine, Qinlan. What did you do this afternoon?" Dongfang Huaizhu asked as she walked towards the house.
Dongfang Qinlan trotted up, her voice still tinged with the excitement of unfinished fun. "Seventeenth senior brother took me to the back mountain to catch snakes today. There were also tigers!"
Dongfang Huaizhu sighed. Her younger sister was really tough. Even as a child, she played dangerous games like snake - catching.
Before she could finish her sigh, she heard Dongfang Qinlan say again, "The snakes weren't very fun. Their venom wasn't strong at all, but they were really delicious when roasted with divine fire." After saying that, she licked her lips with an air of lingering enjoyment.
Dongfang Huaizhu, who had just walked into the house and was about to sit on the chair, paused. "Qinlan, you mustn't be so reckless in the future. Girls should be more reserved."
"Humph, okay, okay. Sister has told me this many times. My ears are getting calloused!" Dongfang Qinlan pouted.
Dongfang Huaizhu couldn't help but smile. She let out a few clear laughs and comforted Dongfang Qinlan, "Alright, I won't say anymore. As long as you're happy, Qinlan."
"However, when you grow up and are alone outside, you must be more careful. You can't be as high - profile as you are in the Divine Fire Villa."
Dongfang Huaizhu patiently admonished her. The little one was young and had little patience. She didn't know if the girl had listened. Dongfang Huaizhu sighed.
"Qinlan, haven't you had dinner yet?"
"Yes, sister. I played in the back mountain for a long time. Now that you mention it, I'm really hungry!" Dongfang Qinlan rubbed her stomach.
Dongfang Huaizhu called the servant to prepare dinner.
Before long, a table full of dishes was served. Dongfang Huaizhu was extremely anxious because of the sword - dancing, so she only took a few hasty bites. Qinlan, on the other hand, had a good appetite and ate a lot of each dish.
Seeing her younger sister's good appetite, Dongfang Huaizhu felt much better. She picked up her chopsticks and ate a few more bites before stopping.
After they finished dinner, Dongfang Huaizhu told Dongfang Qinlan to go back to her room and get ready for bed, while she herself still planned to continue practicing sword - dancing in the yard.
The gentle evening breeze blew, lifting the corner of her clothes as if it were a lover's gentle caress.
"I wonder if I can succeed this time..." Dongfang Huaizhu sighed softly at the moon. Her figure while sword - dancing seemed to glow in the moonlight.
It had only been about three days, but Dongfang Huaizhu had been practicing the sword day and night. She had lost weight.
On this day, during a break while Dongfang Huaizhu was practicing the sword, an alarm suddenly went off in her mind.
[Warning! Warning! If you fail to catch Wangquan Baye's eye with your sword - dancing on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the plot will collapse and restart!]
Dongfang Huaizhu was startled by this sudden warning. Then the nervousness in her heart spread, overwhelming her emotions.
Soon it was the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the day of their appointment. Dongfang Huaizhu had no choice but to brace herself and go.
Dongfang Huaizhu walked all the way to the place where they had agreed to meet. Sure enough, she saw Wangquan Baye waiting in the pavilion.
"Today is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. I wonder which lucky girl has an appointment with the young master by this river?" Dongfang Huaizhu walked behind him.
"Of course, it has to be the most beautiful girl who comes to meet me." Wangquan Baye turned around and let out a few hearty laughs.
"Oh? Then I have to step up."
"Naturally. Please, miss." Wangquan Baye led her to a double - decked passenger ship and took her hand to help her on board.
Dongfang Huaizhu was startled by his sudden act of holding her wrist. Even though she was thick - skinned, a blush crept up to the tips of her ears.
"Miss, come here." Wangquan Baye stood still on the ship and waved to her.
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month was the Magpie Bridge Festival. There were pairs of lovers by the river releasing lanterns. It was said that if you wrote your wish on a piece of paper and released a sky lantern, your wish would come true.
"Miss, why didn't you bring a lantern to release?" Wangquan Baye turned his head and asked.
"I never believe in such things. A so - called wish shouldn't be left to fate. One should fulfill it on their own."
Hearing her words, Wangquan Baye seemed to be lost in thought. He murmured, "Yes, one should fulfill it on their own..."
Dongfang Huaizhu stared into his eyes. "With your talent, young master, what can't you do?" It was as if she wanted to look straight into his heart.
"I'm very happy to spend this beautiful day with the miss." Dongfang Huaizhu caught a glimpse of the red tips of his ears and couldn't help but snicker. She didn't expect the highly - skilled swordsman Wangquan Baye to be so shy.
"I'm also very happy to meet the young master on the Magpie Bridge Festival." Dongfang Huaizhu boldly teased him. She saw his face flush red instantly. He opened his mouth clumsily but didn't know what to say.
Dongfang Huaizhu felt a hint of happiness welling up in her heart. Her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Unable to withstand such an offensive, Wangquan Baye changed the subject and said, "Does the promise of the sword - dancing you made a few days ago still count?"
"In that case, would you like to watch me dance the sword?" Dongfang Huaizhu had no choice but to say bravely.
Wangquan Baye stopped controlling the passenger ship and sat down on the spacious deck. "I'd like to watch the miss dance." His eyes seemed to shine.
Under such a gaze, Dongfang Huaizhu blushed. Her heart was filled with sweetness, but soon she couldn't smile anymore.
Even though Dongfang Huaizhu had practiced day and night for many days, her sword - dancing skills still hadn't improved much. Although it was better than at the beginning, her movements were still clumsy, her body extremely uncoordinated, and the cooperation between her and the sword was completely unsmooth. She had to stop after dancing for a while.
Both of them fell silent. No one spoke. After a long while, Wangquan Baye raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. He stood up, bowed to Dongfang Huaizhu, and said, "I have something to attend to. I'll take my leave first."
"I've failed after all." Dongfang Huaizhu looked at Wangquan Baye's back as he flew away on his sword. Her heart was filled with disappointment.
[Warning! Warning! The original plot has collapsed! The plot will restart!]
The warning that had sounded a few days ago rang in her mind again. Dongfang Huaizhu knew that she couldn't escape after all. Then her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.