Jing Jiu didn't raise his head, as he continued grinding the demon bone with a focused expression.
During the high-speed grinding, the demon bone kept on throwing out bone powder onto the table. There seemed to be many glittering crystals in the powder powder.
The young woman could tell that Jing Jiu was not grinding the skin, feeling curious. She even forgot about her sadness, asking, "What are you doing?"
Jing Jiu thought that he shouldn't have withdrawn the formation for fear of hurting this young woman.
Regardless of the relationship between her and Jing Li, it was not good to be so noisy.
The young woman continued to ask while leaning on the windowsill, "Is this the powder made from the jade clay? It looks really pretty. "
Jing Jiu lifted his head and glanced at her, wondering if he should knock her out.
The young woman was taken aback when she saw his face. She covered her mouth reflexively to prevent herself from screaming. "You're really good-looking," she said absentmindedly.
It was indeed an unoriginal statement. Jing Jiu paid no more attention to her and continued sharpening the sword with his head lowered.
The young woman's gaze moved back and forth between Jing Jiu's face and the pile of shiny "powder", murmuring, "That's why my aunt said that a woman's beauty is made up of money."
It was exceedingly extravagant that someone used the soft jade to make the powder. Even though her family was one of the wealthiest in Zhaoge City, she didn't dare have such an idea. In the next moment, she wondered if Brother Li didn't agree to elope with her because she didn't spend enough money and didn't have the chance to use this kind of powder.
"Could … could you give me some of this powder?"
The young woman begged while looking at Jing Jiu, "I don't want to be as good-looking as you, but I'd be happy if I could be one-tenth as good-looking as you."
Jing Jiu of course didn't pay any attention to her. He continued sharpening the sword, trying to make sure that the angle and strength of each strike were perfect.
No matter how rare the scene was, it would become boring after a long time. One hour later, the young woman had finally disappeared from the window.
It could also be because the door of the Jing House was pushed open from the outside.
Jing Shang took his father and his wife to the Zhao Garden outside Zhaoge City to avoid the summer heat. Though the two families had a close relationship and nothing could go wrong, it was nevertheless the garden of another family, and the Zhao Family had a profound foundation in Zhaoge City, which was far beyond the reach of an official of Taichang Temple like Jing Shang. As such, they came back after staying there for about ten days.
Madam Jing took the servants to cook and prepare the dishes. Old Master Jing went to the east wing to check if his bird had lost weight. He was afraid that his grandson would forget to feed it. Jing Shang, on the other hand, brought a bucket and cleaning utensils to the study in advance. He was prepared to scrub the tables and chairs inside like usual. He wanted to make sure that there was not a speck of dust on them.
As long as he was in Zhaoge City, he would do it every day.
Therefore, no matter which time Jing Jiu came, what he saw was the same spotless and unchanged study.
Jing Shang pushed open the door of the study and confirmed that there was no change in the furnishings today, except for one more person. He said in surprise, "Ah! You … you're back? "
Jing Jiu was focused on sharpening the sword, so he didn't want to be disturbed. But he felt that he should say something when he saw the bucket in Jing Shang's hand and the rag hanging on his arm.
Jing Jiu was about to tell Jing Jiu that he had worked hard over the years, but he felt that he had said it before. "Have you eaten?" he asked.
The Jing family had just come back from the Zhao Garden outside Zhaoge City, so they hadn't eaten yet. The smell of rice and vegetables in the kitchen was proof of that.
Jing Shang misunderstood Jing Jiu's intention, and invited him to the living room to eat with him.
Jing Jiu didn't want to waste his time on something as boring as eating; but he still followed Jing Shang to the living room, intending to spend the precious time gossiping with this family.
Jing Jiu was not good at gossiping. Looking at the silver-haired and embarrassed expression on his father's face, Jing Jiu nodded slightly, thinking that the magic pills given by Gu Qing were quite good.
Jing Li bowed to Jing Jiu respectfully, his eyes full of admiration.
Jing Jiu didn't ask Jing Jiu about his study and Cultivation with the Prince Jing Yao. "It's a bit slow," he said after shooting Jing Jiu a couple of glances. "You'd better go to Aoyama if you can't."
Hearing this, Jing Shang felt pleasantly surprised, wondering how he could have such a chance in the Immortal State.
Yet, Jing Li felt frustrated. He was already in the Inherited Will State, and Jing Yao of the royal family was far inferior to him. Even Gongfeng Jin in the Royal Palace said that he had an outstanding talent, but it was considered slow. Another possibility was that he might go to Aoyama. Though he knew it was a rare chance in the Immortal State, he would have to part ways with Shi 'er if he went there.
… …
… …
Jing Jiu didn't know what Jing Li was thinking about; but he wouldn't care even if he knew.
The Principal Guard of Aoyama opened the door for him, and he could learn the sword work from him as long as he was willing to do so. It was a good beginning for any Cultivation practitioner.
Yet, the Cultivation depended on each person himself, no matter who led the way.
Everybody had their own ideas, so it was not a pity.
Jing Jiu returned to the study room and continued sharpening the sword. His hands moved faster and faster, and soon he had made up for the time he had wasted in the living room.
The friction between his arm and the piece of demon bone gave off a faint sound, and it gave off a warm feeling, which was quite pleasing to the ears.
At least it was pleasing to the ears for him, and it could even be called wonderful.
In the next three days and nights, he didn't rest for a moment, and he didn't even change his posture.
It wasn't until he heard the footsteps outside the window.
Jing Jiu halted his movement, feeling a bit sore in his arm.
This was a rare occurrence for him.
The piece of demon bone was indeed too hard; it was mostly because his movements were too fast.
If one friction was counted as one wielding the sword, he had wielded the sword at least a hundred thousand times in the last three days and nights.
Even the most idiotic swordsman would be able to understand the essence of sword work after wielding the sword so many times in such a short time, let alone Jing Jiu.
After sharpening the sword for three days and nights, he had a new understanding of the sword work, and he had also consumed a great deal of his energy.
"Pour me a cup of tea," said Jing Jiu.
The Jing family naturally wouldn't disturb him. It was the young girl who came to the window.
She was the youngest granddaughter in the manor, and had always been doted on by her grandfather. She wouldn't touch any water in any season, including tea, let alone water in the spring.
Normally, she should lose her temper when she heard what Jing Jiu said, or at least act a bit delicate. However, she pushed open the door of the study room and poured a cup of tea for Jing Jiu; it was unclear if it was because she wanted the "cosmetics" or for other reasons, but she pushed open the door of the study room and poured a cup of tea for Jing Jiu, and then stood by the side obediently.
Jing Jiu took the cup of tea and took a sip. He lowered his gaze and asked, "You know me?"
The young girl revealed an uneasy expression, and said in a trembling voice, "I know you are Immortal Master Jing Jiu."
Jing Jiu thought of Liu Ci and Zhuo Rusui's habits, and found that this was very convenient, so he responded with an "Hmm."
The word "Hmm" was very interesting. As the intonation rose and fell, it could express countless meanings.
Sometimes it meant agreement, and sometimes it meant doubt, and sometimes it meant anger. The ending of the intonation was also slightly raised, but it could also be used to ask and provoke.
For the lazy people of the Aoyama Sect, this was indeed a skill that they should master.
Jing Jiu was of course asking questions.
The young girl said timidly, "I heard from Brother Li that you are his little uncle, and he said that you are like a real immortal. I remembered that it was you after I returned to the manor that day."
"Hmm?" asked Jing Jiu.
The young girl said hastily, "Brother Li didn't tell me anything else, and I didn't tell anybody else that you were in Zhaoge City."
"Hmm," said Jing Jiu.
The young girl felt relieved. Looking at the pile of shiny powder on the table, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you doing?"
"Sharpening the sword," said Jing Jiu.
The young girl was taken aback, wondering where the sword was.
"Don't come here again," said Jing Jiu.
The young girl knew that this was her last chance. She summoned up her courage and was about to say what she had been thinking about for three days.
"Don't say it."
Jing Jiu said, "I don't want to hear any story. Tell Jing Li that I drank a cup of tea from you, and that's it."
The young girl was taken aback again, but she suddenly understood what Jing Jiu meant. She thanked him profusely and ran out of the study room to look for Jing Li.
Jing Jiu set down the teacup and resumed sharpening the sword.
This cup of tea was cold, and it had been left there for three days and three nights.
If the young girl had noticed this, Jing Jiu might have done more, like asking the royal palace to issue an imperial decree to appoint the marriage.
…
…
In the early autumn, Jing Jiu had finally finished sharpening the demon bone, turning it into a pile of bone powder on the table.
Jing Jiu walked to the front of the window and raised both of his hands, observing and comparing them with the distant sky as the background.
His right arm had been repaired a lot, and it didn't show any obvious deformity; but it was still different from his left arm.
For instance, the knuckles of his fingers were a bit protruding, looking like the candied haws on a stick, and his wrist was a bit twisted.
The twist of his wrist was actually very small. If one didn't observe it carefully, they wouldn't be able to notice it; but Jing Jiu still felt it was an eyesore.
Jing Jiu couldn't tolerate any nails in his eyes, nor could he tolerate any imperfection.
He needed to sharpen the sword further, but the demon bone was gone; where could he find a new whetstone?
The Sword of the Universe broke through the window on the bookshelf and arrived outside the Jing House at a high speed, hitting a green brick softly.
The green brick caved in, and the stone ball rolled down. The State Duke Manor had lost another precious artifact.
A moment later, Duke Lu came to the study room panting, wondering what had happened this time.
"Take it back and drink it. It's good for your health."
Jing Jiu said while pointing to the pile of bone powder on the table, "The taste might be a bit strange. Drink it with strong tea."
(End of this chapter)
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