RHRFS 05

Chapter – 05

Senior Sister Qian Ning?

Unknowingly, three days had passed. During these days, He Qiu had made breakthroughs every single day, and his momentum in cultivation grew increasingly fervent, almost to the point of forgetting sleep and food, thirsting for advancement.

To be honest, he had to thank that so-called cultivation “progress bar.” It made He Qiu feel that success was right before his eyes, unlike in his previous life where chasing after a girl felt like climbing a mountain—the road ahead pitch black, with no idea when the affection meter would finally fill up.

Therefore, taking advantage of the “progress bar” in his mind, He Qiu seized every moment and cultivated without wasting a second.

When he finally looked back, He Qiu was startled to realize that he had already cultivated more than half of the sword manual. Out of a total of seventy-seven pages, he had comprehended forty-five. Even he himself couldn’t have imagined that cultivating this sword art would be so simple.

It seems this really is just an ordinary introductory cultivation method…

I was too sensitive. Senior Sister casually gifted me an entry-level manual, and I thought it was some kind of divine scripture, getting all excited for nothing.

When has heaven ever handed out such freebies?

“It seems that the Dragon’s Roar Sect really does hide its dragons and crouch its tigers. From now on, I really need to keep a low profile. I can’t keep acting like some country bumpkin who just rolled into town, gawking at everything and embarrassing myself…”

“Mm. I need to have the vision and bearing befitting a reincarnator.”

With that thought, He Qiu put away the sword manual and continued his practice, drawing his blade.

*Fwing!*

Turning back with a single strike, a silvery-white sword aura burst from the edge, sharply severing a willow branch and leaving a trail of frost on the tree’s root. The icy sword intent lingered for a long time after.

The *Fine Snow Sword Art* emphasized a sword intent as cold as winter and a sword heart as icy as frost. Only then could the sweeping sword aura be as sharp as biting, fine snow—possessing explosive power and penetrative force.

However, He Qiu’s “Void Spirit Meridian” lacked foundation and spiritual energy. So even though he had grasped most of the sword art’s essentials, he couldn’t achieve what the book described as “one swing, a thousand miles of snow.”

The fundamental issue was that while he had learned the sword intent and sword heart correctly, the swordsman’s own configuration was too weak.

“It seems I’ll need to find a way to improve my spiritual energy foundation in the future…”

*Fwing!*

Without warning, another strike. This time, He Qiu aimed his sword aura at the shrubbery to his side. His intuition told him that a spiritual beast’s presence might be hiding there.

Just as the sharp silvery-white sword aura was about to pierce through the bushes, a sudden *clang!* of collision rang out. Several falling leaves had transformed into sharp blades midair and intercepted the attack on the spot.

Sword aura clashed with falling leaves—the leaves won decisively. The beginner He Qiu’s sword aura was utterly powerless against them.

Immediately after, a youthful, natural, and angry girlish voice came from the bushes—

“Hey! You brat, are you trying to assassinate me?!”

She was a cherry-blonde short-haired girl in a crimson skirt, her face flushed with indignation. In her left hand, she held a half-eaten stick of candied hawthorn. It looked like she had been sneaking a snack in the bushes when the sudden sword aura disturbed her.

*Hiss…*

He Qiu sucked in a breath, his heart sinking. He had only wanted to find a spiritual beast to use as target practice, never expecting that there would actually be a cherry-blonde girl hiding in the grass!

He had been careless.

This was a huge misunderstanding.

And judging by that “turning leaves into blades” technique from earlier, her cultivation was probably no small matter. She was likely one of his “senior sister” ranks as well.

So, He Qiu immediately sheathed his sword and bowed his head in apology:

“My apologies, I was practicing alone and didn’t know someone was in the grass.”

“Oh? ‘Disciple’? You’re new?”

The girl gobbled down the remaining candied hawthorn in one bite, chewed and swallowed it in a flash, then pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her rosy lips. She quickly approached He Qiu, circling around him for a careful inspection, occasionally leaning in to gently sniff the scent on him with her nose.

*Hmm…*

It’s Senior Sister Ling Ran’s spiritual energy. There’s a frost-like sword-coldness in his spiritual meridian.

Say, what’s this kid’s background? I’ve never seen him before—a new face, and he seems pretty familiar with Senior Sister Ling Ran.

Pushing aside her thoughts, the girl puffed out her not-so-ample chest, lifted her chin with great confidence, curled the corner of her lips, and introduced herself with a proud look:

“You, listen up!”

“My name is Luo Qianning! A direct disciple under Elder Xue Yin, a Spirit Realm fifth-stage Art Cultivator… And you, who are you?”

“Uh, Junior Brother is also a direct disciple of Elder Xue Yin. My name is He Qiu. I’ve only just begun inner sect cultivation a week ago…”

He Qiu paused, then corrected himself: “So that would make you my Senior Sister.”

“Greetings, Senior Sister Qian Ning.”

Toward a senior sister of higher standing, He Qiu figured he should at least maintain some respect, especially since he had been the one to offend first.

“Wait, what did you just call me?”

As if she had heard something unbelievable, Luo Qianning’s eyes suddenly sparkled. She leaned in with her cute, natural face, staring intently into the boy’s eyes.

He Qiu furrowed his brows slightly, feeling that Senior Sister’s face was too close, and instinctively stepped back two paces.

“I said, I’m also a direct disciple of Elder Xue Yin, just started a week ago—”

“Not that part. What did you say after?”

Taking a step forward with her left foot, Luo Qianning closed the distance again.

Stepping back with his right foot, He Qiu retreated once more:

“Uh, going by seniority, I should be your Junior Brother.”

“Yes, yes! And what should you call me?”

The girl’s eyes sparkled with stars, brimming with anticipation.

Being stared at like that made He Qiu lose his confidence:

“…S-Se-nior Sister?”

“Yes, yes, yes! That’s the one! Say it with my name. Let Senior Sister hear it one more time!”

“Uh…”

As if catching onto something, He Qiu’s gaze gradually turned resistant and reluctant.

He had a feeling that getting tangled up with this little senior sister would be a huge hassle.

“Come on, hurry up, hurry up~ My seniority is above yours, so you have to be a good boy and listen to your big sister, got it?”

“Q-Qian Ning Senior Sister.”

“Mhm mhm! Such a good boy~ My little Junior Brother He Qiu~”

Patting He Qiu’s head with great satisfaction, the girl’s adorable face flushed a cherry-blossom pink, as if she were basking in some immensely blissful feeling.

She seemed to *really* enjoy being called “Senior Sister Qian Ning”?

Catching on to this, He Qiu took two more steps back, very unwilling to get close to this airheaded senior sister of his.

Stupidity was contagious—better to make his escape as soon as possible.

“Um, Q-Qian Ning Senior Sister, Junior Brother still has sword manual cultivation to attend to later, so I won’t disturb you any further…”

“Hehe~ Want Senior Sister to teach you how to cultivate?”

The cherry-blonde girl planted her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and wore a look of utter confidence.

Seeing He Qiu’s reluctant expression as he tried to slip away, the girl decisively stepped forward and grabbed her Junior Brother’s arm:

“Don’t, don’t rush off!”

“Let me tell you a secret, okay? Don’t let my cute and gentle looks fool you—when I get serious, my swordsmanship is amazing too!”

The white-robed youth shook his head, still wanting to leave.

Luo Qianning grabbed her Junior Brother’s arm again, leaning forward with her chest and abdomen:

“Come on, come on, little Junior Brother~ Don’t you really want to spend some alone time with Senior Sister and discuss… the essence of the sword?”