『 [ Good, that's exactly the kind of spirit we need. ]
Hearing March 7th's confident words, Yanqing immediately praised her.
[ Yanqing, I'll leave March in your hands. Don't go too easy on her. ]
Dan Heng glanced at March 7th, then instructed Yanqing.
[ Dan Heng, do you even have a heart? Did you lose it somewhere? ]
[ Speaking of which, where is Yunli? ]
March 7th retorted to Dan Heng, and then suddenly remembered her other master, Yunli.
[ I've found a quiet spot in the back garden of the Palace of Astrum for our first lesson together. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "So soon?"
Stelle: "We said we'd practice swordplay today, but to start right away?"
Yunli: "If we don't seize the time to teach her before the Wardance begins, how can we talk about letting her defeat an opponent with swordplay?"
Yanqing: "Indeed, swordplay is not something that can be mastered overnight."
Yanqing: "It requires a vast amount of time to learn, and then to integrate and comprehend."
Yanqing: "Therefore, we must race against the clock to give Miss March rigorous instruction before the Wardance arrives!"
March 7th: "Uh-oh, this is bad."
March 7th: "That sounds incredibly exhausting…"
Furina de Fontaine: "Hahaha, is Miss March 7th thinking of backing out?"
March 7th: "Not really."
March 7th: "After all, I've long wanted to practice a style of swordplay that would shock the heavens and move the gods!"
March 7th: "It's just that I feel my upcoming days might be quite… fulfilling."
March 7th: "Sigh, if only the real-world me could automatically learn everything the video-me learns after she finishes her lessons, how wonderful that would be!"
Stelle: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, stop dreaming."
....
『 After a short while, March 7th said goodbye to Stelle and Dan Heng, and followed Yanqing to the small garden for her lessons.
[ Arriving late with your disciple on the very first day of class… Since when have the rules of the Luofu become so lax? ]
[ Sigh… It truly breaks this master's heart. ]
Yunli had already been waiting in the garden. Seeing Yanqing arrive with March 7th, she deliberately put on the airs of a master, showing a disappointed expression.
[ Ah, Master Yunli is already here. ]
[ Sorry to keep you waiting! ]
Seeing that Yunli seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, March 7th felt a bit embarrassed.
[ You weren't planning to teach her secretly all by yourself, were you? ]
[ How despicable! ]
Yunli nodded to March 7th, then looked at Yanqing with indignation.
[ Let me show you the thorough etiquette of the Luofu people when it comes to teaching disciples! ]
[ Even if she is a disciple, I will personally fetch her. ]
[ As the host, I will impart the essence of Luofu swordplay to Miss March, and then let her win a grand victory on the stage. ]
[ When that time comes, you won't be able to criticize the merits of the Luofu swordplay anymore! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "Haha, are the two young masters already competing with each other?"
Hu Tao: "I feel like Miss March 7th will not only have to be a disciple next, but also act as a mediator!"
Paimon: "The master personally goes to fetch the disciple?"
Paimon: "Isn't the etiquette of the Xianzhou Luofu a bit too thorough?"
Yanqing: "Of course, our Luofu has always been a land of etiquette!"
Yanqing: "Haha, Yunli, on this point, I have already won by a landslide compared to you, who just stood in the garden putting on masterly airs while waiting for your disciple!"
Yanqing: "How can you compete with me?"
Yunli: "Don't get ahead of yourself!"
Yunli: "Did you think I came unprepared?"
Yunli: "Just you wait!"
Yunli: "I DEFINITELY KNOW HOW TO TEACH A DISCIPLE BETTER THAN YOU!!"
March 7th: "Uh… Masters, harmony brings wealth!"
Stelle: "Lmao, I can't wait to see March caught in the middle, in a total dilemma."
....
『 [ Stand aside, rookie. Let me show you how we Zhuming swordmasters treat their apprentices. ]
[ March 7th, come here. This is a reverse apprenticeship gift from your master. I hope you make good use of it. ]
Yunli smiled disdainfully, then took out a set of gorgeous clothes and placed them in March 7th's arms.
[ Is this… Xianzhou attire? ]
[ It's so beautiful! ]
The clothes gifted by Yunli were of an elegant, classical style, and the fabric and craftsmanship were clearly of great value, making March 7th fall in love with them at first sight!
[ Swordplay requires coordination of body movement and footwork. This outfit is tailored to fit snugly, making it easy to move around. ]
[ I also specially prepared some small accessories, which took quite a bit of my effort. ]
As she spoke, Yunli took out some exquisite ornaments, placing them together into March 7th's hands.
Seeing this, March 7th smiled so wide her mouth could barely close!
[ Master Yunli is so good to me! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Holy crap~"
Stelle: "Talk about a sugar-coated bullet!"
Stelle: "Yunli played this hand so well!"
Stelle: "A reverse apprenticeship gift… it strikes right at March's heart!"
Stelle: "Are the perks of being a disciple this good nowadays?"
March 7th: "Eh??"
March 7th: "I actually get such beautiful new clothes just for being a disciple?!"
March 7th: "Wow, thank you so much, Master Yunli!"
March 7th: "I absolutely love these clothes!"
Yunli: "Hmph… as expected of my taste!"
Yunli: "These clothes will definitely look perfect on you!"
Lumine: "I've only ever heard of disciples showing filial piety to their masters. I didn't expect it to be completely reversed when it comes to Miss March 7th…"
Lumine: "I must say, I'm so envious!"
Yanqing: "Curse you, Yunli! You actually used underhanded methods to draw closer to Miss March!"
Yanqing: "You are too despicable!"
Yunli: "Lmao, me, despicable?"
Yunli: "This is merely a small benefit from a master to her disciple!"
Yunli: "On the other hand, you didn't prepare anything for your disciple, yet you dare say you care for her?"
Yanqing: "Hmph, if you can think of it, then I can think of it even better!"
Yanqing: "Don't get too smug. I will definitely do better than you, so Miss March will like me as her master even more!"
Qingque: "Hehehe, your way of teaching disciples is truly unique."
Qingque: "I've seen disciples vying for a master's favor, but masters vying for a disciple's favor is truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight."
Stelle: "Well, March gets all the benefits anyway."
Stelle: "If I knew there were gifts and new clothes to be had just by apprenticing to learn swordplay, I wouldn't mind doing it either!"
Silver Wolf: "Are you doing it to practice swordplay? You're clearly just greedy for money!"
Stelle: "Is there a difference?"
Stelle: "As long as I get benefits, it's fine!"
....
『 [ See that? How can you compare to me? ]
[ I will make March 7th learn the essentials of Zhuming swordplay, and let her win on the stage with my sword, hmph. ]
After giving the items to March 7th, Yunli looked at Yanqing with a smug expression.
[ I didn't come unprepared either. ]
Seeing this, Yanqing was not panicked at all.
Because he had also prepared long ago!
[ Eh? Master Yanqing also has a gift for me? ]
Hearing that there seemed to be another gift, March 7th immediately looked at Yanqing with anticipation.
[ Since Miss March is here to learn swordplay, she must have a handy weapon. I stayed up all night to procure a pair of twin swords. ]
[ Unfortunately, time was tight, and there wasn't enough time to ask a craftsman to customize them. ]
[ I could only do my best to select weapons that look beautiful and have a weight distribution suitable for beginners. ]
[ If Miss March doesn't mind them, that would be wonderful. ]
After Yanqing finished speaking, he handed a pair of simple, elegant longswords adorned with peach blossoms to March 7th.
[ Thank you, Master Yanqing! ]
Taking the swords, March 7th immediately beamed with joy and thanked Yanqing. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Ah, this…"
Stelle: "Giving clothes wasn't enough, even swords are provided?"
Stelle: "Isn't this treatment a bit too good?"
March 7th: "WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF TWIN SWORDS!!"
March 7th: "MASTER YANQING IS TRULY THOUGHTFUL!!"
March 7th: "I like them very much!"
Yanqing: "I'm glad you like them!"
Yanqing: "In a bit, I'll go to the Artisanship Commission and buy them according to the appearance of the twin swords in the video!"
Yunli: "What's there to be smug about?"
Yunli: "I'LL TAKE SOME TIME TO MAKE A FEW MORE BEAUTIFUL OUTFITS FOR MARCH!!"
Yunli: "I will definitely outdo you completely!"
Li Sushang: "Masters competing to buy gifts…"
Li Sushang: "Isn't this the happiest disciple ever?"
Guinaifen: "The treatment is too good, so good that I'm drooling with envy…"
March 7th: "Speaking of which… with both masters giving me things like this, I feel a bit embarrassed…"
Himeko: "Haha, then our little March must study hard, so as not to let down the kind intentions of your two young masters."
Welt Yang: "Hehe, indeed, you should put more heart into it."
March 7th: "Don't worry, Himeko-jie, Uncle Yang! Since both masters treat me with sincerity, I definitely won't let them down!"
....
『 [ Didn't expect that, did you, Yunli? ]
Seeing March 7th's joyful expression, Yanqing crossed his arms and looked at Yunli proudly.
[ Hmph, the real competition has only just begun. ]
Seeing Yanqing's smug expression, Yunli couldn't help but snort coldly.
[ This apprenticeship is truly worth it! ]
[ But why do I feel like things are starting to take a strange turn? ]
Looking at the two teachers competing with each other, March 7th couldn't help but sigh. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Of course it's worth it. You haven't even started learning, and you've already received two gifts."
Qingque: "If all masters in the world were as generous as these two, disciples would probably be everywhere."
Paimon: "I also want to apprentice under a generous master…"
Lumine: "Then what would you apprentice to learn?"
Venti: "Hehe, I guess for Paimon, what she learns isn't important."
Venti: "What's important is what gifts the master will give her."
Hu Tao: "Hahaha, exactly, that fits Paimon's personality perfectly."
Paimon: "Hey, you two, don't make me sound like a selfish person who only likes gifts!"
Paimon: "If… if Paimon were to apprentice, I would definitely study very, very seriously!"
Paimon: "But I'm clumsy… maybe I wouldn't be able to graduate in the end?"
Yoimiya: "Whether Paimon is clumsy or not seems to depend on how interested she is in something."
Yoimiya: "She learns things she's interested in super fast!"
Lumine: "Exactly, Paimon is just like that!"
....
『 For the upcoming lessons, March 7th went to change her clothes.
A moment later, March 7th, now in her new attire, returned to the garden.
[ How is it, Masters? ]
[ Is this outfit suitable? ]
March 7th walked up to Yunli and Yanqing, showing off her outfit to them.
[ Mhm, mhm! As expected of the clothes I meticulously selected, they suit a beautiful young swordswoman like you perfectly! ]
Yunli sized March 7th up carefully, nodding repeatedly with satisfaction. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oho, this outfit suits March incredibly well."
Stelle: "After putting on these clothes, even her aura has changed."
March 7th: "Really?"
March 7th: "I also think it looks beautiful; it really brings out my temperament!"
Silver Wolf: "Uh… after March 7th changed into this outfit, she gives me a kind of silly vibe…"
Stelle: "Hahahahaha, you hit the nail on the head!"
Stelle: "This outfit amplifies her silly, adorable aura even more!"
Stelle: "Verdict: super cute!"
March 7th: "What do you mean… the 'different aura' you felt is just you thinking I look sillier?"
March 7th: "No way!"
March 7th: "This outfit clearly makes me look even more beautiful!"
March 7th: "It has the aura of a legendary heroine!"
March 7th: "Masters, wouldn't you agree?"
Yunli: "Of course!"
Yunli: "After March put on the clothes I carefully selected, she looks just like a heroine!"
Yunli: "It perfectly fits my reasonable fantasy of a beautiful young heroine!"
Yanqing: "And holding the twin swords I specially selected, she possesses the heroic spirit of a generation's heroine!"
Furina de Fontaine: "To be honest, the 'heroine' feeling isn't very strong yet."
Furina de Fontaine: "Maybe because Miss March 7th hasn't learned swordplay yet, so she lacks that unique aura?"
Furina de Fontaine: "But Miss March 7th in this outfit is truly super cute!"
Hu Tao: "Mhm, mhm, indeed very cute!"
....
『 [ Enough small talk, let's begin our lesson. ]
[ This gentleman next to me is a Cloud Knight instructor I invited. For this first lesson, try exchanging a few blows with him. ]
Yanqing called over a Cloud Knight soldier and spoke to March 7th.
[ Eh? Why is the very first lesson a practical combat training?! ]
[ Isn't that a bit too aggressive? ]
Starting with practical combat right off the bat gave March 7th quite a scare! 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "EH??!!"
March 7th: "Masters, this isn't right, is it?"
March 7th: "I'm a complete newbie!"
March 7th: "Do you know what a newbie is?"
March 7th: "The kind of person who knows absolutely nothing!"
Boothill: "Holy fudge, starting with real weapons right away?"
Boothill: "Nice! Professional!"
Boothill: "By the muddlefudger, they're clearly teaching real, practical skills!"
Stelle: "It's over, March is going to get thrashed!"
Stelle: "Maybe this is the downside of receiving gifts…"
Yanqing: "You misunderstand."
Yanqing: "The reason for doing this is actually to see Miss March's current martial arts foundation."
Yanqing: "Only by understanding Miss March's martial arts foundation can we better formulate a teaching method suitable for her."
Yunli: "Yanqing is right."
Yunli: "As a master, one must thoroughly understand the disciple's martial arts foundation."
Paimon: "Ah… so there's such a big reasoning behind it. I've really learned something new!"
Xiangling: "It's actually quite easy to understand."
Xiangling: "Just like before teaching someone how to cook, you have to see how their usual cooking skills are, so you can better teach them according to their aptitude."
Yunli: "Exactly!"
March 7th: "So the masters didn't purposely find someone to crush my confidence first?"
March 7th: "Then I can rest easy."
....
『 [ I heard you've practiced archery and have a foundation in martial training, so the first lesson is naturally to test whether your foundation is solid. ]
[ Come, take a step forward, and strike with your sword in the most comfortable way you can imagine! ] 』
『 ....』