Chapter 34: Training with Jian Xinyi
Jian Shen made up a half baked story for his aunt and said that Wuying helped him obtain a cultivation technique and gave him resources as well.
Xinyi didn't think much about the story, since after she had seen the woman guarding Jian Shen from the shadows, she had already guessed that someone had been looking after him.
That night, the aunt and nephew didn't do anything other than eat and talk the whole time.
...
The next day Jian Shen who got used to waking up early, surprised Xinyi who wanted to wake him up early and teach him how hard it would be to train with her.
Luckily, she didn't think too much about it, and asked him to come to the huge empty backyard.
"I know that I've been a bad aunt and haven't been with you when you needed me. But that all ends now! From this day forth I'm going to personally train you, and make sure to help you utilize your potential to its max."
"And to do that, first I need to measure your strength and see with my own eyes how good your talent is."
"Lets first start with trying to get a grasp of your strength."
"Now came at me with your strongest attack, and don't even think about holding back."
Nodding his head, Jian Shen took out the Heavenly Dragon Sword as he shouted, "Here I come!"
"Just a tip, when you fight against a real opponent, never announce that you're about to attack. Just do it."
Not saying anything, Jian Shen just made a mental note of it.
Noticing that the blazing flames covering Jian Shen's sword were bigger and brighter than before, Xinyi understood that his cultivation had broken through during his fight yesterday.
At the same time, she didn't hold back at all and covered her palm in bright violet coloured flames.
The flames didn't look like they were capable of burning anything, instead, they looked like they were made with the intention to hold something back.
Once the sword in Jian Shen's hand was close enough, Xinyi narrowed her eyes and increased the amount of flame in her palms. Because the next second his sword easily cut through more than three fourth of the flames in her palm, and was dangerously close to piercing her skin.
'What a frighteningly strong technique! It was able to slice through my flames so easily.'
From just this one move Xinyi was able to understand how strong Jian Shen's strength was, and how powerful his technique was.
At the same time, she realized one major thing. He lacked experience.
From just his posture, how he swung the sword, and didn't bother to defend or put any distance between them after noticing his attack failed, Xinyi knew that Jian Shen had never been in any real combat situations.
Maybe yesterday was the first time he ever swung his sword against a real person.
Sighing from how bad his foundations were, Xinyi began thinking that she should focus more on refining his combat skills, instead of teaching him more techniques to fight.
"You are strong, there's no doubt in that. However, you lack practice."
Saying so Xinyi used the side of her palm like a knife to strike at Jian Shen's neck.
Noticing the attack, Jian Shen swung his sword at the last moment to try and block it. However, he could only watch as Xinyi's attack reached him first.
Not holding back, Xinyi let her attack hit Jian Shen to help him realize that pain was real, and it hurt to get hit.
"Ahhh!"
For some reason, Jian Shen felt that getting bit by his aunt was worse than being slammed into a wall, because the next second he fell to the floor and hugged the backside of his neck.
"How can you hit me?! You're my aunt!"
"While training don't ever expect for me to hold back, because I'll never do that. Only through the fear of pain, will you be able to sharpen your instincts!"
"Now put that sword away, and forget about training in other techniques for now. You can cultivate during the nights if you want, but the rest of the time we'll be practising with these."
Saying so Xinyi handed Jian Shen who was lying on the floor a wooden sword.
"I'll be using my bare palms, since that's what I am comfortable. You on the other hand, keep on swinging that sword and attack me until your body is covered in sweat and you faint from exhaustion."
Originally, Jian Shen though that she was just joking, but soon realized the truth through pain.
Even if he didn't want to attack her, and wanted to take a break and catch his breath, Xinyi would constantly attack him forcing him to defend unless he wanted to enjoy being hit.
By the time the sun had set, Jian Shen who felt full of energy in the morning from how much he ate yesterday, was now realizing why Xinyi had fed him so much.
And just as expected, after his body fell down from exhaustion, Xinyi said, "That's enough practice for today. Now tell me what you want, because we feast today as well!"
Groaning from frustration, Jian Shen didn't even bother to reply as Xinyi dragged his exhausted body and threw him inside the medicinal bath which had been prepared beforehand.
"Stay in there for as long as possible, I'll have the food ready for us by the time you come out."
At first, Jian Shen didn't understand why he would ever want to leave the cool and refreshing medicinal water, but soon realized why.
It was because the water soon stopped being comfortable, and began burning his skin from the outside, while his entire body felt like it was being baked.
However, at the same time, Jian Shen could feel that his body forgetting all of the tiredness he accumulated throughout the day, making it hard to want and leave.