Chapter 77: When the Time Comes, Come Back and Take a Look

Gai Nie heaves a sigh of upset. We are disciples under the same master, but I am not even close to her level.

Unfortunately, they do not know that the terms Gu Nan told them were actually borrowed from someone else.

Wei Zhuang has been practicing his moves swinging a sword, not saying a word. The harder he swings it, the more resistance he feels from the current. However, should he ever slack off a little bit, the current will easily dismantle his form.

He hates himself for being useless.

The Han kingdom…

Following it comes another heavy thrust.

“Hey, you two, you can come ashore now.”

Gu Nan’s voice journeys across the water from the shore.

In silence, Gai Nie has to regretfully put away his sword considering that he is indeed out of strength.

Then he looks at Wei Zhuang at his side: “Xiao Zhuang, let’s go ashore.”
 

“Give me a minute.” Wei Zhuang grits his teeth, raises his sword, and thrusts his sword toward the center of the waterfall, only to get swept aside by the current half way through the thrust. 

Knowing too well of Wei Zhuang’s temperament, Gai Nie stands aside in silence.

After staring at both people for a while but not seeing their intention to return, Gu Nan frowns and then springs forward.

Then, trailed by only a few ripples behind her, Gu Nan travels across the surface of the water and is already at their side.

Before they realize it, Gu Nan grabs both of them and carries them back to shore.

Seeing the scene before them instantly switched to landscape, Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie are both stunned.

Back to his senses, Gai Nie sheaths his sword without saying a word.

However, Wei Zhuang furrows his brows and reprimands: “What were you doing?”

In response, a linen cloth coats his and Gai Nie’s face.

“I told you to come ashore.” Gu Nan curls up her lip. “Dry your hair, or you will catch a cold.”

Hearing so, for some reason, Wei Zhuang’s gloomy expression eases down and he starts wiping his hair using the linen cloth.

“If you did not interrupt me, I would have almost gained the insight. It is none of your business whether I practice or not…”

“Ah?” Gu Nan stares at Wei Zhuang smilingly: “What did you say?”
 

“No…nothing.”
 

Observing the exchange going on, Gai Nie finds it funny to see Wei Zhuang being so obedient for the first time.

Gu Nan then notices that Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang are still using the bronze swords.

“Did I not tell you to practice with wooden swords? It is too early for you to use metal ones.”

Wei Zhuang shifts his eyes away and speaks faintly: “I do not want to use such ugly looking swords.”
 

Hey, what a brat, Gu Nan’s brows twitch as she is angered by his attitude. He cannot tell good from bad.

Looking at Wei Zhuang, Gai Nie clasps his hands toward Gu Nan: “The current under the waterfall is violent, so Xiao Zhao was afraid that wooden swords may be worn out, and said that we should use bronze swords.”

Worn out? Gu Nan looks at Wei Zhuang in surprise.

A subtle flush flashes over Wei Zhuang’s expression, as he tilts his head backward. “I did not say such thing. “

Gai Nie then speaks in a “low” voice: “Senior sister, please do not ask anymore. He is stubborn and only acting tough.”
 

Wei Zhuang’s face now has completely turned red swelling, due to anger as well as embarrassment. “Like I told you, I never said it!”

“Alright.” Gai Nie nods with a stern look. “You did not say it.”
 

“You bastard!”

Seeing that they are about to get into a fight, Gu Nan hits their heads with a dark look, and they instantly shut up.

“If the wooden swords are worn out, I can make new ones. Now eat!”

The mountain forest in the evening gives off an aesthetic feeling. Maybe it is because the mist has dissipated, making sights clearer as one can easily see the tree trunks dyed red by the afterglows fallen through the leaves.

Faintly through the woods, one can see the horizon glowing of light redness.

In the open field, around a crackling bonfire, Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang each has a roasted fish which tastes fresh despite a lack of seasoning.

“Senior sister, what are those?” Asks Gai Nie looking at the crabs by the fire.

They have weird looking shells all over, and do not seem to have any part edible.

“Crabs.” Gu Nan picks one up, flips open its lid, cleans up the debris, breaks it in half and chews on it.

“Have a try. It is not bad.”
 

Following the same procedure, Gai Nie processes one by himself and puts it in his mouth, its shells hard but flesh tender.

“It is good.”

This attracts Wei Zhuang’s attention. After a moment of hesitation, he tries one and soon agrees to it delicious taste.  

“Not bad.”

The three all eat in a quiet atmosphere. Since Gu Nan is only concerned about eating, Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie do not know how to start a conversation.

Suddenly, Gai Nie asks: “Senior sister, what is your official position in Qin?”

Hearing the question, Gu Nan raises her head suspiciously, wiping her mouth clean: “Why do you ask?”

“It is nothing.” Gai Nie takes another bite of fish. “I just think, given senior sister’s capability, you must be an important figure in Qin.”

An important figure.

Gu Nan smiles dryly. Her master was indeed important.

However, as for her, nobody cares about her.

It is embarrassing to admit; let’s switch to another topic.

Thinking so, she rigidly waves her hand: “Leave me out of it. You two, do you have plans into the future?”
 

“Or,” Gu Nan reveals a “serious” look, “what are your dreams?”

Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang can barely keep up with Gu Nan in the conversation, and are stunned for a moment, as they have no clue how the topic is going their way.

But since Gu Nan has already asked, they still give it a thought.

Gai Nie shakes his head: “Never thought about it.”

Wei Zhuang sneers lightly: “Those are but fantasies. If I have time to dream, I would rather spend it on something meaningful.”

“How about this.”

Gu Nan suddenly smiles. She picks up an unused firewood and splits it into three sections by Guardless.
 

“We put our thoughts on these pieces of wood. Then, after many years, we come back here, dig them up, and see how many we have accomplished. How is it?”

Although Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang are not particularly interested, seeing Gu Nan being enthusiastic about it, they both receive their own piece of wood.

After a long contemplation, the three of them using sword carve down the objects in their mind.

Wrapping them in a piece cloth, they dig up a pit and bury them in it.

They are at a meadow by the riverside, empty and easy to find. Gu Nan sticks a wooden rod as a marker on which she scribbles three figures, one big two small.

Apparently, she has no talent on drawing, as they all look ugly.

“Then, that is the deal.” Gu Nan pats dust off her palms with a smile. “When the time comes, we will come back and take a look.”

The senior sister is more childish than us.

Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie exchange smiles and laughs: “Fine, we will come back and take a look.”