When Earth Awakened, I Became a Sword Saintess

Chapter 139 : The Waiting Sister

139: The Waiting Sister

Inside the Swordsman Hall, the shouts of students practicing with their swords and blades were incessant.

"Look at yourselves! What you hold in your hands is the sword, the king of weapons! Although the practice weapons we use are unsharpened, don't treat them like iron clubs! Xia Yuyin uses her sword to strike, that's her showing mercy, not wanting to harm her opponent; that's the mark of a true expert's versatility. And you? You're both freshmen. Do you have even a tenth of her strength? Do you have her kind of swordsmanship? This set of movements, practice it seriously one hundred times according to the standard!"

Liu Xing, holding a wooden sword, walked among the first-year students practicing swordplay, their heads covered in sweat, harshly rebuking any problems she saw without reservation. She had started assisting with teaching new students in her sophomore year due to a shortage of teachers, and she was quite experienced at it.

Liu Xing let the first-year students continue practicing. She walked to a large window of the kendo hall and gazed at the gloomy sky. It had now entered the plum rain season, but amidst the dark clouds, she seemed to see a ray of sunshine breaking through.

"Senior Brother Lingfeng, are you finally coming back? I still have many questions about sword cultivation that I want to ask you." A glimmer of hope flashed in Liu Xing's eyes. To say there wasn't a hint of a young girl's feelings would be unrealistic.

The news that Lan Lingfeng would soon lead the fourth-year Source Martial Practitioners back quickly spread throughout the Academy. Even the usually arrogant students of the Strongman Department became much more low-key. Lan Lingfeng was absolutely not the kind of person who would use his strength to oppress students from other departments, but in the face of such a genius and expert, everyone would unconsciously restrain themselves.

Many third-year students from various departments also began discussing preparations for a welcome event with the Student Council, but Lianyue did not participate. Wang Xuezhang, Liu Xing, and the others were in charge of communication, with Hua Yuanjing making decisions on her behalf.

Many students had also prepared questions they encountered in their cultivation, planning to ask him for guidance. As long as they could meet him, Lan Lingfeng was very generous and would answer anything. Even many teachers were planning to ask him for advice or exchange insights on cultivation and practical combat.

Of course, many female students also planned to take the opportunity to get close to him. For some girls, becoming the girlfriend of the future leader of humanity's Source Martial Practitioners was incredibly tempting. Furthermore, Lan Lingfeng's height, appearance, and aura, along with his magnanimous and warm personality, were truly popular with the girls. As long as a girl liked men, there were very few who didn't like Lan Lingfeng.

In everyone's eyes, Lan Lingfeng was a truly perfect, pure man.

The storm was gathering, the wind sweeping over the peak of East Yushan.

Yuyin, dressed in a thin white blouse and skirt, was practicing her sword alone on the mountaintop.

Now, Yuyin's first layer of the Mysterious Female Sword Art, Sword Maiden's Initial Form, could be said to be completely mastered. Next, she just needed to consolidate and refine it, and then she could begin cultivating the second layer.

Yuyin adjusted her breathing, sheathed her sword, and stood on the mountaintop, her long hair fluttering.

"Lan Lingfeng, my Senior Brother? Hehe... from all accounts, he seems like a very easy-going person, not like most geniuses who are arrogant, cold, and hard to approach. In this, I am not his equal. There's nothing to be done; it's my nature. Besides, who can truly know what I've been through."

Yuyin looked towards the rolling dark clouds at the horizon, in the direction that had no name on the map, where it seemed flashes of spiritual source, invisible to ordinary people, were emanating.

"If my guess is correct, the Two Realms Gate on the edge of Lingdu should be in that area. What exactly is inside?"

"When Senior Brother Lan Lingfeng returns, I also want to properly ask him about the true situation in the Prison Abyss. Regarding swordsmanship, although I feel my comprehension is not low, I lack a similarly skilled expert of a comparable age who also cultivates the sword to exchange insights with. I also have some questions about my cultivation that I want to ask him. I just don't know if he'll have time to see me then. Hehe, no matter."

Yuyin saw the sky growing darker, fearing it was about to rain, but she had no intention of going back.

"I always feel that practicing my sword in the rain gives me a better feeling." Yuyin gently stroked her long hair and brandished her cold sword, which gleamed against the somber sky.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Day by day, time passed. Apart from being busy with various final assessments, the entire school was preparing to welcome Lan Lingfeng and the fourth-year students. This was not just a welcome, but also a farewell.

After returning this time, Lan Lingfeng's cohort would be graduating.

Preparations for the graduation ceremony were also being planned.

The fourth-year students led by Lan Lingfeng did not return three days later, and there was no further news for the time being. According to the plan, they should return by the end of the month at the latest.

Morning, June 30th.

Over the outskirts of Lingdu, which had been gloomy for many days, a touch of brilliant morning glow seemed to reflect in the sky.

Lan Lianyue, dressed in her finest attire, stood alone on the hillside in front of the villa.

Her long hair, black with a hint of sapphire blue, and her beautiful, exquisite dress swayed in the wind.

"Big brother. Today is the day you return. Don't worry, big brother. Today, little sister won't go anywhere. I'll wait for you right here. If you come back, you'll definitely come home to see little sister first, right?"

Lan Lingfeng was meticulous and decisive in his actions and never broke his promises. According to the plan, he would return before the end of the month. If there were any changes, he would definitely notify them in advance. Since there was no notification, he would surely return to the Academy today.

How could Lianyue possibly sit still at home? Standing on this hillside, she could see her brother's return from afar.

"Big brother, without you, little sister feels like she's about to get lost. Hurry, come back soon. Little sister really can't wait any longer."

The wind blew over the hillside again and again. The thick, heavy clouds rolled across the sky above her head. The young girl still stood there, full of hope, waiting, having long forgotten the time.

"Big brother... come back soon." Lianyue's gaze flickered slightly. Unconsciously, it was already afternoon, and the sky was growing even darker.

Inside the villa, a female student from the Student Council who had been taking care of Lianyue ran out with Lianyue's phone, which was still ringing.

"Senior Lian, your phone."

"It's big brother!"

A surge of joy appeared in Lianyue's eyes. At this moment, it felt as if the long wait had been worthwhile! She rarely contacted outsiders directly. Only a few people like Lan Lingfeng knew this number. Who else could be calling at this time?

Lan Lianyue lightly turned around and took the phone from the female student, but she froze.

The caller ID showed: Dean Tong.

She answered the phone with some uncertainty, "Hello, Uncle Tong..."

"Lianyue, the Old Dean and I are on our way here. We'll arrive shortly."

"Has my brother returned? Where is he now?"

"...Lianyue... we'll be there soon... let's... talk after we arrive..." Dean Tong's voice seemed intermittent.

"Hello? Hello?" A busy tone came from the phone. Lan Lianyue put down the phone, her gaze somewhat vacant.

"Dean Tong and the Old Dean, weren't they supposed to come back with my brother? Why didn't my brother call me? Is my brother's return delayed again? Why wasn't I notified in advance?" Lan Lianyue stood there, dazed.

A few minutes later, a black car drove along the road by Yuehu Lake, heading towards the hillside. Vehicles were prohibited around Yuehu Lake, so anyone who could drive here must have an extraordinary status.

The car drove up the hillside road and stopped.

Lan Lianyue was standing silently on the hillside, waiting.

The car door opened. Dean Tong Zizhong, Chen Qian'ning supporting the Old Dean Hu Yimo, the three of them got out of the car together and walked towards Lan Lianyue.

The Old Dean and Tong Zizhong seemed to be injured. Hu Yimo, a Grandmaster of a generation, actually needed support to walk steadily to Lan Lianyue.

"Grandpa Hu, Uncle Tong, what happened to you?" Lan Lianyue's eyes widened. She looked towards the car behind them, "Where is my brother?"

"Where is my brother?"

Lianyue's question was soft and delicate, yet it seemed to pierce through the gloomy heaven and earth.

However, none of the three answered for a moment.

"Where is my brother?"

The long-white-haired Hu Yimo pushed Chen Qian'ning away with his firm, aged hand. He still straightened his aging body and took a step forward, giving Lan Lianyue a deep, ninety-degree bow.

"Grandpa Hu? What are you doing?" Lianyue was also stunned. Hu Yimo, one of the eight great Grandmasters of Huaxia Nation, the renowned Old Dean of the Lingdu Academy. Why would he make a special trip here to bow to her? This was illogical.

Hu Yimo did not raise his head, but maintained this posture.

Even Dean Tong at the side had a dim gaze, turning his head away, wanting to speak, but unable to say a word.

Hu Yimo raised his head, his white hair blowing in the wind on his firm, weathered face. He said, word by word, "Lan Lingfeng... while leading everyone back to the Two Realms Gate... was ambushed by the Prison Abyss... and fell in battle."