novelraw Chapter 56: Sword Immortal?
Chapter 56: Sword Immortal?
Ding Heng finished his meal with Wen Jing, patted her head, and then turned back to his seat.
"They're back! They're back!"
Liu Chiwang asked excitedly, "How was it? How was it?"
Ding Heng sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and continued eating.
"What, how is it?"
"That girl!"
Qian Pu leaned closer: "Did you get their contact information?"
"I didn't ask."
"Didn't you ask?" Liu Chiwang's eyes widened. "Then why did you go there?"
Ding Heng picked up a piece of braised pork and slowly put it in his mouth: "I feel sorry for her, so I'll eat with her."
Liu Chiwang and Qian Pu exchanged a puzzled look.
Accompanying someone to dinner?
What new ways are there to start a conversation?
Chen Mo was the first to react: "Ding Heng, you know her, right?"
Ding Heng smiled and nodded.
Liu Chiwang suddenly realized: "Holy crap, no wonder! How come they started hitting me the moment we met!"
Qian Pu then asked, "What's your relationship?"
Liu Chiwang turned and patted him on the shoulder: "What other relationship could there be? You don't need to ask."
……
Around 6 p.m., Ding Heng picked up Wen Jing in his car and drove towards Hunan Normal University.
At the foot of Yuelu Mountain, this area is home to a cluster of universities.
Especially since Hunan University, Hunan Normal University, and Central South University are close to each other, students sometimes jokingly refer to them collectively as "Yuelu Mountain University".
Zhao Yanxi is at Central South University, and Hua Yue is at Hunan Normal University. The two of them and Wen Jing had arranged to have a "start-of-school dinner" together.
Ding Heng parked his car in front of the Hubei Normal University apartment building, got out, and walked towards the milk tea shop across the street.
As you push open the door to the store, the wind chimes on the door ring out.
Zhao Yanxi rushed over and hugged Wenjing tightly: "Little Jingjing, my little Jingjing, I missed you so much! Did you miss me too?"
Wenjing was a little dazed from being hugged, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved up: "Yanxi... stop messing around."
Zhao Yanxi led her inside. On the table sat an unopened cup of milk tea, its label on the sealing film reading: "Less ice, 30% sugar, with coconut jelly."
"Here you go, remember you like this."
"Thanks……"
Wenjing picked up the milk tea and thanked them softly.
Ding Heng glanced at what was in front of him, raised an eyebrow, and said in a deliberately annoyed tone, "So I'm the only one who doesn't have this problem?"
Zhao Yanxi let out an affected "Ouch!" and covered her mouth.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"
She quickly handed him her cup, her eyes innocent: "Here's my replacement; you still have half left!"
Ding Heng looked at the milk tea that Zhao Yanxi handed him; there was still a faint lip print on the straw.
He didn't mind and took a sip.
Zhao Yanxi asked with a beaming smile, "Is it good?"
"Hmm...it's alright, but didn't I say I wanted orange flavor?"
"Oh dear, I feel bad with so many people around. Maybe next time."
……
Wenjing stared blankly at the interaction between the two, only half understanding what they were saying.
What's this orange flavor? Is it milk tea?
Why would I feel embarrassed?
She felt utterly powerless and couldn't understand it.
He could only sip his milk tea in a huff, biting the straw unhappily.
Only Hua Yue saw things clearly.
She had just reminded Zhao Yanxi, "Aren't you going to order Ding Heng a drink?"
This girl kept saying "No need, no need," clearly she had it all planned out.
Ding Heng put down his milk tea: "What are we having for dinner? Haven't decided yet?"
"I'm waiting for someone."
"Who?"
"Hua Yue's older sister!"
Zhao Yanxi pointed to Hua Yue: "Her cousin. She's a senior at the Music and Dance College of Hunan Normal University. She was very busy with the freshman welcome party rehearsal today, so she was delayed for a while, but she'll be here soon."
She had barely finished speaking—
"Hua Yue!"
A voice came from afar, and Ding Heng subconsciously looked up.
That sound...
How should I describe it?
In terms of voice, both Wenjing and Zhao Yanxi are outstanding among girls.
Wenjing is soft and sweet, while Zhao Yanxi is crisp and lively.
But this sound—
It was like a clear, melodious bird song suddenly ringing out in a vast valley.
It is melodious and ethereal, with a lingering echo that penetrates straight into people's hearts.
Ding Heng turned his head to look.
A girl was running over.
She wore Miao-style dance costumes, her silver headdress shimmering in the sunset, and a few strands of silver chains hanging from her forehead, swaying gently as she ran.
The dark blue, short-sleeved jacket was embroidered with intricate, colorful patterns, revealing a slender waist.
The skirt is a series of pleated layers, with silver ornaments adorning the hem, jingling as she runs.
But what truly captivates the eye is her face.
Like Zhao Yanxi, the girl has a face that is almost flawless.
Her eyebrows and eyes are gentle and graceful, with a touch of the charm of classical Chinese paintings of ladies.
She has a straight nose, beautiful lips, and a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth that holds a faint smile.
Her skin was fair, like the finest mutton fat jade, with a warm, lustrous sheen.
What's most special about her is her temperament.
Despite wearing brightly colored ethnic costumes, she exudes a quiet and elegant aura, as if she stepped out of an ancient painting.
She ran up to him, slightly out of breath, with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
The voice was closer and more real than before, and its clear and ethereal quality was even more pronounced: "The rehearsal lasted a while."
Hua Yue stood up: "Sister!"
The girl reached out and ruffled her hair naturally, with the doting affection typical of an older sister.
Then she turned to the other three, her smile bright.
"Hello, my name is Hua Qing, and I'm Hua Yue's cousin. I'm a few years older than you, but if you don't mind, you can just call me senior. We're all family here at the foot of Yuelu Mountain."
Zhao Yanxi exclaimed in surprise, "Hua Yue, is this really your sister? She doesn't look like you at all!"
Hua Yue glared at her, annoyed: "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, your sister is practically a Miao ethnic saintess, and you're like a maidservant serving her..."
"Zhao Yanxi!!!"
The two girls started laughing and joking.
Hua Yue has an ordinary appearance; the kind that you wouldn't notice in a crowd.
Hua Qing—is indeed too outstanding!
The exquisiteness of her facial features is even comparable to that of Zhao Yanxi.
But their temperaments are completely different.
Simply put, Zhao Yanxi is like a rose in the sunlight, vibrant and beautiful.
Hua Qing is more like an orchid under the moon, quiet and elegant.
"Hello, senior, my name is Ding Heng."
Ding Heng stepped forward and introduced himself.
"Hello there."
Hua Qing's response was polite, courteous, and distant.
Wenjing stepped forward and whispered, "Hello, senior, my name is Wenjing."
When Hua Qing looked at Wen Jing, her gaze softened considerably.
"Hua Yue mentioned you to me."
"Mention...mention me?"
She said you were the cutest girl she had ever met.
"yes……"
Wenjing scratched her head shyly.
Ding Heng keenly sensed Hua Qing's differential treatment, but didn't pay much attention to it, simply assuming that she wasn't good at dealing with the opposite sex.
After a brief warm greeting, Hua Qing apologized again: "I'm sorry, I might have to trouble you to wait a little longer. I need to go back to my dorm to change my clothes."
After saying that, Hua Qing turned and walked towards the apartment.
Suddenly, Ding Heng noticed that she paused slightly and her steps were noticeably unsteady.
Especially when her left foot lands, her brows always furrow slightly, as if she is forcibly enduring something.
Ding Heng withdrew his gaze and did not delve into it further.
Hua Yue had already started chatting with Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing.
"Let me tell you, my sister is a complete dance fanatic!"
"A martial arts fanatic! Your sister practices martial arts?"
"Let's dance!"
"Oh...is she that good?"
"Of course."
Hua Yue raised an eyebrow and began to tell her story.
"You know my family situation, right? My father and my uncle started out in the business of opera costumes. It wasn't until the business grew that they started taking on all kinds of custom-made clothing."
In the early 2000s, my uncle married my aunt, who was a Miao ethnic minority and was the lead dancer in the art troupe at the Fenghuang Scenic Area.
So, influenced by my aunt, my sister had a foundation in folk dance from a young age.
Later, my uncle used his connections to get my sister studied with many teachers—Yue Opera, Peking Opera, classical dance, ballet… she was a jack-of-all-trades, mastering a wide range of styles.
"Amazing!"
Zhao Yanxi readily agreed, saying, "No wonder, I could tell your cousin's demeanor was extraordinary."
"Of course!"
Hua Yue proudly raised her chin: "My sister won the Lotus Award Gold Medal. What was their dance called back then... 'Asking the Sword Across Heaven and Earth'? She was the lead dancer!"
Wenjing blinked: "The Lotus Award...is it that impressive?"
Hua Yue smugly chuckled, "Let's put it this way: with this award, you can easily get a master's degree from any dance academy in the country, and there's a high chance you'll stay on as a professor."
Wenjing didn't quite understand, but she still nodded obediently and let out an exaggerated "Wow!"
Seeing that she couldn't explain it clearly, Hua Yue simply took out her phone, swiped a few times, and handed it over.
"See for yourselves."
In the video, the stage lights dimmed.
A spotlight shone on the center.
A woman dressed in plain white Hanfu stands with her back to the camera.
Her long hair was loose, held up only by a simple hairband.
The wide sleeves hung down, and the hem of the garment fluttered gently in the breeze on the stage.
She held a long sword in her hand, the tip of which touched the ground.
The music is ringing.
The sounds of the guqin, the xiao, and the faint strains of war drums filled the air.
She moved.
The starting stance is to slowly raise the tip of the sword.
With light steps, her skirt spread out like flowing clouds.
Her movements were slow, each posture seemingly stretched out by time. Her arms stretched out, her waist twisted, and the sword's edge sliced through the air, leaving invisible traces.
But within that slowness lies an astonishing sense of power.
Suddenly, the music sped up.
The drumbeats intensified, and the piano music was like tearing silk.
Her movements quickened accordingly.
Sword dance.
It's not the kind of flashy, technically-driven dance.
It is a dance that truly carries the intent of swordsmanship.
Thrust, flick, chop, slash—every movement is clean and crisp, yet graceful.
Her wide sleeves fluttered with her movements, like the wings of a white crane spreading out.
As the music reached its climax, she began to spin on the stage.
Her skirt swirls open like a lotus flower, her long hair scatters in the wind, and the light of the sword weaves a silver net around her.
Spin.
Spin.
Spin.
The drumbeats grew denser, the piano notes rose higher, and she spun faster and faster!
then.
Stopped abruptly.
She froze.
With the final sword thrust towards the sky, his body leaned back slightly, his other hand stretched out at his side, and his sleeves fell down like clouds that had finally settled.
Her face was slightly raised, her eyes gazing into the endless void.
The lights poured down from above, enveloping her in a soft halo.
As the video ended, Ding Heng let out a long sigh of relief.
He doesn't understand dance, techniques, or choreography.
But he could still feel the connection to the scene he had just witnessed.
The woman holding a long sword seemed to stand alone, detached from the world.
A dancer unlike any other human.
A cold and aloof sword immortal, seemingly severing all emotional ties and delusions.
Holding a sword, I question the heavens and earth; facing calamity, I prove the Great Dao.
Before ascending to heaven, he left one last moment to look back at the mortal realm...