Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

Chapter 1098: Chapter 1098: Master of Calm-Faced Lies

”It’s already great that Lord Gong is willing to teach us; how would we dare to ask him anything?” Gu Yushu said dejectedly.

Han Yan then remembered that their relationship with Gong Hongru was not that of master and disciple, and their status was no different from that of servants. It was already a great blessing that he was willing to teach them a few things. Even if they didn’t understand something or made a mistake in training, how would they dare to ask?

”Young Master Mu, could you take a look? The Heavenly Inquiry Heart Sword was taught by Lord Gong himself, it can’t possibly be this simple. There must be some mistake in between.” Tan Yu, after looking at it for a long time without understanding, handed the parchment inscribed with the sword move to Han Yan and said sincerely.

Since Han Yan was personally chosen by Gong Hongru, her aptitude was undoubtedly exceptional. Her earlier comprehension of the Master Swordsmanship and entry into the realm of Heaven and Earth Sword Heart had already proven this point.

Curious by nature, Han Yan didn’t refuse and took the parchment to examine it carefully. Before long, her expression turned peculiar.

”Are you sure this sword technique is called Heavenly Inquiry Heart Sword?” Han Yan asked.

”What else could it be called? It’s written there very clearly,” the brothers Gu Yushu and Gu Linfeng scratched their heads simultaneously and answered in unison.

”I feel it should be called Sword Heart Inquiry Heaven Technique,” Han Yan said.

The Holy Court Continent is vast, initially formed by alliances of various tribes, and the cultural and customary differences were vast. Although nearly a century of integration has minimized these differences among nations, they were once distinctly separate.

Take writing for instance, nowadays it’s mostly top to bottom, but before, some were top to bottom, others were left to right, or even right to left.

This sword technique reads as Heavenly Inquiry Heart Sword from left to right, but from left to right, it is Sword Heart Inquiry Heaven Technique. Clearly, these brothers practiced it backwards.

”Sword Heart Inquiry Heaven Technique?” Gu Yushu snatched the parchment from Han Yan’s hand. Despite his excessive girth, his movements were actually quicker than those of Gu Linfeng.

Gu Linfeng and Tan Yu also crowded around, and soon their faces turned beet red with embarrassment.

”It really seems to be called Sword Heart Inquiry Heaven Technique. We probably practiced it the wrong way,” Gu Yushu said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

”Now you realize you practiced it wrong, why didn’t you figure it out sooner? I wasted so much effort, luckily I didn’t lose control,” Gu Linfeng glared at him and said.

”You didn’t realize it either, how can you blame me?” Gu Yushu protested with a glare.

”Who’s the big brother here, you or me? If you didn’t realize it, how could I have?” Gu Linfeng retorted.

”You dare talk back to your big brother? Want me to beat you up?” Gu Yushu widened his eyes.

”Don’t pull that big brother act with me, you’re just older by half an hour. Mother might’ve made a mistake, maybe I’m the big brother,” Gu Linfeng replied defiantly.

”You dare talk back? I’ll really hit you!” Gu Yushu rolled up his sleeves.

”You dare move with that skinny frame, I’ll beat you so bad even your mother won’t recognize you,” Gu Linfeng taunted, pulling his shirt to expose his lean chest, acting as if he couldn’t see Gu Yushu’s bulk.

”Alright, alright, stop arguing. You practiced it wrong, but it doesn’t matter, just practice again.” Tan Yu pinched his brow, feeling overwhelmed, and said.

”Forget it, for Senior Brother Tan’s sake, I won’t argue with you this time.” Clearly, Tan Yu held some sway in the brothers’ minds, as they both stopped their bickering once he spoke, glaring at each other before speaking in unison.

Han Yan then realized they were actually twin brothers, which explained their uncanny synchronization, down to their identical confusion. However, the stark contrast in their physiques was genuinely surprising.

”Young Master Mu, how did you know the technique reads from right to left? I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t mentioned it,” Tan Yu asked Han Yan curiously, feeling a bit embarrassed.

”Didn’t Lord Gong mention this to you?” Han Yan asked, puzzled. To cultivators, this should be common knowledge.

After all, the Holy Court Continent has a long history with many cultivation techniques passed down since ancient times. Not knowing the reading direction could spell disaster. Luckily, Yushu and Linfeng are practicing a sword technique and not a mental method, or else they would have easily lost control.

”Lord Gong doesn’t have time to tell us these things. He just gives us a cultivation technique to practice ourselves. We’re lucky to follow Lord Gong, if it were someone else, they’d only point out a few things and be done with it. There’s no way they’d hand over an entire cultivation technique to us.” Tan Yu said with both respect and gratitude.

”Yes, yes, Lord Gong is so busy, why would he have time to tell us these things? We are already deeply grateful for receiving the technique from him, how dare we bother him further?” The brothers Yushu and Linfeng nodded repeatedly in agreement, overflowing with gratitude towards Gong Hongru.

”So that’s how it is,” Han Yan finally understood.

As one of the academy’s top three experts, Gong Hongru had many responsibilities and couldn’t teach them cultivation step by step. Simply giving them the technique was already a blessing for them.

”By the way, didn’t you know this before?” Han Yan asked.

”We’re orphans, picked up by Lord Gong during his training travels, how would we know these things?” Tan Yu hesitated briefly before replying honestly.

Han Yan initially assumed they might be commoner cultivators or family members with exceptional aptitude, which caught Gong Hongru’s attention. Little did she know they had such tough backgrounds.

Feeling a sense of compassion for Tan Yu and the others, Han Yan’s impression of Gong Hongru improved significantly, realizing he was more compassionate than his cold exterior suggested.

After pondering over the Sword Heart Inquiry Heaven Technique for a while, the Yushu and Linfeng brothers practiced it again. However, without proper guidance, their understanding of the technique had some clear errors. Tan Yu was slightly better but not by much.

With nothing else to do, Han Yan casually offered some pointers. As a family member with higher cultivation, and having experienced the Heart Enlightenment Sword’s trial, her understanding of Sword Dao had deepened, making it easy to guide them.

Under Han Yan’s guidance, the brothers felt rejuvenated and, though they couldn’t master the entire sword technique in a short time, they began to grasp some of its mysteries.

”Young Master Mu, you’re amazing, no wonder Lord Gong accepted you as a disciple.” The brothers, after taking in a few moves, found them enjoyable and praised Han Yan as they exclaimed in admiration.

Nearby, Tan Yu seemed thoughtful, having benefited greatly from Han Yan’s succinct and profound guidance, and he held a newfound respect for her.

At this moment, loud snoring from the adjacent courtyard ceased. Looking at the sky, it was already twilight.

”Disciple Han Yan, Huayue, Zirong, Jiang Yuzhe, Tang Bufan, Ling Baobao, reporting to Master.” Han Yan and the others quickly came outside the courtyard, straightened their attire, and said respectfully.

”Come in.” Gong Hongru’s voice came from inside the courtyard.

Han Yan and her group pushed open the courtyard door and entered one by one.

Tan Yu and the Gu Yushu, Gu Linfeng brothers, due to their different status, didn’t dare enter without his command.

”Tan Yu is back too, and so are Yushu and Linfeng. You come in as well.” Gong Hongru’s voice sounded again, and the trio, delighted, followed behind.

Inside the main house, they found Gong Hongru leisurely drinking tea from his grand armchair.

”This seclusion took a bit longer, made you wait, didn’t it?” Gong Hongru said calmly upon seeing Han Yan and the others entering one after another.

Seclusion... Wasn’t he just napping? That thunderous snoring earlier, was it not from him? Han Yan watched Gong Hongru’s calm demeanor, almost doubting her hearing.

Han Yan, fearing to bruise his ego, even made up a nap as an excuse, though it felt a bit far-fetched as the nap stretched until sunset. Even Lady Mu found the excuse somewhat convoluted.

Unexpectedly, the reason he picked was even less credible. Seclusion... Have you ever heard of someone snoring thunderously while in seclusion?

This master seems to have a different understanding from outsiders, so calm when telling lies, it’s rather shameless.