The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 82: Off to Roast Fish (4)

Yun Qianyue looked up, equally stunned, and stared at Ye Qingran. She blinked, then said in slight disbelief, "Why would I want to kill you? It's not like you did anything to offend me. But... how can I be this strong?"

She had the odd feeling that if she had thrown a plane instead of a lotus leaf, it would have flown just as far!

"Who are you asking? You think I have the answer?" Ye Qingran shot her an exasperated look, though he found her bewilderment somewhat amusing. "It means the internal force within you is incredibly strong. I had to use seventy percent of my strength just to catch that leaf. For an ordinary person, that leaf could've pierced right through them. You're acting so clueless—didn't Grandpa Yun teach you martial arts? How did you even learn?"

"So this is inner force... It's pretty terrifying!" Yun Qianyue glanced from her hand to the leaf in Ye Qingran's hand, her eyes filled with awe. She'd always thought stories of martial arts masters who could kill with a single leaf were exaggerated, but here it was—real.

"Terrifying? Nonsense! Once you master it, make it serve you, and control your strength, it'll be a huge asset for self-defense. Some people spend a lifetime training and don't reach even a third of your level. Now, with two energy flows merging within you, if they fully integrate, it's unimaginable what you'll be capable of. Honestly, this is great news, you little fool!" Ye Qingran chuckled.

"You're right; it is good news!" Yun Qianyue beamed. She'd initially found the position and constraints of her new life frustrating, but having martial arts and internal power was a significant bonus. If anyone tried to bully her now, she'd just punch or slap them away. Recalling the smug look on Grandpa Yun's face when he'd mentioned the Phoenix True Technique, she'd felt dismissive then, but it was turning out to be something powerful.

"What sort of martial arts are you practicing? I don't recognize it. Come on! Show me a few moves," Ye Qingran asked, genuinely curious.

Yun Qianyue's mouth twitched. Show him a few moves? She had no idea what kind of techniques the Phoenix True Technique used! After all, she wasn't the original Yun Qianyue. When she'd searched her room, she hadn't even found that so-called True Technique. Seeing Ye Qingran's expectant look, she felt a bit cornered.

"Are you hiding something from me? What's there to be afraid of? It's not like I'm going to steal your techniques!" Ye Qingran teased, "And you call Rongjing stingy—look who's holding back!"

"Who's stingy? Just wait—I'll show you a couple of moves to show you what I've got!" Yun Qianyue declared.

"Alright, I'm watching!" Ye Qingran backed away from the river and waited.

Yun Qianyue took a stance, then began performing the moves from the Tai Chi routine she practiced every morning.

Ye Qingran's eyes widened immediately. "What kind of technique is that?"

"This is the Tai Chi True Technique!" Yun Qianyue replied, moving fluidly through her forms.

"Tai Chi True Technique? Taught to you by Grandpa Yun?" Ye Qingran watched her intently, finding it deeply fascinating. "I never would have guessed Grandpa Yun had something so profound hidden up his sleeve. That explains your unusual constitution. I couldn't understand before why you had both a hot and cold force in your body, but this must be it—yin and yang! It's the perfect name!"

Yun Qianyue lowered her gaze, thinking, Apologies, Master Zhang, but I'll be spreading your legacy in another world. I hope you won't mind—I can even acknowledge you as my teacher in my heart. But she really did have those dual energies, one icy, one fiery, which had been running independently until recently, but now seemed to be merging. Perhaps the Phoenix True Technique was similar to Tai Chi? Or maybe it was even the same martial art? She wasn't entirely sure. Whatever the case, as long as she could impress Ye Qingran, it would do.

She'd intended to stop after a few moves, but she could feel her energy flowing in a circular rhythm throughout her body, surrounding her in a warm, pleasant aura she didn't want to interrupt. So she continued, entering the move called "holding the ball."

Ye Qingran initially watched with amusement, but soon his surprise deepened, and he found himself staring with his mouth slightly open. At first, there was only a faint breeze around Yun Qianyue, but gradually, wisps of mist gathered and shrouded her. As she moved, the mist thickened, forming a cloud that encircled her body. By the end, she was barely visible, only a hazy figure swaying gracefully. He'd never seen anything like it.

When Yun Qianyue completed a full cycle of Tai Chi, she slowly withdrew her energy, drawing it back into her dantian. Instantly, she felt a surge of lightness and clarity, her entire being radiant. She looked down at her hands, thrilled. Forget that so-called Phoenix True Technique! she thought. All I need to do is practice Tai Chi every day. Simple, effective, and perfect for training—it's a win-win!

"So? Did you figure out any secrets?" Yun Qianyue grinned at Ye Qingran, raising an eyebrow, her eyes bright with excitement. Her purple robe gave her the appearance of an ethereal figure emerging from the mist, mysterious and almost unreal.

Ye Qingran, still somewhat dazed, remained silent, his gaze fixed on her.

"Hey! Are you frozen?" Yun Qianyue stepped closer, waving a hand in front of his face. "Snap out of it! Could it be that my Tai Chi moves have entranced you? What a sin!"

Ye Qingran blinked, his focus finally sharpening, and stared at her with newfound clarity, then said in astonishment, "You..."

"What is it? Was it really that scary? Look at your expression—you're freaking me out!" Yun Qianyue couldn't believe that simple Tai Chi, which was commonplace in the 21st century, had left this handsome young man dumbfounded. Then again, Tai Chi had been passed down for thousands of years, a testament to its profound depth and power.

"Not too scary." Ye Qingran looked away. But deep down, he thought it was beyond terrifying—almost... indescribable. After a quick glance around to make sure they were alone, he took a breath and spoke to her seriously. "From now on, never practice like this in front of others. I won't breathe a word of what I saw today. Unless it's absolutely necessary, don't reveal your strength. Just keep pretending to be clueless, like you used to."

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