Chapter 437: Take It, Don't Say It
Stelle's figure materialized on the platform with a soft hum of displaced air. Without missing a beat, she vaulted gracefully over the railing and landed back in the audience seats. She casually patted a few specks of non-existent dust from her coat. With a sharp flick of her wrist, her heavy star-forged sword dissolved into a cascade of shimmering golden light motes. A bright, unrestrained grin stretched across her face. Her chest heaved slightly, eyes sparkling with the lingering adrenaline of a thoroughly enjoyable brawl.
Under the collective gaze of the group, Stelle cleared her throat with exaggerated importance. She clasped her hands firmly behind her back and adjusted her posture, adopting a deliberately slow, measured stride. She was clearly attempting to project the lofty, untouchable aura of an enlightened martial arts grandmaster. She approached Ann, who was still catching her breath and quietly savoring the afterglow of their clash. Stelle tilted her chin upward, narrowing her golden eyes in a desperate bid to look deep and brimming with ancient wisdom.
"Ann—!" Stelle called out, her voice dropping into a theatrical, oratorical cadence that sounded like she was narrating a wuxia epic.
"This wandering hero observes that your talent is truly outstanding. You possess a unique constitution, and rarer still, a blade forged from firm resolve and unyielding justice!" She paused, letting the dramatic silence hang in the air. ", our clash today proved that our martial paths are highly compatible. It is clear that the unseen threads of destiny have brought us together!"
Stelle took a deep breath, maintaining her ridiculous grandmaster persona. "Therefore, I have decided to impart a closely guarded secret unto you—a technique never to be passed on lightly. I shall teach you the ultimate skill: the Fire Dance Whirlwind sword art! Are you willing to accept this heavy destiny? Will you inherit this supreme technique and carry forward its core tenet of a chivalrous heart that protects all living beings?"
Perhaps fearing her grand speech wasn't quite enticing enough, Stelle's stoic facade instantly crumbled. She winked exaggeratedly, her expression morphing into that of a sleazy late-night infomercial salesperson. She leaned in close, lowering her voice into a loud stage whisper that absolutely everyone in the room could hear perfectly.
"Listen, it even includes that flashy 'Golden Light Demon Subduing'move I used earlier," she coaxed, nudging Ann with her elbow. "Plus, you get the complete, super-powerful'Heaven and Earth Eternal' sword art straight from the Hollows! How about it? Feeling tempted? Act now, because this offer won't last forever!"
To seal the deal, Stelle flipped her wrist again. Reaching into her system's dimensional warehouse, she miraculously produced a physical prop—an ancient-looking, thread-bound manual with a faded blue cover that read Fire Dance Whirlwind. She waved the book enticingly in front of Ann's face.
A heavy, awkward silence descended upon the audience. Anby, Nicole, and the rest of the Cunning Hares exchanged bewildered glances, completely lost as to why this cosmic traveler was suddenly trying to peddle martial arts manuals.
Right as the secondhand embarrassment reached critical mass, two figures sprang into action.
"Stelle! That is quite enough!" March 7th lunged forward. Her face was flushed a bright, furious pink—half from sheer panic and half from pure mortification. She slapped both hands over Stelle's mouth, muffling the Trailblazer's protests. March turned to Ann, flashing a desperate, apologetic smile as she began to babble.
"Miss Ann, please ignore her! Please, absolutely do not pay any attention to this idiot!" March pleaded, bowing her head repeatedly. "She just gets way too excited after a good fight! Her brain completely overheats and she starts spouting absolute nonsense! She definitely isn't trying to show off or mock you!"
March gritted her teeth, dragging a squirming Stelle backward by the collar. "It's just... her way of saying 'you fought really well and I respect you' is incredibly weird! I am so, so sorry about this!"
From the opposite side, Hu Tao skipped over with a bounce in her step. Unlike March, she made no attempt to silence Stelle. Instead, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director planted her hands firmly on her hips, puffing out her chest as she assumed the role of a seasoned martial arts critic.
"Stelle, my friend, you are completely off the mark here!" Hu Tao lectured, wagging a finger. "When passing down sacred cultivation methods, one must focus on elemental compatibility! Just look at the name—'Fire Dance Whirlwind'! It relies entirely on scorching flames and howling gales. That is a path of extreme yang and unyielding rigidity!"
Hu Tao gestured dramatically toward Ann's weapon. "But Miss Ann wields a blade of pure, biting frost! Her martial path is built upon condensed swiftness and bone-chilling cold. Your attributes violently clash! Forcing her to practice a fire technique would be entirely counterproductive. It might even trigger a lethal elemental deviation! No, no, this is highly unsuitable!"
While March 7th desperately tried to extinguish the social fire and Hu Tao passionately debated elemental theory, a deep, resonant voice cut through the chaos.
"The Hall Master's concerns regarding elemental attributes are not without merit."
The group turned as one. Zhongli had quietly set his porcelain teacup onto a nearby table. The former Geo Archon approached them with slow, measured steps, his amber eyes calm and analytical.
"However," Zhongli continued, his tone carrying the weight of centuries of wisdom, "the true path of cultivation is rarely dictated by superficial elemental differences. In my humble opinion, the deep essence of Stelle's Fire Dance Whirlwind lies not in its flames, but in its underlying spirit and intent."
He shifted his deep gaze toward Ann. "Miss Ann's blade is drawn with a singular purpose. Wherever her edge points, it seeks to cut down the Hollow calamities plaguing New Eridu and cleanse the encroaching evil that threatens its citizens."
Zhongli gestured gracefully toward the blue manual still clutched in Stelle's hand. "Within the Fire Dance Whirlwind, one finds deeply rooted chivalric ideals. It champions the spirit of thoroughly eradicating evil, showing compassion for all living beings, and safeguarding peace with a sword in hand. These core tenets share a remarkable resonance with Miss Ann's own martial philosophy."
He clasped his hands behind his back, slipping effortlessly into a lecture. "Techniques, physical forms, and elemental affinities are merely the 'applications'of combat. The true'vessel' that drives these applications is the practitioner's original heart and unbending will. If the ideals align and the wills connect, superficial elements matter little. One can draw upon the technique's essence, adapt its flow by analogy, and forge a new method perfectly suited to their own path. In doing so, they temper their resolve and elevate their chosen way."
Zhongli's eloquent, philosophical breakdown of the compatibility between a fiery wuxia manual and an ice-cold katana brought the chaotic platform to a dead halt.
Hu Tao's plum-blossom pupils dilated in sheer disbelief. She stared at her consultant's impeccably composed profile. He looked as serene as if he had just commented on the pleasant afternoon weather, rather than validating a raccoon-brained Trailblazer's impromptu sales pitch. Hu Tao glanced between the struggling Stelle, the exhausted March 7th, and the utterly bewildered Ann. Invisible question marks practically materialized in the air above the funeral director's head.
'Consultant... what in the world are you doing?!'Hu Tao screamed internally, her mind reeling.'I thought you were stepping in because you recognized her talent! Instead of taking her as your own disciple, you're actually helping Stelle poach this fated genius?! And you made it sound so incredibly logical! Are you betraying your own boss?!'
She let out a quiet sigh. The inner workings of her consultant's ancient mind were truly, hopelessly unfathomable.
Nearby, March 7th was still wrestling to keep her hands clamped over Stelle's mouth. She shot desperate, pleading glances toward Dan Heng and Welt, silently begging for an intervention.
'What is happening right now?!'March thought, her eyes wide with panic.'Why is Mr. Zhongli actually going along with Stelle's ridiculous delusions?! And why does he have to make it sound so convincing?!'
She had fully expected Zhongli—the most grounded, reliable elder in their chaotic group—to be the voice of reason and put an end to this embarrassing skill-imparting farce. Instead, he had just provided Stelle with ironclad, peer-reviewed theoretical support. The sheer absurdity of it all made March 7th's head spin.
As for Stelle, her frantic struggling abruptly ceased the moment Zhongli began to speak. Beneath March's hands, the Trailblazer's golden eyes widened, suddenly erupting with an astonishing, starry brilliance.
A kindred spirit! She had finally found a true kindred spirit!
Mr. Zhongli truly lived up to his reputation as a peerless sage of Liyue. He had effortlessly seen through to the deep meaning behind her actions! His masterful analysis spoke directly to her chaotic soul. Clashing elements? Superficial nonsense! Aligned ideals were the true core of martial arts! Zhongli had perfectly articulated the deep, philosophical reasoning that Stelle had totally, definitely hidden within her actions and definitely hadn't just made up on the spot.
Surging with the righteous power of validation, Stelle planted her feet. With a sudden, explosive twist, she miraculously broke free from March 7th's iron grip.
"Mr. Zhongli is absolutely right!" Stelle bellowed before she even bothered to gasp for air. Her face blossomed into a blindingly radiant smile. Looking at the former Archon with the deep reverence reserved for a lifelong confidant, she nodded her head so vigorously it threatened to snap right off her neck.
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