Xu Xiaorou sat at the end, driving two oars. With a slight shake, the boat swayed away from the water plants on the shore and sailed leisurely towards the lake.
Zhang Qiaoyi stood on the bow of the boat and looked into the distance, her light green shirt fluttering.
He Ruoshui sat down, stretched out his hands and bent over to divert the water, forming a graceful arc with his body.
The moist wind blowing from the lake has a vague fishy smell, which is refreshing and refreshing.
"Senior Sister Zhang, where is our Xinghu Xiaozhu?" Lin Ping tensed up and asked cautiously.
Zhang Qiaoyi turned around and the breeze ruffled her hair.
She smoothed her hair with her index finger and said with a smile: "It's in the east, not far away. You'll see her soon."
Xu Xiaorou gently shook the oar, and the boat was like an arrow leaving the string, getting faster and faster, causing everyone's clothes to flutter, as if they were riding the wind.
Li Muchan looked down with his eyes in the void, and saw the vast mist. The lake was as clear and quiet as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds. Occasionally, there were lotus flowers clustered together, like a few white clouds in the blue sky.
As the boat sailed away, he slowly saw a small island standing alone and proudly in the lake. There were houses and pavilions on the lake built along the island.
As we get closer, the island is surrounded by mountains stretching out behind it.
"Senior Sister Zhang, are we on the island?" Li Muchan suddenly asked.
Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and nodded: "Yes, our Xinghu Villa is located on an island."
"How old is it?" Li Muchan asked.
"Hmm... it's about fifty miles from south to south," Zhang Qiaoyi said.
"It turns out it's a world of its own." Li Muchan said with a smile.
Zhang Qiaoyi nodded: "Yes, we in Xinghu Xiaozhu can be self-sufficient and don't need to rely on the outside world. The terrain is excellent, easy to defend and difficult to attack."
Lin Ping said: "Can't we, the disciples of Xinghu Xiaozhu, leave?"
"No one cares about this. As long as you reach the fifth level, you can live in the lake or leave to start a family and start a business." Zhang Qiaoyi said.
Lin Ping breathed a sigh of relief, causing Xu Xiaorou to roll his eyes.
Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and said: "However, most of the disciples returned to the lake in the end. The world outside is too dangerous and not as peaceful and peaceful as ours on the lake."
"Are there no disputes on the lake?" Lin Ping asked.
Zhang Qiaoyi said: "The lake master has the final say in our lake. Everyone only listens to the lake master's orders. The lake master usually doesn't care about anything. If there is any major issue, everyone will discuss it together, just like a family."
Lin Ping thought for a while and nodded slowly. This is indeed good. People in the martial arts world are the most uncontrollable. The less control they have, the more censorious they will be and the more they will like them.
Zhang Qiaoyi pursed her lips and smiled: "You will know in the future that people in the outside world are sinister and deceitful, but there is no such thing in the lake. Everyone lives quietly, practicing their own martial arts without disturbing each other... Young people will feel bored,
If you go out to explore, you will eventually return to the lake, just like a tired bird returning to the forest."
"Yes..." Li Muchan sighed, the tired bird will eventually return to the forest.
While the few people were talking, the boat moved quickly. After a while, a small island appeared in front of them, with water pavilions scattered around the island.
Lin Pingyun looked around and admired: "These waterside pavilions are very good. Living on them makes you feel like a god, free and at ease."
"These are the residences of sixth-grade and above disciples," Zhang Qiaoyi said.
Lin Ping was puzzled: "A disciple of sixth grade or above?"
Zhang Qiaoyi said: "Disciples below the sixth grade can only live in the courtyard on the island and have no right to live on the lake."
"What about the sixth-grade disciples?" Lin Ping asked.
Zhang Qiaoyi said: "Sixth grade disciples can also live on the lake."
"Then I must become a sixth-grade disciple as soon as possible!" Lin Ping sighed in admiration.
Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and said: "Junior brother Lin, you have a good foundation. It won't take long to become a sixth-grade disciple."
"What about Senior Brother Li?" Lin Ping looked at Li Muchan.
Zhang Qiaoyi looked at Li Muchan and said with a smile: "Junior brother Li's qualifications are very good, and it won't last long. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the internal strength. If he has to practice from scratch, his progress will be delayed."
Li Muchan smiled and said: "It doesn't matter where I live. I usually live alone in the mountains, but now I can get together with everyone and it's fun."
"That's good." Zhang Qiaoyi smiled.
However, Li Muchan vaguely understood that living together under the sixth grade was not because the place was small and there was no place to live, but it was because of deep intentions. One was to stimulate the motivation to climb upward, and the other was to cultivate feelings.
Killing two birds with one stone is a good idea.
As the boat approaches, the island gradually becomes clearer and its outline emerges. The greenery covers the entire island, full of vitality.
There are huts or pavilions dotted around the island. A four- to five-meter-wide trestle stretches out a hundred meters away, and there are several small boats parked next to it and rippling in the waves.
As soon as the boat with a few people approached, a young man came out of each of the two waterside pavilions at the front, with an average appearance. The two of them clasped their fists together and said with a smile: "Senior Sister Zhang! Senior Sister He! Junior Sister Xu! You are back!"
"Senior Brother Song, Senior Brother Zhao, has the Lake Master come out of seclusion?" Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and clasped her fists.
The older young man shook his head. He was dressed in a green shirt and had a scholarly elegance: "The Lake Master is still in retreat. Are these two new junior brothers?"
"Yes, I was lucky this time. Two junior brothers came in at once." Zhang Qiaoyi nodded.
The young man looked at Li Muchan and Lin Ping with gentle eyes, and said with a smile: "It's really gratifying. We haven't recruited junior brothers or sisters in the past few years. We are all looking forward to it."
Li Muchan cupped his fists and saluted, smiled and said nothing, while Lin Ping narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the two of them.
He was very disappointed. He originally thought that the disciples of Xinghu Xiaozhu were as energetic and radiant as Senior Sister Zhang and others, but now it seemed that was not the case.
The two of them hugged each other, returned the salute to Li Muchan, smiled and nodded to Lin Ping, very kindly.
Zhang Qiaoyi said: "This is Junior Brother Li Zhuli, and this is Junior Brother Lin Pinglin. Both of them have excellent qualifications and will be disciples of sixth grade or above in the future!"
"That's a good relationship!" the two said happily.
Zhang Qiaoyi smiled and said: "Let's not talk anymore, let's go in."
The two young men clasped their fists and smiled, then went back to their respective cabins, and there was no movement.
Lin Ping asked: "Senior Sister Zhang, are these two senior brothers practicing swordsmanship?"
He noticed that the two men had swords on their waists instead of knives.
"Yes, they practice swordsmanship." Zhang Qiaoyi nodded.
Lin Ping was surprised: "Can male disciples also practice swordsmanship?"
"Who said male disciples can't practice swordsmanship?" Zhang Qiaoyi asked with a smile.
Lin Ping said: "I heard that Xinghu Xiaozhu requires women to practice swordsmanship, while men can only practice swordsmanship."
Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head and said with a smile: "There are various martial arts in our lake, and everyone practices it differently. The master of the lake will teach students according to their aptitude, whether they practice swordsmanship or swordsmanship, it all depends on personal preferences."
"That's it..." Lin Ping hesitated.
"There are rumors outside that only women can practice the swordsmanship of our Xinghu Xiaozhu to perfection, while men can only practice swordsmanship, but this is a big fallacy." Zhang Qiaoyi said with a smile.
"This... is groundless..." Lin Ping said.
Zhang Qiaoyi shook her head: "Swordsmanship is about strength, swordsmanship is about lightness. Women are inherently deficient in swordsmanship, but men are different. However, they still like to learn swordsmanship and swordsmanship. The master of the lake will not force it... There is a set of martial arts in the sixth grade.
The sword technique is powerful and simple, so most of the male disciples have learned it and exposed it to others, giving people the wrong impression."
"So that's it..." Lin Ping breathed a sigh of relief.
He has practiced swords since he was a child, and he likes to practice swords. He really doesn't want to switch to sword training. Besides, he has always looked down on swords, thinking they are too vulgar and not elegant enough.
On the way to Xinghu Xiaozhu, he had been worried that he would be forced to practice swordsmanship instead. Now after listening to Zhang Qiaoyi's words, he finally felt relieved.
Zhang Qiaoyi glanced at him, pursed her lips and smiled and said: "There is no superiority in swordsmanship or swordsmanship. It all depends on who practices it. For example, in the West Zhao Wulin, there is a master of swordsmanship who can fight against few opponents in the world."
"Yes, yes." Lin Ping nodded.
Seeing that he was careless, Zhang Qiaoyi said no more, and the boat had already docked on the trestle.
Zhang Qiaoyi lightly jumped onto the trestle and said with a smile: "Two junior brothers, let Rou'er take you to resettle. It may take a few days for the lake master to come out."
"Yes." Li Muchan smiled and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister Zhang, for taking care of me all the way."
After a few words of greeting, everyone separated. Xu Xiaorou took Li Muchan and Lin Ping onto a mountain path. The bluestone steps were winding, surrounded by lush pine trees and the air was fresh.
Walking halfway up the mountain, Xu Xiaorou turned to the west and came to a large courtyard. Stepping into the door, there was a martial arts training ground directly, where there were more than a dozen disciples practicing.
Hearing the noise, they all stopped and turned to look.
A burly young man took a step forward and said in surprise: "Junior Sister Xu, why are you back?"
This young man is tall and burly, with slightly dark complexion and a dignified appearance. He is looking at Xu Xiaorou excitedly.
Xu Xiaoju said: "Senior brother Chang, two new junior brothers have come in. These are junior brothers Li Zhuli and junior brother Lin Pinglin."
Everyone gathered around and looked at the two people enthusiastically.
"Okay, Junior Sister Xu, leave it to us, don't worry." Senior Brother Chang patted his chest and said with a smile, "You go back and have a rest first."
Xu Xiaorou nodded, turned around and said to Li Muchan: "Junior brother Li, they are all very good. Just stay here peacefully. The Lake Master will personally teach you martial arts in a few days."
"Okay." Li Muchan smiled and nodded, looking calm.
Lin Ping said hurriedly: "Senior Sister Xu, do you want to go back again?"
Xu Xiaorou shook her head: "Wait until the Lake Master comes out of seclusion, and then listen to the Lake Master's instructions."
"That's it..." Lin Ping said disappointedly.
Senior Brother Chang came over and patted Lin Ping on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Junior Brother Lin, don't worry, we will be a family in the future. It will be easy to see Junior Sister Xu."
He was talking and winking and smiling.
Lin Ping was stunned for a moment, not used to being tapped on the shoulder, so he forced a smile.
Li Muchan looked at everyone with a smile and said nothing, but Lin Ping felt a little embarrassed.
"Okay, I'll come over to see you tomorrow." Xu Xiaorou smiled, turned and left.
Everyone immediately started chatting and laughing, and surrounded Li Muchan and Lin Ping with great enthusiasm.