Transmigrating to become Hua Qiangu

Ever since that accidental kiss, Hua Qiangu's heart has been like a restless little rabbit, constantly on edge. On one hand, she desperately wants to master the art of sword flight to prove that she is not as incompetent as Ni Mantian said; on the other hand, she can't help but recall that awkward and delicate moment with Bai Zihua. Every time she thinks of it, her face involuntarily turns red, and her mind becomes even more chaotic.

That day, Hua Qiangu arrived at her familiar training ground as usual, ready to continue practicing her sword-flying technique. Gripping her longsword tightly, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her chaotic mind, muttering to herself, "Hmph, I must practice hard today, and stop thinking about those messy things! I have to show my master my progress, and shut that Ni Mantian up completely!"

But just as she was about to begin channeling her spiritual energy, she heard a familiar voice behind her: "Little Bone, you've arrived so early today!"

Hua Qiangu turned around and saw that it was Senior Brother Luo Shiyi. She forced a smile and replied, "Senior Brother Shiyi, I was thinking of practicing a little longer so I could learn this sword-flying technique as soon as possible!"

Luo Shiyi walked closer with a smile, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Xiao Gu, don't be impatient. This sword flight technique can't be mastered overnight. Look, you've made progress in the past few days. Just take it slow!"

Hua Qiangu glanced at him gratefully and said, "Thank you for your comforting words, Senior Brother, but I just don't want to lose to Ni Mantian and the others! Humph! Every time I see her smug look, I get so angry!"

Luo Shiyi frowned slightly and said, "Xiao Gu, don't take her to heart. That's just her personality. She loves to compare herself to others and makes sarcastic remarks. Just focus on your own cultivation!"

Hua Qiangu nodded and replied, "Yes, I understand, Senior Brother. I will try my best and won't let her affect me!"

With that, Hua Qiangu refocused her attention on the sword and carefully infused it with spiritual energy, following the method her master had taught her. The sword rose up shakily, still a little unsteady, but much better than before.

"Wow! Senior brother, look, I think I've made some progress! Haha!" Hua Qiangu exclaimed excitedly.

Luo Shiyi also beamed with joy and exclaimed, "Xiao Gu, that's fantastic! Keep it up! If you keep this up, you'll master it in no time!"

Just as Hua Qiangu was overjoyed and preparing to try to make the sword fly higher, Ni Mantian and her followers walked over from a distance.

Seeing Hua Qiangu's excited expression, Ni Mantian's lips curled into a mocking smile, and she said loudly, "Oh, isn't this Hua Qiangu? Still gloating over here? Hmph, with your skills, you dare to show off here? Don't fall flat on your face again! Haha!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Qiangu clenched her fists in anger and shouted at Ni Mantian, "Ni Mantian, don't talk nonsense here! What does it matter to you whether I improve or not? All you do is mock me. If you're so capable, why don't you try it yourself, humph!"

Ni Mantian curled her lip in disdain and said, "Hmph, I wouldn't stoop to comparing myself to you. With your aptitude, there's no way you could ever learn it!"

Luo Shiyi couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward, saying, "Ni Mantian, why do you always target Xiao Gu like this? We're all from the same sect, we should help each other. What you're saying is going too far!"

Ni Mantian snorted and said, "So what if I'm targeting her? Why does she deserve to be personally taught by Master? What makes me inferior to her? Humph!"

Luo Shiyi frowned and said seriously, "Ni Mantian, your thinking is wrong. It is Master's decision who to teach, and Xiao Gu is also working hard to cultivate. You should be happy for her progress, not jealous like this."

Ni Mantian was somewhat embarrassed and angry by Luo Shiyi's words. She glared at him and said, "Luo Shiyi, don't lecture me! I just can't stand her, so what!"

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Bai Zihua appeared not far away. His expression was cold and stern, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Hua Qiangu. He said, "What's all this commotion about?"

Upon seeing Bai Zihua arrive, Ni Mantian immediately changed her demeanor and obediently said, "Master, it was Hua Qiangu who spoke rudely to me first; I only replied with a few words."

Upon hearing this, Hua Qiangu said anxiously, "Master, that's not how it is. It was Ni Mantian who mocked me first, and I couldn't help but talk back!"

Bai Zihua frowned slightly, looked at Ni Mantian, and said, "Ni Mantian, don't try to distort the truth here. I know Xiao Gu's personality. If you hadn't started this, she wouldn't have argued with anyone so easily."

Upon hearing this, Ni Mantian lowered her head in fright and said, "Yes, Master, this disciple knows her mistake."

Bai Zihua looked at Hua Qiangu again, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes, and said, "Xiao Gu, don't be influenced by what others say. Focusing on cultivation is the right thing to do."

Hua Qiangu replied, "Yes, Master, I will!"

Seeing this, Ni Mantian was consumed by jealousy. She secretly vowed, "Hmph, Hua Qiangu, just you wait, I'll make sure you can't stay on Changliu Mountain any longer!"

After Bai Zihua left, Hua Qiangu took a deep breath and said to Luo Shiyi, "Senior brother, thank you for speaking up for me just now. I don't know what I would have done without you!"

Luo Shiyi laughed and said, "Xiao Gu, don't be so polite. We're all from the same sect. I can't stand Ni Mantian's bullying attitude. Just ignore her and keep practicing!"

Hua Qiangu nodded, rallied her spirits, and continued practicing her sword-flying technique. This time, perhaps encouraged by her master's appearance, she felt exceptionally well. The sword actually flew steadily through the air for a short distance, and she was able to control its direction quite well.

"Wow! Senior brother, look! I did it! I can really make the sword fly! Haha!" Hua Qiangu was so excited that she danced around, her face beaming with pride.

Luo Shiyi was also happy for her and said loudly, "Xiao Gu, that's great! This is really a big improvement, keep it up!"

Just as Hua Qiangu was immersed in joy, suddenly, the sword seemed to be disturbed and began to shake violently again.

"Oh no! What's going on?" Hua Qiangu exclaimed.

Before she could react, the sword shot straight down to the ground.

"Ah! Help!" Hua Qiangu screamed loudly again in fright, feeling extremely regretful. She thought, "How did I mess this up again? Everything was fine just now. It's all my fault for being too complacent. Now I'm going to fall really hard!"

At this critical moment, Bai Zihua flashed and reappeared below Hua Qiangu like lightning, catching her steadily.

The two found themselves in that awkward close-quarters contact once more. Hua Qiangu bumped into Bai Zihua's arms, their eyes meeting. At that moment, Hua Qiangu's face flushed crimson again, and she stammered, "Master, I...I messed up again, I'm sorry..."

Bai Zihua felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw Hua Qiangu's flustered and self-reproachful appearance. He said softly, "Xiao Gu, don't worry. Cultivation is bound to involve many setbacks. Although you made a mistake this time, it is commendable that you persevered in your practice."

Hearing Bai Zihua's words, Hua Qiangu felt both grateful and guilty. She whispered, "Thank you, Master, but I still feel I'm too stupid and always cause you trouble..."

Bai Zihua shook his head and said, "It's alright, I believe you will eventually master this sword flight technique."

Seeing this, Ni Mantian's jealousy flared even more fiercely. She said sarcastically, "Oh, Hua Qiangu really knows how to cause trouble for her master. She falls down again and again, and her master saves her time and time again. Doesn't she feel ashamed? Humph!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Qiangu trembled with anger. She broke free from Bai Zihua's embrace and shouted at Ni Mantian, "Ni Mantian, are you ever going to stop? I worked hard to cultivate, and it's my own business if I fell. What does it have to do with you? Don't make sarcastic remarks here! Humph!"

Ni Mantian sneered and said, "Hmph, I just can't stand how you always cling to Master. Why is Master so good to you, but different to us? Hmph!"

Bai Zihua frowned and said seriously, "Ni Mantian, don't talk nonsense here. Xiao Gu is being nurtured with great effort. As her teacher, it is my duty to teach and protect her. If you continue to be so rude, I will not let you off easily."

Upon hearing this, Ni Mantian turned pale with fright and quickly lowered her head, saying, "Yes, Master, this disciple knows her mistake." But in her heart, she thought, "Hmph, Hua Qiangu, just you wait, I'll make sure you can't stay on Changliu Mountain any longer!"

Luo Shiyi couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward, saying, "Ni Mantian, you've gone too far! Xiao Gu has been working hard, and instead of encouraging her, you're always making sarcastic remarks. What kind of fellow disciple are you?"

Ni Mantian snorted and said, "Hmph, we'll see!" After saying that, she and her followers stormed off.

Hua Qiangu watched Ni Mantian's departing figure, clenched her fists, and secretly vowed: "Hmph, Ni Mantian, just you wait, I will definitely master the sword flight technique and make you look at me with new eyes. Then let's see if you still dare to treat me like this!"

Looking at Hua Qiangu's determined appearance, Bai Zihua felt secretly gratified. He said, "Xiao Gu, don't be influenced by other people's words. Continue to focus on your cultivation."

Hua Qiangu replied, "Yes, Master, I will!"

Afterwards, Bai Zihua carefully explained to Hua Qiangu some common problems that might occur while flying on a sword and how to deal with them. Hua Qiangu listened very attentively, thinking to herself, "My master is so good to me, I must study hard and not let him down again!"

Under Bai Zihua's guidance, Hua Qiangu's practice, though still encountering some minor issues, showed significant overall progress. She gradually became able to make the sword fly steadily for a distance and control its direction of flight better.

That evening, Hua Qiangu finished her day's cultivation and dragged her tired body back to her residence. Along the way, scenes of her time with Bai Zihua that day kept replaying in her mind, especially the two times her master had caught her. Her face flushed involuntarily. She thought to herself, "Master is so good to me, but why do I always embarrass myself in front of him? Sigh, I must cultivate even harder so that Master can see my progress and I can be worthy of his care!"

Meanwhile, Bai Zihua was in his residence, sitting alone by the window, gazing at the moonlight. His mind was filled with memories of his time with Hua Qiangu. He was torn between worry about her progress in cultivation and the complex emotions that had arisen from their unexpected encounter. These two conflicting feelings made his heart exceptionally heavy. He silently admonished himself: "Bai Zihua, Bai Zihua, as the Immortal of Changliu, you must remain clear-headed and rational. Don't let these romantic entanglements disrupt your cultivation. Xiaogu is just a disciple; you must guide her onto the right path. You mustn't harbor any improper thoughts!"

However, despite constantly reminding himself of this, his heart would still soften involuntarily every time he saw Hua Qiangu's hardworking and stubborn appearance. This made him feel both helpless and somewhat fascinated. He didn't know how to face this feeling, nor did he know where this feeling would lead him and Hua Qiangu.