"Little Swarm, Stelle! What are you doing here?!"
Everyone turned to look, but before they could say a word, March 7th burst out, her face radiant with joy.
"We came to see how your training is going," Stelle replied casually, waving her hand.
"Mhm! March 7th, training!" Little Swarm chimed in, nodding obediently like a chick pecking at grain.
"What about Dan Heng? Why didn't he come?" March 7th asked, noticing his absence.
Stelle and Little Swarm are here, but where's Dan Heng?
"He had some business to handle and split off from us," Stelle said with a mysterious smile, as if Dan Heng were on a secret mission.
"Hey, can you wipe that grin off your face?" Though Stelle's words seemed straightforward, those who knew her well understood that taking her at face value was a recipe for disaster.
If Stelle hadn't said anything, March 7th might have remained in the dark. But now she saw through the act.
This girl probably has no idea where Dan Heng went either.
She's just using that mysterious smile to make me fill in the blanks myself.
March 7th's eyelids drooped slightly, her expression one of utter exasperation as she stared at Stelle.
"Hm?" Sensing March 7th's exasperated look, Stelle's expression remained unchanged, her mysterious smile unwavering.
"Stelle, Little Swarm, since you're here, why don't you join us in supervising March 7th's training?" Lumina suggested with a warm smile.
"Heh, that's exactly what I had in mind." Stelle's already upturned lips curved higher, as if harboring some mischievous intent toward March 7th.
"What are you planning?" Sensing the pointed gaze, March 7th crossed her arms protectively over her chest, her eyes narrowed warily at Stelle.
"Mm-hmm." Stelle placed her hands on her hips, nodding with a smile that defied expectations, leaving everyone puzzled about her true motives.
"..."
"Little Swarm, come over here. Don't stay with this idiot." Though March 7th didn't understand the meaning behind Stelle's words or actions, she knew it couldn't be anything good.
She waved Little Swarm over urgently, signaling the little creature to come quickly and stay away from that loopy weirdo.
Little Swarm is only a few months old—she mustn't be corrupted by Stelle's madness.
Seeing the situation, Little Swarm didn't hesitate and followed March 7th's instructions. It left Stelle's side and scurried over to March 7th.
Since Lumina was also standing beside March 7th, Little Swarm took the opportunity to snuggle up to him, sniffed the air, and basked in the captivating aura radiating from its Great Creator. A sweet, innocent smile blossomed on Little Swarm's face.
"Ahem, if Miss March is ready, let's begin today's training," Yanqing said, relieved that nothing serious had happened between Little Swarm and Stelle.
"Okay, we'll... Oh, wait, there's one more thing," March 7th nodded slightly, opening her mouth to start the session. But in the next moment, as if struck by a sudden thought, she changed her tone and said, "Actually, there's one more thing..."
"Hm?" Yanqing and Yunli exchanged puzzled glances but nodded for March 7th to continue.
"I'd like to offer you Masters Tea," March 7th announced under the collective gaze. "Remember to tap your fingers on the table a few times as you receive them..."
"Master Tea? And a finger-tapping gesture?" Yanqing and Yunli's eyes widened at March 7th's unexpected proposal.
Yanqing scratched his head, a hint of awkwardness coloring his youthful expression.
"Does taking on an apprentice for the first time really require such solemnity?"
"I've seen great heroes in Fictional Dramas perform their apprenticeship ceremonies this way," March 7th explained. "Since you two Masters gave me a Reverse Apprenticeship Gift, I definitely have to reciprocate properly."
"If I didn't do anything, wouldn't I look like some con artist just trying to scam people out of Reverse Apprenticeship Gifts?"
March 7th continued her explanation earnestly.
"Oh, March... maybe you should watch less Fictional Drama," Lumina said with a helpless smile, listening to March 7th's elaborate explanation.
Look at this child—already a bit simple, and now even more gullible after being brainwashed by who-knows-how-many times over-processed Fictional Dramas.
"Huh? Did I say something wrong?" March 7th blinked, then scratched her head, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. A hint of embarrassment crept into her expression.
"You certainly did," Stelle agreed, crossing her arms and nodding calmly. Then, the corner of her mouth curled upward into that familiar smile. "In Fictional Dramas, apprentices always kneel and kowtow during the ceremony."
"March 7th, go ahead—perform a 'Big Head, Big Miracle' for Master Yanqing and Master Yunli!"
Stelle raised an eyebrow at March 7th, signaling her to quickly go and kowtow to Yanqing and Yunli.
"Umm... there's really no need to bow down and kowtow!" Hearing this, Yanqing frantically waved his hands, rejecting the idea entirely, afraid March 7th might actually obey Stelle's suggestion to kneel and kowtow.
"Alright, cut the fuss. For the Reverse Apprenticeship Gift, just treat us to milk tea will do," Yunli said, her composure a stark contrast to Yanqing's flustered state.
She had initially been shocked by the idea of an apprenticeship ritual, but now she appeared completely unfazed.
"After we finish our drinks, you'll come back and diligently practice your swordsmanship, okay?"
Yunli's words offered both Yanqing and March 7th a way out of the awkward situation.
"Yeah, yeah, bowing down and kowtowing is unnecessary. Just treat us to milk tea as a token of respect. No need to make it so formal," Yanqing agreed, nodding vigorously in rare agreement.
"Don't worry, I had no intention of kneeling anyway," March 7th assured them with a smile.
"As for kneeling and kowtowing..." March 7th planted her hands on her hips, turned her head, and fixed Stelle with a gaze as sharp as a knife, as if to pierce her through and see what kind of mischievous entity lurked within.
"If you like that so much, this young lady would be delighted to be the one you kneel and kowtow to!" March 7th scoffed, her sharp gaze forcing even the thick-skinned Stelle to flash an awkward smile.
"Alright, let's head to The Sleepless Earl together," Lumina said, patting March 7th on the shoulder. The gesture sent a sudden shiver through March 7th's previously sharp and intense posture.
Lumina then walked ahead with Little Swarm and Stelle, going to the front to lead the way.
"March 7th, let's go." Seeing this, Yunli and Yanqing nodded to March 7th before following behind.
"Mm-hmm... Wait, wait for me!"
Lumina's hand on her shoulder had made March 7th recall that scene from the morning, and also gave rise to that kind of feeling when her skin intimately touched Sister Lumina's clothing...
She shook her head vigorously, desperately trying to shake off the lingering thought and sensation.
Watching the receding figures ahead, she yelled out and hurriedly followed.