Chapter 409: Chapter 318: Stone Workshop 2
Duan Rong reached for the carving knife in Xiao Yu’s hand, but Xiao Yu flicked it away.
Duan Rong said, "Let me show you."
"You can do it?"
"Of course," Duan Rong said. "It’s just like drawing."
Xiao Yu glanced at Duan Rong with suspicion, but she still released her grip, allowing Duan Rong to take the carving knife.
Duan Rong pivoted the stone core to the center, facing the cave entrance so that both could see. He glanced at Xiao Yu and said, "Watch carefully! Now! It’s like this... when carving, only use the wrist, keep the elbow steady..."
Xiao Yu saw that Duan Rong moved quickly with one stroke, carving off a large piece, nearly changing her expression in surprise. Just as she was about to stop him, she heard Duan Rong continue, "...the lines have a flow... don’t carve bit by bit, outline the whole contour first, then refine it part by part... like this... like this..."
"The more hesitant and cautious you are, the worse it is carved... because the lines you carve that way are broken, without the flow like running water..."
Xiao Yu watched as Duan Rong quickly carved out a fold, her eyes shining brighter and brighter.
"This is even better than my senior sister’s work!"
Xiao Yu gradually shifted her gaze from the statue, focusing her bright eyes solely on Duan Rong. Deep in her eyes, a kind of brilliance danced.
Duan Rong noticed Xiao Yu’s gaze, tapped the statue with the carving knife, and said sternly, "Watch this!"
Blushing, Xiao Yu began to pay attention to the movement of Duan Rong’s carving knife again.
Duan Rong carefully demonstrated for Xiao Yu and then let her try a few times herself.
Duan Rong patiently guided from the side. Xiao Yu was naturally smart, and with Duan Rong’s selfless, hands-on teaching, she quickly understood the basics she’d practiced over the last two days. Having grasped the preliminary skills, Xiao Yu soon gained more confidence to strike the initial large outlines on the statue without hesitation.
Even with minor mistakes, they could be corrected gradually in the later stages.
Seeing she had also completed a fold, Xiao Yu immediately smiled brightly and said, "This looks so much better than before! My senior sister will definitely be surprised tomorrow!"
Engrossed in the sculpture, the two did not notice the evening setting in the mountain valley.
Many cave entrances had already lit fires, and the aroma of food wafted over.
Xiao Yu placed the statue under the stone table and looked up with a smile, "Well, today’s task is over fulfilled."
Duan Rong glanced around and said, "Aren’t you going to invite me to dinner?"
Xiao Yu’s eyes glimmered. "I live in that cave over there."
The two walked together through the deepening dusk in the valley, arriving at a cave entrance. This cave was somewhat secluded, and even from the entrance, it was noticeably smaller than the one where they had been carving earlier.
Duan Rong glanced at the cave entrance and said, "You start the fire. I’ll go find some wild game."
Before Xiao Yu could say anything, Duan Rong had already turned and disappeared into the twilight.
Xiao Yu watched Duan Rong’s silhouette fade into the dusk, her eyes slightly misty.
She had been working from morning till night these past two days, returning to her cave exhausted, eating dry biscuits before straightaway lying down.
Today was the earliest she had finished her work.
Before long, Duan Rong returned.
He was carrying two wild rabbits.
By the time Xiao Yu had started the fire, Duan Rong had already cleaned the rabbits in the nearby forest stream.
Each taking one, they began roasting the rabbits over the firewood.
Soon, the rabbits were cooked, and Xiao Yu roasted a couple of biscuits as well.
Both ate heartily, after which Xiao Yu brought over a gourd, containing the clear water she fetched from the stream.
She took a few sips and then handed it to Duan Rong.
Duan Rong drank his fill from the gourd’s opening.
After finishing the meal, they sat by the cave opening’s fire, chatting lightly while gazing at the starry sky and deepening night.
A faint happiness filled Xiao Yu’s heart.
The past two days, her emotions had been rather suppressed.
Suddenly leaving home and family to come to these mountains, laboring daily, and having to constantly observe the moods around her.
She felt a bit confused, uncertain about what being a sect named disciple truly entailed.
Suddenly, Duan Rong unfolded the lining of his coat and took out the brass embossed ankle bracelet, offering it to Xiao Yu with a smile, "Got a little something for you."
Seeing the ring in Duan Rong’s hand, glowing faintly under the firelight, Xiao Yu’s heart skipped a beat. She took it, moved closer to the firelight, and examined it carefully.
Xiao Yu smiled and asked, "Where did you get this?"
Duan Rong answered honestly, "I went to Ximen Kankan’s place this afternoon. Found it in a pile of broken weaponry. I thought it looked nice, so I cleaned it up for you. You don’t mind, do you?"
Xiao Yu noticed the faint traces of patina within the embossed patterns, but she also noticed how Duan Rong had carefully taken it out from inside his coat.
Xiao Yu said, "Why would I mind! Something others discarded, you bring it to me. Don’t you know how to properly give presents?"
Though Xiao Yu said this, she continued to smile warmly.
Duan Rong said, "Alright, then I shall just throw it away."
As Duan Rong spoke, he made a move to snatch the ring from Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu quickly turned aside, clutching the ring tightly, and said, "What are you doing? This is mine now!"
With that, Xiao Yu took off one shoe and sock and placed the ring around her ankle.
She lifted her foot slightly near the firelight, examined it, and playfully nudged Duan Rong, "How does it look? Pretty?"
"Beautiful."
Duan Rong’s gaze never left Xiao Yu’s smooth and delicate foot, not even glancing once at the ankle bracelet.
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