"Xixi, time to get up!" Yang Yi pulled back the curtains, letting the slightly dazzling morning sun stream in, just catching the little girl's bottom sticking up from under the covers—though it was still wrapped in her underwear and pajamas.
Xixi didn't move. Clearly, this level of disturbance wasn't enough to wake a sleeping toddler. Yang Yi smiled as he walked over, gently cupped her bottom with both hands, and with a light push, rolled her over.
Now Xixi couldn't sleep anymore. The sunlight hit her eyes, making them impossible to keep shut. She pouted and flipped back over in protest. "Mmm, no, I want to sleep."
She always had a bit of morning crankiness when waking up, and today Yang Yi had even called her half an hour early!
"Didn't you say yesterday you wanted to practice kung fu? You said you wanted to watch Daddy swing a sword!" Yang Yi leaned close to her ear and whispered. "If you don't get up soon, the sun will be blazing!"
After a while, two figures—one big, one small—slowly made their way to the grassy area in front of the coffee shop's flower bed.
Xixi wore an adorable pink training outfit, custom-made by Yang Yi. It was different from the usual style because of the hot weather—it had been modified into shorts and short sleeves. The little girl's slender arms and legs were on full display, making her look especially sharp and spirited!
At first, Xixi hadn't wanted to wear it.
She wanted a dress. But when she saw it matched her father's white training outfit as a father-daughter set, the little one fell in love with it!
When they came out, Yang Yi carried two swords: one steel sword he'd forged for himself, still unsharpened for now, and the other a small wooden sword for Xixi. Xixi, meanwhile, clutched a bottle of milk she'd just prepared, drinking it sweetly.
She hadn't eaten breakfast this morning because of the training outfit, but milk was non-negotiable!
"Do you want to see Daddy's kung fu?" Yang Yi smiled at his daughter.
Xixi, still holding the straw of her child's milk bottle in her mouth, lifted her little head and nodded vigorously.
"Then go stand under that tree. Remember, don't run around—Daddy's sword is really powerful! If you come close, *swish*, your hair will fall off!" Yang Yi teased the little girl.
Xixi, who loved her looks so much, naturally wouldn't dare come near to protect her pretty hair. She obediently stood under the tree, drinking her milk, and stared wide-eyed, not even blinking, eager to see her father's kung fu!
Yang Yi held the sword reversed and stood in the middle of the grass. The area was quiet, with no one around, only the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. His expression turned serious.
Suddenly, Yang Yi moved. His body flowed like a willow, his sword like a leaf. Starting with slow, smooth movements, he quickly transitioned into a furious storm of action—swinging, spinning, leaping. The silvery gleam of the sword seemed to tear and shatter the space around him.
Then, just as suddenly, the storm ceased. The clouds parted, the rain stopped. Yang Yi stood still, sword in hand, as if nothing had happened. The wind still lazily stirred the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the grass.
"How was that?" Yang Yi walked toward his daughter with a smile. He didn't even need to ask.
Xixi had forgotten to drink her milk, her eyes wide with amazement and admiration. They told her father the answer.
"Daddy is amazing!" Xixi hugged her milk bottle with her left hand and waved her right hand around, trying to describe it. "Even better than Kabi-gege's dad!"
Kabi-gege was a little hero from a Chinese cartoon Xixi had been watching recently, similar to Superman or Spider-Man, always stepping in to help. His father was a famous kendo martial artist.
Hearing his daughter's praise, Yang Yi smiled, neither pleased nor displeased.
In truth, what was shown on TV? Yang Yi's real swordsmanship was a killing art—swift, deceptive, targeting vital points. It wasn't flashy at all, but no one who underestimated him had ever lived to tell the tale.
Of course, that style was too brutal, unsuitable for children. What Yang Yi had just performed for Xixi was the Wudang Eight Immortals Sword, which he'd learned from a drunken Taoist when he was refining his own unique techniques. It was a practical style with some visual appeal.
"Do you want to learn?" Yang Yi asked.
"Yes!" Xixi replied crisply. The little girl was only captivated by how beautiful it looked. She had no idea that this step would lead her onto her father's "pirate ship" of training...
Of course, Xixi soon understood when she began practicing under her father's guidance.
"...To learn swordsmanship, you first need to understand the sword. We usually call this the pommel, this the grip, the guard, the blade, the spine, the edge, and the tip. The edge and tip are dangerous. Unless necessary, Xixi, remember—never point them at anyone!" Yang Yi put on a stern expression as he began his lesson. "Stand up straight!"
Xixi had never seen her father look so "fierce." She tried to slack off earlier but was immediately caught and scolded. She quickly followed his instructions, standing in a half-lunge position.
The little girl felt wronged and couldn't help complaining, "Daddy, my legs hurt so much."
Making a four-year-old girl hold a sword in a lunge stance!
Even though it wasn't a full horse stance, Xixi couldn't handle the hardship. After just a few seconds, she was wobbling.
Though his heart ached a little, Yang Yi walked over and adjusted her posture, speaking with a mix of sternness and gentleness. "Stand still! Just two more minutes!"
When training his daughter, Yang Yi naturally wouldn't push her as hard as he'd pushed himself. He kept lowering the standards, to a point where he wasn't even sure if it would be effective.
But even so, Xixi couldn't hold out. Soon, she was swaying, pouting, and whining, "I can't do it anymore! Is it time yet?"
"One more minute. Hold on!" Yang Yi found he couldn't stay stern in the face of his daughter's pleading. He encouraged her softly. "Xixi is already amazing! Keep going!"
Xixi had potential. Despite wobbling, she gritted her teeth and persisted until the time her father had set.
"Great job! Xixi, you've surprised Daddy so much!" Yang Yi didn't hold back his praise. His compliments made the little girl a bit shy, but they also reignited her determination.
"Next, Daddy will teach you the correct way to hold the sword." Yang Yi looked at how she was gripping the handle with both hands and raised his own longsword. "First, the full grip. Look at Daddy's hand—right hand, five fingers clenched like a fist, firmly gripping the front of the handle. The sword and forearm should form roughly a right angle."
Xixi couldn't understand these fancy terms. Yang Yi had to step in and guide her hand by hand.
That morning, they practiced the lunge stance three times and learned three types of grips. Even so, it took half an hour. The little girl was too young and soon grew tired, whining for her father to carry her back.
"Daddy, when will Xixi be as strong as you?" Xixi rested comfortably on her father's broad back, poking her little head out. Her ponytail dangled into his neck.
"Well, that's still a long way off! But if Xixi works hard, she'll definitely become even stronger than Daddy!" Yang Yi smiled, giving her something to look forward to.
In truth, Xixi's performance today had been satisfying and even surprising for Yang Yi.
She might have whined a little, but the little girl wasn't as delicate as he'd imagined. With a bit of encouragement from her father, she gritted her teeth and completed all the tasks he'd set. She learned earnestly and quickly—a very clever little girl!