Chapter 55: The Sword Comes from the Mouth (4)
This swordsman was at the Middle State of Penetrating Mystery. Logically speaking, facing a young man at the Sitting Illumination realm, he could have crushed him with a single casual strike. But Fu Xinji’s first sword came too fast, forcing him to adopt a defensive stance first. And just as he was about to switch from defense to offense, Fu Xinji’s second sword arrived—still just as fast.
Being able to strike so quickly meant there was no pause whatsoever between Fu Xinji’s two sword strikes.
And the first and fifth forms of the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword, logically speaking, were very difficult to link together, let alone execute so smoothly.
The problem lay in the fact that his sword had knocked Fu Xinji’s sword to an upward diagonal angle.
It was precisely that position, that exact angle, that allowed Fu Xinji to link the two strikes as swiftly as lightning.
He had seen the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword before, but he had never imagined it could be used this way.
What shocked him even more were Fu Xinji’s third and fourth swords.
Those two sword techniques were from the National Education True Sword.
How could the transition from the Zhongshan Wind and Rain Sword to the National Education True Sword be so seamless? It even gave one a sense of exquisite perfection, as if it were divinely ordained.
Clearly, they weren’t from the same sword style, so why did they feel like a chain of techniques forged over a thousand years by some great sword sect?
To this swordsman, these four strikes were utterly exquisite—and utterly terrifying.
He knew very well that if Fu Xinji’s realm weren’t so far beneath his own, he wouldn’t have known how to counter these four strikes.
In other words, if Fu Xinji could break through to the Penetrating Mystery realm, even if he were a full level weaker, he could still threaten him with these four strikes.
Such four strikes could not possibly have been conceived by a provincial freshman who had just entered the National Education Academy.
And the way Fu Xinji’s sword techniques had shifted earlier, displaying what seemed like an incredibly precise prediction and judgment of the situation, was clearly pre-designed by someone else.
Who could have calculated every detail of today’s sword duel in advance and provided such a perfect solution?
Thinking that such a person existed in the world, the swordsman felt both cold all over and burning hot.
Thinking that someone could reach such heights in the way of the sword, he was thrilled to the point of wanting to go drink heavily right then.
“This… is Dean Chen’s sword technique?” he asked Tang Thirty-Six, his voice trembling.
Tang Thirty-Six said, “Yes.”
The swordsman was silent for a long time before calming down from his shock. He sighed with emotion and said, “I’ve heard the story of last year’s Green Vine Banquet, where he debated swords with Gou Hanshi. Every time I heard the details, I always thought the storytellers were exaggerating—after all, he was only at the Sitting Illumination realm back then. Now I realize that in the way of the sword, there really are those who are born with knowledge.”
Hearing this, Tang Thirty-Six naturally recalled the scene from last year’s Green Vine Banquet and was equally moved. He said, “Don’t say you didn’t believe it. Back then, he described the sword techniques, and I was the one executing them. Even before I swung the sword, I didn’t believe he could help me defeat Qi Jian. But that guy actually pulled it off.”
The swordsman sighed again. “Such talent in the way of the sword is truly astonishing.”
“I’ll pass on your praise to him, but he definitely won’t admit to being a sword genius…”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “He’ll only say he’s just worked hard and has a good memory.”
The swordsman was stunned, thinking that such sword talent was obvious even to a blind man—how could he deny it? He didn’t know what to say.
“I also think he looks pretty insufferable when he says that. Yeah, even more insufferable than me sometimes.”
Tang Thirty-Six clasped his hands toward the swordsman.
The swordsman nodded and walked back behind the crowd, but instead of standing with the Tianhai family’s experts, he continued farther away.
He would likely walk far—all the way across the Bridge of Helplessness, out the city gates, and into the wider world.
Having just seen the sword’s way as vast as the sea, how could he stay in this small city of the capital?
The third match came quickly.
The expert challenging the National Education Academy had a gloomy expression, clearly not a good person, and he didn’t hide the killing intent in his eyes.
Representing the National Education Academy was a student transferred from the Heavenly Dao Academy, named Chu Wenbin.
“Senior Brother… something seems off.” Chu Wenbin looked at the expert and whispered uneasily.
He had been a student at the Heavenly Dao Academy before, and Tang Thirty-Six had also been one. They knew each other, and now both were students at the National Education Academy. Though it wasn’t exactly shared suffering, there was at least some bond. In his nervousness, he habitually called Tang Thirty-Six “Senior Brother,” forgetting to use “Academy Supervisor.” Tang Thirty-Six, who usually cared about such things, didn’t get angry.
“What’s wrong?” Tang Thirty-Six turned slightly.
Chu Wenbin glanced timidly at the field and said, “That guy feels dangerous.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “Last night, Chen Changsheng taught you a move specifically for dealing with this person. If you’re lucky, you might gain an advantage… Even if you’re scared, there’s no time to switch people.”
Chu Wenbin felt helpless, picked up his sword, and walked down the stone steps.
The gloomy expert, seeing Chu Wenbin with his fair, almost feminine complexion, revealed a sinister, inexplicable smile and said, “So there really are people who aren’t afraid of death.”
Chu Wenbin was terrified by that smile. He turned to Tang Thirty-Six and said, “Senior Brother, he’s scaring me.”
Tang Thirty-Six raised an eyebrow slightly and said to the man, “Hey, if you’re going to fight, just fight. What’s with all the nonsense?”
The man’s smile faded, and a chilling aura emanated from him. “Can the National Education Academy no longer bear to hear the truth?”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “If you’ve got the guts, go ahead and kill him right now in front of me.”
Chu Wenbin was shocked, thinking, Senior Brother, that line was cool and full of spirit, but… it’s my life on the line!
The man sneered, “And what if I do kill him?”
Tang Thirty-Six pressed his lips together.
Just like Chen Changsheng at Cheng Lake Pavilion back then, he clearly sensed this man’s… killing intent.
“The rules of the Academy Martial Exhibition don’t include killing people.”
He looked at the man expressionlessly and said, “If you want to break the rules, I naturally have ways to play outside them.”
The man laughed, and with his pale face and gloomy brows, the smile looked especially terrifying. “A few days ago, my master said, ‘Swords and blades have no eyes.’”
Hearing this, the crowd realized this man was a subordinate of Bie Tianxin, or perhaps a servant of his household.
Though just a subordinate or even a servant, being able to follow Bie Tianxin through the world and reassure those two Eight Directions Wind and Rain experts… this man was undoubtedly extremely powerful and terrifying.
“Swords and blades have no eyes, but you’re not blind.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and said, “If something goes wrong, I’ll naturally call a stop.”
That servant of the Bie family gave a half-smile and said, “Why should I stop just because Young Master Tang says so? Besides, your National Education Academy students are too weak. If I fight normally and accidentally kill him, that’s only natural.”
“Accidentally?” Tang Thirty-Six’s eyebrows shot up like a sword about to leave its sheath.
The Bie family servant explained, as if kindly, “Accidentally means I can’t stop.”
“You’re right. Our National Education Academy freshmen are still weak. To you, they’re unquestionably strong opponents. The strong bully the weak, and people can’t stop…”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him calmly and said, “Then I’ll have no choice but to make your whole family stop.”
The Bie family servant’s expression tightened. “You should know very well that I’m from the Bie family.”
“Of course I know you’re a servant of the Bie family, Ye Xingqing.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and said, “But your own family is in Shannan Prefecture. Relying on the Bie family’s power, you’ve bullied men and women in the countryside, committed every evil, seized tens of thousands of acres of fertile land. I hear your son is even a county magistrate?”
Hearing this, Ye Xingqing’s expression changed drastically. He shouted harshly, “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, I know who you are.”
Tang Thirty-Six stopped looking at him and turned his gaze to the experts behind the crowd who had come under the orders of the Tianhai family to challenge the National Education Academy. “I know who all of you are. So if you want to fight, fight. But if anyone tries to escalate things, spouting nonsense about not being able to stop, then I’ll make sure your whole families stop.”
Then he looked back at Ye Xingqing and asked, “Now, do you understand?”
There were many things in this world that could be stopped—swords, words, futures, even fates.
When he said this, he was very calm, without any of his usual arrogance or exaggeration.
Only then did everyone present realize he was speaking the truth, not just making threats.
Yes, even the National Education Academy couldn’t do much to the Bie family, given that it meant two Eight Directions Wind and Rain experts.
But Ye Xingqing was ultimately just a servant of the Bie family. He had his own home, his own family. So when he threatened the National Education Academy, he should have thought beforehand that the academy could easily threaten him back.
After Tang Thirty-Six finished speaking so clearly, Ye Xingqing thought it through, and his face turned extremely ugly.
“Senior Brother, you’re amazing.”
Chu Wenbin’s fear gradually faded, and he looked at Tang Thirty-Six happily.
Normally, being praised like that would make Tang Thirty-Six happy too, but not now. He knew this matter wouldn’t end here. Most importantly, back at the National Education Academy’s gate, he had told the entire capital that he would never let these matches affect the freshmen. So he didn’t want to take risks.
The arrangements he and Chen Changsheng had made last night had come to a temporary halt.
Though it deviated slightly from the original plan, he still decided to step in personally.
Just then, someone walked out from the crowd. That person came to the National Education Academy’s gate and said, “Let me take this match.”
He was a refined, noble-looking young student, yet he also gave off a sense of seriousness and propriety.
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and asked, “How did you get so dark?”
The young student glanced at him and replied slowly, “You know, the pavilions for those steles at the back are a bit small—they don’t block the sun.”
(The sword comes from the mouth—this refers to both Chen Changsheng and Tang Thirty-Six. Also, I’d like to report something to everyone. Over the past half year, I didn’t control my diet and kept drinking alcohol. As a result, my gout flared up again. It’s not severe, just painful. From now on, I’m starting a vegetarian phase. Of course, I’m on medication, so don’t worry. I also have backup drafts, so this won’t be a reason for stopping updates. Please rest assured. Everyone, take care of your health! The advice to exercise more can’t be overstated—you must follow through. But don’t feel too pressured either. We need revolutionary optimism. Gout hurts, but I can lose weight in the process. Oh, I suddenly remembered—I want to sincerely thank Keng Daoshi. He’s the author of the Jiang Ye (Nightfall) comic. When I was feeling down from the pain, I saw that the Jiang Ye comic had been released on Youyaoqi. I started reading it and couldn’t stop until I finished it. It’s really good! And then, not satisfied, I started rereading the Jiang Ye novel and found it truly enjoyable… I recommend everyone check out the Jiang Ye comic and then reread the novel. You can search for “Jiang Ye” on Youyaoqi, or find it on my Weibo. The comic is really fun. This is absolutely not an advertisement.)