26 A New Horizon (1/2)

”Actually, I would rather use a b.u.t.ter knife. I'm not a cannibal”, Guren said before replacing the Sharp Knife.

[Durable b.u.t.ter Knife(-20)]

As the other Sword Sage thrust his odachi forward, Guren redirected the blade with the puny b.u.t.ter knife. Instead of penetrating his abdomen, it missed his stomach by a few inches.

”As I suspected, you were hiding your strength all along”, the Sword Sage Tianli said before retracting his blade.

Confused, the supposed disciple by the name of Yidong halted his blade even though he wanted to fight along side the more venerable Sword Sage.

”Why did you stop?”, Yidong asked with worry. Even if Guren was a fake, he would still be formidable for a mere Swordwielder like him.

”You'll be lucky if you're just disciplined for this. Disciples should always side by their capable teachers”, Tianli said before preparing to walk away.

Tianli had already noticed the discontent disciple's behavior. It was deplorable but it was also a good excuse for him to meet Guren. Sword Sages and those above could be considered esoteric masters and therefore, their willfulness should be tolerated as much as possible. The idiotic Yidong didn't even realize how lucky he was to have Guren as a teacher. He was just too incompetent to be taught which could be interpreted by both his actions and opinion towards Guren.

”Wait. You said you're an actual Sword Sage and I'm not, so why don't you dare fight me?”, Guren stated in a provocative manner.

Atlas had thought that since the other seemed to be skilled. He would be able to receive a lot of points from farming this Sword Sage. He at least wanted to be compensated for the 20 points wasted on the b.u.t.ter Knife taunt.

”Host, each combatant only counts once”, the System immediately warned as it sensed Host's intent on going on a grinding spree.

The System sighed as it thought that the Host should go on shopping spree instead as Host was being miserly with his 194650 Points saved.

Atlas frowned before relinquis.h.i.+ng all thoughts of continuously bas.h.i.+ng the Sword Sage in front of him.

”Of course, I wouldn't dare fight you. How could an actual Sword Sage be able to rival the Saintess like you could”, Tianli said as he insinuated that Guren was already at Saint Rank but keeping a low profile.

”Then why did you come to provoke me?”, Guren said demanding an explanation.

”To verify your intentions. If you were weak then you don't deserve the Sword Sage Rank and must be penalized for being an imposter while if you were strong then to encourage you to lead the new generation better”, Tianli said before attempting to leave.

However, Atlas wouldn't let him leave without at least reaping experience from him. As he was knew to this world, he understood that Guren was no normal Sword Sage and wanted to see how powerful an actual one was.

Wait... new generation? Guren was that old? He took out a mirror and began to inspect Guren's appearance. He was dressed neatly with the Blessed Robes but due to side effects from his vessel maintenance session, he had a full beard which threatened to block his youthful features and even his eyesight.

”I'm not that old”, Guren grumbled before he began to shave his beard. As soon as the ma.s.s of hair disappeared, Guren seemed to become 30 years younger. If not for the Blessed Robes which made him seem cold and sagely, he would've been called a devilishly handsome male concubine.

Surprised by such a drastic change, TIanli froze in place. He realized he had just tried to tell a person to retire due to old age when they were even younger than he was.

”I apologize. I did not believe that you were this young”, Tianli said.

”To doubt me is to wrong me so face me or I will harbor a grudge”, Guren shouted to Tianli and Yidong's surprise.

As Yidong still believed that Tianli was on his side and that his previous words were only to anger Guren, he grinned upon thinking of Guren being beaten. If he wanted to see Guren being beaten, he should've went to find Guren a week earlier.

Guren also had a worn out appearance when cuckolded as he refused to reveal his handsome features. If he had, he wouldn't have been cuckolded and beaten to death but Guren was a fool too obsessed with the sword and that was his downfall.

Understanding that he was only able to accept the duel which he initiated, he once again drew his odachi. Tianli then suddenly sped up to the point where his movements seem to flicker. Surprised, Yidong tried to look for him only to find that Guren vanished as well.