Chapter 401 (2/2)

Liu Yiqing seemed to be satisfied with this reply. He said, ”Old Chao of the Spring Breeze Pavilion... is indeed an interesting name. I suppose all you could smell was blood two years ago, in that rainy night at the Spring Breeze Pavilion. You might have forgotten that you killed a Sword Master from the South Jin Kingdom.”

Ning Que thought back to that night silently. Though Chao Xiaoshu and he had killed a large number of people that night, the strong Sword Master from the South Jin Kingdom was hard to forget.

He muttered, ”So... that person was a disciple of the Sword Garret of South Jin Kingdom.”

Liu Yiqing said expressionlessly, ”He was the core disciple of my Eldest Brother. You have to answer for his death since he died thanks to you two. Chao Xiaoshu lost to me, so I have his sword now. You're the only one left, which is why I have been waiting for you outside the Academy for three months.”

Ning Que's eyebrows had been raised since he saw the sword and hadn't fallen even when he answered Liu Yiqing. However, when he heard that Chao Xiaoshu was defeated by Liu Yiqing, his eyebrows dropped suddenly and his emotions calmed significantly, so much so that they seemed cold.

Liu Yiqing said, ”Would you like to know where Chao Xiaoshu is now?”

Ning Que again, replied honestly, ”I do.”

Liu Yiqing looked at him and said coldly, ”Then show me your true capabilities and fight me! I will tell you what you wish to know regardless of the outcome of this battle.”

Ning Que smiled. After thinking for a moment, he turned around and walked to Sangsang, who stood beneath a tree by the field.

Liu Yiqing thought that he was going to retrieve that infamous iron bow, so he smiled proudly.

Ning Que did not move once he stood before Sangsang.

He had not come for the Primordial Thirteen Arrows, but for another object that Sixth Brother had just made for him.

He was ready to kill the swordsman from South Jin Kingdom.

However, he changed his mind whilst standing before Sangsang.

Because sometimes, being alive is a fate worse than death.

He walked back to the field.

Looking at Qing Que's empty hands, Liu Yiqing frowned slightly, ”I want to see your true capabilities!” he demanded.

”I have said that I won't use my arrows today. I will only use my blade.”

Then, Ning Que raised his right hand into the air and looked him dead in the eye, ”Because you, are not worth it.”

Liu Yiqing remained calm and asked, ”Then who is?”

”I've shot Prince Long Qing and the Tao Addict with this bow. You are not as strong as them, so you are not worth it.”

With that, Ning Que breathed in deeply, pulling a slender falchion from behind him, which was black and flawless. He tightened his grasp on the hilt.

His actions were simple and casual, but too determined to be interrupted.

Just as he had done two years ago on that rainy night when the middle-aged man in turquoise robes slaughtered his enemies with a sword but no s.h.i.+eld, entrusting his life to Ning Que without hesitation.

Liu Yiqing clearly sensed the change of aura in Ning Que.

However, his emotions did not change. As his dirty clothes billowed in the spring breeze, Liu Yiqing was like a bright sword that had been washed by the spring water.

His elder brother, whom he respected the most, had once told him that no matter what kind of enemy he faced or what changes occurred in his enemy, he only had to pull his sword from its sheath and pierce it through the other person.

So, Liu Yiqing pulled the cyan-steel sword out of its sheath and drove it at Ning Que.

He drove it straight. He was like a rod, or a willow tree frozen in time.

Flying swords did not pierce the skies, nor did sword styles spread through the air.

This was a simple stroke of the sword.

But also the most powerful.

The Sword Garret of South Jin Kingdom was different from other sects that cultivated in the sword. They did not simply cultivate how to master swordsmans.h.i.+p.

The disciples from the Sword Garret did not use Psyche Power to control the Qi of Heaven and Earth, they use the Qi of Heaven and Earth to control the Natal Sword.

The disciples of the Sword Garret trusted nothing but the hand wielding their own sword.

Their strongest ability was using the sword in their hands.

With the sword in their hands, they had no need to depend on controlling the Qi of Heaven and Earth, as they could focus the Qi of Heaven and Earth into the sword directly.

This was the sword style of Liu Bai, the Sage of Sword.

A river would appear with just a wave of the sword.

They did not have enemies within a ten-thousand mile radius and they were invincible.

The loneliness of the past years in the old house, the cold glares he endured in the Sword Garret, what he had learnt in the three months spent outside the Academy, the mocking gazes of the Tangs, the discussions that angered him that he did not speak up about, and the pride in his heart were all in this sword.

This simple sword was made up of everything that Liu Yiqing had cultivated in his life. The air above the blade contracted around it, forming a vacuum.

The few leaves dancing in the wind turned into dust before they could land on the ground.

The Qi of Heaven and Earth outside the doors of the Academy vibrated violently and streamed into the sword in his hands. Surging in and then out from the tip of the blade, it turned into thunder.

Within seconds, Liu Yiqing had crossed the distance between the two.

The tip of the sword, carrying with it the wind and thunder, slammed directly into Ning Que's face.

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