901 Discernmen (2/2)

Dog Butcher put away his saber and nodded in admiration, ”You do know your kung fu, Old Man Mu. This move is called the 'Three Nods of the Phoenix.' My Master Shifu once warned me again and again that this move was very powerful, but I shouldn't use it if my will was not strong enough. He was afraid that I would misjudge the situation during a fight, which might result in me leaving an opening before I could hit the target.”

Upon hearing the compliments, Old Man Mu curved his lips into a smile. He also gave Dog Butcher a compliment in return, which he didn't do very often. ”Some of the Kongtong Sect's kung fu skills are pretty good as well. Your Majesty Shifu's warning is very reasonable, but there's no need for you to worry too much about it. Your will is not strong enough, but neither is your enemy's. Experienced people like me who have been through hundreds of fights are rare.”

”Back then my Master Shifu was defeated by Luo Qikang when he was performing this very move.”

”Which option did Luo Qikang take? Um. If he is really as good as you have described, then he surely would have taken the second option, which is launching sham attacks that can turn into real ones. It turns out that your Master Shifu's will was not strong enough either.”

”That's not true. My Master Shifu was a decisive man. Luo Qikang defeated him by taking a third option.”

Old Man Mu widened his eyes. He had only thought of two options, but this 'Sword of the Emperor' had actually come up with a third one. ”He either attacked or defended. What else could he have done?”

”I saw it with my own eyes. Luo Qikang is much younger than me. Back then, he was about the age of my Master Shifu's great-grandson, but his swordsmanship was sophisticated and consummate. When my Master Shifu performed the 'Three Nods of the Phoenix,' I was fascinated, thinking that his victory was certain. But it turned out that the winner was the young man. He neither evaded my Master Shifu's move when it had the greatest momentum nor launched any fancy sham attacks. Instead, he made only one move, which was to thrust his sword squarely at my Master Shifu's chest. But he showed mercy to my Master Shifu. Shifu wasn't hurt, but he had no choice but to admit defeat. From then on, Master Shifu became depressed, constantly saying that Kongtong Sect couldn't compare with the Luo Village. After a couple years, he passed away.”

Old Man Mu didn't care how Dog Butcher's Master Shifu died. He was confused about a lot of details. Frowning tightly, he said, ”Wait. You said that Luo Qikang only gave out one sword blow.”

”Um. Only one sword blow. He thrust it straight forward and then drew it straight backwards without a single superfluous motion. Back then, the other disciples and I were transfixed with shock.”

”Was his sword blow even faster than that of the Dragon King?”

Dog Butcher shook his head. ”It wasn't very fast. At least, I saw it distinctly at that time, and I don't think that that sword blow was faster than my Master Shifu's saber blow.”

”Did your Master Shifu misjudge it and offer him a opportunity?”

”Master Shifu didn't misjudge it at all, which is the very reason why he became depressed afterwards.”

”Then I'm confused. If Luo Qikang's sword blow was not fast enough, and he didn't perform any amazing moves, then how exactly did he manage to defeat your Master Shifu?”

”Exactly. Back then, the other disciples and I had the same thought as you. We thought that it was impossible. It didn't seem like Luo Qikang had defeated my Master Shifu, but rather that Master Shifu had willingly stepped towards the opponent's sword to be humiliated. After subduing our urge to ask him about the reason for days, we finally went to Master Shifu, but his mind had already become… unclear. He only kept saying the word 'impossible.' After a couple of days, he summoned us and said that it was not the Luo family's swordsmanship but Luo Qikang that was invincible.”

Old Man Mu became anxious. ”Alas, you're too verbose. Just directly tell me the reason. I don't care whether your Master Shifu is dead or not.”

”The thing is, Master Shifu said that it was neither moves nor speed, but rather discernment.”

”Discernment? He can defeat his opponent with mere discernment?”

”There are three movements in 'Three Nods of the Phoenix.' No matter how skilled you are in performing this move, there will always be a transition interval between these movements.”

Old Man Mu raised his head and looked into the sky. ”Show me the move once again.”

Dog Butcher whipped out his saber and performed the move in the blink of an eye. Although the move was very complex, every one of his movements was quick and clean. His reputation as an Elder of the Kongtong Sect was well-earned.

Old Man Mu actually admired his motions, but he was unwilling to admit it. ”Indeed, there are intervals, but… I don't believe that anyone could actually take advantage of these fleeting intervals unless both their reflexes and moves are very fast. However, you said that Luo Qikang's sword blows were not very fast.”

”I don't believe that this is possible either, still less my Master Shifu. But Luo Qikang did manage to do it. He established his reputation many years ago and has never been hurt. It's definitely not because he doesn't dare fight to the death. No matter if it's a kung fu competition or a duel, he always prefers risky moves. On most occasions, the spectators were unaware of the real situation. Master Shifu counted as one of those who knew the truth, since he said that Luo Qikang has excellent discernment.”

If it weren't for the fact that Old Man Mu knew that Dog Butcher was an honest man, he would never have believed this incredible story. ”If this Luo Qikang's kung fu is half as good as you're describing it to be, then the Dragon King probably won't be his match.”

”So I advised the Dragon King not to give Luo Qikang any chances to make his move.”

Face full of expectations, Old Man Mu had an opinion different than that of Dog Butcher's. ”The Death Scripture versus 'The Sword of the Emperor.' It will surely be a fantastic fight. Old Dog, are you coming with me? We might be late if we don't move right now.”

In the Four Noble Truths Temple, Gu Shenwei recognized his biggest enemy the moment he walked into the room.

Seemingly in his thirties or forties, Luo Qikang had a well-proportioned build and was not as strong and tough as a warrior. His features slightly resembled his younger brother's, but his skin color was a little darker. And he wasn't wearing his signature neat, white clothes but rather a common Central-Plains soldier's robe. The robe seemed fairly worn and somewhat dirty. There was a sword fastened to his belt.

He looked like a temporary guard that Wei Song had selected from the troops, but when he raised his head and glanced at the Dragon King, Gu Shenwei immediately felt a ripple of coldness pass through him, as if his entrails had been exposed under this man's gaze. Gu Shenwei immediately realized that this man was the kung fu expert of the Luo family that Dog Butcher had mentioned.