930 Practicing the Swordsmanship (2/2)

”So what?” Han Ling's eyes gleamed with madness. ”The living suffer in grief, the dead settle in peace. To be invincible for an instant, to be destroyed in an instant. Isn't it the best way to die…”

Han Ling seemed like she was possessed. Staring blankly at the sword in her hand, she suddenly dashed forward and struck at the bodyguard who was standing against the wall.

The bodyguard had been on alert, but the attack had come so suddenly and so unexpectedly that he still felt unprepared. But he did not flinch from it. Instead, he swung his narrow saber to take the offensive, using the same desperate move.

The sword techniques of the Death Sutra were purely offensive. The sword wielder had to believe that their sword was faster than the enemy. Without this almost fanatical faith, the practitioner wouldn't ever cross the threshold of the Death Sutra Swordsmanship.

Han Ling had crossed the threshold. For the disciples of the Waning Moon Hall, it was always easier to ignore their own life and death than for ordinary people.

The narrow saber and the sword were about to hit their targets when a third weapon joined in.

In Gu Shenwei's eyes, Han Ling's swordsmanship was at the entry-level. After watching the figures on the stone chamber wall at Golden Roc Castle, Gu Shenwei had a much more accurate judgment about the moves of the Death Sutra Swordsmanship. He had already acted when Han Ling first showed signs of launching an attack.

The narrow saber and the long sword broke at the same time, leaving only the Five Peaks Saber in the air.

The bodyguard immediately retreated to one side, staying more than ten steps away from everyone.

This, however, was a big blow for Han Ling. She had advanced far in her swordsmanship, but still had no experience and skill in reducing the effects of a backfire.

As she held the broken sword, she took another step forward as if she wanted to turn the offensive to the Dragon King. However, as soon as her right foot landed on the ground, she spat out a mouthful of blood and could no longer hold her sword. Leaning against the wall, her body was shaking uncontrollably as if she was about to fall.

Han Fen rushed over to hold her. ”Take it easy. Do not spit out blood. The Dragon King is very formidable. It's not humiliating to be defeated by him.”

Gu Shenwei knew what the problem was. He put his hand on Han Ling's back and transferred a strand of pure Sumeru Mustard internal Qi into her body.

Moments later, Han Ling became able to stand up and stopped spitting blood. Her face was as pale as paper, but her eyes seemed more normal. ”I… I lost. I can never master the Waning Moon Swordsmanship.”

”Hmm, you will never master it.” Gu Shenwei knew that he would never give her any illusory hope. ”The swordsmanship manual that you learned is incomplete and the way you practice it is also flawed. You've gone astray. How could you master it like this?”

”But the Master Commander …”

”Did she teach you the sword techniques herself?”

”No, it was Wild Horse.”

”Wild Horse is a bad guy.” Han Fen snorted as she said, ”He gave out a fake order under the Master Commander's name.”

”But the Master Commander has never denied it.” Han Ling's mind was growing clearer.

”Perhaps she's caught in a dilemma. Tell me, what is everyone doing? Where's the Master Commander?”

Han Ling looked at the Dragon King but did not open her mouth. Han Fen urged, ”Come on, the Dragon King is here to help the Master Commander. Let's go and destroy Wild Horse together.”

”Everyone is practicing the swordsmanship. I don't know where the Master Commander is. Only the last person who survives can see her.”

”Practicing the swordsmanship? Practicing the swordsmanship that you just displayed?” Han Fen asked in surprise.

”Hmm, it was an order of the Master Commander… No, it was Wild Horse's order. He said that we had made some initial accomplishments in our swordsmanship and that it was no use to kill the sabersmen of Jade City anymore, and that we could only verify and improve by killing each other. Since yesterday, or was it the day before yesterday, we have been fighting each other. I've killed eleven people. Ah… What have I done? Three of those eleven were disciples of the Waning Moon Hall.”

”And you guys obeyed his order?” Han Fen was not only surprised but even angry.

”Everyone thought that it was an order from the Master Commander, and… and once I started practicing the Waning Moon Swordsmanship, it became hard to stop. The thought of improving my swordsmanship through each kill, I …”

Gu Shenwei could understand Han Ling's feelings because he and Lotus had had similar experiences. It was their fear and vigilance of Qi deviation that had prevented them from sinking deeper and deeper into this erroneous quagmire. ”No one told you the consequences of rapidly improving this the sword techniques?”

”No. Wild Horse seemed to have mentioned that it may backfire, but he didn't explain it in detail. I always thought that it was a beautiful way to die.”

”Is it more beautiful than being cut into pieces?” Han Fen defiantly asked.

The Waning Moon Hall disciples' attitudes towards death were different from normal people's. Gu Shenwei had no intentions of dwelling on this. ”What about Wild Horse? Where is he?”

”The last time I saw him was in Mid-lake Hall. He killed the most and killed almost everyone he met. Everyone was avoiding him.”

”Bring me there.”

Han Ling nodded. Upon seeing that Han Fen was about to grab the torch on the wall, she anxiously said, ”No light. That will attract countless sneak attacks.”

With Han Ling leading the way, the three of them walked towards the dark corridor. The surviving guard threw his broken narrow saber away and followed along, still keeping a proper distance from the three. No one asked him why or drove him away.

After merging back into the darkness, he quickened his pace and shortened the distance between him and the people in the front. With his years of training and instinct, he could feel their presence ahead.

Han Ling obviously knew the underground palace well and walked very fast. She made many turns but never hesitated. She also knew where the swordsmanship practitioners might hide and tried her best to avoid them in advance.

It was a surprisingly smooth journey, and it was not until they saw the solitary lamp that they understood why.

This lamplight was like a delicious bait, luring the swordsmen from all sides to bite at the hook.