980 Gone Astray In The Way of Sword (1/2)

Dong Qitian cast a sidelong glance at Yun Yang and silently called him a fool.

'Talk to me if you must for being bored out of your mind, but why did you affront a woman? Don't you know that women are the most irrational creatures in this world? That it would be best to stay away from them? It's not a relative statement, it's absolute!'

Dong Qitian coughed and said, ”I still remember the old tale – the former court master of the Eastern Celestial Court was once presented a riddle by a friend; he was given two options, the first was to reason with his wife while the second was to fight the Regal Daemon Lord.”

He spoke slowly, ”Reasoning with his wife was verbal, using only words, but fighting the Regal Daemon Lord was a battle of life and death. It would have been a difficult fight, but do you know what he chose?”

”What?” Yun Yang's interest was piqued.

”This court master opted to fight the Regal Daemon Lord without any hesitation! The battle actually ensued in the end…” answered Dong Qitian.

Yun Yang broke into a profuse sweat.

”That senior is truly an example to be considered…”

…

The cry of a sword and the screech of a saber rang simultaneously in the ring – both men were one with their weapons! When they launched their attack, they executed their best techniques in unison!

”Shi Wuchen has gained insight into the sword's intent. He has gotten to the stage where there's nothing else in the world other than his sword,” said Dong Qitian, watching the fight, ”More so, he's not far from gaining insight into the sword's core.”

”What about Luo Dajiang?”

”About the same!” answered Dong Qitian, ”The saber's intent flows within him, there's also nothing else other than saber to him. Although he's not that close to comprehending the saber's core, not even taking that path, he's enlightened with something else – everything in this world could take the form of the saber!”

”The result of this battle is no longer important. What's crucial is that as long as both of them could continue their journey and not die in the middle of it… the Bound of Universe will surely see, once again, the most worthy kings of sword and saber!”

The match between the two men in the field gradually gained momentum.

Shi Wuchen and his sword melted into a murderous autumnal gale and poured down incessantly alongside the autumn rain, frost, and dew. All one could see was the piercing chill of an autumn storm!

Fighting up to this point, he had already continuously effected the sword art of Tri Autumn seven to eight different times. His sword intent grew more desolated, more barren. Every time he performed the techniques, he was bestowed with a completely different sense of enlightenment.

It seemed that as the Tri Autumn sword art was executed over and again, the vibrant spring was slowly stained into inconsolable autumn. Shi Wuchen's state of mind was increasingly despondent as he unleashed the sword's intent, yet the sword light turned smoother while a melancholic but excited, murderous, intent colored his face.

Luo Dajiang who was on the opposite end maintained a stable and secure strategy. His entire being remained like a massive mountain, hardly conquerable, but he was not passively guarding himself. Once he attacked, his advances were powerful and insistent like the tidal waves themselves.

Dong Qitian concentrated on the scene and could not help sighing softly.

”What is it?” asked Yun Yang.

”Shi Wuchen has already gained insight 43into the art of the sword and is stepping into another stage. However… this stage he's stepped foot into is a wrong path, a path he's gone astray on and shouldn't be touching. Even if he were to overcome it, the accumulated wrongs will only bring about endless consequences,” Dong Qitian answered faintly.

Yun Yang was bewildered. He had a good sense but his experience lacked too much in comparison to Dong Qitian. It was only natural that he was confused by the latter's comment as he thought that Shi Wuchen was already taking the initiator's position now and slowly guiding the battle towards his advantage; his chance to win was very high, so why did Dong Qitian view it as something terrible?

”The result is obvious if we're only looking at this match. Victory is Shi Wuchen's, without a doubt!” said Dong Qitian, ”Because he's enlightened on the sword's core that belongs uniquely to him in this battle. This is already clear!”

”However, this bout has also caused both of them to embark on two entirely opposite paths.”

”After this fight, Shi Wuchen's future path contains the sword intent that focuses on getting everything in this world and being loyal only to the sword then the Residence of Nine Supremes. There's nothing else!”

”It's different for Luo Dajiang. Other than being loyal to the saber and the Residence of Nine Supremes, he's faithful to himself, to his brothers, to sentiment and kinship, to his family… and to whatever else restrains him.”

Dong Qitian sighed softly.

After a period of silence from Yun Yang, he asked in a low tone, ”I somewhat understand what you mean. Is Shi Wuchen's current state of swordsmanship too extreme? That despite his temporary gain, the repercussion will be deeply rooted, but Luo Dajiang has no such issue?”

”Yes, such a contrast is determined by the differences between them as individuals, by their nature,” Dong Qitian answered, watching the vigorous ongoing battle.

Yun Yang questioned, ”Is it really so grave? Being faithful to the sword and the Residence of Nine Supremes and nothing else doesn't seem to be too bad – why do you say that the accumulated wrongs will be hardly corrected and will have endless repercussions?”

”It depends on the person whether it's good or bad. An intelligent one will naturally understand.”

Dong Qitian smiled.

”Some people have personal intentions, some don't. Some people live for their ideals while some live for reality. It's all but the perspective you take, there's no consideration of superiority here.”

”Living for one's ideals don't usually get a good ending while living for reality allows one to experience the vicissitudes of life and achieve greatness from it,” said Dong Qitian, ”The reality I mention here isn't selfishness. Do you understand?”

”I do,” answered Yun Yang.