Chapter 20. I saw the sword distinguishing people

This time, Xiaojunping, the leader of Jingtiandai, interjected.

"Leader Wang, what the Chief Commander said is correct. Even before the fight started, five members of Fengyundai were already injured, weren't they? It's better to reduce unnecessary sacrifices, even if it means moving more slowly."

These words touched Wang Jinglei's pride.

Unlike Fengyundai, Jingtiandai had not yet seen any casualties. Whether it was just his imagination or not, Xiaojunping seemed to look down on him.

Losing his composure, Wang Jinglei turned around with a groan. He had thought the suppression would be easy, but now his head was a mess.

***

As the sun set, the mountain quickly turned dark.

Fengyanchao set up torches on the log wall and had the men take turns guarding in groups of five.

Most of the entrances to the Green Forest mountain stronghold were both hidden and narrow. The Wufeng stronghold was no exception. Thanks to this, the five poles were enough to guard the log wall.

As time passed, it became so dark that one couldn't see a hand in front of their face.

The bandits lit bonfires in the courtyard and prepared dinner.

Those preparing the meal brought out a few vegetable dishes and some hard baked cakes.

Still, no one complained.

After dinner, the bandits did not return to their huts. With the enemy camped beyond the log wall, they couldn't rest easy.

Even Fengyanchao, the leader of the stronghold, hadn't called them, yet they gathered in the courtyard with their weapons.

The same was true for Lian Jieha.

He avoided the crowd and diligently polished his saber in a corner of the courtyard.

Someone approached him hesitantly.

It was Yan Saixiong.

Noticing the movement, Lian Jieha turned his head.

Yan Saixiong smiled awkwardly and carefully extended a bowl filled with water.

"I brought some water in case you were thirsty."

Lian Jieha took the bowl without much thought and gulped down the water.

"Hehe, you must have been thirsty, huh?"

"Not really."

Returning the bowl, Lian Jieha began to sharpen his saber with a whetstone.

Swish. Swish.

The eerie sound of the sharpening made Yan Saixiong shudder.

"Why are you sharpening it so much? Experts can cut people with a blade of grass, can't they?"

Of course, he was just making a joke to ease the awkward atmosphere.

But for Lian Jieha, who had lived in a warehouse for ten years, jokes didn't work. Most trivial stories were new to him.

"Never heard of it."

It sounded quite firm.

Unaware of the situation, Yan Saixiong thought Lian Jieha didn't want to talk to him.

"Well, then, good luck."

As Yan Saixiong left, Lian Jieha muttered to himself with a serious face.

"Experts can cut people with a blade of grass. Impressive. I envy them. I envy them."

It was surprising to hear that the standard for experts was so high.

When would he be able to use a blade of grass like a sword?

Sighing, Lian Jieha sharpened his saber even more diligently. This was the best he could do for now.

***

As time passed, the bandits gradually returned to their huts.

Still, a dozen cautious bandits remained in the courtyard, worrying about the future.

Around midnight, flames suddenly erupted from the log wall.

"Fire!"

"The bastards set the fire!"

One of the bandits guarding the log wall ran to the courtyard and shouted.

The bandits hurriedly used buckets and bowls to douse the wall with water.

However, the fire, fueled by oil, spread even more. Before long, the entire log wall was engulfed in flames.

The commotion woke the sleeping bandits, who rushed to the courtyard.

The bandits, stomping their feet, looked to Fengyanchao, the leader of the stronghold.

Fortunately, Fengyanchao, who had already decided to hold the line, did not hesitate.

"Build a second wall on the side that the fire hasn't reached yet!"

"Yes, sir!"

The bandits moved logs from around the stronghold to the back of the burning log wall.

However, there weren't enough logs to block the entrance.

In the end, they used planks from the huts to fill the gaps.

***

The second day dawned.

The well-armed warriors of Nanyang Merchant Guild gathered at the entrance.

The charred log wall looked like it would collapse at the slightest touch.

A moment later, the guild warriors threw hooks tied with ropes onto the charred logs.

Thud. Thud.

After throwing the hooks a few times and pulling, the precarious log wall collapsed.

At the same time, the second wall, hastily constructed, was revealed.

"Tch! They're putting up a fight."

Jingtian Swordsman Li Wuliang frowned.

Three thick logs were laid horizontally, with rough planks added between them.

It seemed a few kicks would break them.

The problem was that the damned poles could be seen through the gaps in the planks.

Cursing, Wang Jinglei, the leader of Fengyundai, and Xiaojunping, the leader of Jingtiandai, burst out.

"Those damn dogs!"

"They're still causing trouble!"

Xiaojunping, who was leading the morning assault, asked Li Wuliang.

"Chief Commander, what should we do?"

"Do you have the confidence to break the planks without hitting the poles?"

Scratching the back of his head, Xiaojunping admitted that it was beyond his abilities.

Nodding as if understanding, Li Wuliang slowly stepped forward.

"I'll clear the way. Get ready to charge immediately."

"Yes, thank you."

Li Wuliang's gaze turned to Wang Jinglei.

"Today, support Jingtiandai with the Qingyun Hall people."

"Yes."

Wang Jinglei felt bitter about the "support" but answered calmly. He couldn't say anything since the Chief Commander had given him the same opportunity yesterday.

Li Wuliang received an axe from a Jingtiandai warrior and walked forward.

However, that was a mistake.

If Li Wuliang had run instead of walked, the future might have been different.

***

Mu Yingxin Tou Bai Jiao, due to his profession, was a man who had been everywhere.

Watching the front through the gaps in the planks, Bai Jiao muttered.

"What? Why is Li Wuliang coming with an axe? Does he really intend to break this?"

Suddenly, Gu Mifu Jian Xin Yangge's voice rose.

"Is that really the Chief Commander, Jingtian Swordsman? Heaven is helping us! We just need to get rid of him…."

The bandits lined up behind the planks all looked at Lian Jieha.

Lian Jieha slung his saber over his shoulder.

It meant he was going to fight.

The bandits gathered in front of the planks quickly parted to let him through.

"Hey, brother!"

Yan Saixiong approached, shaking a bottle with his palm covering the mouth.

"Have a drink before you go!"

Looking at Yan Saixiong's alcohol-soaked palm, Lian Jieha said bluntly.

"You drink more."

Who would eat something so dirty?

Lian Jieha glared, and Yan Saixiong awkwardly took a few sips.

"Well, then. This is good alcohol… Swallow, swallow."

"Tsk!"

Clicking his tongue, Lian Jieha kicked the plank wall with his right foot.

Bang.

***

Li Wuliang, walking confidently, was startled to a halt when the crude wall suddenly collapsed.

He couldn't understand the situation.

Are they trying to die?

Why are they breaking the wall they built themselves?

Honestly, Li Wuliang wasn't afraid even if the bandits poured out.

A tiger wouldn't fear a pack of dogs!

But what came out of the broken wall was not a pack of dogs but a single puppy.

"Are you trying to run away? Or did you come out to face me?"

Before the boy could answer, Li Wuliang threw the axe to the side. The saber on the boy's shoulder didn't look like he came with good intentions.

Lian Jieha tapped his foot with the saber and replied.

"Some old man said that if you cut the head of the guild, the rest will run away."

"That might be true. Are you the 'Wufeng Mountain's skilled swordsman'?"

"Could be."

"What about Gu Mifu Jian and Mu Yingxin Tou? Why did you come out when you're still young?"

"The old brothers are behind. Are they close? Should I call them?"

The mention of "old brothers" made Li Wuliang's face stiffen.

He couldn't believe the boy in front of him had defeated Gu Mifu Jian and Mu Yingxin Tou.

"I am Li Wuliang, the Chief Commander of Nanyang Merchant Guild. What is your name?"

"Lian Jieha. It means 'red sunset.' When are we fighting?"

Lian Jieha's provocative words made Li Wuliang frown.

"I decided to cut down anyone who stands in my way on Wufeng Mountain, regardless of age or gender. That's what I learned from Huashan Sect…"

"Of course. In swordsmanship, there's no distinction of age or gender. I've seen a sword distinguish people."

Li Wuliang felt relieved by the boy's words.

"You're right. A sword has no eyes or heart."

Nodding, Li Wuliang slowly drew his sword.

Only then did Lian Jieha stop moving and extend the tip of his saber to the ground.

Li Wuliang's eyes sparkled.

Lian Jieha's stance was full of openings.

There were so many gaps that it was hard to decide where to attack first.

Li Wuliang decided to test the boy's skills with the Six Harmonies Sword technique he had learned from Huashan Sect.

Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.

The Six Harmonies Sword, despite its simple name, is a very complex technique.

Originally, the six harmonies refer to the combination of the twelve earthly branches into the five elements. When the twelve branches are paired, they form six combinations, hence the name Six Harmonies. Simply put, it covers the four directions and the upper and lower realms.

Li Wuliang recited the sword principles of the Six Harmonies Sword in his mind as he moved his hands swiftly.

"Zi-Chou combines to form Earth, Yin-Hai combines to form Wood… Wu-Wei does not change, so it is the change of no change!"

He thrust at Lian Jieha's forehead with the final move, "Wu-Wei Wu Bian."

"Ha!"

The essence of the Six Harmonies Sword lies in the final move, Wu-Wei Wu Bian. It is the pinnacle of stillness in motion. Though it appears to be a simple thrust, it contains myriad changes.

Huashan Sect teaches the Six Harmonies Sword to both monastic and lay disciples for this reason. Martial arts instructors even say, "The Six Harmonies Sword is the root of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique."