Chapter 70

Chapter 69. Don't worry! I'll make sure you win! (4)

Qingming's gaze slowly moved from left to right.

Those who met Qingming's gaze all avoided his eyes, subtly turning away.

'Don't make eye contact.'

'That guy caught me today.'

Just by looking at Qingming's glaring eyes, it was obvious that getting involved would be a disaster. The three senior disciples desperately avoided Qingming's gaze.

"I am... "

A voice like it came from hell escaped Qingming's lips.

"I can't stand losing to the Zhongnan guys."

His eyes gleamed with madness.

'I'm going to wet my pants.'

'No, how could such a guy come in... '

'He's even more crazy today. Is it because of the full moon?'

"People have pride. How can we lose to Zhongnan?"

Even if everyone else gave up, Qingming could not accept it. Even if he lost to Zhongnan, who had done nothing, he would feel so bitter that he couldn't sleep. How could he be defeated by those villains who stole the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?

It would be a miracle if he didn't die from a heart attack.

"The senior disciples must win. I'll make sure of it."

"..."

Everyone was desperately trying to escape Qingming's clutches.

But when so many people gather, there's bound to be at least one clueless person.

"But... "

It was Zhaoge.

He asked with a completely puzzled look.

"What did you say just now? That we can die and see?"

"Oh?"

Qingming smiled at Zhaoge, who responded.

"Senior, come out here with me."

"Me?"

Zhaoge pointed to his own face.

"Yes."

"..."

Zhaoge glanced around. The other senior disciples were nodding approvingly at him.

A sense of betrayal made Zhaoge's mouth open slightly.

'You bastards.'

Where did the loyalty among senior disciples go? Before Qingming came to Huashan, they had a strong bond of mutual support. When did things become so cold here?

"Come out quickly. Quickly."

"Senior."

Zhaoge looked back at Yunzhong, who cleared his throat and nodded.

"Go out quickly."

"You bastard..."

He couldn't bring himself to say the rest.

In the end, Zhaoge, with his head bowed, walked out like a cow being led to slaughter. Yunzhong could almost see a leash around Zhaoge's neck.

Qingming looked at Zhaoge, who had come forward, and said:

"You said you want to get stronger?"

"...Yes."

"Actually, this might sound a bit strange... "

Qingming smiled. The sight of him holding a sword and smiling in the moonlight was eerie.

"The senior disciples are already strong enough."

"...What?"

"The training you've done so far hasn't been in vain."

Zhaoge furrowed his brow.

"But we're still no match for the Zhongnan guys, right?"

"Of course not."

Qingming thought for a moment.

'Didn't Songbai say he was one of the stronger ones among the Zhongnan senior disciples?'

From the way the other senior disciples treated Songbai, it seemed he was indeed one of the stronger ones. If he used Songbai as a benchmark, the level of the three senior disciples of Huashan could be inferred...

'It's about the same as I thought before.'

Zhaoge could challenge Songbai, and Yunzhong needed some luck. But the other three senior disciples couldn't win at all.

Of course, the outcome of a match can vary greatly depending on the day's condition and luck. But unless they had a stroke of luck, it was impossible for the three senior disciples of Huashan to defeat the three senior disciples of Zhongnan.

"But that's not because the senior disciples are weak."

"...Then?"

"You've built your bodies, but you're still doing the same things as before."

"Huh?"

Bodies?

Zhaoge slightly lowered his head and looked at his own body.

'It has changed.'

Thanks to the training Qingming assigned and the consumption of medicinal herbs, the three senior disciples had built bodies as solid as those of Shaolin monks.

The sight of his well-defined muscles made him smile.

Of course, it wasn't just for show.

After adapting to the training, they all felt their bodies were several times stronger than before. Their swords were faster and stronger, and their legs were as solid as rocks.

"But doing the same things... What's wrong with what we're doing now?"

"I'll tell you now."

Qingming smiled and approached Zhaoge.

Creak.

The sound of Qingming's sword scraping the ground was grating. Zhaoge swallowed hard and looked at Qingming, who was approaching.

"Senior."

"Yes?"

"Why do you think we learn the sword?"

"...Well..."

There was already a correct answer in Huashan.

Through the sword, one cultivates the body and ultimately reaches the Dao. In the Daoist sect, the sword is merely a means to reach the Dao.

'But this guy wouldn't want that answer.'

If he gave that answer, he would surely be scolded for being obvious.

So...

"To defeat the opponent, right?"

"Wow!"

Qingming clapped.

"Such an answer from a senior! It's really surprising. A typical answer of a black path practitioner, completely unsuitable for a Daoist. Well done."

...I should have given the obvious answer.

Qingming nodded.

"You're half right. To win. So, how do you win with a sword?"

"By getting stronger, right?"

Realizing that he would be scolded no matter what he said, Zhaoge answered without hesitation.

"That's it."

But this time, Qingming surprisingly acknowledged Zhaoge's answer.

"Being stronger is the key. If you're stronger than your opponent, you win. But there's a bit of a different meaning to it."

"...I don't quite understand."

"It's simple."

Qingming smiled and raised his sword.

"Let's have a mock battle now. Use all the moves you can. I'll just use a downward strike."

"...Really?"

"Yes."

Zhaoge furrowed his brow.

'Is he underestimating me?'

Zhaoge, who had many experiences with Qingming, knew better than anyone that it was impossible to defeat Qingming at this point.

But this was a bit different.

No matter how big the gap, losing to Qingming, who only used a downward strike, would be a matter of pride.

'I'll show him how strong I've become.'

Zhaoge gritted his teeth and raised his wooden sword.

"But are you going to use a real sword?"

"Yes."

"...Just a word of caution."

"Come on, I doubt it."

Why won't you give a clear answer?

You won't cut, right?

Zhaoge nodded hesitantly, thinking there must be a reason.

"Can we start?"

"Hmm?"

Zhaoge raised his wooden sword confidently, and Qingming smiled subtly.

"You seem to have gained some confidence, senior."

"Thanks to all the intense training."

"Hmm."

Qingming also smiled and raised his sword.

'Confidence, good.'

A swordsman must always have confidence. Without it, it's hard to perform at one's best.

But...

'You're still a bit premature.'

If he were a chicken, he might acknowledge it, but the three senior disciples were still chicks. With Huashan's rapid development, it was natural for them to get excited, but now was the time to build a solid foundation, not to have confidence.

Now, it's time to teach him that.

Zhaoge glared at Qingming with sharp eyes. Just by his gaze, he could be mistaken for a first-class swordsman.

"Be prepared!"

"Huh?"

"No personal feelings! Haaaaa!"

Zhaoge shouted and charged at Qingming. Despite his claim of no personal feelings, his eyes burned with them.

His determination to land at least one hit, even if he died, was embarrassingly obvious.

'What did I do wrong?'

If others heard this, they would foam at the mouth and point fingers, but fortunately, no one here had learned mind-reading.

Qingming clicked his tongue and dodged Zhaoge's sword.

"Swish!"

But as if he had expected it, Zhaoge's sword began to change erratically.

Falling Flower Sword (落花剑).

Despite the training only starting a month ago, Zhaoge was already proficient in the Falling Flower Sword. Combined with the Seven Stars Steps (七星步), the Falling Flower Sword was so elegant and intricate that even those unfamiliar with swords would marvel.

'He definitely has talent.'

Qingming looked at Zhaoge with renewed interest.

In terms of innate talent for the sword, Zhaoge was second to none in Huashan. His talent was on par with Songbai of Zhongnan.

'But...'

Qingming smiled.

Isn't it true that young sprouts need to be pressed down to grow better?

This is not out of personal feelings. It's purely for Zhaoge's growth.

Qingming gripped his sword tightly.

"Are you doing well, senior?"

"...Doing well?"

"Yes. Senior Zhaoge is overwhelming, isn't he?"

Yunzhong smiled bitterly.

"It might look that way."

"Huh?"

"He's overwhelming, but he can't even touch a single piece of clothing."

"Oh..."

While others focused on Zhaoge's sword, Yunzhong focused on Qingming's movements.

Footwork?

Not really.

He just stepped back when approached and dodged when struck. With each step, Qingming evaded Zhaoge's sword.

Watching quietly, it felt more like a well-choreographed sword dance than a sparring match.

With each step, Zhaoge's sword seemed to deliberately miss Qingming, slicing through the air.

'How much of his movements have I grasped?'

Yunzhong could only face Qingming when he was hit or trained together.

Although Qingming had been in Huashan for a few months, this was the first time he had closely observed him using martial arts.

That's why he could understand.

The gap between Qingming and them.

"Ugh!"

Zhaoge gritted his teeth and swung his sword.

He couldn't catch him.

It felt like fighting a ghost. Despite his sword filling the space like petals in the wind, Qingming easily dodged.

Just a hair's breadth.

When he thrust, the sword stopped a hair's breadth away. When he struck down, it grazed a hair's breadth from his shoulder. When he slashed, a slight tilt of the head nullified all the changes his sword created.

It was disheartening.

The last time he faced Qingming, he didn't even know how he lost. But this time, despite giving it his all, he couldn't even brush against his clothes.

Zhaoge gritted his teeth and infused his sword with inner strength.

"AAAAAA!"

Zhaoge's sword glowed a deep blue.

"Sword Qi?"

"Senior disciple has Sword Qi?"

The voices behind him didn't reach Zhaoge's ears.

He was solely focused on cutting down Qingming with all his might. But...

"It's over."

At that moment, Qingming suddenly stepped forward and raised his sword above his head.

Zhaoge saw it.

Qingming raising his sword.

The world seemed to slow down, but Qingming's sword moved at its normal speed, like the wind blowing and water flowing, a natural movement.

'What is this?'

The sword, pointing precisely at the sky, stopped.

And.

Whoosh!

A deafening sound accompanied Qingming's sword as it fell toward Zhaoge's head.

'I'm going to die...'

Zhaoge couldn't even close his eyes as he watched the sword fall toward his head. In that instant, his entire life flashed before his eyes.

Before he could even realize it was his life flashing by, Qingming's sword reached his head.

Whoosh!

And with a sound like a drumskin bursting, the sword stopped on Zhaoge's forehead.

Thud.

Zhaoge collapsed to the ground, looking at Qingming with a dazed expression.

Qingming smiled and said:

"How does it feel to die?"

"..."

It feels... a bit scary.

Eh... Hmm.