Stranger Danger

Chapter 439: A Dance That Breaks The Soul

Lei Xiaodan replied smilingly, Its too hard to say right now, but I believe its going to be a pyrrhic victory.

The Harmony King frowned. Say it in a way that I can understand.

Sitting next to him, Chu Qingge explained, Lord Lei means that Joyless and Jian Wusheng are evenly-matched. Whoever wins must pay a hefty price to do so.

Lei Xiaodan nodded approvingly. A fine explanation, Miss Chu.

Joyless? The Harmony Kings attention was no longer on the outcome of the battle, however. Since when are you and that brat so close?

Chu Qingge replied calmly, We both serve the Pacification Bureau. Of course were close.

Hmph! The Harmony King didnt believe her words. That brat is losing for sure.

Chu Qingge merely smiled and kept her silence.

Back on the platform, The circular recess caused by Jian Wushengs sword qi in the middle of the river was now tens of meters deep. At the center of it was Ye Qing.

As soon as Ye Qings feet made contact with the waters, the entire river shook violently like a living creature. Then, the waves crashed down with a vengeance and wiped him from the surface of the river.

While this was happening, Jian Wusheng was still standing in the sky and swinging his sword repeatedly. He looked like a sword celestial practicing his sword in the heavens, his sword qi illuminated the false world like a second sun.

When Jian Wusheng held his sword, he was one with his weapon. When his sword qi entered the river, he was one with the river as well. The river began churning and bubbling like boiling oil.

This is bad.

Outside the platform, Luo Zhan muttered with a severe expression on his face.

What do you mean? Gao Ningan asked. Chu Nianjiu and Lin Yuhuai were looking at him with concern as well.

Luo Zhan explained, Jian Wusheng didnt just drive Brother Ye into the river, he also injected the sword qi and sword intent of No Life, No I into the river. Right now, the river is his sword. It wont be easy for Brother Ye to break freeassuming he could do it at all.

What? Are you suggesting that Joyless would lose? Gao Ningans eyes bugged out. I bet one thousand silvers on him earlier! Its literally everything I have! If Joyless loses, then I wont have any money left to marry a wife!

I too placed a five hundred silvers bet on him. I shouldve bet on Jian Wusheng instead. Chu Nianjiu also sighed deeply.

I know right? The regret, the regret! Gao Ningan scratched his head with both hands.

Luo Zhan: ...

Lin Yuhuai: ...

Brothers-on-the-surface, indeed.

Hahaha! What did I say? I knew that boy would lose! The Harmony King cackled while glancing at his daughter.

In response, Chu Qingge smiled and said simply, I trust Joyless.

As if on cue, a new reaction overtook the river. The waters slowly but surely bulged as if a giant was lifting pushing it from the bottom.

In the sky, Jian Wusheng frowned a little and held his sword horizontally in front of his chest. While gripping the handle with one hand and pinching the tip with the other, he slowly pushed his sword downward and smoothened the bulge on the river.

It didnt work, at least not for long. Just a few breaths later, the bulge returned and became bigger than ever before. Jian Wushengs whole body shook like he was straining against some sort of unimaginable pressure, and his sword slowly bent upward until it looked like a crescent. Then

Boom!

The bulge exploded and created a massive tidal wave headed straight for Jian Wusheng. As he glided away from it, the swordsman released the tip of his sword and flicked the blade with a finger.

As if struck by some some sort of massive, invisible force, the tidal wave abruptly scattered into a million bits and fell back into the river like the rain.

The fine rain looked beautiful and dreamlike, but Jian Wusheng flinched like someone had punched him in the face. Ripples kept appearing on the layer of sword qi surrounding his body almost as if each and every droplet contained a wisp of saber force.

At the same time, a crimson flash appeared before his eyes. It was as enchanting as it was deadly.

Sudden fear gripped Jian Wushengs limbs and froze his thoughts. He knew he had to get a grip as soon as possible unless he wanted to die right here and now.

No I, No Limit

Jian Wusheng pointed his blade toward the ground as fabrics of light folded around his body like an extra cloak. It instantly dispelled the fear that was paralyzing him.

No Sword, No I was a hyper-offensive martial art where 99% of its moves were offensive. No I, No Limit was one of the very few defensive techniques it featured; one that guarded both the body and the mind. Not only that, it automatically fired sword beams at the attacker if the practitioner received a hit, which made perfect sense considering the theme of No Sword, No I.

As soon as the cloak of sword qi took form, Jian Wusheng suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his chest. When he looked down, he saw a bloody hole in his right chest deep enough to expose the bones.

Fast! Jian Wusheng knitted his brows tightly. He had reacted instantly, and still the saber force hit him before No I, No Limit could fully take form.

I had no idea that your saber mastery is on par with your fist mastery, Brother Ye! Jian Wusheng remarked.

You flatter me, Brother Wusheng. Im just paying back what you did unto me. Ye Qing appeared behind Jian Wusheng while holding a long saber in his hand.

The saber was as slender and enchanting as a beauty, but the wielder himself cut quite the sorry figure. Ye Qings clothes were shredded and covered in blood. There were also cuts all over his body like he was tortured. Wisps of sword qi could be seen lurking within each wound.

Just now, Jian Wusheng had exploited his moment of carelessness and pushed him into the river. Then, the swordsman injected his sword qi into the river and used it to trap him like a cage. The river was his sword, and the sword was the river. There was literally nowhere he could run even if he tried.

Left with no choice, Ye Qing pushed his way out of Jian Wushengs cage of sword qi via brute force. He succeeded, but it came at a hefty cost. The swordsmans sword qi had inflicted countless wounds on his body before seeping deeper into his flesh. Even with his physique, he was unable to expel them immediately. That was why he was still bleeding profusely.

Ye Qing knew then that it was unlikely he would be able to defeat Jian Wusheng with his fist art and the Chaos Demon Ape Body alone. He would have to unveil some of his trump cards.

His Chaos Demon Ape Body couldnt unleash its full potential in this terrain because strength comes from the ground, and they were fighting on a river where there was little to no land at all. That was why he chose to use Red Sleeve and the Saber of Spring Wind and Fine Rain.

If nothing else, it would be poetic to defeat a sword with a saber.

After he made up his mind, Ye Qing decided to deliver Jian Wusheng a meeting gift. The swordsman was kind enough to give him a river of sword qi and an innumerable number of wounds. It would only be right to reciprocate the favor.

That was why he used Soulchasing as soon as he broke out of the cage of sword qi, one of the finishers in the Saber of Spring Wind and Fine Rain.

Soulchasing was a speedy technique. In fact, it was faster than even Jian Wushengs I Do Not Stand In A Sea Of Death. Combined with the element of surprise, Ye Qing was able to land an effective blow on Jian Wusheng.

Unfortunately, Jian Wushengs reaction speed was top notch. Soulchasing ultimately failed to steal his soul like it was meant to.

That said, Soulchasing was just the meeting the gift. The real gift was what comes next.

Careful now, Brother Wusheng.

Ye Qings warning was still reverberating in the air when he sped toward Jian Wusheng using Illusionists Grace. Before he and his illusions even got close, the sky was already filled with spring wind and the radiance of saber.

In response, Jian Wusheng unleashed a series of rapid thrusts and sword beams. They were as biting and frigid as the cold.

Jian Wushengs sword was fast, unfettered by forms, and everchanging. However, Ye Qings saber was equally fast and free.

The wind had no form, and the cloud was everchanging. That was the best way to describe their duel. Their techniques werent just sly and multifaceted, they sprung forth into existence directly from the art itself. If the world was a paper, and their hearts the brush, then they were master artists who weaved the wind and rain, ghosts and gods, heaven and hell into existence as they pleased.

For a time, the sky was filled with sword and saber qi. Literally, it was impossible to see the sun itself.

But of course, the two warriors style wasnt entirely the same. Jian Wushengs No Life, No I was a direct, bloodthirsty, and hyper-offensive sword art that strived to kill its enemies before they killed its practitioner. One might compare it to an iron-willed hero who would rather break than bend.

On the other hand, Ye Qings Saber of Spring Wind and Fine Rain concealed its killing intent within a blanket of love and tenderness. Its brilliant, dazzling red resembled a red-robed beauty dancing in the middle of a spring rain, and it was as deadly as it was enchanting.

Its killing intent couldnt be seen, but it was also everywhere.

In the middle of a spring rain, a red beauty danced a dance that could break the soul.

What a beautiful saber! What a beautiful woman!

Outside the platform, the large majority of spectators watching the duel between Ye Qing and Jian Wusheng were completely entranced by Ye Qings Saber of Spring Wind and Fine Rain.

... Gasp! What an unnatural saber art!

Inside a kiosk, Yang Shixiu snapped back into reality after a burst of sword energy flashed in his eyes. Beside him, Zhao Huaien also broke out of the spell at the same time.

The two men exchanged a shocked, wary look with each other. They were both patriarchs of a reputable clan in Tian Yong. Although their clans were no martial clans, they were still Half-Step Grandmasters.

Despite this, they had temporarily lost themselves in Ye Qings saber art. It was just a breath, but a breath could mean everything in a battle between warriors.

The fact that Ye Qings saber art could affect them showed just how scary it was.

It is quite unnatural, Zhang Huaien echoed in agreement. Ye Qings techniques looked tender and loving like a womans dance, but its really brimming with killing intent. Not only that, it can bewitch the mind and cause its victims to lose sight of themselves. One misstep, and its exquisite redness will fade into the darkness of death.

Have you figured out what that saber art is, Brother Yang?

Yang Shixiu shook his head. I only know that its a Spirit Purification stage saber art. I have never seen it before.

Zhang Huaien shook his head wryly. The young will always replace the old, but even so, youngsters these days are quite something, arent they?

Indeed. Yang Shixiu chuckled.

Wake up!

Suddenly, a loud, draconic roar erupted from somewhere. It hurt the eardrums, but everyone who was bewitched by the Saber of Spring Wind and Fine Rain immediately jolted back to reality.

Hong Jianglong then swept his gaze across the area and warned simply, Guard your mind.

Unbelievable! What on earth is that saber art?

Yeah, I cant believe it actually bewitched me!

Do you think it might be the Mind Stealing Saber of the All Sky Alliance?

You must be joking! Its true that the Mind Stealing Saber is famous for its evil, mind-bending qualities, but those who were bewitched by it would also turn into walking corpses! Were obviously still alive, and the saber art the Qing Emperor Junior is using is anything but evil! It cant be the Mind Stealing Saber!

I think its because of his weapon.

What a coincidence! I think so too.

For a time, the peak of Flying Dragon Mount was buried under an excited murmur.