Chapter 134 - Arc 10: The Affairs of Sword Cave | Chapter 134: Sneak Attack
Translator: Lynn
Within the confines of the sword room, a green-clad youth exhibited a commanding presence. The steel wood sword within his grip swayed with effortless grace, rapid and agile, generating the resonance of howling winds and thunderous roars. It resembled tumultuous waves crashing upon the shore or the rhythmic tides of the ocean, dancing with unbridled enthusiasm. The resounding impact reverberated throughout the entire chamber, with winds whipping and air currents surging.
With each draw of the sword, the blade’s tip emitted an ebony radiance, the interplay of light and shadow conveying an aura of boundless undulation, evoking a sense of endless enigma.
In a fervent cry, the green-clad youth declared, “Jiaozi Stance!”
The gust stirred by his swordplay was searing, tinged with an almost imperceptible rumble of thunder. Anyone daring to assail would be met with fiery waves, an experience fraught with indescribable torment.
In one swift motion of his sword, his entire form spun, and he proclaimed, “Shouzi Stance!”
Instantly, cold air permeated the sword’s wind, inducing a weakening sensation upon contact. If a sword attack were initiated, its potency would already be diminished by a significant margin before it even drew near, robbed of three parts of its force!
Then, with a graceful movement, the youth leaned slightly and murmured, “Zangzi Stance!”
In the next heartbeat, the youth vanished from the chamber. Although a breeze lingered in his wake, there was an absence of presence, as though an ethereal phantom lingered, yet an elusive aura of murderous intent lingered, constantly agitating the senses.
Without delay, following this evasive maneuver, an immediate critical strike ensued, with the young man’s silhouette reappearing suddenly, akin to a serpentine dragon in a fluid motion.
In this display of swordsmanship, the spring rain was delicate and lingering, its murderous intent soft and ceaseless; the Summer Storm style burst forth, its murderous intent fierce and unrelenting; Concealment, a waiting game.
And when the moment aligned, akin to the emergence of spring’s grass, the concealed intent of murder surged forth, striking the ground with a single blow!
Subsequently, all four styles of sword tactics were seamlessly executed in succession, reaping lives and severing the strings of vitality.
After an extended interval, the youth finally ceased his onslaught. His attire was drenched, yet a gentle smile graced his countenance, his eyes alight with profound satisfaction.
In the end, the days of rigorous practice were not in vain.
He not only thoroughly practiced the essence of the Four Seasons Sword Art itself but also delved deep into the four-word sword techniques: “Mengzi Stance, Jiaozi Stance, Shouzi Stance, and Zangzi Stance,” each carrying tremendous power. When he next faces his adversaries, he’ll have more than ten avenues of attack at his disposal.
Xu Ziqing dedicated extensive time to honing his swordsmanship, eventually fusing all facets of the Four Seasons Sword Art into the embodiment of sword light. The four-word sword techniques he grasped were born from the Four Seasons Sword Art, thus possessing the same shattering effect as the sword light.
Over three months have elapsed, and during this period, he succeeded in conquering the four psyche incarnations that corresponded to the Four Seasons Sword Art. By logical inference, this could be considered a modest achievement.
Contemplating the calendar, Xu Ziqing noted that there remained a span of twenty-three days before his senior brother’s deadline. Now, he pondered, should he persist in honing his sword within the sword room or venture out to temper his skills in the realm of the Five Elements Wind Gust? His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden surge of resistance within the sword room. Before he could reach a verdict, he found himself involuntarily airborne, then abruptly landing on the ground.
Regaining his balance, Xu Ziqing took a moment to collect himself. Surveying his surroundings, he found a mosaic of apertures and loops, seemingly ejected from the sword room. Letting out a discreet sigh, he mused that perhaps the sword room had grown sentient, recognizing his progress in swordsmanship, and thus compelling him to move forward without delay.
With this in mind, Xu Ziqing abandoned further contemplation and turned toward the cave entrance. The prospect of employing his recently mastered sword technique within the domain of the Five Elements Wind Gust intrigued him—how would it fare?
Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, Xu Ziqing cast his gaze upon the Five Elements Wind, a wave of emotions sweeping over him. Despite its vigor, the wind seemed curiously contained, as though it could only accumulate within the corridor without spilling over. Reflecting on how formidable it must have been for his predecessors to harness and employ this wind, he couldn’t help but admire their remarkable ingenuity.
Without excessive rumination, Xu Ziqing glanced to his left and found a spot to sit cross-legged, a few paces away from others. This would ensure he didn’t disturb their concentration.
Instantly, a mere thought summoned the steel and wooden sword into the grip of his palm.
Yet, this transformation wasn’t the sole change; his eyes briefly flickered with a cerulean luminescence, imbuing the steel and wood sword with an ethereal radiance. Swiftly thereafter, the weapon underwent a discernible contraction, shrinking until it spanned no more than a foot in length.
A subtle smile curved Xu Ziqing’s lips as he deftly maneuvered his wrist.
Right at this juncture, the wispy true energy enveloping his frame had been steadily eroded by the Five Elements Wind Gust. Responding, he rotated his wrist, producing two crisp “clang clang” sounds, each disrupting the oncoming gales.
Within the gale’s onslaught, countless eddying thoughts aimed to ensnare Xu Ziqing’s form, but he stood resolute, immovable as stone. The fierce winds raged, yet he doggedly held his ground, employing his sword techniques to systematically dismantle the onslaught, honing his ability to fluidly alter his moves and evade stagnation.
Contemplating, Xu Ziqing mused about his senior brother’s practice. While he had witnessed his brother determine life and death through the reversal of his sword, he remained ignorant of the remarkable sword techniques his brother had acquired through this process. He speculated that, after his time here, he could perhaps entreat his senior brother for insight upon leaving the cave.
Bolstered by this thought, Xu Ziqing intensified his focus.
In the face of the capricious Five Elements Wind Gust, each attribute undefined and unpredictable, he perceived the opportunity to refine his adaptability. By engaging in this practice, he could learn to decipher the wind’s nature, anticipate its speed, and tailor his actions accordingly, rendering his approach far more flexible and responsive to opponents.
After several days of this regimen, a revelation dawned upon Xu Ziqing.
He once relied heavily on Spring Rain swordsmanship and its corresponding Mengzi Stance, an ingrained habit. However, he realized that utilizing this strategy in battle would invariably lead him into a predictable trap set by his adversaries. Now, however, the situation had changed; a mere glance toward the wind’s origin unveiled its attributes, enabling him to anticipate its velocity and adjust his techniques accordingly. His combat repertoire grew dynamic and intricate.
As days passed, Xu Ziqing’s swordsmanship reached a new zenith. Formerly, he may have been acquainted with six facets, but now his mastery approached nine. This newfound dexterity extended beyond his swordplay; a subtle grace imbued his countenance, and a trace of the four seasons occasionally flickered within his eyes, mirroring his blade’s movements.
Amidst his blade-sharpening regimen, his inner serenity solidified, sharpening his clarity of thought.
While engrossed in honing his swordsmanship, the passage of time slipped by unnoticed, and before he knew it, twenty days had elapsed.
Over the course of these days, Xu Ziqing experienced significant growth, evident in the heightened aura radiating from his entire being. Not only did he consolidate his unanticipated breakthrough into the mid-stage of the foundation establishment, but he also ascended to the level of a swordsman in the sword light stage. His once uncertain swordsmanship had now matured into a reliable skill.
With just three days remaining until his scheduled meeting with Yun Lie, Xu Ziqing ceased his wind-sharpening meditation within the Five Elements Wind Gust. Instead, he rose from his spot and ventured into the windless enclave within the inner cave.
At this moment, an unexpected chill coursed through Xu Ziqing’s frame. He glanced downward, only to find his attire tattered and shredded by the fierce gusts, exposing swathes of skin and flesh. A wave of embarrassment washed over him; though not overly concerned with trivial matters, parading around in such a state would be uncouth. Luckily, a spare cassock in his storage ring saved him from this unsightly predicament. Swiftly changing his clothes, he breathed a sigh of relief at his restored appearance.
With time still on his side, Xu Ziqing strode toward a secluded corner within the inner cave. Assuming his customary stance, he began swinging his sword, a habitual activity he hadn’t engaged in much over the past few months. If his senior brother caught wind of his negligence in fundamental sword practice, a lecture would undoubtedly be in order.
As he immersed himself in the activity, Xu Ziqing focused intently.
All his concentration zeroed in on the steel wood sword within his grip. His entire body moved in harmony with this blade – each muscle, every meridian meticulously orchestrated by its rhythm.
One cut, followed by another, and another…
Unperturbed by the outside world, Xu Ziqing surrendered himself completely to the rhythm of his swordplay.
At this moment, the intricacies of the Four Seasons Sword Art’s diverse moves and four-character sword techniques faded into the background. All that occupied his awareness was the essence of “splitting, stabbing, chopping, and slicing,” engraved into his mind’s sea. It was then that a subtle premonition stirred within him.
Xu Ziqing’s reaction appeared almost instinctual as if an inner sense had warned him. Abruptly pivoting, he swung his longsword, intersecting it with the frigid sword light that confronted him head-on.
A resonant clang reverberated, punctuated by the emergence of two additional sword lights!
Reacting swiftly, Xu Ziqing executed the “Jiaozi Stance”, his swift movement producing two sword lights that effectively countered the oncoming assault. Only then did he discern the figure behind the attack—a small, wiry man wielding a three-foot-long rapier, his eyes gleaming with malice.
“Why employ such treachery when we hold no grudge?” Xu Ziqing examined his assailant closely, unable to recognize the man. His brows furrowed in perplexity.
He had not anticipated encountering danger even within this shared sect’s sword cave. This unexpected threat aroused his vigilance; he couldn’t gauge the stranger’s cultivation level, implying an advantage over his own. The circumstances didn’t add up.
Confirming his suspicions, the thin man’s lips curled into a malevolent grin. “It’s your own folly, offending someone beyond your reckoning. Dying within this sword cave is a consequence of your own actions.”
The thin man’s arms vibrated violently, and his slim rapier executed a series of rapid movements akin to a venomous serpent’s strike. The weapon lunged forward like a hissing viper, the tip honing in on Xu Ziqing’s forehead with incredible swiftness.
Swiftly, Xu Ziqing retreated, the rapier’s lethal point mere inches away from his brow. His predicament became a precarious dance between survival and peril; any misstep could condemn him to the blade’s mercy.
As the thin man relentlessly pressed forward, Xu Ziqing evaded with haste, a tense sense of urgency filling him. His steps carried him through the successive chambers of the cave, each one whizzing by in a blur. Unyielding, the thin man continued his pursuit, seemingly intent on driving Xu Ziqing to an even more secluded section of the cavern.
Aware of the thin man’s sinister designs, Xu Ziqing grappled with his frustration. Forbidden from retaliating, he aimed to calm his turbulent emotions. His initial lack of vigilance had led him into this predicament, but his composed mindset now focused on navigating the situation.
While his adversary pushed forward, Xu Ziqing’s retreat persisted. The labyrinthine chambers of the cave flashed by, suggesting the thin man’s intention to funnel him further into obscurity.
Recognizing the peril of the situation, Xu Ziqing grasped that the thin man wouldn’t risk an overt confrontation amidst the numerous practicing swordsmen. But within a remote enclave, the dynamics would change. As the thin man’s relentless advance continued, Xu Ziqing strategized. When they ventured deeper into the cave’s depths, the plan would shift. Caution guided his considerations; he couldn’t ignore the possibility of the thin man reserving his true strength for such a scenario.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, the threat of the rapier’s tip receded, akin to the ebbing tide. Yet, in the next instant, Xu Ziqing sensed a new urgency, a shiver running down his spine. The thin man’s impending attack was swifter and more calculated than before, a looming danger he couldn’t ignore.
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