Chapter 19: Chapter 17 Sword Saint
Translator: 549690339
Bian Ruxue won.
With a single stroke, she sent Li Dongbai’s sword flying, while simultaneously thrusting her own blade to halt just half an inch from her opponent’s throat.
The young man was so shocked that he stiffened; when he finally collected himself, he quickly retreated several steps, staring at the girl fearfully.
This scene was beyond everyone’s expectations; they stared at Bian Ruxue, incredulous. Li Dongbai, after eight years of cultivation here, had been defeated by a little girl who had only cultivated for one year. Was this the disparity of talent?
Bian Ruxue withdrew her sword, her young face blooming with a radiant smile—she had won.
She then looked up at the boy before her and said earnestly, “I want you to apologize to Brother Hao.”
Apologize? To that useless guy? Li Dongbai came back to his senses, his face instantly flushing with shame. He gritted his teeth and said, “I admit that I lost to you, but I will not apologize!”
“You…” Bian Ruxue furrowed her brows, unsure of what to do.
She thought for a moment then said, “If you won’t apologize, I’ll just have to compete with you again.”
“Childish!”
Angered, Li Dongbai turned and ran off the platform. Sensing the gazes of others, he said nothing and ran straight out of the practice arena.
The veteran in the army didn’t stop the youth’s departure; some lessons needed to be learned on one’s own after a setback.
Instead, it was the little girl who drew his admiration. The finesse of her swordplay was already very close to perfection.
This was no ordinary swordsmanship; it was of a high-grade and quite difficult to master.
The nine-tiered battle physique bestowed only the speed of cultivation, not the speed of technique mastery, which highlighted Bian Ruxue’s sword talent as rare and exceptional, just like her cultivation aptitude!
“Did she really tap into her potential just because of a small defeat yesterday?” the veteran couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
In the arena, the children of lesser branches watched the girl’s figure with complex expressions in their eyes.
They not only witnessed Li Dongbai’s proud defeat but also recognized the disparity between themselves, children of the lesser branches, and those from the major courtyards.
“Xue’er, you’re amazing.”
Several small figures ran towards Bian Ruxue as she stepped off the platform—two siblings from the Fifth Courtyard and Li Yuanzhao from the Sixth Courtyard.
They were the same age as Bian Ruxue, with only a few months’ difference. The youngest was Li Yun’s sister, Li Zhining, who had just turned six this year and had recently arrived at the practice arena.
And their sister, Li Wushuang, had already left the manor to cultivate with a famous master.
It is Brother Hao who is amazing… Bian Ruxue thought to herself.
The three children gathered around Bian Ruxue, chattering excitedly about the thrilling battle. Li Yun, Li Wushuang’s brother, was the most exuberant.
“Xue’er, do you want some milk crisp cakes?”
Suddenly, Li Yun produced a wooden box, beautifully decorated on the outside, and gently opened it to reveal a fragrant milky aroma wafting out, with soft white-as-jade pastry inside:
“Here, have these.”
Bian Ruxue leaned in and sniffed, enticed by the pleasant aroma. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she happily asked, “All for me?”
“If you like them, take them all,” Li Yun said with a wide grin.
“Thank you,” Bian Ruxue didn’t forget to express her gratitude as she took the treats.
The time had come to end the day’s cultivation, so she waved her hand and walked away with the lunchbox in one hand and her sword cradled in the other.
Li Yun watched her departing figure, chuckling goofily.
Next to him, his sister Li Zhining looked up, her face etched with confusion, “Brother, wasn’t that prepared by Mother for you? I haven’t even tried it yet.”
“If you want some, Mother can make more for you later. Xue’er hasn’t had any yet,” Li Yun said nonchalantly with a silly smile.
Li Zhining huffed, puffing her cheeks and turning to leave with a hint of jealousy.
“Ning Ning, you can have mine,” said the short and stout Li Yuanzhao, rushing over with a beaming smile.
“I don’t want your hand-me-downs!” the little girl retorted, slapping his offering away, still in a huff.
…
…
In the pavilion, Li Hao’s chess game was only halfway done when he heard Bian Ruxue coming back.
He glanced over idly and, seeing the unmistakable smile on the girl’s face, he already knew the outcome and continued to focus on his move:
“What’s got you so happy? Share it so I can be happy too.”
“I won,” said Bian Ruxue as she dashed into the pavilion, full of high spirits. She eagerly fixed her sparkling eyes on Li Hao, as if waiting for praise for her achievements.
Li Hao chuckled and placed another piece, “As expected of Xue’er, impressive.”
With that praise, the little girl’s smile bloomed even more broadly. “You go ahead and play, Brother Hao. I’ll give you something delicious to eat in a bit,” she said.
“Oh?”
Li Hao noticed the wooden box in her hand, but he asked no further questions and continued his chess battle with Li Fu, quickly bringing the game to an end.
Li Fu’s chess skills were only average among amateurs, far from a professional level, which meant that whenever Li Hao played against him, he could only gain one or two points of experience. As a result, he couldn’t help but ruefully think that the assassin had struck too soon…
“What’s the good stuff?”
Li Hao turned around carelessly and looked at the wooden box beside him.
Bian Ruxue put down her sword on the chair, carried the food box to the table, opened the lid, and a scent of milk wafted out, “Someone gave me these milk cakes, they look really tasty. Brother Hao, would you like to try some?”
“Who sent them?” Li Hao didn’t immediately take one but asked with a sense of caution.
Bian Ruxue was taken aback, thought for a moment, then shook her head, “I forgot to ask his name, but Brother Hao, you should know him. It’s the one we often run into when we go to greet the head lady in the morning.”
“Those kids?” Li Hao was surprised.
Li Fu gave him a look, as if to say, aren’t you a kid yourself?
But he had long been used to Li Hao’s old-fashioned way of speaking.
“Uh-huh,” Bian Ruxue nodded.
Li Hao felt a bit more at ease, “You girl, you’ve been training in the martial arts field with them for a year already. How could you not remember their names.”
Bian Ruxue looked at him with a hint of grievance, “They never told me their names.”
“They definitely have, and even if they haven’t, the attendants around them would mention it. It’s just that you haven’t been paying attention,” Li Hao remarked annoyed.
“Then I will ask again next time,” Bian Ruxue said with a sullen face.
“You should be more sociable, or you’ll get bullied in the future,” Li Hao advised her.
“Nonsense,” Bian Ruxue immediately raised her head, her face showing a hint of pride, “Teacher said I have great talent and will become very strong in the future. Then I’ll protect Brother Hao, and I won’t let anyone bully you again.”
“Just take good care of yourself. I haven’t been bullied,” Li Hao replied, considering that his own daily life in the courtyard chess playing and strolling, was too comfortable, almost like he had retired early.
“Boy, Xue’er is offering this with all her heart, what’s with your attitude?” Li Fu couldn’t stand it and scolded.
Li Hao looked at him helplessly. The guy wasn’t that old, in his forties, yet he acted like an old traditionalist.
Not bothering to argue, Li Hao turned to him and said, “Fu, you try it first. Test for poison. Although those kids aren’t bad people, I’m worried they could be used by someone else.”
Li Fu nodded slightly, then took another look at Li Hao. This youngster always gave off mixed feelings; sometimes he was meticulous, at other times, he seemed clueless.
After taking a bite of the fragrant cake, Li Fu then closed his eyes.
A moment later, as Li Hao was getting impatient, he asked, “How is it? There shouldn’t be an issue, right? Say something, Fu.”
“It tastes good,” Li Fu opened his eyes and said.
Li Hao rolled his eyes at him and immediately told Bian Ruxue, “Hurry up and eat before it gets cold.”
He also picked up a piece and started tasting it. It did taste good indeed, and he said, “It’s somewhat like Fifth Lady’s craftsmanship. Was it Li Yun who sent you this, or his sister Li Zhining?”
“It was Brother Yun,” Bian Ruxue could still distinguish between brother and sister.
“Next time tell that kid to bring more. This little amount, who’s it enough for?” Li Hao devoured his half rapidly but left the other half for Bian Ruxue.
“Mhm,” Bian Ruxue nodded, registering it in her mind.
Li Fu shook his head discreetly on the side. At such a young age, why did this boy have such an air of shamelessness about him, which was quite distinct from the solemn and respectful style of the Li Family Manor?
…
…
Several days later, the Divine General Mansion suddenly welcomed a distinguished guest.
There was a bit of commotion inside the mansion, and the ladies of each court, upon receiving the news, hurried to visit, learning that the guest was none other than that person from the Sword Saint.
If they could establish some connection and have their children become his disciples, their future would surely be remarkable.
Among them, the concubines were especially active. Their children’s training resources couldn’t compare with those of the legitimate family, so a lot of the best opportunities had to be fought for on their own.
He Jianlan, entertaining the guest in Eternal Spring Court, felt the frequent flitting of figures outside and understood their motives. She wasn’t blaming anyone, but when she heard what the rumored Sword Saint said, her face showed a touch of surprise.
After talking for a while, He Jianlan nodded slightly, stood up, and accompanied the guest to see them off.
Soon after, Mountain and River Courtyard welcomed its long-lost liveliness as a big group of figures approached.
Li Hao, playing chess in the pavilion and hearing the disturbance, was puzzled and then saw the leading head lady, with a long white-haired old man beside her.
The old man had sharp eyebrows and prominent cheekbones, giving off a very robust and lean impression.
Next to this unfamiliar old man was another elder, one from the martial training ground that Li Hao had seen several times and was fairly familiar with.
“What’s going on?” Li Hao didn’t understand the situation.
Li Fu, sitting opposite him, saw the white-haired elder and his pupils shrank in shock, then he stood up quickly.
As he felt astonished, he suddenly thought of something and became secretly excited.
Li Hao seldom saw Fu so stirred up and realized immediately that this unfamiliar elder must be a very important figure. However, there weren’t many who could make the Li family treat them with such regard.
Looking at the unfinished game, Li Hao felt a bit reluctant, but had to set it aside for now and waited silently.
“Li Fu.”
He Jianlan saw Li Fu and immediately beckoned to him lightly, then called out to Li Hao, “Hao Er, come over here.”
Li Hao had to stand up and walk over.
“Where’s Xue’er?” He Jianlan asked again.
Li Hao pointed to another part of the courtyard, “She’s practicing her swordsmanship over there.”
“Xuejian, go call Xue’er over,” He Jianlan commanded a maid standing by her side.
Chapter 20: Chapter 18: Unrivaled Seedling
Translator: 549690339
“Sword Saint senior, this is the child of Tiangang, Li Hao.”
While the maid went to call Bian Ruxue, He Jianlan introduced him to the white-haired elder beside her, “Speaking of Hao Er’s name, it was granted by Emperor Yu. What do you think of this child?”
When Emperor Yu was mentioned, the white-haired elder glanced at the woman and immediately understood her intentions, feeling slightly displeased, but he said nothing and began assessing the young boy before him.
Li Hao was also looking up and sizing up the other party.
When he heard the title the elderly lady used for the old man, he was somewhat surprised and understood why Fu’s reaction had been so significant.
Previously, while searching through chess manuals at Listening Rain Tower, he had also come across interesting stories and deeds of significant figures in Jianghu.
In the records of Jianghu figures from the past century, only three were known as Sword Saints.
One resided in Southern Sword Hut, one had retired in the green lakes amid the yellow sands of the North Desert, and another was like a dragon seen in head but not in tail.
All three were masters of swordsmanship, startling the world with their swords, revered as Sword Saints.
Which of the three Sword Saints was the strongest had been a perpetual topic of debate for enthusiasts over the past hundred years.
His own third uncle, possessing extremely high talent in Sword Dao, had cleaved half of the Jianghu and Demon Forest of Jingzhou with a single sword stroke and yet had not been entitled as a Sword Saint, which spoke volumes of this old man’s terrifying strength.
He wondered, which one of the three was he?
As their gazes met, Li Hao immediately saw in the old man’s eyes a deeply hidden Sword Intent, profound as the sea and abyss.
Yet this Sword Intent was concealed beneath dark and placid eyes, imperceptible unless one had a second-level understanding of the Sword Dao.
“I hear the child of Tiangang has failed in both Foundation Establishment and Blood Melting and lacks martial arts talent?”
Jian Wudao coolly looked down at the child before him. The Kylin children of the Divine General Mansion were regarded as extremely prestigious, second only to the imperial heirs, but to him, they were nothing significant, and there was no need to show deference to a mere child.
He Jianlan’s face stiffened slightly as she nodded.
“Correct. Hence, I wanted to see, Sword Saint senior, if this child has the talent for swordsmanship? If, in the future, he can engage in Body Cultivation and learn the sword, it would be his way of serving the nation and guarding a region for Dayu.”
At the mention of “guarding,” Jian Wudao’s expression shifted slightly, softening a bit.
Given his status, as long as the older generation of the Li Family did not intervene, he did not need to concern himself with the thoughts of the younger generation.
But the Li Family’s great achievements over thousands of years indeed commanded respect, especially in recent decades when occasional turmoil at the Frontier Pass saw six of the Nine Sons of the Li Family fallen in battle, a fact solemn enough to command profound respect!
“Let’s observe together in a while,” Jian Wudao calmly said.
He Jianlan was delighted, nodding her head.
Soon, Bian Ruxue was brought before everyone by Xuejian, the little girl obviously nervous before the crowd of adults.
She instinctively stood behind Li Hao, using him to shield half of her body.
This scene was familiar to her; it had occurred during Li Hao’s Foundation Establishment and bone measuring. Only, the expressions of those adults afterward had made her feel sad.
“Sword Saint senior, this is the sword dao prodigy I mentioned to you on behalf of Bai Jing,” said an elder from the military, moving forward with small steps and speaking respectfully as soon as Bian Ruxue arrived.
Jian Wudao nodded slightly. He had come mainly because his third disciple had tirelessly entreated him, talking about the maiden from the Divine General Mansion as if she were something miraculous. Having a fondness for talent, he had then descended from the Sword Cottage for a visit to this flourishing age.
“Power Passage Realm level ten, perfection, robust skeletal structure, not bad.”
Jian Wudao identified the young girl’s Cultivation Realm in a glance, his eyes showing satisfaction, having heard she was a ninth-grade battle physique, top-tier talent, meaning she wouldn’t need much worrying over in terms of future cultivation practices.
“Little girl, demonstrate your best swordsmanship for me,” Jian Wudao said.
Bian Ruxue looked at the unfamiliar yet imposing elderly man, feeling nervous, and subconsciously glanced at Li Hao for reassurance.
Understanding that it was Xue’er’s opportunity, Li Hao immediately smiled and pushed her forward, saying, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be nervous, I’m right here.”
Encouraged by Li Hao, Bian Ruxue’s timidity dissipated quite a bit, and she nodded. The little girl then walked to the side, and without needing He Jianlan to signal, the rest naturally made way for the young girl.
Quickly, Bian Ruxue’s swordsmanship swept out, like snow cascading down, her posture as graceful as a startled swan, with a mastery and agility in her movements that carried an essence of returning to simplicity and truth.
This essence was immediately captured by Jian Wudao, who had been immersed in the Sword Dao for nearly a hundred years. The old man’s sharp, elongated eyes, like sword blades, suddenly widened, revealing an unmistakable thrill of excitement.
This was more than mere talent in the Sword Dao—it was the rare genius of the Sword Dao that one might see once in a century!
At this age, to have cultivated a superior sword technique to perfection was already enough to match his most outstanding disciple, not to mention that there was now a hint of ultimate refinement.
What an exceptional sword training prodigy!
“Hahaha…” Jian Wudao couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the hearty sound causing the dry leaves on the nearby trees to tremble and fall.
Worth it, so worth it!
The trip to the mortal world had not been in vain.
The people around, hearing the Sword Saint’s resonant laughter, immediately knew that the girl’s destiny had soared from that moment on.
Although already highly esteemed in the Divine General Mansion, praised by the world, it was really meeting a master like the Sword Saint that she truly climbed to the peak, with a future promising to make her a household name, celebrated for generations!
In an instant, countless complex gazes in the courtyard converged on the young girl holding the sword.
Bian Ruxue stopped her sword movements, feeling the intense gaze focused on her and looked nervously towards Li Hao.
Li Hao gave her a toothy smile and gave a thumbs-up.
Bian Ruxue understood the gesture—it was praise for doing a great job.
Thus, the young girl also relaxed and smiled broadly.
“You’ve recommended well, very well indeed!”
The previously serious-faced Jian Wudao, now radiating a commanding aura, laughed heartily, slapping the shoulder of an old military man beside him. If it weren’t for his connection with his third disciple, who highly recommended her, he wouldn’t have stumbled upon such an exceptional sword talent.
“The senior flatters us, it’s Xue’er’s fortune to be apprenticed under the Sword Saint,” the old military man said, visibly moved.
The two appeared similar in appearance, both looking like men in their sixties, but in reality, the differences in their ages and statuses were extraordinarily vast.
Jian Wudao smiled, in excellent spirits, he walked over to the young girl, bent down, and in a pleasant tone said, “Young lady, you like the sword, right? How about I take you on a journey to train?”
Bian Ruxue was slightly stunned and asked, “Where to?”
“Sword Cottage.”
Jian Wudao, smiling, revealed this holy land coveted by swordsmen all over the world, saying, “I will teach you swordsmanship there, the best there is.”
Bian Ruxue, not understanding, simply asked, “Is it far?”
“About nine thousand miles to the south, which, for you, is quite far,” Jian Wudao said with a smile.
Bian Ruxue immediately looked toward Li Hao, not far away, and said, “Brother Hao, are you going too?”
Jian Wudao then realized that he had forgotten another child.
He Jianlan timely approached, quietly smiling, “Sword Saint senior, you have yet to witness Hao Er’s talent in the Sword Dao. It’s said he also possesses an innate sensibility for it.”
“Yes, senior,” Li Fu added excitedly, sensing an opportunity, “When Xue’er practices her swordsmanship, the young master often watches on the side, even giving her some solid advice. Though he hasn’t trained formally, he seems to have his own understanding and talent for the Sword Dao.”
Jian Wudao was somewhat surprised, glancing at Li Hao, his brow slightly furrowed, but out of respect for He Jianlan nearby, he immediately said, “Alright, give him a sword, let him demonstrate whatever sword move he wants.”
“Thank you, Sword Saint senior!”
Li Fu was overjoyed, thanking him profusely, then turned to Bian Ruxue, “Miss Xue’er, please lend your sword to the young master for a moment.”
Bian Ruxue obediently nodded, handing the sword over to Li Hao.