Inside Yazheng Hall.
Qin Yu stood below, anxiously watching Yu Lancheng’s expression.
The man had hauled him back as soon as his match ended, yet had not said a single word since they returned. It was making him terribly nervous!
Who knew what was wrong with him today? His mood kept swinging, making him even harder to read than a girl on her period.
While Qin Yu was inwardly grumbling, Yu Lancheng finally spoke. “Why push yourself so hard?”
So this was about the match.
Qin Yu discreetly let out a relieved breath, then straightened his back. “I am Yazheng Peak’s foremost disciple, and your only disciple, Master. If I admitted defeat so easily, wouldn’t that tarnish your reputation? I could never allow that to happen.”
His impassioned speech was so convincing that he nearly believed it himself.
Unfortunately, Yu Lancheng was not easily fooled. He did not believe a single word. His sinister gaze swept casually over the crown of Qin Yu’s head. “I’ll give you one more chance to make something up.”
Qin Yu shuddered and immediately changed his story. “Well… all right. The truth is, I want first place. You may not know this, Master, but I’ve had serious grievances with Jiang Fu and Liu Wanrou ever since I was in Yushang Capital. That’s why I don’t want to lose to him.”
Yu Lancheng’s slender fingers tapped idly against the table. “You like that Liu Yunbai?”
“No, I don’t. I have no improper intentions toward her whatsoever.” Qin Yu hurried through a string of denials.
“You stand up for her, scheme for her, and even risk your life for her. And you call that not liking her?”
For some reason, whenever he thought about Qin Yu being willing to throw away his life for that woman, an irritation he could not dispel rose within him, making him want to do something.
Qin Yu: “…”
You really aren’t shy about it, are you? Talking so casually about stalking me—aren’t you afraid I’ll reveal your secret?
Fine. He really did not dare.
Not only did he not dare say anything, he also had to pretend he knew nothing.
“Liu Yunbai likes Jiang Fu and has sacrificed a great deal for him. But another woman keeps interfering, making Jiang Fu despise her. I think she’ll come to hate him sooner or later. However much I help her now, she’ll repay me in the future.”
“Oh?”
Seeing that he still did not believe him, Qin Yu immediately raised his hand and swore, “I swear, if my actions aren’t meant to deal with Jiang Fu, may lightning strike me and may I die a miserable death.”
The oath ended. Nothing happened.
【You certainly know how to exploit a loophole in the wording.】
“Shut up.”
Qin Yu looked at Yu Lancheng with utter sincerity. “See, Master? Every word I’ve said comes from the heart.”
Qin Yu had thought that even if Yu Lancheng still had doubts, this would leave him no choice but to believe him. Instead, Yu Lancheng’s expression darkened abruptly. In a flash, he was standing before Qin Yu, gripping his chin hard.
“Don’t play that oath-swearing game in front of me!”
The anger came so suddenly that Qin Yu forgot how to react. His exquisite, catlike eyes stared blankly at Yu Lancheng.
Seeing that he had frightened him into stillness, Yu Lancheng regained his cool demeanor, though the anger in his eyes had yet to fade. “Be good, A-Yu. Go change into clean clothes, then come to the terrace behind the mountain.”
Long after Yu Lancheng had disappeared, Qin Yu finally recovered his wits. “System, why would he suddenly ask me to meet him back there? Has he started thinking about my skull again?”
【Then are you going to stay away?】
“I’ll die even faster if I don’t go.”
He returned to his room and put on his best defensive artifact, concealing a Concealment Talisman in one hand and an Earth-Shrinking Talisman in the other. Only once he was fully prepared did he head for the terrace.
Behind Yazheng Peak lay a vast terrace, several dozen zhang across in either direction. Rugged mountains rose behind it; an immense precipice plunged away in front.
Yu Lancheng stood in the wind at its edge, his fathomless eyes gazing into the distance. He seemed to be admiring the scenery, or perhaps lost in thought. No one could tell what was on his mind.
Little Black flew out. “Master, I can feel the seal stirring!”
“Mm.”
“Have you found the cause, Master?”
Yu Lancheng turned and rested his gaze on Qin Yu, who had just arrived. “Far beyond the horizon, yet right before my eyes.”
Little Black looked stunned.
The seal was loosening because of Qin Yu?
“Master, this…”
Before Little Black could finish, Yu Lancheng forcibly put him away.
Qin Yu looked up just in time to see Yu Lancheng recall Little Black. “Master?”
“Come here. Show me the sword technique you’ve been practicing lately.”
This man had even been spying on his sword practice? Was he trying to steal his technique?
Seeing his odd expression, Yu Lancheng said with a trace of disdain, “I have no interest in a sword manual of that caliber.”
“Master, you…”
“Show me.” Yu Lancheng cut him off firmly.
“Right away, Master.”
Qin Yu jolted and hurriedly took up the Four Beasts Token, beginning the second level of the Sea-Surpassing Sword Art before Yu Lancheng. The first half went smoothly, but during the latter half, he began to struggle.
The Four Beasts Token trembled incessantly, its blade giving off an uncontrolled ringing.
Unwilling to embarrass himself in front of Yu Lancheng, Qin Yu gritted his teeth and refused to let go. But the Four Beasts Token shook more and more violently, until he could barely hold on to its hilt.
Just as the Four Beasts Token was about to slip from his grasp, Qin Yu’s back met a broad chest carrying the cool fragrance of plum blossoms. A moment later, Yu Lancheng closed his hand over Qin Yu’s on the sword’s hilt.
“To harness the might of mountains and rivers, sword momentum alone is not enough. Watch closely.”
The faintly cool breath brushing his ear made Qin Yu acutely uncomfortable. Instinctively, he wanted to escape this unsettling closeness.
“Master, you can simply explain. I…”
Giving him no chance to pull away, Yu Lancheng held him firmly at the waist. “Concentrate.”
Yu Lancheng guided him through the movements, weaving the might of mountains and rivers into each form, channeling that power before unleashing a single stroke.
The gathered sword energy carved a blazing trail, cleaving through the mountains surrounding Yazheng Peak.
Qin Yu’s exquisitely beautiful face lit with astonished delight. “I did it?”
So this was the power of the Sea-Surpassing Sword Art’s second level! Now he no longer had to worry about his upcoming matches!
Seeing the unalloyed joy in Qin Yu’s eyes—and knowing he had put it there—Yu Lancheng felt an unusually keen interest. He took the Four Beasts Token from him. “Pay attention. Watch once more.”
Yu Lancheng moved with effortless grace, his fathomless eyes intent on the blade. His presence and the sword became one, as though he had been born for the sword and existed for it alone.
Qin Yu had never seen such single-minded purity in him. For a moment, he could only stare, entranced.
“A sword sweeps through the frosted night;
what painter’s brush could catch such grace?
So this is what those words mean.”
【You really are different, Host. You’ve even gotten him to teach you swordsmanship himself.】
“What do you mean by that?”
【Ahem, nothing! Just treasure the chance to learn from him. That’s all.】
An idea stirred in Qin Yu’s mind. “You said before that Yu Lancheng’s identity was classified information. Now that I already know it, why don’t you give me the rest of his information too?”
【Access to classified information costs fifty thousand points.】
“Don’t be so rigid!”
【This is nonnegotiable. Fifty thousand points are required.】
“Forget it, then.”
The System, which had braced itself for Qin Yu’s relentless questioning: “???”
【You’re giving up just like that? That’s not like you.】
Để lại một bình luận