Chapter 31: Quebu: So feelings, this thing, does disappear, right?

Outside the Eleventh Division's sword training hall lay an open space.

Accompanied by a flash of bright silver blade light, Quebu Changziliang was once again knocked to the ground by Maozhuah Lie.

"Ah..."

This caused Huangmu, who was always slacking off and wandering the road of idleness, to sigh incessantly.

"No, are you actually capable or not, Quebu?!"

At that moment, Huangmu, just as he always did, leaned against the Eleventh Division's Captain's Quarters, by the ventilated window, gazing outside while shaking his head.

"Quebu Changziliang isn't Zhao Jinglong—can't you stop worrying about him? Is he actually capable or not?!"

"Cough, cough..."

There was nothing to be done—seeing his dear friend Quebu Changziliang knocked down in such a miserable state was truly pitiful.

As the fierce battle between Quebu and Maozhuah Lie continued, a period of time passed!

Quebu's meticulously kept gray pompadour, which he always set each morning no matter how busy, was now smeared with revolting blood; his once-dry gray short hair had curled from the blood, making him look utterly slovenly!

Moreover, Quebu Changziliang himself wasn't sure whether the blood staining his haori came from himself or from Maozhuah Lie's Soul-Cutter Sword...

Even Quebu Changziliang himself didn't know whether the blackened blood on his haori was his own or came from Maozhuah Lie's Soul-Cutter Sword.

As for whether that blood belonged to Maozhuah Lie herself, Quebu Changziliang had never dared to imagine it, since up to now his blade had never once touched her body.

At this point, Quebu bore no resemblance to his former gentlemanly self—calling him a beggar off the street would not be an exaggeration.

"Even though I don't want to admit it, the gap in strength is truly enormous!"

"It's so vast that even if I fought Maozhuah Lie a hundred times, I would still be the one losing!"

"Heh, all I can say is that Captain Maozhuah truly lives up to her reputation as the woman who founded the Guard Court's Eleventh Division and created the title of Sword Eight—her power is truly beyond reach, with no end in sight~"

"So, Huangmu, who defeated that terrifying existence Maozhuah, just how high have you risen?!"

Lying in the Sea of Blood, Quebu gazed upon Maozhuah's figure, resembling an Asura Valkyrie, and let out long sighs of helplessness. Though he had exerted all his strength, he couldn't even touch the corner of Maozhuah Lie's robe— to him, reaching the captain-level Soul Reaper threshold remained an unattainable, overwhelming power......

Quebu knew full well that without such strength, Maozhuah Lie could not have single-handedly founded the Guard Court's Eleventh Division and earned the title of Sword Eight; at the same time, he was utterly shocked by the true power of Huangmu, who had defeated Maozhuah, realizing that Huangmu had been holding back during their fight......

"Quebu, is this really your limit?!"

Compared to Quebu Changziliang, panting helplessly in the Sea of Blood, Maozhuah Lie, wielding her sword with one hand, was far more at ease—indeed, she hadn't expended much effort to knock Quebu to the ground......

There's no denying that the gap between Quebu and Maozhuah is truly enormous; to the point that Maozhuah Lie hadn't even finished her warm-up before Quebu collapsed......

"At least force out my left-hand hidden sword before I go down?!"

Maozhuah Lie gazed at the fallen Quebu, who struggled to rise, her eyes tinged with a hint of pity......

Indeed, Quebu's weakness even made Maozhuah Lie feel a twinge of pity.

Actually, Maozhuah Lie is not a swordsman who fights with just one hand; hidden in her left sleeve is a concealed blade that can be used as a throwing weapon!

Maozhuah Lie, you see, is far from being a 'pure' swordsman~

Maozhuah Lie is a person born for battle, not for the sword; in her view, how could a 'blade' be such an inconvenient thing?!

As long as she can defeat her opponent, whether it's her hidden sword or the blade in her hand, Maozhuah Lie will use it without hesitation......

And the reason Maozhuah Lie never used her hidden sword when facing Huangmu and Quebu......

Because when dealing with Huangmu, Maozhuah simply didn't have the time to pull out her left-hand hidden sword; any moment of distraction could become her downfall.

Likewise, when facing Quebu, Maozhuah Lie likewise hadn't had the chance to draw her left-hand hidden sword!

The only difference when Maozhuah faced Huangmu, however, was......

When Maozhuah faced Quebu, it wasn't because their fight was so intense that she couldn't spare attention for her hidden sword; rather, she simply hadn't had the opportunity to use it before Quebu was struck down by her slash......

This gap is just like in the original story, where Maozhuah Lie faced the fully self-sealed Gengmu Jianba versus the young Gengmu Jianba at full power in their first encounter......

No, even Quebu now performs worse than the self-sealed Gengmu Jianba......

At least the self-sealed Gengmu Jianba still managed to force out Maozhuah's left-hand hidden sword......

"I absolutely cannot just lie down like this!"

"I am the man who intends to follow Elder Yuanliuzhai for life!"

"Take this! This will be my final......"

Just as Maozhuah had completely lost hope in Quebu Changziliang, Quebu rose once again from the Sea of Blood, gripping his Soul-Cutter Sword, aiming at Maozhuah Lie while his heart burned with the desire to fight her to the end......

As one who swore to trace the lifetime of Shanben Yuanliuzhai, Sir, how could he collapse like this? He! He was meant to become the 'shadow' of Shanben, Commander-in-Chief, to follow Shanben Yuanliuzhai as his lifelong creed and see it through to the end of his life......

"Hehe~"

In response, Maozhuah merely gave Quebu Changziliang, who had just risen to his feet, a light smile.

"Swish!"

Accompanied by a tearing sound, two hidden swords shot from Maozhuah's left sleeve, flying toward Quebu Changziliang......

"Huh?!"

By the time Quebu Changziliang could react, his abdomen had been completely pierced through by Maozhuah's hidden sword, and, carried by its momentum, he was pinned straight to the wall of the Eleventh Division's compound outer courtyard......

Quebu: "I got up—then was instantly taken down—nothing more to say......"

"Tsk~"

Captain's Quarters, by the window......

Huangmu watched the scene before him, unable to help turning his head—he really couldn't bear to look.

No, I'm just saying—Quebu, you're not some 'Fairy Tail Guild mage'; you're idle, what's the point of bursting your seed? Is it useful? I'm asking if that burst seed does anything—look, you got insta-killed again!!

"Looks like we're done for today!"

Maozhuah gazed at the fallen Quebu, retracting the Blood River she had released and resealing her Soul-Cutter Sword, then began treating Quebu Changziliang......

At that moment, Quebu, with his left hand lightly covering his abdomen, still wore an expression of utter disbelief—wasn't he not even allowed to finish speaking?!

"Ah, sleep, sleep......"

Huangmu drew the curtains of the Captain's Quarters window, curled up on the sofa, and closed his eyes for a nap.

From then on, Huang Mu never again watched Mao Zhi Hua Lie's special training for Que Bu Chang Ci Lang.

Time flew by; as Huang Mu grew older, he always felt that each day's time passed more and more quickly.

In the blink of an eye, two and a half months had passed since Que Bu Chang Ci Lang came to the Eleventh Division for special training…

Que Bu Chang Ci Lang also reached the day he should return to the First Division, after all he was no ordinary squad member but the vice-captain of the First Division, holding an important post…

"Thank you, Captain Mao Zhi Hua Lie, for your instruction these past days!"

"I have truly benefited greatly…"

As the midday special training ended, Que Bu Chang Ci Lang bowed deeply to his Death God basics instructor, Mao Zhi Hua Lie.

"No need to be so polite!"

"Honestly, you are the most challenging student I have ever taught."

"Of course, I still have high hopes for you! But everyone has their own path to walk."

After Mao Zhi Hua Lie put away her Soul-Cutting Sword, she resumed the image of the "girl next door big sister"; she first looked at Que Bu Chang Ci Lang with a wave of emotion, then still didn't forget to boast a bit to him, lest he be completely crushed by her and lose his self-esteem.

"I understand!"

"When the First Division's affairs are no longer busy, I will still come to ask for advice! I also hope Captain Mao Zhi Hua Lie won't take offense!"

Que Bu Chang Ci Lang nodded humbly to Mao Zhi Hua Lie, at the same time indicating that he would not give up like this, and that he would come back again.

"..."

Mao Zhi Hua Lie heard this and was instantly speechless.

"You are also the most persevering person I have ever seen!"

After a moment, Mao Zhi Hua Lie's lips moved slightly, affirming Que Bu Chang Ci Lang's tenacious perseverance.

"Then I will take my leave! By the way, please tell Captain Huang Mu that I am leaving; as for me, I will not bother Captain Huang Mu…"

Que Bu Chang Ci Lang said this, thinking he was quite suave as he turned and walked away without looking back toward the Eleventh Division's gate. Needless to say, Mao Zhi Hua Lie's special training for him was still effective; in this short two and a half months, he made tremendous progress!

If we say that before the training, Que Bu Chang Ci Lang's sparring result against Mao Zhi Hua Lie was 1 to 9, then now, after training, he is confident he can go 4 to 6 against her…

Well, from the start, he would be cut into nine pieces by Mao Zhi Hua Lie within one second; now he can barely manage to be only "killed" six times by her within four seconds! This progress can be called a leap!

Cough cough…

Que Bu Chang Ci Lang swept away all the messy thoughts in his mind! Preparing to return to the First Division, he will properly handle the various tasks he neglected due to training…

Just as Que Bu arrived at the gate of the Eleventh Division's barracks, he suddenly saw that Huang Mu, who had been holed up in the Division Captain's room ever since he came to the Eleventh Division for further study, seemed to be chatting and laughing with someone.

"Huh? Is that… Huang Mu? He came out of the Division Captain's room?"

"Could the one with him be the Eighth Division Captain Lu Qu?"

Que Bu first froze, then rubbed his eyes and looked closely.

Only to see Huang Mu walking with a smile beside Eighth Division Captain Lu Qu Bai Yun Zhai, and he politely said, "Captain Lu Qu, please follow me this way; watch your step, the road in our Eleventh Division is not peaceful~"

"Hmm~"

The person was none other than the Guard Court Eighth Division Captain Lu Qu Bai Yun Zhai.

She was petite and soft…

Contrasting with her delicate figure, she proudly displayed a bountiful chest that could be called a naturally gifted endowment…

On her small nose bridge rested a pair of round glasses; she was a lovely person whose appearance was completely different from the style of the original Guard Court Thirteen Division captains~

When Lu Qu Bai Yun Zhai heard Huang Mu's words, she lightly tapped her small chin.

"No, Huang Mu! Huang Mu…"

"When I came to the Eleventh Division, I never saw you come out to greet me! Damn it!!"

Que Bu Chang Ci Lang watched Huang Mu personally go out to greet the Eighth Division Captain Lu Qu Bai Yun Zhai, and couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye.

So, it turns out Huang Mu can actually leave the Division Captain's room…

So, the deep friendship and brotherly bond between him and Huang Mu, which had lasted a hundred years or even a thousand, would disappear, right?!

(End of chapter)