Chapter 203

"We earnestly ask you to come down from the mountain and subjugate the Heavenly Dao." Duan Sheng said to Shangguan Yunyi.

"I have the will but lack the strength; the Heavenly Dao's cultivation is already beyond what I can achieve." Shangguan Yunyi said with a wry smile, "Hehe... defeating them is too hard."

"Hard? You still have to go up! Our Sword Dao now has only you standing at the peak; if you don't step forward, you'll lose the face of the number one weapon under heaven!" Duan Sheng said angrily.

"I can't afford to lose that face; let the Sword Master take it." Shangguan Yunyi threw the heavy burden to the Sword Master.

The Sword Master waved his hands repeatedly, laughing, "Hehe, under normal circumstances I would certainly step forward, but now I am seriously injured, truly inconvenient, and besides, my strength is still far insufficient. Although I would not hesitate to plunge into boiling water and tread through fire for the people, I still need to weigh my own strength, wouldn't I?"

Indeed, the Sword Master is still unable to match any one of the three individuals Heaven's Mandate, Heaven's Calamity, and Heaven's Overlord.

"Shangguan Yunyi, if you don't make a move this time, I will call upon all swordsmen under heaven to resist you, and see if this Sword King can sit securely!" Duan Sheng rose to his feet, his massive body as tall as a loft, his head touching the ceiling.

Duan Sheng looked furious, as if he would overturn the roof of the Sword-Leaning Tower if Shangguan Yunyi did not agree.

"If he doesn't step forward, forget about calling all swordsmen under heaven; the entire martial world will collapse, and we'll have no chance to impeach him again!" The Western Desert Sword Demon grabbed Duan Sheng, gesturing for him to sit down and talk properly.

Shangguan Yunyi did not think Duan Sheng's words were unreasonable; after thinking for a long time, he said, "I can step forward. But victory or defeat is uncertain; I hope you can understand."

"That'll do!" Duan Sheng gulped down a cup of tea in one go, finally feeling relieved.

"How did I put it again? Everything is no longer peaceful." Shangguan Yunyi said to the Sword Master sitting opposite him.

"I hope there will be a good ending." The Sword Master said with a smile.

"I never expected our mission to be this simple..." Duan Sheng shook his head, saying, "I wonder how the others are doing."

"Simple is good; we still have the mood to sit here drinking tea and chatting. Who knows if we'll have such a chance to gather again after the great war?" The Western Desert Sword Demon felt that the tea fragrance was good tea; the aroma of Iron Guanyin tea intoxicated him, and he nodded while praising, "Good tea, good tea!"

"And there's also Dongfang Wuji and Zhang Huyu, right?" Shangguan Yunyi asked Duan Sheng with a smile.

"Hmm."

"It seems they are indeed much more difficult for you." Shangguan Yunyi sighed, "Dongfang Wuji does all kinds of evil, Zhang Huyu is full of schemes... wanting them to go from enemies to cooperating is quite difficult!"

At this point, seeing that the main conflict among the crowd had been largely resolved, the Young Palace Master said, "There's still my issue without an answer." She turned her upper body to face the Sword Master and asked, "What exactly is our relationship? Why would you not hesitate to sacrifice yourself just to let me win?"

"Hahaha! Why do you keep obsessing over this question? What kind of relationship could we possibly have?" the Sword Master laughed and retorted to the Young Palace Master.

"I hope you can answer honestly." the Young Palace Master said seriously.

Since she could remember, the Young Palace Master had never seen her father; as a child she would ask her mother where her father had gone, and each time she was locked away for a month by her mother. Over time, this question became like a flower of fear rooted in her heart, taking root, sprouting, slowly growing and blooming…

Only a month ago, in her battle with the Sword Master, she felt as if she had sensed something…

This is also why she resolved to leave the Five Absolutes Palace; like her mother, she was not born cold‑hearted! It's just that her mother sacrificed everything for the Five Absolutes Palace, whereas she is different—she is a person with her own ideas! She would never imprison herself forever in a cage for the sake of the Five Absolutes Palace!

"I answered honestly, absolutely true." the Sword Master calmly said to the Young Palace Master.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then why didn't you just spare my life, but also put your own life on the line?"

The Sword Master gave an embarrassed smile to the crowd and said, "It's just that my own ability is lacking, and you have far surpassed your peers."

"Would anyone believe such an excuse? You are the esteemed Sword Master, famed throughout the world and revered by countless people—how could you say your ability is lacking?" The Young Palace Master's emotions flared, but this agitation was quickly bound by several strands of sword intent, calming her again.

"Yes, Sword Master, that really isn't a good excuse." the Western Desert Sword Devil also murmured in agreement.

If the Sword Master's ability is lacking, is there anyone else under heaven who could present a respectable sword?

Outside the Sword-Leaning Tower, the rain grew heavier; Shangguan Yunyi merely poked his fingers twice, and all the lights inside the attic were lit, giving a feeling that night was about to descend.

But upon checking the clepsydra, he found it was only midday.

The sky darkened so quickly.

Among the five people in the Sword-Leaning Tower, three were at ease, not minding a big spectacle and wanting to watch the show, while two were tense.

The Young Palace Master urgently wanted to know her relationship with the Sword Master.

But the Sword Master simply tried to sever his connection with the Young Palace Master.

However, many things cannot be shaken off, especially after one has once been involved in them.

"I really have no relationship with you." the Sword Master thought he had already made that clear.

"Then what about you and my mother?" the Young Palace Master pressed relentlessly. She is a thorn‑bearing rose, she is a blazing flame. She does not believe the Sword Master is innocent, nor that her mother is innocent.

The Sword Master's face showed an embarrassed expression, like when as a child he had to eat a food he disliked—sorrowful yet not hateful.

Duan Sheng lowered his head, gazing at the tea cup in his hand; although his eyes were not on those two, his ears heard everything clearly, fearing to miss even the slightest bit of explosive news. After all, this is the entanglement between the Sword Master of the Sword-Leaning Tower and the Palace Master of the Five Absolutes Palace—if it got out, it could drive the whole world mad!

Shangguan Yunyi calmly brewed tea, the sound of the liquid "hiss‑hiss‑hiss" flowing from the pot into the cup, as if he were detached from the affair, with nothing in the world concerning him.

The Western Desert Sword Devil widened his eyes at this spectacle; besides, he wasn't afraid of a big deal. He couldn't wait to speak up for the Young Palace Master, so he urged the Sword Master, "Sword Master, just say it straight—don't let that lovely lady worry!"

The Young Palace Master and the Sword Master, in unison, gave the Western Desert Sword Devil an annoyed glance.