Chapter 78: Could You Be an Assassin?

The young man stepped past the crowd, walked forward, and cupped his hands toward Nan Xueyin: "I am Jiang Jing."

Nan Xueyin nodded in acknowledgment, not opening her mouth.

She did not have the habit of introducing herself before a fight.

Fortunately, Jiang Jing did not mind this much; he raised his left hand, "Then shall we go pick out some suitable weapons first?"

"Wait!"

Shu Yu blocked Nan Xueyin's path and called out to him, "You two just want to spar, there is no need for real blades and spears."

He turned his head and gestured, "Go get some wooden swords!"

He did not know about Nan Xueyin's special constitution that allowed her to self-heal; he was worried she would get hurt during the sparring.

Had she not been injured just yesterday? The culprit, Zhong Yun, was the only granddaughter of Grand Tutor Zhong, yet His Highness the Crown Prince had shown no mercy and punished her on the spot.

His Highness had left him to watch over her; if she really got hurt, wouldn't His Highness skin him alive!

Nan Xueyin shrugged, "It makes no difference to me."

Jiang Jing gave Shu Yu face and said, "Then I shall listen to Lord Shu."

He started to leave, but remembering something, he stopped in front of Nan Xueyin and warned her with a seemingly kind tone: "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, wooden swords and wooden blades are also very heavy!"

His original intention in saying this was to mock and intimidate Nan Xueyin.

The few men behind him understood his meaning and laughed out loud.

Nan Xueyin's expression was cold: "If you cannot lift them, just choose the smallest one."

This turned the tables directly back onto him.

Jiang Jing was stunned.

Shu Yu laughed heartily: "You really have a way with words!"

Nan Xueyin said no more and turned around first.

When she first began training as an Assassin, the weapon she chose was the sword, initially because she thought it looked good; the sword itself was beautiful, and it was even more aesthetically pleasing when brandished.

Later, she tried other weapons and learned a little of each, but ultimately felt that the sword was indeed the most suitable for her.

"Archery can rely on clever force, but these blades and swords, after all, still require a focus on footwork and strength."

"Although Jiang Jing is young, he is very talented and willing to work hard. That swordsmanship of his has even been praised by our old general!"

"I bet Jiang Jing will finish it within five moves!"

"I bet three moves!"

It was unclear who had started the betting, but in any case, the crowd there was in high spirits and had begun taking out their valuables; Nan Xueyin heard them, but did not even lift an eyelid.

Shu Yu looked at her expression and walked forward with long strides.

The crowd instantly fell silent, fearing he would stop this gambling.

Shu Yu raised his hand and fumbled around in his robes, pulled out a money pouch, and said with a grin: "I bet on Hua Lianying to win!"

The crowd looked at each other in dismay.

"She is Hua Lianying," Shu Yu pointed at Nan Xueyin.

Nan Xueyin frowned, suddenly feeling a bit regretful that she shouldn't have used this name.

But the gambling over there had been set up after all.

Jiang Jing was the first to pick a wooden sword and stood firmly in the center of the arena.

Nan Xueyin picked a suitable wooden sword a step later, weighed it in her hand, and walked forward.

Before starting, she casually performed a sword flourish.

For no other reason than that it looked good.

"Yo, she even knows how to perform a sword flourish?"

"Looks good but is useless. What decent person performs a sword flourish when sparring? Once they really start fighting, she'll be crying."

"It looks like we are sure to win Lord Shu's money pouch!"

Shu Yu was cheeky, "Who wins and who loses, that is not yet certain!"

"Miss, I am starting."

In the center of the arena, Jiang Jing gave a warning.

Nan Xueyin lifted her chin slightly; before he could move his sword, she tapped her toes on the ground and darted out, raising her sword with her right hand to thrust directly at Jiang Jing's heart.

Her movements were extremely fast, but Jiang Jing's reaction was also quick, and he raised his sword to block her attack.

However, the blade of Nan Xueyin's sword performed a beautiful spin in mid-air, and when her figure landed, the tip of her sword was already pressing against Jiang Jing's throat.

While Jiang Jing's sword was still held horizontally across his chest.

He was stunned in place for a moment.

The crowd discussing the match were also stunned in place one after another.

"Is... is this fake?"

"I must be dreaming, right?"

Scattered, one or two human voices rang out.

Shu Yu said irritably: "I'll slap you and see if it hurts, then you'll know if you're dreaming!"

"I..."

Jiang Jing had just uttered half a syllable when Nan Xueyin turned her wrist and struck his abdomen heavily with the sword hilt, knocking him back.

"If you aren't convinced, come again."

Nan Xueyin walked two steps, her voice cold, which was no different from giving Jiang Jing a slap in the face.

He was so ashamed that his ears burned, and he roared as he lunged up.

Nan Xueyin, however, simply sidestepped, nimbly avoiding his strike.

Jiang Jing attacked again, but was still easily dodged by her.

After five consecutive strikes, Jiang Jing had not even managed to touch a corner of Nan Xueyin's clothes.

He realized that he was being heartlessly toyed with by her.

As for why it was five strikes? Because when they were placing their bets just now, "five moves" was what was said the most.

"You can't even hit me, yet you dare to be distracted?"

Nan Xueyin found it amusing; she raised her leg and stepped onto the sword blade in his hand, pressing the wooden sword down toward the ground with force. Since the sword body was made of wood, it could not withstand the pressure and snapped into two pieces.

She then raised the wooden sword in her hand and swept it cleanly across Jiang Jing's neck.

The wooden splinters and barbs on the sword blade scraped a red mark across Jiang Jing's skin. Nan Xueyin looked down from above and said coldly, "If this were a real sword, your head would be gone."

Jiang Jing knew how to use a sword, and he knew this was true.

Nan Xueyin curled the corners of her lips, "Remember to go thank Shu Yu later."

After saying this, she kicked him away, carried the wooden sword, and turned toward the few people who were placing bets over there.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, lifting the stray hairs at her forehead and revealing that face which was overly cold yet possessed alluring brows and eyes.

Shu Yu was sitting there counting the silver won, while the others remained silent; their expressions were uglier than the last. Nan Xueyin saw this in her eyes and finally felt satisfied.

She smiled; although there was no sincerity in this smile, her face was truly beautiful. When she smiled, it was like a bright moon shining on snow, illuminating the surroundings much more brightly.

She stood facing the wind, nonchalant, and performed another beautiful sword flourish.

This time, no one said she was just for show and useless anymore.

"Still playing?" Shu Yu finished counting the silver, stuffed it away, and came over to ask her.

"Not playing anymore, it's boring." After Nan Xueyin finished speaking, she tossed the wooden sword aside.

"Then shall we go to the Crown Prince?"

Nan Xueyin gave a hum. In any case, she had only stayed to vent her anger; now that the anger was vented and she had shown off, there was no need to stay.

The two walked away side by side.

Shu Yu weighed the silver in his hand, "See that? It's all what I won."

Nan Xueyin said indifferently, "Three-seven split, seven for me and three for you."

Shu Yu's eyes widened, "Are you robbing me?"

Nan Xueyin was righteous and confident, "If I weren't actually capable of fighting, could you have won so much?"

Shu Yu pondered it, "That's true."

As he spoke, he was about to give the silver to her.

Nan Xueyin did not take it and said, "You hold onto it first, and give it to me when we go back."

Shu Yu asked, "Why don't you take it now?"

Nan Xueyin said calmly, "It's too much, it's tiring to carry."

Shu Yu let out a 'wow', "Smart!"

He did not quibble with her over this, but asked with great curiosity, "Right, how come you know everything? Archery, swordsmanship, I feel like you are stronger than the average man. Have you studied this? You wouldn't happen to be an Assassin, would you?"