Chapter 25: The Heavenly Sword, Wuming

In the end, this tense standoff was broken by that character Duan Fengyun; he rubbed his stomach and said to Jiansheng:

"Uncle, I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving. If you two want to fight, eat something first."

Jiansheng looked at the Duan Fengyun before him and couldn't help but feel ashamed; how could that fellow Duan Shuai have raised such a character of a son?

Wuming understood the subtext of Duan Fengyun's words and, playing along, said: "I opened a small shop in the town outside this bamboo forest. Since everyone is hungry, why not move to my shop for a simple meal?"

Duan Fengyun cupped his fists in thanks: "I would be honored to accept your invitation, thank you for your hospitality, Senior."

And so, the four people who had been at daggers drawn a second ago set off together.

Wuming watched Duan Fengyun's retreating back and thought to himself: "This child has excellent natural talent, deep internal energy, and handles matters with wit and tact; given time, he will surely achieve great things. But he is full of wicked tendencies; I wonder how many martial arts conflicts he will stir up in the future."

After walking for more than ten minutes, the group arrived at Wuming's small shop, which was named Zhonghua Lou.

Jiansheng praised: "A fine Zhonghua Lou; the brushwork is vigorous and powerful, possessing the effect of supernatural craftsmanship."

Jian Chen said proudly: "Senior, you flatter us. This was written by my master himself."

Upon hearing this, Jiansheng's face became as miserable as if he had eaten a bitter gourd, and then

he said: "So it was written by Wuming; then I saw it wrong, what a piece of dog shit it is."

The two, who had been fighting for decades, were still as relentless as children.

Duan Fengyun did not want to stay at the shop entrance and accompany them in their bickering, so he strode into the shop and shouted to the waiter:

"Waiter, bring out all the good food and drink you have in the shop, and have your Boss settle the bill."

Under the tacit approval of Wuming's gaze, the waiter hurried to the back kitchen to give orders. The Boss had never treated guests before; these must be distinguished guests today. The Boss treated them well, so they could not lose face for the Boss.

Before long, the waiter began to bring out the dishes. Seeing that the food was served, Jian Chen took out a few pots of fine wine from the storeroom.

Since defecting from the World Association, Duan Fengyun had been fighting and killing all the way, and he had not had a proper meal for a long time. He pinched a piece of food, tasted it, found it acceptable, and began to gorge himself.

Neither Wuming nor Jiansheng moved their chopsticks; they only raised the wine cups in front of them and drank them in one gulp. It had been twenty years since the two last ate at the same table.

Seeing that Wuming and Jiansheng did not move their chopsticks, Jian Chen also sat silently to the side and raised his cup to drink; the three of them were quite in sync, one cup after another.

Duan Fengyun did not care about them; he ate and drank as he pleased. In this life, being full is the prerequisite.

After Duan Fengyun had his fill of food and wine, the three looked at the leftovers on the table, touched their stomachs, and said nothing.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Wuming asked Jiansheng to come out with him; there were some things he wanted to discuss with Jiansheng alone.

Duan Fengyun tried to strike up a conversation with Jian Chen, but Jian Chen was a disciple of Wuming, having learned his skills from Wuming and his personality from Wuming as well, appearing as someone who kept strangers at a distance.

Having made a fool of himself, Duan Fengyun had no choice but to wander off and find his own way.

Jiansheng followed Wuming to a small courtyard. Wuming stopped and looked at Jiansheng, saying: "To you, is victory or defeat really that important?"

Jiansheng replied firmly: "The sword is the leader of all weapons. I also want to be the number one Sword Cultivator. Have you truly become desireless and indifferent to victory or defeat now?"

Wuming looked up at the sky and replied: "In the past, I stained my hands with blood for the sake of honor. But in the end, my wife was killed by others, and I searched the whole world but could not find the killer. When one's edge is too sharp, when will the grievances of the martial arts world end? That is why I decided to fake my death and live in seclusion, far from the conflicts of the martial arts world."

Jiansheng laughed: "Only you, Wuming, can abandon the martial arts world, but the martial arts world cannot let you go. There are countless people in the martial arts world who want to challenge you, the Martial Arts Myth."

Wuming did not answer, but stared at Jiansheng and said: "Can you give up on killing Xiongba? I know Xiongba destroyed your Wushuang City, but if you kill Xiongba, the World Association will inevitably fall into chaos, and the martial arts world will once again be plunged into turmoil. I hope you can give up on killing Xiongba."

Jiansheng said angrily: "What a joke! That Xiongba killed my younger brother and destroyed my Wushuang City. With such a blood feud, how can I give up? I wish I could eat his flesh and drink his blood, and grind his bones to dust."

Wuming asked: "Must you go? Is this battle unavoidable?"

Jiansheng roared: "A real man walks between heaven and earth. If I do not avenge such a blood feud, I am unworthy of being a man. I am determined to kill Xiongba; even the Buddha cannot stop me!"

Seeing Jiansheng so aggressive, Wuming also raised his own aura and said: "Since you refuse to give up, I can only take action to stop you."

Upon hearing this, Jiansheng laughed loudly: "Good! I have been in Seclusion for twenty years just to fight you again. Today, I can finally have my wish fulfilled."

After speaking, the Sword Qi from Jiansheng's hand shot toward Wuming. Wuming used his Sword Qi to protect his body, reflecting all the Sword Qi shot by Jiansheng back out.

Duan Fengyun, who was wandering outside the courtyard, discovered that the Fire Scale Sword in his hand was restless and beyond his control.

As Wuming's aura inside the courtyard continued to rise, the Fire Scale Sword flew out of its sheath and stuck into the ground at the courtyard entrance, while the Hero Sword was also stuck next to the Fire Scale Sword. The two great righteous and evil divine weapons of the martial arts world were both subdued by Wuming's aura.

Duan Fengyun hurriedly rushed into the courtyard with Jian Chen and picked up their respective swords. Both were subdued by Wuming's aura; the Martial Arts Myth was truly worthy of his reputation.

He muttered to himself: "Wuming at full health plays the erhu, Wuming at low health wanders everywhere. This full-health Wuming is truly awesome."

Jiansheng looked at this scene and sighed: "Ten thousand swords submit; the sword among swords. It seems you have reached the realm of the Heavenly Sword. Although I have reached the realm of Man-Sword Unity, I am still eclipsed in the face of the Heavenly Sword. I admit defeat. I have never submitted to anyone in decades, but today, I submit to you, Wuming."

Wuming sighed and said: "You may go."

Jiansheng said in surprise: "Didn't you just want to stop me? Why are you letting me leave now?"

Wuming replied: "Just now, your Sword Qi leaked; your Sword Qi has already dissipated. What will you use to defeat Xiongba? You are already certain to die in this battle. Further words are useless; I hope you will consider it carefully."

Jiansheng picked up the wine bottle on the stone table, filled two cups of wine, turned to Wuming, and said: "Regardless, this battle is unavoidable. Come, old friend, drink this last cup of wine with me. We have fought for decades; now, let us use this wine to settle the grievances of this life."

Wuming took the wine cup handed over by Jiansheng, drank it in one gulp, and then said: "Old friend, go in peace."

Jiansheng laughed heartily, drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, then turned and walked out of the courtyard, embarking on his path of revenge without looking back.