Chapter 102: Wandering Magic Swordsman

The crowd stepped back, clearing the open space before the temple; Haxilin shouted, "Lei En, Yetezi, the pursuit of love pleases the lady, but before the lady's temple I do not want anyone to die because of it. When you spar with swords you must restrain yourselves and not damage the temple or the garden."

"Yes, President."

After Yetezi responded, he moved at once.

He reached behind and plucked a string on the seven‑string lute; the strings vibrated, emitting a melodious tone.

The instrument is a uniquely enchanted piece; its sound carries magical fluctuations, and the sound waves landing on Yetezi make his eyes brighter, his spirit exhilarated, his figure becoming light as if to merge with the music, moving with the tone.

Lei En listened to the music without moving, but grew interested in Yetezi's method.

When he had just observed Yetezi up close, he discovered that this person's soul Element was rare—a very uncommon magic swordsman.

Ordinary magic swordsmen, after advancing Soul Transformation, choose to fuse an Affinity Element of some kind, attaching elemental power to their sword and combining it with swordsmanship, yielding great power.

Moreover, Yetezi does not fuse an Affinity Element, but a "Sound Form".

Lei En recently finished reading the Complete Thousand Soul Book and instantly recognized this rare Element, which is a kind of ability that can be activated by soul power or driven by physical strength.

Sound Form can blend soul power into sound, forming substance that either enhances oneself or attacks foes.

In essence, it is also a kind of magic, merely with a different casting method.

Yetezi uses Sound Form as the core Element, fusing Illusion Sound Technique, Psychic Suggestion, Motivation Technique, Deceleration Field, Roar, and several other Elements, arranging them around sound propagation to achieve various combat effects.

One must admit, it's a remarkably ingenious concept.

It is essentially a brand‑new extraordinary profession, a branch of magic swordsmen, and Lei En is curious what this rare profession should be called.

Bard? Or wandering magic swordsman?

Lei En had long realized that Yetezi is not the only one possessing Sound Form.

Among the priests present, three others, like Yetezi, also use Sound Form as the core, merging various sound‑related Elements.

"This should be a new vocation created by the Longhaired Lady for her followers, similar to clergy of other churches, but it is not yet refined."

Many thoughts flashed through Lei En's mind; suddenly, the music's rhythm shifted, and murderous intent rose.

Driven by soul power, the seven‑string lute behind Yetezi continuously emitted sound waves, enveloping a wide area.

The sound pierced straight into the brain like a demonic tone, carrying a debilitating feeling that slowed Lei En's thoughts; his vision blurred and he lost sight of Yetezi.

The next second, a blade of light rippled from his side, the sword edge gleaming, vibrating at extreme speed and emitting successive sound waves.

Each sound wave was like solid matter, as if a transparent razor, sweeping forward.

Behind the sky‑filled blades stood Yetezi, staring at Lei En, his eyes filled with cold murderous intent.

A flash of sword light passed.

Almost simultaneously, Lei En's figure vanished with a swish, the long sword swung through empty air, and a dozen sound‑wave blades struck the ground, leaving a series of scratches.

"He charged and dodged."

Yetezi reacted instantly, plucked the seven‑string lute again, and the music changed, spreading like concentric ripples.

The sound wave caught up with the charging Lei En, as if he fell into quicksand, his speed slowing.

Lei En knew this was a Deceleration Field.

Without looking back, he kept rushing forward, changed direction, his figure tracing an arc, and thrust his short sword sideways like a rear‑eye, striking the rapidly pursuing Yetezi.

"How did he discover me?"

Yetezi was taken off guard; he had clearly masked his footfalls beneath the music and moved swiftly, yet he was still detected early.

Clang— the two swords clashed.

Lei En didn't want to damage Viola's prized short sword, so he used only thirty percent of his strength.

Even so, Yetezi found it hard to resist; the right hand gripping the sword went numb, the vibrating blade halted instantly, and the sound‑wave blades vanished.

Lei En leapt forward a large step, the short sword lunged, executing a simple straight thrust from the Empire's military swordsmanship.

Precise, swift, powerful.

The short sword pierced the air, its tip like a flash of cold light, making the heart race.

Yetezi raised his sword to block, and opened his mouth to emit a Roar.

Roar is a common ordinary Element that intimidates enemies with sound; when amplified by Sound Form, the Roar from Yetezi's mouth has a deterrent effect comparable to Fear Technique.

However, Lei En ignored the Roar entirely, as if he could not hear it.

He was unaffected, his short sword moving fast and accurate without any pause.

Clang!

Yetezi barely held his long sword horizontally before him, blocking the thrust.

The massive force from the sword forced him to recoil involuntarily, but before he could recover his footing, Lei En's short sword struck again.

Cold light flickered, a sharp aura assaulting.

Yetezi had no other option and had to block with his long sword; this frantic defense prevented him from employing any of his advanced sword techniques.

Clang—clang!

Lei En repeatedly thrust multiple swords, pressing with force; using this simplest straight thrust, he forced Yetezi into a clumsy retreat, unable even to dodge.

Although Yetezi's seven‑string lute continued to emit music, constantly altering sound waves and various accompanying spells to interfere with Lei En, they had no effect.

Lei En's gaze was focused, like a deaf person who could not hear any sound.

This left the watching priests gaping in astonishment.

They had all witnessed Yetezi's swordsmanship, unrivaled within Longshande's Beauty and Goodness Church, yet after the first sword showed a hint of power, Lei En suppressed him.

What surprised them most was that Lei En's sword technique consisted of a single move yet possessed such astonishing power.

The open space before the temple was small; after parrying a few short‑sword thrusts, Yetezi was forced back to the edge, and retreating further would mean stepping into the garden.

He felt his suppressed anger verge on madness, yet could not think of a way to break through.

His right hand gripping the sword almost lost sensation; the web of his thumb had been battered by terrifying force, blood streaming.

"What a damn sword technique is this…"

"I can't lose!"

Yetezi screamed wildly in his mind; suddenly, his long sword let out a booming sound, and the blade snapped in response.

His mind went blank; his sword was a premium enchanted weapon, extremely tough—how could it be broken by a spell‑casting short sword?

Then Yetezi saw the shattered sword flying out, caught bare‑handed by Lei En.

The sharp blade failed to cut Lei En's hand; instead it reversed and plunged into his own chest!

As pain surged, disbelief filled his eyes; he had been defeated like this, and even his life was at stake.

Lei En stepped back two paces and said calmly, "The tip of the sword is only a hair's breadth from your heart; as long as you stay still, you won't die."

Yetezi shivered at the words, standing frozen, daring not to move for fear the broken sword would shift and pierce his heart.

He lowered his head to his chest, seeing the half‑exposed broken sword.

Only then did he realize that each of Lei En's thrusts struck precisely the same spot on the sword, allowing it to be broken.

Yetezi's spirit convulsed, he coughed once, his face turning pale with blood spilling from his mouth.

The surrounding priests also heard Lei En's words, marveling at his swordsmanship—seemingly simple and crude, yet exquisitely precise, possessing unfathomable control.

President Haxilin came over to examine Yetezi's wound and confirmed Lei En's claim: staying still would keep him from dying.

Several priests here possessed Divine Technique; carefully extracting the broken sword could save Yetezi.

Lei En returned the short sword to Viola and said, "President, I won the sword contest. Shouldn't the result of that poem we just composed be announced now?"

"Yes."

Haxilin nodded, gave Yetezi a sympathetic glance, and immediately declared, "Lei En's love poem is better, surpassing Yetezi."

Even though some had a slight premonition, everyone found the result hard to believe.

Longshande's most talented poet, Yetezi, was defeated in his specialty—love poetry—by a country boy!

"I... can't... believe!"

Yetezi forced through the pain, spitting out a few words.

He was nearly going mad, yearning to snatch the love‑poem paper from President Haxilin's hand, yet he dared not move, only glaring at Lei En with bloodshot eyes.

His once handsome face now twisted into a snarling grimace.

Lei En frowned, noticing the Blood Soul Curse in Yetezi's soul stirring, fed by negative emotions, swelling rapidly and sprouting several black tendrils.

This signaled the curse was about to activate.

While Lei En hesitated whether to warn him, Haxilin sensed the anomaly, raised a hand, and released a calming technique that eased Yetezi's pain and dispelled the negative emotions.

Within the soul, the Blood Soul Curse immediately withered.

Yetezi himself remained oblivious to all this, continuing, "I don't believe that uncultured barbarian could write a poem better than mine…"

Not only him; the other priests also thought it absurd, all turning to look at the poem in Haxilin's hand.

Everyone wanted to know what poem Lei En had written.

Viola had long wanted to show the poem to everyone; bowing to Haxilin, she said earnestly, "President, please recite it once."

"It's my honor," Haxilin gladly agreed to spread the poem, adjusted his pince‑nose glasses, and read aloud:

"When you grow old, your hair turns white, and sleepiness overwhelms you.

Weary, you sit by the stove and take out this book,

Reading slowly, chasing the gaze of dreams from those years,

That gentle brilliance and deep, lingering shadows,

How many have loved the fleeting shadows of your youth.

Loved your beauty, whether with falsehood or true feeling,

Only one person loves the pilgrim's heart within you,

Loving the mournful traces of time upon your face…"

Amid the heart‑tugging verses, Lei En and Viola walked hand in hand through the temple gates; this time, no one could stop them.

Yetezi watched their backs fade into the temple, his face turning pale, hearing Haxilin's recitation—one line after another, like heavy hammers striking his heart.

Before the poem finished, a splatter of blood erupted with a "puff", and he collapsed to the ground.

(PS: There should be another chapter tonight; I can't write the upcoming plot in detail, I don't want a 404… )

(End of chapter)