Chapter 207: Curling

Lu Hanyan's progress in swordplay was immense; in the morning she had only a vague understanding of the Dao of the sword, but by dusk she was already displaying clear proficiency.

Thrust, slash, point, sweep, strike, intercept.

She had already mastered the six basic sword forms.

These are the foundation of swordplay—only when the base is solid and the momentum established can a swordsman move with effortless flow, ensuring his sword always follows his intent without deviation or distortion.

At this moment, the wind in the Sword Grove had quieted; Lu Hanyan sheathed her sword, drenched in sweat.

Her cheeks still flushed, lips slightly parted as she breathed slowly, her full chest rising and falling with each breath: "Senior brother, I'm done practicing~"

"You've improved quickly."

"Really?"

Ji You nodded firmly—he truly was impressed; Lu Hanyan learned swordplay faster than most, bordering on exceptional talent: "You've done enough for today. Go rest. Remember to soak your hands in warm water."

Hearing the implication of his departure, Lu Hanyan felt a faint pang of disappointment, yet still bowed politely: "Thank you, Senior Brother Ji. Hanyan is deeply grateful."

"Come tomorrow at the same time—don't arrive too early, don't be late. Just as the sun rises."

"Will Senior Brother Ji come tomorrow too?"

"Mm."

At these words, Lu Hanyan's eyes—like Lu Qingqiu's, tinged with a faint aura of mysticism—lit up instantly.

She had assumed Ji You had merely wandered into the Sword Grove on a whim and casually offered her a few pointers, that such opportunities would vanish after today—but she hadn't expected him to treat this as a serious commitment.

Immediately, the second daughter of the Lu family nodded in agreement, watching as Ji You turned and walked away, stepping up the mountain beneath the setting sun.

Outer court disciples were forbidden from entering the inner court, and inner court disciples, occupied with matters of the Heavenly Dao Assembly, mostly trained in the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove, so few ever crossed paths.

As he walked, the only sound in Ji You's ears became the whisper of wind through new leaves, until the surroundings grew quieter and quieter, until even the wind faded away.

But the wind hadn't stopped—it was simply that he had begun thinking again.

When a person thinks deeply, their senses are restricted, and they grow insensitive to external sounds.

One step, two steps, three steps—before Ji You had even left the ten-thousand-acre forest, his previously calmed emotions began sinking once more.

Everyone has moments of stillness; one cannot be perpetually occupied.

After a long while, Ji You returned to the inner court and entered Wen Zhengxin's courtyard.

Immortal Zhengxin watched her younger brother closely upon his return, sensing that though he appeared composed, his mind was heavily burdened, a knot of gloom stubbornly knotted between his brows.

She had seen this look on Ji You's face for several days now.

"How is the Lu family's second daughter's sword talent?"

"Decent."

"For you to say 'decent,' it must truly be impressive?"

Ji You sat on the stone bench in the courtyard: "In terms of progress, her talent far surpasses Fang Jincheng's."

Wen Zhengxin pondered for a long while: "After the Divine Inspectorate rerouted the spirit stone supply, you've found yourself at odds with the Lu family. I thought you wouldn't want the Lu second daughter entering the inner court?"

"Lu Hanyan and Lu Qingqiu's character are far superior to Fang Jincheng's. A bad cultivator cannot become stronger. Also, though the Lu family has male heirs, none possess high cultivation potential. The Lu sisters may one day hold power in Yunzhou—when that happens, the children in the Foster House…"

Ji You suddenly fell silent.

Wen Zhengxin glanced at him thoughtfully: "You believe if the Lu sisters gain power, the child slaves in the Foster House will fare better?"

"Precisely."

The two spoke at length in the study room—about cultivation, about the Heavenly Book Academy, about the Heavenly Dao Assembly—before returning to their rooms.

Immortal Zhengxin's cultivation had become far more diligent than before; though she said nothing, Ji You sensed she intended to join the Heavenly Dao Assembly.

When she competed with He Lingxiu for the position of direct disciple, she lost not due to ability, but due to background. Though she never showed it outwardly, she had never truly accepted defeat.

Never showed it, yet never accepted it.

Ji You murmured to himself as he returned to the west wing, then lay down on his bed.

Soon after, Immortal Zhengxin entered deep meditation; Ji You could clearly see spiritual energy begin to flow in the opposite room, gradually howling.

He fell silent for a long while, his body slowly curling inward, until he was tightly curled into a ball.

Deeply questioning the Dao-heart does affect one's mindset, especially when a lingering thought hovers just on the verge of breaking—it becomes infinitely amplified.

But beyond this reason, Ji You was acutely aware of one other truth: some things had never been forgotten—only suppressed over long years…

The next morning, dawn painted the sky, streaking across the Qingyun realm.

Ji You made congee, left a portion for Wen Zhengxin, then descended again to the outer court's Sword Grove, the knot still lingering between his brows.

Beneath the gentle breeze, the emerald bamboo grove rustled; Lu Hanyan waited within.

She had arrived early; upon seeing Ji You, she immediately called out in a high-pitched voice, "Senior brother!" then handed him the wooden sword she often used to strike herself, stepping into the grove to assume her stance.

The following days proceeded similarly—Ji You shuttled constantly between Wen Zhengxin's courtyard and the Sword Grove, rising with dawn and returning with dusk.

Naturally, Lu Hanyan's understanding of swordplay grew daily; her sword momentum strengthened, her sword qi sharpened to a razor's edge, already bearing the aura of severing all things.

This placed immense pressure on Fang Jincheng, who shared the Sword Grove; he came and went each day with a gloomy expression.

Yet Ji You remained harsh with Lu Hanyan; his wooden sword often struck down cleanly, crackling sharply.

After each strike, Lu Hanyan would freeze for a moment, then her eyes would shimmer intensely…

After seven full days and nights of training, on a clear spring day, the tranquil courtyard beside Green Water Lake suddenly echoed with the ringing of swords.

Lu Qingqiu rose gracefully in the courtyard, her sword slicing through the air, carrying spiritual energy as it descended with a furious roar.

Her sister had trained with Ji You for seven days; as the elder, she was deeply concerned about her progress.

Of course, she never doubted Ji You's sword mastery—but she felt it necessary to gauge her sister's current combat strength.

At that moment, the Dao-sword roared toward her.

Lu Hanyan stepped back, assumed her stance, then unleashed her blade in a surging wave of motion, the iron sword humming as it crashed down; a fierce aura spiraled around her, instantly forcing Lu Qingqiu to stagger backward, unwilling to meet it head-on.

Just as Lu Qingqiu prepared to retract her blade, create space, and seek an opening to strike, she suddenly felt a chilling breath rush toward her face.

The next instant, the sharp tip of the sword pressed against her pale neck.

Lu Qingqiu froze, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Pure Dao cultivators using swords typically lack sword heart and sword qi, treating the blade merely as a medium for spiritual energy and techniques—but just now, she realized she hadn't seen her sister's movements at all—or rather, her sister's coordination with the sword was so fluid it left no time for reaction.

Lu Qingqiu, sword pressed to her throat, remained silent for a long while, then sheathed her blade with a light laugh: "Good sword."

Lu Hanyan returned her sword and bowed: "Thank you, Elder sister, for holding back."

"You held back—not me."

Seeing this, the crowd gathered around the courtyard widened their eyes.

Lu Qingqiu had many acquaintances and numerous sisters.

For the past few days, everyone had known the Lu second daughter was training under Ji You; curiosity ran high, so when they heard Lu Qingqiu would spar with her sister, they rushed over.

Among them were not only outer court disciples, but even several from the inner court.

Now, seeing Lu Hanyan's blade effortlessly resting against Lu Qingqiu's throat, their expressions grew more and more stunned.

They looked alike, shared the same realm—but their swordplay was utterly different.

Lu Hanyan's sword was strong; though still worlds apart from the sword Ji You had unleashed in Cao Jinsong's courtyard, it already revealed the stark difference between one who knows how to wield a sword and one who does not.

The key point: she had trained for only seven days.

Many in the crowd wore complex expressions—some envious, others grave.

Ji You was a rural self-taught cultivator, his background constantly criticized—but no one ever doubted his achievements in swordplay, for even Lingjian Mountain, famed for its sword arts, called him a naturally enlightened sword seed.

Yet Lu Hanyan's current combat prowess once again drove home just how terrifying Ji You's talent truly was.

But what the crowd envied most was that Ji You genuinely devoted himself to teaching her, rising with dawn and returning with dusk.

Outside the crowd, Fang Jincheng's face darkened; he turned and walked away, fists clenched tightly.

His cousin had been saying he learned slowly—but he believed he simply hadn't met a true master.

Though he refused to admit it, comparing his own progress to Lu Hanyan's current strength, he realized his cousin's sword talent paled by more than a little beside Ji You's.

At this moment, Lu Hanyan sheathed her sword and noticed many peers staring at her, their gazes filled with admiration and fervor.

But the second daughter of the Lu family's eyes were cold, empty—as proud and aloof as a celestial crane.

Daughters of immortal clans were typically like this; when Lu Qingqiu first entered the academy, her proud, distant demeanor had been identical.

Seeing this indifferent glance, the male disciples watching her couldn't help sighing—such a woman, they thought, would be nearly impossible to pursue.

Even if someone were lucky enough to earn her favor, they'd surely treat her with extreme caution, never daring to overstep.

"With this sword display today, Hanyan's chances of entering the inner court are extremely high."

"Indeed. Seeing how carefully Senior Brother Ji teaches her, Fang Jincheng must be under immense pressure—I caught a glimpse of his face just now; it looked terrible."

Lou Siyi and Sun Qiaozhi chattered excitedly before Lu Qingqiu.

Lu Qingqiu smiled silently, then turned her gaze to her sister.

Her sister's combat strength had indeed grown markedly; certain sword forms even bore Ji You's influence—her chances of entering the inner court had risen substantially.

Yet another change in her sister was also obvious, puzzling Lu Qingqiu.

Compared to seven days ago, her sister's buttocks had grown noticeably larger, rounder, fuller.

But her sister was only one year younger than her; by this age, a woman's figure is largely fixed, and such dramatic changes in a single area within days are impossible—unless influenced by external forces…

"It seems Ji You truly is taking this seriously."

"Mm. If he were merely going through the motions, Lu Hanyan's sword skill wouldn't have improved so rapidly."

Cao Jinsong and Ban Yangshu also watched the sparring; on their way back to the academy, they pondered deeply.

Ji You's willingness to spend entire days on Lu Hanyan must stem from the influence of the Questioning Heart—but this, like his sudden repayment of everyone's silver, felt strange.

He had previously claimed he intended to break through his realm, insisting that regardless of status or background, he needed greater combat strength.

Yet now he did nothing, squandering his time on other matters.

People act with motive—but Cao Jinsong and Ban Yangshu felt none of the motives they'd guessed could explain Ji You's current state.

Have you heard? Many disciples in the Outer Court are talking—Lu Hanyan has a very high chance of entering the Inner Court this year.

Lu Hanyan? Who said that?

Everyone outside is saying it.

A group of instructors in the Outer Court were gathered together, chatting idly on a warm spring afternoon.

Instructor Zhong Lang returned from the Immortal Kitchen and immediately steered the conversation toward the Autumn Duel, instantly drawing the attention of the other instructors.

Another instructor, Luo Wen, spoke up: "Fang Jincheng's rate of condensing Xuan Light has slowed lately, but he's still ahead of everyone else. Besides, I heard Inner Court Elder Fang has been gathering Xuan Gathering Pills for him, and the Fang family has sent someone to guard his path—how could Lu Hanyan possibly have a better chance? It's impossible."

The other instructors nodded in agreement, dismissing Zhong Lang's hearsay.

Elder Fang, as an Inner Court Elder, has access to countless resources and countless disciples, so such claims seemed unbelievable to them.

Zhong Lang replied: "It's mostly true, but there's an unexpected twist—Ji You has been coming down from the Inner Court every day to personally guide Lu Hanyan in swordplay. Her sister, Lu Qingqiu, couldn't even withstand three of her strikes."

"?"

At these words, the instructors fell silent, their faces darkening with gravity.

Among cultivators in this world, strength isn't determined solely by realm; sometimes it depends on one's realm and origin. Lu Hanyan clearly lags behind Fang Jincheng.

Yet, for some reason, the moment they heard Ji You was teaching Lu Hanyan sword arts, they suddenly felt her odds of victory had skyrocketed.

Even if Elder Fang from the Inner Court stood behind Fang Jincheng, it still couldn't match Ji You standing behind Lu Hanyan.

Lu Hanyan is certainly not yet equal to Fang Jincheng—but if Ji You keeps teaching her like this, Fang Jincheng's entry into the Inner Court may no longer be certain.

At this thought, some instructors looked at each other, disbelief creeping into their eyes.

For they had only just realized: Ji You's influence on them now seemed equal to that of an Inner Court Elder.

Yet upon deeper reflection, it wasn't because of his realm, power, or status—they couldn't quite say why.

Still, one question remained: why was Ji You so invested in the Lu sisters' affairs, even coming down from the mountain daily to instruct them?

Was he truly planning to take Lu Qingqiu into his court? Or had he already done so?

Or perhaps—he intended to take both sisters.

No one understood Ji You's motives now, especially after he had taken a stance against the Spirit Stone Guild.

In March, willow fluff and spider silk drift through the air; wind and rain wash the city in blossoms.

Who knows if the Qingming wine from the Eastern Wall compares to the Guyu tea beneath the western window?

Bronze bells at the eaves tinkled faintly in the chilly spring breeze; the old peach tree outside the courtyard shed its pink-white blossoms, a few petals drifting through the half-open window, spiraling down to land beside the pillow.

Beneath the eaves, grasshoppers scurried through the cracks in the stone steps; the spring wind carried the faint green of new willow buds against the skin.

For days, Ji You had been rising early and returning late, expending his energy elsewhere.

Teaching Lu Hanyan swordplay, sweeping the courtyard for Sister Wen, chatting with Kuangcheng—his furrowed brow gradually eased, and the disturbances to his Dao-seeking began to fade.

He began sleeping again; the images in his mind no longer surged forth as suddenly as before.

But whenever Wen Zhengxin asked him what was wrong, he never answered.

It was broad daylight now; Ji You stood in Wen Zhengxin's courtyard, tilting his head upward, studying the lingerie and undergarments hung on bamboo poles, examining them closely.

At that moment, footsteps approached from the dressing room.

Lady Zhengxin had gone seven straight days without sleep, immersed in breakthrough cultivation; now yawning, she stepped to the door and saw Ji You gazing upward at her intimate garments.

She was used to it by now.

Look all you want—it won't make you lose a piece of flesh, nor gain one…

Lady Zhengxin possessed the free-spirited mindset of a cultivator, unbothered by the modesty of mortal women; she had even observed several times and determined that Ji You favored the pale pink undergarment embroidered with lotus leaves.

"Sister, good morning."

"Good morning. Are you going to teach Lu Hanyan swordplay again today?"

Ji You looked up at her: "I'll go in the afternoon. First, I need to visit Instructor Cao."

Wen Zhengxin was putting on her boots, preparing to head to the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove; hearing this, she frowned: "Didn't you just visit him two days ago? Why go again now?"

Ji You smiled: "Yesterday was the day the Heavenly Book Academy distributed monthly stipends to instructors."

"You seem a bit better?"

"I'm alright. Just realized I'm out of money—going to borrow some from him. What about you?"

Wen Zhengxin finished lacing her boots: "I'm going to the Purple Bamboo Meditation Grove to break through."

Ji You nodded: "Then I'll be off."

"Alright."

Wen Zhengxin watched him leave, fell silent for a long while, then stepped out after him, gazing at his figure drifting down the mountain—his condition truly seemed vastly different from just days ago.

Cao Jinsong had been busy lately with his favorite disciples; Xiang Fu's talent was excellent, and she had now advanced from the Upper Realm of Condensation to the peak of the Lower Three Realms.

Though it was already April, even by Ji You's own pace of condensing Xuan Light, it was unlikely she could break through before the Autumn Duel—but Cao Jinsong wanted to encourage her.

After all, Fengzhou had so few usable cultivators; even if Xiang Fu didn't enter the Inner Court, she'd still be stronger than before.

Cao Jinsong had just returned from the Enlightenment Grounds and had taken the opportunity to collect his overdue monthly stipend; now he placed the money pouch on the stone table, had just brewed tea, when Ji You stepped into the courtyard.

He had been deeply worried about Ji You's condition these days, repeatedly asking Wen Zhengxin for updates.

Ji You's affliction from the Inner Inquiry had been severe—nearly half a month without improvement, alternating between flashes of malice and utter despair, nothing like his former calm detachment.

He had even pulled out his own money pouch multiple times before Ji You, yet the unruly disciple had shown no reaction at all—as if his heart had turned to ash.

Now seeing him again, Cao Jinsong's worry remained unchanged.

"What brings you here?"

Ji You sat on the stone bench and reached for the money pouch: "Instructor, I'm here to borrow some cash."

Cao Jinsong: "?"

"Hmm, your tea leaves are terrible. Haven't your favorite disciples visited lately?" Ji You poured himself a cup, drank it, then picked up a pastry.

Cao Jinsong blinked: "It's not a festival or holiday—why would they come?"

"The leaves are all broken. Not even as good as Old Qiu's."

Watching Ji You mutter on, Cao Jinsong's expression grew thoughtful, just as Wen Zhengxin's had when she watched him descend the mountain.

Ban Yangshu and Bai Ru Long quickly received Cao Jinsong's message and hurried to the instructors' courtyard by Green Water Lake.

Ji You had already left; only Cao Jinsong remained, sipping tea, brow furrowed.

Seeing them arrive, Cao Jinsong poured them tea: "Ji You just came by. He took my entire month's stipend."

"?"

"Why do you seem happy?"

"Doesn't that mean he's fine now?"

Ban Yangshu frowned: "You mean Ji You has shaken off the mental disturbances?"

Cao Jinsong nodded: "I feel he's passed this trial. The distractions are gone—his old mindset has returned."

Bai Ru Long held his breath, then pulled the money pouch from his right chest pocket, untied his belt, and shoved it into some unknown hiding place, his face panicked.

This wasn't good news—it was a great calamity.

Wen Zhengxin arrived later, reaching Cao Jinsong's courtyard by afternoon; after hearing their conversation, she nodded: "I also think Ji You has cleared his mental clutter—he's become mentally unblocked. He's been unusually active since last night and didn't even sleep in his courtyard."

Ban Yangshu exhaled in relief: "His Inner Inquiry lasted long enough—wasn't it half a month?"

"More than half a month. He stayed in my courtyard for sixteen days already. My…"

Wen Zhengxin paused, coughed, then added: "Some of my clothes got faded from him washing them."

Bai Ru Long looked up, puzzled: "Why wash your clothes? Sister, what did you and Brother Ji do…"

Wen Zhengxin spat at him: "It has nothing to do with whose clothes—he just didn't want to be idle, so he kept finding things to do."

"So teaching Lu Hanyan swordplay was also because of that?"

"Mostly, yes. Also, he said it was because of the child slaves at the Spirit Mine's Care Pavilion under Yunzhou Guild—he thinks the Lu sisters have good character and might do something worthwhile in the future."

As she spoke, Wen Zhengxin suddenly recalled something: "I think Ji You's mental disturbance is tied to children. When we rescued Qiu Ru from the Fengxian Manor's alchemy incident, it was similar."

"Children?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but it must be the trigger."

As Wen Zhengxin spoke, she remembered how, when they'd discussed the child slaves at Yunzhou's Care Pavilion yesterday, Ji You's eyes had flickered with inner turmoil.

After listening for a long while, Cao Jinsong looked up: "But what exactly he saw in his heart doesn't matter now—he's passed this trial. I believe this was his strongest obsession, which is why it lasted so long. Now that the karmic obstruction is broken, he should soon find his Dao-anchoring opportunity, then enter the Sacred Grounds of the Ancients to achieve Dao Integration. His future is bright…"

Wen Zhengxin and Ban Yangshu both nodded, fully believing Cao Jinsong's words.

Though the Qingyun Realm placed greater emphasis on background and origin, personal strength could still exert tremendous influence.

Brother Ji's combat power is extremely strong; if his realm rises further, he may truly become a force unto himself.

"…"

"Steady your stance—still as a maiden, swift as a fleeing hare. Strike with stability, strike cleanly, strike like wind. Let no distraction dwell in your sword heart."

Ji You stood in the woods, watching Lu Hanyan's every move; whenever her form faltered, he struck her with a wooden sword.

Then he saw Lu Hanyan's face flush with embarrassment.

Seeing this, Ji You was momentarily speechless.

In recent days, he'd been consumed by the Inner Inquiry's effects and hadn't paid much attention to Lu Hanyan—today, for the first time, he noticed her expression after being struck.

This girl didn't seem to see it as punishment—she treated it like a reward.

Such a preference among noble young ladies was truly rare…

If he'd been the Ji You of a few days ago, plagued by lust during his Inner Inquiry, he'd have taught this Lu Second Miss a great many poses.

More importantly, if that were the case, he suspected she'd train those poses even more diligently than her sword techniques.

After guiding Lu Hanyan in sword practice, Ji You corrected several of her stances, told her to practice diligently, and then reduced how often he struck her.

One reason: afraid of actually injuring her. Another reason: afraid of actually injuring her.

After Guyu, Ji You still went to the Sword Grove every day; after all, once you start something, you might as well do it well.

But he no longer stayed there all day, as he once had.

Because Lu Hanyan's sword forms had matured enough—she only needed diligence to keep improving, no longer requiring his constant supervision.

Only when Lu Hanyan said she didn't understand something would he stay longer.

But those so-called "confusions" were mostly pretend.

Cao Jingsong had also visited the Sword Grove several times, and as time passed, the deep furrow between his brows returned.

He had assumed Ji You had passed his earlier trial and that achieving Dao Confirmation would be easy—but now he realized his wayward disciple had not set foot in the Purple Bamboo Zen Grove since repaying the debt.

By day, Ji You stayed in the Sword Grove, where many disciples trained, yet no one had seen him attain Dao insight there.

At night, Ji You still slept in Wen Zhengxin's courtyard, and according to Zhengxin Xianzi's observations, he had never cultivated in the dead of night.

In other words, he had stopped trying altogether to confirm his Dao and examine his heart—as if he had entirely forgotten cultivation.

The same question lingered in the hearts of some within the Inner Courtyard.

On a spring morning after the rain, Mount Nishan was lush with greenery; He Lingxiu sat within the Purple Bamboo Zen Grove, sipping tea with Shi Junhao, Xiao Hanyan, and Chaihu.

He Lingxiu planned to enter seclusion to break through his realm, so he sought advice from them, and during idle chatter, he couldn't help but bring up Ji You.

"He hasn't come to the Purple Bamboo Zen Grove to cultivate Dao in a long time, has he?"

"He's teaching the second Miss Lu swordplay—he must be preparing for the Autumn Duel."

He Lingxiu held his teacup, thinking for a long while: "Strange—just a few days ago, he was leaving early and returning late, seemingly very diligent. Now, for some reason, he's suddenly given up…"

Xiao Hanyan and Shi Junhao exchanged glances, then fell into thought themselves.

Not long ago, Ji You's aura fluctuations had drawn no heavenly light or response from the Heavenly Book, indicating he had been seeking the moment to confirm his Dao.

One day, his aura suddenly surged to an extraordinary strength, and Xiao and Shi had both tensed up.

If Ji You entered the Heavenly Dao Assembly at the initial stage of Fusion, his chances of victory were low; in their view, he wasn't much of a threat—but whenever they recalled that single sword from the Wilds, they couldn't help but grow wary.

Yet he never returned to cultivate Dao again—even when passing the Purple Bamboo Zen Grove several times, he acted as if he hadn't seen it, never entering.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, or couldn't.

Ji You was now on his way to the Sword Grove, and as he passed the Purple Bamboo Zen Grove, he glanced inside.

He had never passed that trial—not once.

He merely kept reassuring himself, making his heart feel a little better.

But if Dao Confirmation required purging all distractions—or else his Dao heart would fall into demonic deviation—then he would never achieve Fusion, let alone Answer Heaven, Boundless, or Divine Wander.

He had never once thought of the upper five realms; his greatest wish had been to reach Tongxuan Realm, then climb the mountain and become a bandit.

Only now, facing this Heart-Examining trial, did he realize he had been walking a dead-end path.

One can deceive gods, deceive ghosts—but never one's own heart; some pasts that cannot be overcome will never be as light and carefree as one pretends.

But let it be this way—he had lived with this mindset before; as long as he no longer questioned his heart, it was enough.

The human heart is strange: if you don't ask it, many things seem as if they never happened.

Ji You stepped down the mountain, when suddenly he saw a large crowd heading toward the Sword Grove, shouting and calling out—and soon another crowd gathered behind them.

"They're fighting! The Sword Grove is fighting!"

"What's fighting?"

"Fang Jincheng and Lu Hanyan!"

The crowd surged into the Sword Grove and saw two sword-wielding figures locked in fierce combat, their iron blades flashing with cold light as they clashed and darted.

Judging by the sweat on their foreheads, they had clearly been fighting for a long time.

Lu Hanyan's sword now rose like stacked waves, crashing down relentlessly, pressuring Fang Jincheng, while he roared in fury, swinging his blade with savage force—metal clanged endlessly, dazzling all who watched.

Lu Qingqiu arrived upon hearing the news, along with Fang's senior disciple and several instructors from the Teaching Courtyard—all watching with tense eyes.

Before the duel began, other disciples had been training in the grove.

According to their explanation, Fang Jincheng's Dao heart had been extremely unstable lately; each day he came to the Sword Grove, he grew more irritable than the day before.

The fight itself had no special cause—just a verbal quarrel that broke out while they trained separately.

But in truth, ever since Ji You appeared in the Sword Grove over half a month ago, Fang Jincheng had wanted to test Lu Hanyan's strength—and Lu Hanyan had wanted to know if her sword could overpower Fang Jincheng.

Amid the rustling bamboo, sword met sword in a continuous clatter, sparks flying.

Fang Jincheng pressed forward, each strike heavy, his killing intent unmasked.

But any observer could see Lu Hanyan showed not the slightest panic—parrying, striking, intercepting, slashing, thrusting—all handled with ease.

Yet Fang Jincheng's assault was fierce, his blade flashing like lightning, leaving her no opening to exploit.

Within moments, their blades had clashed a hundred times; emerald bamboo snapped under their strikes.

The onlookers stared, eyes fixed on the duel, then suddenly widened in shock.

Before their eyes, a spiritual glow surged upward—Lu Hanyan, leaping from the ground, swung her sword in a circular arc—CLANG! it struck Fang Jincheng's blade, sending him stumbling back.

Before Fang Jincheng could regain his stance, he felt a sharp edge rushing toward his face—he barely raised his sword in time to block.

But before his iron blade could rise fully, the tip of her sword had already arrived, slicing a long gash across his collar—Fang Jincheng's eyes flew wide as a chilling coldness surged up his spine.

Because that blade tip had been just an inch from severing his throat.

At this sight, everyone stared in stunned silence—even Lu Qingqiu was speechless.

Fang Jincheng was a contemporary of Ji You and Chu He; to avoid Chu He's spotlight, he had entered the academy a year late, so his foundation was exceptionally solid.

His strength should have far surpassed Lu Qingqiu, who had yet to reach Tongxuan Realm—no one expected him to be defeated so utterly by Lu Hanyan.

The Sword Grove fell silent. Everyone stood frozen for a long moment, then turned sharply, staring in shock at Ji You, who stood behind them all.

(Reader criticism made me feel ashamed—I pushed hard all day and finally wrote 8, 00 words. Please support with monthly votes.)

(End of Chapter)