Chapter 134 - Arc 10: The Affairs of Sword Cave | Chapter 134: Sneak Attack

Chapter 134 - Arc 10: The Affairs of Sword Cave | Chapter 134: Sneak Attack

Translator: Lynn

Within the confines of the sword room, a green-clad youth exhibited a commanding presence. The steel wood sword within his grip swayed with effortless grace, rapid and agile, generating the resonance of howling winds and thunderous roars. It resembled tumultuous waves crashing upon the shore or the rhythmic tides of the ocean, dancing with unbridled enthusiasm. The resounding impact reverberated throughout the entire chamber, with winds whipping and air currents surging.

With each draw of the sword, the blade’s tip emitted an ebony radiance, the interplay of light and shadow conveying an aura of boundless undulation, evoking a sense of endless enigma.

In a fervent cry, the green-clad youth declared, “Jiaozi Stance!”

The gust stirred by his swordplay was searing, tinged with an almost imperceptible rumble of thunder. Anyone daring to assail would be met with fiery waves, an experience fraught with indescribable torment.

In one swift motion of his sword, his entire form spun, and he proclaimed, “Shouzi Stance!”

Instantly, cold air permeated the sword’s wind, inducing a weakening sensation upon contact. If a sword attack were initiated, its potency would already be diminished by a significant margin before it even drew near, robbed of three parts of its force!

Then, with a graceful movement, the youth leaned slightly and murmured, “Zangzi Stance!”

In the next heartbeat, the youth vanished from the chamber. Although a breeze lingered in his wake, there was an absence of presence, as though an ethereal phantom lingered, yet an elusive aura of murderous intent lingered, constantly agitating the senses.

Without delay, following this evasive maneuver, an immediate critical strike ensued, with the young man’s silhouette reappearing suddenly, akin to a serpentine dragon in a fluid motion.

In this display of swordsmanship, the spring rain was delicate and lingering, its murderous intent soft and ceaseless; the Summer Storm style burst forth, its murderous intent fierce and unrelenting; Concealment, a waiting game. Neew updates at novel/bin(.)com

And when the moment aligned, akin to the emergence of spring’s grass, the concealed intent of murder surged forth, striking the ground with a single blow!

Subsequently, all four styles of sword tactics were seamlessly executed in succession, reaping lives and severing the strings of vitality.

After an extended interval, the youth finally ceased his onslaught. His attire was drenched, yet a gentle smile graced his countenance, his eyes alight with profound satisfaction.

In the end, the days of rigorous practice were not in vain.

He not only thoroughly practiced the essence of the Four Seasons Sword Art itself but also delved deep into the four-word sword techniques: “Mengzi Stance, Jiaozi Stance, Shouzi Stance, and Zangzi Stance,” each carrying tremendous power. When he next faces his adversaries, he’ll have more than ten avenues of attack at his disposal.

Xu Ziqing dedicated extensive time to honing his swordsmanship, eventually fusing all facets of the Four Seasons Sword Art into the embodiment of sword light. The four-word sword techniques he grasped were born from the Four Seasons Sword Art, thus possessing the same shattering effect as the sword light.

Over three months have elapsed, and during this period, he succeeded in conquering the four psyche incarnations that corresponded to the Four Seasons Sword Art. By logical inference, this could be considered a modest achievement.

Contemplating the calendar, Xu Ziqing noted that there remained a span of twenty-three days before his senior brother’s deadline. Now, he pondered, should he persist in honing his sword within the sword room or venture out to temper his skills in the realm of the Five Elements Wind Gust? His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden surge of resistance within the sword room. Before he could reach a verdict, he found himself involuntarily airborne, then abruptly landing on the ground.

As he immersed himself in the activity, Xu Ziqing focused intently.

All his concentration zeroed in on the steel wood sword within his grip. His entire body moved in harmony with this blade – each muscle, every meridian meticulously orchestrated by its rhythm.

One cut, followed by another, and another...

Unperturbed by the outside world, Xu Ziqing surrendered himself completely to the rhythm of his swordplay.

At this moment, the intricacies of the Four Seasons Sword Art’s diverse moves and four-character sword techniques faded into the background. All that occupied his awareness was the essence of “splitting, stabbing, chopping, and slicing,” engraved into his mind’s sea. It was then that a subtle premonition stirred within him.

Xu Ziqing’s reaction appeared almost instinctual as if an inner sense had warned him. Abruptly pivoting, he swung his longsword, intersecting it with the frigid sword light that confronted him head-on.

A resonant clang reverberated, punctuated by the emergence of two additional sword lights!

Reacting swiftly, Xu Ziqing executed the “Jiaozi Stance”, his swift movement producing two sword lights that effectively countered the oncoming assault. Only then did he discern the figure behind the attack—a small, wiry man wielding a three-foot-long rapier, his eyes gleaming with malice.

“Why employ such treachery when we hold no grudge?” Xu Ziqing examined his assailant closely, unable to recognize the man. His brows furrowed in perplexity.

He had not anticipated encountering danger even within this shared sect’s sword cave. This unexpected threat aroused his vigilance; he couldn’t gauge the stranger’s cultivation level, implying an advantage over his own. The circumstances didn’t add up.

Confirming his suspicions, the thin man’s lips curled into a malevolent grin. “It’s your own folly, offending someone beyond your reckoning. Dying within this sword cave is a consequence of your own actions.”

The thin man’s arms vibrated violently, and his slim rapier executed a series of rapid movements akin to a venomous serpent’s strike. The weapon lunged forward like a hissing viper, the tip honing in on Xu Ziqing’s forehead with incredible swiftness.

Swiftly, Xu Ziqing retreated, the rapier’s lethal point mere inches away from his brow. His predicament became a precarious dance between survival and peril; any misstep could condemn him to the blade’s mercy.

As the thin man relentlessly pressed forward, Xu Ziqing evaded with haste, a tense sense of urgency filling him. His steps carried him through the successive chambers of the cave, each one whizzing by in a blur. Unyielding, the thin man continued his pursuit, seemingly intent on driving Xu Ziqing to an even more secluded section of the cavern.

Aware of the thin man’s sinister designs, Xu Ziqing grappled with his frustration. Forbidden from retaliating, he aimed to calm his turbulent emotions. His initial lack of vigilance had led him into this predicament, but his composed mindset now focused on navigating the situation.

While his adversary pushed forward, Xu Ziqing’s retreat persisted. The labyrinthine chambers of the cave flashed by, suggesting the thin man’s intention to funnel him further into obscurity.

Recognizing the peril of the situation, Xu Ziqing grasped that the thin man wouldn’t risk an overt confrontation amidst the numerous practicing swordsmen. But within a remote enclave, the dynamics would change. As the thin man’s relentless advance continued, Xu Ziqing strategized. When they ventured deeper into the cave’s depths, the plan would shift. Caution guided his considerations; he couldn’t ignore the possibility of the thin man reserving his true strength for such a scenario.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, the threat of the rapier’s tip receded, akin to the ebbing tide. Yet, in the next instant, Xu Ziqing sensed a new urgency, a shiver running down his spine. The thin man’s impending attack was swifter and more calculated than before, a looming danger he couldn’t ignore.

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