Sixty-two

Chapter 64: Overnight (Fourth Update of the Day!)

Duan Mingyu did not dare to underestimate his opponent and took the initiative to strike first. His sword speed was not fast, but it exuded a unique charm. His robes fluttered, making him look extraordinarily dashing. (Readers can just imagine the posture of Ye Gucheng executing the Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens.) Zhao Qianlong was taken aback; Duan Mingyu's swordsmanship appeared to be mere flashy posturing, but it actually contained profound mysteries. He wondered what high-level master had created such a handsome yet sharp style of swordsmanship.

Zhao Qianlong held his broad saber horizontally across his chest as Duan Mingyu spun and thrust forward. Seizing the right moment, Zhao Qianlong slashed out with a force resembling a thunderbolt. Duan Mingyu flicked his sword hilt, responding with textbook precision. Following that, he unleashed a set of unadorned yet grand sword techniques. Zhao Qianlong launched consecutive saber strikes, all of which were neutralized by Duan Mingyu one by one. Zhao Qianlong felt as though he was simply feeding moves to Duan Mingyu; this kid's swordsmanship was rapidly improving.

The more he fought, the better Duan Mingyu felt. With the sword in his hand, it felt as naturally controlled as his own arm. At this moment, he finally understood why Yang Yangguang made him hold his sword motionless all day long. Swords are born from the heart; by constantly adapting to the presence of the sword, one's strikes become as fluid as floating clouds and flowing water. As long as one holds a sword in hand, there is nothing to fear.

He had to admit that Zhao Qianlong's saber technique was very fast, but Duan Mingyu had gradually adapted to it, and relying on the swordsmanship taught by Yang Yangguang, he was even able to gain a slight upper hand.

Duan Mingyu waited for the right moment, waiting for Zhao Qianlong to reveal a flaw so he could deal a fatal blow.

After Zhao Qianlong slashed three consecutive times, he shifted his broad saber from his left hand to his right, preparing to sweep horizontally once again.

"Right now!" Duan Mingyu's sword struck out, completely abandoning its previous unadorned and benevolent style. It was fast—this sword strike was even faster than Zhao Qianlong's.

"Puff!" Zhao Qianlong spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. "How is this possible... you?" Looking at the longsword piercing through his chest, the light in Zhao Qianlong's eyes gradually faded, and he fell backward with lingering unwillingness.

Duan Mingyu pulled out the broad saber embedded in his own shoulder, pointed it at Zhao Qianlong, and said, "Nothing is impossible!"

Sitting on the ground, Duan Mingyu breathed heavily and bandaged his wound. Just as he was about to turn back, his ears twitched. "Who goes there?"

"Someone here to take your life!" A figure in black leaped down from a nearby tree, hurling hidden weapons like they were worth nothing.

"Oh, mother!" Duan Mingyu rolled on the ground, tumbling a long way away before scrambling back up. The spot where he had just been standing was now densely covered with various hidden weapons: poisonous needles, throwing coins, flying daggers, and unexpectedly... a woman's bodice!

"My apologies, I was in a rush and grabbed whatever was handy," the man in black laughed.

Duan Mingyu was furious. "You're trying to push me to my death! If I'm not mistaken, you must be from the Qin family!"

"I am Qin Chuan!" Qin Chuan said with an insincere smile. "Now you can go die."

Qin Chuan leaped into the air and lunged forward with his sword, releasing an oppressive aura that made it seem as though Duan Mingyu was the only person left in the world, and he would not stop until he took his life.

A top-tier expert—this move was invincible. Duan Mingyu shouted at the top of his lungs, "Old man Yang, if you don't show up right now, I'm going to be a gononer!"

Qin Chuan suddenly halted his blade, the tip stopping just a finger's breadth away from Duan Mingyu's forehead. Another sword had blocked the path of his attack. Yang Yangguang's longsword resembled a venomous snake; if Qin Chuan dared to push his sword forward by even an inch, his head would surely roll on the ground.

Duan Mingyu's sweat soaked his clothes like rain. "What should I do now?"

Staring fixedly at Qin Chuan, Yang Yangguang told Duan Mingyu, "Get up in the tree and stay there!"

Duan Mingyu scrambled up the tree in a flash, constantly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Before he could even settle into his seat, Yang Yangguang called out again, "You better come down. Observing this will be good for you!"

"Damn your mother's ancestors! Do you think I'm an elevator, to go up and down as you please?" Duan Mingyu grimaced unhappily, but he still obediently jumped down.

Qin Chuan glared fiercely at Yang Yangguang. "I advise the old mister not to meddle in this. The Qin family is not someone you can afford to provoke!"

"What if my old bones just itch for trouble?" Yang Yangguang said with disdain.

"Ah, I always thought I was ruthless enough to myself, but seeing Old Mister Yang now, I realize I've been far too modest," Duan Mingyu muttered internally with a sigh.

Qin Chuan said, "Then let's test our true skills with our hands, Old Mister!"

With those words, Qin Chuan leaped into the air once again. His longsword danced, transforming into multiple sword shadows as he thrust toward Yang Yangguang.

Yang Yangguang also bounded into the high air, his single sword acting like a viper, continuously probing and weaving around Qin Chuan's vital points.

A flurry of metallic clanging sounds erupted around the two figures. Only then did Duan Mingyu realize that in that fleeting moment earlier, the two of them had already exchanged over a dozen blows. Relying on their profound internal energy, they were actually fighting while moving through mid-air.

"Oh, dizziness! You two are having fun fighting up there, what am I supposed to observe?!" Duan Mingyu muttered speechlessly.

By this time, the people enjoying the bonfire party had rushed over one after another. In a panic, Duan Mingyu hurriedly shoved the bodice that Qin Chuan had thrown earlier into his bosom. If Wan Yanyan saw it, who knew if she would suspect him?

When the crowd reached Duan Mingyu's side and saw the blood on him, they were greatly alarmed. Upon seeing Yang Yangguang and Qin Chuan fighting high up in the air, a chill struck their hearts, and they immediately formed a tight circle around Duan Mingyu, protecting him impenetrably.

"Quick, follow Old Mister Yang!" Duan Mingyu shouted anxiously.

Qin Chuan and Yang Yangguang kept flying and fighting until Duan Mingyu could only see a tiny dot.

"Never mind me, everyone hurry and follow them! Zhaoniang, quickly, go after your grandfather." Seeing that Duan Mingyu's shoulder was still bleeding and her grandfather's life and death were unknown, Yang Zhaoniang was instantly caught in a dilemma.

"What are you all doing? Old Mister Yang has saved me from danger time and time again. If he dies because of me, I, Duan Mingyu, will never be able to atone for it!" After saying this, Duan Mingyu slammed his fist fiercely into a nearby tree.

"Crack!" The tree trunk snapped in response.

Luo Hou clenched his teeth. "Leave fifty men to protect the Young Master, everyone else follow me!"

Luo Hou led a hundred-odd men as they rushed off into the distance. Yang Zhaoniang and Wan Yanyan supported Duan Mingyu, walking slowly behind.

Before long, a team member came running back. "Young Master, the brothers have found Old Mister Yang ahead!"

"Is everyone alright?" Duan Mingyu and Yang Zhaoniang asked in unison.

"Uh, this subordinate doesn't know whether to consider it alright or not!"

Duan Mingyu kicked the team member flying. "Can't you speak clearly, damn it?!"

The team member scrambled back with a pitiful expression. "Old Mister Yang is not dead... the man in black is dead..."

"Haha, quick, let's go take a look!" Duan Mingyu smiled as he walked forward, seemingly completely unaware of the blood continuously welling from his shoulder.

Yang Zhaoniang sniffed repeatedly as tears streamed down her face. She would never forget this night. This night had almost caused her to lose the two most precious men in her life!

*(Author's Note: Yang Zhaoniang said with tearful eyes: "Do you all know that your humble servant doesn't have a computer and types everything on a mobile phone? His speed is only a thousand words per hour, yet he still persists. Today there are already four updates! Originally—wuwu—I didn't want to extravagantly beg everyone for flowers and recommendation tickets; getting some bookmarks would already satisfy your humble servant. However, there is a book called 'The Supreme Eunuch' whose popularity is only a little over a hundred points behind 'First-Rank Scholar.' If this continues, 'First-Rank Scholar' might face the risk of being overtaken. I earnestly beg everyone to smash down some flowers and recommendation tickets; your humble servant has worked really hard!" Friends with the means, please cast some flowers and recommendation tickets. Your humble servant will continue persistently begging for bookmarks. This is the fourth update, and the fifth update will be served at eight o'clock!)*