Chapitre 44: Two Versus One
"That's very ungentlemanly of you to hurt a lady," a calm voice sounded. Wang Jingyuan and Mo Xian followed the voice to see a young man wearing pale yellow touching down on the stage. He held a single-edged sword—a dao—in his hand.
A young woman dressed in blue and white reached the stage at the same time. She had a double-edged sword in her hand. The young man looked at her and clasped his right fist in greeting. "Miss Yue—it looks like great minds think alike. We arrived at the same time."
"Childe Fu, it's nice to see you again." The young woman returned the greeting. Then she turned to face Song Xinglan. "Childe Song, I, Yue Feixue, would like to learn a few things from you if that's alright."
"Count me in as well—I, Fu Tianyou, would also like to learn some new skills." The young man in pale yellow greeted Song Xinglan.
Song Xinglan solemnly greeted the two newcomers. "Miss Yue. Childe Fu. I've heard many outstanding compliments about the head disciples of Huashan Sect and Luoyun Manor. It would be my honor to battle you today."
"Well, we can't both battle him at the same time, lest people say Huashan Sect and Luoyun Manor are bullies." Fu Tianyou shook out his wide sleeves. "Miss Yue, if you'd like, I will wait until you win."
"You can go first if you'd like, Childe Fu," replied Yue Feixue. "I don't mind."
Song Xinglan looked at his two opponents. "Or, you can both battle me. I will take on both of your challenges at the same time."
Yue Feixue and Fu Tianyou looked to him in surprise. So did many martial artists in the crowd. Murmurs broke out all across the spectators.
"Song Xinglan is going to pull a one versus two?"
"Don't you think that's a little arrogant of him? Yue Feixue and Fu Tianyou are not easy opponents."
"With two head disciples from two major sects, how is Song Xinglan so confident that he will win?"
Wang Jingyuan was doubtful too. "This Song Xinglan is overconfident. I don't think he can take on both Yue Feixue and Fu Tianyou at once."
Mo Xian nodded. "Both of his opponents are head disciples too. They are formidable opponents alone, but together, they will be very difficult to beat."
On stage, Fu Tianyou raised an eyebrow. "Childe Song, are you sure? You're not looking down on Miss Yue and my abilities, are you?"
"Of course not," Song Xinglan replied, "but since both of you arrived on stage at the same time, I think I should fight both of you at the same time. Or, are you looking down on my abilities?"
"Childe Fu, if that's what he wants, let's follow his wishes." Yue Feixue was straightforward. She unsheathed her sword. "I am curious as to if his Eighteen Deadly Forms of Feiyue is a match for both your Luoyun Dao Skills and my Huashan Sword Skills."
Fu Tianyou unsheathed his dao. "Alright. I shall follow your lead, Miss Yue."
The next second, both Fu Tianyou and Yue Feixue flew towards Song Xinglan, who blocked both attacks with his soft sword. Wang Jingyuan thought that Song Xinglan would for sure have the lower hand because his sword was too flexible and thus not ideal for blocking heavy, head-on attacks. But soon, she found that Song Xinglan was able to hold his ground, even against two opponents.
"Wow! Song Xinglan is actually really good!" Wang Jingyuan commented to Mo Xian. She studied his sword skills and tried to see if she could apply a few moves to her own sword skills.
Song Xinglan dodged Yue Feixue's attack and twisted to the side to cut her exposed side. As Yue Feixue spun on her heels and swiped her sword at Song Xinglan's neck, Song Xinglan ducked and slid out from under. He had just barely straightened when Fu Tianyou's dao came crashing down upon his head from above, bringing with it the sharp roar of the wind.
Song Xinglan's soft sword could not handle a head-on collision with the dao, so Song Xinglan opted for a nimble sidestep to avoid the attack and flicked his wrist to send his soft sword slicing across Fu Tianyou's back. Sensing the attack, Fu Tianyou pushed up from the ground and spun himself sideways in the air, his black boots kicking at Song Xinglan's wrist. Song Xinglan abandoned the attack and jumped back, but Yue Feixue's sword was waiting for him.
The three were a blur of movement. Wang Jingyuan's eyes were locked on their every move. She admired Yue Feixue's sharp stabs, Fu Tianyou's powerful cuts, and Song Xinglan's agility. It was no wonder they were the head disciples of their respective sects. Even though she had Luo Qingye's internal forces and had learned Song of the Phoenix, Wang Jingyuan was unsure if she could defeat any one of them.
On stage, Song Xinglan was using the Eighteen Deadly Forms of Feiyue again. His soft sword flicked this way and that, its cold blade gleaming mercilessly. One slip up and it would draw blood immediately. Fu Tianyou was still using the Luoyun Dao Skills, but Yue Feixue changed her skills. Immediately, Wang Jingyuan saw that Song Xinglan was unable to get his attacks in as he did with Xia Qingge.
"The Jade Lady Sword Skills!" the man sitting on Wang Jingyuan's right exclaimed. Wang Jingyuan leaned over.
"What's special about the Jade Lady Sword Skills?" she asked.
"The Jade Lady Sword Skills is unique to Huashan Sect and is only taught to female pupils," the man explained. "I've heard that at its highest, most pure level, it is be able to restrain any other sword skills."
"Really?" Wang Jingyuan's eyes widened. The man nodded.
"I don't think Yue Feixue has reached that stage yet; after all, that's the most advanced level. Even so, the Jade Lady Sword Skills confronts other sword skills head on and aims to be preemptive. The key of the Jade Lady Sword Skills is for the swordswoman to be refined and elegant, like a goddess fluttering down from the heavens. The sword itself moves sharply and often makes quick consecutive stabs at one particular spot."
The man pursed his lips. "Song Xinglan is in trouble now; even his Eighteen Deadly Forms of Feiyue is having difficulty overriding Yue Feixue's Jade Lady Sword Skills. With Fu Tianyou's Luoyun Dao Skills as aid, I don't think Song Xinglan can win this round."
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone