Chapitre 53: Worn Cloth and the Black Long Knife
On the corridor outside the newly established Zhi Ge Hall, Tang Ke cast a cold glance at Lin Xi, who sat beside him, and stated unequivocally, "I do not agree."
"Lin Xi, I have always believed you to be far more intelligent than the rest of us. How could you be so foolish today as to agree to duel him?" Before Lin Xi could respond, he continued, "Although Qiu Lu may appear to be a wastrel, during Teacher Tong's assessment, he drew his bow to a full seven fingers. This indicates that he and I entered the realm of practitioners at nearly the same time; at most, he is simply inferior to me in martial skills."
Lin Xi looked at Tang Ke with an innocent expression and protested, "But there were so many people watching! If I didn't agree, it would be quite embarrassing…"
"Embarrassing? You still have the energy for such concerns?" Tang Ke inhaled deeply, suppressing the urge to punch Lin Xi. The thoughts of many events in the border army chilled his heart once more. "Lin Xi," he said, gazing at him seriously, "I have at least three friends in the border army who, like you, sought to prove themselves or act out of pride, and none of them survived."
Lin Xi felt a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Must you speak so gravely? In truth, I—"
Before he could finish, Tang Ke interrupted, "Do you know the real reason I am reluctant to return to the border army? It is not fear of death, nor is it the inability to endure the bites of snakes and insects lurking in the mountains, or the threat of cold arrows piercing my body. I simply cannot bear to witness my friends dying beside me while I remain helpless."
"Do you understand the feeling of carrying a friend on your back, desperately trying to save him, only to feel his body growing cold and the blood from his mouth congealing in the wind?" Tang Ke's face paled as he looked at Lin Xi, his body trembling slightly.
Lin Xi's playful spirit dissipated.
He observed Tang Ke, noting how much stronger he had become since entering the academy. Perhaps due to his meticulous chewing, his facial muscles appeared more developed than those of most, resulting in a somewhat square visage that was not particularly handsome. His short hair, now tied back, stood defiantly against the sky, making him seem rebellious and out of place compared to other students.
He resembled a longsword from the border army, exuding an aura of danger and potential harm, yet Lin Xi sensed that his heart might be softer than that of many golden spoon youths.
"Very well, I promise you that I will be more cautious when we go out together in the future, and I won't die before you." Lin Xi patted Tang Ke's shoulder earnestly and added, "In truth, I want to assure you that it's not as dire as you think. I still have a considerable chance of handling Qiu Lu."
Tang Ke took a deep breath and shook his head. "Lin Xi, the disparity in cultivation is not as simple as you imagine. Though the black armor suppresses one's cultivation, his strength still exceeds yours."
Lin Xi looked at him and softly replied, "I'm on the board as well."
Tang Ke was taken aback. "What did you say?"
Lin Xi repeated, emphasizing each word, "I—am—also—on—the—board."
Tang Ke was once again stunned.
"Actually, I faced an opponent today whose strength should be comparable to Qiu Lu's," Lin Xi explained, knowing he would have to clarify things eventually. He leaned closer to Tang Ke and whispered, "Professor An taught me some useful techniques."
"Did you really achieve two consecutive five-star ratings?" Tang Ke finally realized that Lin Xi was not joking.
"Of course, it's true." Lin Xi smiled, and suddenly his eyes lit up with excitement as he thought of Tang Ke, who was undoubtedly one of the most formidable among the new students at Qingluan Academy. With his black knife, Tang Ke might teach him a great deal. Lin Xi had intended to practice archery and slashing before entering meditation, and now he felt invigorated. "How about we go out and practice?"
"The academy prohibits private duels… but if we don't engage in combat, it should be fine." Tang Ke's curiosity was piqued; the seemingly frail Lin Xi had achieved two five-star ratings? He himself had only managed three.
"You… how do you also have…" Upon seeing the item Lin Xi retrieved from his room, Tang Ke gasped in astonishment.
In Lin Xi's hand was a black long knife from the border army!
"I requested it from Teacher Mu Qing," Lin Xi chuckled.
Seeing Lin Xi's smug expression and the genuine long knife in his hand, Tang Ke exhaled heavily, gazing at Lin Xi with a mix of disbelief and admiration. "Now I truly believe you."
…
At night, the academy imposed no restrictions on movement, and since students in their second year and beyond had been practicing outside according to various subjects, Qingluan Academy was genuinely spacious and sparsely populated. Finding a secluded spot to wield a long knife was exceedingly easy.
On a small hillside beside the wooden walkway that traversed the central axis of the mountain, Lin Xi and Tang Ke, both carrying black long knives, came to a halt.
Situated high in the Tianxing Mountains, the academy allowed the moon and stars to appear exceptionally large and bright. Bathed in the silvery moonlight, Tang Ke focused intently on Lin Xi, who, in turn, concentrated on drawing his knife, showcasing the techniques imparted by Professor An—stepping forward, slashing, the dark blade began to whirl and dance around him.
At the moment Lin Xi executed his second slash, Tang Ke's eyes filled with astonishment and reverence. As one of the most sacred places in the empire, the strength of some instructors and professors here was beyond what outsiders could fathom. While Lin Xi's slashing might not seem entirely refined, every strike, along with his footwork and the movements of his arms and wrists, gave Tang Ke the impression that he was throwing a knife into the air, with each motion accelerating the knife's trajectory. This meant that with Lin Xi's current strength, each slash possessed extraordinary speed.
He could imagine that if paired with powerful soul energy… in the hands of that seemingly bookish, delicate female professor, such slashing would unleash terrifying speed and force!
"How was that?"
Having completed a series of slashing movements, Lin Xi, panting, looked at Tang Ke and wiped the sweat from his forehead, adding, "Professor An mentioned that this slashing technique, when pursuing speed, requires immediate adjustments upon striking the opponent's weapon or body, using their momentum to propel the blade faster, much like tossing a tile onto the water's surface, allowing it to strike and glide away quickly."
"In our army, this technique could be considered divine." After a prolonged silence, Tang Ke regarded Lin Xi and said, "My current speed of attack is at most comparable to yours. My experience pales in comparison, and offering suggestions might even have the opposite effect. The only thing I can assist you with is observing your knife's momentum. If you employ some methods used by our border troops… it could be beneficial during your decisive strike."
"Beneficial during a decisive strike?"
"Watch closely."
Tang Ke lifted his black long knife, unwrapping the old, durable cloth that had been wound around the hilt. One end was tightly secured to his hand, while the other remained wrapped around the hilt.
After completing this action, Tang Ke slashed forward with his first strike, followed by a second.
Lin Xi was fully focused, noticing that Tang Ke was mimicking his slashing movements. However, during the third slash, Tang Ke's action suddenly became far more ferocious than the previous two, disregarding any impact on his next strike, and he forcefully slashed, at the same time releasing the long knife from his grip.
The knife flew with greater speed, whistling through the air, but as it slashed and fell, Tang Ke caught it in his hand.
Holding the knife, Tang Ke observed Lin Xi, who furrowed his brow, remaining silent and allowing Lin Xi to contemplate.
"This is a final desperate strike that seems unlikely to harm the opponent… releasing the knife not only allows for a quicker and more forceful attack but also adds a bit of distance. The opponent may think you cannot reach them, only to be unexpectedly struck…" Lin Xi pondered aloud, gradually articulating his thoughts.
Tang Ke nodded and began to unwrap the resilient old cloth from the hilt, stating solemnly, "In the Trial Valley, unlike the chaotic battlefield of the border army, you won't have many people surrounding you. Therefore, for this strike, you need not practice catching the knife immediately like I do… this is merely a small trick used by non-practitioners in the border army. As practitioners, we will have more formidable means in the future, so there's no need to waste time on this. What you must focus on is that the opponents we encounter in the Trial Valley are clad in impenetrable black armor. Thus, this strike must target their relatively vulnerable spots; otherwise, if they retaliate, you will have no chance of recovery."
Lin Xi nodded. "I understand that principle."
"This is for you." Tang Ke handed the unwrapped old cloth to Lin Xi. "Weapons are prohibited in the Trial Valley, but this cloth wrapped around your hand doesn't count as a weapon, so the instructors won't mind. When I first entered, I also wrapped it around my hand after donning the black armor."
"Thank you… I'll give it a try. Teach me how to secure it better so it doesn't fly too far when I release it. Otherwise, even if I manage to fell my opponent in one blow, by the time I retrieve the knife, they might have regained their composure, and I'd be in trouble."
…
Mu Qing stood silently atop the distant clock tower, observing Lin Xi and Tang Ke's practice with a warm smile gracing her lips. "I hope you will always remain such friends," she silently prayed for these two students who reminded her of many joyful and beautiful moments from her own past.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone