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.
"Is it true that you are going to duel someone shortly?"
In the bamboo pavilion behind the Rainbow Valley, the one-eyed black-robed instructor, who had been tirelessly running and shooting arrows, suddenly turned to Lin Xi, who was keeping pace beside him, and asked coldly.
Even the most formidable assassins must guard against the threat of assassination, and a true Windwalker can unleash an arrow with remarkable precision, whether in mid-run or while tumbling from a great height.
Thus, for the past two days, Lin Xi and Bian Linghan had been rigorously trained to shoot arrows while running, twisting, and rising.
Regardless of the awkward positions they found themselves in, the one-eyed black-robed instructor could terrifyingly hit the distant target with unwavering accuracy, while Lin Xi and Bian Linghan struggled to land even half of their ten shots.
"How did you come to know about this, even the teacher?" Lin Xi, having just missed his shot, was momentarily taken aback by Instructor Tong Wei's words.
Tong Wei halted, raising his hand to release another arrow. With a resounding "bang," the black arrow pierced through the target's center, crashing into a nearby rock, shattering upon impact with ferocity.
Lin Xi and Bian Linghan exchanged glances, their expressions frozen in fear.
In recent days, this already stern instructor seemed to have become even more volatile.
"I have long told you that there are no secrets from the academy, especially regarding matters of bravado and bravado before many eyes! In the future, refrain from uttering such foolishness in my presence!" Sure enough, a moment later, a merciless tirade erupted from the depths of the forest.
After the scolding, as if it were he who had been reprimanded, Tong Wei, his face dark with anger, raised his hand to shoot another arrow, once again piercing a distant target.
"Class dismissed!"
"What?" Lin Xi, who had been pondering how Tong Wei would continue his tirade, was taken aback along with Bian Linghan upon hearing the two words from Tong Wei's mouth.
"Make haste; others are likely waiting for you, and you probably lack the courage to face them!" Tong Wei turned abruptly, regarding Lin Xi with icy disdain. "You are, after all, my direct disciple. If you bring shame upon yourself, does it not reflect poorly on your master?"
Lin Xi stuck out his tongue, feeling sheepish. "Thank you for the reminder, teacher. However, since I am considered your direct disciple, if I were to lose, it would undoubtedly bring disgrace upon you as well. I wonder if you have any valuable advice for me regarding this duel?"
Tong Wei studied Lin Xi intently and replied gravely, "In such a short time, it is impossible for anyone to significantly improve your martial skills. However, as the saying goes, 'In a narrow path, the brave prevail.' Even if there is a slight disparity in cultivation, the one who survives on the battlefield is often the one whose imposing presence overwhelms the opponent, instilling fear in their hearts."
"If you do not understand how to project yourself, if you do not know what to say to bolster your presence, it would be best to remain silent once you enter." Tong Wei's gaze bore into Lin Xi's face as he continued coldly, "Many fear the Windwalkers because they never utter a word to their opponents."
...
...
"Lin Xi, I thought you wouldn't dare to show up. Oh, I almost forgot, the Chosen One got on the teacher's bad side during the first class and was punished to work in the medicine valley for a month."
On the open ground outside the Trial Valley, at least seventy or eighty students from various departments had gathered, indicating that Lin Xi's duel with Qiu Lu had indeed attracted a considerable audience.
After greeting Tang Ke and Li Kaiyun, who were already waiting, Lin Xi chose to ignore Qiu Lu's sharp and scornful remarks, offering a slight smile instead. "What, do you wish for me not to come?"
"Of course not," Qiu Lu sneered. "I am simply eager to give you a good thrashing to bring you back to your senses."
"Honestly," Qiu Lu paused, fixing his disdainful gaze on Lin Xi, "what irritates me most about you is not your rustic background, but rather your audacity to act as if you possess great abilities despite your evident lack of talent."
Lin Xi shook his head, unwilling to engage further with someone he deemed immature. He turned toward the Trial Valley and said, "Let's go."
"Let's go!"
Seeing Lin Xi remain silent, Qiu Lu assumed he had struck a nerve and proudly raised his chin, striding ahead with an air of superiority.
The group of gold-spoon youths, including Liu Ziyu, who had been by Qiu Lu's side, exchanged amused glances and followed suit.
"Why is it that you instruct my friends to stay outside while you bring along so many others?"
Lin Xi suddenly halted, glancing back at the entourage surrounding Liu Ziyu, and calmly stated, "Qiu Lu, shouldn't you also ask them to wait outside?"
Qiu Lu was momentarily taken aback.
Lin Xi moved forward, while Tang Ke and the others stood as he had requested the previous day. In contrast, Lin Xi appeared quite solitary, walking ahead alone.
"We merely wish to observe and will not interfere with your duel in any way." Liu Ziyu paused, his attractive brows slightly furrowing, clearly displeased, yet his tone remained composed.
"That is not my concern," Lin Xi replied, maintaining his calm demeanor. He glanced at Tang Ke and the others, who remained motionless, and added, "I can assure you that they will not interfere with the duel… However, since Qiu Lu has made this request, I must oblige. Therefore, you must remain outside, as I deem this fair."
"Lin Xi!" Qiu Lu, taken aback by Lin Xi's insistence on complicating matters, exclaimed in exasperation, "Do you really think your companions can be compared to those from the borderlands and the countryside?"
Liu Ziyu raised a hand to silence Qiu Lu, casting a cool glance at Lin Xi. "You seek fairness, but where in this world can absolute fairness be found? Even among students of the academy, there exist stark disparities. Consider who in the Yunqin Empire can truly provide you with fairness? I reiterate, we merely wish to observe, and we can guarantee the fairness of your duel."
Upon hearing Liu Ziyu's words, a profound silence enveloped the area. Many from the countryside and borderlands fell silent, their hearts ablaze with indignation yet unable to voice it.
For everyone knew that Liu Ziyu spoke the truth; in the Yunqin Empire, fairness was not dispensed by those perched atop the political hierarchy. The connections and influence wielded by these golden-spoon youths were beyond what the rustic and borderland individuals could ever hope to match.
"However, this is within the academy… As for what lies beyond, who can truly ascertain?" Lin Xi replied, remaining unperturbed.
A hint of mockery finally appeared on Liu Ziyu's face. "Lin Xi, you've spoken at length without any substance. Surely you are not afraid?"
At that moment, a calm and curious female voice suddenly interjected, "How can you be so certain that Qiu Lu is indeed Lin Xi's match? If Qiu Lu turns out to be no match for Lin Xi, how will you all save face?"
The voice was neither sharp nor harsh, yet it caused everyone on Qiu Lu's side to momentarily falter.
Following the sound, Lin Xi spotted a girl in gray standing beside the announcement board.
Her presence, devoid of any ostentation, appeared as a refreshing sight to Lin Xi.
He hadn't anticipated her arrival or that she would speak in his defense.
Qiu Lu was momentarily stunned, as he and Liu Ziyu had not expected another Chosen One, Gao Yanan from the Medicine Department, to advocate for Lin Xi. A faint flush of embarrassment and anger crept onto Qiu Lu's fair face. "Am I not capable of defeating him? Am I to be bested by such a worthless individual?"
"Not necessarily. Every year, countless practitioners perish at the hands of ordinary soldiers on the battlefield. What if… what if you were to lose to Lin Xi?" Gao Yanan's calm voice posed the question, once again plunging the scene into silence.
Few among the new students knew of Gao Yanan's background, but in recent days, most had learned that she, along with Wen Xuanyu, had been chosen for her exceptional cultivation talent. Her progress within the Medicine Department far surpassed that of her peers, lending significant weight to her words.
"If that is the case, then you may enter," Liu Ziyu's demeanor softened as he turned to Gao Yanan with a smile. "Do you hold Lin Xi in such high regard?"
"Why should there be such a disparity among those of the same Medicine Department?"
"You!" Lin Xi's quiet mutter nearly caused Liu Ziyu to lose his composure, veins throbbing on his forehead as he struggled to maintain his facade of a courteous gentleman.
"The academy welcomes duels that can enhance one's strength. Therefore, in the future, should you wish to duel, simply inform the instructors inside. I can assure you of absolute fairness." At that moment, an elderly voice rang out.
Lin Xi felt a flicker of surprise and turned to bow respectfully. "Teacher Luo."
The venerable instructor, Luo Houyuan, clad in a worn black robe, had appeared at the entrance of the valley. He regarded Lin Xi with a nod, acknowledging his greeting. "You may all enter. I will arrange a ten-minute interval for Lin Xi and Qiu Lu to search for weapons within the valley, after which they shall engage in a fair duel in full view of everyone."
Observing the old instructor's tattered robe and his age, Liu Ziyu initially harbored a trace of disdain. However, upon hearing Luo Houyuan's words and realizing he possessed the authority to make such arrangements within the Trial Valley, Liu Ziyu felt a chill run through him.
"You must understand that fairness in this world is not something bestowed by the so-called nobility… If you lack the courage to demand fairness from those in power, how can you possibly stand upon the city walls and face an army of three hundred thousand?" Yet Luo Houyuan did not spare Liu Ziyu a glance, instead casting a fleeting gaze over the previously silent rustic and borderland students. "If you cannot even stand tall to demand fairness, you will only be left to grovel like a dog. This is the simplest of truths."
Some rustic and borderland students flushed with anger, clenching their fists, while others felt a sense of shame and could not lift their heads.
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