Chapter 54
Chapter 54: Must Win
Li Shuang did not look back; she stepped onto the platform one step at a time, then stood there quietly to wait.
Luo Ming Yue and Jiang Yi unfurled a banner: “Junior Sister, victory!”
Jiang Yi was so nervous her knuckles turned white: [Oh no, this is bad. Why is everyone looking over here?] Luo Ming Yue, however, got louder the more eyes turned their way, shouting with even more energy.
At the center of all those gazes, Jiang Yi wore a face of pure despair; regret pricked her heart: [If I had known, I would have signed up too. Senior Brother Liu went early to prepare for his own match and escaped this mess.]
Hearing the commotion, Li Shuang turned and smiled at them; the corners of her lips lifted in a soft, shallow curve.
That smile felt like ice and snow melting in a single instant, as if a lotus bloomed inside the frost.
Luo Ming Yue shouted even louder, and even Jiang Yi relaxed without meaning to. To earn a single smile from Junior Sister, making fools of themselves a little more did not matter at all.
Sheng Yuan pressed his lips tight. Once, Li Shuang’s unique gentleness and rare smiles had been for them alone. Now she gave them to others without hesitation. What were they to her in the end, so easy to cast aside? In his heart he murmured one title, [First Senior Sister], yet he could no longer call it out loud.
Ye Zhao Zhao glanced at him with a gentle look and said softly: “First Senior Brother, Senior Sister Li does not want us anymore, but do not worry, I will stay by your side and by everyone’s side.”
Sheng Yuan forced a smile and nodded: “Zhao Zhao, do your best.”
Yes. Zhao Zhao was still here. She was young and kind by nature. Even if he had been a little biased before, that was human. If they had just talked, it could have passed, but First Senior Sister insisted on making it this big.
His chest ached with hurt, and a bit of stubbornness rose with it. He wanted to see whether, after leaving Ling Xu Peak, First Senior Sister would truly do better. He straightened Ye Zhao Zhao’s collar and said earnestly: “Zhao Zhao, give it your all. This battle must be won.”
Lately, the voices mocking Ling Xu Peak had only grown louder. Even their own Disciples were beginning to doubt whether driving out Li Shuang had been the right choice. Putting feelings aside, as First Senior Brother he had to steady hearts and change the public view. The best way was for Ye Zhao Zhao to win a big, clean victory. If she won, a great many doubts would fade at once.
Ye Zhao Zhao smiled sweetly: “Zhao Zhao will try her best.”
Shen Yue’s expression was complicated as he warned her: “Zhao Zhao, do not get careless.”
Ye Zhao Zhao answered with full confidence: “With Long Yan here, I will not lose.”
She stroked her sword sheath, linking at once with Long Yan inside the Sword Spirit Space, then walked up onto the platform step by step.
In her heart she asked him: “Long Yan, you will win, right?”
Long Yan replied without doubt: “Zhao Zhao, rest easy.” He felt he could beat Li Shuang. He had followed her for more than ten years. He knew her sword habits, her moves, and her style as if they were carved into his bones. Besides, Ye Zhao Zhao’s cultivation was held at Late Foundation Establishment, while Li Shuang was still in the Qi Refining Stage. They were a full Major Tier above her. Even if Li Shuang had grasped some so called Sword Domain, the huge gap in spiritual power could smooth it out.
He had watched Li Shuang’s match with Duan Zi Yu. Duan Zi Yu’s Way of the Sword was a little worse than his own, yet Li Shuang had needed quite a while to win. After ten years together, no one understood Li Shuang’s sword better than he did. This time he would win. He wanted a thrilling victory for Zhao Zhao. He could not wait to see Li Shuang’s eyes filled with regret and Zhao Zhao’s face lit with joy.
In the Central Arena, the referee announced, “Second round of the selection: Li Shuang versus Ye Zhao Zhao,” then called: “Begin!”
The instant the Referee left the platform, the battle started.
Ye Zhao Zhao did not attack at once; she met Li Shuang’s eyes and said calmly: “Senior Sister Li, I should be trading swordplay with you, but Long Yan wants you to understand that giving him up was a mistake. So today I will grant his wish and let him control Dragon Roar Sword.”
She made it sound very nice. Everyone with eyes would see that Dragon Roar Sword was mainly being driven by Long Yan today. Better to say it up front to head off doubt. It was not that she did not want to fight Li Shuang herself; she was simply fulfilling Long Yan’s wish.
Li Shuang saw through her little plan and said evenly: “Sword Spirit help is allowed by the rules. You do not need to say so much,” then added in a mild voice: “Besides, without Long Yan controlling the sword, you do not understand the Way of the Sword at all.”
Her tone was calm. Ye Zhao Zhao’s face shifted a shade. A buzz of noise swept the crowd at once. A Sword Sect Disciple who had been in the sect ten years and still did not understand the Way of the Sword? Impossible, right? Was she still a Disciple of the Sword Sect?
Ye Zhao Zhao stared hard at Li Shuang. How dare she say that. She forced herself to look composed and said, “Senior Sister Li, you must be joking. Since I am a Sword Sect Disciple, how could I not understand the Way of the Sword.”
She could not bear the hardship of sword training. In truth, she understood nothing of the Way of the Sword. To hide it, she claimed she was not good at the Way of the Sword, while always hinting that it was not inability, she simply disliked fighting. Over the years, the Senior Brothers of Ling Xu Peak had believed her. As for Immortal Ling Xu, whether he believed or not hardly mattered; so long as she showed enough respect, he would not press the point.
Today, though, Li Shuang had ripped the cover off in front of everyone, and Ye Zhao Zhao’s teeth ached with anger.
Li Shuang smiled: “When Long Yan cannot carry the whole fight alone, Junior Sister Ye, you will use your true skill to win. Then everyone will see that you, Ye Zhao Zhao, are the real genius of the Way of the Sword. How about it?”
Ye Zhao Zhao’s expression sank darker. True skill? What true skill could she have. Yet with the words said to this point, if Long Yan failed to win, she would have to strike herself. Then her lack of sword skill would be exposed.
Long Yan sent his voice through the bond to comfort her: “Do not be afraid, Zhao Zhao. I will not lose.”
He knew she understood nothing about the Way of the Sword. So what. He was strong enough. He could protect Zhao Zhao. She was such a delicate Miss; why should she suffer the grind of sword training. With Zhao Zhao, he felt truly needed.
Pushing down her panic, Ye Zhao Zhao lifted her chin and said, “Then as Senior Sister wishes.”
Dragon Roar Sword left the sheath. Complex patterns along its blade flashed with light as the Sword Spirit Long Yan took control in secret.
Chapter 55: Sword Moves
It looked like Ye Zhao Zhao held the sword, but everyone knew the truth. She was only a vessel for spiritual power; the one really fighting was Long Yan.
Sword Spirit facing his former Master. The show began.
Eager already, Long Yan merged his mind with Ye Zhao Zhao’s, and she launched the first attack.
Exquisite sword moves bloomed at once. Li Shuang opened her Sword Domain and met her with Black Abyss in hand.
The fight was fierce, and to the eye both seemed masters of the Way of the Sword.
But very soon, Meng Yi Fei and the others sensed something wrong. Meng Yi Fei said with meaning: “Up there, it looks as if two Li Shuang are fighting each other.”
Long Yan had been trained by Li Shuang herself. All his understanding of the Way of the Sword came from her. His sword moves were entirely her style. When they fought, each knew too well where the other’s strikes would land. Rather than Li Shuang fighting Long Yan, it felt like Li Shuang fighting her past self.
Right now on the platform, Li Shuang had the boost of her Sword Domain, while Long Yan had Ye Zhao Zhao’s stronger spiritual power and the sharp edge of Dragon Roar Sword. For a time, neither could overwhelm the other.
Long Yan focused on controlling Dragon Roar Sword when Ye Zhao Zhao’s irritated voice cut into his mind: “Long Yan, stop dragging this out and knock her off the platform.”
Her cultivation was so much higher than Li Shuang’s. Why had he not won already. Had he not bragged he was incredible. She pushed her will at him and, in that instant, Long Yan froze for a heartbeat; a huge opening appeared in his swordwork. Black Abyss Sword thrust straight in. Long Yan blocked in a rush and said, “Zhao Zhao, give me a little more time. Li Shuang is not easy to handle.”
“Not easy to handle?” Ye Zhao Zhao’s patience snapped as she pressed him: “Did you not say her skill came from you? Did you not say that with you here, Li Shuang was nothing to worry about? Now what? Are you still thinking about Li Shuang and holding back on purpose because you want to go back to her?”
Long Yan panicked: “Zhao Zhao, you know my heart. I would never think that.”
She did not want to hear it and cut him off: “Everyone is watching. I must win, and I must win cleanly. End it fast, or it means your heart is still with your old Master.”
Long Yan cried out: “Zhao Zhao, on the snow mountain I even struck at Li Shuang. How can you still doubt me?”
A Sword Spirit changing masters was never a good name to carry. Yet for Ye Zhao Zhao, he had been willing to kill Li Shuang to follow her.
Ye Zhao Zhao still snapped back: “And did it work? Is Li Shuang dead? She is alive and well. Long Yan, do not tell me you failed to do what I said.”
“I…” Long Yan tried to explain, but Li Shuang’s fierce pressure stacked higher and higher. Though her spiritual power was weaker, her layered offense forced him into a clumsy defense. On the platform it became a one sided scene of Ye Zhao Zhao being pressed back.
Luo Ming Yue watched with delight and kept shouting Li Shuang’s name. Many people joined the fun and cheered along. The chorus of “Li Shuang” drilled into Ye Zhao Zhao’s ears until her face could no longer hold its calm. She ground out through the bond: “Long Yan, can you win or not?”
Anger tinged her voice. Long Yan could only suffer in silence. The match had been even at first, but Ye Zhao Zhao’s constant messages shattered his focus and left holes in his moves. With Li Shuang’s level, how could she not seize them.
“Hurry up,” Ye Zhao Zhao hissed. Li Shuang’s attacks came on without a break, and Ye Zhao Zhao’s sword wrist ached. Her thoughts lashed like a whip: [If I had known you were this useless, I would not have taken you.] [Were you just bragging before?] [Long Yan, you have disappointed me.]
Her messages kept coming. A red edge crept into Long Yan’s eyes. In the Sword Spirit Space he stared at Li Shuang’s direction and vowed in silence: [I will win. I must win. I will make Li Shuang regret, and I will make Zhao Zhao glad.] To reach that end, he would pay any price.
A ghostly blue flame kindled on Long Yan’s Spirit Body, and that same flame sprang onto Dragon Roar Sword. In a blink, the sword’s power surged. One sweeping cut fell, and Li Shuang could not dodge in time; a long wound opened along her arm.
“Good. So you were hiding your strength,” Ye Zhao Zhao cried in delight: “Long Yan, keep going.”
Long Yan could no longer spare words. He drove Dragon Roar Sword and attacked like a man with no thought for his life.
Ordinary Disciples could not see what had changed, but Meng Yi Fei and the others turned grim at once. Lin Qing Ling shot Immortal Ling Xu a cold look and said: “Burning the Spirit Body? That is a deadly move used only at the edge of life and death. This is only a sect tournament, yet Ye Zhao Zhao made the Sword Spirit use such a technique.”
Once a Spirit Body starts burning, it cannot be reversed. The sword’s power soars for a short time, but Long Yan would injure his very source. His body, which had already reached Manifesting Reality, would likely fall back into emptiness after this. Worse, it would harm the root of his spirit.
To use a move with such a heavy cost in a selection match was absurd.
Immortal Ling Xu was silent for a moment, then said without expression: “This may not be Zhao Zhao’s idea. Perhaps Long Yan felt abandoned by Li Shuang and let his desire to win get the better of him.”
“Now that the Spirit Body is burning, it is too late to stop,” Meng Yi Fei said quietly.
As long as there was no threat to life, once a bout started, they could not interfere.
Ye Zhao Zhao knew none of this. She only knew Dragon Roar Sword had grown fierce. Clearly Long Yan had been hiding his strength. Good thing she had pushed him, or who knew how long he would have kept that move tucked away.
The tide turned. Ye Zhao Zhao looked down her nose at Li Shuang and said proudly: “Senior Sister, earlier I only let you have a few moves. Now I will get serious.”
Li Shuang cast her a cool glance. [Idiot.] She likely had no idea what was really happening. Still, this was Long Yan’s choice. Li Shuang chose to respect it and even, in her heart, to wish them well, hoping they stayed bound to each other.
The Spirit Body kept burning. Long Yan could not hold the state for long. He drove Dragon Roar Sword into a killing strike.
Lin Qing Ling rose to her feet, face taut with worry. Should she stop this. If she did not, would Little Shuang be in danger. If she did, Little Shuang would lose on the spot. Would Little Shuang want her to intervene. Lin Qing Ling’s hand curled into a tight fist and her whole body went rigid.
Facing the coming blow, Li Shuang smiled. She had planned to keep a few cards hidden. Now it seemed even heaven wanted her to go high and bright.
Then let them see the sword move she had just understood.
Dragon Roar Sword pressed down with crushing force, a golden dragon circling in the air. Li Shuang lifted her face to the sky, as if that dragon would swallow her whole.
Then her hand moved. Her sword moved.