Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Slickster

Both Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu had experienced Xiao Wang’s Saber Technique firsthand. Not only was it endlessly varied, but his Qi Power also far surpassed that of an ordinary person. Yet when Jin Shan clashed with Xiao Wang head-on, he was only forced to shift his footing slightly.

CLANG!

Xiao Wang launched a fierce assault.

As a candidate who had failed the previous Provincial Examination, he had a few extra years of training. He quickly gained the upper hand, unleashing a torrent of saber strikes that descended on Jin Shan like a furious storm.

Jin Shan was forced back step-by-step, but his footwork remained steady. He always managed to maintain his momentum, occasionally even advancing a few steps amidst his defense.

As time went on, the pace of their saber exchange grew faster and faster.

One would have expected Jin Shan’s rhythm to be broken by Xiao Wang’s relentless slashes, but instead, Jin Shan fought like a seasoned veteran, searching for an opening to counterattack from the verge of his defense.

Soon, they had exchanged seventy-five moves.

Xiao Wang was visibly growing anxious. ’If I can’t take down Jin Shan within eighty moves, I’ve lost.’ With that thought, he gripped his saber with both hands, surged his Qi Blood, and unleashed a Heaven-Breaking Technique slash at Jin Shan.

Jin Shan sensed that this was no ordinary strike. With no way to evade, he could only grip his saber with both hands and meet it head-on with all his might.

BAM!

As the two sabers collided, Jin Shan was driven back three steps.

Xiao Wang’s blade trembled, and combining Sword Cry with Skillful Force, he unleashed the Five-Blade Slash on Jin Shan.

This volley of saber strikes was too fast.

Jin Shan was forced onto the defensive.

He resisted the Five Blades Continuous Slash with all his might. Much like Chu Lingguang had endured Da Wang’s Five-Gun Sweep, he was driven backward continuously. However, two months ago, Chu Lingguang had staggered and was only able to steady himself by bracing his Long Spear against the floor. In contrast, Jin Shan’s steps were firm, his stance like a deeply rooted old tree, and he never lost his balance.

“AHH!”

Driven to desperation, Xiao Wang let out a furious roar.

He swung his saber for the final strike.

Jin Shan dug his feet firmly into the ground and met Xiao Wang’s blade with a spiraling upward slash.

CLANG!

The ear-piercing clang of steel echoed throughout the Escort Agency.

Jin Shan’s arms were numb, his long saber trembled, and his feet nearly cracked the stone tiles beneath them. But Xiao Wang was not yet spent. Mustering the last of his Qi Blood, he chopped down toward Jin Shan’s shoulders.

Ten moves later, Xiao Wang’s long saber was resting on Jin Shan’s neck.

The onlookers wore varied expressions.

Xiao Wang looked sullen. He turned and walked back to stand behind Leader Ma, clearly displeased that he had allowed Jin Shan to last for ninety moves.

Jin Shan, for his part, looked grim. ’I couldn’t even break the ninety-move mark.’ He was dissatisfied with his own performance, but since he hadn’t disappointed Tie Zhennan, he wasn’t completely disheartened.

“Master Guo, have your disciple come up for the next match,”

Leader Ma said, his expression grave. Jin Shan’s performance showed him that their group would be the top rival for Da Wang and Xiao Wang in the future Provincial Examination. ’If my disciples don’t want to be surpassed, they must train harder. I have to figure out the true extent of Guo Wei’s and Tie Zhennan’s abilities.’

Guo Wei calmly glanced at Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, appearing unmoved by Jin Shan’s performance. Inwardly, however, he had already cataloged several of Jin Shan’s weaknesses, planning to discuss them thoroughly with his two disciples later.

“Master, let me go first,”

Hei Hu said as he stepped forward. ’I’m Chu Lingguang’s senior brother; I should set an example.’

Guo Wei nodded.

Hei Hu turned to face Da Wu and Xiao Wu. When Da Wu started to step forward, Hei Hu sensed trouble and quickly cupped his fist. “Xiao Wu! I ask for your guidance!”

Guo Wei had told him that Da Wu’s Saber Technique was his strongest form of Kung Fu and had reserved him for Chu Lingguang. He had instructed Hei Hu to challenge Xiao Wu instead.

Da Wu froze for a moment, then stepped back.

Xiao Wu, however, just smiled faintly. Seeing Hei Hu ready his saber, he picked up one as well and cupped his fist. “After you!”

SWOOSH!

Hei Hu did not stand on ceremony. He attacked first, using the Little Ghost Scout technique to strike at Xiao Wu’s lower body. Like most Martial Artists, he believed that the best defense was a strong offense.

’If I want to last forty moves against Xiao Wu, I have to press the attack. If I get forced onto the defensive, I know I can’t hold out as long or as steadily as Jin Shan did.’

Instead of blocking, Xiao Wu chose to retreat and dodge the blow.

His movement surprised both Guo Wei and Tie Zhennan. Most Martial Artists, conscious of their pride and power, would not so readily retreat. To them, however, Xiao Wu’s action marked him as a cunning and slippery character. ’It’s easy to lose against someone like him,’ they thought.

Hei Hu didn’t overthink it and pressed forward, seamlessly executing his Iron Mountain Saber Technique, hoping to gain an advantage over Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu retreated again and again, doing his best to avoid a direct confrontation. He simply matched Hei Hu’s rhythm, continuously dodging and evading. After a series of such exchanges, though Hei Hu’s Saber Technique was ferocious, he had also expended a great deal of his Qi Power.

Guo Wei had a bad feeling.

’Hei Hu is still too young, after all,’ Guo Wei thought. ’It would be a miracle if he didn’t lose to a slippery customer like Xiao Wu.’

“Why are you dodging?”

Hei Hu demanded, annoyed. Unaware of the danger, he continued to press his attack.

“I’m afraid of getting hurt,”

Xiao Wu said, feigning weakness.

Not wanting to break his rhythm, Hei Hu continued his combination of attacks. Xiao Wu dodged what he could and blocked what he couldn’t, consistently refusing to meet Hei Hu head-on.

After twenty moves, Hei Hu saw Xiao Wu’s relaxed expression and suddenly realized something was wrong. But it was too late. Seeing Hei Hu about to gasp for breath and recover his Qi Power, Xiao Wu immediately unleashed the Heaven-Breaking Sect technique, slashing toward Hei Hu’s head.

’This is bad!’ Hei Hu cursed inwardly. ’I can’t let myself get pushed onto the defensive!’ He threw all his strength into clashing with Xiao Wu’s blade. Unfortunately, his Qi Power was no match for Xiao Wu’s, and with his rhythm broken, he was quickly forced to defend passively.

A few clanging blows later, Hei Hu had been driven back five steps.

Xiao Wu sprang forward like a Spiritual Monkey, slashing toward Hei Hu’s abdomen. Hei Hu tried to block with an upward parry, the Moon in the Water technique, but his blade met only empty air.

A cold glint flashed at the corner of his eye.

In the thirty-fifth move, the shrewd and calculating Xiao Wu easily laid his long saber against Hei Hu’s neck.

Hei Hu was drenched in sweat.

Xiao Wu’s breathing, by contrast, was steady, as if he had only just warmed up.

“My friend, thanks for the match.”

Xiao Wu said with a smile.

Hei Hu was speechless. He walked before Guo Wei and made to kneel.

“Get to the back and watch carefully.”

Guo Wei snorted. ’Hei Hu’s talent isn’t bad,’ he thought, ’but he lacks Chu Lingguang’s composure. He’s impatient and too eager for grand achievements.’

“Yes, sir.”

Dejected, Hei Hu went and stood behind Guo Wei with Chu Lingguang.

Chu Lingguang whispered a few words of comfort. It wasn’t that the two of them had never seen a slippery fighting style like Xiao Wu’s before, they just never expected to encounter it in a formal setting like the Weiyuan Escort Agency.

Chu Lingguang, however, fully approved of such tactics. ’As long as you can win, what does it matter if you have to retreat and evade for a while, even if others ridicule you for it?’

’Saving face is far less important than saving your life.’

Everyone present understood the circumstances of Hei Hu’s defeat without a word being said.

“Wang, I am Liu Quan. I ask for your guidance.”

Liu Quan said with a faint smile, holding a silver Long Spear and cupping his fist toward Da Wang.

Da Wang was already prepared. He brought his spear and came to stand before Liu Quan.

Just as he was about to return the gesture, Liu Quan spoke again. “Wang, your left shoulder is injured. I’m taking advantage of you. Perhaps I’ll be able to last a hundred moves.”

Da Wang’s expression froze.

Then, with a cold snort, he tossed his Long Spear to Xiao Wang. Understanding immediately, Xiao Wang tossed his long saber to Da Wang. A Long Spear requires a two-handed grip, but a long saber could be wielded with just one hand.

Now it was Liu Quan’s turn to look stunned.

He mentally kicked himself for his earlier words.

He suddenly remembered that Da Wang and Xiao Wu were fellow disciples. Xiao Wu was a slippery character, and it was likely Da Wang was one, too.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep