Volume Two: Inheriting the Legacy, Blood on the Brocade Chapter 135: A Duel of Swords

Yang Ning was caught between a rock and a hard place and had no choice but to step forward. Yet even as he did so, he was calculating. Bai Yuhe had said that he could not win within ten moves; that was tantamount to saying that the Great Brilliance Temple would win. In other words, as long as Yang Ning could endure ten moves, he would have defeated Bai Yuhe.

Bai Yuhe’s swordsmanship was formidable. Yang Ning naturally had no intention of facing him blade to blade, but if he relied on his Carefree Steps to evade Bai Yuhe’s ten moves, there might still be a chance.

Yang Ning had already experienced the subtle marvels of the Carefree Steps, and he was growing increasingly proficient in them.

Though he had a fair chance of surviving ten moves, Yang Ning was far from certain of it. He would endure as long as he could; if he truly could not hold out, so be it. They had agreed to stop at the point of contact, and Bai Yuhe had become much more courteous, so he probably would not strike too viciously. In any case, no one else had stepped forward for the third bout. Whether he came out well or badly, he might as well consider it an act of charity.

Bai Yuhe slowly drew his long sword. Those nearby immediately felt a piercing chill surge toward them. Beneath the lamps of the Hall of Brilliance, the blade shimmered with a dim, ghostly radiance. Its surface was somewhat dark and dull, yet although Yang Ning stood several paces away, he could clearly sense its keen edge.

“Wait!”

Yang Ning suddenly raised a hand.

Bai Yuhe frowned slightly. Yang Ning turned his palm over and called out, “We’re comparing swordsmanship, but I don’t even have a stick in my hand. Am I supposed to fight bare-handed?”

Jingneng, who had previously treated Yang Ning with undisguised hostility, had already risen to his feet. “Do not be anxious. I shall send someone to fetch a sword.”

He was about to summon someone when Yang Ning rolled his eyes. “White Swordsman Bai’s weapon is obviously an excellent sword. Master Jingneng, could you find me a good one as well? Don’t make do with some scrap metal. This concerns life and death; it is no trivial matter.”

Jingneng’s brows drew together. In a low voice, he said, “Zhenxing, you go and—”

“Master Jingneng, in my opinion, you should fetch it yourself.”

Yang Ning had no favorable impression of Jingneng. He did not understand why the old monk’s attitude had suddenly softened, but since he had the opportunity, he was not about to be polite.

“I do not trust anyone else’s judgment.”

Jingneng’s expression darkened. As the presiding elder of the Great Brilliance Temple’s Disciplinary Hall, he was revered and feared by every monk beneath the Jing generation. Even among his fellow disciples of the Jing generation, few dared to order him about. Yet here Yang Ning was, commanding him in public to fetch a sword.

Jingneng was just about to erupt when Yang Ning called out loudly, “What is it? White Swordsman Bai is an honored guest who has come from afar. We cannot keep him waiting forever.”

He smiled warmly at Bai Yuhe, then turned back to Jingneng with a frown.

“Master Jingneng, do you still want me to fight? If not, I can withdraw now.”

Jingkong turned toward Jingneng. “Junior Brother Jingneng, go and fetch one.”

Jingneng suppressed his anger. Let him make a spectacle of himself for now. After the sword bout, they could settle the account slowly.

He rose and strode away.

Chi Danmei was no fool. Watching all this, she understood at once and gave a soft laugh.

“Little Master, are you abusing public authority for private ends?”

“Say less.”

Yang Ning rolled his eyes at her. “Can’t you see that White Swordsman Bai and I are building the proper atmosphere? Do you think comparing swordsmanship is as easy as tearing off your clothes? A swordsman needs the right state of mind. At this moment, the sword is the sword, and the man is the man. But once the battle begins, the man must become the sword, and the sword the man. Man and sword must become one… You would not understand even if I explained it. White Swordsman Bai, would you not agree?”

Bai Yuhe was startled. Then, unable to help himself, he nodded. “Man and sword as one. That truly strikes at the heart of the matter. Your Highness’s attainments in swordsmanship are indeed extraordinary.”

By now he had addressed Yang Ning as “Your Highness,” clearly showing his respect.

“Do not misunderstand.” Yang Ning hurriedly waved a hand. “I was only speaking offhand.”

Bai Yuhe merely inclined his head and said nothing more.

Chi Danmei had not expected Yang Ning to silence her so thoroughly. She smiled seductively.

“Little Master, the winner of this sword bout remains uncertain. But if the contest were to determine who has the sharper tongue, you would surely be invincible.”

“Thank you, thank you.” Yang Ning chuckled. “Should you not find something to drape over yourself first? This is a monastery, not… not that kind of place. Walking around with your shoulders bare—what sort of decorum is that?”

He clasped his hands and intoned, “Amitabha,” though his eyes could not resist sweeping over Chi Danmei’s full bosom.

Chi Danmei rolled her eyes at him and ignored the remark.

They did not have to wait long. Jingneng soon returned to the hall, a long sword in hand. He walked up to Yang Ning and held it out.

“This is the Pilu Sword, one of the Great Brilliance Temple’s treasured weapons. You will use it.”

Bai Yuhe’s brows rose slightly as he stared at the sword Yang Ning accepted.

“Is that the Pilu Sword, one of the Ten Famous Swords?”

“Oh? You have heard of it?” Yang Ning asked with a smile. “So this is one of the Ten Famous Swords.”

He drew the blade and saw a sheet of snowy brilliance. Under the lamplight, it flashed with radiant light. He silently acknowledged that it was indeed an excellent sword. Jingneng had at least shown some consideration and had not tried to fob him off with a piece of broken metal.

“I heard long ago that the Great Brilliance Temple treasured the Pilu Sword, one of the Ten Famous Swords. Today I have finally seen it with my own eyes. It is truly an excellent blade.” Bai Yuhe’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he praised it. “The Pilu Sword ranks fourth among the Ten Famous Swords. Its reputation is clearly well deserved.”

Yang Ning glanced at Jingneng, who had already turned away. This was strange. They had sent him into the bout merely to make up the numbers, fully aware that he had no hope of victory. Why would the Great Brilliance Temple bring out one of its treasured swords?

“White Swordsman Bai, am I taking advantage of you here?”

Yang Ning looked at Bai Yuhe’s sword. Its surface was dark, and although it radiated a chilling aura, it did not appear particularly remarkable.

A trace of pride appeared in Bai Yuhe’s eyes as he shook his head.

“Not at all. The sword in my hand is the Wuye Sword, and it ranks third.”

Damn it!

Yang Ning suppressed the urge to curse. This was splendid. Bai Yuhe’s swordsmanship was already superior, and after much effort Yang Ning had obtained the Pilu Sword, ranked fourth among the Ten Famous Swords. He had thought he could at least boast about that, only to discover that the Wuye Sword in Bai Yuhe’s hand ranked third—higher than his own.

The eyes of every monk in the hall were fixed on Yang Ning and Bai Yuhe. Even Chi Danmei and her four men in hempen robes had withdrawn to one side, staring straight ahead.

Many had been extremely uneasy about the final bout. The safety of the Pure Mind Pavilion was at stake, and quite a few were tense. Yet after Yang Ning entered the arena, he had chattered on and on without making a move. Those of an impatient temperament were already growing restless. Still, precisely because Yang Ning had talked for so long, the atmosphere in the hall was no longer as oppressive as before.

The young monk Zhenming kept his eyes fixed on Yang Ning. He had never expected Yang Ning to be kicked into the arena and somehow forced into a sword bout with Bai Yuhe. He was deeply worried. He had already tested Yang Ning’s martial abilities, and they were truly nothing special. For him to defeat Bai Yuhe was almost impossible.

“Please enlighten me.”

Bai Yuhe no longer wasted words. He held the Wuye Sword horizontally in his right hand, then flicked his left hand and sent the scabbard skidding before one of the men in hempen robes. The man reached out with both hands and caught it, cradling it carefully.

Yang Ning likewise flung the scabbard of the Pilu Sword behind him. The young monk Zhenming was quick enough to step forward and catch it.

Bai Yuhe extended the index finger of his left hand and gently traced it along the blade of the Wuye Sword. His touch was infinitely tender, as though he were caressing a lover’s skin. When his finger reached the edge, he lightly tapped it. The long sword slanted forward, its blade dipping slightly as it pointed toward Yang Ning’s abdomen.

Yang Ning saw that Bai Yuhe’s expression was solemn, without the slightest hint of contempt. It seemed that he truly regarded Yang Ning as an opponent worthy of a contest.

He drew a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Pilu Sword. Then he suddenly stepped forward, his body moving toward the left front. It was the opening step of the Carefree Steps, though no one else could recognize it. They merely assumed that Yang Ning had struck first.

Several people in the hall immediately regarded him with new respect. Knowing that he was outmatched yet still willing to stand forth—Yang Ning was indeed a brave man.

Seeing Yang Ning’s figure flash, Bai Yuhe also assumed that he had attacked.

Although they had agreed on a limit of ten moves, and for certain reasons Bai Yuhe harbored a trace of wariness toward Yang Ning, if he could end the fight in one move, he naturally had no desire to use a second.

Since his opponent had attacked, Bai Yuhe moved as well. His sword point had originally been aimed downward, but now he lifted it lightly and thrust straight at Yang Ning.

Yet after the thrust was launched, he discovered that although Yang Ning had moved, he had not drawn his sword.

Bai Yuhe had immersed himself deeply in the Way of the Sword and gained profound insight into it. Once he struck, he became completely absorbed in the movement. Had his opponent been anyone else from the Great Brilliance Temple, Bai Yuhe would not have drawn his sword merely because the other party had moved without striking first. But Yang Ning was different. Though Yang Ning had only shifted his body, Bai Yuhe had still launched his thrust.

Yang Ning moved, taking only two steps, when he felt a wave of chill press directly toward him.

So Bai Yuhe truly was as swift as expected.

Yang Ning had no time for further thought. He focused entirely on following the path of the Carefree Steps, drifting and shifting like a phantom.

Bai Yuhe’s sword shot out, seemingly certain to pierce Yang Ning. It was only a handspan away, yet Yang Ning still showed no sign of drawing his sword, as though he intended to receive the blow without resistance.

Bai Yuhe was startled. His hand paused slightly. But in that instant, Yang Ning’s figure suddenly vanished like a ghost.

Bai Yuhe hesitated no longer. He swept the sword obliquely to the side and struck again at the figure glimpsed from the corner of his eye.

Yang Ning’s steps were light and elusive, shifting without pattern. He evaded Bai Yuhe’s first thrust, and Chi Danmei watched with astonishment in her captivating eyes.

Bai Yuhe’s first strike missed. He immediately followed with three more thrusts.

Among the monks present, only a handful were skilled in swordsmanship. Most saw only Bai Yuhe moving with extraordinary grace, his sword flashing like lightning. Few could perceive the unfathomable changes contained in those three consecutive thrusts. It was truly supreme swordsmanship. Even if his opponent had been a renowned swordsman of the age, he might not have been able to evade them.

But today his opponent happened to be Yang Ning—and Yang Ning happened to be employing the mysterious and uncanny Carefree Steps. By some stroke of fortune, he managed to evade all three of Bai Yuhe’s thrusts in a manner that seemed utterly inconceivable.

The Carefree Steps appeared disorderly and formless, yet beneath that seeming chaos lay rules that could be followed. Yang Ning had only learned to imitate the movements; he had not yet reached the realm in which they could change freely at will. Even so, once he set this strange and marvelous footwork into motion, Bai Yuhe truly could not find its pattern.

After four moves, he had not so much as touched a fold of Yang Ning’s clothing.