Chapter 35: A Prodigy of the Sword!

"Could it be that his mastery of the sword far exceeds the Minor Accomplishment stage?"

Faced with this question, Gu Tiangang, who knew little of swordsmanship, looked at Li Qingzhou. "What do you say, Junior Brother? Does his swordsmanship surpass Xue'er's?"

"Not necessarily."

Li Qingzhou shook his head. He raised his hand, joined his fingers, and gestured to Ning Xue. "Attack!"

Ning Xue understood and drew her sword. Her footwork, stance, and even the speed and angle of her strikes were identical to those she had used in her bout with Chen Yi.

"The Soaring Dragon footwork, combined with the Hidden Sword stance—a probing move."

"The first step was correct."

As Ning Xue described, Li Qingzhou blocked her blade with his fingers and continued, "The mistake was that you let him see your sword technique before the match. Like this!"

As he spoke, he traced a circle with his feet. His movements appeared slow, yet his extended fingers struck the air at her throat with blinding speed.

Ning Xue’s cold eyes widened. She parted her lips, asking, "Master, do you mean... he discovered the flaws in my technique after seeing it only once?"

"That must be it."

Li Qingzhou nodded and beckoned again. "Now, the second move!"

As he spoke, he stepped forward. Save for his taller stature and the fact that his sword-step was practiced without intent, the effect was remarkably similar to Chen Yi’s.

Ning Xue did not dare to be negligent; she dodged to the side and lunged—the Trembling Sword stance!

Li Qingzhou’s fingers once again pointed to her throat, stopping just short.

"Your response was correct. The Hidden Sword and Concealed Sword stances were flawless, but compared to him, you are still far behind!"

"Why?" Ning Xue blurted out.

Gu Tiangang, watching from the side, realized the truth and answered with a smile: "Your master means that you lack experience and a deep understanding of the Sword Dao."

"Indeed," Li Qingzhou said, a trace of admiration appearing on his face. "Such sharp swordsmanship... I have only seen it in the Tai..."

He paused, signaling for Ning Xue to leave. "I will teach you more later; I have matters to discuss with your Uncle-Master."

"Yes."

Ning Xue cast a suspicious glance at him and departed as instructed.

Once she was gone, Gu Tiangang knowingly set up an isolation array and looked at Li Qingzhou with a playful expression. "Do you suspect something is wrong with him? Could he be the reincarnation of some ancient monster from Mount Taizhou?"

"No."

Li Qingzhou pondered for a moment and shook his head. "To my knowledge, no sword cultivators fell on the Mount Taizhou battlefield three or even five years ago."

"Then he is undoubtedly a genius—no, a monster of the Sword Dao!"

Gu Tiangang rubbed his hands together in excitement, chuckling, "I told you I wouldn't be wrong. How could someone with such pure Sword Dao be an old monster?"

Li Qingzhou replied, "That is true. Even if a reincarnated sword cultivator were only three years old, one could still perceive his sword intent through the art of aura observation."

Gu Tiangang raised his eyebrows, looking smug. As long as it was confirmed that Chen Yi was a prodigy of the sword, he, as the one who discovered him, could hold his head high within the sect. *Hmph, those bastards dared to banish me to the Capital Prefecture—let's see what they have to say now!*

"So, what do you intend to do? Are you going to take another look at him?"

"No," Li Qingzhou looked toward the door and shook his head again. "Time is tight for this trip to the Mount Taizhou battlefield. Now that I am certain of Chen Yi's talent, I must trouble you, Senior Brother, to look after him."

"Looking after him is no problem, but how long will you be at Mount Taizhou? If it’s too long, I fear his potential might be wasted."

"Senior Brother, you do not understand the Sword Dao, nor do you understand sword cultivators," Li Qingzhou said, turning his head to smile at him. "Before reaching the Minor Accomplishment stage, guidance is indeed necessary. But once he reaches that stage, or even grasps the true Sword Intent, the advice of others will only become a burden to him."

Gu Tiangang blinked, thought for a few seconds, and then laughed. "So that’s why you’re so comfortable letting Niece Ning teach the other disciples—it turns out that the inheritance of a sword cultivator doesn't require much fuss."

Li Qingzhou laughed as well. "The techniques and cultivation methods are necessary, of course, but everything else can be handled by Xue'er. Thank you for finding such a genius for our sword lineage, Senior Brother. When I return from Mount Taizhou, I will certainly treat you to a drink."

"Don't bother with that; don't forget you still owe me two rounds."

After joking for a while, Gu Tiangang recalled the earlier question and couldn't help but ask again. "Why are you heading to Mount Taizhou? Isn't the situation there stable?"

Li Qingzhou’s smile faded, and his expression grew somber. "I just received news that a True Person of Mount Wuliang was ambushed and fell. They have summoned me there urgently."

"A True Person of Mount Wuliang?" Gu Tiangang was shocked. *Even the ancient monsters of Mount Wuliang have fallen? What kind of hellish place is that Mount Taizhou battlefield?*

Regardless of his thoughts, he did not press further. Such were the rules.

"Then, I wish you a safe return, Junior Brother."

"Thank you..."

...

Half a month passed.

The interference Chen Yi had anticipated never materialized. Not only did Zhou Wanyi remain in the rear courtyard, but the hostile Marquis Zhou Tiance did not appear either. It was as if they were unaware of his sword duel with Ning Xue.

Of course, some changes did occur.

For instance, his biological mother, Xia Wanyan. Ever since she heard of Chen Yi’s performance at the Xingwu Academy, she had been beaming with joy every day. Her mood was much better than before, and she was even less reserved when in the presence of the Lady of the Duke of Xing. At home, especially when facing the Old Matriarch, she was able to respond with ease, no longer as cautious or nervous as she once was.

Beyond Xia Wanyan, the elders in the Marquis's mansion, such as his Great-Uncle Chen Lixin, were full of praise. Following the recent bestowal of a title, the Old Matriarch had ordered an increase in the provisions for the Fanghua Garden for the second time.

Chen Yi saw these things and kept them in his heart. At the very least, as long as no other accidents occurred, Xia Wanyan’s life in the mansion was secure. In that sense, he had fulfilled his filial duty.

However, although there were few changes within the mansion, rumors about him outside were rampant. Some bastard had started the rumor that he was a reincarnated Sword Immortal, born with mastery over sword techniques and intent, capable of moving mountains, draining seas, and blocking rivers with a single strike. They had praised him to the heavens.

When Chen Yi first heard these things, he felt like drawing his sword, *Chunyu*, and stabbing the rumor-monger. *Baseless nonsense is nothing but rumors, you know?*

Fortunately, the nobility knew the truth, and the ministers at court were discerning enough to distinguish fact from fiction. It was said that even the Emperor, upon hearing the news, had praised the Marquis of Wu'an for his excellent parenting during a court session.

To this, Chen Yi made no comment. *My cheap father not beating me is the greatest education he could give me, alright?*

Of course, there were other peculiar changes. For instance, ever since that day, Mr. Ning’s gaze toward him had been very strange—much like the look Chen Yi had once given a ten-meter-tall demon. However, since Mr. Ning did not continue to trouble him, Chen Yi felt a slight sense of relief.

After school, as Chen Yi and Xia Wanyan returned to the Fanghua Garden, they saw the wet nurse walking toward them with a radiant smile.

"Lady Wanyan, Young Master Yi, a letter has arrived from the Marquis."

"Really?"

Xia Wanyan was pleasantly surprised, but after glancing at the envelope, she fell silent and handed the letter to Chen Yi. "Yi'er, it is for you."

"Oh?"

Chen Yi took it and was about to suggest they read it together when he saw Xia Wanyan turn and leave. He could only smile bitterly as he began to read.

*"To my son, open with your own hands!"*

*No wonder Mother walked away; the old man really doesn't leave any room for sentiment.*