Thoughts

Riding the momentum of his great victory back to the main hall of the residence halfway up the mountain, Duàn Yì showed not the slightest self-satisfaction. He merely followed behind Bái Xī Wén to close the gates, then sat down gracefully, calm and composed.

"Lin Bohui's swordsmanship is superb—fast and uncanny. By my estimate, it would already have been a struggle for you to withstand ten moves from him. You might even have fallen to his sword by the ninth move. Yet you were able to fight and defeat him. That truly exceeded my expectations."

The moment he sat down, Bái Xī Wén stroked his chin and examined Duàn Yì with amazement. To turn the impossible into possible, to accomplish extraordinary deeds—such a person naturally counted as extraordinary.

He had repeatedly thought highly of this lad, yet he had not expected that he had still underestimated him. This time, Duàn Yì had brought him another surprise.

"Brother Bái, with your broad knowledge, you should be able to tell that my martial arts are fundamentally inferior to Lin Bohui's. Rather than saying I defeated him, it would be better to say that he lost to himself.

"As for my methods, I merely smeared some medicinal powder onto the blade of the Ten Refinements Sword and attacked his weak point.

"I said before that the Bixie Swordplay might indeed be peerlessly powerful and without flaw, but Lin Bohui himself might not be. Now my words have been proven true.

"Do you think such actions of mine are despicable and shameless, unworthy of a true gentleman?"

Other than the true secret of the Bixie Swordplay, Duàn Yì had no intention of concealing anything from Bái Xī Wén. He revealed his real trump card, though he still felt somewhat uneasy.

Yet upon hearing Duàn Yì's words, Bái Xī Wén burst into laughter. He pointed at Duàn Yì, shook his head, and was briefly speechless.

"You little brat, are you playing tricks with me? What, are you afraid I'll develop a grudge against you and drive you down the mountain?

"I won't deny that your conduct was somewhat dirty, but it does not count as an unforgivable crime.

"If using medicine or poison is considered despicable, then wouldn't everyone in the world who cultivates poison arts or develops poisons be a contemptible villain? I was simply surprised. The strange medicine you used seemed rather too potent.

"Besides, it was clearly stated before the duel that any means could be used to win. In other words, poison and concealed weapons were not forbidden.

"At most, your actions were a little unscrupulous. It was hardly some grave offense, so there is no need for shame.

"On the contrary, I ought to praise you. Your brain works rather well. Even if you descend the mountain and roam the martial world in the future, you will not become some rigid fool. Your safety will be greatly assured."

Bái Xī Wén had never been one to follow rules and conventions.

He might possess a chivalrous heart, but if he had truly been a saintly man of great benevolence, unable to tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes, he would have broken with Qū Dōng Liú over the matter of Moon Worship Palace long ago. Why would he have delayed until now?

Moreover, it was precisely because Bái Xī Wén had once rolled and struggled through the martial world, tempering himself through experience, that he knew how sinister and dangerous the true martial world was. Those who did not know how to adapt would sooner or later be unable to survive in such a world.

"Let this matter end here. From now on, train and cultivate on the mountain with peace of mind. Qū Dōng Liú will no longer have an excuse to drive you down the mountain, and the Ruan Family will not keep clinging to this matter either.

"Your talent is high, and your comprehension is strong. If you raise your martial arts another few levels, you will be able to roam the martial world and establish a career of your own. When you meet Jiaonu in the future, I imagine she will be grateful to me as well."

After circling around and around, Bái Xī Wén returned to Yuè Jiāo Nú, making Duàn Yì sigh inwardly. He truly was a man deeply planted in the soil of love.

"Oh, right. The protective gear on you was given to you by Little Yue'er, wasn't it? She really is good to you. What are your plans? Don't grow up looking like a boy toy, only to truly become one in the future."

Having said this, Bái Xī Wén changed the subject and brought up Helan Yue'er again.

The girl was of noble birth and had only just begun to understand love. Her whole heart was tied to Duàn Yì. Anyone with eyes could more or less see it; they simply had not asked about it.

Like Qū Dōng Liú, Granny An, Eunuch Qiu, and the others—they knew Helan Yue'er's feelings. But so what?

Who had not, in their youth, admired someone they could not stop thinking about?

Yet looking back, that person from those days might not necessarily have been one's destined partner. Especially for Helan Yue'er, born into a great family, her future marriage would surely be beyond her own control.

Bái Xī Wén's words were also a subtle reminder to Duàn Yì. If he truly had feelings for the girl, then he needed to strive upward and achieve something in the future. At that time, the Helan Family would presumably be happy to see it happen.

However, Duàn Yì had not thought that far ahead. Perhaps he had never considered things from that angle in the first place. He smiled and said,

"I know Yue'er's feelings, but she is still too young. I feel only the affection of an elder brother toward a younger sister for her, with absolutely no thoughts between a man and a woman.

"Perhaps after some more time has passed, after we have been apart for a while, her feelings will fade. By then, she may even cast me aside like a worn-out shoe.

"But no matter what, I will remember the kindness she has shown me, as well as the kindness Granny An and Eunuch Qiu have shown me. If they ever need me in the future, I will certainly repay this debt of gratitude."

Duàn Yì's words were somewhat beyond Bái Xī Wén's expectations. His eyes widened, and he sprang to Duàn Yì's side in a single motion, smacking the back of Duàn Yì's head with a slap.

"She is too young? How old do you think you are?

"You brat truly do not know happiness when you are standing in its midst. With Helan Yue'er's bearing and beauty, she will surely become a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms and cities once she grows up. It seems you really have not even grown all your feathers yet—you have not awakened to such matters. What a pity."

Though he said this, Bái Xī Wén did not dislike Duàn Yì for it. Duàn Yì might have been a little overly sentimental, but that was better than being scum who deceived a young girl's feelings. Moreover, his nature of repaying kindness suited Bái Xī Wén's tastes well.

After all, Bái Xī Wén's kindness toward Duàn Yì was even greater. When Duàn Yì met Yuè Jiāo Nú in the future, how could he possibly refuse to lend Bái Xī Wén a hand?

Duàn Yì rubbed the back of his head and did not argue back. Then you are truly mistaken. It is precisely because I have awakened to such matters that I know women with curves in all the right places have more charm.

After exchanging a few more jokes, the two returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Duàn Yì returned alone to his room. He first took out a strip of white cloth, then drew the Ten Refinements Sword and sat on a stool, slowly wiping down its blade.

He saw several small but obvious chips along both sides of the blade. Knowing they had been caused by the internal force from his earlier sword fight with Lin Bohui, he could not help feeling some heartache.

Though this sword was quite ordinary, far from fine and even less worthy of being called a treasured sword, it had accompanied him through the most crucial stage of sword training in his life, laying down a deep foundation for his swordsmanship. That was something no one could erase.

"This battle was truly needless. If the Ruan Family had not pressured me and Qū Dōng Liú had not intended to bring it about, I really would not have wanted to bite down on such a hard bone. The Bixie Swordplay truly is formidable.

"Lin Bohui had not yet truly castrated himself to practice the sword. Yet with the shallow attainment he gained through a shortcut method, he could already achieve such a level. One could imagine just how profound and mysterious this martial art was.

"Therefore, this battle did not count as a true victory over the Bixie Swordplay. After all, I have practiced martial arts for too short a time, and my strength is limited. It could only be called a victory won through schemes and tricks.

"But next time, I must truly fight a successor of the Bixie Swordplay and gain a deep appreciation for the splendor of this martial art."

Duàn Yì was not smug or arrogant because he knew that, while his current martial arts might no longer be weak, they could absolutely not be called outstanding. He had to act with the mindset of walking on thin ice.

As for the Bixie Swordplay, to be honest, he was indeed somewhat tempted.

First, divine arts and ultimate techniques were simply too alluring. Even if he could not cultivate it, merely taking it to study a little, broaden his horizons, and increase his martial wisdom and foundation would be worthwhile.

Such an opportunity was something one could encounter but never seek.

Second, the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts also contained a Bixie Sword Manual. Unfortunately, it was completely empty—there was only its listing, without the manual itself. It was a great regret.

Now that Lin Bohui had suffered Qi Deviation, the true qi within his body ran rampant in all directions and no longer obeyed him. Forget fighting; he likely could not even move much.

Thus, if Duàn Yì could descend the mountain, catch the Ruan Family unprepared, kidnap Lin Bohui, then subject him to torture and force out the manual's mental cultivation formulas and secrets, there was some chance of success.

However, there were several inconveniences and hidden dangers.

First, the Golden Cauldron Sect maintained strict control over its gates. If he wished to descend the mountain, he would certainly alert Qū Dōng Liú. Duàn Yì was deeply wary of this man, and he also bore a great grudge against him. He did not wish to enter this man's field of vision too often and draw his attention.

Then there was Lin Bohui's background, which Bái Xī Wén had told Duàn Yì about. Today he had beaten the younger one; another day, the elder one would surely come. With Lin Chunwang's martial arts, even Bái Xī Wén likely would not gain any advantage. The hidden danger was immense.

After considering it again and again, Duàn Yì ultimately dismissed this rather dangerous thought.

"Thinking carefully, even if I do not set my sights on the Bixie Swordplay, this enmity has probably already been formed.

"If Lin Bohui truly is a descendant of the Lin Family of Fuzhou in Lingnan Dao, then by scheming against him until he suffered Qi Deviation, I have surely offended the Lin Family. There may be another entanglement in the future."

That was the martial world. Offend one person, and perhaps a whole group would be implicated. Dots connected into lines, lines interwove into a net, and that net ensnared the martial world under heaven and the rivers and lakes across the four seas. No one could escape it.

Though Duàn Yì was young, he was not truly an ignorant youth. He would not think this matter had simply ended here. Looking deeper, offending the Ruan Family was nothing much; provoking the Lin Family was the real trouble.

But who could have anticipated that the Ruan Family would invite Lin Bohui, or that Lin Bohui would happen to come from Lingnan to Hebei?

It could only be called fate.

But he would not simply resign himself to fate.

The Lin Family, that was all. If he truly brought his divine art to Great Accomplishment and became invincible beneath heaven, then even ten Lin Families would be nothing to fear.

Thus, strength remained the foundation of everything.

And without the backing of any power, Duàn Yì's strength came entirely from his own martial arts. He could only continue down the path of strengthening himself.