Awkward Enough to Claw Down Mount Hua

Chief Guard Zhang eagerly came forward to greet them.

He kept saying things like, "I've long admired you, I've long admired you."

Once they were close, though, he had to tilt his head up to look at Ji Boying.

Ji Boying was already taller and more powerfully built than most people, while Chief Guard Zhang, being from the south, was even shorter.

"Truly, hearing of you is nothing compared to meeting you, and meeting you surpasses all reputation! I have long heard Blood Robed Marquis's great name in the martial world. To have the fortune of meeting his distinguished disciple today, this trip has not been in vain."

"Hahahaha! Boying, this is Chief Guard Zhang of the Fuwei Escort Agency."

Yue Buqun introduced him with a smile.

Though Ji Boying was so embarrassed his toes practically curled into the ground, he still forced out a smile, clasped his hands, and exchanged courtesies.

"So you are Chief Guard Zhang of the Fuwei Escort Agency. I have long admired you, long admired you."

"Hahahaha. I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

What long admiration was there? It was all mere polite talk, and everyone present knew it.

The group went inside.

Yue Buqun and Chief Guard Zhang both sat in the grand chairs at the head of the room.

Several Mount Hua disciples and the Guards Chief Guard Zhang had brought stood along either side.

As Ji Boying stepped inside, he saw Senior Disciple Brother Linghu Chong and the other senior brothers beside him all shooting him meaningful looks, their eyes unable to conceal their envy.

Ji Boying felt both awkward and utterly baffled. He had no idea where this reputation of his had come from. He only assumed that the Fuwei Escort Agency had forced themselves to attend in order to forge ties with Mount Hua.

Most importantly, the standard of that nickname was simply too low.

Ten or so years ago, it might have sounded impressively imposing.

But in recent years, there had been far too many predecessors who had transmigrated, each one constantly bringing forth new ideas.

That fantasy-style trend from ten years ago had long since gone out of fashion. Saying it aloud now only made people cringe.

If he really had to choose a nickname, Jade-Faced Little Flying Dragon would at least sound fresher and more refined.

Ten years ago, Jade-Faced Little Flying Dragon would surely have sounded unbearably tacky. That was a nickname style from the last century.

But from the hot-blooded, melodramatic fantasy style of that earlier era to the later pursuit of novelty and immortal elegance, tastes had kept changing.

Names like Green-Robed Swordsman and Night Rain Blade sounded fine enough, but they were nothing special.

They were actually inferior to something like Jade-Faced Little Flying Dragon—plain and unadorned.

Fashion truly was a cycle.

Yet among this whole crowd, whether Mount Hua's disciples or the Guards of varying ages brought by Chief Guard Zhang, Ji Boying was the only one who felt embarrassed.

Because everyone else genuinely thought it sounded mighty.

These martial artists were not like Ji Boying, a transmigrator who had been through the baptism of countless webnovels.

Their taste in nicknames remained in a simple, unpretentious state: Gentleman Sword, Songyang Palm, Immortal Crane Hand.

There was even the still more plain and unadorned Heavenly King Old Man.

In their eyes, those somewhat melodramatic and hot-blooded fantasy-style nicknames were truly imposing.

Based on their own feelings, they approved of such a nickname and used it to represent Ji Boying as they praised him.

Ji Boying stood off to one side, listening as Old Yue and Chief Guard Zhang exchanged a few casual remarks, every so often mentioning the nickname some unknown madman had given him.

Each time Ji Boying heard it, it felt like a demonic voice drilling into his ears. His hair nearly stood on end, and every muscle in his body twisted.

He clearly possessed profound internal strength.

His whole body was healthy and at ease, strong and vigorous. Even in the depths of winter, he could lie atop icy mountain rocks in thin clothing without the slightest discomfort.

Yet now, absurdly, his legs felt as though they were about to cramp. His toes curled constantly, itching to claw a huge hole into Mount Hua's hard stone.

"Would it be possible for us to witness Young Hero Ji's martial arts?"

Yue Buqun made Chief Guard Zhang feel as though he were bathed in spring breeze. His every courtesy put Chief Guard Zhang at ease, and before he knew it, he had relaxed somewhat.

So he made this slightly presumptuous request.

But Yue Buqun was perceptive. He naturally knew that although Chief Guard Zhang was somewhat smooth in his dealings, he was not actually a man of deep scheming.

Just look at the interest shining from his eyes and written across his face.

Clearly, he was interested both in Ji Boying, this young hero, and in the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, famed throughout the land.

Chief Guard Zhang naturally knew that their martial skills could not compare to those of the true top-tier renowned sects under heaven. But as a martial artist himself, with the other side being so accommodating, he naturally wanted to broaden his horizons.

Ji Boying had finally waited until Chief Guard Zhang stopped mentioning those three embarrassing words.

Before Yue Buqun could agree or refuse, he stepped forward first and spoke.

"Chief Guard Zhang is a senior of the martial world. Please, never mention those three words again, and do not call me Young Hero Ji either. Just call me by my name. Whatever martial arts you wish to see, I will demonstrate them for you."

Chief Guard Zhang said with a smile, "It would be fine not to use that nickname—it would make us seem distant—but we absolutely must call you Young Hero Ji."

"We are merely wandering folk of the martial world and do not understand the profundities of famous orthodox sects. If Young Hero Ji simply displays a few moves for us, we will already be deeply grateful and completely satisfied."

Yue Buqun did not object to Ji Boying's response.

This did not fit Yue Buqun's former low-profile way of handling matters.

But Yue Buqun no longer intended to keep concealing his strength, especially after learning that Ji Boying's Primordial Chaos Technique had so quickly reached the seventh level.

Otherwise, even if Chief Guard Zhang had come up Mount Hua, Yue Buqun would not have accepted the slightest bit of these gifts.

Ji Boying also wanted to show off some of his strength and intimidate Chief Guard Zhang's group, making it easier to have them do something for him later.

But he did not want to make a big show of swordplay.

Though sword techniques were exquisite, they looked flashy. Unless he cut through something, those with insufficient skill might not be able to tell how formidable they were.

After thinking for a moment, he came up with an idea. He would use the move martial artists loved most, one that was both direct and immediately effective.

Ji Boying smiled and clasped his hands toward everyone.

The Mount Hua disciples, the Guards, and the escort leaders all stared fixedly at Ji Boying's every movement, waiting to see what profound martial art he would reveal.

Ji Boying flicked the longsword in his hand. With a sharp clang, half the blade slid from its sheath.

He gripped the hilt with his left hand, drew the sword from its scabbard, and set it aside.

Then he extended his right hand and pinched the sword tip between his thumb and forefinger.

As if he had exerted no force at all, he casually snapped off the sword tip.

He lightly flicked the less-than-inch-long piece of blade toward the ground.

There was a sharp whistle through the air, followed by a burst of sparks.

That small piece of sword tip had already sunk halfway into the stone floor.

The movement was both simple and fast. For a moment, no one reacted to what had happened; it had looked so utterly ordinary.

But after two or three breaths, once their minds started working again and they realized what had happened, the very ordinariness of it made them draw several terrified breaths.

Chief Guard Zhang's weathered old face was now filled with disbelief, his eyes bulging as wide as an ox's.