Easily Defeating Lu Dayou

In Ji Boying's eyes, among the sparring matches between his fellow disciples, only Linghu Chong's and Laodeno's were worth watching. Linghu Chong's swordplay was good, while Laodeno used a dazzling variety of martial arts techniques that made things interesting.

As for the rest? Heh-heh...

Ji Boying could not help shaking his head.

They only used a few Mount Hua Swordplay techniques. They looked merely proficient, and their exchanges were nothing more than routine sparring, following the usual patterns without the slightest surprise.

"What is Junior Disciple Brother doing? It's your turn."

"Oh, all right. Coming."

Ji Boying carried his sword to the center, and everyone looked him over curiously.

Everyone on Mount Hua knew that a new genius had arrived. They had also run into this junior disciple here and there, and he really did look like a sword fanatic.

They wondered just how far his swordplay had progressed.

Ji Boying saluted Shu Qi, who was a little younger than himself. "Senior Disciple Brother, please instruct me."

Shu Qi hurriedly waved his hands timidly. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Junior Disciple Brother, please go easy on me instead."

Mount Hua did not rank disciples by age, so Shu Qi was the senior disciple brother.

Shu Qi was only thirteen or fourteen and had not yet grown into his full height, while Ji Boying was already sixteen. Born into a poor but scholarly farming family, he never lacked food or clothing. He often studied without neglecting his work, and stood a towering eight chi five tall. Before Shu Qi, he was practically a little giant. How could Shu Qi not be nervous?

The two raised their swords and were just about to begin.

"Wait..."

Ning Zhongze stopped them.

"Mistress."

Ji Boying turned around.

Ning Zhongze lifted her head and looked with satisfaction at her tall young disciple. Smiling, she said, "Qi'er is young, while you are so big. Do not bully your senior disciple brother. Change opponents."

Ji Boying gave a roguish grin. "Mistress is playing favorites. I'm clearly the junior disciple, so Senior Disciple Brother should be the one not bullying me."

His lively tone immediately sent everyone into laughter. Even the usually stern Yue Buqun stroked his beard with a smile on his face.

Only Lu Dayou did not laugh. Instead, he felt that someone as large as Ji Boying acting cute toward Mistress was truly unsightly.

He had forgotten that even Senior Disciple Brother Linghu Chong, already in his twenties, often acted cute toward Mistress.

Other than Second Senior Disciple Brother Laodeno, which of the others did not regard Mistress as their own mother?

But now that he was prejudiced against Ji Boying, he naturally did not want to watch this eight-and-a-half-chi-tall man act cute toward Mistress, who only reached his chest.

Ning Zhongze ignored Ji Boying and had Shu Qi step down, intending to choose another opponent for Ji Boying.

She had not stopped them on a whim. This was actually what she and Old Yue had decided together.

They already knew that Yue Lingshan had likely suffered a loss at Ji Boying's hands. Yue Lingshan's swordplay could only be considered middling on Mount Hua now, but she was still far better than younger disciples like Shu Qi.

"Which of you is willing to come up and give your junior disciple brother some pointers?"

"I will!"

Just as Linghu Chong was about to step forward, Lu Dayou shouted and ran up first.

Linghu Chong immediately frowned. This is bad. Sixth Monkey is prejudiced against Junior Disciple Brother. What if he hurts him?

"Sixth Junior Disciple Brother, I taught Junior Disciple Brother his Mount Hua Swordplay. Let me test his skills instead..."

Linghu Chong walked over with feigned ease, but Lu Dayou secretly sighed in relief and forced a smile. "Senior Disciple Brother, let me go first. If Senior Disciple Brother has to make a move in his very first sparring match, would we senior brothers not lose face before Junior Disciple Brother?"

"Do not argue. Your junior disciple brother needs to gain experience. As his senior brothers, you should help him. Anyone who wishes to fight may have a match."

Yue Buqun made the final decision from beside the pavilion.

He looked expectantly at Ji Boying standing in the center.

To Ning Zhongze as she returned, he said, "Let him fight a few more matches. Let us see just how great Boying's talent truly is."

Ning Zhongze smiled. "I am afraid that will be difficult. Though Boying is talented and his swordplay is now on par with Shan'er's, only half a month has passed, so it would be hard for him to have made any great breakthrough. Though Shan'er is slightly more talented than Dayou, Dayou is a man and several years older. I am afraid Boying will not gain any advantage."

Yet Yue Buqun gave a mysterious smile. "Let us wait and see."

With Yue Buqun's decision settled, Linghu Chong had no choice but to remind them, "Blades and swords have no eyes. Stop at the proper point."

"Rest assured, Senior Disciple Brother!"

Lu Dayou was brimming with confidence. No matter how talented Junior Disciple Brother was, he had spent too little time practicing martial arts on the mountain. Could he possibly compare to all those years of his own training? If that were true, would he not have lived all those years for nothing? Impossible, absolutely impossible.

Lu Dayou intended to teach Junior Disciple Brother a lesson on Senior Disciple Brother's behalf, so that he would know he had not been on the mountain long and ought to behave himself, practice diligently, and spend less time entangling himself with Junior Disciple Sister.

Ji Boying did not know what Lu Dayou was thinking. He was simply eager to have a sparring match.

Once one had learned martial arts, who could resist testing themselves in a spar? Ji Boying loved martial arts.

"Sixth Senior Disciple Brother, please!"

Ji Boying drew his sword and took his stance. Both men assumed the same Welcoming Pine stance.

Ji Boying attacked first. His Precious Sword flashed as it darted close. Lu Dayou hurriedly raised his sword to block, using precisely the variation Linghu Chong had taught him.

Ji Boying's Precious Sword merely paused slightly, and Lu Dayou's swing cut through empty air. Then the Precious Sword thrust forward with the motion, its tip already pressed against Lu Dayou's chest.

Lu Dayou immediately froze in place, staring in stunned disbelief without moving.

The onlookers erupted in an uproar as well!

Yue Lingshan and the female disciples all gaped in shock. Shi Daizi, Gao Genming, and the others wore expressions as though they had seen a ghost.

Their martial skills were actually about equal to Lu Dayou's. Even if they could beat him, it would only be by a narrow margin. Yet Junior Disciple Brother had subdued Lu Dayou with a single sword strike. Did that not mean he could subdue them with one strike as well?

Th-this... how was that possible?!

Linghu Chong was equally astonished. He had reminded Sixth Monkey not to act rashly and hurt anyone, yet Junior Disciple Brother was the one who had shown mercy, stopping his sword at Lu Dayou's chest.

Did this count as defeating an opponent in one move? There had not even been one move. Welcoming Pine was merely an opening stance—this was clearly defeating an opponent with one sword strike!

Ning Zhongze had already leapt up from the stone bench, her beautiful eyes filled with shock. Yue Buqun's face was full of pride, astonishment, and delight.

He knew Ji Boying would give him a surprise, but he had never expected the surprise to be this great!

"Senior Disciple Brother, thank you for letting me win."

Ji Boying sheathed his sword.

Yet Lu Dayou still looked utterly dazed. He stared blankly at the longsword in his hand, his throat bobbing as he spoke in a dry voice. "Th-this... how is this possible... How is this possible..."

This was far too difficult for him to accept. Was it because he had not used his internal energy? No, that was not right. He had never anticipated that strike at all. His internal energy had not even had time to react.

Lu Dayou closed his eyes in anguish. The gap was simply too vast.

How could the gap not be vast? Ji Boying knew it well. Lu Dayou had advantages in age and sex, and was currently slightly stronger than Yue Lingshan, but that was all.

In terms of internal cultivation, he had probably only practiced the Mount Hua Internal Cultivation Method to Ji Boying's own proficient level. As for swordplay, he was merely at this level, while Ji Boying...?