Autumn Leaves Fall in the Wind, Sword Qi Like Frost

Autumn in the Capital City was even bleaker than in the northern frontier.

Golden plane-tree leaves carpeted Vermilion Bird Avenue. When hooves trod upon them, there was no sound, only a crisp crack that broke the heart.

This was the center of the realm, and also the vortex of power.

Beneath the facade of prosperity, undercurrents more turbid than the moat's waters surged. Reports from the north flew into the Grand Secretariat like snowflakes. The Emperor had not held court for three days, yet envoys from the various feudal princes slipped in and out of the estates of powerful nobles with increasing frequency after dark.

Ji Ye sat at a tea stall by the roadside.

Before him sat a bowl of plain noodle soup, two stalks of greens lying atop the noodles in its clear, watery broth.

At his side rested the iron sword he had bought for fifty coins. Its scabbard was made of old peachwood, its hilt wrapped in black cloth. He looked like nothing more than a down-and-out wandering swordsman.

"Have you heard? The Grand Princess's Manor is recruiting retainers again."

At the next table, two saber-wearing men lowered their voices, but they could not hide them from Ji Ye's ears.

"How many rounds has this been now? That 'Iron-Armed Azure Dragon' who went last month supposedly couldn't even withstand the chief steward's first move before being thrown out."

"This time is different. They say the Grand Princess acquired a fragmentary ancient sword manual and is offering a reward to all under heaven. Whoever can complete three moves will receive a thousand taels of gold and may enter the manor as a 'West Seat.'"

"Complete a sword manual? That's a Grandmaster's work. Let's just drink our tea."

Ji Ye picked up a stalk of greens and leisurely put it into his mouth.

The Grand Princess, Xiao Hongxiu.

The current Emperor's elder sister, she held enormous influence in court and was known as the "Female Prime Minister." It was said that she kept three thousand retainers in her manor, including many desperadoes and eccentric martial artists.

More importantly, she had the privilege of freely entering the Imperial Palace's Grand Library.

That was the nearest road to the Supreme Induction Chapter.

"A West Seat..."

Ji Ye finished the last mouthful of noodle broth and set down three copper coins.

He picked up his iron sword and rose.

The autumn wind lifted the hem of his robe, revealing an ordinary jade pendant at his waist.

It was his only adornment.

Yet as he stood there, he was straighter and taller than any lofty tower in the Capital City.

An annex of the Grand Princess's Manor, Tingxue Tower.

This was where the Grand Princess specifically recruited people from the martial world. Its vermilion gates stood wide open, and two stone lions at the entrance looked majestic and imposing. Yet more imposing still were the two rows of Brocade-Clad Guards standing upon the steps.

Every one of them had bulging temples and long, steady breaths. They were clearly masters of internal cultivation.

In the plaza before the gates, several dozen martial artists had already gathered. There were monks and Daoists, men and women, each carrying weapons and wearing defiant looks.

"Move aside! Are you blind?"

A burly man with an enormous Horse-Chopping Saber on his back shoved through the crowd and strode toward the registration table. As he passed Ji Ye, he deliberately tilted his shoulder, intending to knock aside this frail young man blocking his way.

This was a common test in the martial world, and also a way of establishing one's prestige.

Ji Ye did not dodge.

He did not even raise an eyelid.

Just as the burly man's shoulder was about to strike him, Ji Ye's body swayed with extreme subtlety.

The movement was so slight that the naked eye could barely detect it.

Yet that tiny motion perfectly diverted all of the man's momentum, while Ji Ye's shoulder followed through with a push.

"Borrow force to strike force."

The burly man felt as though he had crashed into a ball of cotton. Then an immense rebounding force surged toward him. His footing faltered, and he staggered back three steps before landing hard on his backside.

The Horse-Chopping Saber slammed into the bluestone pavement, spraying sparks everywhere.

"You!"

Humiliated and enraged, the burly man scrambled up and reached for his saber.

"What are you doing? You dare run wild before the Princess's Manor?"

A middle-aged man who looked like a steward barked coldly from the steps. His gaze was sharp as lightning as it swept over the burly man before settling on Ji Ye.

Others had not seen what happened just now, but he had.

That control over balance and force was not something an ordinary hand could possess.

"Those here to test their swords, line up. Those here to cause trouble, get lost." The steward waved his hand, and the guards on either side stepped forward in unison, murderously imposing.

The burly man swallowed, shot Ji Ye a resentful glare, and slunk back into the crowd.

Ji Ye remained calm, as though nothing had happened. He followed the line forward at an unhurried pace until he stood before the desk.

"Name?" the steward asked, brush in hand.

"Ji Ye."

"What are you skilled at?"

"The sword."

"Weapon?"

Ji Ye raised the iron sword in his hand.

The steward glanced at the shabby sword, whose scabbard had even lost its paint, and frowned slightly. But recalling what he had just witnessed, he still said patiently:

"Go in. Someone is waiting in the third courtyard."

Ji Ye accepted a wooden plaque and stepped over the high threshold.

The third courtyard was an open training ground.

Several plum-blossom poles stood in the center, along with stone locks for testing strength.

But the most eye-catching sight was the old man seated in the middle.

The old man's beard and hair were both white. He held an ancient, simple longsword in his arms and rested with his eyes closed. Around him lay three challengers already defeated. Some clutched their wrists, while others had broken weapons. Every face was deathly pale.

"That is the Grand Princess Manor's swordsmanship Attendant, Liu Bai, the 'Water-Severing Sword.'"

Someone nearby murmured, "His swift swordsmanship is utterly marvelous. They say he has already touched the threshold of Organ Tempering."

"Next."

Liu Bai did not open his eyes. His voice was aged and indifferent.

A martial artist wielding paired hooks gritted his teeth and stepped forward. "Please enlighten me, Senior!"

Before his words had even faded, his twin hooks crossed and scissored toward Liu Bai's neck.

Liu Bai remained seated.

Only when the paired hooks reached him did the sword in his arms suddenly spring half an inch from its scabbard.

Clang!

A flash of cold light streaked past.

The paired hooks in the martial artist's hands broke in unison, their cuts smooth and clean. Liu Bai's sword, however, seemed never to have left its scabbard.

"Too slow. Too messy."

Liu Bai shook his head. "Next."

A stir ran through the crowd. Fear appeared on many faces, and quite a few began to think of retreating.

Ji Ye watched the scene, a glimmer flashing through his eyes.

[Martial Dao Heavenly Eye] activated.

What looked like a lightning-fast sword strike to others was broken into dozens of movements in his eyes.

Liu Bai had not drawn his sword. He had used a spring mechanism on the scabbard to eject the blade, exploiting that instant of explosive force to sever the weapons.

This was not merely swordsmanship. It was a fusion of mechanisms and Internal Strength.

Interesting.

Ji Ye stepped out from the crowd and walked into the field.

"This junior, Ji Ye, requests your instruction."

Liu Bai slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the iron sword in Ji Ye's hand, disdain flashed through his gaze, only to be replaced by a sudden focus.

Because Ji Ye stood far too casually.

So casually that he seemed full of openings.

Yet in the eyes of an expert, being full of openings often meant having no openings at all. Because one could not tell where to attack.

"Draw your sword," Liu Bai said blandly.

"Senior remains seated. This junior does not dare draw his sword."

Ji Ye shook his head. "Because Senior's sword cannot come out."

"Arrogant!"

Liu Bai snorted and repeated his old trick. His finger brushed the scabbard. The mechanism clicked, and the longsword shot forth like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, stabbing straight toward Ji Ye's throat.

This time, he used fifty percent of his Internal Strength.

Faced with that sure-kill strike, Ji Ye neither retreated nor drew his sword.

He merely raised the iron sword still in its scabbard and lightly tapped it forward.

The movement was as slow as if he were swatting a fly.

But that single "tap" was precise to the utmost degree.

Ding.

A crisp collision rang out.

The tip of Ji Ye's scabbard struck, without the slightest deviation, the guard of Liu Bai's ancient sword just as it had sprung out one inch.

That was the node through which the spring mechanism's force was transmitted.

It was also the sole fatal weakness of this mechanism sword.

Crack.

Liu Bai's sword had barely sprung out before that ingenious force rammed it back in. The mechanism jammed, releasing a muffled sound.

Liu Bai felt a jolt in his arms as a strange vibrating force traveled along the scabbard, numbing the web between his thumb and forefinger and stiffening half his body.

His sword truly could not come out.

The entire field fell deathly silent.

It was even quieter than when the burly man had fallen.

Liu Bai abruptly rose to his feet and stared fixedly at Ji Ye, the indifference on his face turning into shock.

"You... saw through it?"

"The force of a spring mechanism travels straight. It may be fast, but it is rigid."

Ji Ye withdrew his iron sword, his tone calm. "Senior's swordsmanship may be exceptional, but this sword limits you."

"Good... what keen eyes!"

Liu Bai drew a deep breath, all trace of contempt gone from his eyes. He set the ancient sword aside, clasped his hands, and gave Ji Ye a salute between equals.

"You have passed this test."

"However..." Liu Bai's tone shifted as he pointed toward the moon gate behind him. "If you wish to become a West Seat, keen eyes alone are not enough. The person inside is the true examiner."

"Thank you."

Ji Ye returned the salute and walked toward the moon gate.

His steps remained neither hurried nor slow, as though that stunning strike just now had been no more than a casual gesture.

Beyond the moon gate stood an exquisite waterside pavilion.

Withered lotus leaves listened to the rain in the pond, while melodious zither music drifted from the pavilion.

A woman dressed in red sat with her back to him, playing the zither. Its resounding notes carried the murderous aura of clashing gold and charging iron steeds.

Behind the woman stood a black-clad man as silent as an Iron Pagoda.

The man in black made no sound of breathing.

Ji Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

Great completion in Organ Tempering, perhaps even... a Half-step Grandmaster.

This was the true foundation of the Grand Princess's Manor.

"Are you Ji Ye, the one who saw through Liu Bai's mechanism sword at a glance?"

The woman in red did not turn around. Her finger swept across the zither string, producing a shrill sound like tearing silk.

"Your swordsmanship is not bad. But I do not keep idle people here."

"I heard you can complete a sword manual?"

A yellowed fragment of paper, wrapped in Internal Strength, shot toward Ji Ye like a flying dagger.

Ji Ye extended two fingers and gently caught the fragment.

The paper did not move in the slightest, and even the ink upon it remained unblurred.

He lowered his head and glanced at it.

Several lines of vigorous cursive script were written upon it. Between every stroke lingered a grim killing intent, but only the first half of the verse remained; the latter half was missing.

[When Heaven unleashes killing intent, stars shift and constellations change. When Earth unleashes killing intent, dragons and serpents rise from the land. When Man unleashes killing intent...]

"What grand words."

Ji Ye softly recited it, his fingers rubbing the yellowed paper.

What sword move was this? It was clearly an insight into the state of mind left behind by some martial madman of the previous dynasty. These three lines spoke of momentum, of the destructive momentum born when Heaven, Earth, and Man resonated as the Three Powers.

"Your Highness has offered a fortune to seek heroes from all under heaven to complete this manual. I presume you have received quite a few 'exquisitely brilliant' sword moves?"

Ji Ye raised his head and looked at the red-clad figure, a faint mockery in his tone.

"Some wrote 'blood flows until it floats shields,' while others wrote 'sweeping across the six directions.' I imagine they were all killing moves of tremendous power."

"Correct."

The woman in red did not turn around. She merely pressed a finger lightly against the zither string. "But I felt they all lacked something. Do you also wish to add a few moves?"

Ji Ye shook his head and loosened his two fingers.

That fragment worth a thousand gold pieces drifted lightly to the ground, gathering dust.

"These lines of verse speak of the workings of the Heavenly Dao, the resonance of vital forces, and the greater momentum. They are already ultimate truths, the very pinnacle of the Dao."

Ji Ye's voice was calm, yet it exploded through the waterside pavilion like thunder.

"Those people sought to use mortal sword moves to fill the killing intent of the Heavenly Dao. That is no different from using mud to patch the sky. Not only can it not be mended, it merely becomes grafting a dog's tail onto a sable—dropping into the inferior realm."

"This sword treatise needs no completion."

"Because the true killing intent was not on the paper."

"Presumptuous!"

The black-clad man, silent all along like an iron tower, let out a low peal of thunder from his throat.

He did not move. Even his toes did not shift the slightest fraction.

Yet his black robe suddenly billowed, and an invisible yet tangible crushing pressure instantly sucked all the air from around Ji Ye.

That was the aura of a Half-step Grandmaster, like a mountain collapsing, intent on forcing others to their knees.

The zither music came to an abrupt stop.

Xiao Hongxiu slowly turned around.

Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, yet cold as frost. A natural pressure of authority lingered between her brows and eyes, making others afraid to meet her gaze.

She looked at the torn pages on the ground, then at Ji Ye. For the first time, genuine interest appeared in her eyes.

"Not on the paper?"

Xiao Hongxiu rose to her feet, her red robes blazing like fire. "Then where is it?"

"In the heart, in the hand, and in..."

Ji Ye gripped his iron sword and slowly drew it half an inch.

A biting chill instantly filled the entire waterside pavilion. Even ripples spread across the pond's surface.

"If Your Highness wishes to see a sword, then this commoner can demonstrate this iron sword for you."

"It is only that I wonder whether this garden full of autumn colors..."

Ji Ye glanced at the withered yellow leaves around him.

"Can withstand this commoner's sword."

Xiao Hongxiu narrowed her eyes.

The black-clad man behind her suddenly strode forward, his aura locking onto Ji Ye like a mountain pressing down from above.

But Ji Ye stood there.

Like a green pine standing proud against snow, neither servile nor overbearing, neither retreating nor yielding.

After a long while.

Xiao Hongxiu suddenly smiled.

That smile was like a hundred flowers blooming, yet carried deadly poison.

"Interesting."

She waved a hand, signaling the black-clad man to withdraw.

"I permit you to draw your sword."

"If this strike satisfies me..."

She pointed at the empty seat beside her.

"The chief seat of Tingxue Tower will be yours."

Ji Ye nodded.

"Forgive this humble display."

Clang—!

The iron sword left its sheath.

This sword was called "Autumn Kill."

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