One Sword

Li Wei and Jiang Han crouched low, peering through the crack in the door.

They had been watching for a while. The main reason was that Jiang Han was too cowardly. He was afraid of being caught by his parents for playing hooky and getting a beating. He insisted on scouting the "enemy situation" first.

As a result, they happened to see Yun Zheng's smug look after injuring someone.

Li Wei's hands itched, and she couldn't help but nudge Jiang Han beside her with her elbow. "Hey, who is this show-off?"

Jiang Han also held his breath, his voice deep. "His name is Yun Zheng. He's Jiang Yao's lover, and he's half a member of the Yun Family."

"Half?" Li Wei's curiosity piqued, and she stretched her head up.

Jiang Han's neck itched from the soft strands of her hair brushing against it. His nostrils were filled with the unique, clean, and pleasant scent from her, and his face inexplicably started to feel hot.

His heart skipped a beat. What's going on? Could I be having inappropriate thoughts about "Jiang Xue"?

Damn, just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle!

It's true that I used to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and I did care about this sister.

But caring is one thing, and this is not like some incestuous relationship.

Something's wrong, very, very wrong!

He quickly shook off the messy thoughts from his mind, reached out, and pressed down on Li Wei's restless back of her head, gently pushing her away a little. He explained in a hoarse voice:

"He was originally just a distant, poor relative of the Yun Family, someone they barely knew. He grew up in a mountain village."

"In his first year of high school, he reached 'Muscles and Bones Ringing in Harmony' on his own. That's when the main branch of the Yun Family discovered him. Then they moved his household registration, he recognized a new father, and he was given priority training."

"So, he can only be considered half a member of the Yun Family."

Speaking of this, Jiang Han's lips curled, and he chuckled. "He changed the name Yun Zheng himself. Do you know what his name used to be?"

"What was it?" Li Wei pushed away Jiang Han's hand that was on her head and asked curiously.

Jiang Han stifled his laughter, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "His name was 'Yun Bajin'! They say when he was born, his weight was exactly eight catties."

"Pfft—!" Li Wei really couldn't hold it in this time. She almost burst out laughing and quickly covered her mouth tightly with her hand. "Is that true? How do you know?"

Jiang Han snorted proudly, also struggling to contain himself. "Cough, cough, that guy is just a show-off. Lots of people don't like him, so someone always wants to dig up his past. So, they found out."

Li Wei blinked. "Hasn't anyone dared to deal with him?"

Jiang Han pouted. "That eldest daughter of the Yun Family protects him. If Yun Xi didn't have his back, an idiot like him would have been beaten to death hundreds of times by now."

Yun Xi... This name, Li Wei found it a bit familiar. Her mind raced, and she remembered.

Yun Xi, the eldest daughter of the Yun Family, second on China's Martial Immortal Ranking—the granddaughter of the 'Sword Immortal' Yun Sheng, she was like a princess brought to life!

The other day, when Jiang Xue was talking about relationships, her photo was at the top of the "Enemies" list, with five black hearts drawn all over it. She was definitely the ultimate enemy of enemies.

Of course, whether the eldest daughter Yun knew of someone named 'Jiang Xue' was another matter.

At this moment, in the hall, Yun Zheng was poking Jiang Zhirou's forehead, starting his passionate show-off!

Seeing this scene, Li Wei's eyelids twitched. She couldn't help herself. "Then... can I beat this Yun Bajin to death?"

Jiang Han choked. Were the Yun Family members easy to mess with?

Just as he was about to dissuade her, he felt as if his throat was being choked, and he couldn't utter a single word!

He stared wide-eyed in horror, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Li Wei wasn't looking at him, so she didn't know what terrifying experience her cheap brother was going through.

Not hearing Jiang Han's reply, she was about to ask again when a voice, both delicate and charming, yet with a hint of laziness, suddenly echoed in her mind: "Oh dear~ Killing him might not be good, but breaking one of his arms would do."

"Who?!" Li Wei's hair stood on end. That feeling of being spied on and feeling uncomfortable returned!

She took two quick steps back, suddenly turning her head to look around, but the doorway was empty. There wasn't a soul, not even a ghost!

"What are you looking for?" the voice echoed in her mind again, with a hint of amusement. "This old one is Jiang Xinyue."

Li Wei was shocked. Her body froze in place, and she subconsciously murmured in a low voice, with disbelief in her tone, "G-Grandmother?"

"Ay, my good granddaughter..." Jiang Xinyue's tone was still a bit informal, but her tone suddenly turned extremely urgent. "Alright, alright, enough with the nonsense! Hurry up and go in and break his arm! That Yun Family kid is too cringe, it's making me cringe to death. If you don't go in soon, the situation will be out of control!"

"Got it!"

Li Wei was instantly amused. She had been bickering with Jiang Han for so long, wasn't it just to probe this person's background!

Now that she had a Grandmaster backing her up, why should she be afraid of anything?

She immediately took a stride that seemed to disregard everyone and lifted her foot to kick the door open.

But then she thought about it. This was still her home for now. Her expression stiffened, and she awkwardly retracted her foot.

"Ahem!"

She cleared her throat, reached out, and pushed the door open. At the same time, her mind raced, and she quickly pulled up the system panel.

[Combat Method: First String·Cold Pond Sinking Jade (Entry 30/30 → Proficient 0/100)]
[Abyss Essence: 642 → 612]
...
[Combat Method: First String·Cold Pond Sinking Jade (Proficient 100/100 → Mastered 0/300)]

[Abyss Essence: 612→512]

[Combat Method: First String · Cold Pond Sinking Jade (Proficient 300/300 → Minor Accomplishment 0/1000)]

[Abyss Essence: 512→212]

"So comfortable~"

In one go, she advanced the first stance of "Nine Moon Reflection Swords," "Cold Pond Sinking Jade," to the Minor Accomplishment realm. A flood of insights surged into her mind like a breached dam.

The amount of information this time far exceeded that of the entry-level upgrade by more than tenfold.

Yet, strangely, Li Wei didn't feel any strain. The profound knowledge seemed to naturally belong to her, integrating seamlessly.

Could it be that I've become completely desensitized to pain? Or is it the qualitative change brought about by my Vitality Value breaking through a hundred?

But for now, she had no time to ponder.

Just then, she clearly heard Yun Zheng's provocative declaration—"Don't say I didn't give your Jiang Family a chance! Today, I stand right here! Every single Quasi-Martial Artist in your Jiang Family, if anyone can defeat me, I'll give you a satisfactory explanation! How about it?!"

Li Wei suppressed the urge to cover her face and complain, replying in a tone that was as calm as possible, yet clearly laced with mockery, "Oh, I was wondering who graced us with their presence. Turns out it's the renowned 'Yun Bajin'?"

Yun Zheng, who was basking in the spotlight and showing off, suddenly froze and whipped his head around!

As he looked at Li Wei, his eyes were stained crimson, turning scarlet. His aura became incredibly violent!

"You—want—to—die!!!" The three words were squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with endless malice and killing intent.

Crack!

The moment the floor tiles shattered, he lunged at Li Wei like an arrow loosed from a bow, his hands transforming into claws, his fingertips shimmering with an ominous black and red ghostly light!

"Ah—!"

"Be careful!"

"Quick, dodge!"

Seeing that Yun Zheng was serious, the Jiang Family members in the hall descended into chaos.

Looking at the familiar face of the girl at the entrance, those with quick reflexes had already guessed that the newcomer was "Jiang Xue."

After all, she was family. Despite their fear, some instinctively cried out!

However, the middle-aged man in the white robe, who had been silently following behind Yun Zheng, saw Li Wei and his pupils contracted sharply!

Not good! There's a master!

He was about to intercept the now-irrational Yun Zheng when he was horrified to find his body frozen, completely unable to move!

Jiang Family Master!

The middle-aged man's eyelids twitched wildly. His heart sank to the bottom with a thud. Forgetting all about his dignity, he immediately shouted in surrender, "Show mercy—"

Before his voice even fell, a light blue figure appeared like a phantom where Yun Zheng had just been standing.

Her skirt hem swirled gently as she landed silently, stirring a faint, crisp scent.

Li Wei flicked her wrist lightly, flinging off all the bloodstains from her sword. Then, with a soft "swish," she cleanly and neatly sheathed her blade at her "waistband."

After doing all this, she casually raised her eyes and looked at the pale-faced middle-aged man in the white robe, "What did you just say?"

He opened his mouth, looked at Li Wei, who was composed and unhurried, then at the bloody severed arm five to six meters away, and then at the unconscious Yun Zheng. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he ultimately chose to remain silent.

Damn it, definitely "Great Perfection"! No doubt about it!

He'd confirmed the look in her eyes—she was someone he couldn't afford to offend.

If you offend someone of this caliber, unless you kill her right now, there's only a dead end.

Would the Yun Family offend such a prodigy for a mere guest elder? It was impossible to even consider.

What status do those "Great Perfection" cultivators who have grown up now hold? It was easy to draw parallels.

Feeling the invisible restraint on his body suddenly disappear and his body regain control, he immediately bowed deeply to Li Wei.

Then, with practiced movements, he picked up the severed arm and tucked the unconscious Yun Zheng under his arm, rushing out the door without looking back.

His speed was faster than a rabbit spotting a hawk.

Wait, the script wasn't supposed to go like this! I just started showing off, and the opening act's guest took the supporting character away? I haven't even delivered my prepared lines yet!

Li Wei stared at the empty doorway, looking bewildered.

Also, she was wondering why she felt nothing after chopping off someone's arm with a single sword strike.

Was she a pervert? Or was the world a pervert?

Just as she was feeling disoriented, Jiang Xinyue's signature sharp exclamation suddenly exploded in Li Wei's mind.

"Holy crap! You've cultivated to 'Sword Passes Without Sound'?!"

"Cold Pond Sinking Jade is Minor Accomplishment?!"

"I didn't even get a chance to give you a power-up, and you're telling me you not only learned it but directly achieved Minor Accomplishment?!"

"Did you learn that from the trash data in Jiang Xue's hand? From when you met Jiang Xue until now, at most, has it been half a month?!"

"Do you know how long it took me to learn this move back then? Can you at least follow the basic principles? If you do it like this, it makes me look like an idiot!!"

... A series of high-pitched screams made Li Wei's head buzz. Before she could even recover, a large crowd swarmed around her, chattering enthusiastically.

"Is that Xiao Xue? She's really grown up! It's only been four years, and she's blossomed like a fairy."

"Xiao Xue, I'm your second aunt. I even held you when you were little! Do you remember your second aunt?"

"Me too! I'm your eldest uncle! When you were little, you always pestered me to go to the park and find bird nests!"

"Sister Xiao Xue, I'm Lele! The one who always followed you around when we were kids! You're so beautiful, so cool and stunning! I like you so much!"

"Sister Xue, are you Minor Perfection or Great Perfection now? Looking at Yun Zheng in front of you, he's like he's made of paper, shattering with just a touch!!"

"Was that move just now Cold Pond Sinking Jade? Sword Passes Without Sound, it's definitely Minor Accomplishment! Xiao Xue, you're too amazing!"

"Xiao Xue…"

"My dear niece…"

Li Wei: "……"

She felt like she was about to be drowned by this sudden wave of enthusiasm.

"Excuse me, excuse me! Grandmother wants to see Jiang Xue, please let us through!"

Jiang Han struggled with all his might, finally pulling Li Wei out of the fiery crowd of relatives. He grabbed her wrist and ran, as if a ferocious beast was chasing them.

By the time the two finally escaped the noisy hall, Li Wei felt like the world before her had turned into a swirling incense coil, leaving her dizzy.

The relatives' enthusiasm had almost melted her on the spot; she couldn't handle it.

As they ran, Li Wei, having slightly regained her composure, suddenly remembered the strange scene she'd glimpsed in the hall earlier.

She wondered why every female relative had a lotus flower on their forehead.

The colors varied – red, gold, white… they looked quite unique.

Uh, and a bit strange, the golden lotus on her grand-aunt's forehead seemed to be crooked?

Was this some unique custom or status symbol of the Jiang Family?

But Jiang Xue had never mentioned anything about it…

Li Wei raised her hand and touched her bare forehead, feeling like she was a little… out of place among these "lotus flowers"?

At the same time, in the Jiang Family hall.

Jiang Yunshu: "Where's Yao Yao?"

Tang Zhou: "I don't know…"

Jiang Yunshu: "Wasn't she just on the sofa?"

Tang Zhou: "Yeah."

Jiang Yunshu: "What do you mean 'yeah'? Go find her quickly!"

Tang Zhou: "Oh, okay, okay, okay."