Down the Mountain

After several days in seclusion, he had not only cultivated the same pure Innate Qi as Wang Chongyang, but had also found another path.

Using the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique as a crucible, he drew on the methods of the Innate Technique to forcibly fuse the various kinds of chaotic energy in his Dantian.

The total amount of his Internal Energy might not have increased dramatically, but its quality had changed beyond recognition. His energy flowed through his meridians without the slightest obstruction, as smoothly and freely as moving his own limbs.

More importantly, the world looked different to him now. Martial arts moves were no longer individual techniques in his eyes, but a flowing principle, a rhythm that existed naturally between heaven and earth.

At that moment, his aura was restrained to the utmost. He merely stood there quietly, yet seemed like an ancient, unfathomably deep well, still and inscrutable.

To someone who knew nothing about martial arts, he was simply a handsome young man with a tall, straight figure and an extraordinary air. But in the eyes of a true expert, he was like a bottomless ancient well. Beneath its placid surface, no one could know what turbulent currents lay hidden.

Lin Xuan strolled out of the stone chamber, wearing only a robe casually draped over his shoulders. Beneath its open collar was his broad chest, its firm muscles sharply defined. His steps were light, yet carried a peculiar rhythm, as though each one landed on the beat of a heartbeat.

In another stone chamber, Li Mochou abruptly opened her eyes as she sat cross-legged in meditation.

A trace of suspicion and wariness flashed through her sharp, phoenix-like eyes.

She had not heard anything. It was a warrior's instinctive perception. That aura in the air—the one she both hated and feared—had grown even more restrained, and... even more dangerous.

"Mochou."

Lin Xuan's voice came from outside, warm and calm.

Li Mochou was silent for a moment, forcing down the turmoil in her heart. She straightened her apricot-yellow Taoist robe. The loose garment could not hide her graceful, curvaceous figure. She stood tall, then walked out, carrying the Crimson-Refined Fairy's signature icy beauty and pride.

"What is it?"

She stopped several paces from Lin Xuan. Her voice was cool, and she deliberately kept her distance, as if an invisible barrier stood between them.

Lin Xuan seemed not to notice the wariness in her eyes. Instead, he smiled faintly. "I've gained a little insight into martial arts during these past few days of seclusion, but it's also raised many questions. I'd like to discuss and compare notes with you and Miss Long. Would you be willing?"

The barbs in Li Mochou's heart eased a little. She was a martial arts fanatic, and the word "martial arts" was hard for her to resist.

She gave a cold snort, which served as assent, then turned toward Little Dragon Girl's stone chamber.

A moment later, the three of them faced one another in the largest chamber of the Ancient Tomb.

Little Dragon Girl was still dressed in plain white, unstained by the dust of the world. Her skin was fair as snow, delicate as if it might yield at a touch. Her ink-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, setting off her peerlessly beautiful, cool face. She seemed like an immortal from the moon palace, untouched by worldly concerns.

Her clear eyes studied Lin Xuan curiously. She could sense that something about him had changed, but she could not say exactly what.

"Miss Long, Daoist Li." Lin Xuan bowed once more, his manner open and straightforward. "Allow me to make a fool of myself."

He looked first at Li Mochou, his gaze bright. "Daoist Li, shall we exchange a few moves first?"

Li Mochou had been hoping he would ask. Without a word, she flicked her wrist, and a long sword appeared in her hand. Its tip angled toward Lin Xuan as a murderous aura spread through the chamber.

This time, Lin Xuan did not take her lightly. He, too, picked up a long sword.

"After you."

Before the words had left his mouth, Li Mochou's figure blurred into a streak of light. Her sword thrust straight at him like a venomous snake darting out, its shrill hiss cutting through the air! Every move in her swordplay was steeped in hatred—ruthless and deadly.

Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed, and his sword moved after hers yet arrived first.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The crisp, rapid clash of metal rang through the empty stone chamber.

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Li Mochou became. Lin Xuan's sword seemed like an invisible web, always anticipating her attacks and deflecting them in the cleverest, most effortless way. Her swordplay was vicious, but lacked variety, and he exposed that weakness to the fullest.

After more than thirty moves, agitation got the better of Li Mochou, and she revealed a flaw.

A glint flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. His sword coiled around the spine of hers like a nimble snake, then pulled and swept it aside!

Li Mochou felt her wrist go numb as a subtle force struck. Her sword flew from her grasp and clattered to the ground in the distance.

Lin Xuan's sword tip had already stopped steadily three inches from her fair throat.

A slight exhalation of sword energy made her skin break out in fine shivers.

"Daoist Li," Lin Xuan said sincerely as he lowered his sword, "your sword is trapped by your heart. Your killing intent is too strong, and you've lost the fluidity that Ancient Tomb Sect martial arts should have."

Li Mochou's face went deathly pale. She bit down hard on her full lips, her chest rising and falling sharply with her hurried breaths. She had lost—completely and convincingly—yet she was also mortified and furious.

"Miss Long, your turn." Lin Xuan turned to Little Dragon Girl.

Little Dragon Girl gave a silent nod. With a slight movement, her white sleeves fluttering, she began the Ancient Tomb swordplay.

Her swordplay was just like her: cool, graceful, and peerlessly fluid. She seemed like an immortal dancing beneath the moon, beautiful beyond compare, yet her defense had not a single opening; it was as impenetrable as a sealed wall.

Seeing this, Lin Xuan's sword style changed abruptly.

His swordplay was entirely improvised, unconstrained and unconventional, like a heavenly steed galloping across the sky or an antelope hanging its horns on a branch.

Little Dragon Girl had never faced an opponent like him.

No matter how exquisite her swordplay was, it still followed an established system. But Lin Xuan's methods broke every convention, and her flawless defensive circle began to falter.

At last, Lin Xuan exposed a flaw to lure her into attacking. Then, halfway through, he abruptly changed his move and used an unbelievable step to circle behind her. With the hilt of his sword, he gently tapped the Jade Pillow acupoint at the nape of her smooth, jade-like neck.

Little Dragon Girl's delicate body shuddered. Her whole body went limp, and the long sword slipped from her hand.

"Miss Long's swordplay is already peerless in this age," Lin Xuan praised sincerely. "But it's too pure, like a still pool. Against a turbid current that refuses to play by the rules, it will put you at a disadvantage."

Little Dragon Girl stood motionless, a thoughtful look filling her cool eyes for the first time.

Only after seeing both women defeated did Lin Xuan reveal his true aim. He sighed, wearing a hint of carefully measured regret.

"Your swordplay each has its own strengths, but neither of you can quite match me one-on-one. Why don't you join forces and spar with me?"

He proposed that they work together against him.

Just as expected, Li Mochou and the taciturn Little Dragon Girl exchanged a glance. Surprise and confusion showed in their eyes, along with a faint spark of competitive spirit.

Seeing this, Lin Xuan pressed his advantage. "I'm no great talent, but I'd be glad to serve as your sparring partner."

Now that he had put it that way, refusing would make them seem half-hearted about martial arts.

Li Mochou's face remained cold as she gave the slightest nod. Little Dragon Girl also nodded faintly. Her cool face showed no expression, but she had agreed.

And so, the battle between the two women began naturally.

But the ideal was beautiful; reality... was harsh.

Their first attempt at working together was a disaster.

Li Mochou pressed the attack, her sword blazing like fire, while Little Dragon Girl instinctively fell back to defend, her swordplay as cold as ice. Little Dragon Girl used an exquisite defensive move, only for Li Mochou's sword to strike from the side and completely disrupt her rhythm.

Rather than joining forces, they hindered and interfered with each other at every turn. Their crossing sword lights left them in constant danger.

Lin Xuan moved with ease amid their web of swords. He no longer took the initiative to attack. Instead, he was like a touchstone, precisely testing every flaw in their teamwork.

At times, he took one of Li Mochou's strikes head-on and skillfully redirected its force toward Little Dragon Girl. At others, his strange footwork forced Little Dragon Girl to change her moves, throwing Li Mochou's offense off balance.

He was not having an easy time of it, either. A fine sheen of sweat appeared at his temples, and his quick turns and evasive steps made him look rather "haggard." Yet at every crucial moment, he found the one gap in their seemingly seamless cooperation.

Finally, he seized the moment when the two women interfered with each other once more. He suddenly closed in, both palms carrying a gentle force, and pressed them against their shoulders.

Li Mochou and Little Dragon Girl shuddered at the same time and stumbled several steps backward. Both were panting, a lovely flush rising on their fair faces as their hair fell slightly out of place.

"Stop."

Lin Xuan shook his head and sighed.

"What a pity. What a pity. I thought one plus one would equal at least two, but I never expected it to be less than one. Your martial arts interfere with each other and weaken one another. Where exactly does the problem lie?"

He did not criticize or mock them. Instead, he presented the matter as an interesting martial arts puzzle.

Watching the two women sink into thought, he continued, "Perhaps... the key isn't me, an outsider, but the two of you. You're the true inheritors of Ancient Tomb Sect martial arts. Only you can find the key that will let these two extreme styles of swordplay blend perfectly."

With that, he cupped his fists toward them. "Thank you both for today's instruction. I've learned a great deal. I'll go reflect on it for a while. You should think it over as well."

He turned and left, giving the sisters—whose relationship was so complicated—both the space and the problem to themselves.

We'll all be family one day. We can't treat each other like enemies. We have to get along.

Silence settled over the stone chamber once more.

This time, however, the atmosphere was no longer so awkward. The "martial arts puzzle" Lin Xuan had raised occupied both their minds.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Mochou finally spoke first. She looked at Little Dragon Girl and asked bluntly, "You shouldn't have used that move just now, 'Drawing a Prison on the Ground.' It sealed off my attack, but it also sealed off your own options."

Little Dragon Girl merely raised her cool eyes at that and looked at her in silence.

Irritated by her clear, placid gaze, Li Mochou pressed her. "What, can't you answer?"

Only then did Little Dragon Girl slowly rise and walk to the weapons rack, where she took down the Lady Sword.

She said nothing. Instead, she flicked her wrist and smoothly demonstrated Li Mochou's "Venomous Snake Leaves the Cave" from earlier.

She performed the move flawlessly, but just as the sword reached its peak, she abruptly stopped.

Then she extended the slender, snow-white index finger of her left hand and gently pointed to the area beneath the wrist of her sword hand, on her left side.

That single gesture said more than a thousand words.

Li Mochou's face instantly flushed red! How could she not understand? Little Dragon Girl was telling her that her seemingly fierce move left her guard wide open, creating a fatal flaw. Little Dragon Girl's "Drawing a Prison on the Ground" had been meant to cover for it!

"I could have changed moves!" Li Mochou argued stubbornly, though her voice had lost some of its force.

Little Dragon Girl lowered her sword and turned her cool gaze toward her again.

This time, she finally spoke. Her voice was ethereal, and she uttered just three words:

"He's faster."

Those three simple words landed like a heavy hammer, striking Li Mochou's heart.

That was right.

He was faster.

Before Lin Xuan's eyes, which saw through everything, and his ghostly speed, any momentary flaw was fatal.

Li Mochou was left speechless, unable to think of a rebuttal.

Chapter 13: Down the Mountain

Life in the Ancient Tomb was like a pool of still water, cold and unchanged for all eternity.

Lin Xuan had spent more than ten days in this "secluded from the world" sanctuary.

He still had someone on his mind: Shuang'er, waiting at the inn at the foot of the mountain, gentle as water and always obedient to him.

It had been quite some time since he had seen her. That simple-hearted girl was devoted to him; alone in an unfamiliar town, she must have been anxiously waiting for him, her heart full of worry and longing.

It was time to go down the mountain and see her.

Lin Xuan's departure did not cause much of a stir in the Ancient Tomb.

He gave Little Dragon Girl a simple explanation: "I have something to take care of down the mountain. I'll be back in a few days."

Little Dragon Girl merely gave a slight nod. Her cool eyes held a trace of loss she had not even noticed herself, subtle as it was.

She had grown used to having this man by her side, to his occasional incisive insights on martial arts, and to the manly aura about him that brought her a strange sense of comfort and calm.

With him gone, the silent Ancient Tomb seemed destined to return to its usual coldness.

Li Mochou, meanwhile, merely stood to one side without a word, as though she did not care whether Lin Xuan came or went.

Yet her slightly narrowed phoenix eyes stayed fixed on Lin Xuan without a moment's pause, and deep within them lay a complexity no one could understand.

Night fell over the small town at the foot of the mountain.

On the second floor of the inn, a candle flickered in a guest room.

Shuang'er sat by the window, using the faint light to carefully mend a blue-green men's robe.

Her slender, fair fingers held a small embroidery needle, moving gently and delicately.

She was mending a tiny worn spot on the inside of the sleeve, almost impossible to notice, where a blade had cut the fabric.

It was one of Lin Xuan's garments.

During the days her master was away, she had taken out all his clothes each day, washed them thoroughly with soap pods, hung them in the sun to dry, then pressed them smooth and neatly folded them before placing them carefully beside her pillow.