Victory Without Arrogance, Elegance Revealed

Gu Shaoan's voice was calm and even. But unlike before, after speaking, he didn't draw his sword.

Even the way he held the hilt was notably relaxed. He merely turned slightly, stepped half a pace forward with his left foot, and raised his right palm lightly between his chest and abdomen, taking the defensive stance of Golden Summit Cotton Palm.

Seeing that his opponent wasn't using a weapon, the young Zhang Yuting furrowed his brow slightly. Then he let out a low shout, his footwork turning nimbly as he darted to Gu Shaoan's flank. He thrust his sword swiftly toward the Zhangmen Acupoint at Gu Shaoan's waist!

Though the move was somewhat awkward, it was fast, and the sword tip made a faint whooshing sound as it cut through the air—clear proof that he had put in plenty of effort during his daily practice.

Gu Shaoan's eyes narrowed slightly, but he neither dodged nor retreated.

Just as the sword point was about to reach him, his right palm swept out like a feather, its edge meeting Zhang Yuting's wrist precisely.

The parry seemed light and effortless, with no apparent force behind it, yet it pressed exactly on the crucial point where Zhang Yuting's strength was being channeled.

Zhang Yuting felt his wrist sink. His gathered force ebbed away in an instant like a receding tide, and the sword tip he had thrust forward veered off course against his will. Startled, he quickly stepped back and turned.

After a brief pause, he charged at Gu Shaoan again, his sword flashing left and right as he cut off Gu Shaoan's escape routes.

Gu Shaoan still didn't move from where he stood. When Zhang Yuting drew near, he shifted his feet slightly, his figure swaying gently like a willow in the wind.

Whenever Zhang Yuting's palm strikes came close, Gu Shaoan's palm followed like a shadow, touching the outside of his arm or the back of his hand. With a deft deflection and release of force, he neutralized every attack.

His attacks thwarted, Zhang Yuting's little face flushed red, and a young man's stubbornness welled up inside him.

He gritted his teeth, sank his breath into his Dantian, and sprang into the air. Twisting his wrist midair, he unleashed Bird Flies to Forest in a descending strike, concentrating all his force on the tip of his sword as he aimed straight for Gu Shaoan's head and shoulder!

The move was powerful and fast, drawing a low cry from the young Wudang Sect disciples.

Facing the attack from above, Gu Shaoan finally moved.

He shifted his foot lightly and moved forward instead of retreating, slipping beneath Zhang Yuting at the critical moment, barely three feet below him.

At the same time, his right palm flashed upward like a serpent striking, its soundless force slicing into the opening beneath Zhang Yuting's arm, exposed by his dive!

Every move, even the timing of his strikes, was perfectly judged.

It was as if Gu Shaoan had planned it all in his mind long ago.

Just as the edge of his palm was about to touch Zhang Yuting's clothes, Gu Shaoan changed the cutting motion into an upward push. A gentle yet irresistible force suddenly surged forth.

"Ah!" Zhang Yuting cried out. With nothing to push off against in midair, he was sent tumbling backward by the resilient force and hurtled through the air, about to crash to the ground.

Gu Shaoan didn't stop. He tapped the ground with his toes, his figure appearing beside Zhang Yuting in an instant like a Floating Dragon soaring through the air.

His left hand darted out and caught the back of Zhang Yuting's robe.

Gu Shaoan's arm was strong enough to hold him securely and steady his body.

Once they had both landed, Gu Shaoan lightly tapped the ground and floated back a safe ten feet. He clasped his hands in salute, his voice as calm as ever.

"You were generous."

From beginning to end, the exchange had lasted exactly ten moves.

Gu Shaoan had remained steady and unhurried throughout. He hadn't drawn his sword even once.

With nothing but his bare hands, he had defeated Zhang Yuting with ease, then caught him and helped him regain his balance, sparing him an embarrassing fall.

Though still young, he was already composed and unhurried, embodying Victory Without Arrogance and Elegance Revealed.

Combined with Gu Shaoan's striking appearance, this left Miejue thoroughly satisfied.

"Th-thank you..."

Zhang Yuting regained his footing and returned the salute, his youthful voice trembling slightly.

The lingering shock and fear on his face showed that he hadn't even seen how he had lost.

The training grounds fell silent.

The Wudang Sect disciples, who had just been cheering quietly over their side's slight advantage, now stared wide-eyed at the young Gu Shaoan, visibly astonished.

By contrast, the Emei Sect disciples were all smiles.

Seeing Gu Shaoan win the match with ease without even drawing his sword, they all felt a shared sense of pride.

Zhou Zhiruo's lovely face was especially bright with delight.

Her starry eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Shaoan.

But the uninitiated watched the spectacle, while the experienced saw the skill behind it.

Everyone else thought Gu Shaoan's palm techniques were exquisite. Even though he had only defended and countered, he had still beaten Zhang Yuting.

But in Song Yuanqiao and the others' eyes, things were entirely different.

Song Yuanqiao in particular paused in the act of stroking his beard as he watched Gu Shaoan's palm techniques, a gleam flashing in his eyes.

With Song Yuanqiao's discernment, how could he fail to see that what Gu Shaoan was using wasn't a palm technique at all, but the Emei Sect's Willow Catkin Sword Technique?

What was truly remarkable was that Gu Shaoan had replaced the sword with his palm, performing the sword technique as a palm technique, yet each strike still flowed like a light breeze brushing willow branches, as if his movements were carried by the wind.

He had clearly practiced Willow Catkin Sword Technique to an extremely advanced level. How could he have reached such a level in only two months?

Suddenly, Zhang Songxi recalled the wager he had just made with Miejue, and he felt as though he had been tricked.

His expression darkened, and he looked toward Miejue with displeasure.

"If you wish to reclaim the Heavenly Sword, Abbess, you could simply have said so. Given the relationship between Emei and Wudang, even my master wouldn't make things difficult for you. Why lie and go to such lengths to deceive us?"

"Your accomplished disciple can perform Willow Catkin Sword Technique with his palm instead of a sword, and make the force of his palm sway like willow catkins. He has clearly reached the level of Mastery. How could a disciple who joined Emei only two months ago have achieved that?"

At this, Miejue's expression stiffened. Then she fixed Zhang Songxi with a somber gaze.

"Ridiculous. I, Miejue, have traveled the martial world for many years. My word has always been my bond, and I have never spoken falsely. Or does Zhang the Fourth Hero think that, for the sake of the Heavenly Sword, I would disregard my own reputation and that of Emei and deliberately deceive Wudang?"

Miejue's voice rang out in anger, and Zhang Songxi's words abruptly caught in his throat.

Miejue's reputation in the martial world was a mixed one, but certain things about her were universally acknowledged.

One of them was her character.

You could say Miejue was ruthless, or that she was narrow-minded and intolerant.

But you couldn't deny that someone as fierce as Miejue valued her reputation above all else and never lied.

Whatever she had done, she would own up to it.

That was her reputation.

Something like when a disciple had joined the sect could be checked with the simplest inquiry. There was no way Miejue could conceal it.

Given her character, Miejue would never ruin her reputation over something like this.

Thinking it over, Zhang Songxi rose and bowed to Miejue. "I spoke out of turn, Abbess. I hope you won't take offense."

It had to be said that Zhang Sanfeng had taught his disciples very well.

Others of Miejue's generation might have clung to their pride even after realizing they were wrong, escalating the conflict rather than backing down.

But Zhang Songxi had been willing to admit his mistake the moment he understood what had happened. That alone set him apart from so many others.