Killing Like Grass, Unheard Sound

Beneath the moonlight, her cyan figure danced like a nocturnal sprite, leaping and twirling with wild, ethereal grace.

Ouyang Lan watched silently, her eyes growing heavy. Gradually, her head nodded, and she began to doze off.

In the battle earlier.

She had sustained minor internal injuries from a direct palm strike against the Flying Feather Sword, and later suffered poisoning from the darts of the Paired Swallows.

Although the toxins had been purged and her wounds bandaged.

For some reason, her body still felt weary and weak, like when she had secretly drunk her father's hidden fine wine as a child, feeling dizzy and muddled, lacking energy.

Especially within her meridians, her internal energy, which normally flowed like a great river, was proving difficult to mobilize.

Perhaps it's a lingering effect from the toxins being cleared. It'll pass in a while.

She thought to herself.

Listening to the "swish" of sword forms cutting through the air, she felt a sense of peace and joy, slowly drifting into dreamland.

It felt good to have someone watching over her.

The moon shadows shifted west, until the east began to whiten.

Lu Wu-bing silently counted.

Until the hundred-thousandth sword strike.

As he thrust his sword out.

"Hiss!"

A faint, almost imperceptible sound of sword energy cleaving the air could be heard.

It lacked the resonant ripples of before.

And the sharp screech like tearing fabric.

This strike, as it was unleashed, was without wind or wave, without shadow or form.

The white sword rainbow seemed to stir, or perhaps it hadn't moved at all.

He stood still, his eyes gently closed.

In an instant, a torrent of memories flooded his mind.

It was as if he had practiced the thrusting sword technique for a very, very long time.

One move, White Rainbow Pierces the Sun, practiced from spring to autumn, from winter to summer...

Twenty years of sword tempering transformed into abundant nourishment, sinking into his heart, integrating into his very bones and soul.

At this moment, he felt the sword was no longer just a sword, but an extension of his own arm.

The wind brushing against the sword body, he felt as if he could sense every movement from all directions.

"Up."

After a moment's thought, Lu Wu-bing lightly tapped his toes, kicking up a rock about the size of a human head.

The stone flew three zhang and began to fall diagonally.

Lu Wu-bing stepped lightly, his body darting forward like smoke. A faint, ethereal rainbow flashed, almost imperceptible.

"Pfft..."

A thin, perfectly round hole appeared through the center of the stone, piercing it from front to back.

Stone dust trickled down like fine sand.

"This is the perfected thrusting sword technique. When executed, there are no signs whatsoever; the sword moves before the intent. When piercing the stone, I felt no resistance at all, as if passing through flowing water."

A smile curved Lu Wu-bing's lips as he chuckled silently.

His heart was filled with joy.

He marveled at the swiftness and agility of the Inch Step, and was astonished by the sharpness and speed of the perfected White Rainbow Pierces the Sun sword technique.

The stone fell to the ground with a "thud."

A dull sound.

Ouyang Lan suddenly jolted awake, her sleepy eyes snapping open.

She asked in alarm, "What is it?"

"Nothing, it's just that the eyes in the sky have spotted us."

Lu Wu-bing's smile didn't fade as he looked up and saw the black eagle circling in the air.

The sharp cries of the eagle could be faintly heard.

"We've been spotted? Then hurry up and go!"

Ouyang Lan was anxious.

She quickly forced herself to stand, her body still sore and weak.

"No, they are the ones who should be leaving."

A cold glint flashed in Lu Wu-bing's eyes.

"One punch thrown well can prevent a hundred punches coming. Senior Sister, this time, I'll let you vent all your frustration."

"Quick, quick, it's right here, we can't let them get away."

A series of footsteps echoed in their ears.

What came into view were over a dozen bandits, dressed in various colored clothes, wielding sabers and swords as they swarmed forward.

Following behind them was a man, stout and short like a wild boar, clad in iron armor, carrying a long spear and a large shield in his left and right hands respectively.

This man, of course, was the leader of Tiger's Den Stronghold, Tan Siwu.

He glared fiercely at Lu Wu-bing and the other, as if they were mere sheep in the wilderness.

Beside him walked another man, broad-shouldered and slender-waisted, strong and light on his feet. He carried a wide-bladed, serrated greatsword as if it were a blade of straw.

This was an old acquaintance of Lu Wu-bing's.

Lu Zhongkui, the fifth disciple under Gu Dongting, the sect leader of Donghai, wielder of the [Life-Severing Sword].

"Today, where do you think you can escape to?"

Upon seeing Lu Wu-bing, Lu Zhongkui felt a dull ache in his ribs.

He seemed to recall the pain of being stabbed by the other party that day at the Lu family residence.

Lu Wu-bing's killing intent boiled within him, yet his expression remained as calm as still water.

"Escape? Then why aren't you coming up to intercept? Are you afraid of death?"

Facing the charging bandits, Lu Wu-bing's sword was merciless.

His feet moved forward slowly.

One step, one sword; ten steps, ten swords.

Bodies fell in swathes around him.

Blood flowed like a small stream, spreading a bloody red halo at his feet.

It was exceptionally striking.

"Don't think your quick sword can still land a sneak attack..."

Lu Zhongkui, as if ignoring the heavy casualties among the bandits, sneered, "As long as you hand over the Yuanling Swordplay Manual, we can still leave you with a whole corpse."

Although he spoke harshly, he didn't let his guard down in the slightest. He remembered the scene of his second senior brother being buried in the desolate mountains...

Even with his second senior brother's Qinggong and swordsmanship, he had fallen at the hands of these two.

He couldn't understand it, but he wasn't willing to take any risks.

Although the two in front of him had one with an injury and the other with shallow internal energy... that was no reason to underestimate them. One must use their full strength even when hunting a rabbit.

As he spoke, Lu Zhongkui secretly exchanged a glance.

Tan Siwu immediately understood his meaning and roared with laughter, "Brother Lu, you deal with this brat, and I'll take the woman. After all these years cooped up in this desolate mountain stronghold, I haven't had the chance to enjoy such a beautiful young lady."

"As you wish, as long as Brother Tan isn't afraid of Old Ouyang razing your stronghold, then do as you please."

Lu Zhongkui laughed heartily.

Before his laughter died down, he stomped heavily on the ground. Like a leaping golden carp, he soared into the air and, with a whoosh, arrived before Lu Wu-bing.

His serrated greatsword slashed down diagonally, emitting three layers of sword shadows.

The sword style was like waves, fluctuating and indistinct.

It was impossible to discern where the strike would land.

At the same time.

Tan Siwu rolled along the ground, moving forward like a sphere.

His large shield blocked in front of him.

His eight-foot-long spear, like a viper's tongue, darted out.

It thrust low towards Lu Wu-bing's abdomen, the spearhead trembling slightly, sending out several sharp points.

He knew beforehand that Lu Wu-bing's quick sword was astonishing.

Now, his defense was combined with offense, his movements sinister and ruthless, and he was exceptionally cautious, which did not match his rough appearance.

"Hiss..."

The sound of wind cut through the air.

Specks of blood splattered.

Tan Siwu saw with horror that as he thrust his spear, his opponent merely took a step diagonally, and his long sword had vanished.

No.

It didn't disappear.

Instead, it appeared at Lu Zhongkui's throat, trailing a stream of blood.

Words couldn't describe the sharpness of this sword strike.

Invisible, intangible.

Where the sword light rose, it was there and yet not.

He didn't even know how the opponent had dodged, or how they had drawn their sword.

Within an inch, life and death were decided.

Lu Zhongkui's sword strike was halfway through when all his strength vanished.

His vision turned red, and he heard the "hissing" spray of blood from his own throat. Endless regret surged into his heart.

I knew his sword was fast, yet I rushed forward. Why did I do this...

His eyes widened, wanting to see Tan Siwu pierce the enemy with his spear.

But instead, he saw the short, fat man leave even faster than he arrived.

Bang...

Lu Zhongkui's corpse fell to the ground, kicking up dust.

Tan Siwu, however, felt his hair stand on end. Shielding himself, he wildly swung his long spear, spinning backward.

This move, "Tornado," was something he had learned from veteran generals in the army, and it had saved his life several times on the battlefield.

After fleeing the defeated army that year and becoming an outlaw, he hadn't used this life-saving ultimate move in front of others for a long time.

"Pfft!"

The spear spun like a wheel, about to use the momentum to fly.

Tan Siwu's body suddenly stiffened, his strength draining away, leaving him frozen on the spot.

His eyes were filled with shock, his earlobe throbbed slightly, and in his peripheral vision, he saw a long sword resting against the side of his head, the blade to the left, the body to the right.

"How is this possible?"

The last vestiges of consciousness swirled in his mind as darkness enveloped his vision.

Lu Wu-bing slowly drew his sword, ignoring Tan Siwu's body slowly slumping to the ground.

Using his sword as an eye, his sword leading his intent.

Destroying the enemy's head, like piercing rotten earth...

He raised his eyes and looked to the distant side.

"Baicao Shusheng, why aren't you using those Paired Swallows to fight me?"