Qian Renxue: Disgusting!

Qian Renxue was shocked in her heart, yet the movements of her hands did not slow.

"A bit interesting."

"It seems you truly haven't been slacking off these past two years."

A light of excitement ignited in Qian Renxue's eyes.

She no longer held back.

Golden soul power surged across the surface of her body, and the wooden sword in her hand was veiled in a faint golden radiance.

Her offensive turned sharp in an instant.

Chop, thrust, flick, lift.

The sword techniques were continuous, enveloping Lin Qiu like a violent storm.

The courtyard was filled with golden sword shadows.

Lin Qiu stood at the center of the sword shadows, yet he was like a fallen leaf drifting in a gale.

No matter how great the wind and waves, he could always move with the wind, dodging every attack by the narrowest of margins.

Or, with a light flick of the wooden sword in his hand, he would dissolve Qian Renxue's offensive into nothingness.

This feeling was truly marvelous.

Lin Qiu did not even need to mobilize the divine power within his body.

Relying solely on the instinctual reactions granted to him by the Dao Scripture, he could handle it with ease.

This was a dimensional strike.

The combat techniques of the Shrouding Heavens World emphasized that the Great Dao is simple, pointing directly to the source.

As for the sword techniques of the Douluo Continent, in his view, they were simply too flashy.

They were riddled with openings.

If he wanted to, he would have had at least ten opportunities just now to seal her throat with a single strike.

But he did not.

After all, he was just humoring his sister; he had to let her enjoy herself.

The two traded blows, fighting for dozens of rounds in the courtyard.

The more Qian Renxue fought, the more alarmed she became.

She felt as if she were punching a pile of cotton.

No matter how much strength she used, she could not find any purchase.

Lin Qiu was like a slippery loach, impossible to catch.

"Are you only going to dodge?"

Qian Renxue grew a bit anxious.

She abruptly retreated a step, widening the distance.

Then, taking a deep breath, she gripped the sword with both hands and raised it high.

Soul power poured madly into the wooden sword.

Although it was merely a wooden sword, under the infusion of soul power, it actually emitted a crisp sword hum.

"Take this move!"

Qian Renxue let out a delicate shout.

She slashed down with her sword.

This strike possessed the momentum of a rainbow.

It sealed off all of Lin Qiu's paths of retreat.

Lin Qiu watched this aggressive strike, his eyes narrowing slightly.

That's enough.

If he kept fighting like this, he would give himself away.

He had to give this girl a little taste of victory before turning the tables.

Thinking of this, Lin Qiu deliberately stumbled.

It looked as if he had run out of stamina and lost his footing.

His body tilted toward the left.

This tilt perfectly exposed the opening at his right shoulder.

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.

An opportunity!

As expected, the kid's stamina was failing.

Joy surged in her heart.

The sword she had originally swung down changed direction mid-air with sheer force.

The blade turned, aiming to strike Lin Qiu's right shoulder.

She only wanted to win; she had no desire to hurt him.

"Hehe!"

"Stinky little brother, you've lost!"

A triumphant smile bloomed on Qian Renxue's face.

That smile was as bright as spring sunlight, carrying a hint of pride and a touch of mischief.

The wooden sword was just about to strike Lin Qiu's shoulder.

Right at that moment.

Lin Qiu's eyes, which had appeared somewhat flustered, instantly turned as calm as water.

His stumbling movement unexpectedly shifted into a bizarre, fluid slide.

Like a ghost, he slipped directly into Qian Renxue's embrace.

It was too fast.

So fast that Qian Renxue's thoughts stalled for a split second.

Immediately after.

She felt a cool sensation against her neck.

It was the tip of the wooden sword.

It was now pressed firmly against her throat.

Meanwhile, her own sword, having failed to complete the change in momentum, struck empty air.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Only the rustling of wind through the leaves remained.

Qian Renxue held her swinging posture, frozen in place.

Her beautiful, large eyes were wide with shock.

She stared at Lin Qiu, who was now within arm's reach.

Lin Qiu held the wooden sword, its tip resting gently against her snow-white neck; with the slightest bit of force, it would pierce her skin.

He looked up.

His clear, dark eyes were filled with laughter.

"Big sister."

"This time, it seems you've lost."

His voice was not loud.

But to Qian Renxue, it sounded like a thunderclap.

She lost?

She actually lost?

Lost to a brat who hadn't even awakened his Martial Soul yet?

And that, too, while she had been using her full soul power and was on the verge of victory?

Qian Renxue's mind went blank.

It took several seconds for her to process what had happened.

That stumble just now... it was fake!

It was a trap!

This kid had intentionally left an opening to lure her in!

A wave of intense embarrassment and frustration surged into her heart.

Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed red instantly.

The heat spread all the way to her earlobes.

"You... you tricked me!"

Qian Renxue swatted away the wooden sword pressed against her throat, glaring at Lin Qiu in a huff.

"All is fair in war, isn't it?"

Lin Qiu retracted the wooden sword and said with a grin.

"Besides, Sister, you were careless just now."

"If this were a battlefield, the enemy wouldn't give you a chance to regret it."

The logic was sound.

But Qian Renxue simply couldn't swallow this frustration.

She, the dignified Young Mistress of Martial Soul Hall, a genius with Innate Full Soul Power of level twenty.

Had actually been played by a little brother.

If this got out, where would she put her face?

"I refuse to accept this!"

Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, raising the wooden sword in her hand once more.

"I was just careless."

"That doesn't count."

"Again!"

"I definitely won't fall for it this time!"

Her unwilling expression made her look exactly like a kitten with its fur standing on end.

Both proud and adorable.

Lin Qiu, however, shook his head.

He tossed his wooden sword onto the weapon rack.

"No more, no more."

"I'm exhausted."

"Sister, you're a Soul Master with such great stamina; I can't compare to that."

"If we keep fighting, I'm going to collapse from fatigue."

As Lin Qiu spoke, he made a show of rubbing his lower back.

Just kidding.

Winning once was enough.

If he kept fighting and really ticked this girl off, causing her to summon her Martial Soul and unleash soul skills, he would have a headache on his hands.

Seeing that Lin Qiu refused to fight any longer, no matter what.

Qian Renxue stomped her feet in anger.

"You scoundrel!"

"What kind of skill is it to run away after winning!"

She threw down her wooden sword and rushed toward Lin Qiu in two or three strides.

Reaching out with both hands, she grabbed Lin Qiu's head directly.

Then, she began to ruffle his hair frantically.

"Hmph!"

"That's for tricking me!"

"That's for bluffing me!"

"Let's see if you dare to do it again next time!"

Qian Renxue turned Lin Qiu's once-neat hair into a bird's nest.

Looking at Lin Qiu's disheveled appearance, the gloom in her heart finally dissipated quite a bit.

"Hehe."

Lin Qiu didn't resist, letting her bully him.

He simply wore that silly, goofy smile on his face.

Qian Renxue looked at his smiling face, and the movements of her hands slowly came to a stop.

She stared at Lin Qiu.

Her gaze became somewhat complex.

Although she wouldn't admit it out loud.

She knew very well in her heart.

The speed and reaction Lin Qiu displayed in that strike just now were definitely not something an ordinary person could possess.

Even an average Soul Master couldn't achieve it.

This kid...

Just what kind of freak is he?

He's already this strong before even awakening his Martial Soul.

If he were to awaken his Martial Soul, what would that even be like?

"What an annoying guy."