Fast Sword

Xu Wuyi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Shao Yu continued, "In my life, I only spar with people stronger than me. I have no interest in wasting time on those weaker than me."

"You're twenty-three this year, a quasi-Grandmaster. I've seen some of your record. But a record is a record, and the person is the person. I don't know how much you're truly capable of, so I need to test you first."

He paused, his tone calm yet brooking no dispute. "Beat me, and you can stay at Listening Sword Cottage. Spar for as many days as you like. Lose, and please leave today. Turn left when you go out. I won't see you off."

Xu Wuyi fell silent for several seconds.

Those words were blunt, even somewhat harsh.

Ordinarily, as a junior coming to pay a visit, he should not deliberately seek victory. Traveling and exchanging pointers was about communication; wins and losses were commonplace, and there was no need to fight over who stood higher.

Moreover, he intended to travel all the way while sparring and exchanging insights. If he had to defeat every quasi-Grandmaster he encountered, it would be tantamount to using their reputations to build his own.

Doing so would not only sound bad for his own reputation, but after enough times, no quasi-Grandmasters would be willing to exchange pointers with him anymore.

After all, they were all big names renowned in their own regions. If a younger junior wanted to step on them to climb higher, could they be expected to simply accept it?

But Shao Yu had already made his position clear.

Win, and he could stay. Lose, and he would leave.

Xu Wuyi raised his head and looked at the old man opposite him. Those eyes remained calm as they waited for his