The Libertine

Wang Chong found it rather strange as well. Zhu Ying had taught sword formulas and the art of sword qi from the shallow to the profound, step by step. Why, once they reached the sword forms, did he seem to wish Wang Chong could learn them all in a single day? He did not dare ask, only lowered his head and studied hard.

After Zhu Ying demonstrated the moves two or three times, Little Bug relied on his excellent memory. Though the force behind his attacks and the variations were still far from adequate, the postures of his sword moves were flawless to the slightest degree. He practiced the Yang Sword Style of the Sixty-Four Yin-Yang Paths with convincing form.

Zhu Ying secretly let out a breath and said, "You have a good memory. First commit all the sword moves to heart. It does not matter if you cannot master them for now. If there is anything you do not understand, come ask me over the next few days."

Little Bug nodded, still utterly baffled.

Zhu Ying explained the Primordial Sword Formula again from beginning to end, imparting everything he knew. Only when the moon stood high overhead and he had nothing more to say did the two return to the academy hand in hand.

By then, the academy gates had long been shut. The two climbed over the wall together. Zhu Ying was nimble, while Little Bug was somewhat clumsy, and he smeared some dirt across his face while scrambling over.

Zhu Ying reached out to brush away the dust for him, then could not resist lightly stroking his face.

Little Bug was deeply embarrassed. "Brother Zhu, why are you being so forward?"

Zhu Ying's face flushed scarlet. "If you are dissatisfied, then you can touch me too."

Little Bug shook his head. "Such behavior is a disgrace to civilized conduct. We are both scholars—how can we go about touching each other?"

Zhu Ying's face turned crimson. He gave a snort and thought, I'll remember those words. We'll see whether you touch me in the future.

The two returned to the storeroom and went to sleep separately.

For more than ten days afterward, they studied during the day and went to the back mountain at night to practice the Primordial Sword Formula together.

Untiringly, Zhu Ying broke down the Yin and Yang sword forms with Wang Chong, move by move, instructing him on how to adapt and respond when facing an enemy.

After more than ten days of hard practice, Little Bug still lacked cultivation, and both his true qi and magical power were weak. His sword carried little force. Yet under Zhu Ying's instruction, the variations in his moves improved with astonishing speed.

Zhu Ying circled his wooden sword and executed the Cold Moon Form.

Little Bug's wrist lacked strength and could not keep up with the changes. The wooden sword flew from his hand, leaving him greatly vexed.

Zhu Ying withdrew his sword and made a casual grasping motion, drawing back the wooden sword that had been knocked away. He handed it to Wang Chong and said with a smile, "Do not be upset. You have no true qi, and your strength is insufficient as well. It is only natural that I knocked the sword from your hand. You have already improved greatly these past days. With a sword in hand, dealing with two or three ordinary strong men would not be a problem."

Little Bug thought, I fear those I encounter in the future will not be ordinary people. He still vividly remembered the white-bearded old man who had carried him away, and he could not forget the Daoist he had encountered on the road to the academy, who controlled flying corpses. Not to mention Old Demon Luo and Immortal Master Xiao Nan.

How could any of those people be resisted by Little Bug?

He had also faintly realized that Zhu Ying seemed to have something on his mind. But Wang Chong had inherited his family teachings and conducted himself as a gentleman, so it was not proper for him to pry into another's private affairs. He could only bury such worries in his heart.

Zhu Ying put away his wooden sword and thought, Second Brother gave me half a month. The time is nearly up.

I have already taught Wang Chong everything I know and have learned. I wonder what fate awaits him in the future. Will he be able to cultivate some real skill from this, then come find me?

Wang Chong put the wooden sword into the Black Wind Bag. Just as he was about to descend the mountain with Zhu Ying, he heard a tiger's roar, and a gust of black wind rose in midair.

The two clasped hands and hid beneath a large tree before raising their heads to look.

A mass of black wind drifted through the air. A monster covered in black fur, with even its bones exposed, spewed black smoke from its mouth and gave shrill, eerie chuckles as it repeatedly lunged at the black wind.

Little Bug found the monster familiar and could not help being startled. So it is the flying creature controlled by the old man who dropped the bronze ring that day.

His monster is here, but where is the man himself?

Zhu Ying came from no ordinary background and recognized the two people fighting. He secretly cried out, Isn't the one controlling the black wind Lu Xuansheng, Second Brother's friend? Why is he fighting a spell battle with someone from the Heavenly Corpse Sect? The one controlling the Flying Yaksha possesses deep magical power. Which elder of the Heavenly Corpse Sect could he be?

Where is Second Brother?

Zhu Ying knew his own magical power was inadequate and did not dare rush in to help.

Little Bug said in a low voice, "On the road to the academy, I saw that monster before. It belonged to a short middle-aged Daoist wearing a black Daoist robe. That Daoist even asked me how to get to Little Cold Mountain."

Zhu Ying was horrified. He thought, Short in stature and fond of black Daoist robes—it must be Sun Yougui, the fourth elder of the Heavenly Corpse Sect. He has cultivated the Dao for over two hundred years, yet his innate talent is exceptional. His magical power may even surpass that of Old Demon Luo, who has cultivated for far longer.

Though Lu Xuansheng received the true transmission of Black Wind Temple, he began as a mount. His cultivation is still inferior to Old Demon Luo's.

Sun Yougui has only sent out a single Flying Yaksha to fight and has not yet used his full strength. Lu Xuansheng is already struggling to parry left and right, not far from defeat. If the fourth elder of the Heavenly Corpse Sect goes all out, Second Brother's friend is likely done for.

Little Bug was about to drag Zhu Ying away from this place. With people fighting a spell battle in the sky, how could a single great tree conceal them?

A gentleman did not stand beneath a crumbling wall!

It had been a clear teaching since ancient times.

Suddenly, someone beside them gave two cold laughs and said, "So it is you, boy. To think we would meet even in these desolate mountains. It seems we are fated."

Zhu Ying and Wang Chong turned together. Beneath a large tree not far away stood a short Daoist dressed in black.

Zhu Ying hurriedly stepped forward, shielding Wang Chong.

Wang Chong, however, cupped his hands and said, "So it is Senior."

"When we happened to meet by the roadside last time, Senior left something behind. This junior picked it up but had nowhere to return it. Now that fate has brought us together again, I should return it to its rightful owner."

Wang Chong took out the bronze ring and offered it with both hands.

Though he had picked up the object and played with it for quite some time, he had never regarded it as his own possession. Now that he had met its original owner, his first thought was to return it.

Sun Yougui glanced at it and gave a cold laugh. "That is not mine."

Little Bug said, "After Senior left, this object fell to the ground. How could it not be Senior's?"

Sun Yougui sneered again and again. "The Ten Ghosts of West Mountain offended my taboo with their name, and their manner was not respectful enough. I had the Flying Yaksha kill them. I do not know which of them used this magical treasure. They used it to strike the Flying Yaksha, and it became embedded in that thing's body."

"This sort of trinket is beneath this old man's notice. Keep it and play with it."

Little Bug readily accepted the suggestion and put it away.

His father had once taught him that if one sought another's favor by eagerly offering attentions, eight times out of ten it would end badly. But if one asked another for help, and the other person helped, then repaid the favor afterward, it was easier to draw closer.

The short Daoist in black had told Wang Chong to keep the bronze ring, making it a gesture of goodwill. Stubbornly refusing it would only make the man unhappy.

Little Bug feared that this short Daoist might fly into a rage and kill both him and Zhu Ying, so he behaved with exceptional obedience.

Zhu Ying had not expected Wang Chong to handle matters so appropriately. Just as he let out a slight breath of relief, he heard a sharp shout, and a mass of white mist descended out of thin air.

A youth in white clenched his fist, transforming the mist into eight dragons. Roaring, they came charging down.