Master and disciple

Little Leopard forcibly suppressed his excitement. After taking the Kunai, he did not linger, but followed the route he had come by out of the dense woods. A herd of beasts had gathered beside the stream to drink, much to his delight. Without hesitation, he sent the Kunai flying again and again, slicing straight through the thighs of two wild oxen. Both let out mournful cries and collapsed beside the water. Though still alive, they could no longer get up.

Birds and beasts had the keenest instincts. The moment Little Leopard released his Kunai and his killing intent burst forth, they scattered in a flurry of squawking and scrambling. But these were all ordinary creatures, with nothing more than thick hides and a little extra agility. With the Three Realms Minor Shift on his mind, Little Leopard wanted to finish his task quickly so he could study the Unusual Art. Why would he waste time tangling with them? Dark light flashed in his hand as he employed the Wild Goose Floating Movement. In a few bounds through the fleeing beasts, he brought down more than a dozen. Like the wild oxen, they were wounded rather than killed, their leg tendons severed. Once all the birds and beasts had scattered, exactly sixteen animals lay on the ground, including the two oxen. Apart from those intended for Blood Wuy a, he had caught one for himself. That little creature had stirred up trouble first thing in the morning, and he still had not eaten.

After binding the blood offerings together, Little Leopard dragged them into the Secluded Valley.

There was nothing unusual in the valley. Blood Wuy a sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, regulating his breathing as blood-colored mist surged around him. His cultivation seemed to have reached a critical stage.

Little Leopard dared not disturb him. He left the blood offerings a hundred feet away from Blood Wuy a and waited respectfully with his hands at his sides.

Another hour passed before the blood-colored mist surrounding Blood Wuy a rippled gently and slowly thinned. With an inhalation, he drew it into two long ribbons of blood-red silk that streamed into his nostrils. Only then did he slowly open his eyes and glance at Little Leopard. He raised a hand and, just as he had the day before, slit the throats of fifteen blood offerings and drained their blood.

After draining the fifteen blood offerings, a faint flush crossed Blood Wuy a's pale face, then faded, leaving him as pallid as before.

"You're here?" Blood Wuy a beckoned Little Leopard over. "You're early today!"

"These beasts were all drinking by the stream. Your disciple overslept today, or I could have come even earlier!"

"You're certainly attentive!" Blood Wuy a nodded, apparently quite satisfied with his answer. "Have you gained any insights into the sword technique I taught you yesterday?"

The question left Little Leopard at a loss. He had never really believed Blood Wuy a was sincerely teaching him martial arts. Since waking that morning, he had been caught up with that little creature. When would he have found time to ponder that sword move?

"Your disciple... I haven't yet today...!"

"Hmph!" Blood Wuy a snorted, his expression darkening. "The martial path demands constant reflection. Even while eating and sleeping, you must keep it in mind. Though I taught you only one sword move, its profound mysteries rival any supreme art of this age. Yet you consider yourself done simply because you've learned it. How can I entrust an important undertaking to you?"

Little Leopard's heart gave a jolt. Blood Wuy a seemed to have something else behind his words, but since he did not explain, Little Leopard dared not ask. Wearing a helpless, pained expression, he merely lowered his head and admitted his fault.

Blood Wuy a did not seem intent on giving him much trouble. Once Little Leopard admitted his mistake, he said no more about it. He had Little Leopard stand beside him and began explaining that sword move again.

Yesterday, Blood Wuy a had fought the Demon Toad and suffered serious injuries, severely depleting his vitality. Consequently, he had only taught Little Leopard the sword move in a hurried lump. His explanation had been so rushed that Little Leopard had understood very little.

Today, Blood Wuy a had just finished regulating his breathing and consumed his blood offerings. With no Demon Toad to disturb him, he had recovered some vitality. His explanation was therefore far less impatient than yesterday's. He actually began with the fundamentals of swordsmanship, leaving Little Leopard positively beaming as he listened and learned a great deal.

Although Blood Wuy a was no specialist in the sword, and the Sword Qi of Lu Shaoyou, the White-Robed Sword Saint, had even injured his heart meridians, he was still an eighth-rank expert whose cultivation could shake heaven and earth. His understanding of swordsmanship could not compare with that of men like Lu Shaoyou, who bore the title of Sword Saint,

but it far surpassed that of the swordsmen and wandering heroes of the martial world. Little Leopard was merely a first-rank novice who knew nothing. After hearing this explanation, he gained a fairly comprehensive grasp of the fundamentals of wielding a sword.

The lesson lasted six hours. During that time, Little Leopard also raised, one by one, the difficulties he normally encountered in cultivation. To him, these obstacles were insurmountable; to Blood Wuy a, they were as childish and shallow as arithmetic problems for first- or second-year pupils. He answered them all on the spot and pointed out many issues Little Leopard had never considered. For a while, one taught carefully and the other studied earnestly, making them look very much like a genuine master and disciple.

Only when a slender crescent moon climbed into the night sky and the valley lay pitch-black did Blood Wuy a stop speaking, weariness showing on his face.

Little Leopard was adept at reading expressions. Seeing that Blood Wuy a looked unwell, and knowing that what he had learned today would take him quite some time to digest, he dared not disturb him further. He took his leave and left the valley.

Ah, another whole day without eating. Still, at least I'm not as tired as yesterday! Little Leopard thought. Looking at the sky, he could not help smiling bitterly. I was planning to study the Three Realms Minor Shift, but that's out of the question now. I'd better properly digest what I learned today, so he won't scold me again tomorrow!

Thinking of how thoroughly Blood Wuy a had acted like a teacher today, he could not help feeling a trace of suspicion. What exactly is Blood Wuy a after? He had ill intentions from the moment he took me as his disciple, so why has he suddenly become kindhearted enough to teach me martial arts? Has his conscience really awakened? Impossible. The man reeks of blood, and his demonic nature runs deep. How could he suddenly turn kind? He must have some other purpose he cannot reveal!

This was not paranoia on Little Leopard's part, but a deduction drawn from scattered clues. Most importantly, the very first day Blood Wuy a met him, he had given him that handwritten copy of the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art. That manuscript was no handwritten copy of A Maiden's Heart. It contained his insights into martial arts, along with comparisons of the strengths and weaknesses of Bloodflame True Astral Energy and the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art. If it leaked out, his enemies could easily deduce the weaknesses in his martial arts. That could cost him his life. Never mind that he belonged to the Demon Sect-even someone on the righteous path could not allow such a thing to fall into another person's hands. Thus, Little Leopard was certain that Blood Wuy a had already intended to kill him when he handed over that manuscript.

Yet his behavior today had completely defied Little Leopard's expectations. No, that's not right. Anyone teaching someone martial arts should first ask what they want to learn. Giving me the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Art did fit what I was already studying, but why teach me swordsmanship for no reason? I've never studied swordsmanship before, and it isn't his specialty either. Yet he suddenly taught me that strange sword move, then explained the fundamentals of swordsmanship in detail today. Could the problem lie in that sword move?

As his thoughts reached this point, he remembered what Blood Wuy a had said at the beginning: "How can I entrust an important undertaking to you?" A vague suspicion began to take shape in his mind.

Ohohoho, all three updates are done! Time for bed, time for bed! Recommendations, clicks, bookmarks!!!