After finishing the move, Hu Xiaotian lowered his hands and picked up the towel hanging from a branch to wipe his face. Only then did he realize that Huo Shengnan had already arrived and had been watching him practice for some time. He smiled. "When did you get here, General Huo?"
"What sword technique was that?" Huo Shengnan asked. "It felt completely different from the moves you were practicing earlier. It seemed quite powerful."
"It's still the same sword technique," Hu Xiaotian said. "Would you be interested in sparring with me, General Huo?"
To his surprise, Huo Shengnan nodded. Drawing the sword at her waist, she said softly, "Let me experience your swordsmanship, Lord Hu."
Hu Xiaotian cupped his hands in salute, and each of them took three steps back. Then he suddenly moved. As he stepped forward, his inner breath rose from his dantian, and he raised Hidden Edge in both hands. His inner breath and movements coordinated perfectly. At the instant he launched his attack, his inner breath surged into both arms. The Greatsword flashed coldly in the night, its sweep carrying the muted rumble of wind and thunder.
Huo Shengnan's delicate brows knitted slightly. She had already gauged the tremendous power of his strike. With a flick of her arm, her sword swept toward his Greatsword with a sharp hiss. A veteran of countless battles, she naturally would not meet him head-on. His Greatsword was far heavier than hers, and he wielded it with both hands and had seized the initiative. In sheer arm strength, he should be no weaker than she was. She would therefore have to win through finesse, using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds. Her sword traced a graceful arc, its edge tilted slightly. That subtle adjustment brought the sword's flat against