The old man in blue robes sighed. "So young, yet so stubborn and inflexible. What a pity, what a shame!" He reached out and casually snapped off a stalk of green bamboo.
Huo Shengnan struck first to seize the advantage. Stepping forward, she swept up a gleam of cold light with her Greensteel Sword and thrust at the old man's wrist, as though chasing wind and pursuing lightning. Her main aim was to defeat him, not necessarily to take his life.
A contemptuous sneer touched the old man's lips. Only when Huo Shengnan's sword tip was about a foot away did he raise his hand. Clear Shadow flicked, and the end of the bamboo struck the edge of the Greensteel Sword. Shing! He used the sword's own blade to shave the bamboo tip into a slanted point, as sharp as a sword edge. Then, with a subtle turn of his wrist, the bamboo quivered and slapped against the Sword Blade of her weapon. Crack! the entire Sword Blade of the Greensteel Sword trembled from the impact, its ringing buzz unceasing. Tremendous force traveled through the sword into Huo Shengnan's right hand, sending a stabbing pain through the web between her thumb and forefinger. The sword nearly flew from her grasp.
The old man drew the bamboo back an inch, then shot it out like a venomous snake, thrusting straight at Huo Shengnan's throat. Fighting through the aching numbness in her arm, she reversed her sword and slashed at the bamboo.
The thrust at her throat was a feint. Once Huo Shengnan committed to her strike, the old man swiftly rotated his wrist. The bamboo changed direction in an instant, its point striking the Great Abyss Acupoint on her wrist. It felt like an electric shock; her entire arm went numb