Overcoming Strength with Skill

It was just that Li Chong happened to be facing Duan Rong.

His strength had indeed been cultivated better than Duan Rong's.

After all, Duan Rong had only gained the experience of the beginner-level Five Tigers Herd Sheep Saber by Devouring an Artifact Spirit three days ago.

Before Devouring an Artifact Spirit, Duan Rong had not even grasped the basics of training. He had been practicing blindly, with no results whatsoever.

But Duan Rong's training over the past three days had not been for nothing. Every day, he had pushed himself to the limit.

With the way he trained, one day was worth ten days for Kong Bin and the others.

More importantly, Duan Rong had already absorbed the beginner-level Five Tigers Herd Sheep Saber experience. It included not only training experience, but even practical combat experience.

Otherwise, Zhao Mu would not have scolded him earlier for instinctively using that improved Leopard Drilling the Forest.

Thus, though Li Chong's Fierce Tiger Leaping Over Stream was a full-force horizontal slash that left no room for retreat, it was riddled with openings in Duan Rong's eyes.

Though one force could crush ten techniques, what about a hundred techniques? A thousand?

Strength and skill were like a bird's two wings, a cart's two wheels—neither could be neglected!

The moment Kong Bin saw Li Chong use Fierce Tiger Leaping Over Stream upon exchanging the first move, his eyes lit up, and a flicker of excitement appeared on his hard, cold face.

Even if he faced this move from Li Chong, he would have to plant himself in a bow stance, raise his saber to brace his arm, and take the slash head-on. That was only because his strength surpassed Li Chong's and his physique was sturdier—but Duan Rong had neither advantage.

As Li Chong's blade swept toward him, Duan Rong's gaze remained calm and still. He stepped diagonally half a pace with his right foot and casually tapped into the air with the saber in his right hand.

With a clang, Duan Rong's saber tip struck the flat of Li Chong's blade!

"This..." Kong Bin was startled the instant Duan Rong made his move.

That seemingly casual tap was undoubtedly a perfect fusion of speed and skill!

Li Chong's body was spinning at high speed. His right foot was raised, and he was balanced on one leg. With that casual tap from Duan Rong, Li Chong's balance was immediately broken.

Li Chong instantly lost his balance and fell backward!

At the instant Li Chong lost balance, Duan Rong shot forward and stepped to Li Chong's side. Using his saber as a palm, he slapped Li Chong across the face midair with a smack.

Li Chong crashed to the ground, spitting out three teeth along with a mouthful of old blood. His left cheek swelled high, and a triangular red saber mark covered half his face like a birthmark.

Duan Rong's two attacks looked ordinary, yet they were concise and precise, with almost no wasted movement. The timing of his strikes and his control over their force left Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng, watching from the side, deeply shaken!

Compared to Duan Rong, they felt as though their past three months of training had been for nothing.

Duan Rong planted a foot on Li Chong's chest and aimed the tip of the battered saber at Li Chong's face. He roared, "Don't yelp in front of me again! If there's a next time, I'll cripple you outright!"

Li Chong's mouth was full of blood, and Duan Rong's icy gaze was even more terrifying. Panic and humiliation drowned him in an instant.

After speaking, Duan Rong gave the flustered Li Chong another glance, then tossed away the battered saber. With a clatter, it embedded itself in the weapon rack.

Duan Rong then walked out of the courtyard without looking back. I just want to train in peace. Can't they settle down for once?

Kong Bin stared at Duan Rong's back for a long time, unable to say a word.

Li Chong struggled to his feet. His face was swollen terribly, but the pain in his body was far less agonizing than the blow to his heart.

Li Chong walked up to Kong Bin, spat out some blood, and only then said thickly, "Bin-ge, that brat is too arrogant. We..."

"Shut up!" Kong Bin suddenly glared at Li Chong. "Don't you think you brought this on yourself? And besides, you are you, and I am me. There is no 'we'!"

After saying that, Kong Bin left the courtyard with Zhang Zheng.

In truth, Kong Bin had never liked Li Chong. A man wearing an earring—neither man nor woman.

If Li Chong had not possessed some insights into forms and techniques that could provoke his thinking and offer him inspiration, Kong Bin would have stopped associating with him long ago.

Now that all six forms had been learned, Li Chong no longer had any value.

Kong Bin was a refined egoist. Anyone without practical value who brought only negative emotional value would inevitably be discarded by him.

Li Chong stood there like a fool for a long while. Even after Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng had left the courtyard for some time, he did not move. His gaze was hollow and vacant, and he could not feel the pain from his badly swollen face at all.

Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng left the courtyard and walked along at an unhurried pace. The expression on Kong Bin's hard face shifted between light and shadow.

"Did you see what form he used?" Kong Bin suddenly asked.

"It didn't seem to be a form?" Zhang Zheng was not certain either, and his tone lacked conviction.

"It definitely wasn't a form!" Kong Bin suddenly halted, his pupils contracting.

Kong Bin knew better than anyone what it meant for it not to be a form. Then he recalled Zhao Mu's pause earlier when telling him to learn from Duan Rong's form practice, yet even now, he had not figured out what that sense of pause meant.

All of this showed that Duan Rong's understanding of this saber art far exceeded his own.

That was something Kong Bin absolutely could not tolerate!

Usually, from a batch of Menial Disciples, at most one or two could be chosen as apprentices.

Kong Bin had originally assumed that he would certainly be selected, and that it would be best if Zhang Zheng could be selected as well. But now, Duan Rong had suddenly emerged—and might even surpass him.

He did not know the specific details or standards of the selection process, but Duan Rong's existence was clearly a potential threat to him.

Kong Bin had never liked things such as probability and luck. What he liked were methods!

Since there was a threat, he had to find a way to nip it in the bud before it could grow.

Kong Bin turned to Zhang Zheng and said, "Go get close to him."

Zhang Zheng's eyes flickered at those words, and he nodded.

Zhang Zheng was alert and adaptable. This sort of matter was perfectly suited to him.

Both their fathers had been small-time gangsters. Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng had run together since they were around ten, and after so many years together, many things no longer needed to be said aloud.

After leaving the courtyard, Duan Rong found another secluded spot and continued his stance training.

He trained until it was time for the evening meal, then ended his practice, wiped the sweat from his brow, and headed toward the dining hall.

Duan Rong received two steamed buns and a bowl of cabbage soup. He squatted on the Stone Steps, taking sips of soup alongside bites of steamed bun.

Duan Rong had only taken two bites when Zhang Zheng suddenly squatted beside him, holding a palm-sized black earthenware jar. Smiling, he said, "Brother Rong, I've got chili here. Want some?"

Duan Rong looked at Zhang Zheng's face, blooming like a chrysanthemum, and froze for a moment. By then, Zhang Zheng had already opened the jar, picked out a clump of chili with his chopsticks, and dropped it into his own bowl, stirring up a layer of bright red oil...

Zhang Zheng then slurped down a mouthful of soup...

Seeing that clump of dark-red chili bits that had clearly been stir-fried in hot oil, Duan Rong's appetite was instantly whetted. He too picked up a clump of chili with his chopsticks and put it into his cabbage soup.

Seeing Duan Rong take the chili, Zhang Zheng's eyes shifted. Seizing the chance, he said, "Brother Rong, how did your forms suddenly become so good lately? Even Escort Master Zhao Mu praised you!"

Duan Rong nodded repeatedly, but he only kept his head down and focused on eating.

Zhang Zheng was rendered speechless by Duan Rong's act of playing dumb.

No matter how cunning the fox, when it met a hedgehog curled into a ball, it had nowhere to sink its teeth!

Duan Rong poured the last mouthful of soup down his throat and let out a satisfied breath. The cabbage soup with chili really had flavor.

Holding his empty bowl, he looked at Zhang Zheng, who was staring at him eagerly from the side. Feeling a little awkward about completely ignoring him, he said, "I don't know either. I guess something just clicked for me."

"Is that so?" Zhang Zheng gave Duan Rong a suspicious look, then immediately continued, "Then, Brother Rong, when you have time, would you be willing to give your little brother some guidance? Your understanding of certain forms and techniques is far deeper than mine!"

Zhang Zheng smiled as he flattered him, waiting for Duan Rong's answer.

They were both only fifteen or sixteen, after all. As Zhang Zheng saw it, who did not enjoy flattery? Give them a few small benefits too, and would they not obediently take the bait?