Block, Block, Block

Also, what did they mean by being scared of getting trained?

He, Ren Yu, had never done that kind of thing!

"Yeah, yeah. It wasn't enough that he tormented Nina until she was foaming at the mouth—now he's set his sights on us helpless girls."

Ren Yu: "..."

This was getting more and more ridiculous.

"Is that true?"

Mei cast Ren Yu an inquisitive look.

He merely shrugged and spread his hands.

"I was just sparring with them normally. I just forgot to hold back."

One of the girls added with a smile:

"Yeah, yeah. Assistant Teacher Yang made Nina's hands go numb just by blocking. He has no pity for women at all. If it were us, one slash would probably leave us with broken bones."

"Mei, you're our village's last hope!"

Mei fell silent.

She slowly walked over to the girl named Nina and looked thoughtfully at her slightly swollen palms.

It wasn't a serious injury, but they had indeed been hurt by the impact.

Injured just from a block?

She suddenly turned to look at Ren Yu on the platform.

He was that good?

A curious expression suddenly appeared on Mei's face.

"Assistant Teacher, if you don't mind, may I spar with you?"

On the platform, Ren Yu nodded indifferently.

"Come on. I don't mind."

Training one was training, and training two was still training. Besides, class was almost over anyway.

After receiving Ren Yu's permission, Mei walked to the weapon rack and drew a katana. She flicked it through a sharp flourish, then saluted him. "Raiden Mei of the North Star One Sword Style. Please instruct me."

Her etiquette was extremely proper, showing Ren Yu every bit of respect.

Mei had studied the North Star One Sword Style under the "Homu Swordsman" since childhood and had begun displaying exceptional talent in swordsmanship. Now that she had encountered a swordsmanship expert, it was only natural for her to want to test herself against him.

"..."

Ren Yu fell silent.

She was so polite?

But what exactly was his style supposed to be?

The No-Forms Style? The Sword Follows the Heart Style?

While he was pondering what to call his swordsmanship, Mei below remained in that saluting posture—as though she would keep waiting as long as Ren Yu did not reply.

Got it!

Ren Yu's eyes suddenly lit up. Imitating the martial arts dramas he had watched in his previous life, he cupped his hands in salute and said solemnly, "Twenty-fifth-generation successor of the Casual Sword Sect. Please instruct me."

Casual Sword Sect?!

Mei was stunned.

She had never heard of this school. Was it a sect from Shenzhou?

But since Assistant Teacher Yang was so strong, it had to be impressive as well.

At once, Mei developed a sense of reverence for this unknown sect. After all, she had been taught since childhood that the strong were to be respected.

She dipped slightly in a bow and replied in kind:

"Please instruct me!"

Looks like she was really getting into it!

A few minutes later.

"Hah!"

Mei gripped her katana, her cheeks flushed red as she let out one fierce cry after another. Clearly, every strike was delivered with her full strength.

The sharp clacking of wood against wood rang without end.

Two wooden swords blurred into afterimages as they collided again and again.

One attacked, while the other defended.

Thrusting, slashing, chopping, sidestepping, shifting...

Mei threw her heart and soul into it.

But no matter how she swung her sword, Ren Yu mercilessly blocked it every time.

His wooden sword seemed to have grown eyes. It always struck Mei's wooden sword with perfect accuracy, neutralizing her moves and making all her efforts futile.

As time passed, Mei began to get genuinely fired up.

After exchanging several more blows, an idea flashed through her mind. Her entire body suddenly sprang forward. With a flick of her wrist, her katana slashed diagonally at an unbelievable angle, aimed directly at Ren Yu's neck.

The power, the angle, the timing—everything was perfect!

This was a strike she had unleashed by pouring all her strength, focus, and spirit into seizing the instant Ren Yu relaxed. It was also a killing move she had developed herself, a marvelous technique that even her master, the "Homu Swordsman," did not dare block head-on.

"Mei, go for it!"