After all, those skill points pouring in were a very real benefit. Besides, the three breaths had long since passed. Even if Long Xingyu tried to go back on his word, Yue Shen could take his case to the Holy Knight Commander.
Thud-
The bamboo sword in Long Xingyu's hand suddenly slipped past Yue Shen's blocking blade like a phantom and struck him in the chest.
Although Long Xingyu had controlled his strength carefully, and the tip of the bamboo sword was rounded, the blow still knocked Yue Shen back several steps.
After all, Yue Shen's external spiritual power was only 165, while other knights of the same rank generally had around 200.
Long Xingyu had not known this beforehand. He had not expected Yue Shen to have undergone the Sacred Awakening ceremony early as well, so the force he used far exceeded what Yue Shen could withstand.
Because Yue Shen had undergone the Sacred Awakening ceremony early, he had spent over three years less cultivating his external spiritual power than most knights who had awakened at the same time. Aside from the Essence Cultivation Liquid regularly distributed by the Temple to aid that cultivation, he had nothing to rely on but his own daily training.
Simply put, judging by combat attributes alone, Yue Shen was the high-attack, low-defense type among those of his rank.
Long Xingyu clearly noticed the problem too and immediately stopped. He could not keep fighting; the boy was already injured.
Besides, Yue Shen's performance had far exceeded his expectations. There really was no need to test him any further.
Deputy Temple Master Han's assessment had indeed been fair. When Haochen had first begun training under him, he really would not have been a match for this boy.
"The test..." Long Xingyu was just about to announce that he had passed when Yue Shen interrupted him.
"Again! I won't accept that!"
Yue Shen propped himself up with his bamboo sword, his face full of defiance.
He rubbed his faintly aching chest, his expression turning grave.
Long Xingyu really isn't pulling his punches.
And that footwork he just used must have been his self-created martial technique, Nine Dragon Steps, right? If it hadn't been so strange, I wouldn't have misjudged the path of his attack and fallen for it.
If we go again, I'll definitely block it!
At those words, Long Xingyu's smile broadened.
This boy is rather interesting, Long Xingyu thought.
"All right!"
Without further ado, Long Xingyu sent his bamboo sword dancing and launched another attack on Yue Shen.
After they exchanged a few straightforward moves, Long Xingyu used that peculiar footwork again, immediately throwing Yue Shen's defense into disarray.
But having already suffered from it once, Yue Shen was naturally not going to stumble over the same obstacle twice. Not only did he successfully block the same move as before, he also worked out the paths of Long Xingyu's next two attacks and caught both with his bamboo sword.
Thud-
Yue Shen was sent flying backward again and slammed heavily into the wall of the quiet chamber.
"I'm done. I'm done."
Yue Shen let go of his bamboo sword and slumped against the wall.
Sure enough, the moment Long Xingyu got even slightly serious, he was utterly crushed. Yue Shen's face filled with rueful reflection. He really had gotten too full of himself.
Besides, he doesn't exactly look like he'll put much care into teaching me. Maybe I should just forget it? I'm not even his disciple yet, and he's already beating me like this. What'll happen if I actually become one?
If it doesn't work out, forget it. I don't want to put myself through that.
"You're very good. You've passed the test." Long Xingyu walked over and tossed a cloth bundle at Yue Shen's feet. "Report here again tomorrow morning. Take this bundle back and use it in your bath. It'll be a great help in cultivating your external spiritual power and healing your injuries."
"Huh?" Yue Shen froze, briefly wondering whether he had misheard.
"Do you need me to repeat myself?" Long Xingyu asked.
"N-no." Yue Shen shook his head repeatedly.
"The Knight Department has dormitories. You can stay here." With that, Long Xingyu turned and left the quiet chamber.
Only after watching Long Xingyu leave did Yue Shen breathe a sigh of relief.
Picking up the cloth bundle, Yue Shen pushed open the door and left the chamber as well. The knight on duty outside seemed to have been waiting for him, and immediately led him to his assigned room.
"Does this count as house arrest?" Standing in his room, Yue Shen could not help giving a wry smile. "Still, Long Xingyu really doesn't have much time left to teach me. I suppose I can put up with a little hardship for now."
Besides, Yue Shen suspected that Han Qian had secretly brought him to the Knight Department here because he wanted to hide him away as the Knight Temple's secret weapon for the next Demon Hunt Squad Selection Tournament.
Seriously, how is this any different from what the Assassin Temple next door does? So much for brotherhood between the Temples. All smiles on the surface, all schemes behind each other's backs.
Still, the room was quite nice. It had all the furniture he could need, as well as a private bathroom containing a wooden bathtub already filled with hot water. Both the accommodation and the treatment were considerably better than what he had enjoyed in his little room at the Demon-Resisting Sub-Temple.
Yue Shen tossed the cloth bundle Long Xingyu had given him into the bathtub, tested the water with his hand, and climbed in to soak once he found the temperature suitable.
Apart from the unpleasant prospect of getting beaten up by Long Xingyu on a regular basis, Yue Shen could find no fault with the place for now.
He had to admit that the medicinal bath worked quite well. He could clearly feel his injuries healing considerably, and even his external spiritual power increased a little.
The next morning, Yue Shen arrived at the quiet chamber to find Long Xingyu already waiting inside.
"Good morning, teacher." Holding yesterday's bamboo sword in his left hand, Yue Shen lightly tapped it against his right shoulder and gave Long Xingyu a knight's salute.
"Don't call me teacher." Long Xingyu shook his head. "Your foundations are very solid. There isn't actually much I can teach you, and I have no intention of taking on a disciple."
"Huh?" Yue Shen was a little surprised. Didn't I already pass the test?
After a brief silence, Long Xingyu said, "I don't have much time left to teach you, so I can only give you everything I've learned throughout my life all at once. How much you grasp will depend entirely on your own ability."
Having read the entire story, Yue Shen naturally knew why Long Xingyu had said he had little time left to teach him. Before long, he would leave to fight his old rival to the death.
The fact that he could still spare time to guide Yue Shen's training was already quite remarkable.
Yue Shen nodded. "Don't worry, teacher. I'll train hard. You can go in peace."
Long Xingyu fell silent for a long moment before asking, "Have you misunderstood something I said?"
"No." Yue Shen shook his head. "But since your days are numbered, teacher, let's start today's training right away."
Long Xingyu said nothing, but he was certain Yue Shen had misunderstood him.
Still, once he left this time, he really might never return. There was nothing particularly wrong with Yue Shen interpreting it that way. It was just...
What an ill omen.
Before you continue