Yang Zhenbing fell silent for a moment, then said quietly, "A bright pearl cast into darkness."
"..."
Pei Ye did not want to argue with him just then. Their sword trials continued for several more rounds. In the quiet little garden, they sparred, discussed swordsmanship, and played with the cat, and Pei Ye repeatedly felt sudden flashes of understanding.
Pei Ye fought Yang Zhenbing seven times and lost all seven, but Yang Zhenbing was not without surprise at the boy-almost any move, once Pei Ye had seen it, immediately became much harder to beat him with again.
"Brother Yang, can you really use all those swords on your back?" They rested their swords and enjoyed the night breeze.
Pei Ye had imagined facing a dazzling assault from six swords, but could never picture how Yang Zhenbing would control them. Now, after an entire day, that scene had never occurred. Yang Zhenbing had only occasionally drawn a second sword, when Pei Ye asked him to suppress his cultivation to Fourth Growth. The sword light touched and withdrew like a dragonfly skimming water, instantly deciding the outcome.
The move that brought out three swords had occurred when Pei Ye used Sixth Growth to overpower Second Life, in their final bout just now. Pei Ye had already driven the boy into a dead end, but a streak of silver light swept in as though from beyond the sky and pressed against his neck.
"Could I see you use all six swords?" Pei Ye asked.
"No."
"...Oh."
"Three at most. The six cannot be used lightly."
"Is there something special about these three?" Pei Ye watched curiously as he sheathed two streaks of sword light. "They all look exactly the same to me."
"I draw them in order," Yang Zhenbing said. "The first is