"...Mm."
Pei Ye watched the rain pattering beneath the eaves.
However clearly he saw that sword strike's clumsiness and recognized its empty form, even though Dao Chief Ying said it had looked slow to her, to Pei Ye, that strike had indeed been faster than anything.
Presumably, the same held true for the entire Teal List.
It was an afterimage the man had left at the very pinnacle of Entering the Palace Gate, just before ascending the Sky Tower. Even as an empty shell, its speed already exceeded human awareness.
Pei Ye knew two forms of Unbound: one took him from the steps beneath the seat to Bright Moon's bedchamber; the other took him across level ground within eight zhang, from his sword to his opponent's throat.
The sword strike he had seen on the Winter Sword Platform yesterday was almost comparable to the first, and far faster than the second.
He had told Dao Chief Ying that without [Sleeve Tiger], the two strikes were much alike. But in truth, even with [Sleeve Tiger] activated, Unbound would not become any "faster."
It would only become more "absolute."
"Are you afraid of him?"
"No."
Pei Ye was not afraid to fight Yong Ji as he was now. In fact, he could scarcely restrain himself.
But Yong Ji had indeed grown stronger. He possessed the old man's former Immortal Pupil and could see through many sword techniques. And with Mountain and Sea Blood in his body, a single Unbound strike from Pei Ye might very well fail to kill him, whereas his Unbound strike would certainly cut off Pei Ye's head.
Pei Ye pressed his lips together. Here, he did not hide his dejection.
It would be a bitter battle. Pei Ye was not worried about bitter battles; he was used to