Senior Brother Li (2)

"Is this Senior Brother Li famous? What's his background?" Han Li was somewhat surprised.

"You don't even know Senior Brother Li?"

"Wasn't I in seclusion for several years?"

"Right, right, I forgot about that! My memory really is terrible. I always thought there couldn't be a disciple in the Seven Mysteries Sect who didn't know Senior Brother Li, so I forgot about your seclusion, Senior Brother Han." Only then did Little Abacus realize his mistake, and he hurriedly apologized.

"Could you tell me about this Senior Brother Li?"

"Of course, Senior Brother Han. We younger disciples all know Senior Brother Li's exploits inside and out." Seeing that Zhang Changgui's side had yet to send out an opponent for Senior Brother Li, Little Abacus began telling Han Li the various tales about the famous man.

"Senior Brother Han, I'm not boasting, but it's not just our batch of disciples who know all about Senior Brother Li. The older senior brothers know plenty about him too. Back then..." He launched into Senior Brother Li's story with his spirits high, his face animated and spittle flying, as if he were the hero of the tale himself.

As Little Abacus recounted Senior Brother Li's exploits one by one, they did indeed have a touch of legend about them.

Senior Brother Li had also come up the mountain four years ago, though of course he hadn't been in the same batch of examinees as Han Li. He hadn't passed the examination on his first try and had also become a Registered Disciple. But in the test six months later, he had not only taken first place in every event, but had also become the only one to last thirty moves in the final bouts against the senior brothers. His record surpassed the test results of every previous Registered Disciple and drew the attention of quite a few important figures among the higher-ups. An examination, however, had yielded a surprising result: Senior Brother Li's Root Bone was only average, and his potential for growth was limited. The assessment was considered a pity, and as a result, none of the higher-ups took him as a disciple. After two years of basic training, he became the disciple of an entirely ordinary protector and learned only a few ordinary martial arts. The Wind and Thunder Saber Technique was one of them, a very ordinary mid-level martial art of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

If things had ended there, Senior Brother Li could hardly have been called a legend; his story would simply have begun like a tiger and ended like a snake. But not long afterward, relying on that unremarkable Wind and Thunder Saber Technique, he had actually shone brilliantly in the younger disciples' grand martial competition the following year, charging straight into the top sixteen. He was the only newly inducted disciple to place among the leaders, and this made him the focus of the sect's attention once more.

In the various contests that followed, Senior Brother Li was incomparably fierce and unstoppable every time, always placing high and bringing considerable honor to the new disciples. In last year's grand competition, he had even seized third place in one stroke. The two who had placed above him had been disciples for more than ten years. Though they were counted among the younger disciples, they were already twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and their inner cultivation alone was far more advanced than his. Many disciples believed that if Senior Brother Li's inner cultivation had been as strong as theirs, first place would have been his for the taking.

Thus, Senior Brother Li once again attracted the attention of the higher-ups. He was selected by name and sent down the mountain to take part in quite a few major operations outside the sect. While the other new disciples were still training hard in the sect, he had already begun rendering considerable service to the Seven Mysteries Sect and had earned the illustrious name "Li Hu" in the martial world. It was said that an exception would soon be made to allow him into the Seven Ultimates Hall to cultivate more profound martial arts.

Hearing this, Han Li couldn't help but be moved. If it was all true, this Senior Brother Li was truly no ordinary man. To have fought his way to such achievements as a Registered Disciple, he had earned some of Han Li's admiration.

After Zhang Changgui's side had spent a long while trying to shift the task onto one another, a disciple finally steeled himself and stepped forward.

The disciple's martial skills also seemed quite strong. He drew a gleaming soft sword from his waist. The blade was only as thick as a thumb, soft and limp; one look was enough to tell that no ordinary, mediocre fighter could wield it.

Sensing someone approach, Senior Brother Li slowly opened his eyes, which shone with vigor.

He suddenly let out a thunderous shout, like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, setting everyone's ears ringing. His opponent also trembled from the shock, a look of alarm appearing on his face.

As the shout rang out, his long saber was already swinging. A streak of saber light flashed as he unleashed a chain of moves, instantly transforming into more than ten saber shadows that trapped his opponent in a net of blades.

His opponent was quick-witted, however. Though somewhat flustered, he wielded his soft sword with elusive, vicious cunning, and his defense did not let a single drop of water through.

"Who is that?" Han Li couldn't help asking.

"That's Zhao Ziling, the Fifth Elder's disciple. His Brushing Willow Swordsmanship is very troublesome."

"How does he compare to Senior Brother Li?"

"Of course he's no match for him," Little Abacus said proudly.

"Then why doesn't Zhang Changgui send someone stronger?"

"Heh! Zhao Ziling is the strongest among them. Besides, which of us new disciples could beat Senior Brother Li? It'd be no use sending anyone else." He laughed, taking some pleasure in their misfortune.

Sure enough, although Zhao Ziling's swordsmanship had yet to fall into disarray, his momentum was gone. Senior Brother Li's long saber had him completely suppressed, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that his defeat was only a matter of time.

Han Li watched for a while, and a question arose in his mind.

"There's something I find strange. Why aren't there any older senior brothers here? Even if they aren't allowed to compete, surely some of them should have come to watch the excitement. But inside and outside the arena, there isn't a single older senior brother. It's all new disciples in their teens like us watching the contest. What's going on?" Han Li posed his question without reservation.

At Han Li's question, Little Abacus's expression changed, and he gave him a strange look. Han Li was somewhat puzzled. Had he asked about something taboo?