Although Bai Heng had never specialized in martial arts or studied swordsmanship, with the talent of the Sword Heart and the Life Simulator's modifications to his body, he could wield the weapon in his hand with ease.
Cold mist filled the air before him, frost and moonlight shrouding the entire street beneath the dusk.
After clashing swords with him, his opponent used the force to retreat a step, concealing herself within the fog formed by the chill.
Bai Heng could not see who it was, but he could feel the killing intent leaking from her body as clear footsteps gradually emerged from the cold mist.
The red lanterns around them, lit by warm candlelight, swayed without wind before going out one after another.
Bai Heng could feel the cold burrowing through his limbs and into his lungs. It felt much like sucking on a mint after brushing his teeth.
Only with a faint sting to it.
Even through the blur, he could tell from her well-proportioned figure that the newcomer was a woman—and clearly stronger than him.
Bai Heng was merely a clerical worker of the Interastral Astronomical Society. Even equipped with the Interastral Peace Corporation's short sword micro-rail cannon, he could not possibly harm her at such close range.
With that thought, Bai Heng held his sword behind his back and said,
"This is my first visit to the Xianzhou. I do not know where I might have offended you, miss—"
Before he could finish, the figure had already stepped out of the mist.
She wore light cyan Cloud Knights armor, black gauze covered her eyes, her skin was white as snow, and her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall. Beneath the flawless moonlight, her skin gleamed with a silvery sheen, as though water might seep out with the slightest pinch.
As her cloud boots lightly touched the ground, the teardrop earrings adorning her chest and right ear swayed gently.
"Jing...liu?" Bai Heng's voice trembled slightly.
Then another sword slash came at him.
Compared to Jingliu seven hundred years ago, she was now more agile, and her attacks were swifter and more decisive.
In an instant, she leaped before Bai Heng, the long sword formed of ice in her hand carving a smoky blue afterimage through the air.
As if reacting on instinct, Bai Heng raised Nameless to block.
The edges of their swords met. Jingliu leaned closer to Bai Heng, seemingly examining the person before her.
But after only a moment, she spoke in a tone faintly tinged with madness and brokenness.
"What, after seven hundred years, you will not even call me Master anymore?"
Bai Heng knocked the ice sword aside and said,
"Master Jingliu, is there some misunderstanding between us? Why are you drawing your sword against me the moment we meet?"
"So you have not forgotten me yet." Hearing Bai Heng's form of address, a faintly teasing look unexpectedly appeared on Jingliu's moon-cold face. She swung the ice sword in her hand, which weighed a thousand jun, her tone rising and falling slightly. "Does a master need a reason to discipline her disciple?"
Without another word.
Jingliu once more assumed the opening stance of a sword swing, as if carrying countless points of cold radiance, her blade dancing through the air.
At first, Bai Heng could barely keep up with a few exchanges.
But the disparity in swordsmanship, stamina, strength, and every other aspect left him nowhere to hide beneath Jingliu's blade. He could only defend passively.
And Jingliu's sword strikes were all killing moves, with not the slightest hint of mercy.
Sweat seeped from Bai Heng's brow, only to be quickly frozen by the cold.
No... If this goes on, I'll lose without any dignity at all. And it'll be under my own wife's sword. If we really end up bowing before Heaven and Earth, then my standing in the family... Stop. Why am I thinking about this?
Bai Heng quickly steadied himself, his thoughts flowing through his sea of consciousness.
Name: Bai Heng Stamina: 270 Endurance: 270 Strength: 270 Agility: 230 Spirit: 600 Charm: 700 Note: For ordinary humans who are not Pathstriders, the average value of all attributes is 100. Current simulation attempts: 0, refresh time: 27 days Available attribute points: *400
If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.
He silently recited in his heart,
—Can I check the other party's attributes?
Sorry, you do not currently have permission for this.
—Fine, System, allocate points!
—Distribute the 400 attribute points evenly between Strength and Agility.
Yes, your attribute panel has been updated.
Stamina: 270 Endurance: 270 Strength: 470 Agility: 430 Spirit: 600 Charm: 700
He had to end this quickly.
After allocating the points, Bai Heng clearly felt his body becoming much lighter.
Thanks to the combined effects of his Agility and Strength attributes, he could actually receive one of Jingliu's strikes without taking even half a step back.
Jingliu naturally sensed his change as well. She tilted her head slightly.
"You seem to have grown a little stronger?"
As soon as the words fell.
The ice sword in Jingliu's hand began to thrust and slash with even greater ferocity.
A flash of cold light, and countless sword gleams fell like pear blossoms in the rain.
Even with black gauze wrapped over her eyes, Bai Heng could sense the madness emanating from her.
She seemed to be venting, venting the pain of the past seven hundred years.
But that alone was still far from enough.
Bai Heng had heard people mention that the Genius Society contained not only geniuses, but madmen as well.
Their madness manifested inwardly.
Jingliu's madness, however, was displayed plainly on the surface.
Sword light flashed sharply through the dark alley, and a layer of frost had already covered the walls.
Bai Heng discovered that even after improving his physical abilities once more, he was still no match for Jingliu in her fully unleashed state.
He also worried that if they continued fighting and caused too much commotion, they would attract the Cloud Knights, and then he would be detained for several more days.
So he gritted his teeth, gripped his sword with both hands, and directly faced one of Jingliu's sword techniques.
The instant their blades collided and the numbing force traveled into his palms, Bai Heng released his sword with both hands, bent down, seized Jingliu's slender waist, and lunged forward fiercely.
"Mm..." Jingliu did not react in time and fell to the ground together with Bai Heng.
The entire change happened in the blink of an eye.
Bai Heng pressed down on Jingliu's soft body. Seeing that the eyes beneath her black gauze seemed to be staring straight at him, he took a deep breath, slowly released her slender waist, and said,
"Master Jingliu, can we talk this over properly, ah—"
The moment Bai Heng finished speaking, Jingliu suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled. Then the world spun around him.
By the time he regained his senses, Bai Heng had become the one pinned beneath her.
Jingliu swept Bai Heng a cold glance and said,
"Defying your superior deserves punishment."
"...Master Jingliu, we could actually switch positions and have a normal conversation." Bai Heng was momentarily speechless.
But Jingliu selectively ignored Bai Heng's words and instead spoke of their earlier battle.
"Your swordsmanship is disorderly and without structure. You hesitate, your force is weak and fading. Bai Heng, since you remember me, why have you forgotten the sword techniques I taught you?"
"As for that question..." Bai Heng gazed at her face, fairer than snow. After thinking for a moment, he softly asked, "Master Jingliu, you should not be asking me."
"Why is it that after seven hundred years of reincarnation, I forgot everything, including my sword techniques, yet still remember only you?"
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