Qianyu and Lingxi (II)

The two women bowed. Then, it was Wu Qianyu who made the first move. She had made the challenge so it was only proper. She really wanted to see Peng Lingxi's conviction. They had fought before but it didn't count. She wanted to fight again, this time with both as disciples of the man they loved.

The move she used was not Dugu's Tenth Sword. It was also not the painful sword style she was working on. Instead, it was something she had known for a long time, the Green Leaf Sword Style that she grew up practicing. It emphasized speed and energy, like the spirit of fresh leaves in spring.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

Peng Lingxi easily deflected the attacks. She frowned slightly in contemplation. She was unfamiliar with this sword style specifically but she already had a vague idea. The moves were crude and lacked the refinement of a proper style.

"Sister Qianyu, if you want to spar, it's best not to use such a sword style."

Wu Qianyu replied with another round of attacks of the same.

Peng Lingxi was forced to retreat a few steps and ended up against the railing of the balcony. Seeing her position, she leaped onto one of the posts and stood there on one leg, perfectly balanced.

"Are you not going to attack?" Wu Qianyu asked.

Peng Lingxi's eyes turned into crescent moons, "You are the challenger. I won't attack unless you force me to."

They had spoken those same words during the Convocation of Swords. This time, their roles were reversed.

 "Very well," Wu Qianyu said and slashed her Purple Jade Sword.

Her sword style was no longer the simplistic Green Leaf Sword Style. In fact, there was no specific style. It was an amalgamation of different sword styles she had studied in pursuit of her own. This was only possible with her master's access to the Immortal Association library.

Her sword transformed into crashing waves, sweeping everything before her with great force. Her sword then turned into a heavy wind, blowing gusts of spiritual energy that seemed to contain sharp blades. Her sword even took the shape of an avalanche with unbridled attacks that never ceased.

Peng Lingxi's sword didn't have so many transformations. It was just a simple steel sword. Yet it did not break against all of these attacks. She simply defended. When she was finally displaced from her position, she somersaulted backward onto another balcony nearby.

Wu Qianyu gave chase, her sword flashing with purple spiritual light. Her sword turned into rain, then a thousand arrows, and even a diving eagle. The world of sword styles was endless and she had studied a lot of them.

The two women continued to fight along the top floor of the House of Paradise. The sounds of their sword clashes quickly attracted the attention of everyone, including those in the courtyard below. They could only stare with mouths agape as the two figures leaped from balcony to balcony, sometimes even taking their fight onto the rooftops.

One side attacked relentlessly. The other defended with perfect moves that made people sigh. Which one was the expert, it was clear to all.

Wu Qianyu was frustrated. She was really frustrated. Waving her sword about, she felt like a crazy woman. She didn't know what she was doing or why.

She couldn't tell when this frustration started. In the beginning, it had been Lin Qingcheng, Zhou Ziyun, and herself. Although those two were little girls in her eyes, she respected the seniority of discipleship and didn't have a problem with them. She also understood from the beginning that her master would have many lovers. She hadn't been jealous then. She wasn't bothered by it at all.

So, when did it start? As her sword continued to attack, her mind was in turmoil.

It couldn't be the ice sisters. They were her friends. She had asked her master to save them. It couldn't be Jasmine either. There was no point in being jealous of a divine beast. Long Yifei also wasn't it. She was the perfect woman in everyone's eyes. It was impossible to feel anything but awe in her presence. Such a perfect woman deserved to be with her master.

That left Bei Yingluo and Peng Lingxi. Wu Qianyu actually liked Bei Yingluo very much. She saw a lot of herself in the younger woman, the same pain and the same determination. Bei Yingluo was also a modest person who was always respectful and thankful.

If it was not all of those people, then it had to be one in front of her. Wu Qianyu furrowed her brow and studied the grey-clad swordswoman in front. Peng Lingxi stood balanced on the railings of another balcony. Her expression was mild. Her sword was held in a reverse grip behind her back as if everything was a casual matter.

There was pride. There was confidence. There was unbridled talent; a certainty and self-belief that was maddening. How could she be so sure of herself? Why did she have such conviction?

Wu Qianyu was someone who held a lot of self-doubt. It was something she always kept inside. She put on a warm and approachable demeanor for the sake of her master and her fellow disciples. But it was always there. It was born when she lost her family and her sect. She thought that she managed to defeat those feelings a long time ago. But in reality, it had been simmering deep down within her.

Why did she deserve to live that day? Why did she deserve her master's love and to love him in return? Why did this Peng Lingxi love him so much when she didn't know him at all?

Wu Qianyu attacked again, finally putting the sword energy of Dugu's Tenth Sword into her blade. Peng Lingxi's eyes brightened and she responded in kind. The Lonely Sword Wanderer appeared, carrying her across the air with even greater swiftness.

Ping!

Ping! Ping!

The battle increased in intensity. The spectators couldn't help but gulp and feel nervous. By now, people realized that these two were none other than disciples of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Otherwise, they would have already been captured by the guards.

Nobody knew what to do except watch. The members of the House of Paradise and the guests alike, they knew this was a momentous occasion that they might experience again for the rest of their lives. Two beauties clashing, they were two goddesses playing out a perfect duet.

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