Heavy Sword - 5
Yuan Yi walked through the vast courtyard, eventually finding his way to an enclosed yard, surrounded by walls five meters high. From within, he could hear people shouting in unison and the clan of iron weapons.
"Haa!"
"Again!"
This was the way of the Outer Disciple. At worst, they would end up being cannon fodder on the front lines, that is why they trained in a squad every day. They all knew it was useless to create squads like this - they wouldn't stand a chance no matter what - but there were idiots who thought that dying for the Sect was a great honor.
Two kinds of people joined a frontline Academy. Those who wanted to ascend to the Heavens, and find their Dao in battle. And those who had nowhere else to go. Entering the Inner Court in a frontline Academy was fairly simple. One could do it with contributions or by passing the exam - a bloody tournament that lasted several days.
Yuan Yi opened the gate and walked into the training courtyard.
Hou Hu stood at a raised platform, and before him were one hundred disciples - all members of the training squad. Next to him was Mo Heng, and on his Outer Disciple robes he had a patch marking him as a Lieutenant.
So Mo Heng not only joined the training squad, but he was also promoted? Yuan Yi wondered how Hou Hu spun that story. According to Hou Hu, Yuan Yi was killed by Spirit Beasts. Did Mo Heng fight valiantly to defend Yuan Yi, only to be forcibly dragged away by Hou Hu, and for his merits, he was promoted to Lieutenant?
Yuan Yi scoffed as he walked further into the courtyard, pondering what kind of story Hou Hu told his fellow brothers and sisters.
"Yuan Yi..."
"Senior Brother is alive!"
"I thought he was dead..."
Mo Heng wore a toxic frown on his face, but Hou Hu seemed unfazed by this development. Hou Hu already knew that Yuan Yi was alive - Lan Xiaohui told him. And he seemed confident enough to calmly face Yuan Yi. After all, the two of them broke Yuan Yi's cultivation and left him for dead. What could Yuan Yi possibly do now?
When Yuan Yi stood in front of Hou Hu, the latter's expression changed.
Not only did he realize that Yuan Yi was at the peak of the 6th stage of Qi Condensation, but there was also a heavy scent of blood. Those in frontline Academies were very familiar with that scent, and the vestige of aura that remained after killing someone.
Not only did Yuan Yi recover his cultivation, but he also killed the two assassins Hou Hu sent! Initially, he assumed that Yuan Yi escaped them, but it seems he was wrong.
"Brother Hou," Yuan Yi said, smiling. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
There was a bit of a pause before Hou Hu replied. "I am surprised, Brother Yuan. I thought you were dead."
"Not dead enough," Yuan Yi replied. "Don't send cats if you want to kill a tiger!"
Hou Hu narrowed his eyes at Yuan Yi's words and the terrifying aura he exuded. It was killing intent.
The situation was tense. Hou Hu realized there was no way out. Once Yuan Yi told everyone what really happened, Hou Hu would be finished anyway.
"It is strange, Brother Yuan," Hou Hu said, pursing his lips. "I saw you die with my own eyes. How are you alive? Could it be that the Spirit Beasts helped you, and turned you against us? Have you become a spy? How thick is the skin on your face?"
There was a surprised gasp coming from the assembled crowd. Lan Xiaohui, in the front rows, looked alarmed. She knew those words were not true!
"Save your breath," Yuan Yi said. "Today I will kill you, no matter what."
Mo Heng was slowly sneaking up behind Yuan Yi, trying to engineer the same situation that was Yuan Yi's downfall once before.
When Hou Hu nodded, Mo Heng sprung into action, drawing his sword and stabbing towards Yuan Yi.
And so, without a warning, the battle began.
Yuan Yi turned, well-aware of their strategy, and he took an explosive step backwards. This was part of the
Yuan Yi drew his sword and with the same motion, he slashed at Mo Heng. His sword was filled with heaviness - the potent qi within it created vapor around the blade, and it left a beautiful, elegant trail as it swung towards Mo Heng's neck.
Mo Heng parried Yuan Yi's sword and a loud bang echoed throughout the area. Both Mo Heng and Yuan Yi were surprised. Mo Heng was surprised of how heavy Yuan Yi's sword was, and Yuan Yi was surprised Mo Heng wasn't dead.
They jumped away from each other, resetting.
Hou Hu reached for his sword, and he heard a gasp from the Disciples. They seemed disappointed that they would not fight Yuan Yi fairly. Lan Xiaohui also stepped forward, intending to join the battle.
"He is a traitor! We must kill him!" Hou Hu shouted as he pointed his sword at Yuan Yi.
"Yuan Yi! I will help you!" Lan Xiaohui shouted, dashing forward.
"Stand back!" Yuan Yi called back. "Don't worry about me!"
Lan Xiaohui stopped, unsure of what to do. On one hand, they called Yuan Yi a traitor, so if she joined the battle on his side, she would also be a traitor. She seemed angry, but nevertheless, remained in place.
Yuan Yi still thought he stood a fair chance against one of them. He did not account for Mo Heng's presence, and as far as his strategy went, he thought that if Mo Heng was somehow around, he would be easy to deal with. After all, there wasn't a big difference in their cultivation. Hou Hu was at the peak of the 9th stage of Qi Condensation. That was the real problem.
A difference of 3 stages was immense, but not impossible to overcome.
Yuan Yi took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Even his breath was heavy. Everything about him was heavy, especially his killing intent. It was oppressive. The Outer Disciples could barely even breathe in Yuan Yi's presence.
Even Hou Hu was worried.
"Let's attack him together," Hou Hu said.
Mo Heng nodded.
Yuan Yi began considering ways to escape this battle. What was the point in fighting if he was at such a disadvantage. Sure, the Dao of the Sword was to overcome all obstacles, but impossible was still impossible.
Even if he could strike down Mo Heng, or Hou Hu, the other would likely kill him.
Yuan Yi narrowed his eyes. He realized that this is perhaps why he was given another chance at life. Perhaps this was the ultimate reason. So he could get revenge.
Yuan Yi widened his stance. He opened his defenses further. Now he was completely defenseless. He coiled his arm and hid the sword behind his back, like a dragon's tail or a scorpion's stinger.
No matter what, he would kill Hou Hu today.
[Danger. Risk level too high. Expected outcome: Certain death.]
[Would you like to try a free trial of Automatic Combat mode?]
Yuan Yi was taken aback. The entity could do that?
[Affirmative: This unit can handle user's combat.]
Yuan Yi licked his lips. He wondered if the entity could find a way to find a favorable outcome in this battle.
[Snide remark: Everything the user can do, this unit can do better.]
Yuan Yi frowned. There was no need to be so arrogant about it.
Finally, Yuan Yi nodded.
[Automatic Combat mode engaged.]
Yuan Yi slid forward. His step was so graceful and powerful, it looked as if he was floating above the ground as he approached the two opponents. It seemed so simple and so unthreatening, that Hou Hu and Mo Heng almost didn't even notice. They were so focused on perceiving aggressive actions and from which side Yuan Yi would attack, that they almost forgot that Yuan Yi could approach them.
When he was within striking range, they suddenly realized and lashed out.
Mo Heng chopped from above at Yuan Yi, and Yuan Yi stepped to the side. Yuan Yi's sword lashed out with such heaviness that the podium underneath Mo Heng broke and a wind blasted through the area. Mo Heng's arm, still gripping the sword, went flying into the Outer Disciple ranks and Yuan Yi, carrying the momentum of the previous blow, slashed Mo Heng again and separated his head.
Hou Hu had to step away, suddenly, as Mo Heng's body almost fell on him, and as he moved, Yuan Yi's kick connected, shattering Hou Hu's knee.
Hou Hu screamed in pain, but it was cut short, as Yuan Yi's sword landed on the crown of his head, and carved all the way through to the middle of his chest.
The blood finally hit the podium and the battle was over in less than two seconds.
[Automatic Combat mode disengaged.]
[No CP or PP awarded for the kills.]
[Quest completed: Kill Hou Hu.]
[You have earned 5x