Chapter 105: The Road

Tat tat tat tat!

On the training field, wooden swords clashed repeatedly. Lin QiYe stood with his left hand behind his back, holding a sword in his right hand, advancing step by step with steady footsteps.

Opposite him, BaiLi Pangpang was retreating in a panic, wildly swinging his wooden sword, barely managing to block the strikes.

Lin QiYe flicked his wrist, easily knocking BaiLi Pangpang's sword out of his hand, then quickly took a step forward, the sword hovering near BaiLi Pangpang's neck.

"You're too strong, I can't beat you!" BaiLi Pangpang dropped his sword, panting heavily as he sat down, feeling frustrated.

"It's not that I'm strong, it's that you're too weak," Lin QiYe said frankly.

Unable to wield a sword, Cao Yuan silently sat to the side, resting his chin on his hand as he watched the two spar. Hearing Lin QiYe's words, he nodded in agreement.

BaiLi Pangpang: ...

"BaiLi TuMing, your basics are too weak. Go practice basic moves with them over there," Instructor Han Li said as he stepped forward, addressing BaiLi Pangpang.

BaiLi Pangpang looked down, dejected, and joined the group practicing basic skills.

"Lin QiYe..." Instructor Han Li raised his eyebrows slightly, "Your basics are solid, and your swordplay is skilled, but... I feel like something's missing."

"Missing what?" Lin QiYe asked.

"Your sword, it has the form but lacks the soul," Instructor Han Li adjusted his words. "Your swordplay is too rigid. It's fine for fighting against average opponents, but if you face a real expert, it'll be difficult."

"How about this, let's spar."

Instructor Han Li picked up a wooden sword from the nearby rack, holding it loosely with both hands and casually stood in front of Lin QiYe.

Lin QiYe nodded and assumed a combat stance, his wooden sword suddenly slashing forward!

Tat tat tat—!

Instructor Han Li's seemingly relaxed stance immediately became unpredictable, his wooden sword slicing through the air like a ghost, easily blocking Lin QiYe's attacks.

After blocking three strikes, Instructor Han Li narrowed his eyes, and the wooden sword in his hand seemed to gain a life of its own, striking Lin QiYe's wrist like a snake.

With a light sound, Lin QiYe's wooden sword slipped from his hand and fell to the side.

Lin QiYe froze.

Unlike their last sparring session, when Instructor Han Li was teaching the new recruits fixed sword techniques, he had slowed down to make it easier for everyone to see, and Lin QiYe had been able to block the attacks with ease, especially since he had learned those techniques from Chen MuYe.

But this time, the sparring was completely different.

Instructor Han Li's four strikes were unpredictable, and his wooden sword moved as though it had a life of its own, skillfully dodging and attacking.

Compared to that, Lin QiYe's swordplay seemed stiff and mechanical.

"Did you feel that?" Instructor Han Li asked as he picked up the wooden sword for Lin QiYe.

"Yeah." Lin QiYe furrowed his brows, thinking. "But how can I practice to overcome this stiffness?"

Instructor Han Li remained silent for a moment. "Honestly, this issue is serious, but it's not impossible to fix. It will just take a lot of time. Many martial arts masters in the world are like this. With thirty years of practice, they can reach a high level."

Hearing the mention of thirty years, Lin QiYe's face darkened.

"But I think the root cause isn't here." Instructor Han Li continued.

"What is it?"

"Have you ever thought about the possibility that you might not be suited to using a sword? Or rather, you may not be suited to using this kind of sword," Instructor Han Li said, looking him in the eyes.

Lin QiYe was taken aback.

"To be honest, you're not particularly gifted with the sword. People with high talent, even if they're holding a sword for the first time, even if their swings are awkward, will still have an indescribable aura about them…"

"Unfortunately, I don't see that in you."

Instructor Han Li continued, "Of course, I'm not saying you have no talent. There aren't many people in the world who are born with extraordinary abilities. With enough practice, your swordplay will still improve, but if you want to reach a higher level, it's going to be very hard."

"Actually, the point I've been trying to make is that you might find a path that's more suited to you."

"A path more suited to me..." Lin QiYe murmured to himself.

Instructor Han Li patted his shoulder. "Think about it carefully. I'll go check on the others."

After the instructor left, Lin QiYe stood alone with his sword in hand, seeming to ponder something...

...

After the first day's hellish training, the following days were much easier. Not only did the food in the cafeteria improve, but there were also no more extreme punishments.

Even so, the daily physical training, which the instructors constantly varied, still left the new recruits in pain.

After a day of training, Lin QiYe slowly climbed into bed. As soon as he closed his eyes, his thoughts became chaotic.

The four strikes from Instructor Han Li and his own stiff blocking movements kept replaying in his mind...

Maybe what he said was right. He probably wasn't suited to using a sword, but spending twenty years practicing it was something Lin QiYe couldn't quite accept.

If he gave up using a sword, then... where was his path?

In a daze, Lin QiYe eventually fell asleep.

In his dream, he once again recalled the fear he felt when facing Chen MuYe.

In the underground training field, Chen MuYe wielded two swords. His strikes came like a whirlwind, overwhelming Lin QiYe. He could only barely block a few attacks and endure the pain of the wooden sword hitting his body.

But this time, he didn't choose to escape.

He widened his eyes, using his spiritual energy to carefully track Chen MuYe's swords, where they started and where they landed...

Gradually, the underground training field began to fade away, and Chen MuYe's face grew more and more blurry. Only the two wooden swords in his hands, each move, was deeply etched into Lin QiYe's heart.

Suddenly, Lin QiYe's eyes shot open!

He sat up in bed, his eyes as bright as the moonlight outside the window. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly dressed and quietly left the room.

With the enhancement from the "Starry Night Dancer," Lin QiYe moved silently, like a ghost in the night. He passed through most of the training camp without a sound and arrived at the empty training field.

He walked up to the practice platform, took two wooden swords from the rack, and slowly closed his eyes. Chen MuYe's sword moves automatically appeared in his mind...

He moved.

Under the moonlight, he wielded the two swords like a butterfly fluttering at midnight, nimble and filled with an inexplicable aura.

He opened his eyes, his gaze as brilliant as the stars!

-------

 "Achoo!!"

At the Peacekeeping Office, Chen MuYe suddenly sneezed.

Wu Xiangnan, who was lying on the couch watching TV, tilted his head. "Got a cold?"

"Doesn't seem like it."

"Then why have you sneezed a dozen times?"

"I think someone's thinking of me," Chen MuYe said seriously.

Wu Xiangnan rolled his eyes.

"Talk nonsense."