Chapter 4: The Mountain Sword Style—Like Wind, Like Thunder

He Xian had quite a few grievances against Gu Yi.

She was fully aware that Gu Yi was sitting just outside the curtain, to the right of Old Chen. Yet she persisted in making veiled remarks, pretending to speak to the spiritual creature at her side. "She Huang, did you see that pitiful girl behind us?"

Of course, the little chick made no response.

He Xian grew irritated. "Not even a hint of reaction. I swear you have no conscience. If I find myself in danger someday, I doubt I could count on you!"

Listening to her complaints, Old Chen could hardly suppress a smile. He glanced at Gu Yi out of the corner of his eye, only to find the young man sitting quietly with his eyes closed.

"I swear, one day I'll stew you in a big pot and see if your heart is as black as it seems!"

"Cluck~" She Huang looked utterly aggrieved.

That day’s journey passed without incident, so uneventfully that Gu Yi felt a twinge of unease. The only thing that changed was He Xian’s endless chatter about him.

During a rest stop, the girl offered food as usual. Gu Yi refused, telling her to eat it herself, which only made He Xian more indignant.

Old Chen came over to explain on his young mistress’s behalf. "My mistress may have offended you with her words today. Allow me to apologize in her stead."

The youth smiled.

"I am not angry. In fact, I quite admire her innocence and liveliness. I envy it."

The two watched He Xian playing nearby. She had her pet deliver food to the girl, and when she noticed Gu Yi observing her, she shot him a glare and lifted her chin in proud defiance.

"Brother Gu, what do you envy?"

Gu Yi chuckled softly. "In her world, right is right, wrong is wrong. Life is simple, and the world is worth cherishing. Isn’t that enviable?"

Old Chen’s gaze at He Xian was filled with affection. He realized he was overthinking; no one could possibly hold a grudge against such a sincere and unspoiled young lady.

"Oh, by the way, just ahead is a mountain pass with several branching paths. One leads to Luyang. Once we reach there, we'll have truly left the Little Garden Mountain. Three more miles on the fork, and we arrive at Four Stone Town, where we’ll spend the night indoors instead of camping."

Out of the Little Garden Mountain?

Gu Yi couldn’t help but feel stirred, gazing back at the path they'd climbed, lost in thought.

Old Chen continued, "Once we're out of the mountains, the dangers will greatly diminish. The only regret is I haven't had a chance to witness your swordsmanship, Young Master Gu. And your way of gathering spiritual energy last night..."

He desperately wanted to ask, but cultivators all have their secrets—their lifeblood—and it’s neither custom nor polite to pry. Old Chen, being an upright man, had been holding back for hours and refrained from further questioning.

"Just ordinary swordplay," Gu Yi replied.

The middle-aged man wasn’t convinced. "…Yet for some reason, I feel you are no ordinary person, Young Master Gu. I always wish to see more."

Was it so easy to leave the Little Garden Mountain?

Gu Yi sensed something amiss, especially since Old Chen had tempted fate with his words.

…

They reached the fork in the road that afternoon, and everything seemed normal—until an arrow suddenly whistled through the air.

"You really jinxed us!" Gu Yi snatched the arrow by the tail. Before he could shout, all the attendants sprang awake, crying out the familiar phrase, "Assassins!"

Chaos erupted. Every attendant drew their sword, ready for battle.

He Xian called out, "Old Chen, what’s happening?!"

"Miss, stay inside the carriage and don’t show yourself!" Old Chen leapt onto the roof, hands forming strange gestures, already poised for combat.

Gu Yi jumped down.

"Relax. It’s aimed at me, not at you."

"How can you tell?"

"Only you and I were in its path. If they were after you, they'd have targeted your mistress." Gu Yi pressed the arm of a sword-brandishing attendant. "Easy, easy, kid. Let me borrow your sword for a moment."

He took the sword and strode forward. "I may be lazy, but since it’s directed at me, I won’t trouble others. You all step back."

He Xian lifted the side curtain of the carriage, peeking anxiously at the scene.

Old Chen couldn’t gauge the situation, so he chose to listen to Gu Yi. Protecting He Xian remained their top priority.

Only one person refused to retreat: the woman who insisted on following Gu Yi.

Gu Yi asked calmly, "This fight's outcome is uncertain. Shouldn’t you tell me why you insist on following me?"

No response.

"Never mind. Step back." He seemed to know what she intended and added, "I don’t like people disobeying at critical moments."

Only then did she obediently move aside.

He Xian grew anxious. "Old Chen, Gu Yi is in the Stage of Departure. Will he be all right?"

Even Old Chen didn’t know the answer, but he trusted Gu Yi. "He’s in the Stage of Departure, yes, but he does have some skill."

Meanwhile, Old Chen couldn’t stop wondering: How could someone without cultivation manipulate spiritual energy? From what he’d seen, it resembled the first lesson in cultivation—sensing and directing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

But how could a non-cultivator harness so much spiritual energy on first contact?

After the initial arrow, no more followed. Soon, three men and one woman emerged from behind a cluster of rocks. They made no attempt to hide their faces, appearing openly.

Their attire was identical: yellow-black uniforms, armored shoulders, blades in hand. The only woman was more daring, with long flowing hair, bare arms and feet.

From their bearing, it was clear they weren’t petty thieves like last night. A fierce battle seemed inevitable.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, the four dropped to their knees, bowing in perfect unison.

"Our master requests a meeting with the gentleman. Please, would you honor us with your presence?"

Old Chen: ???

What was happening? Who exactly was this person they’d rescued?

"Who is your master?" Gu Yi asked.

"Our master wishes to reveal their identity personally. We are not permitted to divulge it."

Gu Yi was equally puzzled. "If this is an invitation, why shoot a cold arrow?"

"I was the one who fired," the ugly man admitted. "Dodging it proved the gentleman's skill. If you will come with us, I will cut off my right arm as atonement."

What ridiculous logic.

Gu Yi raised his sword. "I won’t go, nor do I know your master."

The four bowed their heads again, then rose and saluted. "Please forgive us, sir."

With that, the ugly man pushed off with his foot—suddenly, a blade flashed toward Gu Yi.

"A cultivator! Stage of Meditation!"

Old Chen recognized it instantly.

He Xian grew anxious—the Stage of Departure was below even Meditation!

…

The blade came straight and fierce, but could be safely deflected with force. Yet Gu Yi did not do so; instead, he sprang upward, bringing his sword down. The ugly man, forced to twist aside, barely escaped.

"…That sword technique is unusual," Old Chen observed, eyes narrowed.

Had Gu Yi parried in the usual way, the man would have countered. But Gu Yi avoided the most common approach, shifting attack and defense in an unpredictable manner, which proved surprisingly effective.

Moreover, still airborne, Gu Yi should have had no leverage, yet he spun his sword clockwise while his body rotated counterclockwise.

The ugly man expected the next exchange, but to his astonishment, Gu Yi spun in midair, and the sword descended from above, swift as thunder!

Clang, clang, clang, clang!!!

He could only keep parrying desperately.

Gu Yi kept spinning until he landed, then switched from slashing to thrusting—quickly flinging the sword hilt forward. The ugly man, fast as he was, barely managed to block, but his movements were thrown off.

Gu Yi darted forward, catching the sword hilt, then swept upward in a marvelous arc, leaving a bloody streak on the man's arm.

"Hiss!" The pain made him gasp.

The Mountain Sword style, like wind and thunder, grew fiercer the more advantage was seized.

Seeing his opening, Gu Yi narrowed his eyes and launched forward with a kick.

The ugly man sensed danger, enduring the pain in his arm and the awkward posture forced on him. Gritting his teeth, he slashed out a fierce green blade.

Gu Yi braced the sword tip on the ground, and with a crisp 'ding,' leaped to dodge it, twisting in midair to land a heavy kick on the man’s neck!

"Ah!"

He was finished.

Several more wounds marked him, and Gu Yi sent him flying with another kick, using the momentum to land beside Old Chen. The sword in his hand hummed, glowing with white spiritual energy.

Such a strange sword style! Such swift and decisive combat!

"Just now, you had no leverage in midair—how did you launch an attack?" Old Chen, after years of cultivation, had never seen such a scene.

He referred to the first exchange, when Gu Yi spun his sword clockwise.

Gu Yi answered calmly, "When you stand on a perfectly smooth surface and turn your head right, you’ll find your body involuntarily turns left. It's called conservation of angular momentum."

Old Chen: ???

"The name of the sword style?"

"No, the sword style is called Mountain Sword."

Gu Yi gripped his sword, pointing it forward. "Come, then!"

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I am both the author and a reader myself. Seeing so many people enjoy my book brings me real joy, and I truly understand the agony of waiting for updates, so today I’m posting an extra chapter!

From now on, expect two chapters daily, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. I’m getting old and don’t have much stock left, so please don’t drain me dry… Unlike that trashy tentacle monster author ranked below me.

Vote for me~