It was dusk. The wind was blowing, and red leaves slid down the sky. On the way from Copper Plateau to Chang Lin, a man rode past on his stallion. The man on the horse was in his forties. His hair was disheveled, and there was a long blade attached to his waist. The horse was not a good horse, and the blade was a nameless blade, but the man was a world-renown swordsman. Xie San’s gaze appeared tired. Wind tussled his disheveled hair, adding an air of undisguised dejectedness to his presence.
Suddenly, he pulled on the horse’s rein. His pair of eyes suddenly became as sharp as an eagle’s because Xie San saw someone in his path.
In the wind, a swordsman in white stood upright. He was the first person at Chang Lin Town to know that Xie San had reached the Copper Plateau.
“Lin Chang?” Xie San recognized the man before him, he was Lin Chang, the Clear Sky Blade of the Six Flowery Blades.
“It’s been a long time, Xie San,” Lin Chang said darkly. His tone was cold as ice, and his gaze was filled with condescension. The man that presented himself was completely different from the stand-up young hero at the inn that morning. Without saying a word, Xie San leaped down from his ride. He turned the horse around and patted the horse on its back. The horse jogged toward Copper Plateau.
The autumn wind picked up. In that moment, there were only two people and two blades in the world. The chill of murder was in the air. The reason Lin Chang had shown up there was clear without him needing to say it.
“When I last saw you, I knew you, Clear Sky Blade, were an unsheathed blade,” Xie San said darkly. “You would hide your capacity and bide your time.”
“Is that so? Then how come… I still see no trace of fear in your eyes?” Lin Chang asked.
“Because even if your full capability is unleashed, you are no match for me,” Xie San replied calmly.
“Hahaha…” Lin Chang laughed, but the laughter did not reach his eyes. If anything, his expression only darkened further. “Xie San, you disappoint me.”
When he said that, he tossed his blade to the ground and held his hands behind him, standing in that arrogant posture. “You think my kung fu is something readable by second rate swordsman like yourself?”
If a third person heard this, they would think that Lin Chang had lost his mind from too much training. If Xie San was considered a ’second rate’ swordsman, then ninety percent of all warriors would be considered zero rate. The martial world would be considered a huge joke.
“Lin Chang, looks like you have lost your mind.” Xie San was as calm as ever and did not rise to the bait. A man whose kung fu had reached the zenith would not have his composure shaken so easily. Compared to words, he had more faith in his years of training. No matter the era, an extreme expert like Xie San would be lonely because he could not find a match, a person who really understood him. In Xie San’s eyes, the current era, his only peer was Ye Cheng. Other than the Blade God, no one was able to reach his level, so there was no second person who could shake his confidence. Even if ten ’Lin Chang’s were standing there, he would react the same way.
“You will soon understand how clear-minded I am,” Lin Chang replied. After a pause, he said, “You came to Chang Lin to have the duel with Blade God?”
He scoffed. “But Ye Cheng’s mastery of the sword is like child’s play before my eyes. He is not suitable to use the name Blade God…”
At this point, Lin Chang’s desire to kill exploded. At that moment, the sand and falling leaves were unable to reach his body. “If there really is a Blade God in this world… then it should be me, Lin Chang!”
Xie San shook his head. “Such madness.”
Just as he finished, he flicked his blade with his hand, and the speed was as fast as lighting. Before the sheath hit the ground, many glints blossomed in the sky like there were thousands of blades flying. Nameless Blade had made his move. The blade aura was large like a wave, all-consuming like a tsunami.
Lin Chang scoffed with derision. Once the blade was unsheathed, it had to taste blood. Xie San did not hold back. In the blink of an eye, he reached Lin Chang, and the blade went for the man’s throat. Lin Chang raised his right hand and closed his fingertips to cover his neck. In that moment, his composure caused a chill to travel up Xie San’s spine.
Calm down, maintain your composure.
Lin Chang flicked his fingers with ease, and the nameless blade was flung back by the impact. Xie San felt a wave of internal energy ravage his right arm like a wolf. The blade almost dropped from his grasp. He quickly summoned his Qi to stabilize his lower body and stopped his body from acting out. Then with a burst of energy, he turned around in evasion and danced to the side to evade the counterattack.
“You!” Xie San was shocked beyond belief, and his ability to speak was robbed. In that short duel, it was enough to shatter the confidence and common knowledge that he had built over the decades into pieces.
“Humph… I haven’t even used my blade, and you’re already so scared… Hahaha…” At that moment, Lin Chang’s face appeared to be shrouded in a kind of indescribable black aura.
“What… kind of demonic power is that?” Xie San’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his heart was gripped by terror. From what he felt, Lin Chang’s little flick of his finger was like that of an expert who had trained his internal energy for more than five decades. That was the amount of power his adversary possessed.
“Evil power is thickest at dusk, and the falling leaves are like red clouds,” Lin Chang recited as his hand plucked out a red leaf that was drifting through the air. He lowered his head look study the leaf with a smirk. “Xie San, do you know? Once, my gaze was as narrowed as the rest of you. I thought the kung fu of the One Family, Two Spires, Three Factions, and Four Sections could be considered the best already. I thought that swordsmen like you and Ye Cheng were the ultimate masters. I thought, with my talent, I would never catch up to any of you. Haha… but I was mistaken.”
As he finished, he shot the leaf out, and a flash of red cut through the air.
In that moment, a wound opened, revealing Xie San’s ribs, and blood sprayed.
“There are mountains beyond mountains. That is not wrong.” Lin Chang did not even deign to look at Xie San. “Even I did not imagine I would be so lucky to inherit this long lost… most powerful kung fu. When I have mastered my kung fu fully, you people will understand how rough and juvenile the kung fu you’re practicing is. What Ye Family Blade, Thousand Spire Kung Fu, Octagonal Mantra, Shao Lin seventy-two Tactics? How foolish they are!”
Blood leaked out of Xie San’s lips. Even though he was still standing, he could not move anymore. Lin Chang slowly took deliberate steps toward him.
“You wish to find Ye Cheng to prove your mastery of swordsmanship? Haha…” He laughed darkly. “Don’t worry, you won’t miss out. He’ll be waiting for you in hell.”
Xie San’s eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at Lin Chang.
“You…” He was reminded of what Lin Chang had said earlier. Ye Cheng’s mastery of the sword is like child’s play before my eyes.
“Haha… Looks like you have finally got it. Yes, I’ve killed Ye Cheng. He will not show up today.” Lin Chang laughed in joy and slowly raised his hand. “So, follow him in peace, Nameless Blade!”