Martial King's Retired Life

Book 16: Chapter 19

In spite of always being a martial arts fanatic, Bai Lian had no idea why she loved them. She strengthened herself in order to have the ability to repay Brilliant Consort for virtually adopting her. While a strong thirst for power considering her harsh childhood was understandable, her love for martial arts was purer than a sheer desire for power.

Bai Lian’s fascination with martial arts was in her blood. The first time she saw a fight between two skilled fighters, her eyes figuratively sparkled; she loved to read records of fights between schools. Even though training was tough, it was enjoyable. Though she reached new heights recently thanks to her shifu’s pointers, Su Xiao was still able to impress her.

In addition to crisp technique, Su Xiao needed to be able to harmonise his movements with his internal energy output. Seeing as they no longer had the only option of fleeing, Bai Lian grinned at the same time Langya grinned. The five of them all liked having a worthy foe.

Langya leisurely performed a back bend. Although several strands of hair did drift into the wind, there was no blood spilt. Regardless of what technique Su Xiao tried, he was unable to find any flesh. If she had Su Xiao’s swinging speed, she would have won on speed, but she did not, resulting in a stalemate.

In terms of energy expenditure, Langya would have expended less just evading. Everyone was certain that Su Xiao would eventually run out of steam and be forced to reduce his speed. That assumption was predicated on it being a one-on-one match.

Langya sensed a chilly breeze approaching the nape of her neck. If she dodged the attack, then she would have shifted her head into the line of Su Xiao’s slash.

Clang!

Su Xiao’s surprise made it clear that he did not intend to stop his swing a few inches short of Langya’s head – though he did not mean to split her skull, either. The reason he had exceeded his past speed records was because he did not think as he swung. No matter how much strength he mustered, he was unable to lower the blade any further.

When she was in peril, Langya swung her whip, creating a loop around Su Xiao’s weapon and then launched herself backwards, creating enough tension on the whip to straighten it out, which cancelled out the force of Su Xiao’s slash. She demonstrated not just impressive skill but an uncanny ability to remain composed even when in danger. Chasing his weapon instead of just backing out required her to be sure her prediction of its trajectory was correct.

“Eagle, what are you doing?!” Langya yelled at the sharp-eyed man.
Had her companion stepped in earlier, Langya would not have had to deal with a sneak attack. According to her knowledge, he was comparable to herself in terms of martial prowess, so he could not have been on his back foot so soon, not to mention that she always kept tabs on Bai Lian to ensure that the latter could not reach her.

The swordsman apologetically explained, “She used a vacuum palm strike.”

Langya did not expect that answer. Neither Su Xiao nor Bai Lian’s appearances suggested they were even twenty, yet the former was not only fast, but it was also impossible to tell what school he was from, while Bai Lian had developed internal energy potent enough to execute a vacuum palm strike? For someone so young to have been able to blast air with enough force to make it harmful, they would have easily been famous in the pugilistic world. Yet, despite the level the duo demonstrated, no names or disciplines came to mind.

During Langya’s lapse in concentration, Su Xiao broke out of the whip’s bind and retreated. He was never one to be overzealous about fighting; in fact, begging for forgiveness was never out of the question.

Bai Lian also pulled out, pressing her back up against Su Xiao’s and quietly asked, “Xiao, what was that broadswordplay? The last time I saw you, you were swinging randomly. How did you improve so much?”

“It’s the same broadswordplay as always, the one my dad taught me. Did I improve?”

“…” Bai Lian started questioning how Su Xiao trained and if she was the one who had stagnated.

Eagle drew his wooden sword back. He did not use his sharp sword strapped to his waist, but Bai Lian could not have fought him barehanded even if he was using a wooden sword when he imbued it with qi.

“Watch out!” Bai Lian pushed Su Xiao aside and then executed six consecutive frosty palm strikes.

Eagle deflected each strike effortlessly. Bai Lian still could not identify how skilled Eagle was after a few exchanges, but his composure was more troubling than his swordplay. He was able to thwart all of her awkward attacks and tricks whilst forcing her into his traps. The longer they fought, the less tools she felt she had left. Naturally, the feeling that nothing was going to work made her feel apprehensive.

Word of the five individuals’ feats were spread in the pugilistic world, but nobody ever mentioned their backgrounds.

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