Chapter 72
The crowd beneath the stage cheered for a long time . Onstage, the two masked swordsmen were masters, just as the spearman was also an expert . The most enjoyable fights were between experts, where the challengers could display their skills . Those who fought would be gratified, and those who watched would be delighted . However, the contest that scarcely began was obviously not delightful for the people who fought nor the people who watched . Although it was exciting, it was far from satisfactory .
Being able to defeat the enemy in one move only occurred when the strengths of both sides were extremely different . Sometimes, even the fight between an expert and a fledgling teenager wouldn’t end in one move .
The people watching the battle were all martial arts practitioners who came to participate in the Wulin Assembly . While watching the battle, they often thought of how to deal with the opponent’s moves . Many people knew that they were not the opponents of An Yuan or the spearman, let alone imagined themselves able to beat them in a few moves .
Some people thought the fight between Han Changsheng and the spearman was a coincidence, or that the spearman wasn’t fighting properly . After all, Han Changsheng’s moves looked simple–it could be hard to see the skill if one was not a peerless master . The moment Han Changsheng subdued An Yuan, he couldn’t be described as beautiful or gorgeous . There was no opportunity to steal the strength of the momentum for himself in the air . He only turned to avoid An Yuan’s hit and accurately aimed the tip of his blade at An Yuan’s chest . Even those who only blinked for a split second didn’t know how he did it . Even Han Changsheng didn’t know what happened . No one thought of how preposterous that move was, their only thoughts were that Han Changsheng was a master!! A real master!!
Yue Yu-er swallowed her saliva and tightly held Liu Xiaoqi’s arm .
“What just happened?” She asked, her voice trembling .
Liu Xiaoqi shook his head, bewildered .
“That man is too amazing,” Yue Yu-er said, “Is he more powerful than the elder martial brother?”
Liu Xiaoqi moved his mouth, but no sound came out .
On the other side, Lu Wenlin excitedly jumped up .
“Lady, this baby is really a wreck?! I’m going to meet him!” He called, already rushing to the challenge arena .
His man grabbed him . “Little Lord, can you beat him?”
Lu Wenlin frowned and thought about Han Changsheng just then . He had to admit it, he didn’t see how anyone could win against that move . He’d seen many masters, mostly none better than himself, but also some who possibly were . In the past, he could always gauge in which ways the opponent was better than himself and determine how to stack his moves to neutralize them . However, Han Changsheng’s tactics were unreadable to him, which meant he couldn’t avoid Han Changsheng’s attacks . Thus, it seemed that Han Changsheng was not just one or two points ahead of him . When Han Changsheng fought him before, he obviously didn’t try his best .
Lu Wenlin was a martial arts maniac, but he was no braggart . He shook his head . “I may not win against him . ”
His man hugged him . “Little lord, you can’t go . What will you do if you lose?”
Lu Wenlin was the son of the Wulin Alliance leader . He rarely picked fights with others . It was an honor to be selected to fight against Lu Wenlin . There was no way for Lu Wenlin to always come out victorious . After all, he was still young compared to many talented fighters in the Jianghu . Although Lu Wenlin was a master, he wasn’t unbeatable . If he lost to a well-known master, everyone would laugh it off as something trivial . Since Lu Wenlin’s skills were always improving, who was to say that he couldn’t beat the same opponent in two years?
But the man in the challenge arena wasn’t older than Lu Wenlin, and no one knew which school he came from . Before the Wulin convention, the arena was usually attended by a small number of unknown people in order for them to gain more attention . Simply put, for someone of Lu Wenlin’s status, it was seen as beneath him to join the arena .
He also said that there was a possibility he couldn’t beat the people in the arena . If he went up and was defeated with one move, he would become a stepping stone for the other side . In the future, he would be criticized for trying to inherit his father’s career .
Lu Wenlin rebuked, “Counsellor! If I lose, then I lose . I have to pit against him . ”
His servant cried like he was crying to his father and mother and hugged Lu Wenlin’s thigh . “No, Little Lord, you can’t go to the stage!”
Lu Wenlin was impatient to kick him away . The servant threatened, “If you dare to enter the arena, I will tell the leader! After the Wulin Assembly officially begins, the leader won’t let you participate in the rest of the event!”’
Lu Wenlin hesitated . Originally, Honghua had agreed to let him compete with the heroes and heroines in the Wulin Assembly . He’d been looking forward to it for a long time . If he was not allowed to do so, it would be difficult .
Then, the servant said, “If you want to fight him, why do you have to go to the arena? How many people want to compete with the Little Lord? After the end of the challenge arena, the Little Lord can find him in private and fight him as he likes . There are many restrictions in the arena, and the Little Lord would not be able to fight to his heart’s content . ”
Lu Wenlin was stirred up and hesitated to back away .
In the ring, Han Changsheng didn’t dare look at An Yuan’s expression . He intended to let An Yuan defeat him, in order to establish his master status in everyone’s minds . Instead, things were now done . The hero made a mistake . In a split moment, he’d defeated An Yuan .
He wanted to pave the way for him, he wanted him to become famous–he intentionally didn’t cover An Yuan’s whole face . When the time came, he would ask him to take off his veil and make a huge sensation in the Wulin .
Now, he crushed his own foot while trying to lift a rock . He could not even attempt to swap his identity with An Yuan’s . What would An Yuan think of him? He specifically called him to the challenge arena, only to make him lose to such a popular person . Why bother doing the hard work of trying to get An Yuan to go all the way? The Dog Lord must hate him!
Unexpectedly, An Yuan came to him with clear eyes and without an ounce of hatred . On the contrary, he was satisfied with the instructions and bowed his head to Han Changsheng . “Thank you for your advice . ”
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Han Changsheng turned to him, looking like a dead fish . Seriously? The Dog Lord must want to strangle him!
In fact, there was no resentment in An Yuan’s heart . He knew nothing of Han Changsheng’s thoughts and plans . Neither was he someone who coveted the limelight . Han Changsheng’s move surprised him, and he couldn’t wait to learn from him when their time in the arena was over .
The host of the challenge arena excitedly exclaimed, “Is there anyone who wants to challenge in the arena?” He had presided over the arena for many years and this was the first time anything like this had occurred . It wasn’t enough to win just two games in a row . If Han Changsheng could keep it up and win several games in a row, he would surely shock the entire world . Such a shock wouldn’t happen after the martial arts conference officially began!
Although there was a lot of noise from the audience, no one dared to go on the stage again . Nobody could handle the humiliation if they were to lose so thoroughly .
“No,” Han Changsheng said, “I don’t feel well . Let’s leave . ”
Since the unofficial arena opened, the masked double swordsmen had been unwilling to make too many moves in the challenge arena, only fighting two or three times a day at most . No matter how many other people invited them to fight, they refused to do so . If Han Changsheng wanted to leave, the host could not stop him . It was a pity that the audience could not watch more fights featuring the masked swordsman that were sure to be legendary .
When Han Changsheng and An Yuan stepped out of the arena, they were blocked by the enthusiastic crowd . After seeing the amazing performance just then, a lot of people wanted to ingratiate themselves with the double masked swordsman or inquire about their background . Han Changsheng and An Yuan could barely ward them off .
Liu Xiaoqi stood outside the crowd and craned his neck to look over them .
In a low voice, Yue Yu-er murmured, “Is that guy the second elder martial brother? If he was, it would be a shame to our Yuehua Sect . My father is still clamoring for me to be betrothed to him . ” Pausing, she whispered, “I won’t do it even if he beats me to death . ”
Liu Xiaoqi thought about it and turned to say, “Let’s go back . If the sect leader can’t find us, he will be anxious . ”
On the tree, the mysterious man laughed, then jumped down and disappeared in the crowd .
Han Changsheng and An Yuan easily squeezed out of the crowd, then hurriedly used their lightness skills to shake off everyone behind them . They were tired as if they had fought a hundred battles and finally, breathlessly, returned to the inn .
As soon as he went back to the inn, Han Changsheng immediately explained to An Yuan, “Good disciple, don’t be angry, I…”
“I’m not angry, why would you think that?” An Yuan interrupted, “I’m just surprised at how many skills you’re hiding . Just when I thought I could see through your every move, in fact, I was far from it . ” Then, he said, “I have never seen you use that step you just used in the arena . Will you teach me?”
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Han Changsheng said, “I… I don’t know how it happened . It was like I was possessed . ”
An Yuan took a long, deep look at him, then said, “It is alright if you don’t want to . It’s common sense to keep some moves secret . ”
Han Changsheng could cry tears of blood . God, which God was playing with him?! It was so hard for him to jump into the Yellow River, ah!
Han Changsheng had to focus on An Yuan with affectionate eyes, trying to make himself look more sincere . “As long as I have, as long as I can, anything I can give you, just the… just now… it’s really…”
An Yuan was stunned and suddenly said, “Was that move inspired by something intimate? I see . Say no more, I understand the difficult position you’re in . ”
Han Changsheng didn’t know what An Yuan’s brain had filled in . However, with all his words said, it wasn’t easy for him to go on . If he said more, he wouldn’t know how to explain it . Since An Yuan said that he understood, no matter what he understood, he could only let him believe it .
Han Changsheng looked at An Yuan and An Yuan looked at Han Changsheng . Suddenly nervous, Han Changsheng turned his eyes away .
Over the past six months, he used a deep, sincere attitude and soft words to win over and deceive An Yuan . Sometimes, he didn’t know what to do or how to say things, so he compensated by being affectionate . Holding An Yuan’s hand as he looked at him, as long as he put on his facade, An Yuan would panic away from his gaze . It would temporarily relieve the embarrassing situation . However, in recent days, somehow, An Yuan grew more and more astute . He wouldn’t be deceived .
He stared at An Yuan, and An Yuan stared at him . An Yuan’s eyes were so deep and beautiful that they seemed to suck people in . After a while, it flustered him . He didn’t know what was wrong with him . He didn’t dare to look down . His ever flexible tongue was stiff . He didn’t know what to say .
Releasing An Yuan with a dry smile, Han Changsheng said, “You… It’s good if you understand . ”
An Yuan sighed .
That afternoon, Han Changsheng didn’t dare go out again . In the twinkling of an eye, An Yuan used his power to adjust Han Changsheng’s breath .
After coming to the Kunlun Mountain, An Yuan helped Han Changsheng circulate his Qi each day . He helped Han Changsheng calm his disordered breath and ensure that he wouldn’t be possessed by Qi deviation because of the exercises on Kunlun Mountain . There was no further progress on the matter of conquering his internal power . Han Changsheng knew in his heart that as long as he advanced the technique, he’d be able to completely conquer his internal power, but An Yuan was unwilling to help .
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After the exercise, they weren’t as tired as before, but Han Changsheng lay on the bed with his eyes closed . However, he didn’t fall asleep . He just had a confusing day and his mind was very perturbed . His plan had been completely disrupted . He didn’t know what to do next or how to face An Yuan . It wouldn’t be a big deal if An Yuan would only lose to him and never lose to others . However, there was no guarantee that would happen . In martial arts competitions, there was always winning and losing . Sometimes, the winning or losing can’t represent the level of the martial arts on display–it depended on the circumstances of the fight and even luck . People with a high level of martial arts can lose to those with low level martial arts given the right tactics .
However, with a single move to overcome the overwhelming advantage of the enemy, there was no way to explain the happenstance . He not only let An Yuan lose, but made An Yuan lose in a hideous manner . From then on, when people spoke about An Yuan, they would talk about how he was beaten with one move in the arena, regardless of his opponent . He not only failed to lay a foundation for An Yuan, but instead set a big stumbling block for him .
Han Changsheng’s thoughts were spiralling, when suddenly, there was hot air in his face . An Yuan was close to him .
An Yuan didn’t know that Han Changsheng was pretending to be asleep . Han Changsheng was afraid to open his eyes . Judging from his breath, An Yuan was very close to him . He was afraid that his face was very close to his own . They were face to face, just like they were going to kiss .
An Yuan’s deep voice rang out in Han Changsheng’s ear, “I always think you aren’t honest and sincere enough to me . But, today, when I was fighting with you, I thought I should be more honest with you first . ”
Han Changsheng was very nervous . He didn’t know whether An Yuan saw that he was talking to him deliberately or whether An Yuan was mumbling to himself while he was asleep . However, he didn’t know how to receive his words, so he could only pretend to sleep .
Han Changsheng heard An Yuan sigh in his ear again . “But… I’m afraid to, ah . ”
After a while, An Yuan left Han Changsheng’s side and went to sleep .
After an indefinite amount of time, Han Changsheng couldn’t sleep . He was so upset that he pushed himself up with his hands 1and rose to his feet, then put on his coat and went outside to enjoy the cool air .
When Han Changsheng walked out of the inn, he saw someone standing at the door in the dark .
Han Changsheng approached carefully and saw the man’s appearance through the moonlight . He couldn’t help but be surprised . “Xiaoqi?”
It shocked Liu Xiaoqi . He didn’t expect Han Changsheng to come out in the middle of the night . He soon calmed down and whispered, “Big brother?” After a pause, he said timidly, “Or are you not senior brother or Li Jiulong? I… What should I call you?”
Translator(s): Empress
TL Check: Teo
Editor(s): Empress, Nadialuxxor
Proofer(s): Dark