Chapter 19: A Gentleman Borrowing A Sword, Even After Ten Years, Is Not Too Late
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“Elder Meng, do you also understand sword formations?” the long-faced cultivator leading the group opposite asked.
At the time of the mao hour (5-7am), Meng Xueli arrived at the west side of the Sword Training Platform. After waiting for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the opposite party arrived with many inner disciples. Initially, it was supposed to be just Meng Xueli participating in the sword formation practice, but now there were over a hundred people gathered by the cold pool, looking like a standoff between outer disciples and inner disciples.
In fact, as early as yesterday, after those four had hit a wall at the Hall of Legal Principles, the inner disciples they were close to had already heard the news and came early this morning to watch the spectacle.
“Did you know, Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Wu have taken on the task of protecting that Meng Xueli in the Hanhai Secret Realm next year.”
“Senior Brother Zhou is really unlucky. He broke through to the Barrier Breaking Realm just the day before yesterday, and was supposed to make a name for himself in this competition, but he was ruined by Meng Xueli… However, tomorrow at the mao hour, Senior Brother Zhou plans to use the sword formation practice to teach that surnamed Meng a lesson. We should go watch.”
“Oh, how dare they? If the elders find out, they’ll surely be heavily punished!”
“Senior Brother Zhou’s plan is brilliant, ensuring Meng Xueli won’t be able to complain! After all, he dragged others down, it’s only fair to teach him a lesson.”
According to Zhou Wu and the others’ plan, when Meng Xueli followed the instructions and ran back and forth in the formation until he was exhausted and utterly embarrassed, they would stop and excuse it by saying, ‘The sword formation is not yet well-coordinated, and Elder Meng has worked hard and suffered. Let’s reconvene in three days.’
This method, although simple, was flawless. If Meng Xueli tried to complain, he wouldn’t be able to explain the situation clearly. Those outer disciples hadn’t even seen the sword formation, let alone describe it. The Sect Leader Zhenren would only think Meng Xueli was too delicate and couldn’t endure any hardship. On their side, there were plenty of inner disciples to testify in unison, unafraid of any investigation by the Hall of Executors.
Everything was supposed to be foolproof. Meng Xueli attended as scheduled.
Before dawn, in the cold and severe wind, nearly a hundred people were secretly communicating, waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
Zhou Wu laughed and said, “Elder Meng, later when we tell you to go in a certain direction, just run that way. Don’t worry about anything else, just run fast enough. Otherwise, if you can’t keep up with the changes in the sword formation and the enemy catches a flaw, you’ll lose your life.”
In the wide and flat cliffside clearing, the four cultivators twirled their swords, displaying their starting stances, and dispersed to different positions, preparing to start the formation. Just then, Meng Xueli said, “Wait a moment.”
He actually stepped out of the formation and took the hand warmer back from the young disciple, saying, “This isn’t right.”
Over twenty outer disciples from the Hall of Legal Principles stood behind him in confusion, not understanding what was happening.
The four cultivators exchanged glances, their expressions changing slightly.
Meng Xueli patiently explained, “Two of you are using fire swords, and two are using ice swords. From this positioning, it should be a ‘Yin-Yang Formation.’ When the sword formation changes, the fire and ice poles interact like yin and yang, complementing and counteracting each other to defeat the enemy. But your fire swords aren’t powerful enough. After three cycles of the formation, they’ll lack the strength to continue. Why not switch to a simpler formation? I think the ‘Four Seas Embrace the Wind Formation’ would suit you better.”
The place fell silent. The Hall of Legal Principles disciples didn’t understand, and the four cultivators were too preoccupied to listen, suspecting someone might have betrayed them by informing Meng Xueli.
Meng Xueli continued to explain the benefits of the ‘Four Seas Embrace the Wind Formation,’ but Zhou Wu coldly interrupted, “You refuse to enter the formation?”
Meng Xueli helplessly replied, “The sword formation isn’t complete. Entering it now is pointless. You might as well put a bunch of golden mice in and let them run around; the effect would be the same.”
The Hall of Legal Principles disciples laughed.
Although they didn’t understand the details, they knew Elder Meng’s lively tone when he answered questions and pointed out mistakes.
The laughter sounded like harsh mockery to the four cultivators.
Seeing no response from the other side, Meng Xueli tentatively asked, “Why don’t you rethink it? It’s really quite cold here, so I’ll just head back…”
The cliffside was vast, with the north wind howling through.
To the west of the clearing was a cold pool. Standing by it, the damp, cold air seeped into his bones like a relentless chill, making it unbearable. The Hall of Legal Principles at the foot of the mountain was much more comfortable.
The four cultivators’ faces turned a mix of pale and green. They knew that if Meng Xueli had really seen through their plan, they had to deny it vehemently and strike first if possible.
Zhou Wu sneered, “If Elder Meng doesn’t want to cooperate with us, just say so directly. Why make these excuses!”
Behind him, Wu Jing chimed in, “We’ve worked hard to practice this formation for the elder’s safety, pouring our hearts into it. Elder, where are you in such a hurry to go? Indeed, it’s too cold here for Elder Meng, with his delicate constitution, who should only lie on Changchun Peak, growing flowers and feeding fish.”
Liu Xiaohuai, seeing the situation taking a turn for the worse, turned red and stammered, “You—you are audacious!”
But his timid voice was immediately drowned out by Zhou Wu’s stern rebuke:
“Did we say anything wrong? Do you know how many spirit stones the Changchun Peak formation consumes in a year? Even direct disciples train hard. What right do you have to live in such extravagance and enjoy its protection? Hasn’t Han Shan sacrificed enough for you? And now you want us to sacrifice our opportunities to protect you in the secret realm? Are you worthy?”
These words had been bottled up inside him for a long time, and today he finally found the opportunity to say them openly. It felt incredibly liberating.
After speaking, instead of feeling afraid, he felt a surge of inexplicable courage amid the cheers from those behind him:
“We have no respect for the elder. Elder Meng, please escort us to the Hall of Executors for punishment.”
It’s said that ‘the law does not punish the masses.’ Now, with the crowd’s anger surging, what could Meng Xueli possibly do to them?
Meng Xueli just stood there, stunned.
It seemed like he finally understood the situation.
However, the Sect Leader Zhenren’s arrangements were clearly made with the best intentions. Given the swordsmanship level of these four, if they tried to compete in the tournament, there was an eighty percent chance they’d lose their lives.
Zhou Wu continued his tirade, “It’s just unfortunate that Sword Sovereign Ji Xiao, despite his supreme cultivation, had such poor judgment.”
Meng Xueli took a deep breath, “Fine, say whatever you want about me. But to insult my late husband… if I can still tolerate that…”
Would I still be a man?
Yu Qishu hurriedly walked over to his side, tugging at his sleeve, “Don’t be impulsive, let’s go to the Hall of Executors!”
He urged Xiaohuai, “The situation is bad. Quickly, go find the head attendant, or any elder will do.”
Meng Xueli stopped Yu Qishu and calmly said, “I am an elder.”
Meng Xueli removed his cloak and handed it, along with the hand warmer, to Xiaohuai. Taking two steps forward, he addressed Zhou Wu, “I said your fire sword isn’t up to par. Do you disagree?”
Zhou Wu laughed angrily, “Of course, I disagree! What, are you challenging me to a duel?”
Meng Xueli thought for a moment, “That’s not out of the question.”
The inner disciples across from him burst into discussions.
“A duel? Did I hear that right?”
“He said it himself. No one can save him now!”
“I’d take any punishment just to witness this!”
In Han Shan, dueling was a sacred and solemn matter. Once agreed upon, there was no turning back.
Meng Xueli didn’t feel particularly angry, just slightly troubled. He raised his voice a bit and asked, “Who can lend me a sword?”
The crowd fell silent for a moment, followed by another wave of snickers. No sword, yet he wanted to duel.
Someone mocked, “No sword? Summon ‘Endless Sky Sword’ and show us something amazing!”
“Haha, a divine weapon with a spirit wouldn’t obey him anyway!”
The Hall of Legal Principles disciples looked at each other, still not understanding how things had escalated to this point.
The young disciple Liu Xiaohuai did have a sword. It was a peach wood sword Meng Xueli had crafted from the old branches of a peach tree on Changchun Peak. Zhu Xianming could easily break it with just two fingers.
Meng Xueli touched his nose, “There really isn’t one.”
Yu Qishu glanced around, regretting his earlier decision. He had brought these people here to back up his friend but had only made things more embarrassing.
Gritting his teeth, he said, “I have a sword!”
He patted his storage bag and produced a light green slender sword.
Meng Xueli thanked him and received it with both hands, “What sword is this?”
Yu Qishu whispered, “‘Willow by the Pool.’ Ahem, my mother’s dowry. Be careful with it!”
The sword was no more than three fingers wide, light, thin, and flexible, emitting a faint green glow.
It resembled the swaying willows in the spring breeze, akin to a mother’s soft hand holding back her departing child.
It was a soft sword designed for a woman.
Meng Xueli politely praised, “Good sword.”
A burst of laughter erupted from the other side, as if they had never been this amused since they began their cultivation journey.
—Meng Xueli clearly didn’t understand swords at all.
The crowd stepped back, giving the two ample space. According to tradition, the dueling parties needed to introduce themselves.
Zhou Wu pointed his sword to the ground and raised his head proudly, “This is my Blazing Sun Sword, forged by my family’s weapon smiths. I started learning swordsmanship at the age of nine, under the personal guidance of my family elder, ‘Senior Daoist Taixuan.’ After ten years of practice, I finally broke through.”
Cheers erupted from the cliff.
Entering the path of cultivation from a young age, breaking through at nineteen, and having ‘Taixuan’—the title of a grand elder of Han Shan—as his mentor, Zhou Wu came from a prominent cultivation family. Such a background and achievement were indeed worthy of pride.
Meng Xueli, holding the ‘Willow by the Pool,’ looked serene, “I haven’t practiced swordsmanship, but borrowing a sword, even after ten years, is not too late.”
Author’s note:
Scroll: Kid, your Dao companion is on his senior brother’s cloud ship. Do you miss him?
Sherry sneered: If he dares to interrupt my pretense, I’ll scratch his face!
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
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