It was high noon. Sunlight shone down on the two sword disciples as they faced each other in the middle of the stage. On one side was a beautiful maiden. On the other was a handsome young prince, a perfect couple.
They both moved at the same time, their swords glittering with radiance. In a flash, they met in the middle, their blades crossing together with a clang. The two stared into each other's eyes, trying to gauge their opponent's next move. The air between them was still but filled with sword intent. Neither side was afraid of the other. Both were intent on proving their ability.
The two broke apart and the duel started in earnest. Sword clashed against sword, so quickly that individual strikes all melded into a smooth melody. One side wielded the Sword of the Gallant Gentleman. The other wielded the Sword of the Noble Lady. Their footsteps and movement perfectly mirrored each other like an intricately choreographed dance.
Without any use of spiritual energy, relying purely on physical ability and understanding of the sword, the pair were perfectly matched. She was his equal in every way. To the onlookers, it seemed like they were connecting their hearts and souls. Many couldn't help but sigh at this stirring scene.
Peng Lingxi had to admit that this Peng Feihong was talented. As she blocked and parried and attacked, she could feel his understanding of the sword being transmitted through his blade. He was far better than the rabble she had to deal with every day, that was for sure.
But that was all he was. He was good. He wasn't great. He was far from amazing. She had expected much more from a core disciple but it seemed that they weren't as good as she had imagined.
Everything she could have learned about the sword from him had all been exhausted in the first few minutes. There was nothing else she could gain from this duel so it was time to end it. Besides, she had already given him enough face.
Peng Lingxi's moves shifted.
The onlookers gasped as her speed increased and her sword became a blur.
She went on the attack, utilizing the flaws in Peng Feihong's sword to press him back. She was faster, more accurate, more relentless. Her sword intent rose precipitously, far above her opponent's much to his shock.
Her understanding of the Sword of the Noble Lady far surpassed his of the Sword of the Gallant Gentleman. In fact, she had also mastered the male sword form as well, something that went far beyond what was expected. These two sword arts were supposed to be complementary. The male side led and the other followed. The man fought and the woman supported. They were supposed to work in conjunction, a dance of perfect harmony.
Instead, she was performing both roles. She needed no man to lead her, to protect her, to assist her. She could do all of it herself. She was a solo dancer following her own tune. There was no room for another at all!
"Enough!" Peng Feihong huffed as he broke away.
He put some distance between them and glared at her, panting softly, trying to hide his shame.
Peng Lingxi tilted her head slightly and peered at him with a serene and carefree expression as if mocking his inability to impress her.
Peng Feihong wiped his brow and stood up straight. "Junior sister Lingxi, do you want to know the truth? The way of the sword is a lonely path. As someone who practices the Lonely Sword Wanderer, I will eventually have to leave behind my family to explore the world, seeking the way of the sword. It is a sword heart that is incompatible with women as its practitioner cannot be distracted by family, children, and others. Master, in all his wisdom and experience, has yet to find a woman who is capable of this. This is the truth, why there are no female core disciples."
By the time he was finished speaking, his smug demeanor had returned, oozing the superiority of a core disciple. The onlookers were hanging onto his every word and even the elders seemed impressed.
Peng Lingxi, however, remained unfazed.
"Since senior brother spends more time practicing the Lonely Sword Wanderer, perhaps you can show it to me and let me see its power?" She asked.
"Lingxi!" Elder Peng Lei admonished her disciple.
She was about to go up and drag Peng Lingxi off the stage when Peng Feihong held up a hand to stop her.
"Why not." He said casually, twirling his sword, "But if I beat you, you have to be my sword partner."
"If your sword can beat mine…" Peng Lingxi answered.
He chuckled and stepped towards her, full of confidence. His sword held casually in front, he made two more steps before he suddenly attacked. His blade was ferocious, going straight for her throat!
She retreated rapidly and knocked the sword away at the last moment. She twirled her body in the air to regain some space but his follow-on attacks didn't give her any room to breathe.
The Lonely Sword Wanderer was fundamentally on another level than ordinary mortal sword arts. The Sword of the Gallant Gentleman was filled with flashy, superfluous moves intended to impress others. The Lonely Sword Wanderer, on the other hand, only had moves intended to defeat and kill the opponent!
"Not good…" Elder Peng Feihe muttered, watching the fight with a worried expression.
"Whatever, let them fight," Elder Peng Lei snorted and waved her hand, "Lingxi is always so arrogant, it's good for her finally meet her match."
"En…" Peng Feihe nodded reluctantly.
Peng Lingxi found herself being pushed around the stage. Everything she did was useless and she was at Peng Feihong's whim. If he wanted her to go left, she had to go left. If he wanted her to go right, she had to go right. His sword art was far superior and the sword intent it generated completely suppressed what she could display with the Sword of the Noble Lady.
"Fine!" She said fiercely.
She forcefully disengaged from her opponent, pushing away his sword. She somersaulted backward until she landed at the edge of the stage.
Peng Feihong didn't follow and looked on with an amused expression. "Are you admitting defeat?"
She didn't answer and instead asked, "This is what you call your sword Dao?"
"That's right…"
"Don't make me laugh," She retorted.
Before he could wipe away his shock and respond, she cut apart the long, ungainly sleeves of her outfit and slashed the long, puffy dress into pieces. Ignoring the gasps and furious whispering all around her, she cast aside her ruined outfit to reveal a more formfitting one underneath, not dissimilar to the ones male disciples wore.
"Here I come!" She shouted and charged at Peng Feihong.
"You… what?"
Their swords clashed.
His eyes bulged out in shock. He couldn't believe what he was seeing and experiencing. He could barely hold off her attack.
Without even a moment of pause, her sword flashed around his guard, forcing him to retreat in a panic. She chased after him, her sword swinging fiercely, without a bit of kindness. Each of her sword strikes was filled with awesome power and ruthless sword intent.
Her sword art was clearly not the Sword of the Noble Maiden. This much was clear to everyone. But to Peng Feihong and the elders, they immediately knew which sword art it was…
The Lonely Sword Wanderer!
"You dare break the sect's rules?" Peng Feihong bellowed in disbelief, "Even if master is not here, I will punish you in his stead!"
He counterattacked furiously. He brought the full force of the Lonely Sword Wanderer, intending to teach her a lesson she would never forget.
The two traded blow after blow, utilizing every move they knew within the immortal sword art.
First move, Crossing Streams and Rivers!
The two of them were evenly matched with Peng Lingxi losing out a little in raw strength.
Second move, Rambling Past Hills and Valleys!
Peng Feihong cursed as his shoulder was nicked by her attack.
Striding Across the Great Plains!
He shouted in pain as she once again drew blood while his attack landed on thin air.
Scaling All the Mountains!
Ascending the Skies Alone!
"The… the second wandering!" Elder Peng Lei muttered in sheer disbelief.
"Genius… absolute genius!" Elder Peng Feihe exclaimed.
"You bitch!" Peng Feihong shouted, finally losing it completely.
He couldn't lose to a little girl. He couldn't lose to a nobody. He was a core disciple!
His spiritual energy surged, filling his body with the strength of a Spirit Initiate Realm cultivator. Just the aura alone forced Peng Lingxi all the way to the edge of the stage. They were never equal to being with but now, she stood no chance. A single attack from him at full strength would end her life in a blink.
Peng Feihong bellowed like a madman and charged at her.
"Not good!" Both elders shouted at the same time and made to intercept.
But before anyone could react, an invisible force exploded across the courtyard, freezing everyone in place. This power was overwhelming and meant only one thing!
"Sect master!"
"Sect master!"
Everyone fell to their knees and bowed to the ground, Peng Lingxi included. She dared not look up but sensed a figure land in the middle of the courtyard, between her and Peng Feihong.
"Master, you came! This slut dares… Ahhh!" Peng Feihong began before he let out a wretched scream.
There was the sound of a body flying through the air followed by a rough impact with the ground some distance away.
"Idiot! Be silent!" A rough voice sounded, clearly annoyed. "Disciple Peng Lingxi, stand up."
Peng Lingxi rose and, with a calm expression, faced the fearsome man in front of her, "Sect master."
Immortal Desolate Sword Peng Yuefeng studied the disciple in front of him and snorted, "Who taught you?"
Peng Lingxi bowed, "Reporting to sect master, nobody taught me. The Emerald Sword Forest where some core disciples like to train is close to my residence. I often sneaked out at night to watch them practice the Lonely Sword Wanderer and I picked it up like that."
"Hmph, you knew that this was against the sect's rules. Were you not afraid of being discovered and suffering severe punishment?"
She looked at him without fear, "It crossed my mind a few times in the beginning but I soon discarded such thoughts. My heart told me that I was doing nothing wrong. All I did was seek the path of the sword, the best one that was available to me. This is my sword heart. If there are more dangerous opportunities to learn the way of the sword, I will also seek it. Even it means a chance of death, I won't ever be afraid!"
Peng Yuefeng's expression softened and he eventually let a bellowing laugh, "Hahaha! Sect rules are important but talent is even more important. Your sword heart is brilliant and cannot be extinguished by a mere rule. You don't know but I have watched you for several years already. It would be a shame to lose such a good disciple!"
"Thank you, sect master!"
He held up a hand, "But... there are still some rules that cannot be broken. I, Peng Yuefeng, have never accepted a female disciple in my one hundred years of life…"
Peng Lingxi fell to her knees, "Master, I am willing to whatever is necessary!"
"Good!" He stroked his beard thoughtfully, "The name Lingxi is too feminine. I dislike it. Let's change it. From now on, your name is Peng Xiling and you are a man. You are not allowed to disclose the truth to anyone. You are not allowed to be a woman for the rest of your life unless you reach the immortal realms."
"Yes, master!"