The floating island of Xing Hao was vast, so in order to travel around it, I would need to take the extensive train networks that connected all six edges. Since I was moving away from Imperial Valley University and toward Ten Thousand Swords University, which was located on another edge, I would need to take the train to cross the huge distance.
Fortunately, thanks to qi and cultivation technology, the trains moved pretty quickly, so a journey that would normally take an hour or two could be completed in less than thirty minutes. That meant I would make it just in time for the Ten Thousand Swords University entrance examination. Or so I hoped.
The train was packed with passengers. Apparently not just cultivators lived here, but also a select group of people who maintained the necessary infrastructure. That said, they were still low-level cultivators at least, because they needed qi to run the trains and power electricity and all that. But these were the people who wouldn't cultivate much higher than their current realm either by intention or disabilities or whatever reason. Even so, they remained indispensable to the running of Xing Hao Island. Not everyone could be combatants. We still needed engineers, doctors, technicians, chefs, service staff, vendors, innkeepers, tailors, and other vocations on the islands. Oh, and drivers.
There was…how do I put it, an ecosystem of sorts in Xing Hao Island, one that was pretty much indistinguishable from normal modern society. The only difference was that the people here used their qi to power their tools of trade.
"Amazing," I muttered, glancing around the train station after I alighted. There were staff manning the place, security guards with a slightly higher level of cultivation than the other personnel. The passengers that made use of the train were a varied bunch, from salarymen and office ladies to students.
While looking around in awe, I made sure to continue my trip toward Ten Thousand Swords University and hoped that I would just barely make it in time for their examination. Hurrying down the steps, I then jogged toward the massive mountain where the Ten Thousand Swords University was located.
Personally, I didn't know if I was an appropriate candidate for Ten Thousand Swords University. Most people mistook my waving of a sword as sword techniques, and to the untrained eye it might seem like swordsmanship. Truthfully, it wasn't. I had received no formal training in swordsmanship – contrary to Cheng Long's belief – it was something that Kai Li Si wasn't able to teach me,
However, I was only able to wield a sword because I was tracing the qi lines that I could perceive through Heavenly Flow and Earthly Paths. There was no real discernible pattern to my execution of the sword, just trial and error. And lots of practice. My practice wasn't according to any existing school of swordsmanship, but solely intended for me to improve my reflexes and precision so that I wouldn't miss those thin lines of qi whenever I kicked my Heavenly Flow and Earthly Paths into overdrive.
I hadn't gotten very far when I spotted something occurring in an alleyway. Even though I was in a hurry and in danger of being late, I paused because I couldn't just ignore the situation right in front of me.
For some reason, there was a trio of burly men surrounding a single girl who was about fourteen or fifteen years old. She was cowering before them, clasping her hands to her chest fearfully.
"Please…" she was begging. The three men pointedly ignored her and continued to discuss amongst themselves.
"She looks a bit too young, but I'm sure there will be clients who have…that kind of taste."
"Who cares? Just grab her. We'll definitely make a profit!"
"This little bitch has run away for too long. I know we can't damage the good, but I really want to smack her before we sell her."
"You can't do this!" the girl protested tearfully. She clenched her fists and glared at them defiantly. Icy qi tried to gather around her fists, but she ended up coughing. The qi dissipated and blood leaked from her mouth. Even so, she glared at the trio of burly men defiantly. "When my sister finds out, she will kick your asses!"
"Hah! We hope your sister finds us! Then we can sell her along with you!"
"That's right, a pair of sisters…how much do you think we will make?"
"You underestimate my sister," the girl snapped. "She's stronger than all three of you put together! She's a core disciple of the Frozen Cloud Sword Palace!"
The three men exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"Then we better grab her before her sister finds out. Can't let her know."
"Yeah, we can't afford to piss off the Frozen Cloud Sword Palace."
They lunged at the girl, who tried to back away. She futilely threw a kick, only for the first of the huge men to knock away her foot and shoved her. He grinned as he grabbed her.
"I've got you now…eh?"
He blinked when he saw that his fingers were clutching thin air. A few meters away, I placed the girl down on the street, inwardly marveling that I successfully executed the footwork technique that Master had taught me. Guess it wasn't a waste of time persistently practicing Jin and Tui for the past few weeks.
"Big brother…you…" the girl blinked in astonishment.
"Who the hell are you?!" One of the burly men roared, a bald guy with a huge saber clung to his back. He was drawing his massive weapon now, holding it easily with both hands and getting ready to cleave me. "How dare you get in our way?"
"A little kid trying to play the hero, eh?" One of his comrades chuckled, a slender man with a sword. "Don't you know wannabe heroes always die young?"
"He's not a hero, he's just an idiot." The last of the trio, a bearded man of medium build, wielded a spear. I could see the wisps of qi gathering around his weapon. All three of them were cultivators. Average ones, but they outnumbered me three to one, so I couldn't get complacent.
Pushing my glasses up, I regarded them and cocked my head to the side. I wondered if I should draw my sword too, but I decided against it. I would be faster without my sword. For opponents like this, it was best to employ my Heavenly Flow and Earthly Paths defensively and then counterattack.
The bald guy came, swinging his saber. I jumped to the side and allowed the heavy weapon to crash onto the ground, digging a deep hole, before hopping on top of the weapon. He tugged futilely for a moment before releasing his grip when he failed to yank the saber out of the ground, but I was already kicking him in the jaw and blowing him back. He cursed and staggered, spitting out blood before throwing out a hand to smack me.
I deflected his arm to the side, whirling in to get under his defense, and then dug both of my heels in to stabilize my footing. Without hesitation, I then slammed both of my palms into his chest, breaking his ribs and sending him flying several meters back.
Without wasting any time checking on the state of his comrade, the swordsman slashed at me, forcing me to back off. I evaded the swift blade by a hair's breadth, using Heavenly Flow and Earthly Paths to read the trajectory of the sword and predict his movements by the current of his qi. Sliding to the side, ducking under a horizontal slash, and then spinning away from a vertical cut, I then rammed my palm into his chin. With my other hand, I grabbed his head and then spun him about. My poor opponent grunted as he was sent wheeling away – almost literally, his spinning body resembling a human wheel – and crashing into a wall to the side. Debris buried half of his body and a groan told me he wouldn't be rising for a while now.
The spearman then thrust his spear at me, but I stepped to the side using the footwork technique that Master taught me. He blinked when he saw I had vanished, but I had merely shifted subtly to his blind spot. Whirling around, I then kicked him in his midriff with enough force to send him hurtling several meters away, his body doubling over from the tremendous impact.
"A…Amazing."
The girl was staring at me in awe, clapping her hands. I shook my head and gestured for her to follow me.
"Let's get out of here before their buddies arrive. And you really shouldn't be wandering alone in a remote place like this."
The girl looked at me guiltily before complying, hurrying after me as we exited the alleyway and emerged into a more public space where there were a lot more people around. Just as we emerged, a second girl dropped down right in front of us, ice glittering around her as her qi flowed about with a powerful force. I could sense the cold fury saturating her aggressive qi.
As if those floating ice swords above she weren't enough of a sign that she was pissed off.
"Sister!" the girl cried out. "You're finally here!"
"Ling Er, you…" the older girl – who was probably about my age or a year older – growled. She glanced at me before peering at the alleyway behind us. She then bowed her head and cupped her hands. "I would like to express my gratitude to this gentleman here for saving my sister."
"Not at all."
The older girl nodded before she gestured for the staff behind her to apprehend the culprits.
I was about to go, but the younger girl – Ling Er, I presumed – tugged on my arm, smiling brightly.
"Thank you, Brother. Before you go, can you please tell me your name? I'm Xia Xing Ling. The characters for star and spirit."
"Shu Cong." I lowered my head humbly. "As long as you're all right, that's the most important thing."
"Thank you again."
"That's right. I'll definitely repay this debt." The older girl nodded respectfully. "I'm Xia Xing Yue. Like my sister, the first character is star, second character is for moon."
"Uh, I see." I wasn't sure why they were telling me how the characters of their names were written. It wasn't as if I was going to see them again. I just nodded.
Behind me, the staff that followed Xia Xing Yue were taking care of the trio of child traffickers that I had just subdued. Glancing at them, I was reminded of the Na Lan family. Either the Xia clan was just as big and wealthy or these guys were part of the Frozen Cloud Sword Palace that Xia Xing Ling mentioned earlier.
"I will get going first." I bowed my head and excused myself. Having gotten myself involved in this mess, I realized that I was probably late for the entrance examination of Ten Thousand Swords University. Not that I regretted intervening. Like hell would I leave a helpless young girl to the whims of evil child traffickers. I didn't know why they were conveniently discussing their plans in the alleyway in front of Xia Xing Ling, but I supposed they had to show the readers that they were villains or something.
"That direction…" Xia Xing Yue paused for a few seconds. "Are you possibly going to the Ten Thousand Swords University?"
"Yeah, that's right." I rubbed my head sheepishly. "Sorry, but I have to hurry. I don't want to be late for the entrance examination."
"Oh, right. They are having an examination for new students today."
Xia Xing Yue hit her palm with her fist, as if suddenly remembering something. She then smiled at me. I couldn't help but gape at her because of how beautiful she was. While her sister had tied her hair up in a childish manner, Xia Xing Yue had allowed her long, silky black hair fall behind her back like a velvet curtain the color of night. Her smile was dazzling and I found myself speechless for a moment. I swear, she was several times more beautiful than Na Lan Yan Ran.
"I happen to be a student in Ten Thousand Swords University too. Since I owe you a favor, I'll take you there. You don't have to worry about being late. I'll also see what I can do to facilitate your enrollment. There are a few professors I know, I can put in a good word for you."
"Thanks. I appreciate your kind intentions, but I also wish to take the examinations properly."
"Of course. There's no way going around that. You have to pass the exams first." Xia Xing Yue giggled as she glanced at the unconscious trio of thugs. "But from what I've seen, I don't think you'll have a problem with that."
"Thanks."
"Well then, let us be on our way then. Don't worry about being late. I'll explain it to them."
Feeling relief in my chest, I hurried after Xia Xing Yue. For some reason, Xia Xing Ling tagged along, but I had the feeling she just wanted to watch an entertaining show.
This mischievous girl…I had best keep an eye on her.