After Song Yun and Xiao Qing had left, Wu Xin returned to her office, sat in her office chair, and propped her flawless legs on the desk. Touching her somewhat hot face, she murmured, "Why was I so unrestrained just now? But... it has been a long time since I last felt this way, hasn't it?"
Song Yun, unaware that his action had earned Wu Xin's newfound respect, was laughing triumphantly in his heart. Well, it seemed that the seven hundred yuan hadn't been spent in vain after all, since he'd also gotten a gold card from the store. When he had nowhere to scrounge up a meal, he could swing by here for one or two, surely.
Upon returning home, he spent the afternoon teaching Xiao Qing the Trigram Steps and the secrets of breath control. Unbeknownst to them, evening had fallen. Stretching lazily, Song Yun was too embarrassed to let Xiao Qing treat him to another meal, so when he opened the refrigerator and found it empty, he went with Xiao Qing to a nearby market to buy groceries, and made a lavish dinner for them that evening.
Li Shishi did not come home for dinner, nor did she even call to say hello to Song Yun, which he thought was normal. Their relationship was like parallel lines, never meant to cross, which was for the best.
After dinner, Song Yun sent Xiao Qing away and returned to his room to unlock a hidden compartment. It wasn't very large, holding a sandalwood rack that could fetch millions at an auction, not to mention the saber resting upon it.
As he caressed the saber blade, Song Yun's face displayed a trace of helplessness. News of his return had spread faster than he had expected. Recalling the signal from the Martial World outside the courtyard, his expression turned icy as he murmured, "No matter who you are, if you dare disturb my peaceful life, you're dead."
Opening the window, Song Yun's figure vanished into the night sky.
His speed was extreme, his body flipping and accelerating mid-air to avoid obstacles ahead.
At this moment, he was like a specter, blending into the night. Unless someone was deliberately looking, no one would have known that a young man with a saber had just flown over their rooftops.
Song Yun reached a beach in Sunan City, where a young man stood on a distant rock. Dressed in a black Daoist robe, his long hair fluttering in the sea breeze covering his eyes, he would have attracted many young girls if it weren't for the sword on his back.
The youth, spotting Song Yun, lightly leaped off the rock, and it was only then that Song Yun could see his face clearly—his black eyes devoid of life, as if he had just climbed out of a pile of corpses, emanating endless murderous intent.
The youth's slightly pale face displayed a morbid beauty on him. Indeed, he was beautiful, appearing almost feminine in his attire; no one would guess he was a man.
"You've arrived." The youth slightly smiled, his gaze striking like thunder towards Song Yun.
"It's been a while, Black Flood Dragon," Song Yun said flatly.
"Battle?"
"Battle," Song Yun's expression turned cold, thinking to himself, has this kid gone crazy from all the sword practice? Calling me out in the middle of the night to fight, and now asking whether to battle or not as if it wasn't obvious.
"A real battle?"
"A real battle, and you may draw your sword. With so many years passed, I still don't know to what extent your sword skill has improved."
"The Hidden Dragon Saber, so it's a fight to the death?" Black Flood Dragon didn't respond to Song Yun's words, continuing to ask.
"I have no suitable weapon other than this," Song Yun grinned.
"What about the Dragon Slayer Dagger?" Black Flood Dragon frowned.
"It's overseas. I don't use it lightly; as you know, everyone who has seen the Dragon Slayer Dagger has died," Song Yun nonchalantly shrugged.
The Dragon Slayer Dagger and the Hidden Dragon Saber were made of the same material. Back in the day, only the Hidden Dragon Saber was known, but unknown to many, a craftsman secretly kept some meteorite fragments and, returning home, assembled his entire clan to create the Dragon Slayer Dagger. This dagger, accompanying Song Yun during his time as an assassin, had reaped many lives and was his weapon of choice above all others.
"So, let's begin," Black Flood Dragon said with a hostile look.
"Please." Song Yun gestured with one hand invitingly.
With a clang, a pleasant dragon chant sounded as the sword slung behind was drawn, its blade subtly trembling, as if sensing its master's excited emotions.
Lone moon, solitary man, cold sword.
The sword Qi was overwhelming; although still sheathed, chilly intent was already palpable. Black Flood Dragon, holding the sword, asked, "Who attacks first?"
"I didn't expect you from Sword Pavilion to be so generous to grant you a Longquan Sword. Well then, I'll attack first." Like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, Song Yun was unstoppable, rushing swiftly forward and, when nearly reaching Black Flood Dragon, suddenly spun around to hack at his shoulder.
Without even looking back, Black Flood Dragon's sword, as if having eyes, blocked Song Yun's attack and counterattacked with a thrust straight at his forehead.
This was the advantage of the Soft Sword; skillfully used, it could yield unexpected effects on the opponent, but if misused, it could harm the wielder. Clearly, Black Flood Dragon belonged to the former category.
Song Yun sheathed his saber, then crouched down performing a sweeping move aimed at Black Flood Dragon's lower body, who responded by flicking his long fingers to strike the soft sword towards Song Yun's forehead.
Had it hit, his head would have burst like a smashed watermelon, brains splattering.
Song Yun arched backward, then sprung up like a carp leaping out of the water, his blade thundering again towards Black Flood Dragon's ankle tendon.
"Clang!"
Song Yun's blade struck, but it hit the sword scabbard that Black Flood Dragon had defensively positioned. Knowing he hadn't discarded his scabbard, Song Yun realized he must have had a backup move planned.
"Your skill with the Soft Sword has improved, but you'll still need to work harder to defeat me," Song Yun chuckled.
"No worries, I'm still young," Black Flood Dragon said, flicking his wrist again, and the Longquan Sword moved like a dragon roaming the seas, sword Qi crisscrossing, his body shimmering with a silver light, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
Damn it, so he means I'm like an old man? Well, an uncle can tolerate, but not an aunt, Song Yun thought indignantly.
Thunder rumbled above.
Soon, rain started falling lightly, drizzling upon their hair and shoulders. Both Song Yun and Black Flood Dragon did not seek cover, both staring intently at each other. High-level duels were not like the ones in TV shows or fantasy novels, where fights could last days and nights.
Instead, a single move could determine victory, seal fates. If your sword dropped slightly, your life was doomed.