Xue Zhao’s eyes suddenly flew open.

The heroic young woman stood before him holding a soft sword, smiling gracefully. “Brother here, come on, keep Auntie company in a fight.”

Brother?

Keep company?

Auntie?

Xue Zhao narrowed his eyes, his gaze coldly shifting aside.

Under the tree shade, a fair-skinned young woman sat cross-legged before a low table, holding her sleeve as she ground ink.

The brocaded young man beside her gently fanned her while whispering something in her ear.

On the other side, a handsome man stood with arms crossed, leaning lazily against a tree. His gaze met Xue Zhao’s, and he curved his lips slightly, revealing two shallow dimples.

Beside him stood two people, one on each side.

Of these two, one hung his head, no expression visible on his face. The other held his head high, also smiling at him.

“Brother, why are you still standing there in a daze? Let’s begin!”

The young woman looked completely nonchalant. “Oh, and don’t you dare go easy on me because I’m a woman. My mother said women can hold up half the sky!”

Xue Zhao suddenly felt things were becoming interesting.

Just moments ago, these six people had worn expressions as if their parents had died. In this brief time, their parents had come back to life?

Xue Zhao leaped up, sneering coldly. “In my eyes, there are only dead people, no women.”

As his words fell, he’d already launched himself toward Li Buyan, his soft sword arriving with howling wind.

Li Buyan cried out delicately, “Well met!” Her soft sword rose to meet his.

As soon as these two began moving, Yan Sanhe picked up her brush, unhurriedly dipping it in ink.

“When the mind moves, things move. When the mind is still, things are still.”

At the critical moment, various Buddhist sayings came readily to Young Master Pei’s mind.

“One flower, one world; one leaf, one Buddha. Spring comes, flowers naturally green; autumn arrives, leaves drift down. Boundless wisdom, the mind at ease; in speech and silence, the mind calm, the body natural. Yan Sanhe, are you ready?”

Yan Sanhe slowly nodded at him. “I’m ready. Pei Mingting, let’s begin!”

“Thus have I heard…” Young Master Pei began reciting slowly.

The voice drilled in through her ears. Yan Sanhe lowered her head, her brush descended, her mind free of distractions.

Her slender spine held perfectly straight, her head bent slightly forward, exposing a small section of her neck—white as jade, with a soft, beautiful curve.

Xie Zhifei reluctantly withdrew his gaze, shifting his eyes to the two people fighting.

In the first several moves, because they didn’t know each other’s depths, both were testing.

After about ten moves, the Gray-Robed Man’s sword technique suddenly turned fierce, forcing Hero Li into steady retreat.

Though Hero Li had fallen into a disadvantage, her movements somewhat frantic, her mouth never stopped for a moment.

“Brother, you’re quite strong! Who’d you learn your internal energy from? Male or female?”

“…”

Translation into plain speech: Zhu Qing, this bastard’s internal power is extremely strong.

“Your footwork is even better than your handwork!”

“…”

Translation: Zhu Qing, this bastard’s lower body is damn flexible.

“Too much, right? Not even a bit of tender feelings for women?”

“…”

Translation: Zhu Qing, this bastard is playing for real.

“Don’t force Auntie to get serious. When Auntie gets serious, even I’m afraid of myself.”

“…”

Translation: Zhu Qing, Auntie can’t hold on—I’m withdrawing.

Li Buyan’s form rolled in midair. At the same moment, Zhu Qing roared and rushed forward.

Compared to Li Buyan’s casual attitude and constant chatter, Zhu Qing spoke not a single unnecessary word, fighting with single-minded focus.

Strong internal power? Grandfather Zhu avoids it!

Fierce footwork? Grandfather Zhu dodges it!

Playing for keeps? Grandfather Zhu will fight you to the death!

Once a person assumed the posture of fighting to the death, even gods and Buddhas would find it hard to stop. Xue Zhao glanced coolly at Zhu Qing, secretly alarmed.

After Zhu Qing deadlocked with him briefly, the long sword in his hand suddenly rotated with a “crack” and deliberately attacked toward that person’s lower body.

That person’s body leaped lightly, and after dodging, he killed back with a returning strike at extreme speed.

When the two swords collided in midair, sparks flew.

Zhu Qing’s wrist went numb, nearly unable to hold his sword. “Huangqi, up!”

“Coming!”

One advanced, one retreated. As they passed each other, Zhu Qing whispered in Huangqi’s ear, “Quick battle, quick escape.”

Why quick battle, quick escape?

In Li Buyan’s words: confirmed through eye contact—can’t win.

Third Master knew best how much ability his own people had.

Seeing Zhu Qing shake his right hand several times, he was inwardly shocked, though his face remained composed, still maintaining that lazy-bones appearance.

“Hero Li, quickly tell Third Master—how are this person’s skills?”

The hero made a “tsk” sound. “A peerless expert!”

Third Master expressed his puzzlement. “How could there be a peerless expert in this broken place?”

The hero dared to guess. “Probably hiding from someone.”

Third Master also dared to ask. “What would an expert need to hide from?”

The hero thought seriously for a moment. “Owe a debt of gratitude, hide from friends. Owe a blood debt, hide from enemies. Owe a romantic debt, hide from women.”

The hero speaking like this hooked Third Master’s curiosity again. “Then guess… what debt does he owe?”

“Average face, average build—we women aren’t blind. Forget the romantic debt.”

Hero Li’s words were extremely cutting. “With that dead person’s face, you’d have to be brain-damaged to befriend him. A debt of gratitude? Doesn’t exist.”

Third Master laughed heartily. “Then it seems only a blood debt remains.”

“Blood debt, pay with life!”

Hero Li shouted loudly, “Little Huang, dodge! Auntie’s rested well and ready to go!”

This shout was earth-shattering, causing Xue Zhao’s heart to inexplicably skip a beat.

Such imposing momentum—nothing like a defeated soldier fleeing frantically under his hand, but rather like a swordsman gathering strength to seek revenge.

When experts crossed hands, it was decided in a single exchange of moves.

When Xue Zhao’s heart skipped, naturally his sword also faltered. Li Buyan charged forward with full force. After barely one exchange, Li Buyan forced Xue Zhao to retreat half a step.

“Hero Li, beautifully done!” Xie Zhifei deliberately shouted.

“Third Master, there’s even more beautiful stuff—just watch!”

Why are ghosts frightening? Because they wear terrifying green faces with protruding fangs, scaring people until they piss themselves.

Fighting worked on the same principle.

Forget whether you could win or not—first talk big and scare them.

Xue Zhao was truly frightened.

This woman called Hero Li—her sword technique had suddenly become fierce. Could it be that when she first crossed hands with him, she hadn’t used her full strength?

What shocked Xue Zhao even more was that person called Third Master.

This person had a lazy-bones appearance, fanning himself with a fan, showing absolutely no intention of taking action.

Was it not his turn to act?

Or did he disdain to act?

Under the tree shade, the young woman wore a calm expression, her brush moving lightly, her face not showing the slightest panic. Rather, she smiled contentedly.

How could she smile?

“Hey, brother, don’t lose focus! Show some respect for your opponent, won’t you?”

Respect?

Xue Zhao was so angry his nose could emit smoke. You foul woman cursed me as wearing a dead person’s face—where was your respect?

Xue Zhao twisted his wrist, thrust his long sword forward, using seventy percent of his power.

“Zhu Qing, save me!”

Li Buyan fled while deliberately wailing loudly, “He, he, he’s driven desperate like a cornered dog!”

As the words fell, two people on the field dramatically changed color—one was Xue Zhao, the other Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei thought to himself that this was bad.

A man could take small slights, but great insults would backfire. This Gray-Robed Man, suffering such humiliation, was about to counterattack.