“The Tianxia Sword-less City? That Sword-less City—the one where no sword remained in all the realm?”
“Weren’t they annihilated? How could a Young City Lord suddenly appear?”
“Even if the Young City Lord survived, why come to challenge Wushuang?”
“Could it be that the one who destroyed the Sword-less City was…”
Su Muyu stood beneath Wushuang City, a paper umbrella on his back, a mask on his face, and a sword at his waist.
The Four Swords of Dao Inquiry and the earlier spectators caught up but dared not approach closer than three hundred paces. Xiu Ru spoke gravely: “His strength far exceeds ours. Going forward would only mean death. His challenge has surely reached the city—they’ll send an elder-level master to respond.”
“The Tianxia Sword-less City…” the Sword Elder caressed his teapot. “A distant yet familiar name.”
“Zhuo Yue’an—is he that man’s son?” asked the black-clad swordsman standing behind the Sword Elder.
The Sword Elder nodded: “Indeed. I met him years ago. Though just a child then, one glance told me he was born to be a swordsman. So he survived… though this could be an impostor.”
“Should we inform the City Lord?” the black-clad swordsman asked.
“The City Lord must have heard the challenge, but sadly, this young lord doesn’t understand the significance of a challenge from the Sword-less City. We need to inform the one in the Sword Pavilion on the back mountain.” The Sword Elder spoke softly, “Go to the Sword Pavilion and tell them: that someone from the Sword-less City has come to settle accounts.”
“And what of the one outside? Do we just let him stand there, shaming our Wushuang City?” The black-clad swordsman frowned.
“Then I shall go.” The Sword Elder rose. Though his hair and beard were white, his posture remained as straight as a sword. With a wave of his hand, an ancient bronze sword appeared in his grip.
In the City Lord’s mansion, Song Yanhui walked into the courtyard and looked skyward: “Challenge Wushuang?”
“Is he challenging me?” Wushuang had been tinkering with the sword case indoors. Since opening that one time, it had remained silent, but after hearing that man’s voice, the Wushuang sword case began stirring again.
Song Yanhui shook his head: “He challenges the Wushuang Sword. This person is extraordinary. Come, let’s take a look.” He grabbed Wushuang’s collar and leaped toward the city gate.
Outside Wushuang City, Su Muyu stepped forward, drew his sword, and thrust it into the ground. Looking up, he proclaimed again: “From the Tianxia Sword-less City, Young City Lord Zhuo Yue’an, comes to challenge Wushuang!”
Atop the city gate, dozens of archers appeared, drawing their bows and aiming at Su Muyu below.
Someone in the crowd couldn’t contain themselves: “The mighty Wushuang City doesn’t even have one swordsman capable of answering the challenge?”
“Fire!” came an angry command from the gate. A rain of arrows descended. Su Muyu stepped back, opened his paper umbrella, and with a gentle spin, deflected all the arrows to land harmlessly around him.
“Wushuang City should change its name to Turtle City!” someone continued to mock.
Su Muyu recognized the voice of the weapons merchant who had been provoking Wushuang City on his behalf. He turned and smiled: “Let’s make a wager.”
“Oh? The young master likes to gamble. What’s the bet?” The weapons merchant perked up.
“How long before someone from Wushuang City comes to answer my challenge,” Su Muyu replied.
The merchant raised an eyebrow: “I bet they’ll send someone after I shout ‘Turtle City’ three more times. Turtle City!”
Luo Ge raged: “Old fool, do you wish to die?”
The merchant ignored him completely and continued: “Turtle City! Tur—” Before he could finish the last word, he leaped back, pulling out a shield from behind him. A sword energy struck the shield, sending him flying. The merchant tumbled through the air, landing thirty paces away, his shield shattered. He smiled bitterly: “Couldn’t get the last word out—I lose.”
“Sword Teacher!” The Four Swords immediately bowed their heads.
The Sword Elder landed before Su Muyu, smiling faintly: “It is you.”
Su Muyu spoke solemnly: “You can recognize me?”
“Though you wear a mask, and many years have passed since our first meeting, I still know you’re that child,” the Sword Elder stroked his long beard. “We who have lived with swords for years see people as we see swords. When I saw you then, you were the making of a fine blade. Now I see you’ve become that sword.”
Su Muyu looked at the ancient bronze sword in the Sword Elder’s hand and said gravely: “The Ancient Qingming Sword. You are Sword Mountain, Grand Elder of Wushuang City’s Martial Hall.”
The Sword Elder nodded: “Indeed. You wish to challenge Wushuang—is my Ancient Qingming Sword qualified to give you an answer?”
Su Muyu pointed to the sword thrust into the ground: “My sword stands there, yet among all I’ve met in your Wushuang City today, none has been worthy of me drawing it.”
The Sword Elder continued smiling kindly: “Am I also unworthy?”
Su Muyu raised one hand gently: “That depends on the Elder’s sword.”
“Good! Such pride in one so young. Just like your father!” The Sword Elder’s smile turned cold as he swept his bronze sword, unleashing a devastating wave of sword energy toward Su Muyu.
Su Muyu stepped back, whipping his long sleeve to try to suppress the sword’s energy.
Luo Ge sneered: “Trying to catch Teacher’s sword energy bare-handed? Even if he had a chance against Teacher at first, now he’s certainly doomed.”
But Xiu Ru shook his head slightly: “His strength far exceeds ours, yet he was extremely cautious when fighting us. Would he attempt to catch sword energy with his sleeve if he weren’t confident?”
The Sword Elder’s expression changed as he raged: “Thinking you can suppress my sword energy with just a sleeve—aren’t you underestimating me?”
Su Muyu remained silent as his sleeves danced, containing the sword energy that threatened to tear him to pieces at any moment.
Suddenly, the Sword Elder withdrew his sword, shocked: “Spring Wind in Both Sleeves? How do you know this technique? This art should have…”
“My father taught me, of course!” Su Muyu gathered the sword energy in his sleeves, transforming it into a spring breeze that he directed at the Sword Elder.
A spring breeze should be gentle and pleasant.
But after the cool sensation came killing sword energy!
Su Muyu called out: “Is this how my father defeated you back then?”