White-Robed Chief

Chu Li could completely let go of his worries at that point.

"Brother Chu, do you want to have a look at my sword technique?" Li Hanyan asked hurriedly upon seeing that he was about to leave.

Chu Li nodded and said, "Your sword technique is already very good, just continue adding in more grit and ferocity. Besides, if you continue your killing spree, your perception would become deeper and deeper. The best things are the ones that suit you. Every other people can bring out a different version of the same sword technique. It just can't be forced."

"Yes." Li Hanyan nodded and said, "I understand, but I also want Brother Chu to give me a few pointers."

"Okay." Chu Li nodded.

He reached out his hand abruptly and grabbed Li Hanyan's wrist. He could still feel that firmness and elasticity though it was through the sleeves. The two of them then disappeared.

Chu Li and Li Hanyan appeared at a small island of the Public House.

He could be his most relaxed self when on this small island. He did not need to take any precautions here. Otherwise, he would still need to be his usual vigilant self, even in King An's Imperial Residence.

It was not Li Hanyan's first time here. She would sometimes visit this place too for leisure. She glanced around and saw Xue Ling, then flashed her a smile.

Xue Ling returned her with a smile.

"The two of you could use a friendly match. You can learn from each other." Chu Li smiled.

"But Sister Li has made great progress, and I'm not as good," Xue Ling said.

After Xue Ling became a Heavenly Master, she had stopped cultivating as seriously and was often involved in all kinds of affairs. As compared to cultivation, she preferred to help Chu Li handle trivial matters, including those of Glory's Will Courtyard.

Li Hanyan laughed. "I'm flattered. I'm just about the same as you are."

"Well, Xue Ling has indeed slacked off for a while but her foundations were well-built." Chu Li nodded.

Xue Ling had cultivated Crescent Cryptic, which was one of the most difficult to cultivate. The beginning stages of its cultivation were especially difficult, but it got better during the latter stages. With Chu Li's help, she had established a good foundation. Now, even if she was not able to cultivate, her cultivation speed would not be slowed down either. She could still do it much faster than ordinary people.

Xue Ling laughed. "Master, do I still need to continue cultivating?"

"Of course, cultivation knows no ends. If you don't improve, you will fall behind," Chu Li nodded while he spoke. "It's time you sort out your mind. Other affairs are not worth mentioning compared to cultivation."

"Alright," Xue Ling answered crisply.

The three of them appeared at an open space in the middle of the parterre, which was a place for cultivation.

Chu Li said, "Let's spar and learn from each other. You'll realize which aspects you need to improve in."

"Yes." Li Hanyan responded excitedly.

Chu Li had always adopted such a method of teaching, which mostly aims for inspiration. Rather than directly passing on the martial arts to her, he wanted her to realize things herself.

Chu Li stretched out his hand, and Xue Ling handed him a long sword.

Li Hanyan pulled the sword out of the sheath, and then shouted, "Watch this." Her figure was like a specter, and the very next instant she appeared in front of Chu Li, the tip of the sword already angled toward him.

Chu Li deflected the sword effortlessly.

Li Hanyan's sword suddenly swung away. She was not content and gave it another thrust.

She felt that the power of Chu Li's sword was not too great, and it was just right. It was gentle yet swift as a swallow.

When facing such an exquisite sword technique, she knew she could turn the tide of the battle if she could strike at a critical moment, so of course, she could not let go of this opportunity. Hence, she continued her sword attack, but Chu Li deflected her sword yet again.

Li Hanyan's sword swung away again, without any resistance at all.

"Brilliant sword technique!" she exclaimed. She continued thrusting her sword, increasing the speed with each strike, to see if she could break this exquisite sword technique.

Chu Li continued to use this one sword technique only. Yet, no matter how Li Hanyan adapted, he was able to deflect her attacks every single time. No matter how exquisite her sword techniques were, she was not given the chance to use them.

Li Hanyan had thrown more than twenty sword attacks in one breath and finally conceded helplessly. "Brother Chu, is there any way to crack this sword technique?"

"Yes." Chu Li smiled. "There is no martial art in this world that can't be broken."

"How can it be broken?"

"You should learn how to use it before learning how to break it."

"Teach me then," Li Hanyan said with a flirtatious tone.

"You should realize the concept yourself." Chu Li shook his head and said, "If I were to teach you, you only learn one move. In fact, all techniques can be learned this way."

Li Hanyan nodded thoughtfully and continued the sword fight.

She unleashed her sword more than a hundred times in one shot but still could not grasp the concept.

Chu Li remained using the same sword technique tirelessly. He unleashed every sword effortlessly as if he had it by heart. Li Hanyan felt she was like a child swinging a sword in front of Chu Li, all her moves flawed and vulnerable.

This made her a little discouraged. Li Hanyan thought that after such a long-enduring period of cultivation, she could close her gap with Chu Li a little, but now it seemed like it was farther and farther away.

Chu Li said nothing. He continued using the same sword technique, in hopes that she could come to a realization and understand it.

If Li Hanyan could understand it, her sword skills would be raised to a new level. By containing this force in her sword strength, her power would be greatly increased. Even if Li Hanyan had to face opponents with a stronger inner strength than her, she would still have a chance of winning despite being the underdog.

… 

Du Ying fluttered her way to the Divine Light Basilica and did a curtsy.

Sun Mingyue glanced at her. "You look like you're in a hurry. What's the matter!"

"Saint, there's bad news!" Du Ying said hurriedly.

"Say it." Sun Mingyue put down her dossier and turned her bright eyes over to her. "What is it?"

"Senior Brother Deng is heavily injured," Du Ying said.

Sun Mingyue frowned. "It's not unusual to get hurt, what's wrong with that?"

"But isn't he about to go kill Li Hanyan? With such a serious injury, it is impossible that he can go now!"

"Right."

"Saint, this is a huge setback!"

"It's nothing, it's only a setback for himself."

"Don't tell me we're just going to let Li Hanyan walk freely just like that?" Du Ying frowned. "We're not avenging Senior Brother Chang anymore?"

"If Deng Datong can't do it, there will be others who can," Sun Mingyue said nonchalantly. "Don't we still have Zhao Dahe?"

"Saint, with the current situation, how will Junior Brother Zhao still help us!"

"It may not be so. You can't view Zhao Dahe like a normal person," Sun Mingyue said. "Alright, you should stop worrying about this. Is there anything else?"

"Oh, it's about Junior Brother Zhao. He has returned to Gale City and wanted me to pass a message to you, Saint."

"Say it."

"Junior Brother Zhao said that he's going to self-cripple his martial arts."

"Then let him do it," Sun Mingyue said angrily. "Let's see how he's going to do that."

"Junior Brother Zhao said that Saint did not leave him an option to live, that after cultivating martial arts, he was not able to avenge people at his own will, but instead was used and betrayed unscrupulously. He felt he was better off not cultivating martial arts at all," Du Ying said.

She showed a sympathetic expression and felt that this time, Deng Datong and the maiden had gone overboard, and had hurt Junior Brother Zhao too much.

"Did he really think life was going to be this good? That he could avenge people at his own will!" Sun Mingyue sneered coldly. "Even I don't get to avenge people at my own will, what makes him think he can?"

"Yes." Du Ying stopped speaking.

Sun Mingyue asked, "Are Deng Datong's injuries serious?"

"Yes, he almost died." Du Ying nodded gently. "It seems that Senior Brother Deng can't recuperate by himself with his own martial arts. He needs the help of other senior masters."

"I see." Sun Mingyue waved her silky hand.

"Saint, would you like to help him?"

"No," Sun Mingyue said.

Du Ying nodded gently.

Deep down, she did not want the Saint to help him and did not want the rest of the people to help him either. She felt that Deng Datong should suffer alone. A person may be forgiven for the disasters that befell him from above, but never for the evils of his own.

Du Ying rejoiced, but pretended to be concerned as she said, "That would mean Senior Brother Deng's military order was all for nothing."

"That's his own business," Sun Mingyue said. "I've already helped him too much, so if he still can't complete it, he can't blame others."

"Yes." Du Ying grinned.

Sun Mingyue could see through Du Ying's mind like a piece of paper laid bare before her. She shook her head, smiled, and waved her hands, "Go!"

"Yes." Du Ying curtsied.