Chapter 14: The Black Blade and the Black Sword

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Tian Yu did not wish to take advantage of Guo Songyang. After much thought, she personally left the riding arena and invited the swordsman who had been waiting for three days inside.

“I have decided to duel you tomorrow,” she said, “but I hope this battle will be fair.”

Guo Songyang was momentarily puzzled and asked, “What does Miss Bai mean?”

She smiled, her tone light and easy. “What I mean is, you should come in right now, no matter the cost or the favor, have a good hot meal and sleep well.”

“Only then will our duel be truly fair.”

Guo Songyang was stunned for a moment.

By the time he reacted and was about to speak, she had already turned away.

He hesitated briefly, then followed her.

That night, following Tian Yu’s advice, he ate his fill and drank well at the riding grounds, then slept soundly.

He slept through the night without a dream until dawn.

Early the next morning, hearing noises outside the door, he rose and opened it to see her standing there, a sword strapped to her back, studying him intently.

“You look well rested,” she smiled.

“Yes, quite so,” he nodded. “Thank you, Miss Bai.”

“No need to thank me,” Tian Yu said candidly. “I just hope that after today’s duel, you won’t chase after me anymore.”

Guo Songyang was speechless.

“Very well,” he agreed. “After today’s duel, whatever the outcome, I will no longer bother you.”

A stubborn man is hard to reason with, but he has his virtues—like keeping his word.

Satisfied with his promise, Tian Yu then had Ma Kongqun lead the way to the southern slope of Tianchi.

At this time of year, the Tianchi of Changbai Mountain was free of snow, adorned instead with layers of verdant peaks, presenting a very pleasant scene.

Along the way from the riding grounds, the scents unique to summer were distinctly noticeable.

Arriving at the southern slope, the view was even more enchanting than in the snowy season.

Tian Yu looked far into the distance, admiring the scenery for a moment, then turned her head to Ma Kongqun. “This place is indeed wonderful.”

Ma Kongqun smiled at her words. “If Miss Bai is pleased, then nothing could be better.”

Tian Yu smiled softly, then glanced at Guo Songyang.

Coincidentally, Guo Songyang was looking at her as well.

Their gazes met in midair, and in an instant, they understood each other without a word.

The next moment, both dismounted.

Guo Songyang drew his black longsword from his back and made a gesture inviting her to begin.

In truth, it was quite a coincidence.

His iron sword, like her family’s treasured hunting knife, was entirely black, unlike ordinary weapons.

She stood in place, watching him draw his sword. Finally, a thought crossed her mind, and she relaxed her hand at her waist, reaching behind her instead.

The hunting knife was extremely sharp.

Such a rare connection, and a persistent swordsman even rarer—if possible, she did not want to break his sword.

Guo Songyang noticed her movement, somewhat surprised but said nothing.

From beginning to end, what he admired was her skill with the blade, not the blade itself.

In any case, no matter which weapon she used to duel him, he would give his all.

The next moment, with a sharp metallic ring, the black longsword suddenly slid from its sheath!

Guo Songyang’s eyes brightened, and he instinctively uttered a word of approval.

Tian Yu gripped her blade but did not respond.

She was fully focused, watching Guo Songyang intently.

Compared to the seven heads of the great families she had effortlessly dispatched before like cutting melons and chopping vegetables, Guo Songyang, a swordsman famed throughout the Central Plains martial world, was clearly no empty title.

He appeared to be casually standing opposite her with his sword, but in fact, he was already coiled and ready, his entire presence perfectly fused with his sword—leaving no openings to exploit.

In recent years, when learning swordplay from the master, Tian Yu had felt this seamless, impeccable aura from that carefree drunkard.

But at the time, having only just laid the foundation, even if she sensed it, it was only vaguely impressive.

Now, with the Northern Darkness Divine Skill and Northern Darkness True Qi enhancing her swordsmanship, her understanding of technique and aura was entirely different.

Only now did she truly comprehend just how powerful such an opponent was.

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As she watched Guo Songyang, he was watching her as well.

In past duels within the Central Plains martial world, he was often the one to strike later but decisively.

He liked to first discern his opponent’s moves, then strike to break them.

But facing Tian Yu, that tactic was of little use.

She was nothing like the experts he had met before, who would seize the initiative at the first sign of stillness.

Her calm demeanor left him at a loss.

For about ten breaths, the two stood there, sword and blade poised, neither moving nor speaking.

The tension grew palpable; even Ma Kongqun, watching the “battle of wills” unfold, found his breathing uneven.

After those ten breaths, they struck simultaneously, and he exhaled deeply.

But before the breath was fully released, the two black silhouettes had already clashed.

The black blade met the black sword with a ringing clash, sparks flying in all directions!

Holding the horse at a distance, Ma Kongqun watched as the sword and blade wove an intricate web of light.

Everything around them seemed divided by this lattice, with only two tall dark figures standing at its center.

Their moves were lightning fast, each accurately predicting the other’s intent, resulting in a stalemate.

The sword and blade chased one another with deadly intent, yet their movements were in harmony.

Ma Kongqun watched intently, frustrated that his eyes weren’t fast enough to catch how each move was countered and resolved.

The wind on the slope never ceased, nor did his pounding heart.

After an unknown length of time, their movements simultaneously slowed.

Though Ma Kongqun’s martial skill was far inferior, he sensed something:

Since the rhythm had changed, the fight’s outcome was likely near.

Sure enough, after another ten or so moves, Tian Yu and Guo Songyang abruptly parted ways.

They resumed their poised standoff as before.

Tian Yu looked at Guo Songyang, her eyes flickering. “Your Iron Sword, Songyang, is truly masterful.”

“Not as skilled as Miss Bai’s blade,” Guo Songyang sighed lightly. “If I had met you a few years later, I might not have lasted so long.”

Indeed, he had realized.

Tian Yu’s swordsmanship was exquisite but not yet flawless.

Yet even so, her extraordinary reflexes made up for the shortfall, allowing her to compete evenly.

In fact, as they fought, he found himself anticipating her patterns and felt subtly pressured.

Both felt that continuing like this would make it impossible to determine a winner for an indefinite time.

So they abandoned their previous tactics and each prepared their most assured technique for a decisive strike.

At that moment, the wind seemed to pause temporarily.

They stood motionless, eyes locked.

This time it was not ten breaths.

Only two later, they simultaneously launched their attacks.

The sword was a masterpiece of simplicity and effectiveness, with no wasted motion.

The blade was clean and swift, like a flash of lightning.

Ma Kongqun, parched with thirst, saw the long blade flick up and the iron sword slash across; in that instant, the atmosphere changed dramatically.

He instinctively stepped forward to get a clearer view but had not yet raised his foot when Guo Songyang suddenly cried out—

Ma Kongqun: “!!!”

Could the outcome have been decided?

He did not know why Guo Songyang shouted, but Tian Yu did.

She had never expected that after Guo Songyang crossed his sword in a backhand, he would suddenly withdraw, pressing close behind her to complete the final half-move.

Though the move was executed successfully, their proximity meant he inevitably touched an acupoint on her back.

Her Northern Darkness True Qi surged, and a pure internal energy flooded her body—

Tian Yu: “...”

This passive skill was truly bewildering.

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She did not blame Wu Yazi for teaching her such an outrageous internal skill.

But she knew she did not want to win this way.

At such a critical moment, hesitating even a moment could cost him more internal energy.

Without thinking further, she drew her hunting knife with her other hand and struck at his iron sword to interrupt his move.

That strike forced him to pull away immediately.

But the black iron sword broke with a sharp snap.

The broken half fell down the cliff.

Guo Songyang’s expression changed drastically, and he instinctively leapt after it.

He was extremely quick, and though he caught up, having just lost considerable internal power, his lightness skill was no longer as effortless as before.

Before he could return, signs of exhaustion appeared.

Tian Yu: “...”

Her eyes wide, she acted without hesitation, rushing over with her blade.

With her lightness skill, helping him was no problem.

But the issue was, in her haste to interrupt his move, she had drawn both blades and now could not reach out to pull him up.

In the end, she cleverly used the back of her blade to lend him momentum.

All of this happened in mere moments.

For Guo Songyang, it was a heart-stopping experience, as if he had narrowly escaped death.

Once they were both standing steadily on the slope again, he lifted his eyes to her, feeling as if everything in the world had lost its color.

Only her expression—confused yet relieved—remained vividly clear.

“You—” she said, “did you know you almost fell?”

“Thank you, Miss Bai… for saving my life,” he heard himself say.

Tian Yu sighed and said it was unnecessary.

“It’s also because I broke your sword,” she lamented. “I did not mean to, but at that moment…”

Before she could finish, Guo Songyang had already sheathed the broken sword and cupped his hands toward her.

“Miss Bai, no need to say more. I understand. You did it to save me.”

He did not question why approaching her drained his internal energy, nor did he blame her for breaking his cherished sword in haste.

Instead, he thanked her solemnly.

This made Tian Yu feel even more embarrassed.

“Well… shall we end here for today?” she asked.

He paused, then gave a self-deprecating smile. “Since the outcome is decided, naturally, this is the end.”

Tian Yu was not eager to accept this result, mainly because she had not anticipated that through a series of accidental events, she would end up “bullying” him.

After some thought, she proposed, “How about another match some other day?”

Guo Songyang hesitated, then seemed about to speak but stopped.

“What’s wrong?” she raised an eyebrow. “You’re not willing?”

“I am willing!” he quickly denied. “It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“You said you hoped that after today’s match, I wouldn’t keep chasing after you.”

He spoke steadily, his expression cautious.

The proud sharpness in his handsome features was replaced by a touch of apprehension.

As if afraid she would take his words as a reason to never mention another duel.

Yet despite this, he still said it.

Tian Yu could not help but smile. “Times change.”

“You just say if you want to duel again.”

He looked at her, pursed his lips, and replied once more, “I couldn’t be more willing.”