She Even Went Easy on Them

"......"

Amid the cheers of the onlookers, Li Mo froze. He had only uttered a single sentence.

With the atmosphere already hyped up, backing down after just two moves would seem rather pathetic.

But whether to use a sword or a hammer—that was the question. Though, in the end, it might not make much difference.

Using a sword would make his ranking as the fourth on the Hidden Dragon List seem unearned, inviting ridicule from the crowd.

Using a hammer... well, the moment he pulled it out, the audience would burst into laughter before the fight even began.

"Make your move, sir. Why hesitate like a timid maiden?"

Xie Xuan held his sword, spitting out the blade of grass he'd been chewing.

He had observed Li Mo and didn’t take him for a braggart, so why the hesitation now?

"Li Mo."

A clear, melodious voice sounded by his ear. Li Mo looked up and met Ying Bing's cool, composed gaze, tinged with faint exasperation.

"Watch my sword closely later."

"Huh... huh?"

Li Mo blinked, only half-understanding.

"I’d like to see how you plan to make me fail to block even a single move."

By now, Xie Xuan, growing impatient with Li Mo’s inaction, let curiosity drive him to unsheathe his blade.

Without invoking divine intent or true essence, pure sword light erupted from his body, as if he and the weapon in his hand had merged into one.

The radiance surged—bright, untainted, so sharp it stung the eyes.

A single stroke split into seven, enveloping Li Mo from all sides.

Li Mo narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening around the hilt hidden in his sleeve.

Xie Xuan’s swordsmanship was flawless, majestic—like a complete world belonging solely to the sword. His Nine Swords of Dugu couldn’t break it.

Clang—

But then, a crisp sword chime rang in his ears.

Tianshuang had been drawn.

The pristine blade gleamed like moonlight breaking through the night, abruptly cleaving through that sword-forged world.

Unique. Peerless.

Transcendent. Ethereal.

Like a spotless white emerging in an all-consuming darkness—impossible to ignore.

Xie Xuan stared, entranced, as if beholding the most exquisite existence in the world.

Divine Firmament Heavenly Heart—replacing the will of heaven with one’s own.

After Ying Bing’s refinements, it had become Sword Heart Unclouded.

The next instant, sword light surged.

Xie Xuan abruptly shifted his stance, his movements now enigmatic, untraceable.

"Fairy Han can actually match Xie Xuan in pure swordsmanship?"

"Then doesn’t that mean her talent with the sword surpasses even his?"

"Exactly! She’s younger and two minor realms below him. If they fought with all their abilities, she might still be slightly inferior, but in raw sword talent, she’s likely superior!"

"Third on the Hidden Dragon List—well-deserved. I hereby declare myself a member of Fairy Han’s fan club."

For a moment, the crowd’s attention shifted entirely to Ying Bing, drawing even more spectators.

But while laymen watched for spectacle, experts sought the underlying artistry.

"Something’s off..."

Among the swordsmen of Hengyun Sword City drawn by the commotion, Elder Zeng narrowed his eyes, brow furrowed.

"What’s wrong?" Bai Jinghong snapped out of his daze.

Elder Zeng muttered, strangely unsettled, "She isn’t just holding her own against Xie Xuan—she’s suppressing him. He should’ve lost long ago."

"!!"

The Three Heroes of Hengyun felt as if struck by lightning.

They had endured brutal training for the Hidden Dragon Assembly!

Yet the gap had only widened—so much so that they couldn’t even tell Ying Bing was going easy on the second-ranked contender. How could they bear this?

She truly was despair-inducing.

Well, actually, that was an illusion.

The disparity between them and the "ice block" had always been this vast. Ying Bing had simply never gone all-out in front of them before.

In her past life, even at seventeen, she couldn’t have suppressed Xie Xuan in swordsmanship.

"But... why would she hold back after clearly defeating him?"

Bai Jinghong was baffled.

"......"

Elder Zeng ignored him, instead casting a knowing smile toward Li Mo nearby, like an old matchmaker spotting a budding romance.

"??"

“Pure Jun Sword Domain... Swordplay Art...”

Young Li watched intently, just as he had back at Autumn Water Pavilion when his "ice block" teacher demonstrated for him.

"That straw-hat guy’s Swordplay Art is impressive—he can predict ten moves ahead with each strike. But Ice Sis... seems to have calculated all his predicted moves at once."

Jiang Chulong gaped, her eyes blinking behind her sunglasses.

"But Ice Sis could’ve beaten him so many times already."

"So many times..."

A bolt of realization flashed through Li Mo’s mind.

Meaning, Ying Bing had discerned his desire to use the sword.

She deliberately let Xie Xuan display his entire repertoire so Li Mo could observe it from start to finish.

It felt like...

A pro gamer clearing the boss fight just to show you how it’s done.

"Still, even after seeing Xie Xuan’s patterns, my rudimentary Nine Swords of Dugu might not be enough."

Li Mo stowed away his weapon.

Martial Insight—activate!

Not far away.

Xie Xuan was drenched in sweat, repeatedly resisting the urge to unleash his divine intent.

His Swordplay Art had long since reached mastery, yet he felt like a fly trapped in an invisible web—every move laid bare.

He couldn’t help but recall his master’s warning when teaching him the art: "Don’t grow complacent with your current achievements."

When Shi Sujun created the Swordplay Art, he’d been no older than Xie Xuan was now.

For the first time, Xie Xuan understood why elders spoke of that legendary figure—whose sword had once dazzled the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—with such defeated tones.

"In swordsmanship, I am no match for you."

"But I refuse to concede."

Xie Xuan suddenly sheathed his sword, eyes blazing.

Ying Bing gave a slight nod but said nothing more, walking over to Li Mo and asking softly,

"Childish one, did you see clearly?"

"I did."

Li Mo met her faintly amused, breathtakingly beautiful face and silently denied being childish—before happily drawing his Chixiao Sword and adopting Ying Bing’s signature aloof expression.

Thanks to recent training and a century’s worth of Martial Insight poured into it,

His Nine Swords of Dugu had reached minor mastery.

Surely, if he casually asked now, "What even is a sword hero?" no one would dare refute him.

Seeing Li Mo’s smug grin and nonchalant demeanor, Wu Chushu’s scalp prickled with déjà vu.

He’s about to show off in public again!

"You may strike first, sir!"

"Uh... alright."

Only then did Xie Xuan remember he’d originally come to spar with Li Mo.

And then got inexplicably thrashed by Fairy Han instead...

Where was the justice in this?!