Chapter 616: All Bad Women
When Sang Zhe woke up, the sky had already changed.
For some reason, he felt dizzy, completely lacking that refreshed feeling one gets after a good rest—instead, he felt even more sluggish.
…Maybe it’s because I soaked in the pool for too long? Sang Zhe thought drowsily.
Behind him, the gentle hands still kneaded his shoulders. Sang Zhe assumed it was Chun Lan and Qiu Ju still giving him a massage, so he yawned and said, “How long did I sleep?”
“About six hours,” a soft voice replied from behind.
Sang Zhe froze for a moment and quickly turned his head to smile awkwardly. “Sister Gu, when did you arrive?”
“I came right after the morning class.”
Gu Yingmian sat by the pool, her skirt lifted with a pair of jade feet dipping in the water as she nonchalantly said, “When Little Ying sent me a message saying you had sneaked away, I guessed you’d come here.”
“I just didn’t expect you to be here first. You caught two greedy little cats.”
Sang Zhe: “Huh?”
“So, are you hiding out here?” As Sang Zhe stood up from the pool, Gu Yingmian gently took a towel to dry him off.
“Um… it’s not exactly hiding out,” Sang Zhe replied, a little self-consciously. “I’ve just had some mental trauma lately and needed a place to heal.”
“I figured the Jade Pool and Heavenly Mountain, covered in snow year-round and looking beautiful, would be the perfect place for recovery.”
Gu Yingmian smiled lightly and teasingly stroked Sang Zhe’s cheek: “You look like we’re taking advantage of you.”
“No, no, how could I dare…” Sang Zhe hurriedly waved his hands.
“But really, it’s only been a couple of days since you returned from the Crimson Petal realm. You should rest a bit more.”
Gu Yingmian said softly, “Just stay in the Sword Flower Palace for a few days. You can train swords with me and guide the disciples. It’s a nice way to relax.”
Sang Zhe was overjoyed.
This was exactly the life he wanted!
What man doesn’t dream of finding a quiet place to go fishing?
“If Sister Gu needs a sparring partner, I’m at your service anytime.”
“Great.” Gu Yingmian glanced at him, “Then let’s do it now.”
Sang Zhe: “…Huh?”
After tossing a piece of clothing at Sang Zhe, Gu Yingmian left with the words, “I’ll be waiting for you at the sword training area.”
Leaving Sang Zhe feeling a bit bewildered.
——
——
When Sang Zhe arrived at the sword training area, someone must have leaked the news, as the sides were nearly packed with curious disciples from Sword Flower Palace.
Chun Lan was still in the crowd energetically shouting, “A bet is on, a bet is on! The world’s number one in the sword path! Support the palace master over here, support Young Master Sang over there~”
Sang Zhe approached Gu Yingmian with a laugh, “Why does it feel like this was all planned out in advance?”
“Can’t say it was planned,” Gu Yingmian replied, her gorgeous eyes rare for once showing seriousness. “But I’ve made some breakthroughs in the sword path recently, and I wanted to spar with you for quite a while.”
Sang Zhe shrugged.
To be honest, he hadn’t sparred with anyone in a long time.
Once one reaches the Great Ascension, there are hardly any chances to fight since it might destroy the world.
And comparing himself to those gods and demons? There’s almost no point.
Besides, he’d been busy running around, and although his cultivation had reached the peak, he hadn’t really practiced at all.
On the other hand, Gu Yingmian had been diligently honing her sword skills for years.
Given that Gu Yingmian was a rare genius in the sword path, if Sang Zhe didn’t have the Cleansing Serenity Sword as his cheat, he’d never qualify to spar with her.
Since he’d succeeded in courting her at the Sword Flower Palace, Gu Yingmian’s mindset had improved as well, and her sword path breakthroughs were coming faster and faster.
Honestly, Sang Zhe didn’t know if he could still have the upper hand over Gu Yingmian with his Cleansing Serenity Sword now.
“Young Master Sang, you won’t go easy on me, will you?” Gu Yingmian slowly raised her sword.
The moment she took up the sword, the grace and harmony that made her figure look even more ethereal enhanced her otherworldly beauty, making it even harder to resist.
Sang Zhe pondered and took out the Dream Jun Sword, adopting the initial pose of the Cleansing Serenity Sword.
“Of course.”
“After all, even without going easy, I may still not be your match, Sister Gu.” He responded sincerely.
The two stood facing each other.
Though they hadn’t started yet, the sword intent was already surging between them.
“Wooow.”
The onlookers, Chun Lan and Qiu Ju, couldn’t help but cover their mouths in surprise: “The sword intent can reach such a tangible level…”
“Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”
“That’s the palace master and Young Master Sang!” Qiu Ju sighed dreamily, “If we could even reach a fraction of their level, it would be enough to benefit a lifetime.”
In the middle of the scene, Sang Zhe felt the gathered sword intent from Gu Yingmian and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
…In his impression, Gu Yingmian’s sword intent didn’t used to be like this.
It was a vast and powerful sword intent, like the endless snow on Tianshan Mountain, infinitely stretching.
But this time, her sword was tranquil.
It was simply quiet.
All the sharpness seemed to be withdrawn, and there wasn’t a trace of outward sharpness felt.
It was as still as a stagnant pond.
At that moment, Sang Zhe’s expression became more serious, and he unleashed the Cleansing Serenity Sword without holding back.
At their level, moves had become an excess. To determine the winner, it ultimately came down to a split-second comparison of sword intent strength.
The Cleansing Serenity Sword was a sword of extreme nature, its light shining as it compressed the sword intent to its peak, exploding like an avalanche, filling the entire Jade Pool and Heavenly Mountain with the sound of its ringing.
In the past, Sang Zhe’s full power with the Cleansing Serenity Sword would have been enough to make Gu Yingmian struggle with just the intent alone.
But this time, as Sang Zhe’s sword fell.
Gu Yingmian’s sword came as well.
Their blades didn’t clash; instead, they hovered at each other’s throats.
Both stopped, quietly watching each other.
After a moment, Gu Yingmian slowly sheathed her sword and lowered her gaze, murmuring, “…I was still a bit slow.”
“I lost.”
Sang Zhe was silent for a long time, unsure of what to say.
Sometimes, you just have to admit.
There really is a gap between people.
The Cleansing Serenity Sword, a cheat left for him by Nian Nian, was undoubtedly a rule-level sword technique.
He could only reach this level by relying on this cheat.
While Gu Yingmian relied solely on herself.
Practicing day in and day out, year after year, tirelessly honing her sword.
Step by step, she touched the ceiling of the sword path.
“Truly deserving of Sister Gu.”
Sang Zhe finally chuckled helplessly, “This time, let’s just say I lost.”
“Alright, then I’ll take it as you lost.”
Sang Zhe: “Huh?”
Gu Yingmian seemed to anticipate his reaction and immediately replied seriously, “Then according to our agreement, you have to promise me one thing.”
“…What? When did I agree to anything?”
“Are you really going to back out in front of all these disciples as the grand leader of the Tai Xu Alliance?”
As he looked at Gu Yingmian’s mischievous eyes and the gazes of the many around them.
Sang Zhe suddenly realized.
He had been tricked again.
