Chapter 85 - 78: Master Duan’s Past, the School Behind, the So-called "Prefecture Official"—So I’m to Become an Enemy of the Entire Prefecture?

Chapter 85: Chapter 78: Master Duan’s Past, the School Behind, the So-called "Prefecture Official"—So I’m to Become an Enemy of the Entire Prefecture?

"If we were to fight again, of course I would win, but that would be meaningless. It is not the way of a true lady or a grandmaster."

She flicked her sword, letting out a sharp ring, then returned to her bamboo abode, leaving only the flutter of her sleeves behind.

"When I broke my Qi Sea, I vowed to become a Grandmaster and defeat him honorably with my sword. But by the time I emerged from my seclusion, he had already lost an arm and vanished without a trace."

"Back then, every time I sought him out for a duel or a sparring match... he always held back just enough, allowing me to improve greatly. Although I wanted to defeat him, a victory like that..."

"...is not one I would seek."

Ye Ningzhi looked at her master—who, along with Sword Elder Xue Shaobai of the Little Five Decline Sword Sect, was known as one of the Jiangshui Twin Swords; who had once taken a high rank in the Martial Examination across the prefectures and earned the Merit and Fame of a Prefecture Official...

She was a little bewildered. It was as if she had heard, but not quite understood. She scratched her head.

"Master, you’re so pitiful."

"You’ve lost your whole life, never won once, and you’re still being stubborn about it at the end."

"In that case..."

Beneath the bangs covering her face, Ye Ningzhi’s eyes revealed a competitive fire.

"Your disciple will win back your honor for you!"

’Didn’t they say that the Crescent Celestial Saber, Duan Chenzhou, took a disciple in Anning County?’

’Then...’

’If I beat him to a pulp forty-eight times!’

’Wouldn’t that completely and utterly restore Master’s honor?’

’The news from the letter said that the disciple, named Ji Xiu, is just a commoner’s son. No different from Duan Chenzhou himself, who came from nothing, weathered the elements, and started out as a fisherman.’

’Someone from a background like that must have limited achievements. Beating him up will be almost too easy!’

"Master, you just wait!"

"Wait for me to bring back a ’glorious battle record’ for you..."

"I’ll prove to you that I will be the most outstanding Sword Dao Genius of the next generation in Jiangyin Prefecture, the one and only choice to inherit the Secret Martial technique, Startled Swan from the Sleeve!"

...

Anning County, East Fire Kiln Street, the Duan Residence.

The sky to the east was lit with the pale light of dawn.

Ji Xiu sat quietly on a stool.

He watched his master, Duan Chenzhou, take swig after swig of the Red Robe Brew sent over from Lord Zhao the County Magistrate, boasting about his savage past when he fought his way through all the Power Barriers of Jiangyin Prefecture...

And at last, he understood.

He understood why Zhao Jiu was so outwardly deferential to his "good master," and why others trembled like chaff in the wind upon hearing his name.

"Master Duan."

Ji Xiu shot to his feet with a SWISH, his expression grave.

"I don’t think what I have now is enough."

"You once said that Centurion Gu’s Arrow Skill is quite famous even in the Prefecture, that he’s a champion in the Mansion Courtyard. I wonder if your relationship is good enough that you could ask him to teach me?"

Recalling the old stories Duan Chenzhou had just told in his drunken stupor, Ji Xiu couldn’t help but feel hesitant.

A moment ago, he had been feeling smug about being the unrivaled youth of Anning County.

But after hearing Duan Chenzhou’s tales, Ji Xiu was horrified.

’Holy crap!’

’You’re so damn ferocious! When people from Jiangyin Prefecture come down to take you out, are they going to swat me like a fly while they’re at it?’

’No way. I have to get stronger, fast. I need to train!’

Thinking this, Ji Xiu’s mind raced. He suddenly wondered, ’This Centurion Gu... has Master ever beaten him up?’

A timely hesitation appeared on his face.

Duan Chenzhou, holding the wine jug with his one arm, glanced at Ji Xiu and snorted.

"Back in the day, Gu Baichuan was covered in blood, tied to a flagpole by the Chaotic Heaven Thieves. Above his head was a banner reading ’Vigilante Justice’."

"They were about to execute him—an informant for the Northern Garrison Command—in front of all the bandits at Shuipo Lake to boost their morale."

"At that time, it was I, your master, and your Ancestral Master who saved his sorry life!"

"So tell me, does he owe me or not?"

’So that’s how it was.’

Hearing this, Ji Xiu finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

’I can rest easy, then.’

However, watching Ji Xiu’s departing back...

Duan Chenzhou burped, his blade-like brows furrowing in thought. Only then did he hesitantly mutter the rest of the story.

"It’s just that... the thieves were powerful back then. I grabbed him—with his Jade Skin and Golden Bones—and used him as a human shield. He worked pretty well, I recall. Took quite a few slashes for me."

"He wouldn’t hold a grudge, right? After all, those Chaotic Heaven scoundrels were highly skilled in Martial Arts. Even a Martial Arts genius like me couldn’t afford to be careless!"

Thinking back on those extraordinary times, Duan Chenzhou couldn’t help but sigh.

Originally, after a blast of Sword Qi, along with the ’True Qi Erosion Tendons’, had broken his Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, he had no choice but to find a place to hide and live out his days in retirement.

But who would have thought? The Purple Mist Secret Manual, which he had looted from Ren Hengjiang’s corpse, actually had some substance to it. After practicing it, the erosion in his muscles and bones actually dissipated...

Although it meant he could no longer practice top-tier Qi Dao True Skills;

But...

It also gave him the opportunity to rise again. A blessing in disguise, perhaps?

At this thought, Duan Chenzhou smacked his lips.

"But then again,"

"Why do all these people like to hide their most precious things right on their bodies?"

"After you kill them, you can loot it all in one go..."