Chapter 81: The Salted Fish’s Humiliation and a Swordsman’s Grand Entrance

Confronted by such an undeniable truth, even the thread starter on the forum was utterly bewildered.

A’si… defeated?

[A’si… has been defeated.]

The forum erupted.

In this desolate wilderness, in such an utterly unforeseen location, A’si, in the most unexpected manner, was summarily kicked from his pedestal by an obscure woman and sent tumbling into a murky ditch.

Is it fashionable for top players to ‘flip their cars’ (TL Note: Chinese slang for unexpectedly failing or making a fool of oneself) and act cute this year? So adorably foolish!

The thread starter posted: [A’si’s skills all missed… he was kicked down, the entire PK lasting a mere eight seconds.]

[No, if you account for the time it took him to sink, it was probably thirteen seconds… Truly a ‘deluxe salted fish’ (TL Note: Chinese slang, ‘jingzhuang xianyu,’ referring to someone who is outwardly impressive but ultimately useless or weak), protected by his fancy packaging, he managed to hold out for one extra second longer than a common salted fish before drowning.] Su Shunhua, ever eager to fan the flames, corrected the thread starter’s post below.

The moment Su Shunhua’s reply went live, the thread fell silent for an instant, only to erupt immediately afterward with countless lurkers from Sword Sweeping the World and A’si’s most devoted fans.

“No matter how pathetic A’si might seem, he’s still stronger than you! A’si has won first place in countless Mage Tournaments! Who do you even think you are?”

“A’si merely suffered an unexpected defeat due to a moment of carelessness, a fluke where the ‘blind cat stumbled upon a dead mouse’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘xiamāo pèngdào sǐhàozi,’ meaning a lucky coincidence or a stroke of blind luck). He’s only lost a handful of times since his debut! What about you? Do you dare reveal your true name?”

“In this world, truly anyone dares to spout such outrageous nonsense! I strongly demand real-name registration for the forum! Just let me catch you, and I’ll beat you to a pulp!”

Spitting out a sunflower seed shell, Su Shunhua continued to type another line: [That’s precisely why I enjoy tormenting these self-important ‘deluxe salted fish’ (TL Note: Chinese slang, ‘jingzhuang xianyu,’ referring to someone who is outwardly impressive but ultimately useless or weak)… they’re both suspicious and overconfident, making them far easier to handle than the smaller, more unpredictable ‘salted fish’ (TL Note: Chinese slang for useless or weak individuals).]

As soon as that line was sent, Su Shunhua immediately typed out another: [All of you little ‘salted fish’ (TL Note: Chinese slang for useless or weak individuals), don’t always dream of making big splashes! If you brag and then get ‘face-slapped’ (TL Note: Chinese slang, ‘dǎliǎn,’ meaning to be publicly humiliated or disproven after boasting), you’ll be held accountable! A’si? Don’t worry, your idol won’t be lonely; A’five, A’six, and A’seven will be joining him shortly!]

Su Shunhua continued to crack sunflower seeds and offer sarcastic remarks, intent on provoking others to death without consequence. A’si’s ‘car flip’ (TL Note: Chinese slang for unexpectedly failing or making a fool of oneself) was an undeniable fact, leaving them no solid ground for their indignant protests.

While the forum buzzed with heated arguments, the Sword Sweeping the World faction within the game had fallen into a profound silence, heavy with solemnity.

If Leng Shisan’s ‘car flip’ (TL Note: Chinese slang for unexpectedly failing or making a fool of oneself) could be dismissed as a mere coincidence, then A’si’s subsequent defeat demanded heightened vigilance.

A single ‘car flip’ might be an accident, but a chain collision surely pointed to an underlying cause—a reason many had quietly suspected, yet dared not fully acknowledge.

Coincidence? Accident? No! The truth was simply that their opponent was overwhelmingly powerful, consistently manufacturing the illusion of unforeseen circumstances.

“Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! She can’t be stronger than A’si! I know her, I know her too well!” Lihuanhuan was verging on hysteria, her reason slipping away under the torment of such a notion. She couldn’t bear to imagine that Su Yingning’s PK skills had reached a level so far beyond her own reach. This possibility filled her with an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and crushing defeat.

Why? Why was her opponent superior in every single aspect?

Yan Quan, the guild leader, cast a look of distinct displeasure toward Lihuanhuan. This woman’s instigated conflict and her solemn assurances had already cost him two key commanders and several top-tier players!

Most importantly, it was utterly humiliating!

The embarrassing incident of the Red Water Dragon being snatched had yet to subside, and now, another major scandal was about to break: the entire elite roster of Sword Sweeping the World’s 029 branch guild had been single-handedly defeated by a certain beautiful woman! Was this year destined to be Sword Sweeping the World’s year of disaster?

While the Gunfire Rose guild channel erupted in triumphant cheers, the Sword Sweeping the World guild channel was filled with mournful lamentations.

The players of Sword Sweeping the World felt a suffocating surge of frustration in their chests, an oppressive feeling they simply couldn’t dispel. It was incredibly agonizing!

‘Should we consider leaving the guild? These so-called big shots from the elite team can’t even defeat one opponent in a ‘wheel battle’ (TL Note: A strategy where multiple opponents fight one after another until the opponent is exhausted), it’s utterly disgraceful!’

Yan Quan, too, was plagued by a throbbing headache. It was now abundantly clear that their opponent was an absolute master at ‘playing the pig to eat the tiger’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘bàn zhū chī lǎo hǔ,’ meaning to feign weakness to deceive an opponent and then strike decisively)—a super-expert on the same level as Leng Shisan and A’si. This explained why Leng Shisan and A’si had suffered unexpected defeats, caught off guard by their underestimation of her.

Given this revelation, there was no longer any point in sending ordinary players to their deaths, only to further humiliate themselves. To contend with such an expert, only another expert of equal caliber would suffice!

“Huaji, you’re up… You absolutely must win this round! We cannot afford any more humiliation!”

Huaji, none other than Xiang Renhe, Xiang Ling’s older brother, was a taciturn gaming expert: a professional Human Warrior whose PK skills were on par with A’si’s. He served as the primary damage dealer for the 029 branch guild’s elite team, a master of the one-handed sword.

Unlike Xiang Ling, who relied on her appearance to navigate the world, Xiang Renhe understood that men had to seize what they desired through their own strength. Thus, while Xiang Ling might be a mere ‘flower vase’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘huāpíng,’ referring to someone who is attractive but lacks substance or ability), he was an authentic master.

“Mn.” Huaji responded with a soft hum, offering no further words. He stepped out of the formation, then, as if by chance, cast a fleeting glance in Su Shunhua’s direction.

‘Why was he looking at me? Could he have spotted Su Shunhua?’

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, a shiver of dread traced its way down Su Shunhua’s spine.

‘No way…’

Huaji took his stand one-third of the way across the log bridge, facing Su Yingning from a distance.

Both maintained identical stances, their right hands holding swords angled toward the ground. As they stood on the precarious log bridge, the breeze stirred their robes, making them appear like two legendary swordsmen poised for a decisive duel atop the Forbidden City.

The white-clad swordsman Huaji and the white-cloaked swordsman Su Yingning.

Before Su Yingning could even make a move, Huaji suddenly caressed his sword’s blade and spoke in a measured tone: “You are a worthy opponent… This sword is named Azure Kite, weighing a true forty-nine liang (TL Note: A traditional Chinese unit of weight, approximately 50 grams), and it can cut a hair blown against its edge.”

A sword was a swordsman’s second life, and in ancient times, announcing one’s sword’s name was a gesture of profound respect for an opponent. Huaji was clearly adhering to this tradition.

“Pfft…”

Su Shunhua immediately burst out laughing. ‘So Xiang Renhe possessed such a ‘chunibyo’ (TL Note: A Japanese slang term, ‘chūnibyō,’ referring to a teenager who exhibits delusional behavior, believing they possess special powers or hidden knowledge) side!’

Yet, the moment Xiang Renhe’s words left his lips, the forum and the in-game chat exploded with the squeals of infatuated young girls. [“Oh my goodness! Big Brother Huaji is serious!”]

[“My male god! He truly is my male god! So handsome!”]

Huaji was undeniably handsome. Unlike Su Shunhua, he possessed a distinctly masculine appearance, yet it was tempered with a hint of roguish charm that could drive young girls wild.

Had he not then stolen another glance at Su Shunhua after delivering his dramatic lines, Su Shunhua might have continued to regard him with a purely appreciative eye.

‘Why do you keep glancing at me?’

Simultaneously, within the dungeon, Qingyu, who was watching the live broadcast, frowned. As his gaze fell upon Huaji’s figure, an inexplicable sense of aversion stirred within him.

Upon hearing Huaji’s opening monologue, Su Yingning froze, clearly taken aback.

She was already nervous facing an expert like Huaji, and seeing his serious demeanor only heightened her apprehension.

Nevertheless, she reacted swiftly. Regardless of their opposing stances, an expert of his caliber deserved a response imbued with equal respect.

Thus, with a twitch of her lips, she struggled to maintain a cool, aloof expression, stammering her soft reply:

“You are also a worthy opponent. This sword is named… Fire Mother is Not Happy At All. Its net weight is… seven… seven eights are fifty-six liang? Or seven nines are sixty-three liang (TL Note: A traditional Chinese unit of weight, approximately 50 grams)? It’s not written on it… *cough*! And what corresponds to ‘cutting a hair blown against its edge’… Oh, right! ‘Chopping… chopping melons and dicing vegetables!'”

As if realizing her stuttering was disrespectful, Su Yingning then straightened her face, her expression turning cold and serious, and declared loudly: “This sword is named Fire Mother is Not Happy At All! It weighs approximately sixty-three liang (TL Note: A traditional Chinese unit of weight, approximately 50 grams)! And it’s perfect for ‘chopping melons and dicing vegetables!'”