Chapter 12: The Unseen Victory

Today’s competition centered on swordsmanship. On the massive circular arena, ten pairs of combatants were locked in fierce battle, their blades clashing with an incessant clangor. The fight was raging in full swing.

Ji Wushuang watched for a while, then turned his head to the young boy beside him. “Tell me, what do you think of their swordsmanship?”

“Passable,” Shui Jingxuan replied succinctly, stepping slightly forward.

In his eyes, though the combatants below were brandishing their sword techniques in a dazzling, intricate display that seemed incredibly exciting, their every move was riddled with flaws. They wouldn’t last two rounds against him.

“Passable? What an arrogant tone! So, you truly look down on their swordsmanship, don’t you?” Before Ji Wushuang could respond, his conjoined twin sister interjected, her voice brimming with interest.

Unlike her usual indifference towards others, she paid close attention to the young boy.

Shui Jingxuan lowered his gaze, unsure how to answer. To say he approved would be against his conscience, and he rarely acted against his true feelings.

To say he disapproved would offend all his fellow disciples, making it impossible for him to thrive in the Demonic Sect. Thus, he remained silent.

He knew Ji Wushuang wasn’t deliberately trying to make things difficult for him. The Sect Master, burdened by his physical disability, rarely interacted with others and was unacquainted with the art of subtle speech, preferring directness.

Ji Wushuang possessed an unyielding spirit. Although his heart was somewhat twisted due to his conjoined nature, he wasn’t as withdrawn as his sister.

In fact, he was remarkably insightful about human nature and worldly affairs. Seeing the young boy remain silent, his face etched with difficulty, Ji Wushuang chuckled inwardly, thinking, ‘Such a small person, yet so many clever thoughts—how truly interesting!’

Intending to smooth things over for the boy, he glanced at his conjoined twin sister and smiled. “I wasn’t asking you, so why are you butting in?” Then he turned to Wolf Girl. “Disciple, you tell us.”

Wolf Girl crossed her arms, her voice cool and clear. “It’s alright.”

“Haha! Such keen insight! Truly my excellent disciple!” Ji Wushuang threw his head back and laughed heartily, utterly pleased with both their answers.

He had long since decided that Shui Jingxuan would be his disciple. Therefore, while his praise was meant for both, in Shui Jingxuan’s ears, it only proved the Sect Master’s deep affection for Wolf Girl.

The young boy had given a similar answer, yet received no response, while Wolf Girl’s words brought such joy. It clearly showed how much the Sect Master doted on her.

‘Just like in the movies, the Demonic Sect Master is indeed a pedophile!’ Shui Jingxuan subtly glanced at Ji Wushuang, then lowered his head, his expression impassive as he retreated. He silently grumbled in his heart.

“Axi, if you truly disdain their swordsmanship, then make sure to perform exceptionally well in the upcoming fight for the champion title. Do not disappoint this venerable one,” Ji Wushuang said warmly to Shui Jingxuan, pointing towards the arena after his laughter subsided.

Knowing that the Sect Master intended to test him, and that a good performance might lead to him being taken on as a disciple, Shui Jingxuan pondered. He then nodded in agreement without hesitation.

An hour later, the competition finally concluded. The ten top disciples had been chosen and now stood in a line, facing the viewing platform, awaiting the Sect Master’s inspection.

“Very good,” Ji Wushuang said, looking at each of them in turn and nodding. “This venerable one has great rewards for today’s champion: weapons, secret manuals, elixirs—nothing will be lacking. You must all perform well.”

After baiting them with promises of reward, Ji Wushuang noticed the eager, greedy glint in the ten disciples’ eyes. He curved his lips into a smile and looked at Shui Jingxuan.

“You may go down. Today, we’ll follow the old rules: an eleven-person free-for-all. Whoever falls off the arena or voluntarily surrenders will be disqualified.”

Shui Jingxuan nodded. With a few agile movements, he lightly landed on the arena. Although he didn’t use any light-footed martial arts, his swift footwork still made everyone present’s eyes light up.

Seeing Shui Jingxuan step onto the stage with his sword, the ten disciples on the arena immediately adopted a defensive stance, as if facing a formidable enemy.

In a free-for-all, it was naturally best to combine forces and eliminate the strongest opponent first to create more opportunities for others. This was the most prudent strategy.

Almost without a second thought, Shui Jingxuan had become the common enemy of all ten.

The ten slowly shifted, spreading out to encircle Shui Jingxuan, poised to strike.

Seeing the situation in the arena unfold exactly as he had predicted, Ji Wushuang’s sharply angled eyebrows twitched slightly.

His fingertips brushed back and forth across his lips, concealing the interest in his smile. If the young boy could single-handedly defeat all ten top disciples today, he would certainly take him as his own.

Shui Jingxuan surveyed the group. He stood motionless in his original spot, his sword-wielding right hand still loosely hanging by his side.

His posture was neither offensive nor defensive, making him seem riddled with weaknesses, practically a living target.

“This child truly astonishes me,” Ji Wushuang remarked to Elder Mu, who had walked over to his side, his tone openly appreciative.

He found himself increasingly satisfied with Shui Jingxuan. Everyone else had overlooked the young boy’s staggered stance and slightly bent knees; even he had only just discerned the subtlety.

Shui Jingxuan’s leg muscles were already tensed to their limit. His posture, though seemingly relaxed, concealed a speed and explosiveness that should not be underestimated.

These disciples were no match for him. Whoever struck first would face misfortune.

Elder Mu observed closely for a moment, a look of surprise dawning in his eyes. He had never seen such a seemingly innocuous yet deadly stance before. It was incredibly practical, easily lulling an opponent into a false sense of security.

Just as both men reached this conclusion, someone on the arena rashly made their move.

Coldly watching his opponent rapidly strike, Shui Jingxuan did not dodge. He secretly circulated his internal energy, bowed his legs, and shot forward like a cannonball.

With a flick of his sword-wielding right hand, he powerfully parried the tip of his opponent’s blade, then swiftly drew his sword across the man’s neck. In a blink, he had already moved past his foe.

The opponent, even after stopping his momentum and pressing his numb right wrist with his left hand, remained dazed for a long time.

He had only seen a fleeting afterimage at the corner of his eye, followed by a numbing pain in his right hand that almost made him drop his sword.

By the time his right hand regained sensation, he looked back to see the afterimage already entangled with the other nine, a forest of swords and halberds glinting with menacing cold light.

He wanted to re-engage in close combat, but after observing for a long while, he found no opening to intervene.

On the viewing platform, Ji Wushuang’s gaze was fixed intently on the small figure. He threw his head back in hearty laughter.

“To wield the three basic moves of ‘chop,’ ‘hack,’ and ‘stab’ with such divine mastery is truly remarkable. Indeed, the ultimate truth of martial arts lies in simplicity. The simplest moves are often the most potent.

Just like punching, a straight punch holds the greatest power among all boxing techniques.

Excellent! To be so young, yet to wield a three-foot blade with the weight of a heavy sword, fully grasping the essence of ‘great skill concealed in simplicity’—such extraordinary comprehension, I have never witnessed in my life!

This child, I must have him!”

Ji Wushuang’s exceedingly high praise for Shui Jingxuan caused his conjoined twin sister and Wolf Girl to simultaneously look down at the young boy, who was shrouded in swirling sword light, their eyes filled with scrutiny.

Wolf Girl stared at the stern-faced boy, a fierce fighting spirit rising in her eyes. She had been undefeated among her peers, never encountering a worthy opponent, and seeing the boy praised so highly by her master, she was eager for a challenge.

Ji Wushuang’s conjoined twin sister took in Wolf Girl’s expression, her eyes glinting as a strange smile curved her lips.

As Ji Wushuang finished speaking, Elder Mu, who stood nearby, spoke up. “Sect Master, the battle below has already been decided. It should be stopped now.”

Ji Wushuang lifted his chin. “Indeed, tell them to stop.”

Elder Mu bowed in acknowledgment, then leaped to the edge of the arena and shouted in a deep voice amplified by internal energy, “Enough! The champion has already been decided. You may cease fighting!”

‘The champion has already been decided? We didn’t know that!’ The combatants, hearing this, stopped one after another and exchanged bewildered glances.

No one had been knocked off the arena, nor had anyone voluntarily surrendered. What did the Elder mean?

‘To lose without even realizing it—how disgraceful!’ The other nine elders had already seen the truth and were growing restless. Seeing Elder Mu call a halt, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Then, seeing their own disciples’ confused expressions, shame appeared on their faces.

Shui Jingxuan withdrew from the fray and stood beside Elder Mu, his expression calm and confident, utterly composed as he awaited Elder Mu’s announcement of him as the champion.

Elder Mu gazed at him, his eyes filled with admiration. Such a martial arts prodigy was truly a once-in-a-century rarity.

He had initially thought the young boy and Wolf Girl’s talents were evenly matched, but seeing them today, Wolf Girl was far outmatched. With proper training, the young boy’s future achievements would undoubtedly rival those of the Sect Master.

Silently marveling at his own discerning eye, Elder Mu felt quite pleased inwardly, though he showed no sign of it on his face. He raised a hand and pointed to the necks of the ten disciples. “Touch your own necks. Don’t you feel any pain?”

At his words, the ten immediately reached up to their necks. When they opened their palms, each bore a thin line of blood.

Staring at the vivid red in their palms, their eyes widened in horror. ‘When had they been cut? Not a single one of them had noticed.’ For a blade to cut skin without causing any pain suggested an incredible speed.

Had this been a real fight, their heads would have already silently fallen.

Thinking this, all ten shivered in unison. One bit his lip, raised his hand, and asked, “Elder, may I ask when we were cut?” He was unwilling to accept defeat; even if he ‘died,’ he at least wanted to ‘die’ with understanding.

“You were defeated on your second move,” Elder Mu replied, giving him an answer that left him ‘dying’ without understanding. He choked, his face turning crimson, and retreated a few steps, hiding among the crowd, too ashamed to be seen.

Elder Mu saw that the other nine all looked puzzled, clearly eager to understand the gap between themselves and the young boy. He generously decided to tell them the truth one by one.

“You,” he pointed to the one who had struck first, “were defeated the moment you made your move.”

The man’s eyes widened. After a careful recollection, his expression was utterly astonished. He then, like the previous top disciple, hid behind the others.

“You, defeated on your second move… You lasted the longest, exchanging five moves with the young boy. Very good,” Elder Mu said, pointing them out one by one. Finally, he clapped a well-built young man on the shoulder, praising him unstintingly.

Though it was praise, why did it sound so humiliating? The young man looked at the slender child standing calmly to the side, a deep sense of dread in his eyes.

While Elder Mu was clarifying matters below, on the platform, Ji Wushuang’s conjoined twin sister turned to Wolf Girl and slowly spoke, “This venerable one once believed that, in terms of talent, you would be the champion among your peers. Today, I realize this venerable one was mistaken.”

Wolf Girl pursed her lips, and a fierce fighting spirit roiled in her cold eyes. Her nature was inherently combative, let alone having been raised by wolves. Her untamed, unyielding spirit was etched into her very bones.

“What nonsense are you speaking? Wolf Girl and the young boy have comparable aptitude, neither superior to the other.”

Although he greatly admired Shui Jingxuan, Ji Wushuang naturally favored the beloved disciple he had personally raised.

Seeing her expression of displeasure, he quickly spoke to comfort her. However, his words, instead of reassuring, only made his bias more obvious.

At his words, the fighting spirit in Wolf Girl’s eyes almost burst forth. She pointed at Shui Jingxuan below and looked at Ji Wushuang, her voice flat yet firm. “I wish to compete against him.”

As if sensing the hostility, Shui Jingxuan looked up towards the viewing platform and saw Wolf Girl’s action. Understanding her intention from her expression and lip movements, Shui Jingxuan frowned and tightened his grip on his sword.

Could he defeat Wolf Girl? He didn’t know, but he knew one thing: he never gave up easily.

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