Chapter 23: The High-Frequency Tachi and a Lesson in Strength

Cheng Lan retrieved a tachi, approximately 90 centimeters in length, from the weapon rack.

It was named the High-Frequency Tachi – Black Samurai-2.

The entire blade was forged from a dark blue alloy, its sheath embedded with energy conduits and status indicator lights.

The hilt featured a multi-segment mechanical structure, culminating in a cylindrical energy core compartment at its end.

Clang—!

With a soft clang, Cheng Lan drew the blade from its sheath.

The razor-thin blade, delicate as a cicada’s wing, also housed internal energy conduits.

Upon closer inspection, intricate metallic patterns could be discerned along its surface, gleaming with a cold luster under the light.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

He swung the tachi several times into an empty space, testing its feel.

The blade’s weight… perfect; its length… ideal; the grip of the hilt… just right.

Excellent!

Gazing at the Black Samurai-2 in his hand, Cheng Lan nodded in satisfaction.

‘Now, to test its auxiliary functions!’

Cheng Lan channeled Etheric Energy into the tachi’s hilt.

As the energy surged, the core compartment at the hilt’s end began to emit a faint, ethereal blue glow, a hue that simultaneously spread through the energy conduits embedded along the blade.

Concurrently, the blade began to vibrate at a high frequency, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, emitting a subtle hum.

“Jinxuan,” Cheng Lan said, turning his head to the young woman standing beside him, “Grab any weapon you like and attack me.”

“Alright,” Qin Jinxuan nodded.

Though he had said ‘any weapon,’ she ultimately chose an alloy longsword, as it was the only weapon she currently knew how to wield.

Mimicking Cheng Lan, Qin Jinxuan first set aside her usual ice sword, then picked up the alloy longsword and made a few practice swings to get a feel for it.

“Ready,” she declared, steadying the sword’s tip squarely at Cheng Lan.

“Come on,” Cheng Lan beckoned casually with a finger.

Swish!

Without further hesitation, the young woman thrust her sword forward with sudden force.

Cheng Lan saw only a flash of cold steel rapidly lunging towards him, then…

Clink—!

With a swift backhand slash, Cheng Lan cleaved the alloy longsword in Qin Jinxuan’s grip directly into two pieces.

Half the blade flew through the air, clattering crisply as it struck the ground.

Click!

Cheng Lan deftly sheathed his tachi, then lowered his gaze to the Black Samurai-2 in his hand, a deeper satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

“Why did my sword break with just one touch?” Qin Jinxuan asked, picking up her ice sword from the ground.

She eagerly approached, her gaze filled with curiosity as she studied the highly mechanical metallic tachi in Cheng Lan’s hand.

“A good question,” Cheng Lan acknowledged with a nod, then began to explain.

“In essence, this tachi is crafted from high-frequency materials.

When Etheric Energy is infused, the blade vibrates at an extremely high frequency, allowing it to sever molecular bonds the instant it makes contact with an object, effectively cutting through anything as if it were mud.”

“Oh, oh,” Qin Jinxuan murmured, appearing to grasp the concept only vaguely, a hint of confusion still lingering in her eyes.

Noticing her continued bewilderment, Cheng Lan patiently persisted with his explanation: “You know what a chainsaw is, right?”

“I do.”

“The principle is quite similar.

Simply put, it makes the blade ‘shiver’ and then saws through objects like a large saw.

Understand?”

“I get it now!”

“In that case…” Qin Jinxuan mused, first glancing at the tachi in Cheng Lan’s hand, then at the ice sword clutched in her own.

‘Could my ability truly contend with such a weapon in a head-on clash?’

She couldn’t help but mutter to herself inwardly.

Observing Qin Jinxuan’s sudden silence, Cheng Lan raised an eyebrow, immediately realizing the source of her dilemma.

He took a high-frequency longsword from the weapon rack and offered it to Qin Jinxuan.

“Here.

See if you can activate this sword’s ‘high-frequency’ mode.”

Qin Jinxuan took the longsword, then, mimicking Cheng Lan’s earlier actions, infused Etheric Energy into its hilt.

However, no matter how hard she tried, the longsword remained unresponsive.

“Alright, hand it over,” Cheng Lan said, extending his hand, signaling for her to return the longsword.

“Oh…” Qin Jinxuan nodded with a touch of dejection, returning the longsword to Cheng Lan.

The moment Cheng Lan gripped the longsword, the energy core compartment at the base of the hilt and the energy conduits along the blade instantly glowed with an ethereal blue, and the blade itself began to vibrate.

“Try again,” he instructed, handing the longsword back to her, “but remember to use both hands.”

“Both hands?” A flicker of doubt crossed Qin Jinxuan’s eyes, yet she obediently gripped the hilt with both hands, one above the other.

“Hold tight, I’m letting go,” Cheng Lan warned.

No sooner had he spoken than he released his grip on the hilt, swiftly retreating a few steps.

“Whoa!”

The instant Cheng Lan released the sword, a violent tremor immediately surged from the hilt into Qin Jinxuan’s arms.

She was instantly ‘dragged’ by the longsword, stumbling several steps before managing to steady herself with immense effort.

The high-frequency vibrating longsword felt like an unbridled wild horse, straining to break free from her grasp.

Had she not held the hilt tightly, the longsword would likely have flown from her hands instantly.

“How is it? Easy to use? Care to try a few more swings?” Cheng Lan asked, his lips curving into a slight smile as he watched the young woman’s disheveled state.

‘More entertainment for me!’

Qin Jinxuan hastily shook her head, her face crumpled into a ‘cat-butt expression’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term, ‘kuǎ qǐ ge xiǎo māo pī liǎn’, describing a displeased or sulky face, often used humorously to depict a cute but annoyed expression).

“No, no! Just tell me how to turn off this vibration, I can’t hold on much longer!”

“It’s actually quite difficult to turn off,” Cheng Lan replied, his smile widening.

“Just hold on a little longer.

I didn’t infuse much energy, so it’ll dissipate quickly.

Consider this a workout for now.”

‘You clearly just want to see me make a fool of myself!’

Watching Cheng Lan’s gloating expression, Qin Jinxuan pursed her lips.

‘I won’t give you the satisfaction!’

The young woman took a deep breath, her eyes hardening with resolve as she gripped the hilt tightly.

After some time, the vibration finally ceased.

Clatter!

The alloy longsword dropped to the ground, while Qin Jinxuan vigorously shook her arms, her face contorted in discomfort.

‘So sore! So numb!’

“Now you understand, don’t you?” Cheng Lan said, crossing his arms, a hint of playful mockery in his smile.

“High-frequency weapons are incredibly difficult to master; they aren’t something you can just pick up and wield.”

The young woman offered no reply, merely glaring fiercely at Cheng Lan.

Unfazed, he continued speaking, “If you’re worried about your ice sword shattering the moment it touches one of these weapons, there are solutions.”

He paused, then went on: “First, the simplest method—just don’t touch them.

Second, keep working hard and enhance your ability until no weapon can cut through it.

Then you won’t have to worry at all.”

“Oh,” Qin Jinxuan responded, nodding, though a trace of dissatisfaction still lingered.

‘Couldn’t he have just told me this directly, instead of making me embarrass myself?’

However, from Cheng Lan’s words, she had keenly caught on to some crucial information.

‘The two countermeasures he just mentioned were likely ones I had perfected in my previous life.’

‘But…’

‘I’m a sword user; how could I possibly avoid all contact with high-frequency weapons?’

‘Could it be… Cheng Lan was implying that my ability could actually be used for ranged attacks?’

Qin Jinxuan’s eyes suddenly lit up.

‘Come to think of it, those sword immortals in novels and anime all use sword aura attacks.

Maybe I can do that too!’

Furthermore, Cheng Lan’s second suggested method made her heart burn with even greater fervor—

‘My ability can grow to the point where it can clash head-on with these high-tech weapons.’

‘All in all, there was now one more reason to become stronger!’