Free Web NovelChapter 179: Chapter 178: You’re Slow Again
CRASH!
A thunderous sound bombarded everyone’s ears, like a heavy hammer smashing against a city wall and unleashing a deafening boom.
The crowd watched as Shu Nan was forced back, retreating rapidly. Wen Qingye advanced, his sword a continuous, dancing blur.
"Slow! Too slow. Your sword is just too slow."
The voice echoed in everyone’s ears again, only this time, the one speaking was... Wen Qingye!
Fast!
Too fast!
Impossibly fast!
If the crowd could only barely perceive Shu Nan’s sword, then Wen Qingye’s was silent and traceless. They couldn’t even tell when he was striking.
Shu Nan was suddenly like a lone boat adrift on a vast sea, battered by a raging tempest. He felt completely unable to defend himself.
"Faster! That’s right, even faster!"
"Slowing down. Slowing down. You’re slow again."
In an instant, their roles had reversed. Shu Nan could only grit his teeth and struggle to hold on.
’What in the world is happening?’
’How is Shu Nan, even after his breakthrough, being completely suppressed by Wen Qingye’s fast sword?’
The students of Celestial Academy watched the scene unfold, completely petrified. ’Just how fast is Wen Qingye’s sword?’
SLICE!
Wen Qingye’s sword drew blood, and a crimson arc danced through the air.
The blood, still carrying its searing heat, danced in the air—beautiful and captivating.
Normally, the sight of blood would have thrilled Shu Nan. But at this moment, his heart was filled with terror, because the blood flying through the air was his own.
"Faster. Your sword is slow again. That’s it, go faster!"
"You’re slow again. Faster, faster!"
As Wen Qingye spoke, the sword in his hand danced. Every time the blade flashed, its angle, timing, and speed were nothing short of perfect. Each strike sent a brilliant spray of blood blossoming in the air.
The gap between them was clear. Only now did the crowd come to a sudden realization: Wen Qingye hadn’t been using his true strength at all. He had just been toying with Shu Nan.
At this thought, no one spoke. They all couldn’t help but suck in a sharp, cold breath.
Powerful!
Too powerful!
Wen Qingye’s strength was simply overwhelming!
Shu Nan was barely parrying. No, that wasn’t right. He was only able to parry because Wen Qingye was *letting* him.
This scene felt so familiar, as if the crowd had seen it somewhere before.
Wasn’t this the exact same scene as when Shu Nan fought Yann Chuxue?
"Faster, even faster."
With every word Wen Qingye spoke, his sword would flash, and another bloody gash would appear on Shu Nan’s body.
Shu Nan was now covered in blood, his face flushed crimson. He was always the one who mocked others for being too slow. When had he ever been so humiliated?
In the blink of an eye, Shu Nan was dyed red with his own blood, the speed of his sword strikes growing slower and slower.
The crowd watched Wen Qingye in the arena, still looking as calm and carefree as ever, his hair fluttering with the light of his blade. They couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
’Just how fast is this man’s sword?’
"Your sword is far too slow. This is truly disappointing. Faster, faster, faster!"
Wen Qingye’s words echoed across the entire square, exceptionally loud in the dead silence.
Cheng Yu’s mouth fell open. "This Wen Qingye’s sword is way too fast," he said, astonished. "How is Shu Nan being suppressed so miserably?"
Nie Shuang’s brow was tightly furrowed, a hint of horror in his eyes. ’Such a fast sword. Such subtle Swordsmanship.’
Meanwhile, Wu Jing watched the completely suppressed Shu Nan with an awkward expression, a sliver of panic rising in her heart. ’This Wen Qingye’s aptitude is simply heaven-defying. If the upper echelons of Celestial Academy knew I rejected him just to curry favor with Situ Haoming...’ Wu Jing dared not think any further. Sweat was already beading on her forehead.
Just then, Zhao Mei, looking very curious, blinked and asked, "Lord Wu, didn’t you say Wen Qingye’s Swordsmanship was inferior to Shu Nan’s?"
"Perhaps... perhaps I misjudged," Wu Jing stammered.
At this point, Shu Nan wasn’t just physically wounded; his spirit was also under extreme pressure. Wen Qingye’s sword was too fast. It felt as if he were being completely toyed with, like he was caught in a teetering boat, at the mercy of a raging storm.
’No, if this goes on, I’ll die.’ Fear had completely filled Shu Nan’s heart, overwhelming both his body and mind.
Time passed, drop by drop. Shu Nan was now covered head to toe in blood, a truly terrifying sight.
Shu Nan’s sword grew slower and slower, having long lost its initial ferocity.
Shu Nan took another of Wen Qingye’s strikes and couldn’t help but cry out, "I..."
SHHNK!
"Too slow! Faster, even faster!"
Wen Qingye’s sword swept past, and another crimson arc flew into the air.
"...I... I surrender," Shu Nan said, taking another hit. He retreated rapidly, the words seemingly forced through gritted teeth.
Shu Nan’s face was beet red, no less flushed than his blood-soaked clothes. His mind was filled with terror, with no room for any other emotion.
Today! Wen Qingye had become a colossal shadow in Shu Nan’s heart, an existence that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Wen Qingye stopped his sword and, under Shu Nan’s lowered gaze, slowly sheathed it.
The surroundings were dead silent, without a single sound.
An unknown amount of time passed before the uproar exploded like a long-dormant volcano.
"He won!?" freewebnovel.cσ๓
"Fast Sword Shu Nan was no match for Wen Qingye in a sword fight."
"Wen Qingye’s sword is faster!"
"In a few decades, Wen Qingye will surely have a place of prominence in the Celestial Martial Country."
The crowd had predicted the beginning, but the outcome was completely unexpected, catching everyone by surprise. Based on today’s match alone, no one in the Celestial Martial Country would ever dare to underestimate Wen Qingye’s talent again.
The name Wen Qingye was deeply imprinted on everyone’s hearts!
Wen Qingye glanced at Wu Jing, his eyes as placid as still water, then turned his gaze to Nie Shuang and the others.
At that moment, the evening glow dotted the sky, dyeing half of it red.
"Today, it’s getting late. I’ll have some fun with you all tomorrow."
After speaking, Wen Qingye took his sword and slowly walked out of the square. Seeing him descend, the crowd instinctively parted, clearing a path for him to leave.
The crowd watched as Wen Qingye walked into the distance until he had completely vanished from sight.
"Is Wen Qingye going to fight again tomorrow?"
"Is Wen Qingye going to have a decisive battle with Nie Shuang of Celestial Academy tomorrow?"
"I wonder whose is better—Nie Shuang’s vicious saber or Wen Qingye’s fast sword."
The crowd mulled over Wen Qingye’s words, their hearts turbulent with excitement. Their anticipation for tomorrow’s showdown grew even stronger. This would be a battle between the pinnacles of the two academies, a clash between their top experts. Everyone was intensely curious. Who was truly superior: the late-blooming, incredibly talented Wen Qingye, or the pride of Celestial Academy?
The students from Celestial Academy all fell silent. Not a single person spoke, and the atmosphere became extremely oppressive.
"Tomorrow, I will be the one to face this Wen Qingye," Nie Shuang said coldly, watching Wen Qingye’s departing figure. "Don’t worry. Celestial Academy will not lose to Qig Mountain Academy."
Cheng Yu looked at Nie Shuang with admiration and said, "With Brother Shuang’s strength, Wen Qingye is naturally no match for you."
The other Celestial Academy students nearby all nodded. They had absolute confidence in Nie Shuang’s strength. To them, he was an article of faith.
"With you here, I can naturally rest easy," Wu Jing said with a dry laugh.
Although Wu Jing believed Nie Shuang could stop Wen Qingye, his reputation was already spreading. Based on his duel with Shu Nan alone, Wen Qingye had already made a name for himself throughout the Celestial Martial Country. And she could not escape the blame for it. A bitter feeling rose in Wu Jing’s heart, mixed with a healthy dose of regret. ’If only I had accepted Wen Qingye back then,’ she thought, ’perhaps he would be my star pupil right now.’
Wen Xu and Wen Gui remained silent, their expressions so dark it looked as if water could drip from them.
Zhang Hua, Gao Ming, and the others watched Wen Qingye’s departing figure and let out a long sigh in their hearts, speechless for a long time.
