Free Web NovelChapter 97: Chapter 96: The Turmoil in the Heart
Everyone watched the golden Sword Qi, sharp and peerless, dance across the sky. Their hearts trembled. They could perfectly imagine the terror they would feel if they were in Wen Qingye’s place right now.
Wen Qingye’s expression remained unchanged as his eyes stared intently at the flurry of sword shadows, as if he were searching for something.
In a flash, a sharp glint shot from Wen Qingye’s eyes.
Wen Qingye moved. With his sword in hand, he employed an unusually fast and agile Step Technique. The surrounding Sword Qi seemed to just graze past his body.
Guu Lei’s brow furrowed. He continued to channel Primordial Qi frantically into his Sword Body, and the Sword Qi pulsating from it surged even more wildly.
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No matter how fast Wen Qingye moved, he was still struck by the Sword Qi. His clothes tore and blood spurted out! But Wen Qingye paid it no mind. His steps grew even faster, his stray hairs flying in the wind, and the sword in his hand suddenly pressed against his waist before springing forward.
"Silver Moon Wushang!"
With each step, Wen Qingye unleashed a strike. His Cyan Mist Sword met the swirling golden light head-on, forcing it back piece by piece.
’Not good!’
Seeing Wen Qingye about to charge him, Guu Lei felt a flicker of panic. He had never expected Wen Qingye to be so fierce, completely ignoring his sharp Sword Qi. His Step Technique was so swift—a single turn, a single strike—and with every move, he dismantled Guu Lei’s entire offense.
CLANG!
Guu Lei raised his sword to block Wen Qingye’s blade, but with a sharp ring of metal, Guu Lei’s sword was cleaved in two.
A cold gleam flashed, and a sword was pressed against Guu Lei’s neck. Guu Lei’s entire body went rigid as he stared at Wen Qingye before him.
Guu Lei asked in disbelief, "How did you find the weak point in my Swordsmanship?"
Wen Qingye said slowly, "I’ve never practiced the Autumn Leaf Swordsmanship, but I feel it’s only slightly inferior to the Moonfall Swordsmanship. So why is it considered a Sixth-Grade Martial Arts? It’s because you’ve been practicing it wrong."
"Wrong? How is that possible?" Guu Lei said with a frown.
At this, the crowd also turned to look at Wen Qingye. After all, Guu Lei had mastered the strongest move of the Autumn Leaf Sword Skill. How could he have practiced it incorrectly?
Wen Qingye withdrew his sword and said lightly, "Although every move of the Autumn Leaf Swordsmanship is sharp and fierce, and though it is named for autumn leaves, it should carry a hint of immense life force. Your version has none. It only has an aura of death!"
"Life force?" Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Guu Lei fell silent.
After a long moment, Guu Lei said with some difficulty, "Wen Qingye, you win. I am not your match."
Wen Qingye nodded and glanced at the ring’s referee, who only just now snapped back to his senses.
"North Mountain’s Wen Qingye is the winner!"
Only upon hearing the referee’s words did the crowd finally come to, looks of disbelief flashing in their eyes.
’Wen Qingye won!?’
No one could have expected that the biggest dark horse of the year would be a new student who had only enrolled a few months ago. This newcomer had defeated one senior student after another to enter the finals of the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering.
Everyone present, new and senior students alike, fell into a deep silence.
Nie Qinglan took a deep look at Wen Qingye and said slowly, "Losing one Lang Feng is fine, but you must keep a close watch on this Wen Qingye for me. I don’t want him leaving Qig Mountain Academy too." freeweɓnovel.cøm
Upon hearing this, Lil Ya quickly replied, "Rest assured, Vice Director. I will be sure to have a proper talk with him."
Nie Qinglan nodded, but her brow remained tightly furrowed. She knew that tomorrow would be the truly difficult part.
Wen Qingye!
Regardless of whether he won or lost tomorrow, this name was now deeply etched into the minds of every student in Qig Mountain Academy’s Outer Courtyard, becoming an insurmountable peak in their eyes.
.......
In a grass hut at the foot of North Mountain, Wen Qingye sat by a chair. Gao Yuerou had insisted on bandaging his wounds, so he had no choice but to sit there.
Gao Yuerou said with some worry, "You shouldn’t have clashed head-on with Guu Lei. It’s a good thing it only injured your arm."
Wen Qingye smiled. "It’s fine, it’s just a small wound. I can do it myself."
Gao Yuerou froze for a moment, then slowly handed the white cloth to Wen Qingye. He bit one end of the bandage with his teeth and began wrapping it with his free hand.
Suddenly, Gao Yuerou looked at Wen Qingye and said softly, "Qingye, are you still angry with me?"
Without looking up, Wen Qingye replied, "Angry with you? What would I be angry with you about?"
"For avoiding you back then. I..." Gao Yuerou didn’t know what to say. She admitted that back then, she had only seen Wen Qingye as a friend. But as time went on, she found that she had slowly fallen for him. Gao Yuerou’s heart began to race in a panic.
’When did it happen?’
’Was it when I heard from others that he was a Third-Grade Alchemist? No!’
’Was it when he killed Zhang Chuan with a single, furious sword strike? That wasn’t it either!’
’Was it when he casually walked into the Heaven-Reaching Martial Pavilion? That doesn’t seem right either!’
’Or was it when he got injured for Xiaxia and, in a fit of rage, went to block the new students from East Mountain? None of those!’
Gao Yuerou shook her head, her heart in utter turmoil. ’Why? Why did I reject him when he liked me, but now that he has a wife, I’ve fallen for him? Am I that pathetic?’
It seemed that from the moment Wen Qingye got married, a distance had unconsciously grown between them. Wen Qingye was always deliberately maintaining a slight distance.
Gao Yuerou felt her Heart Spirit grow weary. She lowered her head and said, "I’m going to head back. You should get some rest."
"Okay. Be careful on your way back," Wen Qingye said lightly, still not looking up.
Only after Gao Yuerou had slowly vanished from sight did Wen Qingye finally lift his head. He gazed at her retreating figure, which looked lonely, desolate, and forlorn.
Wen Qingye’s eyes gradually softened.
When Xiaxia came out, she saw Gao Yuerou walking alone in the direction of East Mountain and said, puzzled, "Huh? Why is Sister Yuerou leaving so early today?"
"Mm, she’s tired," Wen Qingye said softly.
Xiaxia said in confusion, "Is that so? In the past, even if she was tired, she’d always wait until it was dark before heading back."
Wen Qingye slowly stood up, a faint smile touching the corner of his lips. "If it gets dark, she might not be able to go back."
After saying this, Wen Qingye walked towards the house. Xiaxia watched his retreating back, her eyes darting about. She smacked her lips and muttered, "There’s definitely something fishy going on between those two. Such a strange feeling."
Just then, Little Yunshan ran out, rubbing her big, sleepy eyes. She looked at Xiaxia and asked, "Sister Xiaxia, what are you talking about?"
Xiaxia looked at Little Yunshan and quickly said, "Yunshan, what are you doing out here? Hurry back to sleep."
Little Yunshan grabbed Xiaxia’s arm and started pulling her back inside, wheedling with a smile, "Sister Xiaxia, I can’t sleep when you’re not there."
Xiaxia looked at Yunshan helplessly and said, "You little rascal, you’re more spoiled than I am. To think I actually have to tuck you into bed."
