"City of Swordless World? The City of Swordless World that proclaimed 'With this sword drawn, the world shall be without swords'?"
"Wasn't that sect exterminated long ago? How could a young lord suddenly appear now?"
"Even if the young lord survived, why would he come to challenge Peerless City?"
"Could it be that the ones who destroyed Swordless City back then were..."
Su Muyu stood beneath the walls of Peerless City, a paper umbrella strapped to his back, a mask covering his face, and a long sword hanging at his waist.
The Four Swordsmen of Dao Inquiry and the onlookers arrived shortly after but dared not approach within thirty zhang of Su Muyu. Xiu Ru said gravely, "His strength far surpasses ours. Approaching would be suicide. His challenge must have already reached the city. The elders will surely send someone of their caliber to respond."
"City of Swordless World..." Sword Elder stroked his teapot, murmuring, "A name both distant and familiar."
"Zhuo Yuean—that man's son?" asked the black-clad swordsman standing behind Sword Elder.
Sword Elder nodded. "Indeed. I saw him years ago. Though just a child then, one glance told me he was a born swordsman. To think he's still alive... unless this is an imposter."
"Should we inform the city lord?" the black-clad swordsman asked.
"The city lord must have already heard the challenge. Pity this young lord doesn't understand the significance of Swordless City's challenge. We'll need to inform the one in the Sword Hut at the back mountain." Sword Elder sighed faintly. "Go to the Sword Hut and tell them someone from Swordless City has come to settle debts."
"And the one outside Peerless City? Shall we let him stand there, shaming our city?" The black-clad swordsman frowned.
"Then I shall go." Sword Elder rose. Though his hair and beard were white, his posture remained straight as a sword. With a wave of his hand, an ancient bronze sword appeared in his grasp.
In the city lord's residence, Song Yanhuai stepped into the courtyard and looked up at the sky. "A challenge to Peerless?"
"Is he challenging me?" Wushuang had been tinkering with his Sword Box inside. The box had remained dormant since opening once before, but now, upon hearing that voice, the Matchless Sword Box stirred restlessly again.
Song Yanhuai shook his head. "He's challenging the Peerless Sword. This man is no ordinary foe. Come, let's see for ourselves." Grabbing Wushuang by the collar, he leaped toward the city gates.
Outside Peerless City, Su Muyu stepped forward, drew the sword at his waist, and plunged it into the ground. Tilting his head back, he declared once more, "Zhuo Yuean, young lord of the City of Swordless World, challenges Peerless!"
On the city walls, dozens of archers appeared, arrows nocked and aimed at Su Muyu below.
A bystander nearby couldn't hold back. "The mighty Peerless City can't even produce a single swordsman to answer the challenge?"
"Loose arrows!" someone on the walls roared. A rain of arrows descended. Su Muyu took a step back, opened his paper umbrella, and gave it a gentle spin, deflecting the arrows harmlessly to the side.
"Peerless City should change its name to Turtle City!" another voice jeered.
Su Muyu recognized the voice—it belonged to the weapons merchant who kept provoking Peerless City on his behalf. Turning, he smiled at the man. "Care to make a wager?""Oh? The young master enjoys gambling? What's the wager?" The weapons merchant perked up with interest.
"I wager on how long it will take for someone from Peerless City to respond to the challenge," Su Muyu replied.
The weapons merchant raised an eyebrow: "Then I'll bet that after I call them 'Turtle City' three more times, someone will come. Turtle City!"
Luo Ge angrily retorted, "Old fool, do you have a death wish?"
The weapons merchant completely ignored him and continued shouting, "Turtle City! Turtle—" Before he could utter the last word, the merchant hastily stepped back, pulling out a shield from behind to block his chest. A streak of Sword Qi struck the shield, sending him flying. The merchant somersaulted in midair and landed three zhang away, his shield shattered into pieces. He chuckled bitterly and cursed, "I didn't get to finish the last word—guess I lost."
"Sword Elder!" The Four Swordsmen of Dao Inquiry immediately bowed and greeted.
Sword Elder landed before Su Muyu and smiled faintly. "As I thought, it's you."
Su Muyu said gravely, "You recognize me?"
"Though you wear a mask, and many years have passed since we first met, I still know—you're that child." Sword Elder stroked his long beard. "For those of us who have spent years with swords, seeing a person is like seeing a blade. Back then, I saw in you the makings of a fine sword. Now, I see that you've become that very sword."
Su Muyu glanced at the ancient bronze sword in Sword Elder's hand and said solemnly, "The Azure Underworld Ancient Sword. You are Jian Shanyue, the Grand Elder of Peerless City's Martial Hall."
Sword Elder nodded. "Indeed. You wish to issue a Sword Challenge to Unrivaled. I wonder if my Azure Underworld Ancient Sword is worthy enough to give you an answer?"
Su Muyu pointed to the longsword planted in the ground. "My sword is right there. But today, after encountering several from your Peerless City, not one was worth drawing it for."
Sword Elder continued smiling amiably. "Am I also unworthy?"
Su Muyu raised a hand slightly. "Worthiness depends on the Elder's sword."
"Good, young man. You have pride. Just like your father!" Sword Elder smirked coldly and swung his ancient bronze sword, unleashing a devastating Sword Qi toward Su Muyu.
Su Muyu tapped his foot and retreated, his sleeves flaring as he attempted to suppress the Sword Qi.
Luo Ge sneered. "Trying to catch the Elder's Sword Qi barehanded? Even if he was initially qualified to face our master, now he's surely doomed to lose."
Xiu Ru, however, shook his head slightly. "This man's strength far surpasses ours. Yet when he fought us earlier, he was extremely cautious. If he wasn't confident, would he really try to catch Sword Qi with his sleeves?"
Sword Elder's expression darkened. "Thinking you can suppress my Sword Qi with mere sleeves—are you looking down on me?"
Su Muyu remained silent, his sleeves swirling as the Sword Qi churned within them, seemingly on the verge of tearing him apart.
Suddenly, Sword Elder sheathed his sword, his face filled with shock. "Twin Sleeves of Spring Breeze? How do you know this technique? It should have already—"
"Taught to me by my father, of course!" Su Muyu gathered the Sword Qi into his sleeves, transforming it into a gentle spring breeze that wafted toward Sword Elder.
A spring breeze brushing one's face should be soothing and pleasant.
But after the coolness came the killing Sword Qi!Su Muyu said loudly, "Was this how my father defeated you back then?"
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