"When this sword is drawn, the world is without sword. In my youth, I too once held great admiration for the prestige of the City of Swordless World. It is truly lamentable that such a grand sect could vanish from the world overnight," Song Yanhuai said slowly, gazing at Su Muyu. "To now have the fortune of meeting the young master of Swordless City again is a blessing for our generation. Would you be willing to visit our Peerless City for a brief discussion, rather than drawing swords against us here?"
Su Muyu swung his sword, tracing a floral arc in the air. "Back then, Peerless City claimed to possess martial arts unparalleled in the world, but my father declared that in swordsmanship alone, he could claim true peerlessness. The two sides never settled the matter. So today, I am here to fulfill my father’s final wish."
Song Yanhuai was taken aback, offering a bitter smile under his breath. Though he couldn’t say it outright, who in the world didn’t know that today’s Peerless City had long lost the right to claim the title of "peerless" in the Sword Way?
Su Muyu seemed to read his thoughts and continued, "Even if one Sword Immortal after another emerges in the world today, my purpose is only to prove my father’s path. So, City Lord Song, please draw your sword."
Song Yanhuai rested his hand on the Autumn Water Sword at his waist and bowed slightly. He knew nothing of the past between Peerless City and Swordless City, but from Su Muyu’s words, it seemed the fall of Swordless City was inextricably linked to Peerless City. Realizing persuasion was futile, he prepared for battle.
If Song Yanhuai won, this man would leave, and the reappearance of Swordless City would stir ripples in the martial world—but only small ones.
But if Song Yanhuai lost, people would still not be overly shocked by the return of Swordless City. Instead, they would lament that Peerless City no longer deserved its place among the Four Great Cities of the world. The sects that relied on Peerless City might soon scatter like monkeys fleeing a falling tree.
"I always thought my sword bore too many burdens, so much so that every swing felt incomplete. Only when I donned the mask and reclaimed that long-forgotten name did it ease somewhat. But meeting you today, I finally understand what my father meant by the 'self-imprisoned sword,'" Su Muyu said solemnly.
Song Yanhuai was stunned. "Self-imprisoned sword?"
"Drawing a circle as a prison, imprisoning oneself within the sword," Su Muyu murmured with a sigh. "You are a fine swordsman. If we must fight, I’d prefer to face the real you. A pity. Come, draw your sword!"
"Yanhuai, as the lord of a city, how can you draw your sword so lightly?" A voice as resonant as a bell suddenly rang out from above.
Song Yanhuai whirled around. "Master!"
The others from Peerless City also gasped in surprise. "The former city lord!"
Su Muyu, however, sheathed his sword and took a step back, murmuring, "Liu Yunqi."
A gray-robed elder descended from the city gate atop a long sword, hands clasped behind his back, his white hair fluttering in the wind, exuding the aura of a Sword Immortal.
A single sword pierces the light, smiling at the rising clouds.
Liu Yunqi, the Azure Cloud Swordsman, former lord of Peerless City and a master once renowned alongside Zhuo Yuluo, the lord of Swordless City, in the Sword Way. Many said the Hall of Know-All’s Sword Immortal Ranking excluded retired elders like him—otherwise, how could his swordsmanship lose to the young second city lord of Snow Moon City?Liu Yunqi landed on the ground, raising his hand slightly as the long sword returned to his grasp. The sword had an unusual shape—while most blades were straight, this one curved inward like a hook.
"Cang Long Ya (Azure Dragon Fang)," Su Muyu murmured softly.
Liu Yunqi nodded. "Correct. This is indeed Cang Long Ya. I once wielded this sword in a day-and-night battle against your father, yet neither of us emerged victorious."
Su Muyu lifted his chin slightly, speaking loud enough for all present to hear: "But my father said he won. He was happy—not because he defeated you, but because he had found someone who could walk beside him on the Sword Way. That was his joy!"
Liu Yunqi's expression shifted. "Oh? He said that? Then why didn't he announce it to the world?"
Su Muyu faltered. He didn't understand why his father had never spoken of that battle's outcome to others. Soon after, Swordless City was destroyed, leaving him no way to seek the answer. He shook his head. "Enough. If I defeat you today, does that mean my father truly defeated you back then?"
"Young man, you're quite confident," Liu Yunqi said, eyeing the long sword in Su Muyu's hand. "That's a fine blade, likely crafted by the Famous Sword Manor. But the sharper the sword, the easier it breaks. Yanhui, step back for now."
Song Yanhui hesitated. "But Master, you—"
"I've nurtured my sword in the Sword Hut for years. This battle today is inevitable," Liu Yunqi waved him off. "Since he wishes to ask the sword on Zhuo Yuluo's behalf, then let me answer. But if we proceed this way, the outcome will settle the past and have no bearing on Peerless City today. Agreed?"
The last question was directed at Su Muyu.
Su Muyu nodded. "Agreed."
Reluctantly, Song Yanhui retreated to the city gate. He understood Liu Yunqi's intent—to prevent the city lord from being publicly defeated, which would humiliate Peerless City and leave it no standing in the martial world. If Liu Yunqi lost, it would merely close an old grudge.
Was this young man's swordsmanship truly so formidable that Liu Yunqi felt outmatched?
Su Muyu raised the Crane Feather Sword and flashed before Liu Yunqi in an instant. A flurry of sword blossoms erupted, transforming into hundreds, thousands, forcing Liu Yunqi back three steps. "I can defeat you—and I will kill you."
"Watch closely, boy!" Liu Yunqi swung Cang Long Ya, releasing a surge of Sword Qi toward Su Muyu. Su Muyu sidestepped, and the Sword Qi shot skyward, dispersing the clouds above.
"The old city lord's Sword Qi is this powerful?" Xiu Ru and the other onlookers gasped in awe.
Su Muyu paid no heed, pressing forward with relentless strikes. Unlike his duel with Sword Elder earlier, every move he made now was a killing technique.
Liu Yunqi smiled faintly, thinking to himself: This boy has already lost.
From his vantage point atop the gate, Sword Elder frowned slightly. Earlier, this man had employed his Mountain Peak Swordplay, rekindling the soaring spirit of his youth, which had moved him deeply. But now, the sword's momentum had shifted entirely—no trace of that lofty spirit remained, only... killing intent.
Song Yanhui said gravely, "Within ten moves, he will surely lose."Sword Elder clenched his fist: "He wants to trade a single defeat for the old city lord's death."
OpenNovel