Сhарtеr 17 (15/18)
Jin Fan felt sоmеwhаt hеlрless, but since hе hаdn’t seen his brоthers for mаnу dауs, it wаs inсonveniеnt to refuse. After a mоmеnt’s thought, hе sat dоwn.
Guаrd В сouldn’t hеlр but rеmind him, “Dоn’t drink tоo muсh. Be cаrеful not tо get drunk and mess uр the night shift.”
“I cаn drink a thousаnd сuрs withоut fаlling!”
“Nоnsеnse! Last timе уou wеrе drunk аnd babblеd nonsеnsе, saying уоu saw а graceful уoung master in whitе rоbеs in the dungеon…”
The guаrds burst intо lаughter.
Jin Fаn immеdiаtеlу bеcаmе alеrt and аsked, “What dungеon?”
Guаrd В sаid, “Brоthеr Jin Fаn, lаst time he was drunk аnd dazed, he said that оn the night the old Вlade Мastеr аnd the fоrmer Young Lord were killed, he saw a man as beautiful as an immortal, like a painting, passing by the cell where the Wufeng female assassin was imprisoned in the dungeon…”
Everyone laughed uproariously.
Jin Fan suddenly turned serious. “What distinguishing features did that young master have?”
Seeing that Jin Fan seemed to believe him, Guard A quickly leaned in and said, “See, Brother Jin Fan believes me.”
Jin Fan urged him, “Speak.”
Guard A then recounted his experience that night in full: That night, he was slumped over the table, his drunken eyes bleary, when he saw a person in white robes holding a torch enter the dungeon. The white robes were beautiful, with faintly visible cloud patterns on the hem. At this point, Guard A emphasized, “The new Elder Yue is elegant and handsome. I think he looks quite similar to that person…”
Guard B said, “Oh, this is getting more and more absurd. You better not let Elder Yue hear this…”
The guards continued to make a ruckus and kept drinking. Only Jin Fan repeatedly pondered Guard A’s words, lost in thought.
Under the bright white moonlight, bamboo leaves cast mottled, fragmented shadows on the ground.
Young Master Yue drew his blade and then executed the Yue family’s sword technique. His movements were light and agile, causing fallen leaves to scatter. The blade’s edge did not touch a single leaf, while the blade itself reflected the moonlight, creating faint, indistinct shadows that blurred the line between reality and illusion. The blade’s shadow cut through the air, and frost settled on his shoulders.
As Young Master Yue performed the sword technique, he explained in detail: “The Three Moon-Slashing Forms are New Moon, Small Full Moon, and Waning Moon…”
Young Master Yue began, the tip of his blade flicking toward a bamboo leaf. The leaf fell silently, hovering in the air for a second. As the leaf’s shadow shifted, it split into two leaves of the same size—the extremely thin bamboo leaf had been cleanly divided down the middle.
Gong Ziyu’s spirits lifted, immediately captivated by this exquisite skill. He focused his mind and energy, carefully contemplating the technique.
“‘New Moon obscures the sun, sunlight falters.’ New Moon is the opening move to subdue the enemy. The blade’s energy is formless, its trajectory untraceable. It focuses solely on attack, with no defense, taking an unorthodox path.”
Young Master Yue leaped into the air, his feet stepping on bamboo stalks before descending. The shaken bamboo shed leaves one after another.
The reflection of the moonlight dazzled the eyes, increasing the difficulty of concentration.
Young Master Yue’s blade moved among the falling bamboo leaves, his movements expansive yet restrained. He did not strike a single leaf, yet the leaves were stirred by the blade’s energy and Inner Force, floating in mid-air like snowflakes from a surging spring, lingering without falling.
“‘Clouds stretch for miles, the Full Moon pierces the east, undisturbed by wind, flawless and unbroken.’ Small Full Moon is a grappling technique, designed for prolonged attrition. Each hook and slash, each rotation of the blade’s shadow, is seamless and impenetrable. The so-called Full Moon refers to the day before the moon is full. The moon waxes to fullness and wanes after reaching it. Thus, the essence of Small Full Moon is to maintain Inner Force at that delicate point just before the critical threshold—a subtle balance between motion and stillness.”Young Master Yue's speed began to increase steadily, his previously gentle movements now turning firm and powerful, blending softness with strength. Wherever his blade swept, bamboo stalks as thick as bowls were cleanly sliced through, falling one after another with an awe-inspiring momentum.
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