The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Part Three
The raindrops, which had been sliding down at an angle, started falling straight down.
The wind on the mountaintop had actually stopped.
"Prime Minister, what's your opinion on this match?" Jia Dongye asked.
Zhao Zheng replied with a relaxed expression and a serious demeanor, "He Zian won."
“Indeed, although Du Taibai has concealed his form,” Jia Dongye analyzed, “he has been unable to advance an inch since He Zian changed his sword intent. He is almost being attacked unilaterally.”
As he spoke, Du Fu's clay sculpture shattered once more.
“However,” Jia Dongye changed the subject, “it is too early to say that He Zi’an has won.”
“If he could see that.” Liu Mengde, standing to the side, slightly raised his head, seemingly gazing at the sky. With the hood obscuring his view, Zhao Zheng, who was closer, couldn’t see his profile.
Wang Wenfang chimed in, "Even Heaven is on his side. I think the outcome is still uncertain."
Even in a less-than-ideal corner, some people were still concerned about the outcome of the battle. And it's almost certain that their level of interest in the contest was no less than anyone else present. They were just as keen as Xin Ruien and Zhao Zheng.
After lingering at the foot of the mountain for some time, Wang Boyu finally arrived at the competition venue. He looked up, and the sun just happened to peek out from behind the clouds.
The sun and rain shone together on the sword-testing platform.
Not far from Wang Boyu stood Su Yishan and Li Letian, side by side.
However, due to their focus on the situation, they failed to notice Wang Boyu's presence. Wang Boyu was the same way.
Wang Boyu carefully discerned the sun's position and muttered to himself, "It's almost time."
The new clay body slowly took shape; the time required for this reshaping process had clearly increased.
In the distance, He Zi'an, to conserve his energy, had stood still for a long time without moving an inch. He simply kept his eyes wide open, watching for every opportunity to strike with his sword.
Just as Du Bai was about to step forward, sunlight streamed into his eyes. The world had subtly changed.
His heart raced, but the scene before his eyes slowed down.
*
Following Bae Kang-hee's prior instructions, Han Yi-ji guided Lim Jin-na and the other woman to Yunxia Peak to regulate their breathing. Han Yi-ji then joined Bae Kang-hee on the mountain path back to the main peak.
Pei Jiangxi's expression was not good as she walked slowly behind Han Yizhi.
"Aren't you worried about the outcome of the competition?" Han Yizhi asked.
"Don't you care why I'm unhappy?" Pei Jiangxi sighed.
Han Yizhi turned around and looked at Pei Jiangxi seriously, saying, "Are you sad? I thought you were plotting how to trap me again."
Pei Jiangxi was stunned for a moment.
"Wasn't that the case at Ma Shou Mountain?" Han Yizhi teased. "You got all three major sects involved, and the Beggars' Sect got a new look as you wished."
“You saw it all clearly.” Pei Jiangxi said, both amused and exasperated.
“Boyu is telling the truth.” Han Yizhi moved closer to Pei Jiangxi, forcing her to the edge of the stone steps.
The two were almost nose to nose, with Pei Jiangxi leaning back slightly. Overwhelmed by Han Yizhi's sudden imposing aura, Pei Jiangxi timidly and almost verbally asked, "What did Boyu say?"
"You seem to know everything." Han Yizhi moved closer.
Pei Jiangxi leaned back at an odd angle, her hands involuntarily grabbing Han Yizhi's arms. Otherwise, she would fall backward.
Han Yizhi also grabbed her arm, but it was more like a gesture to prevent her from escaping.
“I,” Pei Jiangxi’s eyes darted around, and she complained, “Back at the Unforgettable Pavilion, didn’t I say that I only know what I know?”
Han Yizhi had no intention of letting her off the hook, and stared intently into her eyes for a few seconds.
Pei Jiangxi chuckled and said, "Boyu, that kid, just loves to embellish things."
After a few more breaths, Han Yizhi pulled her back to her original position. The two then returned to a normal distance.
Pei Jiangxi's tightly pursed lips had just relaxed. Han Yizhi asked again, "What kind of drug did you give Du Taibai? How could you be so confident that He Zi'an would win without the seniors of Xinyuan Temple noticing?"
Smoothing the strands of hair at her temples, Pei Jiangxi replied, "You must have misunderstood."
Seeing Han Yizhi's confusion, Pei Jiangxi carefully explained, "What I had Boyu give Du Taibai wasn't some deadly poison. On the contrary, it was a drug to stimulate his potential."
Upon hearing this, Han Yizhi became confused, her brows furrowing as she said, "So you still want the He family to lose."
*
"Young hero, what do you think?" The person to Wang Boyu's left nudged him with his elbow and asked cheerfully.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think Chief Du will win, or will the young master of the He family win?"
Wang Boyu looked towards the center of the battlefield, seemed to ponder for two seconds, and then answered decisively, "Isn't it obvious? Chief Du is bound to win."
The man's smile widened. "Young hero, you didn't understand the trick here. Chief Du is clearly running out of steam."
"So, what does the great hero mean?"
"Although Chief Du is in control of the game, it's only a matter of time before he loses."
He won't lose. Wang Boyu looked at that smug face and thought to himself, "That was the medicine I personally gave him."
On the sword-testing platform, Du Taibai once again launched an attack on the center of the "Black Sea".
This time, the scenery he saw had changed. The rain, which had been falling straight down, suddenly changed direction at a right angle in mid-air.
These raindrops, which changed direction, traced paths that led straight towards Du Fu.
That was the trajectory of He Zian's sword intent. It wasn't just one sword intent; like a flock of startled pigeons, countless swift sword intents scattered from He Zian's longsword, eventually converging at the location of Du Taibai.
This is the true reason why the clay sculpture shattered. It didn't explode; it was torn apart alive by the dense sword intent.
The clay body shattered once again.
The silt gathered again and moved towards He Zi'an.
No one remembers how many times Du Taibai has attacked. But this time, the mud body has come close to a range that hasn't been touched in a long time.
He Zian's sword intent became violent.
"Young Master He is about to launch his final offensive." The crowd stirred.
The mud body burst open again just two steps away from He Zian. However, this attempt left him with a deep sword wound.
Looking at the clay body that had been reshaped, Wang Boyu said in a low voice, "It's only a matter of time now."
"here we go!"
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, He Zian dashed towards one of the clay figures like an arrow released from a bow.
The surging sword intent, in countless strands, drew strange arcs as it rushed towards the three mud bodies. But in the rain, Du Taibai could see every single trace of the sword intent clearly.
Du Bai could clearly see the unease and anxiety in He Zi'an's eyes.
“This is my rain,” Du Bai laughed, “It is destiny, the outcome is already decided.”
The pitch-black mud body hissed, and the sparks mixed in with its blackness were more dazzling than the sunlight.
He Zian's sword intent missed its mark, with only a few stray strikes hitting the twisted humanoid figures that lunged at him. Like a clay ox sinking into the sea, it did nothing to stop Du Taibai.
Sword after sword, Du Taibai's sword landed solidly on He Zian's body.
He Zian took to the air again, and the closer he got to the two of them, the more chaotic the rain became.
It was Du Fu's sword wind that propelled him upward. The situation had changed.
*
The rain stopped first at Yunxia Peak.
That might not be entirely accurate. To be precise, Xiang Wu personally witnessed the mountain clouds moving, carrying the drizzling rain towards the main peak.
The sky was clear and bright after the rain. The distant mountain ranges seemed to be submerged in a sea of clouds, tinged with a grayish-blue hue. At the edge of the horizon, a clearly discernible line marked the boundary between white and blue, as if the world had been divided into two shades of pink.
The boulders at the summit have a slight curve. Fortunately, the surface is rough enough to prevent anyone from slipping.
Nana is standing on top of the boulder, gazing at the undulating lines of the mountains.
Xiang Wu stayed with her for a while. He looked at the distant mountains, then at Nana, then at the pine trees swaying in the breeze nearby, then back at Nana.
It had just rained, but for some reason my lips felt parched and unbearable.
Xiang Wu took off his cloak and laid it neatly on the sloping surface of the boulder. "Rest for a while, Miss Lin."
Having climbed to the summit of Yunxia Peak in one go, Lin Zhenna was indeed exhausted. The tips of her hair, whether from rain or sweat, glistened and clung to her temples. After sitting down, she felt a warm sensation flowing up her legs from the soles of her feet, accompanied by an unusual but pleasant numbness.
"I wonder if my legs will be trembling tomorrow," Nana said leisurely, relaxing her tense shoulders and neck. She looked away, still savoring the moment, and looked up at Xiang Wu, who stood beside her like a guardian angel: "It's been a long time since I exercised like this."
“It has been a long time.” Xiang Wu stood upright, only his feet were tilted. That was because the stone surface itself was curved.
“The last time was at Mashou Mountain,” Lin Zhenna patted the seat next to her, gesturing for Xiang Wu to sit down: “The Pavilion Master told me that you were at the top of Mashou Mountain. It took me a lot of effort to climb up there.”
“I remember,” Xiang Wu replied, “I almost died.”
"The scenery at Mashou Mountain isn't as good as here," Lin Zhenna said casually.
“Miss Lin, what are your plans after this…” Xiang Wu didn’t sit down, nor did he respond to Lin Zhenna’s gaze: “What are your plans after this…”
"And you?" Nana countered, "Are you going to find your master and senior brothers?"
“Master has passed away. If there’s a chance, he’ll probably go to see Senior Brother again.” Xiang Wu paused for a moment, then continued, “I’m a member of the Unforgettable Pavilion now. Actually, Miss Lin, you don’t need to come with me. Once you’ve regained your power, you can go about your own business.”
“If I hadn’t come here, the blockage in my inner energy wouldn’t have been cleared, would it?” Nana replied. “And what is this ‘my own business’ you’re talking about?”
“I know you are a great hero of the Misty Rain Pavilion,” Xiang Wu said. “I don’t know what it is either, but it must be something extraordinary.”
"Do you know that I can't pass on my martial arts skills to you?" Nana asked.
"I know." Xiang Wu lowered his eyes, looking at the uneven, damp ground beneath his feet. "I am very grateful for Miss Lin's kindness to me. If needed, Miss Lin can take it herself."
Do you think I should go back to Misty Rain Pavilion?
"A teacher for a day is a father for life." Xiang Wu took a deep breath. "No matter what, this bond is hard to sever."
"Are you trying to get rid of me, little monk?"
Nana's gaze sharpened, but softened the moment she saw Xiang Wu panic.
"I just..."
"Is it just that I should roam the martial world freely? Should I rule the world?"
"You shouldn't have stayed with me and become mediocre."
"You still owe me something, are you trying to renege on your debt?"
Xiang Wu waved his hands repeatedly, looked into Lin Zhenna's eyes with great sincerity, and said, "As long as it is something you ask me to do, Miss Lin, this little monk will do it even if it means dying a thousand deaths."
Nana patted the spot next to her and sat down as if she were disobeying.
"Did you join the Unforgettable Pavilion because of me?"
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