Just as Xie Mulang had predicted, Huo Mingchan barely won the first round after using the move "Communicating with Gods and Commanding Ghosts".
A thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the stands, with everyone waving flags and shouting in celebration. Even the usually stern-faced head of the Huo family stroked his beard and smiled with approval.
According to Qin Lüshu, this move originated from the two chapters "Tianzhi" and "Minggui" in the Mo Jing.
The Mohists believed that Heaven has its own will and will send spirits and gods to reward the good and punish the evil.
But this undoubtedly contradicts the principles upheld by Legalism.
Unlike the optimistic crowd in the stands, the four people standing below the ring had solemn expressions.
Xie Mulang frowned and said, "Brother Huo's move was too forced; his breathing is erratic. I'm afraid he'll struggle in the next round..."
He stopped talking at this point.
In this match, Bili City only has one person. If Huo Mingchan falls, then they will lose this match.
The original format was not best of three, but rather to fight until only one person remained.
Yun Wei also sighed almost imperceptibly.
Even if Huo Mingchan was exceptionally talented, he looked like he was at his limit at this moment. His face was deathly pale, his once meticulously combed hair was now completely disheveled, and even his breathing was extremely unstable.
"The second round of the 'Guardian Sword' begins now!"
The referee seemed overjoyed and happily rang the gong.
Huo Mingchan stared coldly at the newly arrived Donghai guest, then immediately drew his sword across his chest and unleashed a defensive sword move.
"This is 'The Fortified City,' he's buying himself more time to recuperate," Xie Mulang explained to everyone.
Isaac, however, crossed his arms and dismissed the criticism, saying, "The moves of this 'Guardian Sword' are all ruthless and have no return. Taking a defensive stance now would put us at a disadvantage."
When you have the advantage, you should proceed steadily and take a defensive stance, which is called retreating to advance; when you are already at a disadvantage, you should passively defend, which undoubtedly means missing the last opportunity.
Xie Mulang couldn't help but look at Isaac, and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, I haven't sparred with Brother Isaac yet. How about we have a match sometime?"
Upon hearing this, Isaac immediately wore a strange expression.
Yun Wei couldn't help but chuckle and said to Xie Mulang, "Their surnames are the opposite of ours... You can just call him Isaac."
Isaac's surname is Temubranchi and Moriti. The word Isaac is considered as a whole, not as a surname and given name.
But both Moriti and Tembronch were too sensitive, so Yun Wei ultimately didn't say anything.
Xie Mulang then realized that this was indeed the case, and quickly clasped his hands in apology.
Isaac readily agreed, "I would be delighted. I am always ready to accompany you, Brother Xie, whenever you wish."
He, a person from the Zhuyuan Continent, was now speaking Bili Language fluently and logically, making the scene seem utterly ridiculous.
The three of them burst into laughter.
Only Qin Lushu, standing to the side, was not in the mood for joking. He was looking anxiously at the center of the arena with a solemn expression.
Huo Mingchan was not good at the "Guardian Sword" to begin with, and his victory in the previous round was due to a sudden change of tactics. In the second round, he inevitably found himself outmatched.
Moreover, he fundamentally disagreed with the Mohist doctrine and found it difficult to understand the meaning of universal love and non-aggression.
In stark contrast to Huo Mingchan, the man in black robes was already elusive. After he used "Communicating with Gods and Commanding Ghosts," the entire arena became filled with ghostly figures, making it even more eerie.
Yun Wei immediately said to Xie Mulang, "Brother Xie, have you noticed that it is often Bili who uses a new move, and Donghai Ke immediately follows suit and learns it?"
He deliberately chose this moment to give the other party some pointers.
Huo Mingchan's failure was destined from the beginning and would not be affected by the blind arrogance of the Huo family head.
If he and the visitor from the East Sea were destined to clash today, he should start preparing for the worst right now, and without a doubt, Xie Mulang is his most reliable ally.
"Hmm?" Xie Mulang was taken aback upon hearing this, but then he realized what he meant. "When I was standing on the arena earlier, I did feel something was off. Now that Brother Yun has mentioned it, I realize that it is indeed true."
He also said that the opponent's strategy was always to strike back after the opponent has acted, or to deliberately use the exact same sword moves to humiliate and establish authority.
But they never expected that the visitors from the East Sea were completely unfamiliar with the Four Swords combat techniques.
This is truly... utterly unbelievable.
It's not really Xie Mulang's fault.
The word "abyss" itself is the most mysterious taboo in the continent of Zhuyuan, and it has been systematically erased from historical records.
Of all the people Yun Wei encountered, only Isaac, who participated in the War of Glory eight hundred years ago, knew a thing or two, not to mention the people of Bili City, far to the east.
"What do you mean by that, Brother Yun?" Unexpectedly, Qin Lushu, who had been looking at the arena, suddenly spoke up.
The young man with rosy lips and white teeth stared intently at Yun Wei, his gaze sharp, but his words were aggressive: "Do you know something? If the Four Swords Tournament was unfair from the start, what's the point of them fighting to the death on the stage now?"
Xie Mulang hurriedly tried to dissuade him, saying, "Lv Shu..."
"Grandmaster Uncle! What time is it? Huo Mingchan will be killed by the other side!" Stopped by Xie Mulang, the young man immediately turned down at the corners of his mouth, as if he was about to cry.
Having lived through the end times for many years, Yun Wei was not truly intimidated by the other party.
He glanced at the boy who was on the verge of tears and simply said calmly, "Yes, it was meaningless to begin with."
His voice was incredibly cold; just listening to it sent chills down your spine.
What's the point? In this world where strength reigns supreme, the law of the jungle is the only truth.
The reason why Bili City initially made the four-sword battle agreement was because they had never defeated the visitors from the East Sea.
Seeing Yun Wei's reaction, Qin Lushu immediately became furious, "You, you..."
The boy, his face flushed red, stared wide-eyed, but couldn't utter a single word.
Yun Wei wasn't angry; he knew the other person was just overly concerned.
Even so, he refused to say anything more.
The young man was too impulsive, and he stood on the battlefield of the abyss, always walking on thin ice.
Yun Wei smirked and turned to Xie Mulang, saying, "I'm sorry, Brother Xie. Although I do know some things, this is clearly not a good time to explain them in detail."
After a little guidance from him, Xie Mulang became wary, and his goal had been achieved.
He had assumed that everyone in Bili City was as upright and honest as Xie Mulang, united as one, like an iron barrel. However, in just a few days, he witnessed arrogance and intrigue.
He couldn't help but wonder if the villagers outside Moonflower City were behaving rudely because of ignorance.
So why do those well-read scions of noble families in Bili City behave so immorally?
But just then, a gasp from the other side of the stands interrupted his thoughts.
On the arena, the black-robed man, seemingly fearless, unleashed "Summoning Gods and Demons" several times in succession. Huo Mingchan's Jincheng, surrounded by sword energy, did not appear as impregnable as the name might suggest.
Ironically, the man in black robes seemed to have truly grasped the essence of "communicating with gods and commanding ghosts," as faint, mournful cries of ghosts could be heard emanating from the arena.
Huo Mingchan was already exhausted, and his desire to win was at odds with the intent of his sword. Under the opponent's fierce attack, he quickly revealed his weakness.
"Boom!" After another sword strike from the opponent, a cloud of blood mist exploded on the arena.
His right shoulder was pierced by the tip of the opponent's sword, and the blood gushing from the wound was directly stirred into mist by the protective sword energy.
The stands were in an uproar, with countless people urging the Huo family patriarch to call a retreat and order Huo Mingchan to surrender.
However, the middle-aged man sitting upright had a keen eye and a calm demeanor. He simply said, "The outcome is not yet decided, so there's no rush. I believe in Mingchan'er; he will definitely not admit defeat easily."
Qin Lushu shed tears the moment Huo Mingchan was first struck by the sword.
After observing the reactions of the people in the stands, the young man said to Yun Wei again, "Brother Yun, I'm begging you. That bastard Huo Miaodan has no heart at all, and that idiot Huo Mingchan will really be courting death..."
He sobbed, crying bitterly, "If we go to the elders now and expose those visitors from the East Sea, we can at least save Huo Mingchan's life!"
This time, Yun Wei did not ignore it.
He walked to the young man's side, patted him on the shoulder reassuringly, and said gently, "Then, I'll place the choice in your hands. Do you want to save Huo Mingchan alone, or do you want to save everyone in Bili City?"
His tone was clearly gentle, but his words sent chills down the young man's spine.
On the arena, bursts of blood mist bloomed ever brighter, like azaleas blooming beside a cliff.
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