Tianlong: I am carefree

Chapter Five: Wuliang Sword Sect

Wang Lie sneaked into the main hall of Jianhu Palace. Everyone was focused on the martial arts competition in the arena, and no one noticed him.

Two figures sat on the east side of the training hall. The one at the head was a Daoist nun of about forty, her face ashen and lips tightly pressed together. The one below her was an elderly man in his fifties, stroking his long beard with a smug expression. Their seats were more than ten feet apart, and behind each stood over twenty male and female disciples. A row of chairs on the west side held more than ten guests. All eyes, from both sides, were fixed on the duel between the two in the arena.

The moment Wang Lie entered, the outcome of the match between the two was already decided.

"The Eastern Sect has already won two battles. If we win one more, the Eastern Sect will be able to stay in the Sword Lake Palace for another five years. Junior Sister Xin, you flatter me." The long-bearded old man said smugly.

"The outcome is still uncertain, but Senior Brother Zuo is being too smug." The middle-aged Daoist nun sneered. "Zirou, you'll be in charge this time."

“Yes, Master.” A young woman stepped forward from the crowd behind the nun.

"I never imagined that the Wuliang Sword Sect would only have two sects left by now. These two must be the ancestors of Zuo Zimu and Xin Shuangqing," Wang Lie pondered to himself from behind the crowd.

"Lu Zirou from the Western Sect, please enlighten me, fellow disciples of the Eastern Sect." The young woman who came out bowed to the long-bearded old man.

The long-bearded old man was the current leader of the Eastern Sect, surnamed Zuo, named Chaoqun, and was Zuo Zimu's grandfather. Wang Lie certainly didn't expect this. Similarly, the Daoist nun surnamed Xin was an elder of Xin Shuangqing, but she had only the character Chun in her name.

"Shi Dong, come here," Zuo Chaoqun instructed confidently.

"Yes!" A middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd. He walked up to Lu Zirou, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Please, Junior Sister Lu, show mercy."

Lu Zirou was quite blunt: "As long as you admit defeat early, I won't hurt you."

"Though my skills are not yet proficient, I dare not retreat before the battle even begins," the middle-aged man, Shi Dong, said in a deep voice. "Junior sister, please!"

Lu Zirou stopped wasting words, and with a whoosh, she drew her longsword. A flash of blue light appeared as the steel sword thrust out, pointing at Shi Dong's left shoulder. Before her move was fully executed, Lu Zirou flicked her wrist, and the sword slashed diagonally, its blade already aimed at Shi Dong's right neck. Shi Dong swung his sword to block, and with a clang, the two swords clashed, buzzing and vibrating. Before the sound subsided, the two swords flashed, exchanging three blows. Shi Dong's longsword suddenly struck down, aiming straight for Lu Zirou's head. Lu Zirou dodged to the right, her left hand forming a sword gesture, and the steel sword swiftly thrust at Shi Dong's thigh.

The two fought with swift swordsmanship, each giving their all.

Wang Lie had already closed his eyes and focused his attention on his mind. Just as he expected, as soon as the two made their move, a "ding" sounded in his mind, and a familiar figure appeared, practicing the Wuliang Sword Technique of the Wuliang Sword Sect.

"The Boundless Sword Technique originates from the Boundless Sword Sect. It is a third-rate sword technique. There are many sword techniques with the same name in the martial arts world, but none of them are top-notch. It has many sword moves and varied techniques. If you master it, you can become a second-rate master."

In a short while, Guangren had already finished practicing the entire sword technique. When Wang Lie opened his eyes again, the two in the arena had not yet determined a winner.

Seeing that Lu Zirou and Shi Dong had exchanged more than seventy blows, their swordplay becoming increasingly intense, and neither side had gained the upper hand, Shi Dong suddenly swung his sword with such force that his body swayed slightly, as if he were about to fall.

Wang Lie couldn't help but shout out "Falling Step!"

Just then, Lu Zirou struck out with her left hand, aiming for Shi Dong's back. Hearing Wang Lie's voice, he had no time to change his move. At this moment, Shi Dong took a step forward to dodge, his long sword suddenly spinning in a circle as he shouted, "Take this!"

Lu Zirou's left leg had already been struck by the sword, and she staggered. She braced herself with her long sword on the ground and stood up, ready to fight again. Shi Dong had already sheathed his sword and laughed, "Junior Sister Lu, thank you for your mercy. Are you not badly injured?" Lu Zirou's face was pale, and she bit her lip and said, "Thank you for your mercy, Senior Brother Shi."

"Haha," Zuo Chaoqun couldn't help but laugh, "Junior Sister Xin, the Eastern Sect has already won three rounds, do you still want to continue?"

Xin Chun suppressed his anger and said, "Senior Brother Zuo has taught a good disciple. My Western Sect admits defeat."

Seeing her concede defeat, Zuo Chaoqun laughed, "Junior Sister Xin's disciples this year have truly remarkable swordsmanship skills, especially our victory in this last match was purely by chance. Junior Nephew Lu, at such a young age, has actually reached such a level; his future is truly limitless. In five years, I'm afraid our East and West Sects will have to switch places, hehe, hehe!" He laughed heartily, then suddenly his gaze shifted to Wang Lie, and he said, "I wonder who this young hero is? Just now, he was able to break through my disciple's feint 'Falling Step.' It seems that you are not among the notaries I invited." These words were already quite impolite.

"Hehe—" Wang Lie walked out apologetically, "I happened to be sightseeing in Wuliang Mountain when I heard about this grand event, so I came uninvited. I hope Sect Leader Zuo will forgive me!"

"This competition within our sect is nothing to be ashamed of, and we would be honored if you wish to witness it. However, this 'Falling Step' was created by our previous sect leader and has never been used in front of outsiders. How did you come to know of it?" Zuo Chaoqun said solemnly. Since this involved the sect's martial arts secrets, even Xin Chun stood with Zuo Chaoqun, and it seemed they were about to take down Wang Lie at the slightest provocation.

Oh no, there's this side to it. Wang Lie thought with annoyance, "They're keeping such a close eye on this low-level skill, thinking I'm interested in it?" He thought to himself, "But I am quite interested now..."

"I wonder if Sect Leader Zuo has heard of the Murong family of Gusu?" Wang Lie asked, his mind racing.

"Could it be the Murong clan of Gusu who are using their own methods against them?" Zuo Chaoqun exclaimed in surprise, and even the notary and guests on the side exclaimed in surprise.

"Young hero, could you perhaps be from the Murong clan of Gusu? May I ask what your relationship is with the great hero of Murong Longcheng?" Zuo Zimu's attitude immediately changed, and his address changed from "Your Excellency" to "Young Hero".

"Could the Murong family have already gained such power? Murong Longcheng actually does." Wang Lie thought unhappily, as he disliked Murong Fu quite a bit.

"No, no, I am not a member of the Murong family. I just happened to meet the great hero Murong and had the honor of hearing him comment on the martial arts of the world. He said that your sect's move was ingenious," Wang Lie said, trying to deceive him.

"I have long heard that Murong of Gusu is proficient in all martial arts, and his reputation is indeed well-deserved," Zuo Chaoqun sighed. "This move of our sect has not been circulated in the martial arts world, and I did not expect that the great hero Murong already knew about it."

"Master Murong also spoke highly of your sect's kung fu, saying that in another ten or twenty years, your sect will surely become a first-rate sect." Wang Lie was shamelessly trying to deceive people. Anyway, the Master Murong he was talking about wasn't the Murong Longcheng they knew.

Zuo Chaoqun beamed with delight, "I never imagined that you, young hero, would be a friend of the great hero Murong. I was truly blind to your great name."

"I'm no young hero either. I'm just a chess friend of Master Murong," Wang Lie said modestly. "I don't even know martial arts. I can only watch the show." Having only practiced martial arts for a month, he did indeed look like a weak scholar to outsiders, which was true to some extent, but Wang Lie didn't want to admit it.

"I see." Zuo Chaoqun didn't dwell on it and quickly instructed his disciples to arrange a seat for Wang Lie. He also had a little plan in mind: if he could establish some connections with the Murong family, it would be of great benefit to the Wuliang Sword Sect.