Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 147 Black Cloud Sword Technique
Yang Xingmi made a sword gesture with his left hand and drew his sword with lightning speed with his right. His posture was as steady as a deep pool and as imposing as a mountain, befitting the demeanor of a righteous successor from a prestigious school.

The sword blade is three feet seven inches long, and the hilt is eight inches long, totaling four feet five inches; its net weight is nine catties and fifteen taels.

Like the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword, which gleams with a blood-red light, no one knows what materials and techniques were used to forge the Ink Soul Sword, which is also a divine weapon of the Demonic Sect.

The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow was forged by Helian Bobo in the early Northern and Southern Dynasties, while the Ink Soul Sword was forged even earlier, around the mid-Sixteen Kingdoms period, by a demon lord named Mo Yiming.

The longsword, entirely black, made it difficult to distinguish between its hilt and blade. Combined with Yang Xingmi's all-black attire, it seemed to become an integral part of his clothing.

This boundless darkness made Yang Xingmi's eyes appear even colder and more icy.

Before the sword was even drawn, Zhu Wen already felt a pressure that went straight to his lungs.

"My swordsmanship is called the 'Black Cloud Sword Technique'," Yang Xingmi said calmly.

This person is aloof, yet honest.

The name of the sword technique truly reflects Yang Xingmi and his Ink Soul Sword.

“Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it.” Yang Xingmi blurted out a line from Li He’s “The Ballad of the Governor of Yanmen”.

The sword blade spun, unleashing a vast net of swords that instantly made Zhu Wen feel as if he were under a dark cloud, a cage that sealed off all his paths of escape.

When Zhu Wen first fought Kou Qianzhi, he had the same experience when Kou Qianzhi unleashed the tenth strike of his "Ten Forms of Resistance Against Heaven," and almost lost his life on the spot.

Unexpectedly, Yang Xingmi's first move generated such pressure.

This young man is already as capable as Kou Qianzhi, the vice-captain of Taining.

Among the six major sects, apart from Wang Xianzhi, the leader of the Zhenyi Alliance, the top masters of the other five sects are generally slightly better than Kou Qianzhi in terms of skill.

Based on this assessment, Yang Xingmi can be considered to have the strength of a "half-step sect leader".

However, in actual combat, the battlefield environment, combat wisdom, the warrior's mindset, on-the-spot performance, differences in stances, weapon differences, the strengths and weaknesses of different techniques, and even pure luck can all affect the outcome.

It is not uncommon for the weak to defeat the strong, and it is not surprising for a renowned expert to suffer an unexpected defeat.

The so-called ranking system is just a vague assessment. The real wins and losses can only be determined by actually playing the game!

For example, when Zhu Wen and Yang Xingmi started fighting, Zhu Wen immediately discovered that his opponent was more troublesome than Kou Qianzhi.

Yang Xingmi possessed the vigor and determination of a young man.

"The armor gleams in the sunlight, like golden scales unfolding!"

Zhu Wencai exhausted his strength, gathered his energy, and leaped out of Yang Xingmi's intricate sword circle, only to have the second move of the Ink Soul Sword already upon him.

The jet-black sword reflected the sunlight and suddenly flashed into Zhu Wen's eyes.

The seemingly elegant poem also possesses a stirring, dragon-like roar, which is awe-inspiring.

Zhu Wen retreated hastily, avoiding a sword piercing his chest, but was still momentarily blinded by the light, making the battle situation increasingly passive.

Tian Jun stared intently at the battle, her hands gripping the spear on her back tightly, sweat seeping from her palms.

If Zhu Wen's life were in danger, she would definitely disregard the rules and immediately join the battle.

However, in a fight to the death without armor, life and death can be decided in an instant. Tian Jun's serpent spear is a long weapon, making her attacks relatively slow. If something really happens, she might not even have time to react.

"The sound of horns fills the autumn sky, and the crimson of the frontier congeals into a deep purple at night."

Yang Xingmi's two sword strikes, which were swift and fierce, turned into a more deliberate and slower attack.

Zhu Wen drew his sword to parry, but felt a powerful suction force emanating from the opponent's sword, making him feel as if he were trapped in mud. His moves became sluggish, and he almost dropped the Dragon Sparrow Sword.

In his past victory over Kou Qianzhi, Zhu Wen first exploited the fact that Kou Qianzhi was a cavalry general whose foot combat ability was inferior to that of cavalry, and secondly, he relied on his stamina and resilience to wage a war of attrition against Kou Qianzhi.

But facing a fierce and vigorous enemy like Yang Xingmi, Zhu Wen understood that only by striking fast and unleashing his full potential could he find a chance of victory.

Compared to a virtuous gentleman like Kou Qianzhi, Yang Xingmi possessed a much stronger murderous intent.

The reason he warned Zhu Wen was because Zhu Wen was a strongman he admired. If Zhu Wen couldn't defeat Shi Pu and died, so be it; Yang Xingmi wouldn't care at all.

Therefore, Zhu Wen would never hope that Yang Xingmi would show mercy!

"A half-furled red flag hangs over the Yi River, the frost is heavy and the drums are silent."

Yang Xingmi's next two moves became even more solemn and desolate, with a tragic and chilling aura in their execution.

Zhu Wen, relying solely on the sharp, sky-piercing crimson light emanating from his treasured sword, fought with all his might.

As the swords clashed, his chest was jolted and his vision blurred, yet he felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

Such a life-or-death battle truly reflects his spirit as a martial artist. "To repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace, I will wield the Jade Dragon and die for you!"

Yang Xingmi's recitation of the poem became increasingly resolute.

For ordinary sword moves, of course, there's no need to pronounce the move names.

However, Yang Xingmi's Black Cloud Sword Technique uses poetic titles to guide the sword intent, just as words can be followed by laws.

He seemed to be one with his sword, his sword intent carrying the heroic spirit of a warrior soaring beyond the Great Wall and flying ten thousand miles like an eagle.

At that moment, Zhu Wen saw a burning passion in Yang Xingmi's cold eyes.

He should have been filled with passion and responded to this enthusiasm.

But Zhu Wen's knife became as slippery as an eel, employing the key principle that "a single sound is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

As the swords clashed, the Dragon Sparrow Blade, which was originally powerful and sweeping, used a delicate, needle-like force to dissipate Yang Xingmi's sword power and guide it to the ground through his feet.

When the sword intent dissipated, Zhu Wen glared and roared, switching from defense to offense.

The precious sword gleamed red like a ribbon, reflecting the glow of the sunset in the sky.

At the summit of Mount Tai, suddenly, fallen leaves began to fall softly.

Yang Xingmi withdrew his sword and retreated, a bloody gash appearing on the back of his right palm, strikingly red.

"I lost," Yang Xingmi said calmly, his eyes showing no sign of dejection.

"Brother Yang, what makes you say that?" Zhu Wen asked in surprise. "This injury is not serious at all. If you were to use the Black Cloud Sword Technique again, I would have a hard time withstanding it."

To counter Yang Xingmi's relentless, wave-like sword strikes, he had already exerted all his strength, barely managing to defend himself. Only after Yang Xingmi had used up eight sword techniques did he manage to seize an opening and launch a counterattack.

“I received extremely systematic and meticulous training at Hidden Sword Manor, while your moves clearly still have a rough and unrefined feel. Under such unfair circumstances, you were the one who injured me first.”

"In the Battle of Muling Pass, if I were in your position, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to kill Commander Yan."

What Zhu Wen and Yang Xingmi said were heartfelt and sincere words.

This is the respect a martial artist shows to a rare opponent.

Zhu Wen recalled the Battle of Muling Pass, in which he killed Commander Yan, a battle that was extremely dangerous. He was prepared to die, and in the end, he almost lost his life.

Yang Xingmi's tactics were superior to his own, and his moves showed he had considerable combat experience. However, if he were placed on the battlefield of Muling Pass, he might not have been as decisive as he had been.

"In that case, let's call this a draw."

Yang Xingmi nodded: "Very well. I brought some good wine, and we can brew and drink it together on the summit of Mount Tai."

If this battle had continued and turned into a true fight to the death, Yang Xingmi would actually have had a greater chance of winning. However, since Yang Xingmi had already acknowledged Zhu Wen's strength, there was no need to continue fighting.

The more anticipated battleground for the two is still the battlefield of blood and fire.

"I may not be good at much else, but I do have some expertise in brewing wine." Zhu Wen, acting as if he knew someone well, directly took the spot in front of the small red clay stove that Yang Xingmi had set up, adjusted the heat, and slowly added chalk ash and rock honey into it.

Lime powder, also known as chalk, can remove the sour taste produced during the boiling of liquor, while sugar can improve the flavor. However, the amount and timing of its addition are quite particular, otherwise the liquor will taste strange. Most people cannot control this balance and dare not take the risk, so they can only drink liquor that is slightly sour after boiling.

Zhu Wen only needed to taste a small cup before cooking to have a clear grasp of the heat and the timing of adding ingredients. The elegant movements he made while cooking wine gave him the air of a noble young master.

Yang Xingmi stood quietly to one side, watching Zhu Wen do his thing.

"When Brother Yang recited 'To repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace, I will wield the Jade Dragon and die for you,' it seemed to have a special flavor to it," Zhu Wen said with a smile.

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Xingmi resolutely said, "If a ruler treats his subjects as brothers, then his subjects will treat his ruler as their heart and soul; if a ruler treats his subjects as dogs and horses, then his subjects will treat his ruler as a fellow countryman; if a ruler treats his subjects as dirt and weeds, then his subjects will treat his ruler as an enemy."

Yang Xingmi was as ambitious as Zhu Wen.

Of course, he had no loyalty to the emperor whatsoever.

But this is only because the current king is not worthy of him.

“If people like you and me were born during the reign of Emperor Taizong, and received such honors, we would be vying with Ying Wei for the lead.” Zhu Wen sighed, “No wonder Brother Yang looks down on those members of the Demonic Sect; they are truly ‘fond of chaos and pleasure’.”

Yang Xingmi's icy eyes flickered slightly, clearly indicating that he felt a pang of sympathy.

Who wouldn't wish to live in an era of peace and prosperity, where talented individuals can achieve great things? Could one's integrity and unwavering loyalty allow one to awe the world and protect the common people?
Members of the Demonic Sect, such as Shi Zhixuan, Zhao Deyan, Qiao Beiming, and You Di, no matter the era, only fear nothing more than a peaceful world.

This is the essential difference between Zhu Wen, Yang Xingmi, and You Di, who were all "fond of chaos and pleasure."

As Wang Xianzhi said, human nature is inherently selfish. However, the extreme selfishness of the Demonic Sect has gone beyond human ethics, and even beasts would find it difficult to act in such a way.

(End of this chapter)