I Have the Martial Arts Heavenly Eye in the Storm Riders

Beside the bamboo grove, a blue stone lies across the slope.

Jin sat cross-legged on the stone, a piece of dry grass between his teeth, his eyelids half-closed. At first glance, he seemed to be taking a break, but his ears were always listening to the sounds around him.

The wind rustles through the bamboo forest.

Deep in the forest, the soft cracking of bamboo branches could be heard intermittently, occasionally accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound of wind breaking through the air. Clearly, Long'er was still practicing her sword inside, and she was becoming more and more engrossed in it.

Jin listened for a while, then a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"What a martial arts fanatic."

As soon as he finished speaking, a chill ran down his spine.

It wasn't the wind, the sound of bamboo, or even the soft rustling of grass when someone walks close by; it was a danger that struck right to the bone.

Jin barely thought before he sprang up from the bluestone.

He stood up, twisted his waist, and extended his leg—all in one smooth motion.

With a sweeping kick, the force surged forth, causing the hem of his clothes to flutter and the fallen leaves beneath his feet to scatter and fly in all directions.

If it were an ordinary person, let alone catching it, just being hit by the strong wind would send them tumbling over on the spot.

But when that kick reached mid-air, it felt like it had crashed into a deep sea.

The force neither exploded nor missed its target; instead, it was swallowed up by something unseen, leaving not even a ripple.

Jin Xin's heart sank suddenly. Taking advantage of the momentum, he flipped backward and took two steps back before he could see who it was.

The newcomer was dressed in coarse linen clothes, with an ordinary face, looking like an average middle-aged man. Yet, he simply stood there quietly, and the sound of the wind in the entire bamboo forest seemed to soften.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze gentle, without a trace of intimidating sharpness, yet it was precisely this gentleness that made people dare not make any rash moves.

A cold sweat instantly broke out on my forehead.

It's not fear, it's instinct.

He had been in the martial arts world for a long time and had seen many masters. The more unassuming and low-key they were, the more chilling they were.

He hadn't held back with that kick, but his opponent hadn't even flinched. He already knew that if they really went all out, even ten of him tied together wouldn't be enough.

"I have been rude."

Jin first pulled his leg back, then clasped his hands in a fist salute; the movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

The middle-aged man looked at him with a hint of approval in his eyes.

"That kick just now, I didn't hesitate at all."

Jin didn't respond to the compliment; he simply stood firmly, his breathing still slightly unsteady.

"Senior, you hid in the bamboo forest, surely not to scare me."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly upon hearing this.

"You reacted quickly and acted decisively."

Jin shook his head, but his gaze remained unwavering, fixed on the other person.

"Who exactly are you?"

The middle-aged man stopped beating around the bush and simply uttered two words.

"nameless."

Golden pupils contracted slightly.

In the martial arts world, there is only one person who dares to call himself nameless.

A martial arts legend, nameless.

With the title finally secured, Jin actually felt a sense of relief.

If it were an old monster whose background was unknown, then it would truly be unpredictable;

Since he was nameless, he at least knew that the other party was not a ruthless killer.

"So it was the nameless senior."

He clasped his hands in a fist salute again, this time with a more serious tone.

"Junior Jin, I have offended you greatly just now."

Wuming looked at him, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, "You can control yourself and know your place, so you're not reckless."

Jin's lips twitched slightly, and he said calmly, "I am no match for you, senior."

Upon hearing this, Wuming's smile deepened.

He looked up into the depths of the bamboo forest, his gaze settling on the direction where Long'er was practicing her swordplay. After a moment, he spoke:

"Is that boy inside your friend?"

"Yes."

Wuming glanced at him. "You're standing guard outside for him, as if you're genuinely afraid someone will ambush him."

Jin paused for a moment before saying:

"He's young and straightforward. Since I'm traveling with him, I can't let anyone take advantage of me when I'm not paying attention and attack him from behind."

Wuming nodded slightly, "There aren't many people in the martial arts world who would be willing to take this for a friend."

After speaking, he turned his gaze back to Jin, as if only now was he truly beginning to examine the black-clad youth.

"That kick just now, the starting motion was like the Wind God's Kick, but the landing was not its usual style."

Jin's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm as he said indifferently,

"The essence of martial arts leg techniques is speed, ruthlessness, and unpredictability."

Wuming said calmly, "I've seen the Wind God Leg before."

Jin remained silent.

Wuming continued to look at him.

"What you used is related to the Wind God Leg technique, but it's more than just the Wind God Leg technique."

"Hiding the wind within each step, and transforming into emptiness within the wind—this is no longer the path Nie Feng followed back then."

Jin then raised his eyes slightly. "Since you've seen through it, senior, you should know that I have nothing to say."

"Can't you say?"

"It's not that it can't be done, it's that it's unnecessary."

That's a rather harsh statement.

If it were someone else, they would probably have thought this young man was ignorant of his place.

But Wuming smiled instead.

"You two, one stubborn and the other hard-hearted, actually manage to get along well."

Jin said, "He's even harder to persuade than I am."

"I can tell."

As Wuming spoke, his gaze drifted back into the woods, a hint of something unreadable creeping into his eyes.

"But you're better at hiding than him."

Jin didn't respond this time.

Wuming didn't press for details, only saying:

"Don't worry, I'm not here to cause you trouble."

Jin paused for a moment, then asked, "Senior, you've come for Long'er?"

"Since he's come all this way, I had to come and see him."

"Does the senior intend to take him as a disciple?"

Wuming was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "You've certainly thought ahead for him."

Jin Pingping said, "There are always plenty of people in the martial arts world eyeing promising talents."

Wuming stared at him for a moment, then suddenly asked, "You'll stop me?"

"It depends on him," Jin replied very quickly.

"If he's willing, I won't stop him; if he's not willing, no one can force him."

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence between the two of them.

The wind rustled through the bamboo tips, causing the branches and leaves to gently bump against each other.

Wuming looked at Jin and slowly nodded. "Your words are enough."

Jin, however, was still not at ease and asked in return, "What exactly does senior want to do?"

Wuming withdrew his gaze, his tone calm, "Try his sword."

"Just testing the sword?"

"Only test the sword."

Jin stared at him for a while, then finally stepped aside half a step. "In that case, please, senior."

The nameless man took a few steps forward, not very fast, but in just a few steps he had entered the forest.

Jin watched the figure until it completely disappeared into the depths of the bamboo shadows before slowly exhaling.

"Only testing the sword..."

He muttered it to himself, but he didn't really believe it completely.

When it comes to testing someone like this, it's not just about the sword.

Deep in the bamboo forest, Long'er was still practicing.

He tossed and turned a bamboo stick in his hands until it was no longer in shape.

Sweat streamed down his temples, but he was oblivious, continuing to follow the sword shadow in his heart.

Thrust, pick, turn, hang.

The movements were a bit clumsy at first, but they became smoother and smoother as they went on.

The bamboo branch, though seemingly light and airy, carried a sharp and compelling force as it fell.

Just as Long'er thrust out her sword, a person suddenly appeared behind her.

It wasn't the sound of footsteps or breathing, but a very light and quiet presence that was impossible to ignore.

His heart tightened, and he instinctively flipped the bamboo stick back to stab.

The thorn stopped halfway through its piercing.

He didn't stop it himself.

Instead, the person simply extended two fingers and firmly grasped the bamboo branch.

Long'er felt a lightness in her hand, and with another tremor, the bamboo branch broke off between her fingers and fell to her feet in several pieces.

He immediately stepped back, his eyes turning cold. "Who are you?"

The nameless man stood still, his sleeves not even fluttering. "Just passing by."

Long'er clearly didn't believe it. "Would someone just walk by and silently stand behind me?"

"You're too engrossed in your practice."

"So you can just make a move whenever you want?"

These questions were direct and blunt, leaving no room for ambiguity.

Wuming looked at him, but there was no displeasure in his eyes; instead, there was a hint of appreciation.

"He's young, but he has a short temper."

Long'er, with the broken bamboo branch lying across her face, continued to stare at him.

"If you don't reveal your identity, don't blame me for treating you as an enemy."

The nameless man said, "If I really wanted to hurt you, what I caught just now wouldn't have been a bamboo branch."

Long'er choked on her words, then became even more indignant, "Does having higher cultivation level give you the right to bully others?"

Wuming chuckled upon hearing this, "Not exactly."

After speaking, he glanced around at the bamboo marks, and his voice suddenly deepened.

"I just watched you practice your swordplay, and it was quite interesting."

Long'er was taken aback. "You recognize this sword technique?"

The nameless man didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "What do you think it looks like?"

Long'er subconsciously gripped the half-cut bamboo branch in her hand.

He had painstakingly pieced together this sword technique by following the bamboo marks, but as he went along with it, he realized that it was no ordinary skill.

"Like a very old and ruthless sword technique."

Wuming nodded. "Holy Spirit Sword Technique."

As soon as those four words were uttered, the wind in the bamboo forest seemed to still for a moment.

Long'er's heart skipped a beat.

He looked at Wuming, his eyes finally changing. "How did you know?"

"I've seen it."

"Who have you seen using it?"

Wuming looked at him for a moment before saying, "An old friend."

Long'er wanted to ask more, but Wuming had already subtly changed the subject.

"The fact that you were able to deduce the first eight moves from these remnants shows that your eyesight and judgment are both excellent."

"Understanding sword techniques is one thing; actually wielding them is another."

Long'er hated hearing such words the most, and immediately raised her chin.

"You think I can't do it well?"

Wuming shook his head. "I just want to see how far you've come."

Long'er stared at him. "What do you think?"

With a flick of his wrist, the nameless man released two swords from his sleeve.

One sword was long and straight, the other slender and flexible; both blades sank into the ground with a soft hum.

Long'er's eyes lit up.

The moment the sword enters the ground, the energy changes.

He had only been holding a bamboo branch, but now that he had a real sword, the sharpness that had been suppressed in his chest for so long was almost instantly ignited.

The nameless man said, "Pick one."

Long'er's gaze swept over the two swords, paused for only a moment, and then reached out and grasped the straight longsword.

When the sword was pulled from the ground, its blade reflected a cold light that illuminated his eyes.

Looking at his choice, Wuming asked:

Why did you pick it up?

With her sword in hand, Long'er seemed to straighten up a bit.

"Because it's straight."

Wuming remained silent, as if waiting for him to continue.

Long'er looked down at the sword in her hand. Her voice was soft, but the strength in her bones gradually emerged.

"Wandering around is not my way."

"Once the sword is drawn, it should go straight forward."

"Better to break than to bend."

In just a few words, he spoke with extreme firmness.

A slight movement appeared in Wuming's eyes.

"You're not that old, but you speak so harshly."

Long'er looked up at him.

"I am the one who must walk this road, and I will bear the burden myself, no matter how heavy it may be."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Gang arrived from behind. Hearing only half of the sentence, a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"That sounds like you."

Long'er didn't turn around, only saying, "Stop interrupting."

Jin stood aside with his arms crossed, saying, "You just need to draw your sword; you don't need to worry about anything else."

Wuming watched the whole exchange, his smile deepening.

"Now that you've picked up the sword and said your piece, let's make our move."

Long'er didn't say anything more.

With a slight shift in his footing, his longsword was already raised.

The first sword strike was straightforward, almost ruthless, as if it didn't care who was standing in front of it and just wanted to stab straight ahead.

The nameless figure did not move, but slightly turned half an inch away when the sword tip was about to reach his eyelashes.

Long'er missed with her first sword strike, but immediately flipped her wrist and followed up with a second strike, slashing, turning, and flicking, instantly bringing her swordplay to life.

He fought faster and faster, unleashing the first eight moves he had extracted from the bamboo marks one after another. Although they still retained the rough edges of a young beginner's moves, their sharpness was already quite striking.

Jin watched from the side, and his expression gradually changed.

This wasn't the first time he'd seen Long'er practice, but with a different sword and a seemingly unfathomable opponent, her swordsmanship was even more impressive than it had been in the bamboo forest.

The nameless man held a soft sword in his hand.

He didn't snatch anything from beginning to end; he just accepted it.

Long'er's sword came straight at him, so he dodged it;

He drew his sword horizontally;

As Long'er practiced several moves in one breath, his strength grew stronger and stronger. Suddenly, the soft sword in his hand trembled, and like a fish sliding along the ripples of water, it gently wrapped around Long'er's sword blade.

In an instant, the fierce force in Long'er's chest seemed to have plunged into empty space.

The sword was still in his hand, but he felt unwell first.

He clearly felt that his sword had pressed down, but it didn't actually touch anything. Instead, it felt like someone had gently pushed him along with the force of his attack, and his entire arm went numb.

The nameless man did not pursue, but simply deflected the force with his sword, his tone remaining calm.

"Straight, not forceful."

Long'er gritted her teeth, drew her sword, and charged forward again.

This time, he didn't just lunge forward blindly; he took a half-step more, and his swordplay became more subdued.

Wuming saw this and the admiration in his eyes became more and more obvious. With a gentle stroke of his soft sword, he opened the second barrier for him.

"Just now, it wasn't death."

Long'er paused in her sword strike.

These two sentences were like needles, piercing him precisely where he had just felt most awkward.

But he refused to admit defeat.

Since the path ahead was blocked, he forced a new approach out of the old one. With a turn of his longsword, he raised it diagonally, making it even more dangerous than before.

Jin, standing to the side, couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath.

"He's fucking insane."

The nameless man smiled.

Long'er's sword strike wasn't perfectly smooth; it was even a bit impulsive. But it was precisely because of this impulsiveness that it felt more genuine.

He raised his sword to meet the attack, and the soft sword curved in an almost unbelievable arc, sliding up the blade of Long'er's sword and finally lightly touching his wrist.

The touch wasn't strong enough.

Long'er felt a sudden soreness in her wrist, and the sword almost slipped from her hand.

He gritted his teeth and steadied himself, taking three steps back. His chest heaved violently, but his eyes showed no sign of discouragement; instead, they shone even brighter.

"Again."

Wuming looked at him. "My hands are almost numb. Do you want to do it again?"

"Didn't you want to see how far I go?"

Long'er held her sword horizontally, her breathing erratic, but her back remained ramrod straight.

"I'd like to see just how far you can push me."

In short, it embodies youthful spirit, ruthlessness, and arrogance.

Jin's eyelids twitched as he heard this, thinking to himself that this kid was truly fearless.

But then I thought, this is the real Long'er.

If he were to back down, he wouldn't be himself.

Nameless was not angry. He gently stroked the blade of the sword. "Fine, then let me see how far you can go on the path you've chosen."

This "good" was no longer just a test; it carried a deeper, more genuine praise.

Long'er took a deep breath and drew her sword again.

This time, he came out even slower.

Slowing down is not hesitation, but rather a process of restraint, of drawing back the previously rampant sharpness into the sword.

When the sword tip was actually sent out, it was colder, straighter, and more like himself than before.

After catching the sword, Wuming finally showed a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"This sword strike, at least, has your own flavor now."

Long'er didn't stop; she continued to press her longsword forward, her voice slowly escaping through her teeth.

"I only understand one thing."

"you say."

"Your use of soft swordsmanship is indeed superb."

Wuming raised an eyebrow slightly.

Long'er stared at the soft sword in his hand, her breath hot, but her eyes were piercingly bright.

"Softness allows one to leverage momentum, neutralize force, and adapt to changing circumstances."

"But that's not what I want."

As he said this, he suddenly jerked the long sword in his hand, forcefully breaking away half an inch from the soft force that Wuming was using to entangle him.

Although this collapse was still immature, it had already brought out his full ambition.

"What I want is straightforwardness."

"Go straight ahead, draw your sword straight, and cut through whatever is in your way."

"I'll accept it even if it's broken."

The bamboo grove suddenly fell silent.

The wind was still blowing, the leaves were still rustling, but when Jin heard those words, he still felt a chill run down his spine.

My back tightened slightly, because these words conveyed a sense of determination and resolve.

Wuming also watched Long'er quietly, without saying a word for a long time.

Looking at the young man holding a straight sword, covered in sweat, yet with fire burning in his eyes, he felt as if he were seeing the man surnamed Dugu from many years ago again.

It's not like it's in the moves, it's like it's in the bones.

After a long while, Wuming suddenly smiled.

The smile wasn't big, but it came from the heart.

"Young man, it seems you've chosen a different path!"