Chapter 44
Chapter 44 A Single Strike
The saying went that the wrath of the emperor would result in millions of corpses and blood that flowed for thousands of miles while the wrath of scholars would result in a comet striking the moon and a halo in the sky. However, angered commoners had no choice but to remove their hats and shoes and helplessly knock their heads on the ground, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.
What about the wrath of a woman?
Naturally, an angered woman would go into hysterics and accept no reasoning. If she couldn’t win with her arguments, she would scold. If she couldn’t win with her scolding, she would hit. This had been the case since ancient times.
“Don’t you feel shame for stealing someone else’s man?”
“Yunhai doesn’t know you at all! Don’t flatter yourself!”
“We were childhood friends and sweethearts. If not for a vixen like you, why would he become the way he is now?”
“I think you’re jealous that I’m more beautiful than you and knows a man’s heart better than you. You’re just jealous of the martial gown I’m wearing.”
“Bah!”
“Humph! It’s no wonder Yunhai doesn’t pick you considering your quality. I think no one would want you even if they’re paid to do so!”
“You’re playing with fire. I’m warning you to leave now or you’d definitely regret it.”
“What a joke! Ever since I, Lin Mei’er, have been born, I have never regretted.”
Due to a man, the two women refused to give into each other. Neither could explain or come to an understanding. What could they do? What was there to do? Naturally, it would result in a fight.
The glorious Tang Empire was built on the foundation of martial arts. Even an academy of classical learning like the White Horses Academy would have a martial arts drilling ground. Qian Shuhua and Lin Mei’er had both argued and cursed. Seeing as they couldn’t determine a victor with words, they had no choice but to settle the score with their fists.
In no time at all, the three layers beyond the martial arts drilling ground were packed with people.
“Good luck, Senior Sister! We all support you!”
“Teach this vixen a good lesson!”
“Let her understand that us students of the White Horses Academy aren’t easy to be bullied!”
Qian Shuhua had a very solid reputation in the White Horses Academy. Fighting here was essentially fighting in her home ground. Even so, the students didn’t have much confidence in her despite their words. Everyone knew that Ye Yunhai’s fiancee was the Junior Manor Master of the Extinctive Sword Manor House. Currently, she was even a formal disciple of Mount Shu. It was said that she was now in the Pre-celestial Realm after receiving support from Mount Shu.
When Qian Shuhua went to the manor house three months ago, she was nearly pummeled to death. Back then, Lin Mei’er was only a Rank 2 martial artist. In just a short three months, would there be a change in the outcome of a battle between them both?
Most of the onlookers were pessimistic but they must at least win some face even if they couldn’t win the battle. The students of the academy must show unwavering courage even in the face of an army of millions of soldiers.
Losing wasn’t a terrifying prospect. Not having the courage to act was the true show of cowardice.
Lin Mei’er stood in the middle of the martial arts drilling ground. With a flick of her wrist, the wooden sword tied to her waist appeared in her grasp. “You know, it’s not terrifying for one to be foolish. What’s terrifying is ignorance. It’s when one doesn’t have a clear understanding of what one’s capable and isn’t capable of.”
Qian Shuhua eyed the spear that was nine Chinese foot long sitting at the end of the weaponry rack. She gently picked it up and weighed it. She smirked as if she wasn’t quite satisfied with it before glancing at Lin Mei’er. “It’s indeed terrifying to not know what one’s capability, but even more so to covet what doesn’t belong to you. That’s because you must return it.”
“Moreover, don’t you feel disgusted eating someone else’s leftovers?” Qian Shuhua mocked.
“Well, in order for you to have the right to say those words, you must’ve at least ate it.” Lin Mei’er’s expression didn’t falter.
“Impertinent peasants shouldn’t delude themselves into thinking that they can pass the dragon gate. You should take a good look of yourself in the mirror. You’re no more than an uncultured swine. Don’t ever dream of rising to be a phoenix.”
The most terrifying of them all was an educated woman who could deliver the most venomous words. She could disgrace her enemy without using dirty words. Lin Mei’er, who had been trained in martial arts since young, had no way of winning Qian Shuhua with words.
“You’re digging your own grave!”
“I was merciful the last time! Don’t go over your head!”
Lin Mei’er’s face had turned utterly cold.
“You can stop with your mercy today. The sword discriminates not and I resign my fate to heaven!”
Qian Shuhua lifted the spear with a single hand. Her words were firm and her posture was straight.
“You asked for this.” Lin Mei’er raised her eyebrow coolly and drew an outline with the sword in her hand, sparking green radiance with her movements. Then, she charged at Qian Shuhua with alarming speed. She was using the Cool Breeze Sword Skill of Mount Shu.
The students of the White Horses Academy couldn’t help closing their eyes or turning their heads away after witnessing this scene. No one was willing to see their Senior Sister being bullied. However, the students here had always been academically strong but physically weak. Considering Qian Shuhua’s character, she wouldn’t allow them to help either. Furthermore, this was a fight over love.
Even the youngsters who were confident in Qian Shuhua sighed after seeing the weapon that she selected.
Lin Mei’er was now a disciple of Mount Shu, which said to be the number one sword sect in the world. Meanwhile, no one had ever heard of a spear user winning against someone using the sword skills of Mount Shu.
A spear was more appropriate to be used by a gallant martial artist or used in a confrontation between two armies. In a duel between two people, a sword was undoubtedly the victor.
The sword skills of Mount Shu were as fast as lightning. Thus, the outcome of battles was often decided in an instant.
Green radiance flashed.
The academy students heard the muffled sound of a collision nearly at the same time.
Those with their eyes shut immediately opened their eyes. What they saw made them gasp.
Their imagined scenario didn’t come to fruition. Their Senior Sister, Qian Shuhua, stood firmly in place with the wooden spear in hand. Meanwhile, Lin Mei’er was thrown into the air and crashed to the ground some distance away. There was an obvious dent in her chest. The wooden sword that was in her hand also flew out of her grasp.
“What happened just now?” a student, who had his eyes closed, asked quietly. He was dumbstruck.
“Is that really our Senior Sister?” another student asked in a low voice.
“I’ve heard that Senior Sister is awesome at fighting but I didn’t know that she can even prevail over a disciple of Mount Shu.” The quiet whispers soon turned into loud discussions.
“I think your description isn’t accurate enough. Did she simply prevail? She basically slaughtered Lin Mei’er!”
“With a single strike!”
“Our Senior Sister used only a single strike!”
“One strike without any embellishment!”
“From now on, Senior Sister is my idol.”
“I love you, Senior Sister!”
The academic courses in the White Horses Academy were rigorous but these students were all heirs of esteemed nobles and officials. Their thinking was rather avant-garde. Barely any time elapsed before some youngster cried that he adored Qian Shuhua. If their elderly teacher was here, he would certainly faint from anger. What a show of impropriety!
Never mind the others. Even Qian Shuhua was shocked at herself.
It turned out that the “Virile Perforation” skill that Ye Que imparted to her was this impressive. She was able to crush Lin Mei’er with a single strike.
Qian Shuhua, who stood ten meters away, wore a faint smile as she looked around her. Her gaze eventually landed on Lin Mei’er.
“Satisfied now?”
Qian Shuhua’s two words were spoken with great power.
On the other hand, Lin Mei’er’s martial gown was wrinkly and tainted with soil. When she fell, her hair slid across the ground. The hair that had been styled into a delicate updo was currently in disarray. Disbelief filled her pupils but the acute pain in her chest told her that this was the reality.
She lost. She, Lin Mei’er, lost to Qian Shuhua.
She, the Young Manor Master of the Extinctive Sword Manor House of a subsidiary institution of Mount Shu and a formal disciple of Mount Shu, lost to a young lady of a merchant family in a battle of martial arts!
“Satisfied now?”
“Of course, not!”
However, Lin Mei’er couldn’t bring herself to raise her head because it was indeed her loss. She had lost with a single strike.
Her eyes reddened. She could feel the mockery in the gazes of the students. Suddenly, she felt terribly aggrieved and the corner of her eyes became damp in a flash. She had actually teared up.
Right then, a deep and resounding voice came from outside the crowd.
“Not satisfied!”