TM CH20

Chapter 20 Sparring for Amusement

Rong Qi’s eyes glimmered with a bright light. “Why don’t we spar a little to pass the time? I found an open space the other day. We could go there and have a match.”

His gaze was full of anticipation and eagerness, reminding Gu Yunxing of a cat that pestered others with playful mischief. But Gu Yunxing knew all too well that if he rejected the idea, this demon would certainly show his temper and strike without mercy.

“Another day,” Gu Yunxing said, lowering his head to avoid Rong Qi’s stare, and resumed carving the wooden block. “It takes a hundred days to heal from broken bones and muscles. Right Protector Rong should give this humble Gu some time.”

Rong Qi silently stared at him for a long while, then sneered. “That’s true. I’m neither your close friend Fang Lian nor your beautiful confidante Fang Ruoyao. Sect Master Gu is of noble character and integrity. Naturally, you wouldn’t want to spar for amusement with a demon like me.”

Gu Yunxing: “……”

Before he could respond, Rong Qi stood up, picked up a branch, and moved to a corner, practicing sword moves on his own.

Among the disciples of Zou Yuchuan, Rong Qi was known for his martial arts prowess. It was this skill that had earned him the position of right protector, often traveling for Zou Yuchuan to hunt down and kill enemies, forging a path of survival amidst bloodshed. His abilities, in addition to his innate talent, were honed by years of relentless practice.

However, since entering the sea, he hadn’t practiced martial arts for a long time.

Rong Qi glanced at Gu Yunxing not far away, then abandoned proper sword practice altogether. Sitting cross-legged, he picked up a branch and jabbed aimlessly at the air a few times. At first, his movements were disordered. He closed his eyes, as if recalling something. As his wrist turned, a faint sword intent began to rise, and his movements slowly shifted from chaotic to more structured.

Gu Yunxing raised an eyebrow, recognizing his own sword technique. To be more precise, Rong Qi was attempting to replicate his moves.

Each strike and stance was closely tied to internal cultivation. Mere imitation of the external form wouldn’t allow someone to truly learn it. Rong Qi had only grasped the general idea before suddenly pausing. In the blink of an eye, his movements shifted sharply, spiraling up, flicking and sweeping. Although they seemed casual, each change had a clear purpose.

Gu Yunxing: “……” Rong Qi was trying to decipher his sword style.

It seemed that Rong Qi noticed Gu Yunxing’s gaze. Rong Qi stopped and turned his back to him, continuing to ponder.

For some reason, that back view made Gu Yunxing suddenly feel guilty and uneasy about his refusal.

Another few rounds of wind and rain passed on the island, and half a month seemed to slip away in a daze.

Gu Yunxing still didn’t leave the shelter. In his free time, he would take a piece of wood and carve it. By evening, the unfinished carvings would be thrown into the fire. Rong Qi, seeing this often enough, finally realized that Gu Yunxing couldn’t actually carve. He was simply passing the time out of boredom.

The leg injury was just an excuse. If he truly wanted to, there were many ways to spar. This person would rather carve wood than spar with him!

Realizing this, Rong Qi brooded for several days. Eventually, feeling frustrated, he asked the person beside him one night, “Gu Yunxing, do you look down on me?”

Gu Yunxing’s sleepiness vanished for a moment. “What makes you say that?”

“I suppose so.” Rong Qi, however, suddenly became clear-headed, and after a good while, said, “After all, we are not on the same path. Even if we face each other every day, it’s utterly boring.”

He turned over, pressing his forehead against the cold, hard stone wall, feeling irritated by the strange emotions rising in his heart.

In the darkness, Gu Yunxing stared at Rong Qi’s back, lost in thought. Was this demon getting tired of life on the island?

The next day, Rong Qi returned early, as usual, finding a spot to sit and stare off into space.

Gu Yunxing noticed something was off and pulled Rong Qi, who had been staring into the corner, over to sit in front of him. He picked up a twig and said, “Since we have nothing else to do, why don’t we play a boardgame?”

Rong Qi’s expression became strange. “Boardgame?”

Gu Yunxing drew a simple chessboard on the dirt with the twig.

Rong Qi: “Not interested.”

Gu Yunxing: “…Just keep me company, then.”

Rong Qi glanced up at him. “No more wood carving?”

A hint of realization flickered in Gu Yunxing’s eyes as he smiled and shook his head. “That can wait.”

Rong Qi casually lied, “But I don’t know how to play it.”

Gu Yunxing studied him for a long while, unable to tell if he was lying or not, and said with regret, “I heard that Lihuo Palace once offered a large sum for a jade chessboard. I thought, surely, the Lord Right Protector must be skilled in the game.”

Rong Qi looked at him. “Lihuo Palace buys countless things every day, but not everything is for my use.”

Gu Yunxing: “Could it be for Palace Master Zou?”

Rong Qi: “No, it’s Shen Qi. He likes to put on airs and act like one of those noble young masters.”

As soon as Gu Yunxing heard the name, he immediately made the connection. “Left Protector Shen of Lihuo Palace. I’ve heard a few things about him.”

Rong Qi: “What, trying to trick information out of me again?”

Gu Yunxing: “I have no dealings whatsoever with Left Protector Shen, why would I inquire about him?”

Rong Qi: “That’s a pity. I thought you were interested in him. I was about to tell you everything.”

Gu Yunxing raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

Rong Qi: “To make it easier for you to kill him.”

Gu Yunxing: “……”

Rong Qi: “A friend of the Wulin Alliance Leader, cutting down the Left Protector of Lihuo Palace with one sword. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?” He scrutinized Gu Yunxing’s expression. Seeming to discover something amusing, a glint of mischief appeared in his eyes. “Wait, could it be that Tianji Sect is so secluded that you don’t know about my conflict with him?”

Gu Yunxing: “I truly didn’t know.”

Rong Qi was amazed. He was starting to believe Gu Yunxing’s claim that “Tianji Sect does not concern itself with the world’s disputes.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it, no need to mention him. It’s bad luck.” He stood up and stepped on the chessboard drawn in the dirt. “I’ve hated chess since I was a child. So, Sect Master Gu, feel free to do as you wish.”

Glancing at Gu Yunxing’s expressionless face, Rong Qi felt much lighter. He had finally gotten a bit of revenge for his rejected sparring challenge. At least now, he had managed to make Gu Yunxing feel awkward for once.

Gu Yunxing, unfazed, simply drew another chessboard and began playing a game against himself.

Several days passed, and Gu Yunxing’s leg injury was completely healed. He started going out for walks from time to time. Rong Qi, contrary to his usual behavior, stayed close to him for several days in a row.

Gu Yunxing was puzzled by this, but Rong Qi only sneered. “Why should this venerable one stay in the shelter? Am I supposed to focus on sewing something?”

The right protector of the demon palace was clearly not pleased with the idea of mending a rabbit fur blanket.

Gu Yunxing tactfully stayed silent. Although he wasn’t sure what the demon was plotting, living in close quarters meant that clues would inevitably emerge sooner or later.

As they walked, they reached the ‘open space’ Rong Qi had mentioned before, the one suitable for sparring. They had passed by this spot every day for the past few days. Rong Qi acted as though he hadn’t noticed, not stopping at all, while Gu Yunxing’s face showed signs of hesitation as his steps slowed.

After several such occasions, Rong Qi finally noticed and asked, “What exactly do you want to say?”

Gu Yunxing rubbed his nose but ultimately said nothing more.

Rong Qi didn’t have the leisure to ponder other people’s intentions. His mind was preoccupied with only one thing, something he hadn’t shared with Gu Yunxing: on the other side of the island, there was another island.

The two islands were only ten miles apart. From the direction of the sunrise, it was clear that they were on the eastern island, while the other lay to the west.

Rong Qi had originally been worried that Gu Yunxing might abandon him and escape to the other island to build a boat and flee. However, after observing him for several days, it seemed Gu Yunxing didn’t know how to build a boat. Still, he couldn’t shake the fear that if Fang Lian and the others hadn’t perished, they might have been washed up on the western island by the waves. If Gu Yunxing met up with them, things could turn unfavorable for him.

So, he needed to find a way to scout the western island before Gu Yunxing.

But he didn’t know how to swim.

At first, Gu Yunxing had been focused on recovering and hadn’t wandered around the island. But now that his leg was healed, it was clear that he had started to take an interest in the island.

Rong Qi worried that if Gu Yunxing went off on his own, he might discover something. So, he silently followed him, going out and returning together without making it obvious.

But that couldn’t continue for long.

As he was deep in thought, someone nudged his arm.

“Right Protector Rong, what are you so lost in thought about?”

Rong Qi glanced up, giving the other person a look that clearly said “I’m too lazy to deal with you,” and walked directly ahead of Gu Yunxing, leaving behind a defiant back view.

Gu Yunxing knew his temperament well and called out to him, “Rong Qi.”

Rong Qi turned back to look at him, a puzzled expression on his face. Why did he suddenly call him by his full name?