TM CH21

Chapter 21 Fussing

Gu Yunxing held a branch in his hand. When he saw Rong Qi looking over, he twisted his wrist, presenting the branch like a sword. “This humble Gu is not skilled, but would Right Protector Rong like to spar?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the branch shot forward with his inner strength, instantly flying toward Rong Qi. Rong Qi tilted his body slightly, extending two fingers to catch it, and said deliberately, “What’s this? Not resting your leg anymore?”

Gu Yunxing gave a wry smile. “Didn’t the Right Protector check the wound last night?”

Rong Qi: “Once night falls, this venerable one can’t see anything.”

Gu Yunxing could only reply, “Although the recovery is a bit slow, fortunately there’s no serious problem anymore.”

Rong Qi raised an eyebrow. “You finally managed to heal that leg of yours. Don’t let the old injury relapse while we’re sparring.”

Gu Yunxing sighed. “Since you’re unwilling to spar, then forget it.”

Rong Qi sneered. “Who said I’m unwilling?” He glanced down at the branch in his hand. “Just to be clear, we won’t be comparing internal energy, only swordsmanship.” Even though he didn’t want to admit it, Gu Yunxing’s martial arts skills were truly extraordinary. Rong Qi didn’t want this match to turn into a one-sided beating.

“Fine.” Gu Yunxing agreed easily and bent down to pick up another branch for himself.

Rong Qi’s hand moved slightly, gripping the branch in the posture of holding a sword. His focus sharpened. Having been on this deserted island for so long, with days spent either hunting or sleeping, he had almost forgotten the feeling of sparring with someone.

Gu Yunxing watched him, a faint glimmer of light flickering in his eyes. He spoke slowly, “Please, enlighten me.”

No sooner had he spoken than Rong Qi moved. His figure was extremely fast, and the moment he drew his ‘sword,’ he had already dashed forward, as if his body had transformed into a sharp blade cutting through the air, closing in on Gu Yunxing in an instant.

Gu Yunxing stood in place, slowly twirling his sword, the finishing motion lightly pointing outwards to meet the approaching blade.

Rong Qi felt as though some force had taken control of his sword the moment they clashed, making it slip from his grasp and follow the flow of his opponent’s movements. In the blink of an eye, he spun and leapt, retreating behind Gu Yunxing and stabbing at him with a reverse thrust.

The sword strike was as fierce as splitting bamboo or shattering stone, coming with a sudden, overwhelming force!

Gu Yunxing sidestepped, his sword cutting lightly through the air.

In no time, their swordplay escalated into rapid, lightning-fast exchanges. After hundreds of moves, it was Rong Qi who called out first, “Enough!”

Gu Yunxing paused as well. “I’m a bit tired.”

The two of them exchanged a glance, both feeling a rare sense of exhilaration.

Rong Qi had enjoyed the fight, but he was also a bit frustrated — because once again, he had come to realize that he could not defeat Gu Yunxing.

Gu Yunxing: “Your swordsmanship is exquisite, but you favor taking unorthodox path. While your strikes are powerful, they also expose your weaknesses to your opponent.”

Rong Qi: “So what? Even if they discover my weaknesses, they won’t be able to do anything about it.”

Under such overwhelming sword pressure, the opponent couldn’t even get close, let alone exploit any supposed weaknesses.

Not everyone was a monster like Gu Yunxing.

“I’m starting to believe it,” Rong Qi suddenly said.

Gu Yunxing: “Believe what?”

Rong Qi: “That Fang Yuanqing can’t defeat Gu Shuiliu.” Someone who could teach a monster like Gu Yunxing must be no ordinary person.

Gu Yunxing smiled lightly. “Lord Right Protector, your movements are as light as a swallow, and your sword strikes unpredictable. What swordsmanship do you use?”

“Don’t know.” Seeing that Gu Yunxing didn’t believe him, Rong Qi dismissed it nonchalantly. “I just practice whatever my master teaches. Swordsmanship is just a handful of basic moves. If you practice them fast enough, no one can beat you.”

With that, he casually swung his sword down, and then thrust it sideways at a slant.

“Like this. The faster I make my moves, the more effective they become.”

He repeated the same moves, striking down with his sword before executing the horizontal thrust again, as fast as lightning.

He looked at Gu Yunxing with pride. “One day, when my sword speed is so fast that you can’t keep up, I’ll defeat you.”

Gu Yunxing’s expression softened into a slight smile. “Then we shall wait and see.”

After that day, Rong Qi seemed to have found a rare form of entertainment and frequently challenged Gu Yunxing to spar.

He had rarely encountered such a formidable opponent before, and even if he had, it would inevitably have ended in a fight to the death. He had never experienced sparring that stopped short of serious injury like this. Over the past few days, he had gained a lot of insights, and even his swordsmanship had improved significantly.

He even half-jokingly thought that, at this rate, by the time he left the island and reentered the jianghu, he might rank among the top-tier masters.

But Rong Qi’s good mood didn’t last long.

One morning, he woke to find the spot beside him empty. Gu Yunxing had gotten up and left sometime during the night.

Gu Yunxing had suggested more than once that they explore the island further, but each time, Rong Qi had come up with some excuse to put it off, not wanting Gu Yunxing to discover the connection between the two islands too early.

But now, it seemed that Gu Yunxing had slipped away while he was still asleep.

This made Rong Qi worried. He had a faint, inexplicable premonition that the west island would be a turning point. But trying to chase after Gu Yunxing now would be futile.

Rong Qi left the shelter alone, walking along the stream for a long time.

The stream was long, winding westward, and as it went, the flow of water grew stronger. Eventually, Rong Qi stopped at a wide lake. The water was crystal clear, like a mirror, with no way to gauge its depth.

He tossed a stone into the lake, testing its depth. The stone made a small splash, sending ripples across the surface. It didn’t seem very deep.

Rong Qi hesitated for a long moment, as if making a decision.

After a while, he untied his outer robe and dipped one foot into the water. The cold water rushed up his foot, sending a chill through him. He quickly pulled his foot back, cursing at how cold it was.

A moment later, he slowly crouched down, sitting at the edge of the lake, and carefully dipped his foot in again. After getting used to the cold, he gradually slid his body into the water…

“Splash—”

Rong Qi struggled, grasping the lakebank and using both hands and feet to scramble out of the water, finally collapsing onto the muddy ground. His heart still raced as he stared at the lake in disbelief.

No… he couldn’t swim.

“If you can’t learn, it will remain a weakness you can never escape.”

Zou Yuchuan had once pulled him from a river and attempted to teach him how to swim.

The Lihuo Palace Master was never a kind-hearted person. His method was roughly the same as those thugs who tried to drown Rong Qi at the bottom of the river. The only difference was that Zou Yuchuan would save him just before he drowned.

Even such terrifying methods hadn’t been enough to make Rong Qi learn how to swim.

A person’s weaknesses were often formed before they had the strength to overcome them.

Therefore, no matter how much his martial arts improved or how powerful he became in the future, he would never be able to overcome the fear he had as a child.

Rong Qi was drenched, water droplets constantly falling from his hair as he stared blankly at the lake. He remained there until the ripples he had caused finally calmed, and only then did he slowly come to his senses.

He couldn’t swim. He couldn’t reach the west island, and he couldn’t escape the sea.

“Back already?” Gu Yunxing was lounging by the cliff, leisurely sunbathing. At his feet were two lively rabbits. When he saw Rong Qi’s expression, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Why do you look so pale?”

Rong Qi glanced at him, his expression calm. So, he hadn’t discovered the connection between the two islands yet. With a weak sigh, he said, “Mind your own business, Sect Master Gu.”

Gu Yunxing: “……”

Rong Qi bent down and entered the house.

Gu Yunxing waited for a moment, but there was no movement from inside.

Rong Qi’s mood sank to rock bottom. Swimming was something even a five-year-old child could learn, but he couldn’t. He found himself in a helpless position.

He lay in the cave, his mind racing with thoughts, but each one was quickly dismissed.

Gu Yunxing entered the house.

Rong Qi didn’t feel like talking. “I need to catch up on sleep.”

Gu Yunxing walked over and reached out to touch Rong Qi’s forehead. “You seemed fine last night. What happened?” He then noticed Rong Qi’s clothes and frowned. “The island is cold. You shouldn’t bathe too often.”

Rong Qi lazily lifted his eyelids. “Is this how you gain so much popularity, Sect Master Gu? By constantly fussing over people?”

Gu Yunxing smiled. “Is this really fussing?”

Rong Qi didn’t answer. He turned over, facing the stone wall, putting on an attitude that clearly said, “Keep your distance.”

Gu Yunxing reached out and gently pulled him back.

Rong Qi snapped, “Gu Yunxing, stop messing with me!”

Gu Yunxing placed a finger to his lips. “Shh. The last time Right Protector Rong had a fever, it took a lot of my effort to care for you. This humble Gu really doesn’t want to go through that again.”

Rong Qi: “This venerable one is just tired.” Since when did he have to consider Sect Master Gu’s mood even to get some sleep?!

Gu Yunxing: “You can’t beat me.”

Rong Qi fell silent.

Gu Yunxing: “Get up, change out of your wet clothes, and come with me to warm up by the fire.”

Rong Qi: “…No.”

Gu Yunxing grabbed one of his wrists, his tone turning firm. “Come out.”

Rong Qi didn’t move.

Gu Yunxing lowered his head, and for a moment, they locked eyes.

After a long pause, Rong Qi dropped his head and was dragged out of the house. He looked completely listless, except for his eyes, which glared at Gu Yunxing as if shooting flames.

Gu Yunxing really couldn’t guess how this demon had managed to get himself into such a state in just half a day. He looked fierce on the outside, but in reality, he was all bluster — one poke and he would crumble.