Chapter 107: Chapter 99: Non-Killing Sword

Although he was a bit doubtful, Cui Yuan decided to trust his mentor’s words.

After all, his mentor could not be wrong. He had realized this deeply since he was a child. His mentor was so powerful, so great, almost like a legendary omnipotent Immortal—even though, as he grew up, he came to know that it was merely the normal performance of an able adult.

But he knew even more clearly that not everyone is willing to raise the orphan of a bandit.

So, since the mentor wanted him to strike a blow to that strong wielder of the fiery blade, he would do just that. After all, he had been training for so many years to be able to catch up with the mentor’s footsteps and stand by his side, right?

"Let’s do it!"

Cui Yuan made up his mind.

Then he started scratching his head.

While he had decided to do it, the problem was how to go about doing it—although with his body technique, he could move freely in the cover of darkness in Yanzhou City, trying to find one person in a city of over a hundred thousand was like fishing for a needle in the ocean.

Furthermore, it was uncertain whether the person was even in the city, considering that the population of Yanzhou City included the surrounding villages.

And the most troublesome of all, he was a wanted man.

In the past in northern Ji, he was notorious for having bad relationships with people, as he often challenged others to duels to practice swordsmanship, often fighting life and death battles. As a result, the rangers and swordsmen of northern Ji were quite disgusted with him and even once gathered people to plot against him—of course, he managed to counter them successfully in the end, which worsened his popularity.

And now, because of the previous training involving the Non-Killing Sword, the swordsmen and rangers who already had grudges against him pursued him to Yanzhou. Under the propaganda of these adversaries, he ended up getting a bounty placed on his head in Yanzhou.

Ten pounds of gold was an insanely high price, and those with some valor in Yanzhou City were almost going crazy over it. As long as he dared to show himself in the city, a relentless storm of pursuit would engulf him.

In this case, he wouldn’t be able to find out anything, and his mentor’s instructions could not be fulfilled.

So after much deliberation, the lone Cui Yuan could only choose to seek help from the person with the best connections around him.

After all, that person seemed quite approachable.

"What? You want me to help you find someone?"

Du Chengfeng had just returned to his mansion after a busy day when Cui Yuan’s question left him stunned.

"I can indeed ask the capturers for help and send out some wanted posters... but who are you looking for? At least give me some characteristics."

"The characteristic... he uses a fiery blade."

Cui Yuan roughly described it.

"A blade on fire, stretching out far; the operational principle should be similar to my sword aura... what’s wrong?"

"I..."

Du Chengfeng started scratching his head too.

A fiery blade, able to extend far, similar in operation to a sword aura... why did it sound increasingly like he was talking about him?

"Is it this?"

Du Chengfeng thought for a moment, then simply pulled out the heavy great saber from his saddlebag, and swung it.

A blazing column of fire lit up the night sky, quite beautifully, astonishing the two gatekeeping apprentices packing luggage in the yard.

At that moment, Cui Yuan’s hand reached for the sword hilt.

"Let’s duel."

"...Huh?"

Du Chengfeng was momentarily dumbfounded.

Weren’t they looking for someone? How had it turned into a duel?

"The mentor was right, indeed, your fiery blade is far superior to my sword aura... To continue on the path of swordsmanship, I must surmount the towering mountain that is you!"

No matter how difficult this process might be.

Only when facing that raised blazing blade did Cui Yuan realize the immense gap between him and Du Chengfeng—it was no longer facing a mountain, but like someone at the foot of a mountain gazing up at the peak in the clouds!

Thus, there must be a battle.

There must be a battle to prove his swordsmanship.

Otherwise, his sword might forever stagnate at this point.

"Is this another one of your episodes?"

Seeing that Cui Yuan’s hand was already on the hilt of his sword, Du Chengfeng realized the seriousness of this swordsman’s intent.

Although he still didn’t understand how this cursed fight began, it was evident that the duel was inevitable!

A familiar thrill returned once more, accompanied by a certain hunger.

"Then let’s do it."

Guided by his instincts, he completely surrendered his arms to the saber.

The blazing fiery blade hovered in mid-air, and Du Chengfeng carefully observed Cui Yuan before him, judging the timing of his strike, estimating his attack direction—and with his hand on the hilt, Cui Yuan had already drawn the broken sword and started toward him.

Three steps.

Two steps.

One step.

"...What are you doing?"

Seeing Cui Yuan holding the blunt end of the broken sword, first pointing it at his stomach, then at his chest and throat, Du Chengfeng, with the heavy saber raised, fell into confusion.

"Are we fighting or not?"

"It’s already over."

Cui Yuan sheathed his sword.

"You are already dead."

"What...?"

Du Chengfeng was so stunned he was speechless for a long while.

For a long time, he put down the heavy great saber and touched the places on himself where the broken sword had pierced.

Alright, there really wasn’t a single wound.

So what was Cui Yuan talking about? How was the fight over? And he even managed to kill him verbally?

"This is the principle of the Non-Killing Sword."

As if he had finally overcome an invincible enemy, Cui Yuan had completely relaxed by now.

"When I wholly relinquished my intention to kill you, you naturally lost the desire to continue fighting against me... It is exactly at the point when the battle ceases that I am the closest to victory."

At this moment, Cui Yuan’s expression was calm, as if entering a mysterious realm that ordinary people cannot comprehend.

"This is the true Sword’s Ultimate Realm, not tied to technique, indifferent to power, victory or defeat resides in the heart."

"What you mean is... whoa."

Du Chengfeng was just about to say something, but then he remembered something.

That is, Cui Yuan could actually produce Sword Aura from a broken sword.

With just a broken sword, it couldn’t harm him, but if you add the sword aura, he would have been pierced three times—thinking this way, the "Non-Killing Sword" that Cui Yuan realized is truly remarkable. Even though Cui Yuan had completed an entire set, Du Chengfeng’s senses still felt it was just frivolous antics that couldn’t hurt him.

"Well, you really won then!"

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help nodding repeatedly.

Although he didn’t know exactly what strange method Cui Yuan used to deceive his sense of danger, it was undoubtedly the case that he had lost and was utterly convinced.

"I knew it! The way of the sword is endless!"

Excitedly, Cui Yuan raised his hand with the sword, the five-foot sword aura pointing straight at the sky!

"Zheng—"

At that moment, Du Chengfeng’s heavy great saber instinctively deflected that sword aura.

"Bang!"

The invisible Sword Aura shattered.

...

"Kill me then."

Immediately, Cui Yuan fell to his knees on the ground, exposing his neck.

"This Non-Killing Sword was broken by your saber; my sword is indeed lacking, the way of the sword..."

What followed was a whole bunch of words Du Chengfeng couldn’t comprehend, like practicing swordsmanship for fifteen years, three thousand swords a day, pure sword intent, man and sword as one, and other strange phrases that left Du Chengfeng scratching his head.

Communicating with the mentally disturbed is indeed troublesome.

"Well, this one doesn’t count."

Du Chengfeng thought for a moment and decided to let Cui Yuan stand up and continue talking.

"Didn’t you already win one round earlier? Your Non-Killing Sword is indeed impressive. At least, it’s an unexpected strike... By the way, didn’t you say your master asked you to find me? Why don’t you ask him?"

"He won’t teach me."

Kneeling on the ground, Cui Yuan merely shook his head.

"He’s busy with important matters now and doesn’t have time to instruct me..."

Why didn’t you realize that I also have important matters to attend to?

Du Chengfeng instantly thought of giving Cui Yuan a couple of slaps, but after thinking it over, he decided not to rush to hit him—arguing with a mental patient would degrade his level to theirs; it’s better to find a good reason to make this mental patient leave quickly.

After all, what he was facing was even more troublesome.

"Your master won’t guide you, is that it..."

Remembering those martial arts novels he had read, Du Chengfeng soon had an idea.

"If your master won’t guide you, then go and beat him up, duel with him; when he sees your moves in battle, sees your mistakes, he will have to teach you."

"Is this... appropriate?"

Kneeling on the ground, Cui Yuan felt something was off upon hearing this.

Although, theoretically, it’s quite disrespectful to lay hands on one’s master, upon closer consideration... this crazy idea might actually work?

"But isn’t this a bit..."

"You’re seeking knowledge earnestly; your master will forgive you."

Du Chengfeng said righteously.

"You definitely can’t defeat your master anyway, and ultimately, he’ll be fighting you. If he beats you, why would he be angry with you?"

"Seems like that’s the case!"

After thinking it over a few times, Cui Yuan grew more and more convinced that this plan was doable.

Moreover, he had already fulfilled his master’s instructions, delivering three full sword strokes to the holder of the fire blade; although his Non-Killing Sword still has flaws, it seems to have truly elevated him over the daunting high peak he previously feared.

Just as his master said, this really is part of the training.

And now, he has succeeded in his training.

Why wouldn’t his master be happy?

"Thank you for enlightening me! I shall return to challenge my master!"

"Alright, hurry up and go."

Du Chengfeng waved his hand, signaling Cui Yuan to leave quickly.

After all, he still had even more troublesome things to deal with.

For example, how to deal with Yanzhou’s Commander-in-Chief Qi Jinshan.