Chapter 0: The Secret Line is Actually a Romance (7)
The Qingcheng Sect rose to become one of the seven major righteous sects in the martial world, all thanks to their unpredictable Qingcheng Swift Sword.
Coupled with their renowned inner strength technique “The Resolve of All Beings,” experts from the Qingcheng Sect navigated the martial world with ease. Even when confronting disciples from the other six sects, everyone generally played nice, avoiding any face-ripping drama.
Mu Zhi, as one of the brightest young stars of the Qingcheng Sect, enjoyed considerable fame at a young age, earning the title “Qingcheng Yijian” — his swordplay as captivating as a beauty’s smile, both dazzlingly elegant and hiding lethal intent.
Once he appeared in Lehua Town, he spent his time gathering information without revealing his skills—until one fateful noon when he decided to have a public duel with a woman in red.
Word spread like wildfire, and in no time, nearly half the town gathered around, eager to witness the prowess of the “Qingcheng Yijian.”
Not to mention, some infatuated girls, hands over their mouths, were squealing at the sight of “Qingcheng Yijian’s” tall and handsome figure.
His opponent, however, was merely a nameless woman in red, calling herself “Stepping on the Dust.”
Though her name hinted at some philosophical insights, in the martial world, strength was all that mattered. If she were foolish enough to challenge “Qingcheng Yijian” in public, she had to brace herself for the consequences of defeat.
No matter how captivating her looks, pitying the weak was not on the table in combat. Unless she felt like bowing down and pleading for Mu Zhi’s forgiveness, most spectators would likely see her as a wannabe admirer, scheming to attract his attention.
Naturally, the onlookers were more interested in the spectacle of the clueless woman getting schooled by Mu Zhi than letting the duel end too soon.
Luckily, the match officially began amidst the eager crowd.
“Qingcheng Yijian” truly was extraordinary, pressuring the woman in red from the get-go.
She struggled to fend off his attacks, constantly retreating to avoid a quick defeat within mere moves.
At that moment, the few gamblers betting on the underdog regretted their choices more than ever—had they known it would turn out this way, they might as well have bet on Mu Zhi. A slight profit was better than losing it all.
The gamblers running the betting booths were grinning from ear to ear; the more bets placed on Qingcheng Yijian, the more they could rake in.
And with how obvious Mu Zhi’s impending victory seemed, they might even end up paying out less than what the bets were worth. Who could blame them? They all knew Mu Zhi was going to win—it was as if the duel’s outcome had already been announced.
“Look! Look! Qingcheng Yijian is about to unleash his special move!”
“That woman’s fate is sealed; after all, not many can catch Mu Shaoxia’s attention like this.”
“I’m so thrilled! I can’t believe we get to see the legendary ‘d*ath move’ of Qingcheng Yijian!”
“Stepping on the Dust really is taking a beating. I hope Mu Shaoxia can at least leave her in one piece.”
Amidst the clamor of the crowd, an astonishing scene unfolded.
The sword light wrapping around the woman in red flickered like an electric arc. Just as it was about to pierce her curvaceous form, her blade would miraculously intercept Mu Zhi’s lethal strikes in the nick of time.
If the first dodge was pure luck, that could be excused.
But after seven close calls, it seemed like “Stepping on the Dust’s” sword was telepathically aware of exactly when Mu Zhi would strike. Each time, she narrowly blocked his attacks with an almost nonchalant grace that would have left any ordinary person paralyzed with fear.
At this moment, all experienced martial artists in the crowd couldn’t help but exclaim, “Nice!”
It was a genuine compliment, free from any ulterior motives.
In all likelihood, only “Stepping on the Dust” could match him with such perilously skilled swordplay. A single mistake could lead to a gruesome end.
For anyone else, it would’ve been inconceivable to remain so calm and composed under “Qingcheng Yijian’s” relentless barrage.
It was as if “Stepping on the Dust” didn’t entertain the thought of failure.
Even bystanders began to sense the shift in momentum.
Against all odds, the red-clad woman was not only unharmed; her flowing attire gave her an ethereal quality, making her resemble an otherworldly fairy.
Could it be that the one-sided duel everyone expected was, in fact, a fiercely competitive battle?
With most onlookers having placed bets, the atmosphere grew tense and serious.
Especially for Mu Zhi, who, though appearing calm from a distance of about five steps, was a storm of panic on the inside.
If it weren’t for the hard-earned reputation of “Qingcheng Yijian” he had built in the martial world, he would’ve already considered retreating.
He had expended nearly eighty percent of his inner strength with that “Qingcheng Smile,” believing victory was in the bag. Little did he know, the woman in red had consistently thwarted his moves at the most critical moments.
The skill with which she balanced distance and power was not something just anyone could achieve—it rivaled even the expertise of the sect leader who taught him.
If things continued as they were, he feared that his dwindling strength might lead to a situation where he could be easily overwhelmed by “Stepping on the Dust.”
The chilling image of “Qingcheng Yijian” being trounced like a punching bag sent shivers down his spine.
This duel could not continue! If his inferiority to “Stepping on the Dust” were exposed, it wouldn’t just tarnish his image; the Qingcheng Sect would be humiliated as well.
Maybe there was a clever solution that allowed him to save face.
Gazing at the red-clad woman as she remained poised, her demeanor serenely warrior-like, Mu Zhi had an epiphany. Perhaps “Stepping on the Dust” was also well-acquainted with the rules of the martial world!
True, their verbal sparring in the tea house had escalated into a duel, but it could have easily been a ploy to grab the crowd’s attention.
The youth, eager to make a name for themselves in the martial world, typically stir up trouble deliberately.
Fame only favors the victor; the defeated usually slip away, wishing to be forgotten.
Unless there’s some deep-seated grudge, duels hardly ever end in d*ath.
At first, both sides all bragged about taking each other down, showcasing their genuine skills. However, once the results were clear or they found themselves at a stalemate, everyone would take a step back, allowing victory and glory to go to the winner, without slaughtering the loser’s image.
Looking at the current situation, it seemed that an obscure woman like “Stepping on the Dust” aimed to hitch her wagon to his star while tactfully avoiding offending the powerful Qingcheng Sect.
Her measure of balance was spot on; her experience in the martial world was clearly not that of an ordinary martial artist.
With this thought, Mu Zhi felt a plan begin to take shape in his mind.
