**Chapter 114: Accidental Injury**
“Buzz… Buzz…!”
The Ling Tai Purification trembled, producing a low yet clear buzzing sound, as if it were crying out loudly.
The air around twisted, like the disturbed surface of a tranquil lake, rippling out layers of colorless undulations.
On the ancient bronze broken sword, the cracks healed visibly, with rust flaking off like powder, and the old blade shone with a bright silver hue.
Seeing such a transformation in Ling Tai Purification, the Shuishu Beast appeared to remember something terrifying, its copper bell-like eyes wide and round.
Immediately, it yelped as if its bottom was burned by a cigarette b*tt, “Awo!” It howled and swiftly darted behind Huasang, trembling as if it had seen a ghost.
At that moment, as the entire body of Ling Tai Purification turned silver-white, it suddenly shook violently, as if about to fly away, then the buzzing and vibrations abruptly ceased.
Lucianbei cast a sideways glance at the Ling Tai Purification in his hand, his eyes involuntarily widening slightly.
In just a few seconds, the ancient broken sword seemed to have undergone a complete reforging, appearing as new, with faint light flowing along its blade, as if shrouded in a thin layer of mist.
The sharpest tip of the sword had mysteriously disappeared, leaving only a canine-shaped break, which became the sole flaw of this nearly perfect long sword.
Qing Ji gazed deeply at Lucianbei for several seconds before smiling and saying, “Great-granddaughter-in-law…”
“Uh, you say!” Lucianbei and Huasang responded in unison, then exchanged glances and blushed, quickly averting their eyes.
“……” Qing Ji looked at Huasang, then back at Lucianbei, pondering for a few seconds before saying, “Have you been following along with my residual soul that remembers my youth?”
As the main body of the Ling Tai Purification resonated with the fragments, he suddenly recalled many things and understood a great deal about experiences he had never gone through.
For example, there was another great-grandson named Lucianbei, and also his great-granddaughter-in-law who had been following a trace of his residual soul for some time.
Upon hearing this, a glint appeared in Lucianbei’s eyes, and his heart lifted with joy.
“……”
I knew it, even that guy Zhang Shuo could maintain a clear mind under the erosion of the Pink Fluffy Rabbit; his actions were merely restricted, so the Ancestor must surely be able to as well.
But if he was clear-minded, why would he stop me? Lucianbei wondered in confusion.
However.
Although she didn’t understand what Qing Ji was planning, seeing him converse with her so clearly allowed her previously tense nerves to relax somewhat.
Compared to a completely mad Qing Ji, a Qing Ji who was inconceivable seemed…
Uh, that was also quite terrifying, right?
“Indeed!” Lucianbei answered calmly, while one hand moved behind her back, signaling Huasang to “move forward.”
Though she had rarely achieved success in battles with Qing Ji before, over time, she had long understood what methods Qing Ji possessed.
To entangle Qing Ji for a time was still achievable.
Picking up on Lucianbei’s gesture and understanding her general intent, Huasang’s pupils trembled slightly, furrowing her brow as she activated her spirit energy, preparing for action.
She was waiting for an opportunity, waiting for Qing Ji to make a move against Lucianbei, and then she would rush forward vigorously!
————
Qing Ji also noticed the little movements of Lucianbei and Huasang but didn’t pay them mind.
He looked at Lucianbei and calmly said, “It’s indeed unfortunate. When I was young, I had a mixed bag of skills, poor mastery, and yet I went to teach others. I was practically leading my disciples astray.”
Qing Ji’s words were not a display of modesty.
The abilities he had gained under the “care” of his few masters had significant issues, both in the methods learned and in their compatibility, even defying common sense.
Even he himself, if he were to practice again based on his previous growth trajectory, would be facing d*ath and danger, let alone others.
It was like a haphazard stew; perhaps it happened to be delicious once, but the next time it might not be so fortunate.
Now, with the memories of his youth, Qing Ji saw that what he was doing to Lucianbei was almost exactly what his masters had done to him; in the long run, disaster would be inevitable.
In fact, there was no mystical illusion that could grant infinite lives; it was likely that Lucianbei wouldn’t last until now.
This also indirectly proved that Zhang Hainan’s emergence from the many Dachunyang Palace disciples tortured by Qing Ji to become a generation’s leader was not coincidental.
“Since that’s the case, in light of your slight talent, I’ll give you a lesson today!”
Upon hearing this, Lucianbei finally understood what Qing Ji was thinking.
So the Ancestor wanted to give me guidance? That’s not much different from usual!
It’s merely the difference between a monthly exam and a high school entrance exam…
It’s just a test; it won’t k*ll anyone! Lucianbei thought.
“Let me remind you…” Qing Ji glanced at Hu Chuan behind him and said blandly, “That ghostly thing, although it can’t control my mind, I am still limited by human constraints. I might lose control, so you need to be careful later.”
He did indeed have the intention of testing Lucianbei’s skills and aimed to help her correct any erroneous habits developed during her practice.
However, the power of the Yangyi was not trivial, making it difficult for him to fully resist.
At the very least, completely intercepting Lucianbei was something he found hard to oppose.
However, whether he could intercept or not was another matter.
“If you don’t want to d*e… then struggle hard!”
As his voice fell, Qing Ji slightly bent down, preparing to sprint towards Lucianbei.
Seeing this, Huasang took a deep breath and rushed forward, and the next moment the buzzing echoed behind her.
No turning back, nor could she be distracted by the battle between Lucianbei and Qing Ji…
As long as she dealt with Hu Chuan, everything would be over! Huasang thought, quickening her pace, reaching the continuously writhing pale mass in the blink of an eye.
————
As the air buzzed and exploded, Lucianbei’s vision went dark, and the face imbued with the aura of time appeared before her.
Qing Ji grinned, his brows exuding a gentle warmth, yet the spirit energy fluctuations emanating from him were as cold as iron, sending shivers down the spine.
“……”
It seemed he didn’t use any special body technique, just a simple burst of speed that was much faster than before…
Could this be the legendary principle of being seamless, unbounded by objects?
But how in the world did he do that?
Lucianbei focused intently on Qing Ji, trying to remember his movements and find the secret to simplifying complex techniques, just then countless predictive thoughts flashed through her mind.
[He slices your throat]
[He stabs your eyes out]
[He shatters your ribs]
……
A vast amount of predictive thoughts surged, densely filling her mind like the final message board of a popular anime’s last season.
Clearly, there was only one person with a sword ahead, but in that instant, Lucianbei felt like she was facing an army, astonished, she reflexively retreated.
When all fatal attacks were predicted yet she couldn’t respond in time, it was better not to predict them at all.
Or rather, to put it directly, simply present a “d*ath”!
In that moment, she suddenly realized that “exams” could indeed result in d*ath.
Playing cards could lead to d*ath; why not an “exam”?
————
Not far away, the curled-up Shuishu Beast, witnessing Lucianbei’s instinctive reaction, shook its large head.
Wrong, zero points, it’s over!
Facing that guy, retreating would only give him more opportunities to pressure her until she suffocated under the pressure.
At such times, charging forward with all one’s might could buy them a bit more time to resist.
Don’t ask how the Shuishu Beast knew this; its previous reactions were identical to Lucianbei’s.
The result was its beautiful, smooth golden mane had been pulled out, which Qing Ji took to amuse the girls, and it took over ten years for it to grow back.
Lost in thought, the Shuishu Beast quietly raised its front hooves and covered its eyes.
It really liked Lucianbei and couldn’t bear to watch her suffer at the hands of Qing Ji.
————
The reality was just as the Shuishu Beast had predicted, Lucianbei’s retreat was a completely wrong choice.
As she flew backward, barely a meter distance was established between her and Qing Ji, before Qing Ji pursued her with the sword raised.
Stepping forward, leaping, striking…
Though there was no overwhelming wave of spirit energy exploding, every movement was clean and astonishing, like the most precise machine in the world with no deviations.
Before Lucianbei could stabilize her stance, she could only raise her sword to collide.
Thus, a roar erupted.
The sword energy whizzed past her sides, slicing through the asphalt road, creating two several-meter-deep grooves.
Lucianbei’s feet sank into the ground, leaving fissures several meters long. Then she was lifted off the ground, like a kite with a severed string, continuing to fly backward.
“……”
Was I so incompetent when I was young?
How did I end up teaching such an “apprentice”?
Unsteady movement, numerous flaws in the swordplay, weak and soft strikes… even worse than that kid Zhang Hainan!
Qing Ji looked at Lucianbei, who was vulnerable to a single blow, with a slight furrow in his brow, and was about to offer some guidance, but he noticed something unusual. The words that reached his lips transformed into a faint exhalation.
“Eh? What’s she doing…?”
He saw that Lucianbei’s trajectory as she flew backward was not a straight line, but like a small boat tossed about by waves, tracing a crooked arc.
Upon witnessing this scene, Qing Ji stood still for two seconds, and then caught sight of those spirit energy bubbles floating in the air that were almost undetectable by spirit perception, breaking into a smile.
“Haha, using an external body to alter the landing position? I didn’t expect she could already master this, quite clever, but…”
It seemed she hadn’t quite mastered it?
If it were me, I should adjust my body to land there, or there… Qing Ji frowned, gazing at two places behind Lucianbei that had obvious cover.
However, Lucianbei’s trajectory was exceedingly chaotic, with no pattern to discern her intent.
Then, just as Qing Ji was puzzled, an unexpected scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes.
After tracing a chaotic path in the air, Lucianbei landed next to the incapacitated Zhang Shuo.
And then.
The moment she steadied herself, she retaliated with a lethal strike!
“Poof—!”
Accompanied by a muffled sound, bl**d splattered, transforming into a swarm of Pink Fluffy Rabbits, scattering in all directions.
Qing Ji and the Shuishu Beast: “……”
Feeling the thick liquid churning in his throat, flooding out, and gradually weakening, Zhang Shuo’s eyes widened, a string of questions surfacing in his mind.
“????”
He felt he needed a reasonable explanation.
Even Huasang, who was far away and pondering how to deal with Hu Chuan, noticed the eerie silence behind her and turned around, briefly dazed.
What’s going on? Wasn’t she fighting with Qing Ji?
How did a sword end up stuck in that guy?
————
Zhang Shuo had a good opinion of Lucianbei’s combat power; through Hu Chuan, he had seen glimpses of Lucianbei fighting adeptly amidst the siege of many Secret Society members last night.
On the other hand, he had no prior understanding of Qing Ji’s strength, but having been an A+ grade spiritual ability user, he caught some nuances from Qing Ji’s every move.
That girl is strong; that man is even scarier…
When these two began to fight, he originally anticipated a splendid show and quietly observed from the sidelines, never expecting to be “accidentally injured.”
Yes, it was undoubtedly an accidental injury, or at least that’s how Lucianbei labeled it.
“Uh, sorry, you know how it is—fists are merciless, swords have no eyes, and that old fellow is ridiculously strong; I momentarily lost control…” Zhang Shuo said helplessly to Lucianbei, waving his hand, then silently shifting his weakened body a long distance away from her.
This explanation was relatively reasonable and acceptable.
In battles between strong opponents, accidental injuries to innocents are inevitable; back when he fought enemies, many innocents had perished as collateral.
————
What a pity, I couldn’t finish him with a single strike!
I should say, the pressure from the Ancestor was too great, causing my blow to veer off…
Or rather, it’s no wonder he used to be an A+ grade spiritual ability user!
Lucianbei thought as a fierce wind suddenly hit her, and Qing Ji charged again.
In the blink of an eye, a terrifying shockwave exploded, shooting outward in all directions, shaking the highway to produce a deep, earthquake-like rumble, and fissures spread endlessly.
Lucianbei’s figure shot out from the dispersing mist, subtly altering her trajectory mid-air several times, as she descended, the broken sword in her hand hit Zhang Shuo’s chest spot on.
Then.
Her figure stumbled, her body pulling her arm, her arm stirring the Ling Tai Purification, swirling it in Zhang Shuo’s body several times.
“Poof—cough cough—!”
Accompanied by violent coughing, Zhang Shuo convulsed violently, expelling a large quantity of Pink Fluffy Rabbits.
He looked at Lucianbei with a resentful gaze, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth, “Accidental injury?”
“Uh…” Lucianbei hesitated and then nodded, her tone resolute, “Yes, accidental injury.”
“……” Not far away, Qing Ji hesitated for a moment, then his mouth twitched violently.
The first time Lucianbei flew backward toward Zhang Shuo, as the sword blade brushed his throat, he had thought that was merely an “accidental injury.”
However, the second time, he seriously observed the entire process, catching all the details, and he could state with certainty that it was absolutely not an accident, but a deliberate act!
As he was lost in thought, Lucianbei lifted the Ling Tai Purification high, taking advantage of Zhang Shuo’s momentary relaxation to deliver a flurry of strikes within less than half a minute, until his entire body turned into a muddy mass crawling with Pink Fluffy Rabbits.
Then, while Zhang Shuo’s gaze dulled gradually, she said expressionlessly, “This time, it was not an accident.”
After pausing, she added, “Really, I’m not lying; I promise!”
While speaking, her eyes looked even more innocent than when she had “accidentally injured” him earlier.
“……”
Did you really need to say that?
Anyone with eyes can see that this is not an accidental injury!
Hearing Lucianbei’s words, Zhang Shuo felt a rush of anger, his already severely injured body couldn’t bear it anymore and collapsed into three broken items, which clattered to the ground.
————
Lucianbei coldly stared at the three broken items for a few seconds, then kicked them aside and looked at Qing Ji, arranging her somewhat messy long hair and slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.
“Phew—! Ancestor, now I can fully demonstrate the results of my studies during this period.”
Qing Ji glanced at the three items that had flown away, then turned to look at Lucianbei, showing a look of confusion.
“You might not know, but my father has passed away, and that guy was one of the culprits. Although he didn’t show any malice just now, I can’t be at ease with him around,” Lucianbei explained.
Upon hearing this, Qing Ji paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, calmingly saying, “Reasonable.”
“Shall we begin?” Lucianbei tilted her head, testing the waters.
“Hmm!” Qing Ji responded.
In the next moment, two silhouettes shot towards each other, their swords clashing violently.
