Chapter 28: Sword Fighting Platform Competition
“So what do we need to do?” Lin Qingyue asked.
“Right, just cultivate. While others haven’t reacted yet, we must cultivate quickly and be more powerful than all of them.”
Yu Qianqian was roused to fighting spirit. It wasn’t about widening the gap; how could it be acceptable to lose in a fight?
She, Yu Qianqian, absolutely could not lose to someone she hated.
Lin Qingyue talked for a long time, but Yu Qianqian only absorbed the part about beating others. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she wasn’t strong enough.
“I definitely must reach Foundation Establishment before them. You too, Lin Qingyue.”
“Ah, about that. My cultivation is already sufficient. I just lack an opportunity to establish my foundation, but it’s not like I don’t have it,” Lin Qingyue said with a smile.
“What did you just say?”
Yu Qianqian thought she had misheard.
“Foundation Establishment? As long as I want to, I can do it right now.”
Lin Qingyue made it sound as simple as drinking water. Yu Qianqian was stunned. “Weren’t you injured and recovering? You cultivated while injured? Is your Guizang Peak always this terrifying?”
Besides, how long had everyone been in the sect? It had only been a short month and a half, yet Lin Qingyue was already at the point of Foundation Establishment. How was that possible?
As far as she knew, no one had reached Foundation Establishment yet. Who would dare believe Lin Qingyue when he said he could?
“You really aren’t lying to me?”
“Why would I lie to you? So, you should cultivate properly now.”
Seeing her stunned, questioning-life expression, Lin Qingyue found it amusing and stopped provoking her.
To be able to reach Foundation Establishment so quickly, he really had to thank Cheng Hui, Yun Jinzhou, and the others.
Lin Qingyue shared the spirit fruit he obtained with her and comforted her, “You don’t need to be so incredulous. After all, people are different from one another.”
“What did you say?!”
Before he could finish, Yu Qianqian interrupted him, saying somewhat angrily, “Is that even human speech?”
After seeing the spirit fruit in his hand, she became even more envious. “This Soul-Condensing Fruit is very precious; it costs a lot of money to buy. You’re really generous.”
Just as she was about to take the fruit from Lin Qingyue, he hurriedly pulled it back. Forget the price; if she said it was expensive, then it was expensive.
“Such an expensive fruit indeed shouldn’t be shared with people. Next time I have something delicious, I’ll share it with you.”
He said this with righteous confidence, letting nature take its course. Yu Qianqian shouted, “Lin Qingyue, can you really take back something you’re giving away so smoothly?”
Lin Qingyue: “I haven’t actually given it away yet, have I?”
He had only offered it halfway; taking it back was perfectly fine.
“You can do that?” She was truly shocked and didn’t continue asking for his spirit fruit. “Fine then.”
“Junior Sister Yu, you really trust people too easily. I was just teasing you earlier.”
He gave the spirit fruit to her. “You are my friend. This spirit fruit is for you. Thank you for your concern.”
Yu Qianqian took the spirit fruit and raised an eyebrow. “Then I won’t be polite.”
Both of their actions were seen by others.
“Tch, he really knows how to suck up to people.”
“Exactly, just a villain who got lucky with dog shit luck.”
Their jealousy toward Lin Qingyue was so intense they wished they could trample him into the mud.
Sensing the malice, Lin Qingyue glanced over. It was the fellow disciples who followed Qu Xiao.
Looking over, their gazes weren’t restrained in the slightest; the way they looked at them was very off. Yu Qianqian was displeased and wanted to question them.
Lin Qingyue spoke before she could. “Junior Sister Yu, look over there. There are rats gossiping. Insecure and jealous, their eyes are red with envy. How ugly.”
“Do you know what characteristics this kind of trash usually has?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Their kind only dares to be jealous in secret. If you asked them to say it to your face or fight you, they would hide like rats in a gutter, crawling around in the dark.”
“Lin Qingyue, you actually dare to insult us!”
With just two simple sentences, the other side couldn’t handle it and jumped up in anger.
Lin Qingyue said to Yu Qianqian, “What are they doing? We didn’t name anyone. Why are they so agitated?”
Yu Qianqian also felt they were petty. “Several grown men chattering and chewing their tongues behind people’s backs, with dirty minds. Now they actually make false countercharges. It’s my first time seeing things with such thick skin.”
“Lin Qingyue, fight us if you have the skill.”
“That’s right, fight if you have the skill.”
Seeing Lin Qingyue frown slightly, they thought he didn’t dare. It made sense; although they entered the sect at the same time, their foundations were better than his. Plus, he had fallen ill twice, so he wouldn’t dare fight them.
Once they decided in their hearts that Lin Qingyue was weaker than them—that he simply didn’t dare—they began to constantly provoke him to accept the challenge.
“You dare to talk about us, but don’t dare to fight a round?”
“How can someone like you compare to Junior Brother Yun?”
“Even if you entered Guizang Peak, you’re still just a piece of trash.”
“Come to the Sword Fighting Platform if you have the guts!”
“Right, come to the Sword Fighting Platform!”
They spoke one after another, each staring at Lin Qingyue. If he didn’t agree today, he was a coward.
“Heh, if we’re fighting, we’re fighting. Who’s coming first?”
A sly glint flashed in his eyes, but his face showed disdain and anger.
Seeing that someone was going to sword fight, the surrounding crowd watching the excitement cheered to go watch together.
If anything in the Wanjian Sect could arouse their interest, it was definitely going to the Sword Fighting Platform to watch the drama. Whenever anyone had a conflict, they would choose the Sword Fighting Platform.
Since entering the sect, Lin Qingyue had become quite a hot topic—a popular figure opposite to Yun Jinzhou. Since he was going to the Sword Fighting Platform for a match, everyone naturally wouldn’t miss it and gathered around the platform one after another.
“Is using spiritual power okay for you right now?”
After arriving at the Sword Fighting Platform, Yu Qianqian looked at Lin Qingyue with anticipation. As long as he said his body wasn’t convenient for fighting right now, she would immediately go up on stage for him. The sword in her hand was already eager to try.
“Absolutely no problem.”
Lin Qingyue pretended not to understand. “Junior Sister Yu, don’t worry. I will definitely teach them a good lesson for you.”
Yu Qianqian: “Is it possible that I don’t really need you to teach them a lesson for me, but that I want to go up and beat them up myself?”
“But they want to fight me.”
“Then let me fight a round after you finish.”
“That’s easy to arrange. We can fight a round too.”
While the two were talking, both wanting to go up, the others thought they were getting cold feet.
“Lin Qingyue, what are you dawdling for? You aren’t scared, are you?”
“Exactly, exactly. We’re already at the Sword Fighting Platform; you can’t be a coward now.”
“Get up there, get up there, get up there!”
The news that Lin Qingyue was going to compete with people at the Sword Fighting Platform spread quickly. When Qu Xiao found out, he sought out Yun Jinzhou. “Junior Brother Yun, there’s a good show to watch. Do you want to go?”
Yun Jinzhou: “Isn’t Senior Brother Lin sick? Will something happen if he competes in sword fighting?”
“Junior Brother Yun, you are still too kind. Lin Qingyue wants to show off and compete with others himself; who can he blame?”
Before he could say anything else, Qu Xiao pulled him toward the Sword Fighting Platform. His back and arms felt like they were being pricked by needles. He turned his head. “Senior Brother Pei, Senior Brother Shen.”
“Let go of your hand.” Shen Yunchuan said with a cold face, staring unkindly at his hand.
Pei Yanshu looked at him with a smile. “Junior Brother Qu, what did you say just now?”
“Senior Brother Pei, I was just saying that Junior Brother Lin is competing with someone at the Sword Fighting Platform.”
He turned to Shen Yunchuan and said, “Junior Brother Shen, let’s go take a look.”
When they arrived, Lin Qingyue was just stepping onto the Sword Fighting Platform.
“Do you want to come one by one or all together?”
Lin Qingyue picked a random sword and pointed it at the few inner sect disciples, his expression arrogant, not putting them in his eyes at all.
His confident and flamboyant appearance was somewhat different from before. A thoughtful look flashed in Yun Jinzhou’s eyes. “Can Senior Brother Lin’s current cultivation and body beat them?”
Hearing this, Shen Yunchuan was disdainful. “Little Junior Brother, no need to care about him. Even if he can’t win, so what? He asked for this himself.”
Yun Jinzhou: “Senior Brother Lin rarely comes to the Lecture Hall. Compared to other Senior Brothers, he is at a disadvantage.”
Pei Yanshu smiled at what his Junior Brother said. Even if Lin Qingyue never went to the Lecture Hall, he was a direct disciple of Guizang Peak. How bad could his treatment be?
“Since he has such courage, let’s see just what kind of strength he has. Little Junior Brother doesn’t need to worry about him.”
Shen Yunchuan: “Exactly. Maybe he’ll just take kindness for ill intent.”
“If you’re going to fight, be quick about it. Don’t dawdle,” Lin Qingyue said impatiently. “Together or one by one?”
The other side hesitated for a moment but decided to go one by one. If they all went up together, it wouldn’t look good if people said they were bullying the few with the many.
“Then I’ll go first.” Zhang Hong leaped up. “Let me experience Junior Brother Lin’s sword.”
The sword Lin Qingyue picked out was… “Watch your back.”
Just as Zhang Hong got on stage, Lin Qingyue said something baffling. Zhang Hong sneered in his heart and subconsciously turned his head. Who knew that Lin Qingyue would strike instantly? Caught off guard, he was knocked off the stage with one strike.
The speed was too fast; everyone hadn’t even reacted to what happened.
Bang!!!
Zhang Hong crawled up from the ground. “You cheated!”
Lin Qingyue leisurely retracted his sword. It was as if he had just been warming up. He replied nonchalantly, “We are both on the stage, and the match had already started. I even reminded you I was going to strike. Who can you blame?”
He had clearly shouted the sword move name before attacking. If the other guy was too slow and useless, who could be blamed?
“Next,” Lin Qingyue shouted. “Hurry up, I still have to go back to the peak to eat.”
“You…” Zhang Hong’s entire face turned red, but unfortunately, Lin Qingyue didn’t spare him a glance.
Scanning the remaining three, Lin Qingyue’s gaze landed on Deng Wenyao, who had the highest cultivation and a gloomy face. “You go first.”
Face full of unconvinced defiance and using such a dark look—he couldn’t stand it.
When the opponent got on stage, Lin Qingyue put away the “watch your back” trick.
“Ugly monster.”
“A match is a match. Lin Qingyue, what do you mean by insulting people?” Deng Wenyao looked at him grimly.
“Psycho. Why are you so narcissistic? Who’s insulting you?” A silvery-white sword appeared in Lin Qingyue’s hand. The blade was beautiful and lustrous, the material top-notch. He held the sword, admiring it. “I was calling my sword’s name. Why are you in such a hurry?”
That look directly said: Why are you rushing to admit you’re an ugly monster?
“Pfft, hahahahahaha.” Yu Qianqian couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.
Someone laughed, and others followed suit. Deng Wenyao’s face turned green then black.
He gritted his teeth, lifting the sword in his hand to attack. Lin Qingyue switched the sword to his other hand and shouted again, “Scoundrel, die!”
Deng Wenyao sneered in his heart. He wouldn’t underestimate the enemy like Zhang Hong. He launched several moves at Lin Qingyue in succession. Blocked by the silvery-white sword, Lin Qingyue took advantage of the moment he blocked the sword to thrust another sword from the side.
He only lasted a few more moves than the unresponsive Zhang Hong before being knocked down by Lin Qingyue.
“Do you admit defeat?” He pointed his sword at Deng Wenyao.
Lin Qingyue advanced with his sword, continuing to attack. Deng Wenyao was different from Zhang Hong; this person cared extremely about his face (reputation). Unless he was knocked off the stage, he would absolutely not admit defeat easily. Naturally, he had to be taught a good lesson.
After exchanging only a few moves, Deng Wenyao was knocked to the ground by Lin Qingyue again.
Yun Jinzhou gasped softly. “Senior Brother Lin shouldn’t be deliberately toying with Senior Brother Deng, right?”
Immediately, as if realizing what he had said, he hurriedly covered his mouth and smiled at everyone.
On the Sword Fighting Platform, Lin Qingyue smiled and advised, “Senior Brother Deng, it’s better to admit defeat. Losing isn’t something shameful.”
He even intended to reach out and pull him up.
The opponent looked up and stared at him. Lin Qingyue’s eyes were full of naked mockery. Others saw his magnanimous appearance, but in reality, his eyes were full of contempt, as if mocking him in retaliation for the bad things Deng had said about him earlier.
Anger rushed to Deng Wenyao’s head, and he slapped his hand away. Lin Qingyue quickly retracted it, almost getting hit.
Those below who originally thought Lin Qingyue was going too far now saw Deng Wenyao failing to appreciate the favor. Instantly, they no longer felt Lin Qingyue was toying with Deng Wenyao; instead, they felt Deng was ungrateful.
“Senior Brother Deng can’t win, yet he gets angry.”
“Is he blaming Junior Brother Lin?”
“He’s a bit of a sore loser.”
Seeing this, Yun Jinzhou stopped talking and looked at Lin Qingyue on the stage.
The two on stage were in a deadlock. Lin Qingyue smiled magnanimously again and spoke, “Senior Brother Deng, since it’s like this, don’t blame Junior Brother.”
After speaking, he directly kicked him off the stage. “Since you won’t admit defeat, I can only make you lose.” These words were said with exceptional innocence.
Yun Jinzhou went to Deng Wenyao’s side immediately, looking at him and whispering comfort, “Senior Brother Deng, Senior Brother Lin didn’t have any bad intentions. He has always been this kind of person; don’t take it to heart.”
Deng Wenyao lowered his head and didn’t respond. Shen Yunchuan couldn’t stand seeing his Little Junior Brother pressing his warm face against a cold butt like this, especially for an unfamiliar junior brother.
“Little Junior Brother, let him have some quiet time to himself first.”
He pulled Yun Jinzhou aside, glanced at Deng Wenyao, and turned to talk to Yun Jinzhou.
Watching the commotion on their side, Lin Qingyue raised his eyebrows slightly, then shifted his gaze to the remaining two. “Two Senior Brothers, come up together.”
Seeing this, Yun Jinzhou, who was talking to Shen Yunchuan, hurriedly spoke up, “Senior Brother Lin, time is getting late. Let’s compete another day.”
Hearing this, the two looked at Yun Jinzhou gratefully. Deng Wenyao and Zhang Hong, whose cultivation was higher than theirs, had both lost. If they went up, they would definitely lose too. Not only that, it would likely be the most humiliating.
Lin Qingyue looked over unhappily. “Weren’t they the ones who wanted to compete? It’s still early before dark; what are the two Senior Brothers going to do?”
Seeing them shrink back, Yu Qianqian hurriedly shouted, “You aren’t scared, are you?!”
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