Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 229: Chapter 66: The Seven Great Schools of Spears and Swords!

Yan Ajiu drew her sword and countered with a stab, but Li Yan was not one to suffer losses easily. He immediately twisted his footwork, bent his elbow, and swayed his body from side to side, evading the “Fire Essence” thrusts in succession, while thrusting his sword hilt forward. Not to mention other skills, but in terms of swordplay, Li Yan had begun to exert his true strength.

This series of movements was too fast for the eye to follow. The exquisite coordination of body movement and sword technique elicited gasps of amazement from the pirates, and even Cai Qian and Zhang He showed looks of astonishment.

An expert could be transformed by various methods and extraordinary weapons, but such seasoned skill in every move and form can only be honed through relentless practice.

“This Tianbao lad still had an ace up his sleeve. No wonder Mrs. Yan was willing to let go of control,” someone remarked.

Demon Thief Zhang He’s expression was complicated, as if he was recalling something from the past.

The bright blade of the Ring Dragon Sword sliced through the cord binding Yan Ajiu’s hair, allowing her water-like long hair to cascade down.

...

Ding~ Ding~ Dang~

The two shuffled their feet, the thuds of their footsteps on the deck incessant. The woman’s black hair fluttered, covering half her face and revealing only her snow-white chin and the hint of her rosy lips, slightly upturned.

Suddenly, blood sprayed!

Li Yan stumbled backwards, his leather armor easily pierced and a gash drawn across his waist by “Fire Essence,” blood flowing relentlessly downward.

Cha Xiaodao turned his head aside, forgetting to relight his cigarette. He had considered the possibility of Li Yan being at a disadvantage at the outset, but what surprised him was that Li Yan appeared to have been simply outclassed in swordsmanship skill.

Li Yan frowned; the woman’s stabbing speed was frighteningly fast, but unexpectedly, it was her sweeping strikes within her swordsmanship that were the real highlight. During their brief exchange, the Ring Dragon and Fire Essence collided over ten times, and just when Li Yan thought he had figured out his opponent’s pattern, Yan Ajiu broke it with a sweeping strike, nearly slicing Li Yan in half at the waist. Fortunately, Li Yan’s quick reaction, coupled with the various enhancements he had, which made him tougher than the average person, prevented him from taking too much damage.

This woman, ranked among those with the Yan surname, was likely also of the “Fiery Cauldron Species.”

Yet upon clashing, Yan Ajiu had displayed an exquisitely solid sword technique. Other things aside, just this sword technique alone indicated her proficiency beyond 90%.

“So the Red Flag Gang’s Dragon Head had all these years been concealing some Wudang combat swordplay,” someone noted.

“Heh, I’ve practiced sword for many years, yet I’ve never seen such unique techniques. Miss Ajiu, who did you learn from?” another inquired.

Yan Ajiu’s black hair danced in the wind, and Li Yan wondered if it was his illusion that the tear mole on Yan Ajiu’s cheek had shifted slightly downward.

She said faintly, “That day on Lantau Island, when the Tianbao Dragon Head was spying, I knew then that the Dragon Head’s eyes possessed the divine ability to foresee fate. Since the Dragon Head is so curious, why doesn’t he see for himself…”

After speaking, Yan Ajiu grabbed her hair, twisted it into a bundle, bit it with her mouth, her eyebrows slanted downward like swords, and charged towards Li Yan.

Li Yan whistled and stepped forward with his right foot, bringing the Ring Dragon down towards Yan Ajiu’s head.

Clang!

The long and short swords collided.

The two formidable weapons intertwined. The Ring Dragon’s sword moves were fierce and decisive, the Fire Essence’s strikes were hidden and swift, and occasionally Yan Ajiu’s sweeping cuts were like the antelope hanging its horns, effortlessly natural. Li Yan’s advantage, built up over five or six exchanges, would immediately be offset by one of her sweeps, and sometimes, he would even suffer a small loss.

A Fleeting Glimpse, this time, actually provided specific information, indicating clearly, Yan Ajiu had lifted some of the constraints on her countermeasures.

[Jiaoxi], one of the four major branches of the “Washing Sword” sword technique, had been refined by Yan Ajiu into a move with her own unique characteristic. Occasionally, it allowed her to execute a strike 10% above her own level of mastery.

Brilliant!

Li Yan felt excitement rather than shock; as long as he had sufficient authorization, among the rewards for this Yan Fu incident, he would have one more item he was determined to obtain.

Incidentally, according to the classification of weapon techniques in A Fleeting Glimpse, [Tiger Rises] should be categorized among the three major spear techniques as “Taking,” while [Swallow Through the Curtain] belongs to “Stabbing,” and Zhao Xiaoyi’s [Flying Carp Three Moves] is included in “Blocking.”

Clang!

The Ring Dragon and the “Fire Essence” in Yan Ajiu’s hand collided once again in a fierce and dangerous standoff, their eyes locked in concentration.

“Miss Ajiu’s Washing Sword does have its wonderful aspects.”

Li Yan’s mouth curled into a smile.

“How coincidental that the Main Frame of Combat Sword also values the ‘Washing’ aspect. It emphasizes slashing and sweeping as well!”

As Li Yan spoke, he opened his arms to block Yan Ajiu, then turned and covered, shifting his hand forward by an inch, channeling his force through the Ring Dragon’s blade to press against the back of the Fire Essence, forcing Yan Ajiu into a series of backward jumps. Finally, he leaped up and delivered a horizontal Han Sword slash!

In that moment, Li Yan had an epiphany. It was as if he had grasped a crucial opportunity within the sword technique.

The Ring Dragon, grazing the Fire Essence, closed in on Yan Ajiu’s midsection. There was no time to dodge, and no capacity to counterattack. The inevitability of the sword piercing the woman’s chest was settled.

What a move from Yan Ajiu! Faced with a split-second decision between life and death, she simply flipped her hand to desert her sword, twisted her waist, and pressed directly towards Li Yan, allowing the Ring Dragon to pass closely by as her embroidered shoes tapped against Li Yan’s black cloth shoes. The two stood incredibly close, nearly bumping chests.

…

Their confrontation was filled with danger and dialogue, carried by the sea breeze, bits and pieces reaching the onlookers, allowing them to infer additional meanings.

Female: “It turns out the Red Flag Gang’s Tianbao Dragon Head…”

Male: “Heh heh… I’ve never actually seen… Miss Ajiu…”

Female: “That day on Lantau Island, when the Tianbao Dragon Head was watching, I knew then… Since the Dragon Head is so curious… come see for yourself…”

The pirates exchanged glances, their minds wandering. The pair’s exchanges didn’t sound like they were fighting. But why were their actions so violent…

Cha Xiaodao had his hearing impaired by the soul-calling fish that day and it hadn’t fully recovered. He misheard the exchange.

“`

He watched helplessly as the two people on the deck pressed their chests tightly together, spitting out a stream of curses.

“When I fight, I just sing a little tune, and even then, I never dare sing at the fourth watch of the night!”

But look at this one; no longer singing, she’s flirting with girls while fighting—Lady Dan had just left a moment ago!

…

The battle between the two became increasingly perilous!

This woman reached back to catch the Fire Essence with her arm, her hands moving up and down, slicing at the wrist. The Fire Essence seemed sentient, striking like a venomous snake from beneath her ribs with a tricky angle, stabbing towards Li Yan’s waist.

Li Yan kicked at the woman’s lower abdomen, also deflecting the incoming trajectory of the Fire Essence. Seizing the opportunity, Yan Ajiu rolled away, ultimately paying the price of Li Yan’s kick, averting the fate of having her chest pierced by the Han Sword. But she lost grip of the Fire Essence sword, which was knocked away by Li Yan.

Hisss~

The Fire Essence sword flew past Zhang He’s temple and lodged in a mast.

Weaponless, the woman did not show any frustration. She knelt on the ground, slowly standing up.

The mole under Yan Ajiu’s eye, unbeknownst to when, had reached her chin. Then, it slowly began to fall!

Plop~

Tears wet the deck, and Li Yan’s scalp suddenly tingled!

Whoosh!

A pair of beautiful yet sharp eyes drew close to Li Yan’s nose; somehow, Yan Ajiu had approached without him realizing!

Her fists, radiating layers of azure light and carrying a fierce momentum, smashed towards Li Yan’s face!

Bang!!

Li Yan’s body bent backward, with fragments flying off the back of his Ring Dragon Sword as he used it to block.

Thump~ Thump~ Li Yan rolled over three or four times, his head banging against the cabin door, as his whole body was slung into the dark cabin!

Yan Ajiu clenched her hair tightly, her clear face showing eyes as vivid as divinity and as deep as demons,

“Tianbao Dragon Head, if there’s a next time, use whatever moves you have sooner. If you think of holding back, there might not be another chance.”

[Fiery Cauldron Species • Tears Mermaid]!

“Holy shit!”

Cha Xiaodao was so shocked he stood up.

A stir spread among the bandits on scene.

…

Out of the smoke, someone in cloth shoes stepped out of the cabin.

A pole of white gold shot out like thunder, thrusting aggressively; Yan Ajiu, fearless, met the Tiger Head Devouring Blade with her bare fists, bursting forth layers of radiance.

Clang~

Boom~

The blue radiance shattered, and the hurled great spear was hammered to the ground!

Behind the dispersing blue light was a gaunt face.

Li Yan’s eyes, fierce and cold, were now empty-handed. His knees crossed and thrusted into the open space behind Yan Ajiu’s feet, as he executed a twisting left-body hammer punch, landing squarely on the back of Yan Ajiu’s head!

Yan Ajiu’s vision darkened, she staggered forward as Li Yan’s back foot caught on Yan Ajiu’s ankle, pulling forward. As Yan Ajiu fell, Li Yan showed no mercy as his right foot pushed off the ground, flipping into a kick, his left heel striking towards Yan Ajiu’s eyes!

Having the Ring Dragon and Tiger Head Great Spear, Li Yan rarely revealed the Bagua Palm of the Li Clan.

Suddenly, the Fire Essence sword lodged in the mast reversed direction, flying towards Li Yan. Forced to withdraw his foot, he bent over to dodge the flying sword and scooped up the Tiger Head Great Spear from the ground. Rolling on the deck, he swung the spear at Yan Ajiu’s legs.

Yan Ajiu rolled on the spot, catching the Fire Essence sword; blood started to seep into her collar from the back of her head.

Li Yan held the great spear, one eye sporting a dark bruise. Both of their faces looked terrible.

The two stood off for a long while, Li Yan being the first to lower his spear and said leisurely, “Save some energy for later. If we were to go all out, we’d just end up damaging the Cai Clan’s Tianbo Division ship. How about calling it a draw?”

Li Yan did not intend to base the outcome on one or two bouts; he knew Cai Qian felt the same. Continuing the fight seemed meaningless. It was a pity his Ring Dragon Sword had cracked. This incident in Yan Fu was a lost cause now.

Damn, I’m at a disadvantage, Li Yan cursed internally.

Yan Ajiu remained silent, turning back with an angry glare at Elder Yan from the Cai Clan.

Cai Qian’s voice came drifting over, “Ajiu doesn’t have the ability to wield the sword out of thin air. That the Fire Essence sword flew was the doing of Elder Yan of my family. In his urgency, he intervened improperly. I hope the Tianbao Dragon Head isn’t angry. This round, the Red Flag has won.”

Among the five families, the Red Flag was now three rounds ahead.

“`