Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Chapter 427: Chapter 23: Returning to Routine
 

After returning to the Shuzhong Prefecture squad headquarters, Zhang Huaide began redesigning the tactics.

Compared to other teams, the Huofeng Team’s weakness lay in the lack of a regular Sword Immortal. Qin Meng’s attack range was too short, and Zhang Huaide had to be distracted by commanding, so that’s why they recruited the dedicated Sword Immortal Hou Qing to strengthen the team and coordinate with the main assault expert Zhou Hongyu for combat.

But if Tang Xiaolian could refine even one Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu, she would be enough to qualify for the position of deputy assault expert. This would significantly expand the tactical operation space of the Huofeng Team. Now, many strategies that were previously not considered have become viable options.

Well, however, the design on paper still needs to be adjusted according to actual data.

After preparing several theoretical plans, Zhang Huaide went to the training field, planning to ask the team members for their opinions.

Only to see Tang Xiaolian practising Sword Control Technique with Hou Qing at the training field, her sword techniques rapidly changing, forcing Hou Qing into a continuous retreat.

Zhang Huaide: ?

Before, not long after everyone had returned to Shuzhong Prefecture, Hou Qing found Tang Xiaolian in the training field and mentioned, “I’d like to learn some swordsmanship from Sister Xiaolian.”

Hou Qing’s pursuit of Tang Xiaolian wasn’t a secret in the Huofeng Team. The guy was fairly decent-looking, paid great attention to his appearance, and most importantly, his family was very wealthy; it was said he had been involved with a double-digit number of girlfriends during high school, and had all sorts of tricks for chasing girls, totally unlike Qin Meng’s straightforward and honest demeanor of “Captain, tell me who to hit, and I’ll hit them.”

However, Tang Xiaolian had absolutely no interest in him, saying she “doesn’t like his type of look.” As for the money… now, who in the Huofeng Team doesn’t have several tens of millions in cash in their bank cards? Money really was just a number to top cultivators.

It seems that yesterday’s interaction between Yan Yu and Tang Xiaolian gave Hou Qing some subtle hint, leading him to think that Tang Xiaolian liked “mighty cultivators,” and therefore, under the pretext of “asking for swordsmanship guidance,” he wanted to showcase his own level of swordsmanship.

It’s just that a dedicated Sword Immortal like yourself practicing swordsmanship against someone who uses insects for cultivation, is really somewhat shameless.

Meng Qingxi wanted to speak out and stop them, but then he heard Tang Xiaolian laugh and say:

“Sure.”

Confident in his superior swordsmanship skills, Hou Qing showed off his gentlemanly demeanor and said with a smile:

“Sister Xiaolian, you make the first move.”

“Sure.” Tang Xiaolian nodded, her hands forming sword gestures, and the Peach Blossom Tender Sword quickly turned into a stream of light, rushing straight at him.

Sky Light Piercing Clouds!

Hou Qing revealed a smile as if he had expected this since 99% of cultivators who are not Sword Immortals usually start with White Rainbow Across the Sky… for the simple reason that it’s easy to use.

Just as he was about to intercept with Cang Song Ying Ke, he suddenly felt something was terribly wrong.

This isn’t White Rainbow Across the Sky!

As a superior Sword Technique to White Rainbow Across the Sky, Sky Light Piercing Clouds’s path was almost the same, focusing primarily on a direct stab, and could also deviate slightly in the first or second half. The difference lay in the altered Qi circulation route, switching from the Lesser Yang Meridian to the stronger Yang Brightness Meridian. This increased True Yuan consumption dramatically and, at the same time, power and difficulty to control surged remarkably.

Hou Qing tried to intercept with Cang Song Ying Ke; blocking White Rainbow Across the Sky was almost a guarantee, but it was wishful thinking to block Sky Light Piercing Clouds. As a result, his Flying Sword was instantly knocked flying, spinning backward, thrown awry, and the Peach Blossom Tender Sword seized the opportunity, attacking towards his face. Under the control of Tang Xiaolian, it stopped just at his throat.

“You’ve lost,” Tang Xiaolian said with a cold laugh. “The way of swordsmanship is endless. Go study harder!”

Meng Qingxi and Qin Meng on the side were completely stunned.

“I’ve lost,” Hou Qing gritted his teeth. “Can you continue to enlighten me?”

“Of course,” Tang Xiaolian snickered inwardly.

The two continued to duel in a few matches until Zhang Huaide arrived; by then, they were already in the fifth match.

With Deputy Captain Zhang’s professional expertise, it was clear that overall, Hou Qing had the advantage in swordsmanship skills. After all, he was a professional Sword Immortal selected for the Huofeng Team, surely someone with real skills.

But the odd thing was that even though Tang Xiaolian was evidently put at a disadvantage in just a few moves, she would always suddenly display an unseen Sword Technique, instantly turning the situation around and putting Hou Qing in disarray.

Zhang Huaide watched for a while and confirmed that he had indeed never seen those sword moves before. They were either astonishingly powerful or treacherously executed, carrying a sense of “unorthodox approach” and “winning with strangeness.”

Yet she truly did not master them, just mechanically executing without any variation. Ironically, Hou Qing had developed a psychological shadow from these moves. Every time she used such unfamiliar Sword Styles, he would immediately defend with all his might, completely ceding initiative and rhythm on the battlefield… Thus, even though his swordsmanship was stronger, he couldn’t overcome Tang Xiaolian for a long time.

“Alright,” Zhang Huaide suddenly spoke, “let’s stop here for now. Xiaolian, come here with me.”

The match was halted, and Tang Xiaolian left the training ground somewhat reluctantly, following behind Deputy Captain Zhang. Suddenly, she said:

“Actually, I could have won that round.”

“It’s meaningless,” Zhang Huaide said indifferently, “Any sword technique that is unfamiliar, after I watch you execute it eight or ten times, becomes familiar. Even if you could win this round, what about the next one? You’re bound to lose sooner or later.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll quit while I’m ahead,” Tang Xiaolian nodded and said.

“Did Captain Yan teach you that sword technique?” Zhang Huaide asked for confirmation.

“Hmm,” Tang Xiaolian nodded, “Without his permission, I can’t disclose it to others.”

“I didn’t mean to steal it,” Zhang Huaide mused for a moment before suddenly asking, “Xiaolian, do you…”

“…have an interest in studying swordsmanship on the side? I mean, to become a versatile cultivator who can both control swords and use insects.”

Meanwhile, Yan Yu, who had recovered substantially, traveled a long distance via sword flight and returned to the team’s villa in Jinling Prefecture.

As soon as he entered the room, he smelled the rich aroma of meat. Without a second thought, after changing his shoes and passing through the foyer, he indeed saw Lin Ning busying herself in front of the stew pot in the kitchen.

“Beef stew?” Yan Yu leaned in to ask.

“Ah!” Lin Ning got such a fright that she recoiled. Once she realized what was happening, she immediately turned around in annoyance and tried to hit him with the ladle, exclaiming, “You scared me to death!”

The ladle smacked onto Yan Yu, and Lin Ning froze:

“Why didn’t you dodge?”

Yan Yu gave a wry smile, then suddenly his eyes rolled back, and he fell back, causing Lin Ning to rush over in alarm to support him, carefully laying him on the sofa before asking anxiously:

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I forgot about your injury this time. Where are you hurt?”

“My whole body is injured,” Yan Yu said feebly, then detailed to Lin Ning what had happened in the “Ascending Heaven Stairs” trial in the Mysterious Realm.

“So that’s what happened,” Lin Ning’s expression mixed with distress and guilt, “This geomagnetic force… Ah, it’s all my fault for going too hard. I’ll go find Yun Jin to take a look at you.”

“No need,” Yan Yu quickly stopped her, “Didn’t I rest for a day after coming out of the Mysterious Realm? My body has mostly recovered.”

“Then why did you just collapse…” Lin Ning was puzzled.

“Just messing with you.”

Smelling the aroma of the beef stew, Zhao Yuanzhen hurried down the stairs and saw the stew pot in the kitchen bubbling away, while on the sofa, Lin Ning, with a flushed face, sat astride Yan Yu, using a cushion to fiercely smack his head, angrily shouting:

“That’s for bullying me! That’s for bullying me! I’m going to flatten you!”

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through the mind of the Demonic Sect Enchantress:

The steak might as well be spoiled in the pot if I don’t eat it now, but if I don’t save the little thief right away, Ningning might just kill him.

No, that’s not right. If I don’t eat the steak now, it might get snatched away by another sister later, and Ningning couldn’t really beat the little thief if he got serious, right? It must be just an act, no worries.

Still not right, maybe the steak isn’t tender enough yet, it hasn’t reached the peak of deliciousness; and if the little thief and Ningning stick together like that, even if it’s just a joke, an accident could easily happen, would that not cuckold me?

The feeling still seemed incorrect… the steak… the little thief…

Her mind buzzing, she suddenly had an epiphany, no longer hesitated, and rushed over like the wind, dragging Lin Ning off of Yan Yu, and asked seriously:

“Is the steak done yet?”

“Er, not yet,” Lin Ning instinctively felt a sense of embarrassment as if her domestic mishap had been witnessed, and even though she wanted to explain further, she heard Zhao Yuanzhen instead say:

“Ningning, I’ll help you hit him, you just take care of the steak in the kitchen.”

No sooner had she spoken than she sat down hard on Yan Yu, almost making him run out of breath.