Chapter 140: Sister Showdown
The next day.
Today is a big day for the Sword Palace.
The grand competition of the Sword Palace is about to begin.
Early in the morning, all the disciples of the Sword Palace gathered in the square, eagerly waiting for the competition to kick off.
Sang Zhe also got up early and arrived at the platform beside the square, right next to Gu Yingmian’s seat.
“Young Master Sang, good morning.”
Gu Yingmian had arrived early too and whispered to Sang Zhe, “Coming here so early, looks like you’re quite interested in the Sword Palace competition!”
“Of course! It’s a rare event; I had to show my face and join the fun.”
Sang Zhe cheerfully moved a chair to sit beside Gu Yingmian.
“It’s just a shallow sparring between disciples. I didn’t think it would catch Young Master Sang’s eye,” Gu Yingmian said with a faint smile. “If even one of my unworthy disciples could reach Young Master Sang’s remarkable level of swordsmanship, I’d already be satisfied.”
“The Sword Flower Palace has so many talented people; they might not fall short of their seniors in the future.”
Sang Zhe feigned indifference, but honestly, he wasn’t there just to watch swordplay.
Come on, is there anything more entertaining than watching women fight?
Well, yes.
That would be a group of young, beautiful girls with long legs and big chests duking it out.
Not to mention the epic rivalry of Chun Lan and Qiu Ju, this kind of fun doesn’t come around often!
As the disciples of the Sword Palace began to prepare for their matches, Gu Yingmian casually asked, “Young Master Sang… did you repair the Dream Jun Sword yesterday?”
“Uh-huh.”
Sang Zhe pretended to be profound. “The Dream Jun Sword is indeed a semi-divine artifact. The materials used are something even I have never heard of.”
“But the repair of weapons is all about the same principle—just coordinate the materials and then nurture it.”
“The materials of the Dream Jun Sword are special and require more nurturing time. Please be patient, Palace Master,” he added.
Gu Yingmian nodded slightly.
She wasn’t in a hurry.
For her, practicing swords for a few days or a few decades felt the same.
Besides, every time Sang Zhe nurtured the Dream Jun Sword, she could feel a subtle feedback.
That feeling… was not bad.
After some light banter, the matches began to gradually start.
Due to the rule of not using cultivation power, it was nothing more than a basic swordsmanship exhibition, so the viewing experience was somewhat lackluster.
Gu Yingmian only cast a bored glance.
Sang Zhe, however, watched with much enthusiasm.
Though the Sword Palace grand competition was nominally a sparring between disciples, as disciples of the holy Sword Flower Palace, these girls had their pride and weren’t willing to lose easily.
So during the matches, they fought seriously and fiercely.
Occasionally, clothes would rip as a result of sword energy, which made Sang Zhe cheer with excitement.
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
If girls are going to fight, there has to be some wardrobe malfunction to make it worthwhile!
If only there was a defeat CG!
Among the dazzling matches, the most eye-catching were the sisters Chun Lan and Qiu Ju.
Due to Sang Zhe’s hellish gymnastics training, their swordsmanship had skyrocketed.
The other disciples didn’t stand a chance against them, easily falling before their blades.
Even the senior sisters older than them could only barely hold on for a few exchanges before conceding defeat in frustration.
As the number of participants dwindled in the square, the sisters increasingly captured everyone’s attention.
The first to notice was Gu Yingmian.
“…Huh?”
Upon seeing the sword technique Chun Lan used, Gu Yingmian felt a pang of confusion.
Although it was indeed a fierce and strong sword intent.
But it was somewhat different from the set she taught her.
Had that little girl modified it based on her own learning?
Besides, she hadn’t taught that technique to her for long, so how was her progress so rapid?
Could it be that she had underestimated her talent?
And on the other side, Qiu Ju also caught Gu Yingmian’s surprise.
Qiu Ju was currently using a set of softer sword techniques that Gu Yingmian had never taught her before.
But she executed it with remarkable ease, just like her sister.
“Chun Lan and Qiu Ju’s swordsmanship… seems a bit unfamiliar.”
Seeing this, Sang Zhe promptly whispered:
“Recently, Chun Lan and Qiu Ju often helped my younger sister with daily living and occasionally asked her about sword techniques.”
“I didn’t dare to overstep, but sometimes I couldn’t help but give a few pointers.”
“Please forgive me, Palace Master.”
Gu Yingmian merely nodded, “No problem. Young Master Sang’s skill in swordsmanship is more than enough to guide them.”
“I’m not that narrow-minded. As long as it’s beneficial to their sword training, it’s their fortune to receive your guidance.”
“However… this makes things interesting,” she suddenly narrowed her eyes.
“The sisters have always been evenly matched. I wonder who has improved more after your pointers, Young Master Sang?”
“Young Master Sang, if the sisters fought each other, who do you think would win?”
Sang Zhe pondered seriously.
“Qiu Ju would win.”
“Oh? Why is that?” Gu Yingmian seemed surprised by his answer.
“It has nothing to do with swordsmanship.”
“It’s not that Qiu Ju’s skill is superior to Chun Lan’s,” Sang Zhe explained slowly, “but because she is the younger sister.”
“If the sisters were to face off, Qiu Ju wouldn’t hold back against Chun Lan.”
“But Chun Lan… wouldn’t want to hurt Qiu Ju.”
Their starting points were entirely different.
Chun Lan’s goal was to get stronger to protect Qiu Ju, to ensure no one bullies her.
But Qiu Ju aimed to surpass Chun Lan and to bring her sister back from the wrong path.
An older sister protects her younger sister, while the younger sister can be spoiled in front of her older sister.
That’s what siblings are all about.
Gu Yingmian seemed to struggle to grasp Sang Zhe’s words: “I don’t quite understand… but based on their current swordsmanship, they still seem evenly matched.”
“If their swordsmanship is hard to distinguish, why would Chun Lan lose?”
Sang Zhe stole a glance at Gu Yingmian.
This girl truly had a simple mind.
Her head was filled with only swords. Only matters related to swords could be accepted by her.
Anything unrelated was selectively ignored.
By her logic, if their swordsmanship levels were similar, they should be evenly matched.
“Why don’t you make a bet with me, Palace Master?”
Gu Yingmian’s beautiful eyes lit up: “Oh?”
“I bet Qiu Ju will win,” Sang Zhe said seriously. “If I lose, I’ll transcribe a sword technique from memory to be kept in the Sword Flower Palace.”
Gu Yingmian nodded, “Then I bet it will be a tie or Chun Lan will win. If I lose, what then?”
“I just hope you’ll let me use the Dream Jun Sword a few more days.”
“…Deal.”
With the wager set, Sang Zhe and Gu Yingmian both found their enthusiasm renewed, focusing intently on the square.
Soon, only a handful of participants remained in the square.
As expected, the last two standing were none other than the sisters Chun Lan and Qiu Ju.
No one was surprised by this outcome.
Meanwhile, the eliminated disciples gathered by the square, chatting among themselves.
“Wow, Chun Lan and Qiu Ju’s sword skills have improved again. Impressive!”
“Last time, I lasted at least ten moves, but this time it was only three!”
“Hey, but it feels like… the atmosphere between them today isn’t quite right.”
“Are they arguing? Just look at their eyes; the tension is palpable.”
In the square, Chun Lan, dressed in a plain white training skirt, had her hair tied back in a ponytail, her eyes focused and serious.
On the other side, Qiu Ju wore the same outfit, her hair styled up.
The two sisters, strikingly similar in appearance, stared each other down like mirror images.
“…You brat.”
Chun Lan suddenly said in a low voice: “You can’t beat me. Just admit defeat. I’m afraid if I go all out, I might hurt you.”
She knew her sister was timid; whenever she was confronted, she would retreat in fear.
But this time, Qiu Ju bit her lip and shook her head seriously.
“I won’t!”
“I will definitely win against you, sister.”
“What’s the point?” Chun Lan scoffed, “You know, you’re just a coward at heart. All you ever do is apologize to others and have no spine when bullied.”
“No matter how good your swordsmanship or how high your cultivation level, what’s the use?”
“I—I will change…” Qiu Ju cried out, both anxious and aggrieved. “I won’t always hide behind my sister.”
“Sister, why do you have to win against me? Will losing to me embarrass you? Just because you’re the older sister?”
“I don’t…” Chun Lan frowned.
“Sister, have you been secretly meeting Young Master Sang recently?”
Qiu Ju suddenly glared at her, eyes turning slightly red.
Chun Lan’s body trembled, but her face remained unchanged: “And so what? I just went to ask Young Master Sang for sword techniques.”
“Just that? Nothing else?”
Chun Lan paused for a moment but still shook her head.
She didn’t want to tell her sister about secretly using the cultivation jade.
But Qiu Ju’s disappointed eyes deepened as she looked at her.
“…Sister, you’re such a big fool.”
“And what about you?” Chun Lan snapped, slightly irritated: “You’ve been secretly seeking out that guy, Sang Zhe, behind my back, haven’t you?”
“I—I was just…”
“Right, little sister has grown wings. As long as she finds a handsome guy skilled in swordsmanship to protect herself, she doesn’t need her sister anymore.”
Chun Lan’s eyes blinked rapidly, gritting her teeth: “Do you think I don’t know how you’re fawning over him?”
“Eh?” Qiu Ju froze for a moment.
“Why do you need to be so close to that guy? Have you developed feelings for him?”
“Have you not seen a man in so long that you fell for Sang Zhe just like that?” Chun Lan’s eyes reddened.
Seeing her sister’s somewhat furious look, Qiu Ju suddenly realized something.
Sister… doesn’t she have feelings for Young Master Sang?
And she mistakenly thought I liked him too, which is why she’s so angry?
Chun Lan also secretly gritted her teeth.
Her silly sister had developed feelings for an outsider.
She’ll surely be taken advantage of sooner or later.
I must protect her.
Only Sang Zhe was just like: “…Huh?”
“I see…”
After a brief silence, Qiu Ju’s eyes gradually filled with determination: “But I still won’t lose to you, sister.”
“Is that so?”
Chun Lan let out a cold laugh: “Then if you lose later, don’t come crying to me.”
The two locked eyes for a moment.
In the next second, sword lights flashed.
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