“Thank you for your guidance, Shifu.”
Lin Dongming sheathed his longsword and bowed respectfully toward Zhao Yue.
He knew very well that, by Zhao Yue’s strict standards, receiving such praise was already quite an achievement. It was said that even his gifted senior brothers and sisters rarely earned such compliments.
Though, truth be told, he hadn’t actually met many of his seniors.
“The sword technique I taught you earlier—practice it well. Strive to break through as soon as possible,” Zhao Yue said routinely.
“Shifu,” Lin Dongming hesitated for a moment, then deliberately asked lightly, “If I get into trouble, will you punish me severely?”
“You brat,” Zhao Yue replied dismissively, “Are you planning to teach that Duyuan Peak disciple who’s been giving you trouble a lesson?”
Lin Dongming patted his head and bowed, “Shifu, your insight is unparalleled. I did think about it.”
“Too much patience can turn into a mental demon,” Zhao Yue sighed and shook her head.
“If you want to go, then go. After all, they’re the ones at fault. It won’t hurt to give their mastermind a warning. Just take it easy, and don’t let anyone recognize you.”
Lin Dongming was overjoyed, “Don’t worry! Even if I get recognized, I won’t betray Shifu!”
“You little rascal. Won’t I be the one to bail you out when the time comes?”
Zhao Yue laughed, half angry, half amused.
“Thank you, Shifu!”
Lin Dongming bowed again, then hurriedly left before Zhao Yue could regret it.
Watching Lin Dongming’s departing figure, Zhao Yue smiled faintly, “Youthful recklessness is sometimes a good thing. After all, we’re not practicing the Forgetting Dao; cultivation requires clear-mindedness.”
Lin Dongming changed into black clothes, put on a mask, and dashed straight toward Duyuan Peak.
“Going directly to the Dongfu would be too arrogant. Better to catch him on the way back,” Lin Dongming thought. He knew Hong Xing liked to drink and have fun at Shuiyunjian, so he decided to intercept him on his return.
“The only trouble is if I get unlucky, I might face multiple Jindan opponents. But if they’re just a bunch of drunks… it shouldn’t be a big problem,” Lin Dongming calculated as he concealed his form and hurried forward.
—Wait a moment?
Someone’s here?
Lin Dongming’s senses were sharper than most cultivators of his level. He quickly detected an ambush lying in wait within the nearby forest.
—A counter-ambush?
But the number of people is too small. Are they really this confident?
Before Lin Dongming could decide whether to attack or retreat, a sword qi shot toward him.
—Sword qi?
This opponent’s senses aren’t bad either.
Lin Dongming dodged to the side as a continuous stream of sword qi followed. Thanks to the Shenfa of the Tiandao Jingxin Jue, Lin Dongming barely avoided it.
But here, he had to avoid using his sect’s secret techniques as much as possible to prevent exposing his identity. This frustrated Lin Dongming greatly.
—This guy’s strength is even stronger than Bai Zhiqing’s.
The opponent’s control over spiritual power was exquisite, transforming it into countless fine needles raining down like a storm—hard to detect. Lin Dongming dodged left and right but didn’t strike back.
—No choice, it has to be a decisive strike.
Forced into a corner, Lin Dongming tried to disguise the Heavenly Mirror Peak swordsmanship as another style. He adopted the posture of drawing his blade, a cold gleam flashing.
Tiandao Jingxin Jue · Duan Shui!
The blade sliced through the opponent’s sword qi in a curved trajectory, aiming straight for the neck.
The sharp clash of metal rang out as the opponent barely blocked Lin Dongming’s strike at the last moment—a very quick reaction.
“Quick reflexes,” Lin Dongming smiled and withdrew a kick he was about to deliver. “But I guess our goal is the same. No need to kill each other here, Bai Shimei.”
“This time, I lost,” Bai Zhiqing said calmly. “Thank you for holding back, Senior Brother Lin.”
If that kick had landed, it definitely would have broken through Bai Zhiqing’s Huti Gangqi.
“You flatter me,” Lin Dongming teased. “Bai Shimei’s guts are pretty big to dare ambush Hong Xing.”
“Senior Brother Lin is no different,” Bai Zhiqing joked back.
“After all, a senior brother shouldn’t let a junior sister risk her life, right?”
Lin Dongming asked. “How did you figure out it was me?”
“Your Shenfa. Although you tried hard to hide it, being able to predict your opponent’s moves so accurately isn’t something many, even across the entire Heavenly Extreme Sword Sect, can do,” Bai Zhiqing explained.
Lin Dongming smiled wryly, “Really, huh?”
The Tiandao Jingxin Jue’s Mirror Heart technique allowed one to anticipate an opponent’s attack, so Lin Dongming dodged more than he defended. This set him apart from other sword cultivators.
“And how did you figure out it was me?”
Bai Zhiqing countered.
“Although the sword qi was from Duyuan Peak, the moves resembled yours too much, so I took a wild guess. Honestly, I’m only seventy or eighty percent sure,” Lin Dongming admitted without hesitation.
The two fell into thought after hearing each other’s words.
“What if Hong Xing recognizes us?”
“Let him,” Lin Dongming considered.
“It’s even more satisfying that way. Besides, he has no proof. Even if he tries to report us to Shifu, it won’t be easy to prove.”
“If worse comes to worst, after beating him up, just knock him hard on the back of the head. Hopefully, it’ll give him amnesia or change his personality,” Lin Dongming said helplessly.
Bai Zhiqing couldn’t help but chuckle, “Senior Brother Lin, you’re quite humorous. No wonder you’re called the Hua Hua Gongzi.”
Lin Dongming sighed helplessly, “Yeah, this ‘playboy’ title is impossible to shake off now.”
But Lin Dongming didn’t care at all. All he needed to do was protect Bai Zhiqing until the Mijingshili was over. Her favor wasn’t decisive, as long as it didn’t hinder the mission.
“However, Senior Brother Lin appearing here means Tuoba Elder doesn’t intend to intervene, right?”
Bai Zhiqing pondered. “Did you try talking to Tuoba Elder?”
Lin Dongming smiled bitterly, “Bai Shimei is truly smart.”
“Just a bit clever, forced by circumstances,” Bai Zhiqing shook her head. “Tuoba Elder’s support for me is limited. She generally won’t get involved in these matters.”
With things laid out so plainly, Lin Dongming naturally understood. In other words, financial backing was minor to Tuoba Elder; she wasn’t willing to offend the sect’s internal powers lightly.
Thinking about this, Bai Shimei’s reputation came with no small hardships. Being so adept at reading people, she must have endured plenty of beatings as well.
Lin Dongming suddenly wanted to give her a hug.
Though the thought flickered only briefly, he knew Bai Zhiqing had suffered a lot out of sight.
“It’s nothing serious,” Bai Zhiqing seemed to sense Lin Dongming’s gaze. “Compared to Outer Sect Disciples who run around all day chasing Spirit Stones yet never achieve Zhuji or Jiedan, I’m already quite lucky.”
Lin Dongming said nothing, only motioned for silence.
Hong Xing was coming.