Chapter 475 457: A Mere Mortal, How Dare You Call Yourself a Sword Immortal

Little Yueqiu's speed at learning the sword was even faster than Pei Yuhang remembered Qing Yueqiu's being in her childhood. Her bright, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with astonishing comprehension; she grasped any basic Sword Technique the moment it was shown to her.

Whenever Pei Yuhang finished demonstrating a move, Little Yueqiu would immediately replicate it without a single flaw.

He could clearly sense that with every swing of the sword, Little Yueqiu's entire demeanor underwent a subtle change.

At first, she still had a child's naivety, but gradually, her straightened spine and the way she held her chin slightly raised while holding the sword began to overlap with his memory of that great disciple who was as cold as frost.

In just two short hours, she had learned all the basic movements of swordsmanship.

Or rather, this wasn't learning at all.

It was simply Little Yueqiu rediscovering the power that had belonged to her all along.

"Master, is this right?"

Little Yueqiu suddenly withdrew her sword and turned. Sweat plastered stray strands of hair to her cheeks, but it couldn't hide the vibrant light dancing in her eyes.

"Yes, Yueqiu. You've done very well."

Pei Yuhang praised Little Yueqiu with a smile, making her grin happily and even reveal her pearly-white canines.

'I must be amazing,' Little Yueqiu thought. 'Way better than that woman named Qing Yueqiu!'

Pei Yuhang's eyes flickered as he thought, 'So the key to unlocking Yueqiu's sealed memories is the sword?'

'If I can get her a fine sword and let her re-experience the feeling of wielding a blade, perhaps her memories will return!'

Pei Yuhang thoughtfully stroked his chin, his gaze falling on Little Yueqiu's slender fingers gripping the Wooden Sword. A flash of anticipation crossed his eyes.

But then, Pei Yuhang looked out the window. The sun was setting behind the western mountains, its blood-red light casting a dark crimson glow on the side of his face.

Without realizing it, he and Little Yueqiu had spent another day in this town fraught with peril.

Last night and all day today, the eerie town had been unsettlingly calm, but Pei Yuhang knew that a dark tide surged beneath the tranquility.

'Tonight, they won't be able to restrain themselves any longer.'

'Even I can sense the changes in Little Yueqiu. How could Ji Shenyun, who controls Yueqiu's Sea of Consciousness, possibly miss them?'

'The enemy's assault is likely to become even more ferocious.'

Pei Yuhang had a premonition. After he dealt with tonight's enemies, Ji Shenyun would have to make her move personally.

"Yueqiu."

"What is it, Master?"

Little Yueqiu looked up at Pei Yuhang. For some reason, ever since she started practicing the sword, she felt a growing attachment to this white-clothed young master whom she had met by chance.

Now, she truly saw him as her master.

In front of Pei Yuhang, Little Yueqiu unconsciously straightened her small back, wanting to show him her very best self.

'I will become Pei Yuhang's most prized disciple.'

'Far surpassing that Qing Yueqiu!'

Pei Yuhang didn't notice that Little Yueqiu's thoughts were sliding toward a certain extreme.

At that moment, Pei Yuhang was focusing all his energy on the potential enemy attack that night.

A grave expression appeared on his jade-like face.

"Yueqiu, it might be very dangerous tonight. Stay in your room, and don't open the door for anyone... not even if you hear my voice.

I have the key, so I won't need you to open it."

Little Yueqiu's pupils constricted. She asked worriedly, "Master, are you going out tonight?"

"Yes. There are some things that need to be settled."

Little Yueqiu watched as Pei Yuhang picked up the Silent Sword and walked out. She clenched her fists but ultimately said nothing.

'Right now, I'm his weakness. I'm too weak.'

'I have to avoid causing him trouble. As I am now, I'm not nearly qualified to fight by his side.'

CREAK—

Pei Yuhang closed the door and paused for a moment before taking out the cyan Jade Pendant that contained a sliver of Spiritual Qi.

With his own Cultivation sealed, every last bit of Spiritual Qi in the cyan Jade Pendant was exceptionally precious.

'It should only be used in a life-or-death situation.'

But tonight, Pei Yuhang had no time to look after Little Yueqiu's safety. For her sake, he had to use this Spiritual Qi to lay a simple Defense Array.

'The Spiritual Qi stored in this cyan Jade Pendant is roughly equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Perfection level,' he calculated. 'If I'm careful, I can probably use it about ten times.'

In Pei Yuhang's opinion, the only enemy within this Sea of Consciousness worth taking seriously was the enigmatic Ji Shenyun. As for the others, they were ordinary mortals he could easily dispatch without using Spiritual Qi.

Therefore, the amount of Spiritual Qi stored in the Jade Pendant was more than enough.

Pei Yuhang took a deep breath, drawing the Spiritual Qi from the Jade Pendant out into the air. It condensed into a Profound and Mysterious Rune Inscription that slowly merged into the space before Little Yueqiu's door.

...

...

The sun finally sank behind the western mountains. A deathly pale moon quietly climbed the branches, casting a cold halo over the sleeping town. The night wind whimpered through the empty streets and alleys, and a chill spread through the pitch-black night.

WHOOSH—

At the head of the bridge, Su Ziheng, who had been sitting and fishing for two days, finally felt his rod tremble. He had a bite.

But he didn't reel in his line. Instead, he rose and looked toward the end of the deserted main street, where a handsome figure in white had appeared.

"What is your name?"

Su Ziheng gazed at the man, whose beauty seemed otherworldly, and marveled that he had never heard of such a figure before.

"The Cold Sun Sword Immortal, Pei Yuhang."

Su Ziheng's expression froze. His eyes widened, and then he suddenly erupted into a crazed peal of laughter, a sound laced with fury and ridicule.

"...Hahaha! Young Master Pei, you must be joking, right?"

Su Ziheng licked the corner of his lips, finding the other man utterly ridiculous.

'A mere mortal... no matter how exquisite his martial arts, how dare he call himself a Sword Immortal?'

'Arrogance!'

'The height of arrogance!'

Su Ziheng had never met someone so arrogant. And he... he hated arrogant people more than anything!

Su Ziheng, who had initially been inclined to chat a bit more with this peerlessly handsome, white-clothed Swordsman, now lost all interest.

He clapped his hands, the sharp sound cracking through the night air.

Instantly, wooden windows on both sides of the street flew open, and countless townspeople emerged from the shadows.

Their faces were hidden in darkness, their expressions unreadable, but the crossbows in their hands were as steady as stone. Under the Moonlight, the cold arrowheads merged into a shimmering sea of stars.

The windows of the buildings lining the main street were all open, countless townspeople aiming their crossbows at the handsome figure in white.

"Kill him! Your Majesty will reward you handsomely!"

At Su Ziheng's command, a sky full of arrows rained down like a torrential storm, completely surrounding Pei Yuhang.

Yet Pei Yuhang merely lifted his gaze, his eyes as deep and still as an ancient well, showing not the slightest ripple.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his white robes purer than snow, as if the surrounding killing intent were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

Su Ziheng narrowed his eyes, a vein pulsing at his temple.

He stared fixedly at Pei Yuhang's unruffled posture, his knuckles cracking audibly.

'It's come to this, and you're still putting on an act?'

A nameless rage surged within him, yet it was mixed with an inexpressible dread.

He gritted his teeth. 'My own martial skill is among the best in the world, yet even I would be grievously wounded trying to escape this downpour of arrows.'

'Even if this white-clothed Swordsman is stronger than me, there's a limit to what a mortal can achieve. How much stronger can he possibly be?'

'No matter how skilled you are, you're still made of flesh and blood! You can't stand up to steel! Ruptured organs, massive blood loss—you'll die all the same!'

'You are just a mortal!'

'How dare you be so—composed!'

Just as Su Ziheng's thoughts were churning, Pei Yuhang moved!

He spun, his movements as light as a drifting cloud, and the first arrow grazed a strand of his hair.

Then, more arrows came surging forward, tearing through the air.

But Pei Yuhang's steps were unhurried, his robes fluttering as he strolled through the impenetrable rain of arrows as if taking a walk in a garden.

Every turn of his head, every spin of his body, precisely dodged the whistling arrows.

His placid expression made it seem as if he were not in a life-or-death battle, but admiring flowers beneath the moon.

Of the hundreds, even thousands of arrows, not one managed to even touch the hem of his robe!

Su Ziheng's pupils shrank as he watched Pei Yuhang walk toward him, striding through the rain of arrows.

His throat bobbed, and cold sweat slicked his palms. He unconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

But the sword at his waist offered the Martial Champion Scholar of the Zhao Kingdom not a shred of security.

'I'll lose... I'll die!'

'This guy... maybe he really isn't mortal!'

'A Sword Immortal... do such transcendent beings really exist in this world?'

"Quick, aid me!"

Su Ziheng roared, his voice carrying a tremor he himself failed to notice.

At that moment, six powerful auras erupted.

Including Su Ziheng, they were seven of the world's finest Martial Artists, determined to vanquish the White-clothed Sword Immortal in this remote town!

If any of them were to make it out alive to tell the tale, perhaps future generations would call this "The Crusade of the Seven Martialists"!