Chapter Twenty-One: Secret Assistance

Xiaoshan watched helplessly as the dazzling, radiant Soul-Stirring Sword came straight for his head! In that instant, his mind went completely blank.

He had never imagined that a simple sparring match could threaten his very life, that a moment’s carelessness could mean his “death.”

If heaven would grant him another chance, he would never ignore such a deadly danger. He would have dodged, or chosen a stronger weapon.

The sword was already at his ear, the wind had passed, and Xiaoshan’s thoughts had drifted far away. At this moment, he was helpless, not knowing what to do.

All he knew was that Ruoxi looked surprised, as if she had never intended to hurt him, let alone kill him.

He thought of a saying: if something is beyond your power to resist, no amount of planning will help.

At that moment, he closed his eyes and awaited death.

A thousand thoughts flashed through Xiaoshan’s mind, but reality lasted only a moment—the blade was about to touch him.

Ruoxi’s expression shifted dramatically; clearly, this outcome had caught her off guard as well.

The force you use is directly proportional to an object’s momentum.

If you push something with all your strength, it will move with great inertia—unless you’re a baby, who has little strength at all.

Ruoxi did not underestimate Xiaoshan, so she wielded the sword with all her might. When she realized the sword was about to break, it was impossible to instantly withdraw her strength and stop.

Even stopping force requires a buffer, a gradual halt.

Suddenly—crack!

The sound rang out, sharp and clear in Haotian and the others’ ears, and before their eyes.

The Soul-Stirring Sword instantly ceased its “slaughter,” veering off in the opposite direction.

The air around seemed compressed, leaves beside Ruoxi lifted and rippled in the sudden gust.

It was as if a tremendous force seized Ruoxi’s sword, spinning her half a turn where she stood. She gripped the hilt tightly, driving the Soul-Stirring Sword into the earth to halt herself.

“He still has a greater destiny—he must not fall!” Someone’s hand clenched into a fist, then slowly relaxed.

“Though this place is well preserved, we must not be careless!” With that, the figure leapt across the eaves of several houses to the east, disappearing from Lin Feng’s sight!

Almost at the same time, Lin Feng vanished onto the eastern roof as well!

Xiaoshan, eyes closed, felt nothing amiss—only a gust of wind brushing his face and the sound of a sword scraping earth; suddenly, all was silent around him.

He was astonished, his expression changing. He opened his eyes and saw Ruoxi kneeling on one knee, the tip of the Soul-Stirring Sword thrust into the ground.

He blinked, confused at what had just transpired.

“Was there a hidden master lending a hand?” Haotian glanced around and mused.

“Thank goodness!” Ruoxi murmured, her voice bubbling with relief, reaching Xiaoshan’s ears.

Two voices came to him, and Xiaoshan seemed to understand: someone had secretly intervened, diverting the sword’s path and saving him from disaster.

“Thank goodness someone helped him,” Ruoxi said with a relieved smile.

“Next time, I won’t spar with you using a wooden sword—it’s too frightening!” Xiaoshan laughed and scratched his head. He had no idea who had aided him; seeing no one else nearby, he buried his questions in his heart.

Ruoxi saw Xiaoshan behaving as if nothing had happened and let out a sigh of relief. She had worried he might develop a lingering shadow.

But Ruoxi did not see Xiaoshan’s fist clenched behind his back.

He was angry at his own weakness, at his inability to protect himself.

He did not know who he was, nor where this place was, but he knew he had to survive to learn the answers.

In the western courtyard, after a moment of silence, Haotian spoke, breaking the stillness.

“You all… keep playing! We’ll be leaving now,” Haotian said, glancing at the sky.

“Where to?” Xiaoshan asked after a pause.

“The Kilimanjaro Mountains!” Haotian pointed westward, answering without hesitation.

“Is it fun there?” Xiaoshan thought for a moment and asked.

“Yes, it’s quite interesting!” Hao Po looked up, seeming to ponder before responding.

“Then can we come with you?” Xiaoshan asked eagerly.

“Ruoxi, can you leave?” Xiaoshan suddenly remembered.

“I can, as long as someone accompanies me!” Ruoxi considered for a moment.

“Then can you bring us along?” Xiaoshan ignored the latter part of Ruoxi’s answer.

“Well…” Hao Po hesitated at the question, clearly uncertain.

“Don’t worry, just let them come! Ruoxi’s sword seems capable of withstanding that sort of thing!” Haotian whispered to the group.

“Better one more than one less!” Haotian added with a laugh.