Chapter 194: Little Cutie

"That name isn't bad.

"It gets straight to the point and expresses the meaning directly."

Zheng Fan clapped his hands.

And just like that the matter was settled.

The little sword attendant froze.

She truly could not understand how this "boss" could so casually decide her name like that.

The moment she imagined being called this every day for the next twenty years—

"Hey, Sword Maid, eaten yet?"

"Morning, Sword Maid!"

"Nice weather today, Sword Maid."

—the little sword attendant felt dangerously close to exploding.

Of course, when clever people exploded and when idiots exploded, the methods were completely different.

The little sword attendant suddenly asked, "How long have you been stuck at Eighth Grade?"

"Mm?"

Zheng Fan had just been preparing to take Siniang's hand and return inside to review yesterday's needlework.

Hearing the girl's question he stopped immediately.

Then he sat back down in the reclining chair.

Crossed one leg.

And a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"I feel like it's been quite a while.

"But when I think about it, maybe it hasn't actually been that long."

Purely judging by cultivation time—

Zheng Fan genuinely counted as a genius.

It was not merely Ding Hao who had confirmed that.

Li Fusheng had as well.

The blood and qi inside Zheng Fan's body were innately vigorous.

He practically possessed the perfect foundation for martial cultivation.

Unfortunately his pressure was enormous.

He had seven Demon Kings strapped to his back advancing together with him.

If he stayed stuck at one realm for too long he could practically see a ravenous, man-eating hunger inside the Demon Kings' eyes.

The feeling resembled an elderly landlord returning home only to find more than a dozen concubines staring directly at him.

"I can help you advance from Eighth Grade to Seventh Grade."

"What Grade are you?"

"I have no Grade."

The little sword attendant answered as though this were perfectly natural.

"Master said I'm a natural Sword Embryo.

"My sword intent formed naturally.

"Learning the sword is the same as training martial arts.

"Before the bones finish developing and the body settles into shape, forcing cultivation is nothing but pulling up seedlings to help them grow.

"But even though I haven't entered the Grades—

"I can still see."

"A king with nothing but mouth skill?"

"What mouth? What king?"

The little sword attendant frowned slightly.

The Blind Man quietly set down his teacup.

"Continue."

Whether Zheng Fan advanced or not mattered enormously.

Every additional layer of strength recovered by the Demon Kings meant greater freedom in all their future plans.

At the very least if every Demon King reached Seventh Grade, given how nearly invincible they were among opponents at the same level, Zheng Fan would effectively have seven experts around the Sixth-to-Seventh Grade range beside him.

More importantly certain people's special abilities would finally become usable again.

The little sword attendant feared the Blind Man most.

She seemed capable of reading most people's temperament, and because of that, she never dared provoke him.

So she immediately continued.

"Before Seventh Grade, Martial Artists and swordsmen actually walk the same path.

"The real dividing line between the two is right here.

"For a Martial Artist—the focus lies in nourishing one's own blood and qi.

"Use strength to shape the body.

"Use qi to break through barriers.

"When blood and qi can be released and withdrawn at will, when the blood and qi become one—only then can one reach Seventh Grade.

"For a swordsman—blood-and-qi cultivation is temporarily set aside at this stage.

"Instead, one focuses on stabilizing and nurturing sword intent.

"Use sword intent to control blood and qi.

"Use blood and qi to replenish sword intent.

"Only once the sword intent can be released outward can one enter Seventh Grade.

"The methods appear different.

"But fundamentally—they are the same.

"Both use different means to achieve the outward release of blood and qi."

Zheng Fan listened.

Then asked, "So you're saying that if I want to advance quickly—

"I need to go practice some damned sword intent too?"

Truthfully—

Zheng Fan rather liked the image of a swordsman.

Most people possessed some kind of swordsman dream.

But perhaps because his starting point in this world had been Yan and Yan people favored sabers, especially their cavalry sabers, which were killing weapons on the battlefield—

Garrison Commander Zheng had slowly grown fond of using a saber instead.

Once a weapon became comfortable in the hand once one became accustomed to it whether one actually liked it no longer mattered much.

Changing felt troublesome.

"No.

"It's because you have him beside you!"

Sitting on Fan Li's shoulder, the little sword attendant pointed toward the Blind Man.

"He possesses an extremely strange ability.

"He can control objects."

For a moment everyone present except Fan Li understood what she meant.

Zheng Fan rubbed his chin.

"You mean I should have the Blind Man use his mental power to help guide the blood and qi inside my body outward.

"Then use that shortcut to force my advancement?"

"Mental power?

"Is that what you call that invisible force?"

The little sword attendant looked curious.

The Blind Man turned toward Zheng Fan.

"Master.

"That method is inadvisable."

Zheng Fan nodded.

"Mm."

Everything had to proceed step by step.

Using mental power to forcibly drive the blood and qi inside his body until it reached the state of external release would indeed have a high probability of allowing him to advance.

But such a method of artificially ripening something often carried terrifying side effects.

Put another way how would that be any different from Prince Fu swallowing pills?

It might even permanently trap Zheng Fan at Seventh Grade.

Then every Demon King would spend the rest of their lives trapped at the same level.

Anyone with genuine long-term vision would not willingly drain the pond to catch the fish.

"Why not?

"Don't tell me you're still dreaming of becoming a true powerhouse?"

In the little sword attendant's eyes, this man named Zheng Fan possessed an extremely utilitarian nature.

And people with strong utilitarian instincts often found it difficult to travel far along the path of cultivation.

A person had only so much time in one life.

Only so much energy.

If you wanted to devote yourself completely to one thing you naturally had to neglect others.

"I don't like hearing that," Zheng Fan said.

Fan Li nodded.

Then stretched out one finger.

Thunk!

He flicked the little sword attendant directly on the forehead.

"Oww!

"That hurts!"

Zheng Fan ignored the sword attendant after that.

He turned toward the Blind Man instead.

"Li Fusheng told me that if I want to break through—

"I need to nurture killing intent."

The Blind Man said, "Then perhaps Master simply hasn't killed enough people lately?"

"Probably."

There was actually one sentence no one present said aloud.

The reason Zheng Fan had killed fewer people lately was because every time he entered a battlefield the Demon Kings guarded him from every direction.

But they also could not stop guarding him.

Because if Zheng Fan died there was a very real possibility all of them would instantly die with him.

"Once we reach Jin, we'll see.

"Even if the Jin people don't rebel—there are still wild men, aren't there?"

There were many wild-men settlements throughout Jin's Heavenbreak Mountains.

"All right.

"You keep sunning yourselves.

"I'm heading inside to rest."

"Yes, Master."

Zheng Fan rose from the reclining chair and headed back toward the fortress.

Siniang followed beside him.

Just before reaching his room—

Zheng Fan suddenly noticed A'Ming and Liang Cheng sitting together.

Each held a cup.

Ice rested beside them.

"Master."

"Master."

"Oh.

"Having a drink?"

Zheng Fan greeted them casually.

A'Ming smiled faintly.

"Master, would you like to join us?"

"No.

"I'm not especially fond of blood pudding."

After watching Zheng Fan enter his room—

Liang Cheng and A'Ming silently lifted their cups together.

Clink.

Then both drained them in a single swallow.

A'Ming lowered his cup.

He shook his head.

"When two people eat together, the meal feels livelier and the food tastes better.

"But when two people drink this together... it somehow feels strange."

Liang Cheng nodded.

He felt the same way.

"Does this count as being unable to share prosperity together?"

During the march and the war the two of them had shared a tent.

They could drink a little at night and the days passed naturally enough.

Now that the war was over they were back and each possessed his own room again.

Forcing themselves to sit together and drink somehow ruined the atmosphere instead.

After all whether zombie or vampire neither was particularly fond of crowds.

Both preferred solitude.

"Don't let the others hear you say that."

Otherwise it would become another joke they endlessly recycled.

"Bored people will always find a way to remain bored."

A'Ming stood.

He picked up the ice and his wine jug.

Then strolled slowly toward his own room.

However, when he reached the door he stopped.

Instinctively, something felt wrong about the entrance.

But he could not tell what.

After hesitating for a moment he decided not to overthink it.

A'Ming pushed open the door.

The first thing that entered his vision was two sets of armor hanging just inside.

Then, buzz!

An arrow punched directly through both suits of armor.

In the next instant it pierced straight through A'Ming's chest.

"Heh.

"Not bad.

"Armor-piercing effect looks pretty good."

Xue San's voice came from inside the room.

A'Ming bit his lip.

He looked at the wine jug in his hand.

Took a drink.

Then lowered his head and watched liquid begin dripping from the wound in his chest.

He pushed aside the armor hanging in front of him.

Inside the room—

Xue San was fiddling with a crossbow.

The weapon remained mostly wooden in construction.

But certain key components seemed to use unusual materials.

They even gave off a faint crystalline shine.

"A'Ming.

"Come take a look.

"This is the new toy I cooked up.

"An improved crossbow bolt.

"I used crystal sold by Western merchant caravans.

"It's a little expensive.

"But the penetration really is damned impressive.

"Mass production is impossible.

"But if we equip a special squad with these later, the results should be excellent.

"Think about it.

"If a twenty-man assassination squad gets close to the target and unleashes a point-blank volley—even a martial grandmaster would probably get a few holes punched through him, right?"

"So earlier—you hid inside my room on purpose and waited for me to return so you could shoot me?"

"Exactly.

"You have to test something like this on a living person.

"And your reaction speed is already fast.

"That makes you the perfect test target.

"It penetrated two layers of elite armor and you still failed to dodge.

"Heh heh.

"Though when we use these later, we'll probably have to smear something fragrant on the arrowheads and raise a few dogs to help recover them.

"These things are too expensive to lose."

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

"Of course I didn't tell you.

"If I had, would you have agreed?

"You'll only let Master shoot you.

"Would you let me shoot you?"

"So you simply decided not to ask?"

"Exactly.

"It's not like one bolt is going to kill you.

"Next month, deduct the cost from my share.

"I'll have a new outfit made for you as compensation.

"Heh heh."

"Heh."

A'Ming laughed too.

Then, two fangs appeared at the corners of his mouth.

The aura around him began growing increasingly dark and sinister.

"Little fellow... you're getting naughtier and naughtier."

But just as A'Ming began walking toward Xue San step by step he stopped again.

Because Xue San had silently reloaded the crossbow.

This bolt had an arrowhead gleaming silver.

Pure silver.

"............" A'Ming.

Xue San held the crossbow.

He yawned.

Then happily rocked his body from side to side three little boat oars beneath him stirring imaginary waves.

"Everyone gets to be a little cutie sometimes, right?"

(End of Chapter)