Chapter 22

Translator: Exodus Tales

Editor: Exodus Tales

“What’s wrong? Are you okay kid?”

Shidon asked curiously as he looked at Fang Zheng. The high knight’s question was an understandable one, but the feeling Fang Zheng was giving him simply was too out of place. He still had his unyielding will, but one look at Fang Zheng’s face and he knew just how tired he was. It was as if he was still half asleep.

“It’s nothing, teacher… Just a nightmare.”

Fang Zheng shook his head helplessly.

In truth, it was far more than that.

“Nightmare? Hahaha, I didn’t think you’d be one to have nightmares… Your mind sure is free to be thinking about that stuff, seems like my training wasn’t harsh enough? Come, get up! Also, what’s the meaning of this?”

Shidon said as he looked at Fang Zheng’s waist. There wasn’t just the usual weapon he used for daily training; there was an extra short sword there.

“You’re playing with dual wielding or something?”

“Just trained some skills yesterday.”

Fang Zheng smiled bitterly. He wouldn’t mind chatting with Shidon a bit more if things were normal, but Fang Zheng wasn’t in the mood for it right now.

“So I wanted to try it out.”

“Try it out? Sure, kid, but let me remind you, don’t be thinking of shortcuts. The traditional training method may look old, but there is a reason why it stills sticks after so many generations. Right, let me see… Just what you’ve practiced!”

“Alright, teacher.”

With that, Fang Zheng moved his two hands and held the long and short swords out, eyeing Shidon seriously.

“Hm?”

Shidon paused abruptly after seeing the movement, his eyes were wide in surprise.

What… Was going on here with this kid?

Shidon was this surprised because, while he’d only been training 10 plus days with this kid, he understood him to some level. In his view, Fang Zheng had been acting alongside his predictions of him until yesterday. In truth, in the fight with Fang Zheng, he had realized that the young man had a strong fighting spirit. He didn’t seem to be good in melee combat, but he was good at controlling the playing ground, despite his sword skills being that of a new apprentice. This made Shidon curious. He could see that Fang Zheng was better at long-distance attacks, but his archery skills weren’t something to look at either. As for magic… This guy just didn’t look like a mage at all.

But, that was only until yesterday.

In truth, from the first time he met Fang Zheng today, Shidon felt that this young man was giving off a different vibe than usual. But he couldn’t pinpoint the cause. Looking at Fang Zheng pull his swords out, Shidon’s eyes lit up in understanding.

If it were to be said that Fang Zheng was still a newbie until yesterday, then the feeling he gave out now was that of a seasoned old warrior!

In Shidon’s eyes, the moment Fang Zheng held the two swords, he didn’t hold a balanced posture but quite the opposite; his left shoulder was lower, with his body slightly curved. It didn’t look like a good posture at all, and any normal person would think this soldier was bad at holding a sword, but not for Shidon. To him, this looked like a posture that allowed for attacking and backing off. In his eyes, Fang Zheng was like a tightened spring, staring him down. The moment he made a move on him, Fang Zheng would retaliate powerfully, or back off from his opponent.

What surprised Shidon, even more, was how natural Fang Zheng was when he made the move; it didn’t look intentional at all. This meant that he wasn’t forcing himself with thought into this stance; it was that this stance had already been embedded into his bones! This was a habit that old soldiers who’ve been through a mountain of corpses had, and it didn’t appear on young men!

A coincidence? Or was it…

With that thought, Shidon’s face tightened. He raised his two-handed sword and focused on Fang Zheng. In the next instant, he stepped forward in a burst, his giant sword swinging down at him like a thunderstrike!

What surprised him, however, was the fact that Fang Zheng was ready for it as his sword went out, as if he’d expected it. He rolled at almost the same time on the ground, barely avoiding the attack. Getting back up, he held his swords up and faced Shidon.

“You’ve improved.”

Looking at Fang Zheng, Shidon nodded. He’d showed a bit of opening intentionally for him, and if it had been the old Fang Zheng, he wouldn’t have made a response in time. Fang Zheng just now, however, reacted very quickly, his body performing multiple moves in one breath. The most important thing was how he’d held back from his desire to attack. This was the proper response of a true fighter. Charging forward to tough it out was something only newbies did, and any proper knight had the teaching to know when to attack and when to defend. Without the accurate judgment, only death awaited one. 

“Then, try this!”

Shidon right now was interested as well, and he raised his sword to attack once more.

Because this was only ‘training’, both Shidon and Fang Zheng didn’t use their flashy moves, the moves that shook their environment. It was pure swordsmanship, cutting, swiping. Under Shidon’s weight, the big sword made wind as it swiped at him, and Fang Zheng went left and right, dodging one after the other in a close call.

Interesting!

Shidon felt that Fang Zheng really was no simple man. From the looks of it, Fang Zheng may have seemed to be desperately avoiding his attacks, but only Shidon understood that these unappealing dodges were very high level. Not only was he able to make sure he’d be able to avoid the attack every time, he was able to hold on to a potential attack.

The most important thing, however, was the fact that he hadn’t attacked even once!

Shidon never even thought that it was because the guy was too busy dodging. He could feel a slight sense of threat the whole time, and the most important thing was how the sword in Fang Zheng’s left hand hadn’t been used even once. Shidon didn’t think that it was just that for show.

“Fuu!”

With a lunge, Shidon stabbed at Fang Zheng, who, as expected, rolled to the side instantly. Following that, Shidon used his right hand to raise the sword up, slashing it down at him.

At the same time, Fang Zheng stopped the roll right away, suddenly charging at him, the sword in his left hand aimed right at Shidon!

This was bad!

The move made Shidon tense up. He didn’t know what was wrong, but his battle instinct told him that this was a terrible blow!

Unfortunately, Shidon was too late to dodge; he could only watch as Fang Zheng’s left sword hit the hilt of his sword heavily.

A clang sounded, and the two swords clashed. Following that, the big sword was flung backward. It was an unbelievable sight, but it wasn’t what Shidon was focused on. At this moment, he felt cold sweat appearing on his skin.

He’d realized, to his horror, that the instant Fang Zheng made his attack, it was as if he’d lost all strength and couldn’t even stand, as if his body wasn’t his. He knelt down on the ground! His right hand, naturally, couldn’t hold the weapon up, and it was blown outward as well.

Shidon couldn’t even dodge right now, and he could only watch as Fang Zheng’s right hand came at him!

Fang Zheng’s sword tip touched Shidon, and Shidon felt his body return to him. In that instant, under the pressure of death, Shidon unleashed his strength without hesitation or choice!

A rumble sounded, and violent winds flew out from Shidon, forming a storm armor around him. Fang Zheng never expected his opponent to ‘play dirty’ at the last moment, and he was flung out onto the ground heavily.

Fortunately, though, Shidon had reacted as he looked at Fang Zheng lying on the ground. His mature face reddened as he put away his strength.

“Teacher, that’s so…”Fang Zheng said helplessly at the high knight from the ground. What happened to their duel test? He’d almost won and this is how his teacher treated him? Where was the basic trust between people?

“Ah… This is my bad, it’s my loss, my loss.”

Shidon was still blushing a little after looking at Fang Zheng. He admitted defeat. His eyes lit up soon, though, as if remembering something as he looked at the kid, before turning away. He made sure no one was around them before pulling Fang Zheng up and holding him by the neck. He spoke softly by his ear.

“Hey, kid, when did you learn this thing… Could this be the inheritance of the holy soul?”