Chapter 76: The Lord of Ten Thousand Blades (6)
The attack missed its mark. That was only natural. After all, I had only received shallow knowledge through memories.
My body couldn’t adapt. It was unreasonable to expect mastery of a martial art so exceptional that it was called a divine technique in such a short time.
Even so, I had achieved the desired result. Silence fell over the hall. Everyone was staring up at me in shock.
I used that moment to catch my breath. The unfamiliar transitions in the incantations had put a strain on my body.
A sharp pain spread along the paths where mana was engraved into my flesh.
"This is..."
The one to break the silence was Yeonhwa, the woman who had been using the flexible sword. The technique I had just displayed was unmistakably Formless Flying Swordsmanship. A divine technique that not just anyone could inherit had been executed by a mere young girl.
"Did you receive personal instruction in Formless Flying Swordsmanship?"
My breathing had returned to normal. I made a small gesture toward the air. In response, the sword embedded in the ground pulled itself free and returned to its place behind my back.
"Does one have to learn it in order to use it?"
"What...?"
"I saw and learned."
She was no easy opponent. I was confident I wouldn’t lose, but I also couldn’t guarantee a decisive victory.
That was the impression I had when our swords clashed. So, I threw a statement at her that would shake her mental state.
I saw and learned. She wouldn’t believe it. Instead, she would assume I had learned martial arts through some past connection with Manjianzi. Most of the people here didn’t believe my words.
After all, I had only entered Manjian Gate earlier today. It was absurd to think that I could have learned a martial art of such caliber, one revered as a divine technique, in such a short time. Moreover, Manjianzi had been preoccupied with a busy schedule ever since welcoming me.
Everyone knew that. I felt the weight of their skeptical gazes and smiled faintly. It didn’t matter if they didn’t fully believe me. Planting even a small seed of doubt was enough.
That doubt would unsettle them. They would start to wonder. Would their martial arts be stolen the moment they crossed swords with me?
'She moved like this...'
I searched my memories, recalling Yeonhwa’s movements. I couldn’t take large stances while standing on the narrow pillar, but I could still mimic the way she wielded her sword.
It didn’t have to be perfect. Even if it was just similar, it would make my opponent tense up. As my small hand gripped the White Dragon Sword, a brief sword dance unfolded.
Those who had been watching the fight realized it immediately. The movements I displayed were an imitation of Yeonhwa’s own swordplay.
"Is it so difficult to learn by watching? Why are you all so shocked? Your swordsmanship was easy to learn. All I needed was the key to the incantation..."
"I-I can’t believe it."
"You don’t have to believe it. I’ll simply take more from you."
At my words, Yeonhwa took a step back. Her face showed clear signs of distress. It had to be an outrageous bluff. After all, my earlier movements had been sloppy.
Yet she couldn’t erase the image from her mind. The strike I had delivered just moments ago—the one that split the moonlight and came crashing down toward the ground—was burned into her memory.
'Maybe she learned it in the past... But if that were the case, why would she need to take the entrance test?'
I looked down at Yeonhwa. Her confidence had wavered. It didn’t seem like this fight would continue any longer. I thought so as I returned the White Dragon Sword to its sheath.
Step—
A faint footstep echoed, accompanied by an overwhelming presence. No one had sensed the approach. The delayed reactions of the spectators all turned in unison toward a single point.
"Your energy control is rough. No—considering your case, it would be more accurate to say that your mana control is rough. Am I wrong?"
The owner of the presence was Manjianzi. Walking forward with his hands clasped behind his back, he looked up at me and spoke. When I didn’t respond, he smiled slightly and continued.
"What are you all doing? I’m here, yet no one is drinking?"
He didn’t seem particularly concerned about my clash with Yeonhwa. Yeonhwa hesitated for a moment before stepping toward him. But Manjianzi simply walked past her without a second glance.
"Sit down, everyone. Isn’t this supposed to be a joyous occasion? If you all keep frowning like that, the drinks will taste bitter."
It was a clear command—be quiet and take your seats. I had no choice but to comply this time. My form, which had been swaying atop the pillar, descended like a feather, landing gently in my original seat.
As Manjianzi took a drink in his hand, the halted banquet resumed. The soft strains of instrumental music filled the background. It sounded like someone plucking strings, but the melody was unfamiliar.
Then, Manjianzi spoke quietly, resting his chin on one hand.
"So, you say you learn by watching?"
I turned my head toward him. He was looking at me with an ambiguous expression. His eyes gleamed with curiosity, as if he were observing something fascinating. Taking a sip from his cup, he continued.
"Then try copying this."
The empty cup in his hand began to spin. As his energy enveloped the cup, its shape gradually morphed, rounding out.
He had altered the shape of the cup using only his control over energy.
It was a technique I couldn’t even begin to imitate.
The air grew tense. Everyone was watching, waiting for my response. What would I say?
Time passed. After a long silence, I frowned as I poured myself a drink.
"I can’t do it."
"You can’t...?"
It was not formal speech, but casual.
The tension in the hall spiked instantly. Only Manjianzi and I remained unaffected by the atmosphere. I placed the bottle of liquor down and continued speaking.
"You and I wield different kinds of power."
"That’s not incorrect. Mana has inherently low control over objects. That’s because it’s a power that comes from within living beings rather than from nature. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way to overcome it."
As Manjianzi finished speaking, the rotation of the cup stopped. What dropped onto his palm was no longer a cup but a smoothly rounded iron sphere. The shape of the cup had completely vanished.
At that moment, the iron sphere floated back up.
This time, it was a different power. A blue-hued mana flowed from Manjianzi’s hand as he spoke to me, rotating the iron sphere with mana.
The depth of his control was beyond comparison. He fully understood mana and wielded it with absolute precision. I stared at the feat before me, my mouth slightly agape.
"If control is weak, you just need to impose a stronger will—one strong enough for the world to recognize it."
Screech—!
The rotating iron sphere was suddenly compressed flat. As it continued to spin, wrapped in blue mana, its shape sharpened. In the end, what remained in Manjianzi’s hand was a simple blade without a handle.
The floating blade circled around me.
It emanated an aura so intense that I didn’t dare to touch it. Though mana and inner energy repelled each other, he was forcefully suppressing them into coexistence with sheer control.
"Try copying it."
That was impossible.
I simply stared at Manjianzi without a word. Time passed in silence. He observed me with an odd sense of expectation before letting out a small sigh.
"Come find me tomorrow. I’ll set aside time for you."
It was an extraordinary offer. He was willing to take time from his own schedule to personally train me in martial arts.
As everyone in the banquet hall held their breath, I finally spoke.
"I don’t want to."
The alcohol had completely overtaken my body.
I couldn’t even grasp the meaning of the words that had just left my mouth. My mind and body were no longer in sync. Out of control, I collapsed flat onto the floor.
"I’m going to sleep."
Silence fell over the hall. The gentle instrumental music that had been playing in the background came to an abrupt stop.
Everyone had frozen in place, cups raised and food half-eaten.
Then, a hearty laugh erupted.
It was Manjianzi.
He laughed as if he truly found the situation hilarious.
***
The morning after the banquet, I awoke to a splitting headache.
My entire body felt heavy, and my stomach churned with nausea. As I frowned from the discomfort, a shadow loomed over me.
It was Fell Flora.
"Are you okay?"
"How much did I drink...?"
"One bottle."
"There’s no way..."
I shook my head, pressing my fingers against my forehead. One bottle, and I had blacked out? That was impossible.
I was a proud warrior of the White Frost Tribe. No matter how strong the alcohol, I should have been able to endure it with sheer willpower.
I had to have drunk at least five bottles. Considering I was in my sister’s body, that amount would have been reasonable.
"I’m sure I drank five bottles..."
"You passed out after just one."
"I don’t believe it... That’s a lie..."
"Why would I lie?"
Through the throbbing headache, hazy fragments of memory surfaced.
I had drawn my sword and swung it around joyfully. I had even used Manjianzi’s secret martial arts in front of everyone.
Beyond that, my memories were blank.
What else had I done?
"Where’s Theo?"
"He’s in another room."
The moment I sat up, clutching my head, a sharp cry rang out from outside the building.
[We caught an imperial dog!]
My gaze met Fell Flora’s midair.
At the same time, the closed door burst open, and Theo rushed in.
"Th-that wasn’t aimed at us, right?"
Of course not. The voice had come from quite a distance away.
Without needing to say a word, the three of us stood up at once and hurried outside.