Master Du E’s words cut off abruptly.
His smile stiffened.
He felt a sting on his face.
Master Kong Jian was mildly surprised. “I didn’t expect Benefactor Ye to grasp the second sword so quickly. His martial talent is truly astonishing.”
“Benefactor Ye is…”
Du E wanted to say Ye Qiu was a freak, but as a Buddhist monk, “freak” felt crude. He corrected himself.
“Benefactor Ye is truly prodigious.”
“Indeed prodigious,” Kong Jian nodded. “It seems Benefactor Ye is destined for the Six Meridians Divine Sword. By the way, Du E, how many years have you trained in it?”
Master, why bring that up?
Benefactor Ye just slapped my face, and now you’re stabbing me?
Du E didn’t dare dodge the question, answering honestly, “Your disciple has practiced for over thirty years.”
“Thirty years to master one sword—decent talent.”
Kong Jian’s words left Du E flushed with shame, wishing he could crawl into a hole.
Master, Benefactor Ye learned the second sword in hours. I took thirty years for one, and you call my talent decent? Are you mocking me or crushing me?
Du E was inwardly glum.
Kong Jian said, “Du E, care to guess how long Benefactor Ye will need for the third sword?”
“Master, how long did it take you for the third?” Du E countered.
“Fifty years for me.”
“Even with Benefactor Ye’s prodigy, it’ll likely take three to five years.”
Whoosh—
At that moment, a sword’s hum echoed from the third floor of the Tower of Enlightenment.
What?
Du E thought he’d misheard. He rushed out, stood below, and looked up, jaw dropping.
Sword aura swirled within the tower.
Strands of invisible sword energy struck the air, emitting sharp sounds.
Clearly, Ye Qiu had mastered the third sword.
And it had been mere minutes since the second.
Good grief, was he even human?
Another slap to the face.
Du E was so frustrated he could spit blood, tempted to smash his head into tofu. Comparing oneself to others was maddening.
“Not only prodigious but a marvel among marvels,” Kong Jian said.
“Such talent even leaves this monk in awe.”
“Even his father, Ye Wushuang, might not compare.”
Kong Jian joined Du E, gazing at the third floor with a smile.
Du E suddenly asked, “Master, you said my martial talent was good before. Were you lying?”
“Silly disciple, you’re only realizing now?”
Du E felt another stab to the heart.
Kong Jian said, “You slacked off in training before, so I had to fib, calling you a one-in-a-million genius.”
“Master, you’re a monk—how could you lie?”
“It was a kind lie. The Buddha won’t mind.”
Du E: “…”
Kong Jian added, “But I’m pleased. Though your talent isn’t great, you worked hard. Diligence makes up for deficits—well done.”
Diligence makes up for deficits?
In other words, I’m just dim?
So, Master, you’ve always seen me as a dunce!
At that moment, Du E wanted to declare the world wasn’t worth it.
The sword aura on the third floor lasted nearly half an hour before fading.
Kong Jian and Du E, watching below, saw Ye Qiu ascend to the fourth floor.
“Master, how long will Benefactor Ye need for the fourth sword?” Du E asked.
“Hard to say,” Kong Jian said gravely. “The first three swords differ sharply from the last three.”
“I mastered the third sword years ago but haven’t touched the fourth’s threshold.”
“Benefactor Ye’s talent is exceptional—he should grasp the fourth. The question is how long it’ll take.”
“I hope he’s quick.”
“That way, I might see the complete Six Meridians Divine Sword before heading to the Western Paradise.”
Benefactor Ye, hurry!
Work another miracle—shock Master too.
Du E prayed silently.
But the miracle he hoped for didn’t come.
After Ye Qiu entered the fourth floor, there was no stir.
Kong Jian and Du E sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating.
A night passed.
At dawn, when the first rays hit his face, Du E opened his eyes.
The fourth floor remained silent.
Du E said, “Master, I’m puzzled. The sword manual’s right there on the wall—why can’t we learn it?”
“As the temple’s sacred treasure, if the Six Meridians Divine Sword were easy to master, it wouldn’t be a peerless technique.”
Truth be told, Kong Jian was puzzled too.
Logically, anyone not a fool should learn from the manual with practice.
Yet he’d only reached the third sword. The fourth eluded him entirely.
He’d studied the manual countless times!
“Master, I’ll fetch you some food,” Du E said, standing to leave.
Just then, a long roar echoed through the valley.
“Kong Jian, long time no see—how’ve you been?”
The voice was robust, like thunder, nearly bursting Du E’s eardrums. A terrifying pressure enveloped him.
His face paled.
Could it be Long Liu?
“Amitabha!”
Kong Jian pressed his palms together, chanting.
Instantly, Du E felt the pressure lift, his body light.
Looking up, he saw a figure darting through the valley, moving so fast that even a master like Du E could only catch a blur, not the face.
Moments later, the figure reached the cliff, standing twenty meters away.
Now Du E saw clearly.
An old man with white hair and a white beard, round-faced, slightly stout.
Long Wu!
Du E was stunned.
When had Long Wu emerged from seclusion?
Ye Qiu said Long Liu was coming—where was he?
Kong Jian remained seated, smiling. “Amitabha, congratulations, Benefactor. Your cultivation has advanced greatly since emerging.”
“Greetings, Benefactor Long,” Du E said with a bow. “What brings you to Tianlong Temple?”
Long Wu bellowed, “Du E, a Buddhist monk, yet you struck my brother in the capital. Is this your ‘all is empty’?”
Du E stayed calm. “Benefactor Long, you’ve traveled far to hold this old monk accountable?”
“Accountable? You’re not worthy,” Long Wu sneered. “I’m here to kill.”
“I know Ye Wushuang’s son is here. Hand him over.”
“Or I’ll raze Tianlong Temple!”
