Chapter 61: All Masters of Acting

Chapter 61: Masters of Deception

Zheng Jian looked at Xiang Wentian, disbelief flickering in his eyes. In his memory, this fellow had never known the Star-Absorbing Technique. Where had things gone wrong?

Across from him, Xiang Wentian stared intently at Zheng Jian. In truth, his heart was pounding with fear, yet his face broke into boisterous laughter. “That’s right, the Star-Absorbing Technique! Well? Care to try again?”

A man knows his own limitations. Xiang Wentian had never mastered the Star-Absorbing Technique at all. What he’d displayed moments ago was merely a minor trick—his own invention, a skill he called “Suction Power Into the Earth.” Its essence lay in redirecting an opponent’s inner force into the ground using the sleight of hand used in grafting branches; it brought no benefit to himself. Though it seemed his strength had been drained, his power would soon return. Xiang Wentian prided himself on his uprightness and had never resorted to such trickery before; only today, pressed hard by Zheng Jian, had he been forced into it.

Zheng Jian pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Very well! I’m rather interested in the Star-Absorbing Technique—what harm in trying it again?”

Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian’s face darkened, inwardly cursing himself. Try again? If he repeated this a few more times, his charade would surely be exposed. Yet he could say nothing, for Zheng Jian had already attacked once more, sword in hand.

In truth, Zheng Jian did not know that Xiang Wentian’s Star-Absorbing Technique was a fake. He simply felt something odd about it; his real motivation for attacking again was to experience the technique more thoroughly, lest he be caught unprepared when facing Ren Woxing in the future.

Know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Since seizing the initiative earlier, Zheng Jian’s confidence had only grown. In other words, Xiang Wentian was now little more than a sparring partner; his real focus was already on greater foes ahead.

As sword light flashed, Xiang Wentian cursed inwardly, forced to defend and counterattack. All the while, he prayed that Ren Woxing would finish his business at Plum Manor and hurry over. If he were delayed any longer, Xiang Wentian feared he might not escape this predicament today.

Zheng Jian, employing both sword and palm, deliberately allowed his palm strikes to be caught by Xiang Wentian, hoping to experience the Star-Absorbing Technique firsthand. Xiang Wentian, astute as he was, saw through Zheng Jian’s intent but was powerless to stop it. His own inner energy was nearly spent; he could only repeat his trick, channeling Zheng Jian's force into the earth.

After three or four exchanges, Zheng Jian began to sense something amiss.

“No, this isn’t right! According to legend, Ren Woxing’s Star-Absorbing Technique struck terror into the hearts of countless martial artists because it absorbed an opponent’s inner power for his own use. But in Xiang Wentian’s hands, it seems far less potent… Wait, the inner force I just lost has already returned to me?”

“Moreover, if he were truly absorbing my strength, his vigor should be increasing, not the reverse. My innate energy isn’t being drawn by him at all—it’s sinking into the ground!”

Realizing this, Zheng Jian burst out laughing. “So, you too have a few tricks up your sleeve, Xiang Wentian! If I weren’t so bold, you nearly fooled me!”

Xiang Wentian’s face changed dramatically. He knew his deception couldn’t last, but he hadn’t expected to be exposed so quickly. What now?

As the thought of retreat took hold, he glanced behind Zheng Jian and suddenly shouted, “Chief, quick, help me!”

Zheng Jian was still wary of Ren Woxing and whirled around—only to find emptiness behind him. There was no Ren Woxing. Instantly, he realized he’d fallen for another of Xiang Wentian’s ruses.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiang Wentian had already retreated a hundred paces and vanished into the woods.

Zheng Jian ground his teeth in frustration—he’d fallen victim to his own inexperience. The prize was in his grasp, only to slip away!

It was too late to give chase, so Zheng Jian could only abandon his pursuit and turn away from the island in the lake.

As he returned to the western shore of West Lake, he spotted Ren Woxing in the distance.

Behind Ren Woxing were the Brush Elder and the Painter from Plum Manor, as well as Bao Dachu and others from the Sun and Moon Sect. The Chess Master and the Bell Elder were nowhere to be seen.

His heart skipped a beat. Instantly, Zheng Jian concealed himself and retreated strategically, silently counting his luck. Had he not fallen for that diversion, he might have been trapped by the old demon Ren Woxing right now!

Meanwhile, Xiang Wentian, who was in the midst of escape, forced a bitter smile. When he saw that Ren Woxing had truly arrived, he regretted not holding out longer. But he was no ordinary man; regret was fleeting, and he quickly composed himself.

Ren Woxing approached, eyes widening in shock at Xiang Wentian’s disheveled appearance—his vital energy chaotic and his white robe riddled with holes. “What happened here?”

In all his experience, when had Xiang Wentian ever suffered such a loss?

Face flushed with shame, Xiang Wentian replied hoarsely, “Chief, I have failed you. That man’s swordsmanship is extraordinary. I exchanged hundreds of moves with him, but could not prevail and had no choice but to retreat.”

“Who was it? I have been absent from the martial world for twelve years, and now there are those who can force even you to yield?”

“It was a member of the Mount Hua Sect, the ‘Gentleman Sword’ Yue Buqun—” Xiang Wentian hurried to explain as Ren Woxing’s face changed in surprise.

“Yue Buqun? Has he improved so much over the years?”

“No, Chief, you misunderstand. It wasn’t Yue Buqun, but his chief disciple, known in the martial world as the ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman!’” Xiang Wentian quickly corrected him.

“Yue Buqun’s disciple? Are you sure?” Ren Woxing was even more surprised.

Behind him, Bao Dachu—who had already consumed the Three-Corpse Brain Pill—replied respectfully, “Chief, I do know something of this man.”

“Speak!” Ren Woxing was intensely curious. For a disciple of Yue Buqun to force Xiang Wentian to yield?

“This ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman’ is named Zheng Jian, indeed the foremost disciple of Yue Buqun of Mount Hua. His swordsmanship is peerless. When he first entered the martial world, it’s said he slew Tian Boguang, ‘The Lone Wanderer of Ten Thousand Miles.’ Not long ago, our Elder Qu Yang befriended Liu Zhengfeng of Mount Heng, and I intended to investigate further, but arrived late. Reports from those present say that Zheng Jian faced the three great experts of Mount Song—Ding Mian the Towering Palm, Fei Bin the Mighty Hand, and Lu Bai the Crane Hand—alone, killing two and forcing Lu Bai to his knees in surrender, winning great fame. Just recently, when the Sword Sect returned to Mount Hua, it was Zheng Jian who challenged the last remnants of the sect—Feng Buping—defeating him in only seven moves and forcing him to admit defeat.” Bao Dachu recounted all the intelligence gathered on Zheng Jian from Black Wood Cliff, demonstrating the Sun and Moon Sect’s formidable network.

“Mount Hua… Remarkable indeed!” Upon hearing this, Ren Woxing offered heartfelt praise.

In that moment, Ren Woxing was struck by a sudden memory of the legendary swordsman Feng Qingyang of Mount Hua. The resemblance to this young “Heaven-Restoring Swordsman” was uncanny—both had achieved the pinnacle of swordsmanship at a young age.

“If this young man were to serve me, how could my grand ambition not be realized?”

…

(End of chapter)