NOVEL WEB Volume 2 Chapter 184
184. The Little Fox’s Iai Slash!
“Yue Liu, your heart is in turmoil!!”
Yue Liu heard the familiar voice behind her.
She quickly stood up and turned around, seeing an elderly fox.
Hunched over, with white hair, a very long beard almost reaching his waist, leaning on a cane to support his body, as if he could fall at any moment.
He looked like he had one foot in the grave, his life like a flickering candle in the wind.
However, in reality, this was Yue Liu’s mentor—
The Fox Great Swordmaster, Bai Yang!
“Master!”
Seeing her master, Yue Liu felt ashamed.
“Yue Liu, your sword did not cut the cherry blossom falling into the flowing water. Your swordsmanship has regressed.”
Even though Yue Liu was a noble nine-tailed fox, the Fox Princess, Bai Yang’s attitude remained strict, showing no favoritism.
“If it were you before, you would have been able to do this with an undivided heart. But now, you cannot!”
“I… I’m sorry… Master…”
Yue Liu’s fluffy fox ears drooped down, looking very dejected.
She even felt unworthy to wield Sakura Moon.
Sakura Moon was a legendary weapon passed down since ancient times in the fox race. Only by achieving great accomplishments in swordsmanship and gaining the recognition of the entire race could one use Sakura Moon.
And the Great Swordmaster Bai Yang was once a wielder of Sakura Moon.
In his youth, he was world-renowned for his peerless swordsmanship, challenging numerous powerful figures and gaining an illustrious reputation. Thus, he was bestowed Sakura Moon by the previous Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor, becoming the guardian of the entire race.
As he grew older, Bai Yang’s combat prowess declined… He gradually stepped back and became the mentor of the current Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor’s daughter—Yue Liu—teaching her swordsmanship.
This Sakura Moon was also given to Yue Liu to use after she passed the internal test, with Bai Yang placing high hopes on her.
Bai Yang hoped his disciple would surpass his former self in the future, reaching even greater heights.
However…
“Yue Liu, your heart is in turmoil, causing your sword to be in disarray. When you draw your sword, there is a hint of hesitation… And that slight hesitation has caused your sword speed to greatly diminish, even slower than your past self!”
Bai Yang’s cloudy eyes emitted a sharp light.
“If this were a life and death battle, you would have been slain by your past self ten thousand times!”
“I…”
Yue Liu lowered her head, lightly biting her pink cherry lips, unable to say a word.
“Yue Liu, who is the person you’re thinking of deep in your heart?” Bai Yang questioned.
He could see that his disciple had fallen into confusion on the path of the sword.
Yue Liu hesitated but eventually spoke after some thought.
“It’s the Silver Dragon Princess, Xia Yi · Christie.”
“The Dragon Princess?!”
Hearing this name, Bai Yang was quite surprised.
In his impression, she was just a somewhat cute young dragon.
Why was Yue Liu so obsessed with her?
“Master! Ever since the last Superior Race gathering ended, I would occasionally think of Xia Yi, not knowing why… Sometimes, I suddenly start daydreaming, and then keep thinking about her…” Yue Liu shared her troubles.
Bai Yang’s expression changed, and he suddenly raised his voice, “Yue Liu! Your current state is very bad, very terrible!”
“Eh?”
“If I remember correctly, you lost to her once in the Blackstone Kingdom, right?”
“Yes, Master. But that was before. However, when I interacted with her at the later gathering, I found that I might not dislike her that much…”
Yue Liu’s cheeks reddened slightly as she shyly lowered her head.
“What did she say to you?”
“Xia Yi said she liked me very much and wanted to get along well with me…”
Hearing this sentence, Bai Yang’s beard nearly blew up.
“Yue Liu, you’ve been tricked!”
“Ah?”
“Yue Liu, the Silver Dragon Princess used despicable means to disrupt your state of mind!”
“Is-is that so?”
“Yes! Don’t forget, Yue Liu, what is your relationship with her.”
“Sworn enemies!” Yue Liu immediately replied.
“You and her, dragons and foxes, are mortal enemies,” Bai Yang nodded deeply. “Think carefully, were the words the Silver Dragon Princess said to you at that time very ambiguous, even interpretable in another way?”
“This… seems to be true.”
Yue Liu carefully recalled what Xia Yi had said to her that day, and it seemed there really was a possibility of misunderstanding.
Xia Yi indeed didn’t give her a particularly clear response.
“Exactly! That’s right, Yue Liu. The Silver Dragon Princess deliberately used this despicable method, taking advantage of the subtle atmosphere at that time to make you subconsciously misunderstand, trying to ease the relationship between you and her, making you give up the idea of being hostile to her and lose all fighting spirit! Don’t forget, she is a silver dragon. Silver dragons are the worst among their race. They are full of tricks!”
“…”
“Yue Liu, if you were to fight the Silver Dragon Princess again, could you still shoulder the honor of the race?”
Bai Yang narrowed his eyes, his voice resounding.
“A true swordsman should keep their Sword Heart clear, able to grasp their sword at any time and fight any enemy! Look at your unsightly state. Where is there even a hint of Sword Heart?!”
Yue Liu felt Bai Yang’s words were like a blow to the head. For a long time, she couldn’t say a word.
She lowered her head, gazing at Sakura Moon, her eyes gradually becoming resolute.
“I understand, Master. Please, give me another chance to prove myself!”
“Good!”
Bai Yang agreed.
The two left the waterfall and came to the cherry blossom forest.
“Come, Yue Liu!”
Bai Yang raised his cane. His aura suddenly changed, no longer a frail old man on the verge of death, but a battle-hardened great swordmaster. The cane in his hand was like an unsheathed sword, releasing sword qi that stirred up a storm of cherry blossoms.
Facing the fierce Bai Yang, Yue Liu tightly grasped the hilt of Sakura Moon… At that moment, her heart was like still water, the trajectories of all things in motion clear in her mind. She slowly closed her pink eyes.
“Slash!”
Yue Liu unleashed her Iai Slash, Sakura Moon left its sheath, speed erupting to the extreme… In that instant, thousands of sword lights appeared simultaneously in this space. The flow of time seemed to freeze, every cherry blossom petal shimmering with the brilliance of the sword’s edge.
Swish!
As Yue Liu sheathed Sakura Moon again, the sound of sword slashes was endless. Every falling cherry blossom petal was cut into two smooth halves by Yue Liu, creating a rain of cherry blossoms.
Bai Yang’s attack was repelled by Yue Liu, leaving a deep sword mark on his cane.
At that moment, he was overjoyed.
Yue Liu’s sword was no longer confused. Crossing this threshold, she had even entered a whole new realm!
“Yue Liu, you did it!” Bai Yang said excitedly.
“Master, I wish to leave temporarily to gain experience!”
“Mm, Yue Liu, since you have the desire to grow stronger, I will fully support you… I will try to persuade your father on your behalf!”
“Understood, thank you, Master.”
“Hehehe! My sworn enemy, you’d better be prepared to face my invincible self the next time we meet!”
Yue Liu hugged Sakura Moon, covering half her face, striking a pose. She deliberately let her uncovered eye release the Fox God’s Pupil and laughed.
“I will put an end to our destined relationship and—conquer you!”
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I changed the name of Yue Liu’s weapon to make it more fitting with her Japanese-ish? theme (also because i didnt make a glossary back then and i forgot lol)